The official ribbon cutting at the new ethanol fuel station was conducted by McChord Base Commander, Col. Allardice; Jim LaMantia, McChord Fleet Manager; and Tim Moe, Puget Sound U.S. General Services Administration Fleet Manager.

McChord Air Force Base celebrated the opening of their Alternative Fuels Service Station on November 15, 2002. The station will provide ethanol and biodiesel to McChord's fleet of vehicles. So far, more than 400 vehicles are operating on these alternative fuels, representing more than 50% of the fleet at McChord. Plans are to expand the use of ethanol and biodiesel to more than 500 vehicles over the next 3 years.

McChord currently operates 21 ethanol compatible vehicles on base. Known as flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs), the vehicles can operate on pure gasoline or on a blend of 85% ethanol with 15% gasoline, referred to as E85. An additional 48 FFVs will be put into service next year and a total of 106 FFVs are planned by 2005. This number may increase as automobile manufacturers expand the variety of ethanol compatible vehicle models they produce.

Some 400 diesel vehicles at McChord are currently operating on a blend of 20% biodiesel with 80% petroleum diesel, known as B20. Biodiesel can be used in virtually any diesel engine without modification, so the transition to this fuel has been relatively easy. In fact, there have been no operational or maintenance issues since the fleet began using biodiesel. 

The first E85 fueling honors went to A1C Paul Flores, who fueled one of McChord's many ethanol capable, flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs), a General Motors minivan.

The cost to modify the existing refueling station with both E85 and biodiesel was about $68,000. The most difficult part of the transition has been the logistics of bringing E85 to the base. Currently, the fuel is being trucked in from Idaho. The biodiesel is trucked in from Tacoma, having arrived at the Tacoma terminal via railcar.

The use of ethanol and biodiesel comprises part of McChord's efforts to comply with the alternative fuel vehicle requirements of the Energy Policy Act (EPAct) and Executive Order 13149.

The Energy Policy Act was designed to reduce American dependence on imported petroleum. As of 1999, the Act requires at least 75% of light duty vehicles acquired each year by all federal agencies with light duty fleet vehicles in major metropolitan areas to be alternative fuel vehicles. Mandated fleets, such as McChord Air Force Base, can meet up to one-half of their vehicle purchase requirements through the use of biodiesel or biodiesel blends containing a minimum of 20 percent biodiesel. For every 450 gallons of biodiesel purchased for use in vehicles weighing in excess of 8,500 lbs, a fleet is allocated one alternative fuel vehicle acquisition credit under EPAct.

Executive Order (E.O.) 13149 requires federal agencies to significantly reduce their vehicular petroleum use by 2005. Under the E.O., any federal agency with a fleet of 20 or more vehicles must develop a strategy to lower its annual petroleum consumption by at least 20% compared to its FY 1999 fuel consumption. The use of alternative fuels is one means to meet this requirement, in addition to increasing the average fuel economy of the fleet and other measures.

Through its efforts, McChord has become the first base in the Air Mobility Command to have both E85 and biodiesel at one fuel facility.

For additional information, contact Jim LaMantia at (253) 982-7544.