VA Opens 13th Alternative Fueling Station

VA Opens 13th Alternative Fueling Station

Solar-Powered Fuel Station Pumps Ethanol

WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently announced the opening of an alternative fueling station at its Martinez campus of the VA Northern California Healthcare System.

“We expect this effort to lead to new opportunities for VA to reduce its effect upon the environment,” Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki said.  “This investment will help VA in its transition to creating a sustainable agency and providing savings that will be used to enhance our services to Veterans and their families.”

The ethanol (E-85) fueling station is the thirteenth in operation for VA.  The 5,000- gallon E-85 storage and dispensing station is wireless, self-contained and powered by an 800-kilowatt solar-powered system.  VA Northern California has a fleet of 180 vehicles, including 103 flexible-fuel (or E-85 capable) vehicles and two hybrid vehicles. 

VA will be installing 91 additional E-85 stations at sites throughout the nation, with most open by December 2011.  The sites were selected based on a recently completed fleet location study that evaluated VA’s fleet, local availability of alternative fuels, state-specific regulations and other factors.  

The fueling stations will provide greater alternative fueling access for VA fleet vehicles while ensuring compliance with federal laws and mandates such as the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.  VA is required to achieve a 20 percent reduction in petroleum consumption by 2015; increase alternative fuel usage 10 percent annually; and install at least one renewable fuel pump at each federal fleet fueling center by 2010.

With the new ethanol fueling station, the Martinez facility joins VA medical centers in Togus, Maine; Altoona and Coatesville, Pa.; Augusta, Ga.; Cleveland, Chillicothe, and Dayton, Ohio; North Little Rock, Ark.; Dallas; San Francisco; Menlo Park, Calif.; and Manila, Philippines.

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