Some government vehicles now using alternative fuel

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Robert Leigh
  • 90th Logistics Readiness Squadron
F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo. --  Ethanol, a high-octane, liquid, domestic and renewable fuel, produced by the fermentation of plant sugars, will be available for use in government vehicles starting Dec. 15 at the Warren military service station.

In the United States, ethanol is typically produced from corn and other grain products, although in the future it may be economically produced from other resources such as agricultural and forestry wastes or specially grown energy crops.

E85 is the term for motor fuel blends of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline.

Here are a few E85 facts from http://www.e85fuel.com/e85101/faqs/ethanol.php:
- E85 has an octane of about 105.
- E85 sells for about the same price as unleaded gasoline.
- Ethanol reduces the incidence of greenhouse gas emissions.
- Ethanol is domestically produced and promotes energy independence.
- Ethanol production increases the value of feed grains grown by farmers.
- Ethanol is biodegradable and does not contaminate water.
- Ethanol can be produced from a number of different feedstocks including paper and agricultural waste.

E85 is an alternative fuel as defined by the U.S. Department of Energy. Besides its superior performance characteristics, ethanol burns cleaner than gasoline; it is a completely renewable, domestic, environmentally friendly fuel that enhances the nation's economy and energy independence.

Today, the nation imports more than half of its oil, and overall consumption continues to increase. By supporting ethanol production and use, U.S. drivers can help reverse that trend.

Eighty-five percent ethanol can reduce pollution. Government tests have shown that E85 vehicles reduce harmful hydrocarbon and benzene emissions when compared to vehicles running on gasoline. E85 can also reduce carbon dioxide, a harmful greenhouse gas and a major contributor to global warming.

Although CO2 is released during ethanol production and combustion, it is recaptured as a nutrient to the crops that are used in its production. Unlike fossil fuel combustion, which unlocks carbon that has been stored for millions of years, use of ethanol results in low increases to the carbon cycle.

Ethanol also degrades quickly in water and, therefore, poses much less risk to the environment than an oil or gasoline spill, according to the E85 Web site http://www.e85fuel.com/e85101/faqs/e85.php.

Once E85 is available at the military service station on base all E85 compatible vehicles will need their VIL keys encoded with E85. Vehicle control officers have one week from when the station is operational to encode their VIL keys before they are locked out from using unleaded fuel. Take VIL keys that need encoding to Building 1247 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For more information call Tech. Sgt. Robert Leigh at 773-4174.