WSFA 12 News Montgomery, AL |Alabama, GM team up for Ethanol development

Alabama, GM team up for Ethanol development

MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) - Alabama is among 10 states that will partner with General Motors Corporation to promote development of ethanol fuels said Governor Bob Riley Wednesday.

Ethanol fules, called E-85, is a mixture of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline.

General Motors will provide technical assistance to Alabama, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Tennessee and Wisconsin un the new partnership.

The idea is to help states choose the best locations for E085 fueling stations, to optimize the supply of E-85 with producers and to use General Motors' dealership network and plants to promote the fuel.

"The infrastructure for E-85 needs to expand now if the nation is to be ready for the significant growth in ethanol coming from new cellulosic sources," said Beth Lowery, GM vice president of environment, energy and safety policy. "We need a range of alternatives to offset growing oil demand in this country and globally."

"Increasing the use of E-85 makes all the sense in the world," said Governor Riley.  "E-85 is a less expensive fueling option that is better for our environment and helps reduce our dependence on foreign oil," said Governor Riley.  "And because it's made from crops grown by our farmers, E-85 is a real growth opportunity for our rural economy."

Alabama is already locating fuel pumps along Interstate 65 that can dispense E-85 and B-20 biodiesel through a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.