News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Beyond a Billion: Local Clean Cities Coalition Celebrate Nationwide Petroleum Savings
San Antonio, TX, October 19, 2005 – Today the Alamo Area Clean Cities Coalition joined Clean Cities coalitions across the country to celebrate displacing more than a billion gallons of oil. This is significant because the U.S. now imports approximately two-thirds of the petroleum it uses. At $68 per barrel, imported petroleum costs the U.S. $300 billion per year. That means we are spending more than $3.5 billion each week for a product that supports foreign economies when there are alternatives, such as ethanol and biodiesel, which are produced domestically.
The primary goal of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities program is to reduce America’s reliance on imported petroleum as a means of improving the nation’s energy, economic, and environmental security. A milestone was reached through the efforts of the Clean Cities program: the equivalent of one billion gallons of petroleum was displaced. That’s enough gas to fuel 2 million cars for a year.
Since two-thirds of the imported oil is used by the transportation sector alone, the Department of Energy established Clean Cities coalitions throughout the country to encourage fleet operators to decrease petroleum consumption. Coalitions support the use of alternative fuels and alternative fuel vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, fuel blends, heavy-truck idle reduction applications, and general fuel economy improvements to help reduce the nation’s need for imported oil.
Clean Cities coalitions are holding events nationwide to commemorate the “billionth gallon saved.” In San Antonio, the Alamo Area Clean Cities Coalition collaborated with Bexar County and CleanFUEL USA in hosting a press conference at the Bexar County Fleet Maintenance Facility at 10:00 a.m. on October 19th. Attendees included Bexar County Commissioner Tommy Adkisson, former U.S. Congressman Ciro Rodriguez, officials from the City of San Antonio and Bexar County, Dan Kelley from the Alternative Fuels Research & Education Division of the Texas Railroad Commission, and David Gibson, Executive Director of Texas Corn Producers.
The billionth gallon saved celebration showcased the first public dual fuel alternative fueling station in Texas. This station will provide propane and E85 – which in itself is worth noting because this will be the first public E85 fueling site in Texas. The National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition assisted in the development of this San Antonio fueling site by providing grant funding.
E85 is a domestically produced fuel blend composed of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. It can be used in flexible-fuel vehicles, which are manufactured by most major vehicle manufacturers. Vehicle owners can check inside their fuel door or their owner’s manual to determine whether their vehicle will run on E85. The vehicle identification number (VIN) also indicates whether their vehicle is E85 compatible. By logging onto the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition website at www.e85fuel.com an owner can determine whether the VIN indicates a dual fuel capability.
Owners of flexible-fuel vehicles must register their vehicle and receive a fueling card to use the fueling station at the Bexar County facility. Vehicle owners can register with CleanFUEL USA by calling 1-877-234-1722.
“By passing the billionth gallon milestone,” Clean Cities Coordinator Isabel Chacon stated, “Clean Cities coalitions have shown they are making a difference on a local level and a national level. While our thirst for oil puts our economic and energy security at risk, Clean Cities coalitions across the country are demonstrating options that work.”
For more information on the Beyond a Billion event, contact Isabel C. Chacon. For more information on Clean Cities, visit the web site: http://www.eere.energy.gov/cleancities.
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