Earth Day Opens Clean Burning Propane Self-Serve Vehicle Fueling Station at Austin Airport

4/7/2004

From: Jackie Mayo, 512-530-6618, Jim Halbrook, 512-530-7531, both for Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA)

AUSTIN, Texas, April 7 -- On Earth Day, April 22, 2004 at 10 a.m., grand opening ceremonies for the Texas region's first, 24 hour, self-service propane vehicle fueling station will be held at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. The station will be open to the general public as well as private businesses and government agencies. City of Austin Departments of Aviation and Fleet Services, the Railroad Commission of Texas, the Propane Education & Research Council and Central Texas Clean Cities worked together to fund and build the new propane station.

Less emission of air pollutants and a reduction in vehicle fueling expenses are among the benefits expected from the propane station.

Propane One, the official truck of the President's ranch; an airport parking shuttle; a Schwan's Food Company delivery truck; and a dozen other propane powered vehicles from area businesses and government agencies will line up at the event to be among the first served by the facility.

"It is the first 24 hour-a-day, 7 day-a-week, self-service propane vehicle fueling station in Texas. Only six other states have such a facility," said Curtis Donaldson, President of Clean Fueling Technologies and Councilor for the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC). "It is the only station (in Texas and adjacent region) that allows customers to swipe their credit cards for payments," Donaldson added. Credit cards of government agencies, private businesses and the general public accepted by the facility include: MC, Visa, Amex, Discover, Voyager, and Wright Express.

The new fueling station is expected to reduce expenses of $27,000 annually associated with driving the airport's propane fueled shuttles off-site for refueling. Further, the facility creates a greater opportunity for the entire City of Austin to receive volume discounts on the price of the fuel from propane vendors.

Additionally, the propane fueling facility has a station on the airfield for servicing airside vehicle and equipment.

Funding for the airside fueling station included a $300,250 grant secured by Central Texas Clean Cities from the PERC. In addition to the fueling facility, the grant supplied money for additional propane fueled equipment. Funding for the landside fueling stations included $600,000 from the Aviation Department and $200,000 from City of Austin Fleet Services.

The propane vehicle fueling station is located on the airport at 3300 Spirit of Texas Drive (accessible from the air cargo exit off Texas Hwy. 71).