More than 100 people turned out at Pearson Fuels in City Heights to hear award winning author and filmmaker Josh Tickell make the case for biofuels. The August 11st event at one of the California’s premier alternative fuel stations brought together fuel providers, fleet managers, and drivers together to learn about the performance benefits, cost advantages, incentives, and availability of renewable fuels in Southern California.

Attendees enjoyed an inspiring and engaging talk from Tickell as well as presentations from Brendan Reed of the City of Chula Vista and Lisa McGhee of San Diego Airport Parking Shuttles both of whom are using biofuels. Jake Millan of Propel Fuels also spoke about expanding infrastructure for biodiesel and E85. Participants then had the chance to network with a happy hour sponsored by Stone Brewing Company who fuels their delivery trucks with Biodiesel.

More pictures are available here.

The event was sponsored by:

Event Review: Biodiesel and Flex Fuel for Fleets – Just the Facts is a post from: San Diego Clean Fuels Coalition

Below are some alternative fuel related articles found this week.

Tax Credit, Court Ruling Put Biodiesel Industry on Solid Ground for 2011

On Tuesday, a federal appeals court unanimously rejected an attempt by the oil refining industry to block the EPA’s renewable fuel standard (RFS2), which mandates blending of biodiesel into US diesel supplies. On Friday, the compromise tax and unemployment benefit bill, which included a renewal of the biodiesel producer tax credit, was signed into law by president Obama. After months of hardship brought on by policy uncertainties, the biodiesel industry can adopt on optimistic outlook on 2011. Read more about this article by Josh Garrett on HeatingOil.com.

Powering truck fleets with fried chicken

New Leaf Biofuel, based in Barrio Logan, collects used cooking oil from nearly 1,000 local restaurants and converts it to biodiesel. It sells that to distributors who market the fuel to customers running fleets of diesel trucks, including the Allied Waste fleet of trash and recycling trucks in Chula Vista and C&D Towing in Barrio Logan. Allied Waste has been using biodiesel since 1993. This article features comments and discussions by New Leaf Biofuel CEO Jennifer Case, who recently joined the Board of Directors of the San Diego Clean Fuels Coalition. Read more about this article by Peggy Peattie on signonsandiego.com.

Gasoline Demand Defies “Experts” and Drops

Defying all the “experts,” gasoline demand in the U.S. has dropped 8% since 2006 when demand peaked. Prevailing wisdom has held since the OPEC oil shocks of the mid-1970s that that supplies would not keep pace with demand, eventually leading to the end of the oil supply. Quoted by Independent presidential candidate Rep. John B. Anderson (I-Ill.) Sept. 23, 1980, while debating former President Ronald Reagan, the American Petroleum Institute predicted that world oil demand would exceed available supply by 1990. Today’s U.S. Energy Dept. report indicates that, with the new breed of fuel-efficient and alternative-fuel vehicles, gasoline demand should drop by another 20% by 2030, leaving the world awash in gasoline. Despite increased consumption by the rest of the industrialized and developing worlds, gasoline demand should continue to drop in those countries too. Read more about this article by John M. Curtis on examiner.com.

Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Biodiesel Blend in US Diesel Supplies, Gasoline Demand Drop, and Powering Truck Fleets with Fried Chicken is a post from: San Diego Clean Fuels Coalition

National AFV Day Odyssey

The Journey Continues

National AFV Day Odyssey

• A biennial event dedicated to promoting cleaner choices in transportation!

The National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium (NAFTC) undertook this project because of the critical need to support the alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) industry. More public awareness is necessary to help ease our dependence on foreign oil, and we must support those manufacturers that are making AFVs a viable option for individuals everywhere. With everyone joining together on one day, working toward the same goals, we cannot help but compound the effect of our individual efforts. Such unity will further increase the impact of each individual site’s program and will catalyze the momentum for the advanced transportation movement nationwide. Together, we will bring national attention to AFVs and advanced technology vehicles and promote them as a cleaner and more efficient choice for transportation.

• Has something for everyone!

Odyssey events are held in numerous locations nationwide and are tailored to the specific needs of the audience. Site coordinators are encouraged to be creative and host events that are fun, interactive, and educational. Past event formats have included ride-and-drives, vehicle displays, and workshops. Additionally, industry experts are often on hand to answer questions that attendees may have while educational seminars provide detailed information about viable alternative fuel options. In 2008, a rock concert, custom paint demonstrations, stock car racing, and an E-85 station fueling event were some of the unique Odyssey events hosted by local site coordinators.

• Guarantees Results!

Odyssey feedback proved that the 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2008 events were tremendous successes. Sponsors, partners, National Training Centers (NTCs), Clean Cities Coordinators, and attendees alike have seen how valuable the program can be for promoting energy independence and supporting the environment. They have also seen the proven results of Odyssey and the millions of individuals reached by its message. We hope that you will become part of the solution and join us on Friday, October 15, 2010. Together, we can make a difference!

Odyssey; October 15th 2010 is a post from: San Diego Clean Fuels Coalition

The 2010 San Diego Clean Fuels Coalition Survey is currently underway, we are gathering data regarding many organization’s alternative fuel/advanced technology fleets in order to complete our 2010 annual report for the Department of Energy (DOE) Clean Cities Program. The DOE uses this data to report to Congress, as required by the Energy Policy Act, on the success and benefits of the program and to calculate the millions of gallons of gasoline and diesel displaced in the nation due to the conversion of fleets from gasoline and diesel fuels to alternative fuel/advanced technologies.  The survey will ascertain the number and types of alternative vehicles currently in use, their various fuels and the frequency of use, the fueling station availability for both public and private entities, the idle-reduction and fuel economy improvements for fleets, vehicle miles traveled reduction and incentive programs, and other general information such as operational, stakeholder, and outreach activities of the Clean Fuel Coalition.

The survey will span various city governments of San Diego County, School Districts, Transit Systems, Private Enterprises, and many other fleet types. If you are a fleet manager in San Diego County please take some time to complete the linked survey; your most accurate information is truly appreciated.

Click here to take survey

As part of this years San Diego Clean Cities Survey there will be an updated list of the contributors, collaborators, and companies that have completed the survey and would like to be noted for their efforts in reducing petroleum fuel use. Thank you to all whom have put forward your efforts in transportation sustainability:

Private:

Allied Waste Services, Cloud Nine, EDCO, Kick Gas Co-op , TerraMoto Transportation , Port of San Diego, San Diego Zoo,

Public:

City & County:

Carlsbad , Chula vista , Coronado , Del Mar ,  El Cajon , Encinitas , Escondido , Imperial Beach , La Mesa , Lemon Grove , National City , Oceanside , Poway , San Diego , San Marcos , Santee , Solana Beach , Vista

State & Federal:

Airport Authority, Air Pollution Control District, Camp Pendleton,  California Highway Patrol, CalTrans, Olivehein Water District, Valley Center Water District, US Navy, US Postal Service,

Educational:

Transit Systems:

Chula Vista Transit, MTS, North County Lifeline Transit, North County Transit, SD Transit Authority

Non-Fleet Contributors:

NewLeaf BioFuels

2010 San Diego Clean Cities Progress Report is a post from: San Diego Clean Fuels Coalition

San Diego EarthWorks will be presenting their annual Earth Fair on Sunday April 18th at Balboa Park from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Clean Fuel Coalition and San Diego Regional Sustainability Partnership will be in attendance on the west side of the Cleaner Car Concourse. There will be information on various clean fuel organizations and the Clean Car Concourse will feature vehicles of all descriptions that run on alternative fuels (hybrids included). This isn’t just “the future”: these are vehicles being used on the road today. The vehicles will be on display in the Pan American Plaza next to the San Diego Automobile Museum.

As part of San Diego State University’s Annual GreenFest / EarthDay event there will be a “Clean Fuel Car Zone” on Wednesday April 21st from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Campanile walkway in front of Hepner Hall.  The showcasing of alternative energy vehicles will include various types of vehicles in categories ranging from full electric, PHEV, CNG, Biodiesel, to Ethanol, with more to be announced.

The University of California San Diego will also be making Thursday April 22nd an “Alternative Transportation Day” starting with a Bicycle Breakfast from 7–10 a.m. at the Gilman Information Booth (Free breakfast snacks and safety information). Then the “Green Machines” will be displayed from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. at Warren Mall. The green vehicle exhibit will be featuring Gidget the Smart Car, UCSD green fleet vehicles, Tesla Roadster, biodiesel Mercdes, MTS natural gas-electric hybrid bus, UCSD’s Greenline biodiesel bus, hydrogen converted car, diesel hydrogen hybrid pickup truck and more. Learn how to compute your carbon footprint and see how you can reduce it by using alternative transportation.

EarthDay Clean Fuel Vehicle Showcases is a post from: San Diego Clean Fuels Coalition

From Green Right Now Reports

Updated 04-17-10. Enterprise Holdings today announced that it will convert its entire fleet of more than 600 Alamo Rent A Car, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and National Car Rental airport shuttle buses  in 50 North American markets to begin using at least 5 percent biodiesel (B5). The company said it will immediately convert buses in nine markets to 20 percent biodiesel (B20) as a first step toward the company’s goal of converting its entire bus fleet to B20 over the next five years.

Enterprise Holdings expects to complete the conversion to all B5 by spring of this year, with at least 50 percent converted to B20 by the end of next year. Buses in nine markets are immediately being converted to run on B20 where the fuel is centrally stored and available: Boston, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, Raleigh/Durham, San Antonio and San Diego.

“This investment in biodiesel follows our commitment to our customers and our business to use our fleet to help grow the clean fuel market. By embracing alternative fuels and engine technologies, they have a greater opportunity to become commercially viable,” said Lee Broughton, director of corporate identity and sustainability for Enterprise Holdings. “Biodiesel’s benefits to the environment support our commitment to environmental stewardship, as well as our sustainable approach to managing our business for long-term success.”

In addition to embracing biodiesel and other alternative fuels as they become commercially viable, Enterprise Holdings has spent millions in support of renewable fuels research. In 2007, the company’s owners, the Taylor family, made a $25 million grant to the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis to create the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Institute for Renewable Fuels. Led by renowned plant researcher Dr. Richard Sayre, top scientists work at the Institute to develop alternatives to finite fossil fuels by finding new ways to create fuel from renewable, reliable plant sources.

Enterprise Holdings will move its fleet of buses to biodiesel is a post from: San Diego Clean Fuels Coalition

AFV2010.com:

In its sixteenth year, AF&V 2010 is the industry event representing all fuels, vehicles and technologies that provide an alternative to petroleum. This fuel and technology neutral Conference brings industry experts, transportation leaders and policy makers together to help fleet managers and other decision makers sort through which fuels and vehicles make the most sense for them.

AF&V 2010 showcases natural gas, ethanol, biodiesel, propane, electricity, and hydrogen, and their companion vehicles. The Conference embraces advanced technologies that result in fuel efficiency, petroleum displacement and emissions improvements. Included are hybrid-electric and plug-in hybrid technologies; blends, including hydrogen; fuel cells; and, idle-reduction devices. All of these are featured as part of the diverse program, Expo Hall and Ride-n-Drive.

Alternative Fuels & Vehicles National Conference + Expo 2010
May 9-12, 2010
The Rio All-Suite Hotel; Las Vegas, Nevada

Alternative Fuels and Vehicles Conference is a post from: San Diego Clean Fuels Coalition