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Curtis Donaldson, president of CleanFUEL USA, and David
Gibson, executive director of the Corn Producers Association
of Texas, helped celebrate the opening of Texas’ first
public E85 pump in San Antonio. |
Texas Opens First Public E85 Pump (10-21-05)
The
Corn Producers Association of Texas (CPAT) celebrated the opening
of the state’s first public E85 pump
in San Antonio on Wednesday, the National Corn Growers Association
notes.
The Bexar County Fleet Maintenance Building is selling the blend
of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. On Wednesday, the
station promoted the fuel by selling it for 85 cents for a couple
hours. After the promotion, the station posted a price of $2.35 a
gallon, which is about 20 cents less than regular unleaded in the
San Antonio area.
“It’s good to finally have a site open to the public
in Texas,” said David Gibson, executive director of CPAT. “Corn
was touted really strongly there. This is good for farmers, and we’re
looking forward to opening more stations. In fact, there’s
a site under review in Austin right now.”
In order to buy the fuel at the station, motorists must register
their car by calling (877) 234-1722, ext. 8374 or (512) 942-8374.
The site is an unmanned station, and motorists need a special card
to purchase the fuel.
Bexar County has a fleet of alternative fuel vehicles that use biodiesel
and E85, but this is the first station that has E85 available to
the public.
“This is a historic moment for our county in terms of safeguarding
our economic and energy security," said Bexar County Commissioner
Tommy Adkisson. “By making this local effort, we are helping
to change the national landscape.”
Gibson said he expects more cities in Texas to follow the E85 bandwagon.
“I think this is the beginning of a domino effect,” he
said. “It’s great to see it happening in urban areas
too.”
CleanFUEL USA, the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition, Bexar County
and the U.S. Department of Energy funded the station.