June 11, 2004 – Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth (DLEG) Director David C. Hollister announced today that the city of East Lansing will receive a biodiesel infrastructure grant from the State Energy Office.  East Lansing is the latest in a growing number of cities nationwide that are integrating biodiesel into their fleet operations. This grant will enable the city to enhance its planned fueling facility with a pump and tank for biodiesel refueling. 

The $24,500 grant will be applied to one of two 25,000 underground storage tanks for East Lansing’s new fueling facility.  Terms of the grant specify that three years of biodiesel fueling from that tank will begin in April 2005.  City of East Lansing Environmental Specialist Dave Smith estimates the city will consume approximately 125,000 gallons of biodiesel fuel during the grant period. 

"We are excited to be able to use a fuel that reduces polluting emissions, improves the efficiency of our vehicles, and reduces our dependence on foreign oil," Hollister said. “With rising gas prices, renewable fuels like biodiesel lead to energy security as well as cleaner air and sound local markets.” 

Biodiesel is a cleaner-burning fuel that can be made from domestic renewable resources such as vegetable oil. It can be used in any diesel engine with few or no modifications. The fuel can be burned in its pure form (B100), or blended with petroleum diesel at any level. Many fleets like East Lansing’s have successfully moved to B20 (a mix of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent diesel, which is accepted by most engine manufacturers).  Recent experiences with biodiesel in Michigan school buses suggest that biodiesel’s cleaning properties extend time between oil changes and actually lead to increased fuel efficiency.

The City of East Lansing is a member of the Greater Lansing Area Clean Cities Coalition, a group of government and private fleets that commit themselves to advancing domestically abundant alternative fuels to promote local economic and environmental well-being as well as national energy security.  Funding for this biodiesel grant was made available through a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.  The grant is administered by the DLEG’s Energy Office through the Michigan Biomass Energy Program (MBEP).

For additional information, please contact project manager, David Smith, environmental specialist, city of East Lansing, at (517) 337-9459 or dsmith@ci.east-lansing.mi.us, or MBEP Coordinator Dulcey Simpkins at 517-241-6223 or dlsimpk@michigan.gov. 

Read more Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth news releases.