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Alternative Fuels
Increased use of alternative fuels is important to preserve our natural resources, improve air quality and health, and reduce our country’s dependency on foreign oil. In 2006, just 33.5 percent of the crude oil consumed in the U.S. was produced in the U.S.
Using natural gas to fuel our vehicles produces significantly lower harmful emissions, compared to diesel and gasoline. And Texas has plenty of natural gas. Plus, its use keeps profits in America, not overseas. Many of the City’s fleet of sedans, pickups and large sanitation trucks operate on natural gas.
Biodiesel is a renewable fuel produced from vegetable oils and animal fats. Pure or petroleum blended biodiesel can fuel diesel vehicles, providing energy security and emissions benefits. Biodiesel is nontoxic, biodegradable and can be made from waste material that may otherwise end up in a landfill or waterway. You can help by saving your old cooking oil and grease and taking it to one of Sanitation’s transfer stations or an oil and grease drop off center. Visit www.CeaseTheGrease.org to find out more!
Ethanol is a renewable fuel made from various plant materials, which collectively are called "biomass." Nearly half of U.S. gasoline contains ethanol in a low-level blend to oxygenate the fuel and reduce air pollution. Ethanol is also increasingly available in E85, an alternative fuel that can be used in flexible fuel vehicles. All gasoline now has a minimum of 10 percent ethanol.
Propane, or liquefied petroleum gas is non-toxic and presents no threat to soil, surface water, or groundwater. Traditional uses of propane include home heating, cooking and powering farm equipment. Some industrial lawn mowers and large pickup trucks are now manufactured to operate on propane. Propane is now the third most used vehicle fuel behind gasoline and diesel.
For more information about alternative fuels and where to find refueling stations, visit the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels & Advanced Vehicles Data Center.
