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	Biodiesel Program at San Diego High School Today in our KPBS radio series "A Matter of Degrees: Climate Change in San Diego," we visit the San Diego High Educational Complex in downtown. Students there are cooking up batches of biodiesel. It's part of an alternative energy program that may find its way into more San Diego public schools. KPBS Education Reporter Ana Tintocalis has this report. click to learn more For Immediate Release - APTREX INSTITUTE For Immediate Release - APTREX INSTITUTE AWARDED A CONTRACT TO MANAGE THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL TRANSIT TRAINING CONSORTIUM - BABIARZ JOINS APTREX INSTITUTE click to download a pdf file Late-Model Vehicle Fees to Provide Funds for Clean-Air Plan "California's late-model vehicles would receive a $4 annual fee increase under legislation unveiled Monday to bankroll clean air and alternative fuel efforts...The legislation is designed as part of a much larger strategy, currently being developed, to meet commitments in a new state law to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by 2020...The measure is designed to provide an ongoing funding source for battling pollution, lowering greenhouse gas emissions and reducing dependence on foreign oil...The late-model vehicles would see their annual fee rise by 33 percent -- from $12 to $16...Passage of AB 255 would provide about $45 million annually to the California Air Resources Board each year to spearhead air pollution-related programs." Click for more information. (Sacramento Bee 2/6/07) Policy push drives call for new fuels By Michael Gardner COPLEY NEWS SERVICE January 25, 2007 SACRAMENTO – An accelerating campaign to move the nation away from imported oil and curb global warming could turn on whether consumers will be able to easily find and afford alternative vehicles and the fuels that power them. Refiners, automakers and gas station operators are being challenged to speed up the introduction of new fuels and cars as part of a growing national consensus to reduce greenhouse gases. Long a skeptic, President Bush made a belated and modest entry into the alternative energy sweepstakes Tuesday, proposing in his State of the Union address to reduce gasoline consumption by 20 percent in 10 years, primarily by promoting ethanol and demanding improved gas mileage. read more Hands-On with Ford's New Hands-Free Technology by Phil Patton ForbesAutos.com Published on 01/26/2007 Mobile phones and portable music players connect with the Sync system wirelessly and through a USB port.Sync, Ford and Microsoft’s new automotive electronics system, does many useful things, but explaining exactly what it does may be its biggest challenge for survival. More than an audio or phone system and not a navigation system, Sync is a difficult concept to grasp — but nonetheless a promising innovation. Giant video images of Bill Gates and Alan Mulally, the new Ford CEO, announced the system with great fanfare in a presentation aptly synced between the North American International Auto show in Detroit and the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas earlier this month. read more Recycling Saves Energy! Recycling makes good things happen. Each ton of recycled steel saves resources by preventing the use of energy. More than 55% of the world's production is made from the industry's number one raw material: steel scrap. Making steel from recycled cans uses 75% less energy than when producing steel from virgin raw materials. Reclaimed aluminum requires 95% less energy, generates 95% less emissions and creates 97% less water pollution than producing new metal from ore. The national recycling rate increased from 32.1% - up from 31.4% a year earlier. Recycling tonnage collected last year increased nationwide 2% to 58.4 million tons. Additionally, the waste Americans generated decreased 1.6 million tons making more good things happen while using less energy! Biodiesel Coming to More Local Filling Station Pumps Transit Training Funds Awarded to The SCRTTC Greater Orlando Aviation Authority vehicles approved for biodiesel (G&C) Biodiesel fuel has been approved for use in all Greater Orlando Aviation Authority vehicles that currently operate on diesel fuel, including buses, trucks and tugs. The new biodiesel mixture was tested to make sure it is compatible with daily operations at Orlando International Airport and was found to have no adverse effects. *(Source: Orlando Business Journal, Oct. 27, '06)* Contact: Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, telephone: (407) 825-2001, www.orlandoairports.net Tesla Roadster wins Popular Mechanics award Tesla Motors (San Carlos, Calif.), manufacturers of performance electric cars, was named a recipient of a 2006 Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Award for its work in developing the Tesla Roadster, the worlds first all-electric production sports car. It features all-carbon fiber body panels. Hybrid Car Credits Announced The size of energy tax credits for hybrid cards is finally settled. IRS told carmakers how to calculate the credit. The ’06 vehicles and their credits announced so far by IRS: Toyota Prius - $3,150 Toyota Highlander - $2,600 2WD Mercury Mariner - $2,600 4WD Mercury Mariner - $1,950 2WD Ford Escape - $2,600 4WD Ford Escape - $1,950 Lexus RH400 - $2,200 Honda Civic - $2,100 Honda Insight - $1,450 Honda Accord - $650 Credits apply to the hybrid cars only. To ensure only a single credit is claimed on a vehicle, it goes to the first buyer of the vehicle. A credit is a direct reduction of your tax bill. A deduction lowers your income before we calculate tax. Thus credits are more valuable. The credit can be reduced or lost if your tax bill is too low, or if you face the Alternative Minimum Tax. Buy Soon. Only a fixed number of credits are available. After the manufacturer sells 60,000 hybrids, the credits for that company’s cars will decline. That’s 60,000 cars per manufacturer, not per hybrid model. Suppose Honda reaches the 60,000-car plateau in June. For the rest of the calendar quarter and for the next quarter, the credit is allowed in full. That takes us to September 30. Then the credit is cut to 50% for the next two quarters – that’s October 2006 through March 2007. The credit is 25% of the maximum for the next two quarters, April 2007 through September 2007. After that, it’s all over for 2006 Hondas. Alabama BioEnergy receives $500,000 US for Bridgeport Alabama soybean biodiesel plant (G&C) Alabama BioEnergy Inc. has received a $500,000 USDA Rural Development Renewal Energy Program grant for the conversion of a 50,000-square-foot plant located at the site of the former Jacobs Manufacturing cast-iron plant, to a soybean biodiesel production facility. According to Bill Freeman of Alabama BioEnergy, his plant's production process will be similar to the Tennessee BioEnergy plant in Manchester. That plant produces about 10,000 gallons of soybean oil-based fuel a day. Freeman said he will use soybeans from farms in Alabama and neighboring states. The oil will be extracted at mills in Decatur and Guntersville, and the fuel will be stored in six 30,000-gallon tanks. From there, the fuel will be pumped into rail cars, tractor-trailer rigs and barges nearby at the Alabama State Docks on the Tennessee River. (Source: Huntsville Times, Sept.09.’06) Contact: Alabama Bioenergy, Inc. Founder, William Freeman (Editor’s note, Alabama BioEnergy Inc are members of the National BioDiesel Board, www.biodiesel.org – more specific contact information could not be found at this time.) Biodiesel maker plans 15 plants By Dan Gearino \| Tuesday, August 15, 2006 \| DES MOINES — A newly formed Iowa company announced plans Monday to build 15 biodiesel plants, including five in Iowa, which would be the largest expansion by any company in the brief history of the biodiesel industry. Renewable Energy Group Inc., which was formed from a group of companies that includes West Central Cooperative in Ralston, has raised $100 million to begin the project and expects the new plants to produce up to 640 million gallons of the fuel by 2009. The locations of the Iowa plants have not yet been announced. One of the plants outside Iowa would be in Cairo, Ill. “Today is an exciting day for renewable fuels, it’s an exciting day for our company, and we think it’s an exciting day for Iowa,” said Jeff Stroburg, chairman and chief executive of both Renewable Energy Group and West Central Cooperative. He spoke at a news conference hosted by the Iowa Department of Economic Development. Gov. Tom Vilsack was on hand to praise the venture. “This is yet another indication why Iowa is a leader in renewable fuels,” the governor said. Biodiesel is a fuel made from plant or animal oils that can be blended with diesel fuel. The biodiesel industry has grown at a frantic pace. Nationwide production was 25 million gallons in 2004, 75 million gallons in 2005 and is projected to top 200 million gallons this year, according to the National Biodiesel Board, a Missouri-based promotional group. Iowa State University economist John Miranowski said the project shows that investors are confident that demand for biodiesel will continue to rise at a rapid pace. “It’s unclear if the demand will be at prices that will be profitable for those plants. It hinges on the prices of petroleum,” he said. And for now, oil prices are high and appear likely to stay that way, which leads to greater demand for renewable fuels. “There’s not much sign we’ll see lower oil prices in the next couple years,” Miranowski said. Statewide biodiesel production is 93.5 million gallons per year, according to the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association. The fuel is available at 70 gas stations in the state. West Central Cooperative operates a biodiesel plant in Ralston that produces 12 million gallons per year. Corn-based ethanol is a much larger business and is also rapidly growing. Statewide production is at 1.5 billion gallons per year. Stroburg, chief executive of the new company, said the majority of the money for the new venture comes from Iowa sources. He said the location of the company’s headquarters has not yet been determined. The company plans to hire nearly 500 workers by 2010 at its plants. But there will only be 30 new jobs in Iowa, on top of the 52 current jobs. Dan Gearino can be reached at (515) 243-0138 and dan.gearino@lee.net.
	ARCHIVE 2006 130,000 CNG vehicles in the U.S.(New products and technologies) http://www.ngvamerica.org CNG is the fastest growing alternative fuel according to the Natural Gas Vehicles for America The organization cites as example, 300 Rhode Island's state vehicles are using CNG, 85 percent of the fleet of 2,500 buses run by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, use CNG, as do many of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's 600 buses in Boston. According to Ron Kolodziej, of the Natural Gas Vehicles for America, there were about 130,000 CNG vehicles in use nationwide in 2005, with about one in five new transit buses now powered by CNG, and 5 million worldwide. There are also about 1,300 CNG fueling stations in the country. (Source:Providence Journal, Sept. 10,’06) Contact: Natural Gas Vehicles for America, Rich Kolodziej, President, telephone: (202) 824-7366, email: rkolodziej@ngvc.org AC Transit Installs Free Wi-Fi Internet Service on Buses "AC Transit is set to become the first public bus system in Northern California, and one of a handful nationwide, to offer free wireless Internet service -- a potential tool to increase ridership in the tech-savvy Bay Area…The agency plans to provide Wi-Fi access on the crossbay routes that link the East Bay to San Francisco and the Peninsula…AC Transit administrators view the program, which is funded with $340,000 in state transportation funds, as an opportunity to "provide a significant competitive advantage over auto travel and BART usage, neither of which allows for Internet connection and use.'' http://www.sfgate.com (SF Chronicle 8/24/06) U.S. Transportation Secretary Mineta Launches New National Initiative to Tackle Highway, Freight and Aviation Congestion http://www.dot.gov/affairs/dot5706.htm Calling congestion one of the single largest threats to the economy, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta announced a new national initiative to tackle highway, freight and aviation congestion. During remarks to the National Retail Federation, Mineta said that "congestion kills time, wastes fuel and costs money." He noted that America loses an estimated $200 billion a year due to freight bottlenecks and delayed deliveries. The Secretary added that consumers lose 3.7 billion hours and 2.3 billion gallons of fuel sitting in traffic jams and that airline delays waste $9.4 billion a year. The new initiative, the National Strategy to Reduce Congestion on America's Transportation Network, provides a blueprint for federal, state and local officials to tackle congestion, Mineta said. He noted that over the coming months, the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) will focus its resources, funding, staff and technology to cut traffic jams, relieve freight bottlenecks and reduce flight delays. Clean Energy Trends 2006 For the first time in modern history, clean-energy technologies are becoming cost competitive with their “dirtier” counterparts. Click to download article (527kb) Pump Up Your Savings With gas prices still high in most parts of the country, saving a little here and there can sometimes mean the difference between making and breaking a budget. Before you head out to fuel up, take these steps to make sure that you are getting the most for your money Head to the pump when temperatures are cooler. Since gas is sold by volume and expands when it gets warmer, you’ll be getting more gas for the same price. When the gas tank hits the halfway mark, start watching for the least-expensive price. Or, if you forget and need to fill up in a hurry, you can check www.gasbuddy.com or www.gaspricewatch.com. Fill up as close to your normal driving routes as possible. Going out of your way may save you a few cents at the tank this time, but can end up costing you more in gas used and in wear and tear on your vehicle. Turning the gas pump nozzle 180 degrees when done might add up to 4 ounces to your tank. Tighten your gas cap completely to prevent gas evaporation. Fill up at a busy station to avoid stale gasoline, but do not use a station that you know has just refilled its underground tanks, as this can stir up particles that can clog your engine. LA Rail System Included in Governor's Bond Package "Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's $222-billion infrastructure bond proposal includes a significant investment in improving Los Angeles' congested rail system, he said Friday…Though his proposal is still in its early stages, local officials are reacting enthusiastically because Los Angeles County's rail lines are becoming increasingly clogged by freight traffic coming from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach as well as the growing Metrolink commuter rail line…Union Station is the hub of the region's rail network, with 126 trains using the station every workday. The governor's plan calls for spending $290 million on improvements, such as adding tracks and eliminating rail crossings." (LA Times 1/21/06) http://www.latimes.com/news/ Accelerated Composites develops 330-mpg hybrid car Accelerated Composites, LLC (Carlsbad, Calif), has designed a two-seat passenger car that reported will achieve up to 330 mpg, yet sell for under $20,000. The lightweight composite, hybrid car is expected to post this fuel efficiency in normal city and highway driving and demonstrate acceleration and handling similar to that of a Honda Insight. Dubbed the Aptera, the vehicle achieves these remarkable numbers through the use of cutting-edge materials, manufacturing methods and what proponents call a "maverick design." Unique, optimized aerodynamics are said to gives the Aptera a drag form factor that will be lower than any mass-produced car in the world. ”It looks like nothing you’ve ever seen because it performs like nothing you’ve ever seen,“ claims Accelerated Composites founder and CEO Steve Fambro. ”What we’ve done is changed the way cars are thought of and designed. Rather than designing to a styling aesthetic, like the big automakers do, we hew to an efficiency and safety aesthetic. When you do that, math and physics mostly dictate the shape of the car, and in this case, math and physics look awesome." The Aptera also is made almost entirely of lightweight composites, making it one of the lightest cars on the road. Yet this savings, according to its designers, does not come at the cost of safety. In fact, the construction of the car is based on the type of driver-protection ”crash box“ found in Formula One race cars. "Composites are enormously strong and lightweight," says Fambro. "That’s why all the aircraft manufacturers are switching to them. So why aren’t the automakers switching? ”Cost“ says Fambro. ”They haven’t figured out cost-effective manufacturing processes for composites. But we have.“ The Aptera uses proprietary composite construction that significantly lowers manufacturing cost when compared not only to steel but to most other composite construction methods as well. The ”Panelized Automated Composite Construction,“ or PAC2 (pat. pend.), lends itself to parallel assembly and has a very low initial capitalization. Additionally, AC's hybrid technology (pat. pend.) allows off the shelf engines and electric motors to be seamlessly integrated for a very low cost. Another reason the big automakers aren’t jumping to composites is corporate inertia. ”They have many billions of dollars invested in factories and infrastructure for making cars the old-fashioned way. They couldn’t walk away from that if they wanted to. This is something that only a new company can do, and that's where we come in. We are going to disrupt the status quo.“ ”We’re very serious about this. We’re going to produce and sell these cars,“ adds Fambro. ”We've got a perfectly timed, market busting-product. We have a great team of world class engineers and designers, high-powered marketing and sales experience and a solid business plan.“ http://www.acceleratedcomposites.com/ contact: Steve Fambro fambro@acceleratedcomposites.com DaimlerChrysler Expands Use of Biodiesel in Pickup Trucks DaimlerChrysler recently announced it has approved use of B20, a blend of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent standard petroleum diesel, for use in its Dodge Ram pickup trucks. According to the automaker, use of the alternative fuel is approved effective with the 2007 model year and will require use of biodiesel that meets fuel specifications established by the U.S. military. Initially, Daimler Chrysler is approving use of B20 in Dodge Ram pickups equipped with Cummins diesel engines for its military, government and commercial fleet customers only. The company is working with the government, automotive suppliers, energy providers, universities and independent agencies on a national fuel standard that would make B20 an option for all owners of Dodge Ram diesels. http://www.daimlerchrysler.com/ New Hidrogen Technology Developed: Fueling Station Adds Generator http://www.naftc.wvu.edu/NAFTC%20enews/February%2006/hydrogentechnology.htm The Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District collaborated with Chevron Texaco to develop a hydrogen refueling station. The station, located in Oakland, California, opened in 2005. Credit: Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District, 2004 Media Fact Sheet Hybrids go Solo in Diamond Lane http://www.mercurynews.com Owners of certain hybrids can drive solo in California carpool lanes on state highways once they receive special yellow carpool lane stickers. More than 51,000 carpool stickers have been distributed. The state will cap the program at 75,000 unless carpool lanes fill up sooner. Bay Area drivers must first get a FasTrak transponder before filling out a carpool application. Click on www.mtc.ca.gov and search for ``hybrid.'' Hybrid owners outside the Bay Area do not need to get a FasTrak transponder. This includes motorists living in Santa Cruz, San Benito and San Joaquin counties. You cannot get carpool stickers in person at a Department of Motor Vehicles office. Owners must mail in their applications. Hybrids must get 45 mpg or better for solo drivers to qualify for the diamond lane. That's the Toyota Prius, Honda Civic and older Honda Insights. No hybrids with just solo drivers inside are allowed to use carpool lanes on Santa Clara County expressways. Source: Department of Motor Vehicles