WHEN IT comes to the greening of the state, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger often seems to prefer promises and photo opportunities to actual advances. The latest example is the so-called "flex-fuel" state vehicles, designed to use environmentally friendly high-grade ethanol. Over two years, the 1,138 vehicles, costing $17 million, have traveled more than 10 million miles and used 413,202 gallons of fuel. As a MediaNews investigation revealed, not one gallon was of high-grade ethanol.
Not only were the vehicles not environmentally friendly, they created worse pollution than the state's old fleet. Because of their design, they create more smog and greenhouse gases — 2,000 extra tons a year — when they use gasoline.
So how did taxpayers end up spending $17 million for so-called green vehicles that create worse pollution? It turns out there are no stations where the vehicles can fuel up with the high-grade ethanol.
There weren't any stations four years ago when the first of the "flex-fuel" vehicles hit the road, and there aren't any now. To call it an example of extraordinarily poor planning is an understatement.
Since MediaNews started making inquiries, the state has sped up the timetable to provide ethanol fuel. The General Services Department plans to open a competitive bid next month for companies to provide the ethanol-rich fuel to one station in Sacramento.
http://www.insidebayarea.com/argus/oped/ci_6402306
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07-19-2007, 02:39 AM
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