January 26, 2007

Alabama Switches State Fleet to Flex-Fuel

Alabama is switching its state fleet to E-85. Construction of a 12,000 gallon E-85 tank and two fueling pumps began this week and is scheduled to be finished in early May. 

Of the 207 vehicles at the State Motor Pool, 132 are currently flex fuel.  Approximately 2,000 of the 3,000 vehicles operated by the Alabama Department of Transportation are also flex fuel vehicles.

Riley arrived at the State Motor Pool in a Chevy Avalanche truck powered by E-85.  The vehicle was provided to the state as part of a campaign by General Motors and the Governors’ Ethanol Coalition to promote E-85 vehicles. 

In October, Riley announced Alabama had been awarded a federal grant to add pumps for E-85 ethanol fuel at six Alabama gas stations and B-20 biodiesel fuel at five stations.  The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs and the Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition partnered with the states of Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee to secure the grant and provide motorists with a “clean fuels corridor” from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico. The grant funds will cover up to 50 percent of the cost for a retailer to add the infrastructure necessary to offer the alternative fuel.

The federal government also offers a 30 percent tax credit for installation of alternative fuel stations, up to a maximum of $30,000 per year. 

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