NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack on Monday highlighted the importance of moving toward a clean energy economy and breaking the nation's unsustainable dependence on foreign oil while visiting a Thorntons Convenience Store E-85 fueling station in Nashville, Tenn.
"Flex-fuel pumps give Americans a choice to purchase domestically produced renewable transportation fuels," Vilsack said. "The Obama Administration is working to transform the United States into a global clean energy leader because transportation fuels created from a wide variety of [image-nocss] renewable energy sources will create a new generation of jobs here at home, reduce dependence on foreign oil and enhance our national security."
In April, Secretary Vilsack announced a series of initiatives to help farmers and rural small businesses implement renewable energy systems and become more energy efficient. One of those initiatives allows USDA's Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) to now make funding available for flexible-fuel pumps, sometimes referred to as "blender pumps." This is expected to encourage fuel station owners to invest the capital necessary to give American motorists the option of selecting the blend of renewable fuel that meets their needs.
The Obama administration has set a goal of installing 10,000 flexible fuel pumps nationwide within five years.
The deadlines for submitting completed REAP applications are June 15 and June 30, depending on the type of project to be funded.
Today, most gasoline sold in this country is a mix of 10% ethanol. Currently, there are 8 million to 8.5 million flexible-fuel vehicles (FFVs) on U.S. roads, constituting about 3.2% to 3.5% of the approximately 250 million vehicles on the road. These FFVs can be fueled with E85 (a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline). There are approximately 2,350 fueling stations that offer E85 of the more than 167,800 stations nationwide. Earlier this year, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the results of E15 testing on vehicles years 2001 and younger. EPA's findings confirm there are additional vehicles on the road able to take advantage of higher ethanol blends than currently available at local, non-E85, pumps.
USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, administers and manages housing, business and community infrastructure and facility programs through a national network of state and local offices. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America. Rural Development has an existing portfolio of nearly $149 billion in loans and loan guarantees.
Founded in 1971, Thorntons is one of the leading independent gasoline and convenience chain retailers in the U.S., currently operating throughout the Midwest under the brand name Thorntons. With more than $1.4 billion in revenue, Thorntons is one of largest privately held corporations in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Headquartered in Louisville, Ky., it operates 163 gasoline and convenience stores, car washes and travel plazas in five states: Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Tennessee. Thorntons distributes its petroleum products through its wholly owned Thornton Transportation Co. and operates a river bulk storage terminal in Louisville.
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