For Release: August 30, 2007
CINCINNATI – The GM E85 Days of Summer Tour continued its blitz of Cincinnati with an Energy Diversity forum for academia, industry and political leaders at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College on Wednesday, Aug. 29. Mary Beth Stanek, director of GM Environment, Energy and Safety Policy, Rick Eggebrecht from VeraSun Energy and Bill Montgomery from Clean Fuels Ohio participated in a panel discussion to help educate attendees about E85.
Ohio Congresswoman Jean Schmidt is a huge proponent of E85 and stopped by to take part in the discussion. She talked about her commitment to help reduce dependence on foreign oil, and explained how she promotes E85 daily when driving her FlexFuel Chevy Tahoe with a personalized license plate, which reads E85 4 OH.
Although E85 is domestically produced, reduces emissions and burns cleaner, there are a number of misconceptions and misinformation out there, and many people are still not familiar with all the facts. Attendees were very curious about E85 as well as technologies such as fuel cells and hybrids, and were able to ask questions and gain a better understanding after the panel remarks. Some attendees weren’t even aware FlexFuel vehicles can be filled with either E85 or gasoline, and more importantly, any combination of the two, so owners don’t have to run their tank out.
Most of the feedback was positive about E85 and what GM is doing to help educate the public, improve infrastructure and provide products with the ability to run on alternative fuels, but all participants recognized much work still needs to be done to increase consumer awareness and knowledge about their fueling options. Ultimately, consumer demand will help drive availability and infrastructure for the renewable fuel.
After the forum, the E85 Days of Summer Tour made a brief stop in the Columbus-area for yet another 85 cents per gallon E85 pump promotion at a Kroger fueling station in Dublin, Ohio. GM continues its efforts to educate consumers about E85 when the Tour hits Miami the week of Sept. 10.
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