By Associated Press
Montgomery, AL – Gov. Bob Riley filled up a Chevrolet Impala at the state motor pool with a fuel that's 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. It's the first of what Riley says will be about two thousand state cars using alternative fuels.
Riley said at a news conference Tuesday he hopes the state's use of alternative fuels will encourage others to become less dependent on oil-based products like gasoline. Ethanol is made from corn and other agricultural products.
State Motor Pool manager Bill Weston says the ethanol mixture costs about 20 to 25 cents a gallon less than unleaded gasoline. He says he expects state vehicles designed to run on ethanol will begin filling up with the new fuel next week.
Riley says the use of more alternative fuels will expand the market for farmers in Alabama and around the country.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)