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Saturday, September 2, 2006
Dear Friends:
Gasoline prices have dropped modestly in the past few weeks, but they are still up from last year by about 35 to 40 cents per gallon. Despite these increases, Arizonans continue to need more and more gasoline, and, in fact, consumption has actually gone up. The laws of supply and demand continue to play a major role in the price of gasoline
Fortunately, high gasoline prices have begun to increase interest in other transportation fuels.
A few gas stations in Tucson and Sierra Vista are selling a product called E85, which is a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. E85 reduces toxic emissions and it emits fewer ozone-forming chemicals, leading to improved air quality. Although few Arizonans currently use E85, most motorists already use some ethanol in their current gasoline blends:
- Fuel sold in the Tucson area contains a 5.1 percent ethanol blend, by volume, between Oct 1 and March 31,
- Fuel sold in the Phoenix-area contains a 10 percent ethanol blend, by volume, between Nov. 1 and March 31.
On April 11, I signed House Bill 2590. It clarifies that E85 can be sold in Maricopa County. This clarification removed a big hurdle to diversifying our transportation fuel base in Maricopa County, a hurdle that did not exist in other counties. I am hopeful that industry will now respond to the new law by making E85 available to consumers in Maricopa County and throughout the state.
E85, however, isn't a perfect answer. Although right now over 56 models made after 2000 can use it safely, many other cars still cannot use this fuel. Before using E85, check your vehicle manual or visit the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition Web site for a list of E85-compatible vehicles. Though E85 is currently available in only some parts of Southern Arizona, eventually there will be more gas stations selling E85 all over Arizona.
There are other alternative fuels available. A few Arizona school districts are using Biodiesel, which includes used vegetable oil, to fuel their buses. It may become widely available to consumers in the future.
Additionally, vehicles operating on diesel fuel will soon be able to use a new Ultra-Low-Sulfur Diesel fuel, which produces less soot and other pollutants than conventional diesel. The U.S. Environmental Protection Administration is mandating the sale of this fuel, and any diesel engine produced after 2007 must be equipped to run on Ultra-Low-Sulfur Diesel.
For more information on E85 and alternative fuels, visit the Arizona Department of Weights and Measures Web page.
For more information on the location of stations selling biodiesel, visit http://www.biodiesel.org/buyingbiodiesel/retailfuelingsites/default.shtm
As we diversify the options for transportation fuels we take a big step forward in controlling our future and reducing our dependency on foreign oil and gas.
As always, I encourage you to visit my Fuel Facts Web page devoted to gasoline information at www.azgovernor.gov/fuelfacts. Please check the site often throughout the summer as we add fuel saving tips.
Yours very truly,
Janet Napolitano
Governor
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