A New Kind of Station for San Antonio… and Texas!
On August 5, 2005 Bexar County announced the upcoming construction and availability of the first publicly accessible alternative fuel station, which is scheduled for completion in October. The station will be the first of its kind in Texas, making propane and a new fuel blend, E85, available for public use. The fueling site will be located in northeast Bexar County at 4023 Interstate 35 North at the Bexar County Fleet Maintenance Facility.
E85, which is comprised of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline, is a domestically produced fuel that has gained popularity in the Midwest with vehicle owners since gasoline prices have increased over the past few months. Ethanol can be produced from domestically grown corn and other agricultural crops, therefore promoting the US economy as well as lessen our dependence on foreign oil. E85 is considered an alternative fuel by the US Department of Energy and the US Environmental Protection Agency and burns cleaner than gasoline. Therefore, vehicles fueled on E85 would emit less emissions into the air we breathe and help improve our air quality. For more information on E85, check the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition website at www.e85fuel.com.
Bexar County Commissioner Tommy Adkisson stated, “Bexar County is very excited to be one of the first dual alternative fuel stations with both E85 and propane between San Antonio and San Diego, California. The county is also happy to provide a competitive product to gas that puts money in the pockets of American and Texas corn farmers.”
“This is thrilling for San Antonio and for Texas,” said Curtis Donaldson, National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition Chairman and President of CleanFuel USA who will own the station. “The location of the first public E85 station right on I-35 will be a prime location. San Antonio is such a progressive city with many fleets already using alternative fuels and many of these Flexible Fuel Vehicle’s need a place to refuel. I think this is just the beginning of further expansion along then I-35 corridor in the months ahead.”
Flexible Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) are vehicles manufactured to use either conventional gasoline or E85 with no additional engine modifications or retrofits required once the vehicle comes off the assembly line. Major vehicle manufacturers have been producing FFVs for several years now and can be identified by checking the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). To check whether your vehicle is E85 compatible, log onto http://www.e85fuel.com/information/vin.php.
More information on the alternative fuel station, E85, or flexible fuel vehicles, contact Isabel Chacon, Clean Cities Coordinator, at (210) 362-5228 or ichacon@aacog.com.