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| Charles Jamison, treasurer
of the Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board, addresses the
crowd at Wednesday’s opening of the District of Columbia’s
first E-85 pump. Bob Dineen, center, of the Renewable Fuels Association,
and Shelly Launey, right, of the Department of Energy, also spoke
at the event. |
NCGA
Participates in Opening of First E-85 Pump in Washington, D.C. (4-22-04)
As gasoline prices continue
to spiral higher, lawmakers and consumers alike are taking a closer
look at domestically produced alternative fuels. On Wednesday, the
alternative fuels industry took another step forward by opening the
first E-85 pumping station inside the Washington, D.C., beltway. The
National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and other ethanol industry
leaders were on hand for the event.
The new E-85 pump is at
the Fleet Management Administration (FMA) facility in the heart of
Washington. The fueling station serves approximately 300 state and
federal fleet vehicles that will now be able to fuel up with E-85,
a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline.
“The opening of this
station marks the first E-85 pump in the nation’s capitol,”
said Charles Jamison, treasurer of the Maryland Grain Producers Utilization
Board. “It is a sign of good things to come for corn growers
and the ethanol industry, and this leads us that much closer to energy
security. This is definitely a large step forward in bringing the
people of our nation’s great capitol a breath of fresh air.”
Shelly Launey, national
director of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Clean Cities program;
Bob Dineen, president and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA);
and Jamison spoke at the event. The consistent message throughout
the morning was that state and federal governments are committed to
alternative fuel options.
Ethanol production is the
fastest growing industry in the United States, Jamison said, adding
that ethanol makes our environment “greener,” creates
jobs and moves the United States closer to energy independence.
The E-85 pump was made
possible through a combination of funding and grants provided by NCGA,
MGPUB, Virginia Corn Growers Association (VCGA), Corn Marketing Program
of Michigan, Illinois Corn Marketing Board, DOE, the District of Columbia
and the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition.
For a listing
of E-85 pumping stations throughout the nation, click
here