January 17, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, January 17, 2003
Lansing - Acting Director Dennis Sykes announced today that the CIS Energy Office has awarded a $5,000 grant to Grand Valley State University to educate Michigan students, marina operators and boaters about the use of biodiesel fuel in marine applications.
The Annis Water Resources Institute at Grand Valley State University’s Muskegon campus will demonstrate the environmental benefits of using biodiesel fuel using their research vessel, the W. G. Jackson. The Jackson sails twice daily during the academic year and provides a floating laboratory and classroom for students and researchers. The vessel also tours Lake Michigan ports during the summer months.
Michigan has tremendous potential for the use of biodiesel in marine applications as the state has over 1 million registered watercraft (the largest in the nation). Nationally, recreational boats consume approximately 95 million gallons of diesel fuel a year.
Biodiesel can be used in all diesel engines and distributed through the current fueling infrastructure. It’s typically used in 2% or 20% blends (B20), but it can also be used alone (B100). Benefits from using biodiesel include lower exhaust emissions and particulates, reduced odor, and minimized black smoke. Also, most biodiesel is produced from soybeans and could provide Michigan farmers with another viable market for their crops.
“There are many advantages to biodiesel fuel, which can be produced domestically thereby reducing our dependence on foreign oil and keeping more profits in our communities through local economic development,” said Sykes. “These economic benefits could extend to Michigan farmers if a biodiesel production facility is constructed in the state.”
The grant will be administered by the CIS Energy Office through the Michigan Biomass Energy Program (MBEP). For additional information, please contact the MBEP coordinator-Kelly Launder at 517-241-6223 or by email at klaund@michigan.gov or Annis Water Resources Institute Director-Dr. Alan Steinman at 231-728-3601. The MBEP website is: http://michiganbioenergy.org.
