Governor's E85 Coalition Announces Funding Assistance for Ethanol Infrastructure.

DENVER -- The Governor's Ethanol (E85) Coalition is making funds available to qualifying facilities to install alternative fuel infrastructure/pumps. In addition to financial assistance, the Coalition will offer marketing and technical assistance to those chosen for funding to add E85 pumping infrastructure. The Coalition is offering these funds to expand the availability of E85 to consumers in Colorado.

E85 is a blended mixture of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent unleaded gasoline. Ethanol is a clean, domestic-sourced fuel that stimulates economic development by increasing jobs, especially for rural communities, while promoting U.S. energy independence. According to studies from the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory, the net energy balance is positive 1.2-1.3 for ethanol.

Funding will be awarded based on criteria such as:

* Ability to obtain a long-term supply of ethanol at a set price;

* The number of alternative fuel vehicles using that location (see our website www.colorado.gov/oemc for vehicle numbers in your area);

* Offering more than one alternative fuel;

* Being located in an agricultural community, or near an Interstate or toll highway, on a major thoroughfare or intersection or near a large fleet of alternative fuel vehicles.

The Coalition will provide partial funding not to exceed $15,000 to qualified applicants or a maximum of 75% of the after-tax incentive project costs, whichever is less. In addition to the Coalition's funding, there are several very generous State and Federal tax incentives available to the retail station.

"As automakers like General Motors and Ford produce hundreds of thousands of new Flex-Fuel vehicles, our hope is to provide hundreds of thousands of Coloradans more fuel options," said Drew Bolin, OEMC director.

No Colorado state tax dollars are used for this funding. For additional information, please contact Gerry Harrow, Chairman of the E85 Coalition, [e-mail] or 303-275-4670, or Rob Pearson, [e-mail], 303-866-2163.