Naval Station Everett entered the alternative fuel business last week with the activation of an E-85 pump at the base’s Navy Exchange (NEX) fueling station at the waterfront site. E-85 alternative fuel consists of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline and can be used in flexible fuel vehicles (FFV).

The NEX E-85 dispenser to available to not only official vehicles, but to military and civilians who have access to military installations.

The E-85 now available at Naval Station Everett supports Executive Order 13149, “Greening the Government Through Federal Fleet and Transportation Efficiency.” The purpose of the order is to ensure the Federal government exercises leadership in the reduction of petroleum consumption through improvements in fleet fuel efficiency and the use of alternative fuels.

“The use of E-85 highlights the Navy’s commitment to the environment, and is a major step forward in our goal of reducing petroleum consumption in fleet vehicles by 2 percent annually through 2015,” said Capt. Gregory Harshberger, executive officer, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Northwest.

The contract for the installation of the E-85 tank was awarded on September 24 2008 to Weston Solutions and construction started on Feb. 26. The cost of the contract was $387,225. 

“The Navy Exchange takes the future very seriously and always strives to provide the best service to Sailors and their families,” said Greg Thomas, manager of the Everett NEX. “E-85 fits these two goals very well.”

“The use of ethanol is definitely a benefit to the environment. It has a more benign impact on greenhouse gas formation than gasoline and its use reduces gasoline’s most toxic and harmful emissions, particulate matter and benzene,” said Thomas.

Using plant matter to substitute for petrochemicals substantially reduces both upstream and downstream pollution.

“Naval Station Everett has always been a leader in the green initiative,” said Capt. Thomas Mascolo, NAVSTA Everett commanding officer. “The availability of an alternative fuel supply on base clearly helps decrease the station’s carbon footprint and gives us an opportunity to do something for the environment every single day of the year, not just at Earth Day-type events.”

Ethanol is produced in local markets from available renewable resources, such as corn and sugar cane. When you purchase ethanol, money stays nearby, going to local farmers that produced the crops used and the refineries that produced the fuel. When gasoline is purchased, some of each dollar boosts oil companies’ record profits - and the rest goes overseas.

Ethanol reduces dependence on foreign oil. About 45 percent of all of American oil consumption is used as gasoline fuel for consumer vehicles. By using ethanol as a substitute and/or additive to petroleum-based gasoline, ethanol helps to reduce regional dependence on imported oil and petroleum products.

Most of today’s ethanol production is made from corn and sugar. The technology for using waste products, such as unusable portions of crops, to produce cellulosic ethanol is on the horizon - and it will completely revolutionize the way we fuel cars.