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EPA Helps Make E85 Available for the First Time to Drivers in the Nation’s Capital

Release Date: 06/28/2007
Contact Information: Dave Ryan, 202-564-4355 / [email protected]

WASHINGTON – The first E85 pump open to the motoring public in the District of Columbia went into service today thanks to a collaborative effort by the U.S. EPA and other private and public organizations. EPA offered support through its SmartWay Transport Partnership, providing technical assistance in several areas related to fuels and permitting. The E85 pump is at the Georgetown Chevron station, 2450 Wisconsin Ave., NW.

EPA’s efforts will help to pave the way for other E85 pumps that are planned in the metropolitan Washington area. E85 consists of 85 percent ethanol and only 15 percent conventional gasoline.

“EPA is proud to be part of a growing community of organizations that support and promote clean-burning renewable energy,” said Donald S. Welsh, EPA mid-Atlantic regional administrator. “Today’s opening of an E85 pump in our nation’s capital is a fantastic symbol of the growing availability nationwide of homegrown fuels that reduce pollution, enhance America’s energy security, and improve our economy.”

EPA recently established the nation’s first Renewable Fuel Standard. The goal of this program is to ensure a minimum of 7.5 billion gallons of renewable fuel is produced for vehicle use by 2012. It’s an important first step toward meeting the president’s call to increase America’s use of renewable and alternative fuels to 35 billion gallons by 2017. The renewable mandate and fuel-efficiency improvements in the president’s “20 in 10” plan would reduce our gasoline usage by 20 percent within a decade and would cut annual criteria emissions from cars and light trucks by up to 175 million metric tons. The proposal sent to Congress could cumulatively avert the buildup of more than 600 million metric tons of carbon-dioxide emissions, which contribute to global warming.

EPA is also creating greater demand for renewable fuels through the collaborative efforts of our SmartWay Transport Partnership. SmartWay promotes E85 through its innovative “Grow & Go” program. There are more than 560 companies and organizations participating in SmartWay including major truck and rail carriers as well as shipping and logistics companies. To date, partner commitments will result in annual CO2 reductions of more than three million metric tons, saving these firms an estimated $760 million in fuel costs. SmartWay partners -- including General Motors and Enterprise Rent-A-Car, who participated in today’s E85 pump opening -- are committed to the partnership’s goal of sustainable transportation, which includes increasing the availability of flexible-fueled vehicles and the use of biofuels.

To learn more about SmartWay Grow & Go see EPA’s website: epa.gov/smartway/growandgo