Alternative fuel center being built

The $17.9 million, 60,000-sq.-ft. facility is designed to educate people about the benefits of AFVs, said SDEF managing director Steve Bimson. Scheduled to open in May, the RTC will house an AFV showroom, an AFV rental/demonstration operation, an AFV servicing center, an AFV fueling station and education center.

Funded in part by a $1.4-million donation from Ford Motor Co., the education center is designed to educate middle and high school students about innovative technologies using compressed natural gas, liquefied propane gas, ethanol, electricity, low-sulfur diesel and biodiesel. SDEF expects 20,000 students from the San Diego region to visit the center annually.