Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport expands alternative fuel program

PHOENIX - Some of you might be enjoying corn with your dinner tonight and that very veggie is now fueling many vehicles at Sky Harbor International Airport .

"Our alternative fuel program is every expanding," said Gabriel Navarez, maintenance supervisor at Sky Harbor. That program began in 1996.

Now, about 70-percent of the airports vehicle fleet runs on alternative fuels: including clean-burning natural gas, bio-diesel, and as of last fall, E-85 -- an alcohol made from various grains and vegetables and 15-percent unleaded gasoline.

"It's a cleaner burning fuel,” said Navarez. It's approximately 60-percent cleaner burning than unleaded."

He also notes that E-85 is completely renewable, not a finite resource.

Another plus is that it's produced by Pinal Energy in Maricopa and, therefore, supports local jobs.

Sky Harbor's contracted cab companies also use cleaner burning fuels.

It's largest, AAA Yellow Cab, has an entire fleet that runs on E-85. "Everybody right now is just energy, energy, energy," said AAA Yellow Cab owner Hossein DiBazar. "And, this is the best thing to do to in order to not depend on foreign oil."

DiBazar has an E-85 station on his lot for cabs and regular drivers who have flex-fuel vehicles.

He points out, not only is E-85 a greener choice, it's currently about 70 cents less than a gallon of regular unleaded.