In This Issue:

FYI Newsletter Volume 7, Issue 19, October 29, 2002 

•   Status of the Energy Bill •   DOE Funds Eleven E85 Sites •   EPAC Receives NEVC Funds for E85 Vehicle

•   NEVC Represented at the National Conference of State Fleet Administrators •   Energy Chief Advocates More Use of Ethanol

 Status of the Energy Bill

The Congress recently adjourned until after the November 5, 2002 general elections unable to complete the negotiations on the pending National Energy Policy.  If you have been following our bi-weekly updates, both the Senate and House have passed a major revision to the 1992 Energy Policy Act.  However, there were major differences in the Senate and House versions of the legislation and the Conferees appointed to negotiate the differences were unable to come to a compromise before the elections.  While many issues could be discussed and completed, major differences apparently remained in regard to requirements concerning the use of MTBE, and the production of electricity from renewable sources. 

The current schedule is for the Congress to return to Washington on November 12, 2002 to consider the 2003 fiscal year budget.  The Federal Fiscal year began on October 1, 2002, however only two of the thirteen 2003 appropriations bills have been passed.  Federal agencies are now operating on the basis of “continuing resolutions” which allow the government to spend at a level commensurate with 2002 appropriations.   

While there will certainly be efforts by the NEVC and many others to bring the Energy Legislation to completion before the 108^th Congress is convened in early January of 2003, the dynamics of the elections, particularly control of the U.S. Senate, is the major “unknown” that will eventually determine if there is a “lame duck” session of Congress that would be able to advance an Energy Bill.  NEVC representatives will continue to work with key members of the Congress to advance the tax incentive package that we have all worked so hard to secure.

 DOE Funds Eleven E85 Sites

DOE has targeted areas to help comply with Executive Order 13149, which requires that Federal Fleets reduce their petroleum use by 20 percent.  DOE’s Field Operations Testing Activity and its Federal Fleet Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Activity have selected 23 alternative fuel infrastructure projects at 12 DOE facilities to receive $2.7 million of funding.  These projects will include eleven E85 fueling sites!

The DOE E85 facilities and their locations are:

·         Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Batavia, Illinois) – 1 E85 project

·         Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (Idaho Falls, Idaho) – 1 E85 project

·         Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory (Berkeley, California) – 1 E85 project

·         Los Alamos National Laboratory (Los Alamos, New Mexico) – 2 E85 projects

·         National Energy Technology Laboratory (Morgantown, West Virginia and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) – 2 E85 projects

·         Nevada Test Site (Las Vegas, Nevada) – 1 E85 or CNG project

·         Oak Ridge National Laboratory (Oak Ridge, Tennessee) – 2 E85 projects

·         Pantex Facility (Amarillo, Texas) – 1 E85 project

·         Richland Operations Office/Hanford Site (Hanford, Washington) – 1 E85 project

By encouraging AFV use, these DOE Activities help achieve energy security and environmental quality goals at both the national and local levels. 

These DOE infrastructure projects, and the Federal Fleet AFV and Field Operations Testing Activities are elements of the DOE programs that are managed for the DOE Office of FreedomCAR and Vehicle Technologies by the DOE Idaho Operations Office and the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL) in Idaho Falls, Idaho.  

For more information, visit the AFV USER Activity’s web page http://www.ott.doe.gov/epact/afvuser.shtml. 

The NEVC is very excited about these new E85 sites!  Along with your help, E85 can change from being the alternative choice to the #1 choice of transportation fuel!

 EPAC Receives NEVC Funds for E85 Vehicle

The NEVC has provided Ethanol Producers and Consumers (EPAC) with funds for an E85 vehicle that we received from the direct appropriation Congress made to advance the use of E85 as an alternative fuel. EPAC will receive up to $8,000 for two years for costs incurred for the lease, insurance, maintenance, and operation of a flexible-fuel-vehicle. 

EPAC will join into their juncture with the NEVC with a 2001 Ford Taurus, the fourth Taurus the organization has used.   

“We got started with the Taurus in 1994 when we started to look for an E-85 powered car,” said Shirley Ball, President of EPAC.  “It is used for display purposes and EPAC business.  It is a traveling billboard sign, with colorful lettering on the side that says ‘ethanol powered’.” 

The lettering is three colored, the top is blue for clean air and sky, the center is golden for grain that makes the fuel, and the bottom is green representing a “clean earth”.  The organization will soon have “National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition” displayed on the rear bumper.   

“The car attracts attention where ever it goes,” commented Ball.  “We have a display each year at the trade show for the Western Petroleum Marketers annual meeting with over 3500 marketers in attendance. 2003 will be our fifth year, and we have become a well-accepted part of the show, with people who look us up in order to get answers to questions about selling ethanol-blended fuel.  When funding is available, the car is displayed at parades, Clean City meetings, fairs, and farm organization annual meetings - so it gets good exposure!” 

The money for the vehicle is in desperate need by EPAC.  “As a non-profit group, we have to seek funding for projects such as the car. We had been receiving some funding through a grain check-off program. Because of drought in the state, the budget was decreased, and the car funding got cut, so it sure comes at the right time. Now we can continue to take the car to functions and to educate people about alternative fuels and FFVs!” 

Keep your eyes open for the clean burning vehicle! 

 NEVC Represented at the National Conference of State Fleet Administrators

Director of Communications, Michelle Saab, traveled to Mystic, Connecticut on Wednesday, October 23, to represent the NEVC in promoting E85 at the 2002 National Conference of State Fleet Administrators.  The event was held at the Mystic Hilton where over 150 attended. 

A golf tournament kicked off the event at a local course with work beginning bright and early the next morning.  

“The conference held a great opportunity to spread the word about E85!”  Commented Saab.  “Many weren’t aware of how easy the fuel is to use and how many vehicles are available as E85 compatible.” 

Vendors such as GM, Ford, DaimlerChrysler and Honda showcased their 2003 alternative fueled vehicles.  DaimlerChrysler sported the new 2003 E85 Stratus.   

“We are very happy to have the Stratus in our 2003 line-up of flexible-fuel vehicles,” stated W. Alvin Jackson, Senior Manager Customer Support Group, BID and Company Cars Fleet Operations for DaimlerChrysler.  “We feel that the vehicle will be in high demand as few family E85 vehicles are available.” 

The conference also included many informative speakers.  Topics ranged from the best practices in Fleet Management to alternative fuels. 

Next year’s NCSFA Conference will be held in Breckinridge, Colorado.

 Energy Chief Advocates More Use of Ethanol

-by Randy Hascal of the Argus Leader

Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham and U.S. Representative John Thune said at a Sioux Falls round-table discussion that they're pushing for renewable fuels to be a focus of the nation's energy policy.  The House and Senate are negotiating a compromise on the energy bill, which Abraham and Thune say needs to become a law this year.

"We need to get this done," Abraham told about two dozen people participating in the discussion. "This isn't an issue we can wait on."

Abraham, who said he wanted to hear from "people on the front line," took notes as members of South Dakota ethanol, biodiesel and wind associations shared their views.
 

Thune said a diversified national energy policy is vital to the nation's economy and security.  "Use of renewable fuels creates jobs and lessens dependence on foreign oil," he said.

"In these uncertain times, it's clear that we need to rely less on regions in turmoil, such as the Middle East, for our energy needs and become more energy dependent," Thune said. "The potential for taking raw commodities we grow and converting them for energy is tremendous."

Thune and Abraham both said they support President Bush's plan to drill for oil in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.  Some 2,000 acres in a 19 million-acre region would be disturbed, Thune said. That region is the size of South Carolina, Abraham said.

Several representatives of South Dakota renewable-fuels organizations told Abraham they hope an energy bill is passed soon and is favorable to domestic energy production.  Trevor Guthmiller, executive director of the American Coalition for Ethanol, said the key to increasing ethanol use is to make it part of the national policy.

Representatives of the South Dakota Soybean Association and Soybean Processors said biodiesel use has grown tremendously and can stimulate rural economies. For the industry to reach its potential, tax incentives are vital, one official said.

Wind energy representatives said tax credits are important to the growth of that industry too. The development of large-scale wind farms would provide another source of energy and also reduce pollution.

Thune's opponent in a U.S. Senate race, Senator Tim Johnson, wasn't available to address remarks by the congressman and energy secretary. However, Johnson spokesman Dan Pfeiffer said Thune and the Republican Party have sided with the oil and gas industries in votes.

Pfeiffer said Johnson sponsored legislation to triple the use of ethanol. Thune said he has worked to expand value-added provisions in the farm bill and is leading a coalition of 31 lawmakers to include in the energy bill a provision that would triple ethanol and biodiesel use.

Assistant Secretary of Energy David Garman, who accompanied Abraham on the trip, held up a bottle of water and noted the label stresses its purity, yet the plastic bottle was made using oil.  "When will the time come for companies to make water bottles out of agricultural products?" Garman asked.

NEVC Calendar

October 27-30, 2002
2002 South Carolina Governmental Fleet Managers Association Conference at the Ocean Dunes/Sand Dunes Conference Center in Myrtle Beach, SC.  For more information, visit http://www.scgfma.org/default.htm.

October 28-30, 2002
2002 New Mexico Environmental Health Conference at the Historic Sheraton Old Town in Albuquerque, NM.  For more information, visit www.nmehc.org.

October 29, 2002
Hampton Roads Advancing the Choice Event in Norfolk, VA.  For more information, contact Nic van Vuuren at nvanw2@yahoo.com.

October 31, 2002
The City of Tucson - Department of Operations, Pima County Department of Environmental Quality, Pima Association of Governments, Pima County Superintendent of Schools, and Tucson Unified School District and are presenting a Biofuels Seminar on October 31, 2002 from 7:30 A.M. to noon at the Tucson Convention Center.  For more information, visit www.deq.co.pima.az.us. 

November 13-15, 2002
International Energy Conference and Exposition in Reno, NV.  Register online at www.pteinfo.com or email info@pteinfo.com.

January 9-10, 2003
Southwest Regional Airport Clean Vehicle Conference at the Sheraton Grand Hotel at DFW International Airport. For more information email cap@cleanairports.com or call (303) 462-1647.

February 17-19, 2003
8^th Annual National Ethanol Conference: Policy and Marketing at the Camelback Inn Marriott Resort in Scottsdale, AZ.  For more information, call BBI International at (800) 567-6411.

February 27 – March 1, 2003
2003 Commodity Classic at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, NC.  For more information, visit www.commodityclassic.com.

May 4-7, 2003
25^th Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals in Breckenridge, CO.  For more information, visit http://www.nrel.gov/biotech_symposium/.

May 18-21, 2003
9th National Clean Cities Conference and Exposition at the Convention Center in Palm Springs, CA.  For more information, visit http://www.ccities.doe.gov/conference/palm/palm_home.shtml.

June 16-19, 2003
BBI International’s International Fuel Ethanol Workshop and Trade Show at the Sioux Falls Convention Center in Sioux Falls, SD.  For more information, visit www.bbiethanol.com or email conferences@bbiethanol.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.