WASHINGTON – With the average nationwide price at the pump hitting $3.26 a gallon, Montgomery County is reminding the public that there are cheaper alternatives available for those driving flexible fuel or compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles, according to http://media.www.districtchronicles.com.

The County’s ethanol and CNG fueling stations are open for unattended, public use 24-hours a day, seven days a week for purchases with a Visa or MasterCard. The stations are located at the Department of Public Works and Transportation Depot in Rockville.

The cost of ethanol is currently $3.19 a gallon, and CNG is $2.29 a gallon, making them less expensive than the current cost of gasoline in the area. Customers are required to fill out an application in order to purchase fuel. The forms are available next door to the fueling station at Fleet Management Services, 16630 Crabbs Branch Way, 2nd floor, or by calling (240) 777-5730.

The County currently has more than 120 flexible-fuel vehicles that can run on ethanol fuel or gasoline and 100 buses, vans, trucks, and cars that run on CNG. Many consumers are not aware that they are driving a flexible-fuel ethanol (or E-85) vehicle, because the vehicle can also run on gasoline.

For a list of E-85 compatible vehicles and fueling stations, visit the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition website at www.E85Fuel.com.

For information about CNG vehicles, go to the U.S. Department of Energy website at www.eere.energy.gov.