JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. (AFNS) -- Officials here held a ceremony at the base service station July 30 to launch the use of E85 fuel in all government vehicles that are designed for ethanol-based fuels.
The fuel contains a higher percentage of ethanol than regular fuel, with a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent unleaded gasoline. As of 2006, the U.S. Department of Energy classifies E85 as an alternative fuel because it burns cleaner than regular gasoline and reduces the amount of carbon dioxide released into the environment.
All government vehicles assigned to the joint base that are identified as alternative fuel vehicles, or flex fuel vehicles, are now required to use E85 to help meet requirements established when Executive Order 13423 was signed in 2007.
The executive order states that federal agencies need to reduce energy intensity by 3 percent each year, leading to a reduction of 30 percent by the end of 2015.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, alternative fuels are derived from resources other than petroleum. Some are produced domestically, reducing our dependence on imported oil, and some are derived from renewable sources. Ethanol is produced domestically from corn and other crops and produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions than conventional fuels.
"Ethanol is a much safer source of fuel for our environment," said 1st Lt. Delwyn Campo, 87th Logistics Readiness Squadron, fuels management flight commander. "Along with implementing biodiesel in 2003, E85 is just another great step JB MDL is making toward a long-term environmental change."
The joint base now has two E85 fuel tanks - a 12,000-gallon tank at McGuire and a 10,000-gallon tank at Lakehurst - that are available for flex-fuel government vehicles. There are currently 261 vehicles at McGuire and 43 vehicles at Lakehurst that are E85 capable.
"It's important for us as a country to start moving away from our dependence on petroleum-based fuels," said Col. Gina Grosso, JB MDL commander. "This is a big step in that direction, and the joint base is now a model for this initiative."