KMPH Fox 26 Central San Joaquin Valley News Source in Fresno, California Entertainment, News, Sports and Weather | State's Second Ethanol Fueling Station in Tulare

State's Second Ethanol Fueling Station in Tulare

By: Dani Carlson & Charlene Lee

Just a month after President Bush signed an energy bill aiming to improve fuel economy and reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil, one South Valley town will take the first step to do just that.

Tulare will open the second ethanol fueling station in the state.

Stanley's Food Mart and Shell Station is building four fuel pumps right now that will dispense E85 fuel - gas that is 85 percent ethanol.

Starting next month, hopefully in time for the International Ag Expo, Stanley's hopes to be able to dispense ethanol for flex fuel vehicles that run on E85 fuel.

"To have the opportunity to be the first is exciting," said Dennis Stanley, owner of Stanley's. 

Stanley said his station has experienced many set backs because the technology is so new.

Stanley said he hopes to be able to sell E85 for 20 to 30 cents less than regular gasoline. 

But he also said that E85 isn't for all cars, only those marked as "Flex Fuel" vehicles, or that say they accept E85 in the vehicle manual.

"It's better for the environment, and eventually the cost for fuel will be less," said Jason Martin, the General Sales Manager of Merle Stone Chevrolet in Tulare.

Martin said last year, Merle Stone sold between two and three hundred flex fuel vehicles. 

He admits there are drawbacks like lower fuel efficiency, meaning fewer miles per gallon, but he said there are other positives to focus on.

He mentioned that E85 is a cleaner burning and Stanley's will be down the street offering a lower cost fuel.

He thinks these incentives will make buyers flock to Flex Fuel.