In This Issue:

FYI Newsletter Volume 8, Issue 11, July 17, 2003 


•   Recent E85 Station Openings:  CT and WI

•  Air Force Sergeant Spreads the Word about E85

•   Clean Cities Coalitions Join the NEVC

•   Montana Station Carrying E85 AGAIN

•   E85 MotorWeek DVDs Now Available

•   Alcohol Talking 

•   Letters to the NEVC

 Recent E85 Station Openings:  CT and WI
 

Two E85 locations have recently started pumping the clean-burning, alternative fuel – E85.   A government accessed station opened in Connecticut on June 25 and a public station opened in Wisconsin on July 17.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation in Newington will be fueling about 475 flexible-fuel vehicles at their new facility.  Partial funds for the facility were acquired by the state of Connecticut through the 2002 E85 Infrastructure Award.  This is the first E85 site in the state. For more information, a press release regarding the opening of the site and can be found here.

Milton Avenue Mobil, located at 1215 Milton Avenue in Janesville, Wisconsin, will be accessed by fleets and the general public.  The Grand Opening Event also served as the State of Wisconsin, NEVC, and GM kick-off of the E85 public awareness campaign.   For more information, the media release announcing the event can be found by clicking here.

The NEVC is proud to help with the expansion of E85 facilities such as the sites in Connecticut and Wisconsin.   We thank all who assisted in these projects.
 

 Air Force Sergeant Spreads the Word about E85

Senior Master Sergeant Dean Werner of the 148th Fighter Wing in Duluth, MN is not only serving his country through military duty, but he is also promoting American grown fuels.  The twenty year active duty serviceman will be distributing E85 coupons, directories and NEVC brochures around his military base. 

“The fuel is advantageous in that it helps reduce foreign oil imports,” said Werner.  “It affects what I do in the Air Force.  I believe it affects millions of individuals.”  There are only about ten E85 Tahoes on the base but Werner believes many of the servicemen should know about E85 for their personally owned vehicles.

Werner drives a 2001 flexible-fuel Chevrolet S-10 pick-up truck. 

“I have had my truck since August of 2001.  I drive 102 miles a day to and from work and I can tell the difference in power whenever I use E85,” commented Werner.

Werner frequently fuels at the Holiday Stationstore at 9314 West Skyline Parkway in Duluth but he claims he has to drive about ten miles out of the way to do so.  “I wish there were more E85 locations, especially in Wisconsin,” claims Werner.  Currently there are about 75 E85 locations in Minnesota and ten sites in Wisconsin.

The NEVC would like to thank Senior Master Sergeant Werner for his continuing efforts to make E85 a more widely known and USED American fuel.

For a complete listing of E85 locations, visit www.E85Fuel.com.

 

Clean Cities Coalitions Join the NEVC

The Clean Cities program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), supports organizations dedicated to promoting alternative fuel vehicles and alternative fuel infrastructure.  The program is comprised of almost 80 coalitions in various cities around the United States and many have recently joined as members of the NEVC to support E85 as an alternative transportation fuel.

Las Vegas Regional Clean Cities Coalition, Inc. joined the NEVC in May.  “We are interested in all alternative fuels and look forward to the possibility of adding E85 to our alternative fuel network,” stated Daniel Hyde of Las Vegas Regional Clean Cities Coalition, Inc. “We also are interested in keeping up on legislation that affects all of us in the industry and the NEVC does a good job of disseminating information.”

Benjamin Watson of the Kansas City Regional Clean Cities Coalition (KCRCCC) has always been a large supporter of E85.  “We joined the NEVC because it is important to the objectives of the KCRCCC and the nation,” said Watson.  “Ethanol interests such as the Governors’ Ethanol Coalition, national and local corn growers have been very supportive of the Clean Cities initiatives since the beginning of the program. As a mid-western area, it’s one of the paramount fuels in interest and popularity. The support that NEVC has provided to our coalition in the past has always been superior as a stakeholder. Our missions are normally identical in the furtherance of our goals.”

Other Clean Cities Coalition members include the Dallas/Fort Worth Clean Cities Coalition, Denver Clean Cities Coalition, Evermont/Vermont Clean Cities Coalition and Palmetto State Clean Fuels Coalition. 

For more information about becoming a member of the NEVC, click here or contact Randa Barker at info@e85.com or at (573) 635-8445

  

Montana Station Carrying E85 AGAIN

Allen’s Inc. has just re-opened the fueling station at 1330 North Montana Avenue in Helena, Montana.  The station is again carrying E85 as well as the 10% ethanol blended unleaded, mid-grade and premium products.

Mike Allen originally owned the site in 1998 where he installed a 4,000 gallon E85 tank.  He sold the station but recently bought the station again after it had been closed for some time. 

Sam’s E.Z. Stop is centrally located within Helena.  “The site is easily accessible for the many Federal fleets,” commented Allen.

“I believe E85 is the way to go in the future,” said Allen.  “I believe in American grown fuels.

Sam’s E.Z. Stop is open seven days a week from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. and includes a convenience store.  A Grand Re-Opening Event is being planned.

E85 MotorWeek DVDs Now Available

The NEVC along with MotorWeek Television have created a twenty minute E85 educational DVD that is now available to YOU!  The video outlines the status, future, and current issues related to the use of E85 as a form of alternative transportation fuel.  This in-depth, well-produced program was originally broadcast in May on PBS affiliate stations. 

To order your copy, fill out the NEVC promotional order form located here and fax it to (573) 635-5466.

  

Alcohol Talking
Automotive Engineer, a technical automotive business magazine, has recently published an excellent article in their June 2003 issue that outlines General Motor’s support of E85 and its use in their flexible-fuel vehicles.  Containing quotes from Gary Herwick, GM’s Director of Alternative Fuels, and Phil Lampert, NEVC’s Executive Director, author Dean Slavnich describes the many benefits of the home-grown fuel. 

Reprinted with permission, you may view the complete article in a .pdf version by clicking here.
 

 Letters to the NEVC

Letters to the NEVC - This section highlights emails that the NEVC has recently received.  Many of the comments or suggestions that we receive are of interest to a wider audience and we would like to share them with our readers.

  

The following letter was written to NEVC Executive Director, Phil Lampert. 

Cost of E85

Sir;

I have a 2003 Chevrolet Suburban.  I currently have over 3,100 miles on it.  The ONLY fuel I have used on this vehicle is the Ethanol 85, and I am not happy.  There are two reasons for this:

1.)   In your news releases I have seen that in other states the price of Ethanol is LOWER than regular gas.  I go to the gas station in Annapolis, Maryland on West Street.  The price for this fuel is $1.95 per gallon.  This price has NEVER changed.  Even when regular gas has gone up and down in the area.  The regular gas price is $1.43 per gallon in my area.  When I ask the gas station owner "IF" the price is going to ever go down his reply is NEVER.

2.)  This fuel is rated at 100 Octane and SHOULD result in better fuel mileage.  My vehicle is rated from 16-22 MPG.  Since I have gotten this vehicle and using this fuel I cannot get ANY better than 13.2 MPG.  I have a 25-gallon tank.  I am spending $.52 MORE per gallon than regular fuel and getting worse mileage.

I believe in this program and want to continue to support it, but not at the additional cost of $13.00 per tank.  Currently it takes me OVER $50.00 to fill up my tank.  If I were using regular gas and allowing for $50.00 each time I fill up, EVERY 5th fill up would be FREE.

I am a retired police officer and not made of money.

How can I continue to support this program when I am paying so much for it?  My friends laugh at me and call me a fool.  They say my intentions are great, but NOT at that cost.

You can see why I am not happy.

SAM WALTERS
Annapolis, MD.

. . .

Sam,

I understand your frustrations with the price of E85 and to be honest, share them.  E85 receives several tax incentives that were provided by the Congress to advance the use of domestic-renewable transportation fuels.  These tax incentives provide “tax credits” to blenders of ethanol and gasoline.  The objective of the incentives is to lower the price of E85.  Unfortunately, the use of federal income tax credits have become very complicated in the past several years.  One of the major factors that limit the use of the tax credits is the Alternative Minimum Tax.  Even with a tax credit, many ethanol blenders are not able to take advantage of the incentives due to the “alternative minimum tax.”  The retailers in Maryland that are providing E85 are currently unable to take advantage of the tax credits as they are impacted by the Alternative Minimum Tax.  Hence, the price of E85 is higher than unleaded gasoline.

The National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition and our partners are fully aware of the pricing issues and the personal difficulties that E85 users face when wishing to drive on this excellent source of domestic-renewable transportation fuel.  An increased cost of $13 per fuel up is not an option, no matter how much you support something.

Here’s what we are doing: 

Changes in the taxation process are needed in order for retailers and others to take advantage of the existing incentives.  A tax provision that would allow the complete use of the E85 tax incentives has been drafted and is referenced as S.1196.  This bill has been approved by the Senate Finance Committee and is being considered as an addition to the pending Senate Energy Bill.  The Senate Energy Bill is S.14. 

I would encourage you to contact Senator Mikulski and Senator Sarbanes and ask that they do two things:

1.      Support S.1149 to the Senate Energy Bill.

2.      Support and advance the entire Senate Energy Bill, S.14.  

Senator Mikulski can be reached at:
709 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C.  20510-2003
202-224-4754
Web site:  http://mikulski.senate.gov 

Senator Sarbanes can be reached at:
309 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C.  20510-2002
202-224-4524
Web site:  http://sarbanes.senate.gov 

If, and it remains a big if, an Energy Bill passes this session of Congress, the provisions of S.1149 would “fix” the problems that you now see with the price of E85 in Maryland.

Thank you so much for your support of the use of E85 and we look forward to working with you to advance this outstanding form of alternative transportation fuel. 

Phillip J. Lampert, Executive Director
National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition

The following letter was written to NEVC Director of Communications, Michelle Saab. 

Can I Use It?

 Michelle,

After owning my 2000 Dodge Grand Caravan for over a year, and much interest in E85, I was filling up my van and noticed my fuel cap says "gasoline or E85 only". Does this mean when I visit Nashville I will be able to fill up at the new facility that sells E85 and not have any problems? Do I need to do any modifications in the future if I am able to only use E85?

Thanks for your help!!!!

Terry Hawks

. . .

Terry,

You may definitely fill up your tank with E85 at the new Nashville station!  No modifications are needed to fuel your vehicle with the clean-burning alterative.  You may even see better performance within your Caravan since the octane level is 100 - 105.  There are many other benefits that the fuel offers.  You can find these benefits and other frequently asked questions on our website at http://www.e85fuel.com/faq.htm. 

Thank you for your support of E85!

- Michelle Saab

Thanks for the emails to the NEVC!  Feel free to email us with your comments at anytime.

NEVC Calendar

 

July 18, 2003
Grand Opening Celebration of E85 refueling station in New Mexico at 4354 Cerillos Road in Santa Fe. For more information, contact Renewable Energy Partners of NM at 505-424-0343 or at 505-989-4750.

July22, 2003
Grand Opening Celebration of first E85 refueling station in Oklahoma at 21 N.E. 4th Street in Oklahoma City.  For more information, contact Yvonne Anderson at yanderson@acogok.org.

July 30 – August 1, 2003
American Coalition for Ethanol’s Annual Meeting & Ethanol Conference at the Sioux Falls Convention Center in Sioux Falls, SD.  For more information, visit www.ethanol.org/conference.htm or email wsburen@ethanol.org.

August 17-24, 2003
Energy 2003 Workshop and Exposition in Orlando, FL.  Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, Federal Energy Management Program and co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. General Services Administration.  Visit www.energy2003.ee.doe.gov or call 1-800-395-8574 for more information.

September 21-23,2003
 The US Refining and Automotive Industries 2003 and Beyond - Coming Together of Energy, Environmental & Economic Issues in Washington, DC at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill.  For more information, visit call 1-800-872-3835. 

March 2-4, 2004
Commodity Classic 2004 in Las Vegas, NV.  For more information, visit www.commodityclassic.com.

 CONTACT US. . .

Please feel free to e-mail your story suggestions, comments, corrections or clarifications to us at info@e85fuel.com or call us toll free at 877-485-8595.

Phillip J. Lampert, Executive Director
info@e85.com

Michelle Saab, Director of Communications
info@e85.com

Randa Barker, Director of Administration
info@e85.com

You may view this FYI online at
http://www.e85fuel.com/news/index.htm

NEVC  promotes the use of 85 percent ethanol as a renewable form of alternative transportation fuel while enhancing agricultural profitability, advancing environmental stewardship and promoting national energy independence.