The Senate Appropriations Committee approved a provision added by Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois to help ensure the U.S. Postal Service places its ethanol-capable vehicles in regions of the country where ethanol is readily available.  The language was offered as part of the Fiscal Year 2002 spending bill for the U.S. Treasury and other general government and agency expenditures.

U.S. Postal vehicle

The Postal Service announced in late 1998 it would purchase 10,000 flexible fuel carrier delivery vehicles as part of the agency's effort to comply with the Energy Policy Act of 1992.  "Ethanol plays a key role in expanding our energy options, and these vehicles are an important part of the Postal Service fleet," Durbin said.  "This measure helps ensure we don't miss opportunities to boost our economy and improve our environment."

The language states, "...The Committee commends the U.S. Postal Service for their purchase and deployment of ethanol flexible fuel vehicles - Long Life E-85 vehicles - and their increasing use of this alternative fuel.  The Committee encourages the USPS to continue to purchase ethanol flexible fuel vehicles.  The Committee understands the USPS will locate vehicles as its operations require and that local providers will be encouraged to develop the necessary infrastructure to enable convenient access to ethanol at competitive prices."