[GreenYes] Fwd: [OFEE] USDA Continues to Promote Biobased Fuels

[Gary Liss <gary@garyliss.com>]

>>Date: Tue, 07 Aug 2001 16:06:47 -0400
>>From: "Arnold.Dana@epamail.epa.gov" <Arnold.Dana@epamail.epa.gov>
>>
>>FYI, press release received today from USDA.
>>
>>Kevin Herglotz (202) 720-4623
>>Maria Bynum (202) 720-5192
>>
>>USDA TO EXPAND USE OF BIODIESEL, ETHANOL FUELS
>>
>>      WASHINGTON, Aug. 7, 2001? The U. S. Department of Agriculture
>>announced today that USDA agencies will use biodiesel and ethanol fuels in
>>their fleet vehicles where practicable and reasonable in cost.  This new
>>policy shows USDA's support for the National Energy Plan as well as
>>improving our environmental air quality,  the prosperity of the rural
>>economy, and our Nation's energy independence.
>>
>>      "The energy challenges our nation faces today offers tremendous
>>opportunities for agriculture," said Secretary Ann M. Veneman.
>>"Agriculture can help us solve our energy problems through the production
>>of domestic liquid fuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel.  Renewable energy
>>is good for independence, good for farmers, and good for the environment,"
>>said Veneman.
>>
>>The Department will request coordination in the following areas:
>>
>>All USDA diesel fuel storage tanks nationwide will be filled with blends of
>>20 percent (B20) or higher biodiesel fuel where practicable and reasonable
>>in costs.
>>
>>All USDA-maintained gasoline fueling facilities will buy and use
>>ethanol-blended fuels containing at least 10 percent domestically produced
>>ethanol to the extent practicable, where the fuel is readily available, and
>>reasonably priced compared with unleaded gasoline.
>>
>>USDA's over 700 E-85 flex-fuel vehicles will use ethanol fuel where those
>>vehicles operate in geographical areas that offer E-85 fueling stations.
>>
>>USDA agencies will purchase or lease alternative fuel vehicles, including
>>E-85 flex-fuel vehicles, for geographic areas that offer alternative
>>fueling.
>>
>>      USDA's Henry A. Wallace Agricultural Research Center (Beltsville
>>Center) in Beltsville, Md. has demonstrated the feasibility of soy-oil
>>based biodiesel as a transportation and heating fuel and uses it in all 150
>>of its diesel vehicles?everything from tractors to snowplows over the past
>>two years.
>>
>>  In addition, the Beltsville Center will heat all of its buildings with
>>biodiesel fuel next winter, including the 14-story National Agricultural
>>Library in Beltsville.  The decision was made as a result of last winter's
>>successful experiment with heating a dozen buildings.
>>
>>Biodiesel is a cleaner burning alternative fuel that can be made by
>>refining any natural oils, including vegetable oil, animal fat and spent
>>cooking oil.
>>
>>USDA has about 140 diesel fuel tanks on its properties nationwide. The
>>tanks serve about 800 vehicles, including some boats. They also provide
>>fuel for numerous chain saws, generators and other diesel-powered
>>equipment.   Over the past two years the U.S. Forest Service has used
>>biodiesel in fifteen assorted bulldozers, road graders, and trucks located
>>at the Black Hills National Forest in South Dakota.
>>
>>Other recent conversions to biodiesel fuels have been announced by the
>>Maryland cities of Greenbelt, Takoma Park, and Ocean City.
>>
>>                               #

Gary Liss
916-652-7850
Fax: 916-652-0485

******************************************
To post to the greenyes list,
email to: greenyes@grrn.org

Subscription information for
this list is available here:
http://www.grrn.org/general/greenyes.html
******************************************