Dutch to fund network of alternative gas stations

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - The Dutch government wants to create a nationwide network of gas stations selling alternative fuels to help cut greenhouse gas emissions with 1.8 million euros ($2.84 million) in subsidies, it said on Monday.

The Dutch transport ministry said in a statement the number of stations selling natural gas and ethanol was rising quickly, but the government wanted to speed up the process further to stimulate the use of alternative fuels.

It said it would use the subsidy -- 60,000 euros for each natural gas pump and 20,000 euros for each ethanol pump -- to ensure an even geographic spread of alternative gas stations.

It said cars driving on natural gas emitted 20 percent less carbon dioxide and ethanol 30-80 percent less.