County looks at fuel options for its cars

Ethanol production (file photo)

By Alicia Fabbre

June 26, 2000 Web posted at: 11:36 AM EDT (1536 GMT)

KANE COUNTY, Illinois (Daily Herald) -- It might not cost $2 a gallon to fuel county cars, but Kane County officials still want to find cheaper ways to get around. County board members are looking at alternatives, such as corn-based ethanol or natural gas, to keep the county's fleet running and the budget in the black.

Members of the county board's administration committee Wednesday suggested using alternative fuel in light of the increasing cost of gasoline. County board members are expected to continue discussions next month.

"We have to look at saving the taxpayer money," said Don Rage, a county board member from Sleepy Hollow who heads the committee. "Maybe it also will give people the idea that they may also be able to use an alternate fuel."

He added that while the county is not forced to pay state or federal taxes on gasoline, prices are still higher than expected. The sheriff's office, for example, budgeted to pay about $1.20 a gallon to fill up its fuel tanks. The most recent fill-up cost about $1.30 a gallon, said fleet manager Gary Sivac. Finance Director Cheryl Pattelli added that at current gas prices, the county could expect to run $100,000 over budget for fuel. The county already has spent $176,400 of the $296,241 earmarked to buy fuel this year. Last month alone, the county spent $37,000 for fuel - almost $12,000 more than average.

"There are other fuels that are available," Rage said. Ethanol, for example, is retailing for about $1.75 a gallon - some 40 cents less than unleaded gas at the same station. Cars equipped to run on natural gas can get by on about $1.21 a gallon for fuel.

Without having to pay federal or state taxes, the county would spend substantially less for the alternate fuel. Natural gas, for example, would run about 90 cents a gallon for the county and could result in a savings of up to $1,000 a year for a typical car, said Tom Lindsay, director of natural gas vehicle marketing for Nicor Inc.

The county already has some cars outfitted for ethanol. But without an ethanol fueling station near Geneva, where many of the county-owned vehicles are fueled, the cars continue to burn regular unleaded gasoline. Rage and other county board members want county employees to investigate how much it would cost to build alternative fueling stations and if there are any grants available to build them.

Other municipalities and private companies have already turned to using compressed natural gas to fuel cars. Naperville, for example, is putting the finishing touches, such as fencing, on a natural gas fueling station. It will open officially later this year. The city already has five cars equipped to use either natural gas or gasoline. Although the fueling station cost about $25,000 to build, the city partnered with Nicor Inc. and paid only $10,000 for the station. The city also took advantage of rebates offered through the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to cover the cost of fitting cars with compress natural gas tanks.

Other communities, such as Downers Grove and Lake Zurich, are taking advantage of federal grants to build natural gas fueling stations. And within the last year, 10 ethanol fueling stations have been built in the Chicago area, including those in Elgin, Wheaton and Bartlett.

In addition to the cost savings benefit, natural gas and ethanol both burn cleaner and emit fewer pollutants, said Darwin Burkhart, alternate fuel program director for the IEPA.

But there are some problems. In the winter, natural gas cars take longer to start up and fueling stations for both ethanol and natural gas are hard to find. And while gas prices are soaring, some suggested the county take a wait-and-see approach until fall to see if gasoline prices will decrease.

For more Local news, myCNN.com will bring you news from the areas and subjects you select.

CO, Colorado Springs, KKTV CO, Denver KCNC CO, Denver, KWGN IL, Chicago, WGN IL, Decatur, WAND IL, East Peoria, WEEK IL, Quincy, KHQA   IA, Des Moines, KCCI KS, Wichita, KAKE KS, Topeka, KTKA KS, Wichita, KWCH MN, Minneapolis/St. Paul, KMSP MO, Kansas City, KCTV MT, Billings KTVQ   MT, Great Falls, KFBB ND, Fargo, KXJB ON, Barrie, NEWVR ON, Toronto, CITYTV WI, Green Bay, WLUK WI, Milwaukee, WISN