Florida Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV) Awareness Project

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Florida Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV) Awareness Project Announced at Farm-to-Fuel Summit-Florida selected as Pilot Project to Mobilize Millions of FFV Owners

Orlando, Florida, July 30, 2009:  A national consumer awareness campaign aimed at owners of flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) was officially launched here today at the Farm-to-Fuel Summit. The project is a cooperative  effort between key Florida state government interests,  gasoline/E85 distributors, ethanol companies, and several nonprofit environmental and energy advocacy groups.

The Florida Farm-to-Fuel Summit provided the forum for Charles Bronson, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services, to announce that the state would be taking a proactive role aimed at increasing the use of higher blends of renewable biofuels, like ethanol, in FlexFuel Vehicles (FFVs). “We can  stimulate the state economy and create new biotech jobs simply by using  more ethanol. Several  advanced biofuel projects in our state will use our abundant renewable  biomass resources, waste from our agriculture processing plants, and trash  from our cities. There are hundreds of millions of dollars that are being invested in  Florida for these 2nd generation ethanol plants and we need to develop the market by educating  consumers now,” said Bronson.

Florida Governor Charles Crist  said, “Our state has developed a comprehensive strategy to become more energy independent with clean, sustainable, and affordable fuel sources.”  Today’s  announcement is one more step that our state can take in the effort to  become better stewards of our natural resources.”  Governor Crist cited the  environmental, economic, and energy security benefits of ethanol as key  reasons to support flex fuel vehicles and higher ethanol blends like  E85.

There are more than 8 million FFV owners in the U.S. and 500,000 in Florida. Hundreds of auto dealers in the state will be selling millions more FFVs in the next few years. Project organizers say the program will be duplicated in states across the U.S. and can play a key role in meeting national renewable fuel use requirements.

 “The FFV Awareness driver education project is designed to locate and encourage drivers of FFVs to try higher blends of ethanol when they are available. This will help Florida meet its goals of reducing the cost of and reliance on imported oil, improving air quality, and creating economic development opportunities – all while reducing greenhouse gases. This is a Win-Win-Win for Florida drivers, the state government, and the nation,” said Douglas A. Durante, Director of the Clean Fuels Foundation.

There are currently thirty E85 stations in the state, with a majority of them located in the South Florida market.

“Ethanol is the only renewable alternative fuel available today that is noticeably reducing our dependence on imported oil,” said Renewable Fuels Association President Bob Dinneen.  “Americans are willing to support a domestically-produced, renewable fuel over imported oil if they know where to buy it and if they can use. Making consumers aware of their fueling options puts the drive for energy independence in their capable hands.  By partnering with the industry, the state of Florida is leading by example.”

The Clean Fuels Foundation and the FlexFuel Vehicle Club of America are the project organizers in cooperation with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The lead sponsor for the pilot project is the Renewable Fuels Association.  Other project supporters include the General Motors, Verenium, Protec Fuel Management, Urbieta Oil, the Florida Biofuels Association and the USDA Office of Energy Policy and New Uses.

The FlexFuel Vehicle Club is encouraging Florida drivers to check their Vehicle Identification Numbers, owners manuals, and fuel tank doors to see if they already own an FFV. The FFV awareness project is a perfect compliment to recent federal economic stimulus plan that provides grants to states to fund the development E85 refueling stations in the United States.

“FFV owners hold the key to Florida’s and America’s clean energy future. Consumer choice and alternative fuels have arrived in Florida in the form of E85 and FFVs and it will be up to the consumer to keep choice and the national Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) by using higher blends of ethanol. We will work with all interested parties to start decaling FFVs in Flordia and create a very dynamic and special community of interest,” said Burl Haigwood, president of the FlexFuel Vehicle Club. “The state can play a key role in helping national and state organizations trying to develop alternative fuels by helping us identify ways to contact and educate FFV owners so they are aware of the capabilities of their vehicles to operate on blends of ethanol up to 85. National surveys are showing that consumers want to act, and this is something they can do today,” said Haigwood.

“Protec Fuel Management is proud to be a part of the Florida Flex Fuel Vehicle Awareness Project. E85 (through Flex Fuel Vehicles) is the only commercially available replacement today for gasoline. Many oil producing nations are unstable and hostile to the United States; this is a matter of national security. Ethanol from the United States and the Americas is better for security, better for our economy and better for our environment,” said Todd Garner, CEO of Protec Fuel Management.

“Urbieta Oil is very excited about the Clean Fuel Foundation and FlexFuel Vehicle Club taking the initiative to bring awareness to current and future FlexFuel vehicle owners. This will create a needed sense of pride for FFV owners and recognize their contribution to our country. We have invested a lot of our time and resources to support the nation’s energy security goals and we will continue to support our customers by helping with this project,” said Ignacio Urbieta, Owner, Urbieta Oil Company.

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Click here For More Information about the National FFV Awareness project.