News Releases for December 2005
December 9, 2005
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Hoeven: Nearly Half Of New Purchases For State Fleet E-85 Ready
BISMARCK, N.D. – Gov. John Hoeven today announced that nearly half of the new purchases for the state fleet are E-85 ready, meaning they can use E-85 fuel, a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. That means that more than a quarter of the passenger vehicles in the North Dakota State Fleet are flexible fuel vehicles. In January 2002, Hoeven directed the North Dakota Department of Transportation to use E-10 blended fuel and acquire more E-85 vehicles in the fleet.
With the recent acquisition of 180 new 2006 sedans and four pick-ups, the state fleet now has a total of 282 E-85 vehicles out of a total passenger fleet of 825 vehicles. In 2000, the fleet had just eight vehicles able to use E-85. At the same time, the number of fueling stations offering E-85 across North Dakota has risen from just two four years ago to 30 today.
“We’ve made significant advances over the past few years in ethanol and other renewable energy sources by putting in place solid incentives and promoting E-85 use and availability,” Hoeven said. “At the same time, we need to continue to press forward on all energy fronts – renewable and traditional – to ensure that North Dakota reaches its full energy potential.”
Over the past year, three new biofuels projects have been announced in North Dakota: two new ethanol plants with a combined capacity of 100 million gallons and a biodiesel plant that will produce 50 million gallons annually. In addition, five new wind energy projects are underway in the state, with a combined capacity of more than 330 megawatts. Efforts to promote clean coal technology, coal liquefaction, oil and gas are also underway.
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