For Release: September 13, 2007
E85 ethanol available to South Florida consumers for first time
MIAMI - General Motors, CleanFUEL Distribution and the Urbieta family opened the first E85 ethanol station in Miami-Dade on Sept. 13, giving flex fuel customers the opportunity to fuel up at 85 cents per gallon.
Approximately 11,000 GM FlexFuel drivers located in the South Florida communities were notified about the opening of the pump and the two-day promotion by mail.
“There’s a lot of demand and questions from customers about E85 and now Miami residents have a place to fill their tanks with ethanol fuel,” said a representative from Kendall Chevrolet dealership.
Up to 165,000 barrels of oil could be saved in Miami alone if GM FlexFuel drivers filled their tanks with E85 ethanol.
“My Avalanche takes approximately 30 gallons and I spend about $90 per week. Today, I’ll probably fill up for no more than 30 dollars, a huge savings. I remember when gasoline was 85 cents, so I’ve been waiting a long time for this,” said Armando Cepero, a customer who filled up his FlexFuel Chevrolet Avalanche.
General Motors and CleanFUEL Distribution helped the Urbieta family expand their roles from gas providers to energy-saving leaders.
“We see ethanol as the future. There are so many benefits from it and because we are in the petroleum distribution business, we believe we need to bring ethanol to our community,” said Ignacio Urbieta, U-Gas co-owner.
At the conclusion of the pump promotion, GM Director of Environment, Energy and Safety Policy Dr. Mary Beth Stanek, Miami-Dade City Commissioner Rebecca Sosa, CleanFUEL Distribution President Karl Doenges and U-Gas station owners Guillermo and Ignacio Urbieta spoke to local news media and Miami residents in attendance about the potential economic development opportunities and the environmental benefits E85 ethanol can bring to Miami.
“I’m very proud to see GM and the Urbieta Oil Company join forces for a better tomorrow, for Miami-Dade County, for the nation and for the state of Florida,” said Rebecca Sosa, Miami-Dade District Six County Commissioner.
“Ethanol is the fuel of the future,” said Cepero. “ Miami needs more ethanol fueling stations to continue to improve our communities and our environment.”
General Motors already has more than 2 million FlexFuel models on North American roads. For the 2007 model year, GM offers 14 E85-capable FlexFuel models.