June 30, 2005 – Michigan Department of Labor &
Economic Growth (DLEG) Director David C. Hollister announced today that the
Cheboygan County Road Commission and the Bay Area Transit Authority in Traverse
City have been awarded biodiesel incentive grants from the State Energy Office.
The grants will enable both buses and heavy-duty trucks to use biodiesel, a
renewable fuel made from soy or canola oil.
The Cheboygan County Road Commission was awarded $18,750, and
the Bay Area Transit Authority, $11,250. Both organizations sought the biodiesel
incentive funds to be able to use a renewable fuel that reduces the impact of
transportation on the environment.
"Alternative fuels
are part of Gov. Granholm’s plan for the economy, and so we are excited to promote
fuels that reduce vehicle emissions, increase demand for and add value to American
agriculture, and reduce our dependence on foreign oil," said Hollister.
“Renewable fuels such as biodiesel are part of the solution to our transportation
fuel concerns.”
Hollister noted that biodiesel is a cleaner-burning fuel that
can be made from domestic renewable resources, such as vegetable oil. Biodiesel
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 have successfully moved to B20 (a mix of 20 percent biodiesel and
80 percent diesel), which is accepted by most engine manufacturers.
“Someone has to do something
about our environment,” said Lyle Sperling, maintenance superintendent, Cheboygan
County Road Commission. Don Scharmen, operations director, Bay Area Transit
Authority, agreed, “We can’t let this opportunity pass without trying to help
by using cleaner and renewable fuels.”
Biofuel incentive grants
help pay the declining difference in price between standard fuels and bio-based
fuels, enabling fleets to try new products and demonstrate their qualities to
other fleets.
The biodiesel incentive funds were made available through a
grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (www.energy.gov).
The grant is administered by DLEG’s Energy Office through the Michigan Biomass
Energy Program (MBEP, www.michigan.gov/biomass).
For
additional information, contact Lyle Sperling (Cheboygan County, 231-238-7775);
Don Scharmen (BATA, 231-933-5540); or MBEP Coordinator Dulcey Simpkins (517-241-6223,
dlsimpk@michigan.gov).
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