Alternative Power

In an aggressive move to push for more alternative fuels, Governor Edward G. Rendell of the state of Pennsylvania has invested more than $3 million in Alternative Fuel Incentive Grants (AFIG) for the production and distribution biofuels made in Pennsylvania.

 

According to Governor Rendell, the investments will secure energy for the state people and businesses. The grants take advantage of more than $40 million in private funds for the production of clean-burning biodiesel annually and for the installation of storage tanks that are needed to distribute and sell biofuels.

 

The city of Pittsburgh also received a $303,675 grant to cover the cost of almost 1.2 million gallons of biodiesel and to provide biodiesel storage tanks at city refueling sites. Heinz Field will provide the waste vegetable oil that is used to make biodiesel.

 

"Pittsburgh's purchase represents a far-reaching combination of environmental protection and economic development," said Kathleen A. McGinty, Environmental Protection Secretary. "By combining the recycling of waste vegetable oil with the local production of cleaning-burning biodiesel that will fuel its fleet, the city is supporting innovative new businesses, reducing waste and lowering emissions of soot and pollutants that form smog. This is high-performance public policy that truly deserves our support."

 

$75,000 was also granted for the Greater Philadelphia Clean Cities' E85 Corridor project which will convert at least 12 fueling stations to provide E85 along a 200-mile corridor stretching from central Pennsylvania to the Philadelphia suburbs.

 

The Pennsylvania E85 Corridor Project was started to reduce petroleum use in the transportation sector and provide the fueling needs of flexible-fuel vehicles (FFVs) throughout Pennsylvania.

 

"Pennsylvania has aggressively pursued a leadership role in advancing the technology and deployment of alternative fuels in order to build a dynamic new commercial sector that diversifies our energy supplies and puts people to work,” said Governor Rendell in a press release.