SAN DIEGO, CA — December 9, 2009 — Pearson Fuels will join CALSTART to celebrate the grand opening of the first Ethanol (E85) alternative fuel stations in Pomona, CA and Perris, CA with special ribbon-cutting ceremonies on December 16. The Pomona grand opening is set for 12:00 p.m. at Foothill Chevron at 100 West Foothill Boulevard in Pomona and at 3:00 p.m. at Joe’s 76, 19248 Harvill Avenue in Perris. The Perris location is the first E85 station in the Inland Empire, while Pomona E85 station is the first in eastern Los Angeles County, and only the second open to the public in the Los Angeles basin.

The Pomona festivities are being held in conjunction with Chevron’s celebration of its 100th EXTRAMILE? convenience store in Southern California. Attendees can enjoy free food and drinks from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and Feel Good Fueling Up? with Pearson selling E85 to the public for only $.85 per gallon from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The event, which is being held in coordination with the Pomona Chamber of Commerce, will have Pomona Mayor Elliott Rothman and City Council members on site for the ceremonial ribbon cutting at 12 noon.
The Perris event, which is open to the public for one hour before and one hour after the grand opening ceremony, will also feature free food and drinks to the public, and a variety of E85 vehicles and alternative fuel experts on hand. Attendees can enjoy food and refreshments from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Pearson will be selling E85 to the public for only $.85 per gallon from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The E85 is compatible with over 25,000 Flex Fuel Vehicles in Riverside County and with over 50,000 Flex Fuel Vehicles in the Los Angeles basin. Foothill Chevron and Joe’s 76 are part of Pearson Fuels statewide roll out of new E85 stations throughout California, starting with its original station in San Diego. The E85 facilities were partially funded by CALSTART with financial support from the Department of Energy and the California Air Resources Board.

Mike Lewis, co-owner of Pearson Fuels said, “It is exciting for us to see the progress and interest in alternative fuel infrastructure over the last few years. These E85 dispensers will soon be among the first in the state to be dispensing our cellulosic ethanol product from AE Biofuels which just agreed this week to take over one of California’s dormant corn ethanol plants.” Lewis then added, “You will probably see other non-food based E85 at this station by this summer.”

“California and the nation need all the clean fuel options we can deliver,” noted John Boesel, CALSTART President and CEO. “There is no single solution to our energy and emission challenges. Ethanol – E85 – is one of the important options to give drivers more choice, cut carbon emissions and create demand for renewable, domestic fuels.”

Pearson brought the first Ethanol station to the state of California when it opened its San Diego station in 2003 as the world’s first Alternative Fuel Station featuring 10 different fuels. Today it specializes in bringing alternative fuels to the public throughout California. It recently announced its award of nearly $11 million in new stimulus funding to build an additional 55 new retail E85 dispensers throughout California and an agreement with AE Biofuels, Inc. (OTCBB: AEBF) to bring second generation cellulosic ethanol to its station network in the near future.
CALSTART is a fuel and technology neutral, member-supported organization dedicated to expanding and supporting a high-tech clean transportation industry that cleans the air, creates jobs, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and secures our transportation energy future. CALSTART works with business, fleets and government to develop, implement and commercialize clean, efficient transportation solutions. It achieves this through technology commercialization, consulting assistance, industry information, and analysis and policy.

For more information about Pearson Fuels visit www.pearsonfuels.com. Information about AE Biofuels can be found at www.aebiofuels.com. For information about CALSTART, visit www.calstart.org