Corn fuel drives Barksdale

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Alyssa C. Miles
  • 2d Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  The 2d Logistics Readiness Squadron is the most recent base organization to take initiatives to lower Barksdale's carbon footprint. 

Forty-four Barksdale government owned vehicles will be making the switch from its current fuel to E85, which contains 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. The corn-based ethanol will result in a 19 percent reduction in greenhouse gases. 

"E85 is less volatile than gasoline, which results in fewer evaporative emissions," said Master Sgt. Damon Schmidt, 2d LRS noncommissioned officer in charge of fuels facilities. "Using E85 reduces carbon monoxide emissions and provides significant reduction in emissions of harmful toxics including benzene, which is a known human carcinogen." 

Once the E85 portion of the Barksdale Military Service Station opens, the transition to the new fuel will be seamless, according to Sergeant Schmidt. The only requirement is that the 44 Flex Fuel GOVs will be required to bring the vehicles Vehicle Identification Label key to 2d LRS fuels management flights to be re-keyed to E85. 

The Defense Energy Supply Center who coordinates all fuel deliveries for the military will take the E85 fuels request from Barksdale's fuels service center and then contract out the request to carriers to each military installation. 

"The Department of Defense has actually been directed per Executive Order 13123 to utilize more 'green' fuels and this is one of the first steps in an attempt to help our nation become less dependent on foreign oil," said Capt. Dennis Widner, 2d LRS fuels management flight commander. "There won't be any visible benefits immediately, but this is the beginning of a long term environmental and cultural change. Aside from helping reduce our dependency on foreign oil, the emission reduction is the greatest benefit." 

The benefit outside of Barksdale for the Bossier City and Shreveport area is an environmentally friendly military installation. 

"People in the community will know that Barksdale Air Force Base cares about the environment and commits to using alternate fuel sources when available to help the environment," said Sergeant Schmidt. 

The pumps have been added to the existing fuel station near the cross roads of Icarus and Lingbergh Streets. As with other fuel products, these pumps are only for use by government vehicles for official use only.