JMU switches to ethanol
By Ben Baynton, staff writer    
Posted on February 9, 2007

In an attempt to be more environmentally friendly and to educate the public about gasoline alternatives, JMU is switching all of its 280 gasoline-powered vehicles to a 10-percent ethanol blend.

Ethanol is a gas alternative made from corn. It requires special production facilities, and is less powerful than ordinary unleaded gasoline. However, it is both cheaper and more environmentally friendly than gasoline.

“Dr. [Linwood] Rose decided that he wanted to do his part to move away from oil,” said assistant ISAT professor Chris Bachmann. “It’s part of the big picture.”

All JMU vehicles are designed to be able to run ethanol gasoline mixes, and no modifications will have to be made to existing pumping stations at JMU. With the high costs of gasoline, the cost of acquiring the ethanol gasoline mixed fuel is minimal.

“Transporting the fuel is no higher than what we pay for regular unleaded gasoline,” said Carl Puffenbarger, assistant director of Facilities Management. “We have a state contract and fuel is delivered from the Richmond area.” 

Environmentally, ethanol is much better than gasoline because it lacks sulfur and other ingredients that can pollute the air and ground water. However, the impact that JMU alone can have on the environment by switching to ethanol is minimal.

Many students expressed interest in the switch to ethanol.

“I definitely think it’s a good thing,” junior Nick Wolfe said. “It’s one of those things where globally, we’re kind of small.”

Said Bachmann: “You’ve got to start somewhere.”