Dear
Earthday 2007 has come and gone and the people connected to the Sustainable Transport Club did an incredible job of raising awareness and building the community working for Sustainability. We added close to three hundred people to our mailing list and put the total over 1000 people - and there are really fine people involved
I trust you will enjoy the new format for the newsletter including the new section on Legislative action. The new layout is using HTML, which can cause problems for some programs. Please let me know if there are any such problems so we can get this right.
Best
Russell Sydney
310-450-7419
In this
Sustainable Transport Club
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Community based action- One Results from Earthday Events - Two To 501C3 or not to 501C3 that is the question - Three Bike to Work Program May 14th event - Four 16th Annual Los Feliz Street Fair Presents THE GREEN SCENE! June 3rdAn opportunity for another Sustainable Transport Village? - Five Whole Children, Whole Planet Expo. Exhibitor invitation for 2008: Outreach and Education - One May 5th Energy Fair in Palos Verdes - Two LIVE Presentation of An Inconvenient Truth in Hermosa
Beach!!! - Three ENVIRONMENTAL LECTURE SERIES INCLUDES Getting your Sustainable Ride * One Paris Embraces Plan to Become City of Bikes * Two Way to go - MyGo-Pasadena electric bicycle rebates * Three Bikerowave has a new, and permanent, space. * Four San Francisco’s First Commercial Biodiesel Fueling Station, * Five Biodiesel in Brentwood Legislative Actions > One The Complete Streets Act of 2007AB 1358 (Leno) Bicycles plus > Two Support Current Biodiesel Legislation in the CA Senate You can find the subject you want by looking for the separator bars or by using the active links above with the blue color and underlines. This is a two-way newsletter. You can get word out to the group by sending in any relevant information for inclusion in this newsletter. |
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Results from Earthday Events Awesome, awesome, awesome, - ok maybe a few more details. Santa Monica rocked and was almost twice the size as last year - took in over 160 names for the mailing list. More details on previous email. Thanks again to Kacy Palmeiri and Jim Stewart - organizers of the whole event and pillars of the local green community. Pasadena Ursula Schmidt brought together one truly great Sustainable Transport Village. We gave her the idea and she ran with it. Big thanks to her and Eleanor Zwart for such a great job. We had really strong two wheel presence at this one - there was a stretch that included four electric bicycles, an extra cycle, a trailer bicycle, a bicycle shop (Pasadena Cyclery) the MyGo Pasadena electric bicycle rebate program, CICLE, and two brands of electric motor scooters. There were even two people from the MTA bicycle program on hand. Part of the fun was having two extra electric bicycles and an electric motor scooter show up and join the group spontaneously. And this was right across from the cool fuel buses that actually had bicycles on their racks. The Bio Diesel Co-op was there - way to go Kalib and Michel - along with Pathway to Freedom who make their own fuel. Phoenix Motor Car was there with their electric SUV - sorry they are sold ahead for months now but you could probably get in line. Environmental Motors brought the Zap and Miles EVs - that Zap pickup is looking sweet. There was a company that reconditions damaged Hybrids there also. All of this was backed up by lots of good people from Pasadena City staff in transportation and water and power. We got close to 70 new people at the event and should have a good working group for that area. Really good folks out there. Special thanks to John Breza for helping make that day work. Pasadena is lining up to compete for the title of Most Sustainable City in So Cal. Manhattan Beach Terry Conner from VOICE and Chris Pine from the Biodiesel Co-op leed the way on this one and it sounded like a wonderful day. In addition Plug in America, Skeuter, and Louroe Electronics brought in their electric vehicles. Rick Sikes from the City of Santa Monica took the Plug in Hybrid and there were at least two other hybrids and one ethanol vehicle at the event. Here is what the Bio Diesel Co-op people had to say: We had a good response from the public for our demonstration of the Torrance trailer at the Manhattan Beach Earth Day Celebration on Saturday April 21. Our very own Alex Pine was among the youth recognized by the City of Manhattan Beach and V.O.I.C.E. ("Volunteers and Organizations Improving the Community's Environment"), as an "Earth Day Environmental Hero" and received an "Ecology Award" for "educating the public on the benefits of using biodiesel fuel". There is a good chance that next year will be bigger and stronger thanks to the effort to put a Sustainable Transport Village in place. The group signed up as many as fifty people for our mailing list from this event. This is also the first time the Sustainable Transport Club has shown up in two places on the same day - Pasadena and Manhattan Beach. That is community-based action moving forward and getting results. Santa Barbara Arjun Sarkof did a great job on this one - thanks Arjun. There was a fantastic array of vehicles of all Sustainable Persuasions including a RAV4 EV, Hybrids, ethanol cars, Flex car and a Twike. Little Radio had the Zaps. Miles was there from head quarters. Rick Sikes had both the Plug in Hybrid and the Hydrogen Electric Hybrid from Santa Monica City (good bridge building Rick). The Club took up the Skeuter and the E-Runner electric motor scooters. The Biodiesel people up there were strong with our own Kent Bullard in the middle of it all. The City of Santa Barbara brought their buses. The Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition was there doing bike parking and repairs. Santa Barbara Electric Bicycle Co was there with their electric bikes as well as the Bionics upgrades, and the Tress Terra. It was a Sustainable Transport Village in every way but in name. They call it the Green Car Show and put the bicycles down the way. Perhaps next year they will bring the bikes into the fold so that people know they are the most green of all the forms of transport. It was a great day despite the rain/drizzle. We got over fifty names on our mailing list including some great activists. We also left the E-Runner Scooter in the hands of a new owner, one more solution on the ground. Special thanks to Randy Scherer for a great days work and to Zane at Skeuter for helping make the trip happen. All of these efforts are creating public awareness that we do not have to use oil to get around. Our Club now has over 1000 people on the mailing list, all of whom are playing some part in building the sustainable future we envision. The next step is the Energy Fair on May 5th - it would be great to have more volunteers for that event. Please let us know if you are interested - call 310-450-7419 or email a reply to this newsletter. Click here to get more info. Another step beyond all this is to get working groups going in several areas that will be focal points for building Sustainable Transport into our communities. We already are doing this in Santa Monica and you can get the details of that at the Club Website. www.sustainableclub.org. We have a great group of people in both Pasadena and the South Bay. Perhaps we should schedule meeting in all these areas to see how to move forward. What do you think? |
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To 501C3 or not to 501C3 that is the question Which is to ask - who would be interested in creating/sharing one The question has come up numerous times recently as to whether the Sustainable Transport Club is a 501C3 or not. A 501C3 is a non-profit educational organization. So lets consider how to handle this. We have all sorts of great people working hard to change how we get around Los Angeles and lots of others who support the idea of Sustainable Transport on many levels. Organizing our efforts around a 501C3 entity would be one way to speed up our projects by allowing money to help do the work. The advantages of a 501C3 include: We can get funding to do our projects from the government and all its related organizations. We can get donations from people who get a tax write off in exchange. We can write off all the money we spend on our projects by passing the expenses through the entity. The entity can handle consulting projects with government agencies more easily. We can do projects through Corporations more easily. We can get like kind contributions of things like office space and printing in exchange for the tax write offs. The other side of the issue is that it takes time and money to create one and to operate one. What is the best way to solve this? We have several options including: Find an existing 501C3 organization that would act to provide us all of the benefits of a non-profit. Get an organization that would allow us to take donations through them for a percentage of the receipts Each group could create a specific purpose non profit and have lots of little non profits working together, We could create a non-profit specifically for all of the various projects we all have in mind and have it act as the umbrella organization for all of us. So is there some way that your group could benefit from having a non-profit to work through? Do you have a non-profit that others in our Club could benefit from? Do you want to work with others to help create such a benefit? Do you have resources that could help advance this effort? Anyone interested in any part of this can get in touch and we will help coordinate creating the right solutions. Call 310-450-7419 or reply to this email. |
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On Bike to Work Program May 14th event Bike to Work in LA County
For the
13th straight year a record number of cyclists are expected to give bicycle
commuting a try and leave their cars at home. Bike to Work Week is May 14 -
18, 2007. Be part of the solution and PLEDGE not only to bike to
work but pledge for a better you and for a better LA. Bicycling reduces
traffic, improves the environment, improves your health and even saves you
money on gas. Pledge online today! Get a free
bicycle patch kit (while supplies last) just for pledging. And, be
automatically entered to win prizes. Visit our Riders page for more on planning your ride to
work. Free Rides on Thursday, May 17 from participating transit
agencies. Just board with your bike or helmet. Stop by
at Metro’s co-sponsored Pit Stops on Thursday, May 17! Metro is
teaming up with a number of Los Angeles County organizations, employers and
merchants to host local pit stops for all Bike to Work participants. Pit
stops are locations for bicyclists to stop, relax, get energized, have
snacks, receive give-aways (all for free), and obtain informational materials
on bicycling to work. Check back for LA County Pit Stop locations. Employers
take action! Thank your employees for bicycling to work by setting-up
food and refreshments for them or by going all out and having a fair.
Whatever you decide on, REGISTER with Metro to
receive free give-away items to support your event. See our Employers page to register and for more
information. Be part of
the solution and use your pedal power on Bike to Work Day Thursday, Thank you to our partners and sponsors! For more information contact Paula Carvajalp@metro.net |
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16th Annual Los Feliz Street Fair Presents THE GREEN SCENE! June 3rd An opportunity for another Sustainable Transport Village? Margaret at Flexcar has contacted these people and they are open to doing Sustainable Transport Village at their event. If you are interested please let us know so that we can coordinate getting the best possible deal and help people to split booths etc. This is an area that should at least have a biodiesel pump in place and this is a chance to get organized in that neighborhood. Here is what the people from the event have to say: Dear friends I'm very excited to tell you that the 16th Annual Los Feliz Village Street Fair will take place on Sunday, June 3rd on Vermont Avenue from 11am – 8pm! Over 15,000 attendees are expected to attend this ultra hip outdoor celebration of life, art, food, fun, live music and adventure. Learn more: www.LosFelizStreetFair.com This year is the debut of the GREEN SCENE (click on link for more): http://www.losfelizstreetfair.com/green_scene.php is a debut, special section of this year’s festival dedicated to all things green; eco-conscious, environmentally friendly initiatives of all kinds including bio fuels, complete green living environments, green weddings, holistic and natural products to name a few. We also have a tentative plan from the mayor’s office for the Mayor to come and speak as he launched the Million Trees initiative earlier this year and are reaching out to a number of A-list celebrities who participate in making the world a better and greener place. For those who don’t know about your organization (which we hope continues to grow), this is the perfect way and the perfect crowd to make friends with and you could end up with thousands of new clients at the end of the day. EXHIBITOR OPPORTUNITY: We
are very interested offering you a booth in the hub of the GREEN SCENE
I want to thank you and your team in advance for your time and consideration. I look forward to following up with you soon. Our world is a small place that is getting smaller, and together we can continue to make it more environmentally friendly, eco-conscious and as green as possible. Please do not hesitate to call or write at any time. All the Best, Lon Lon Haber http://www.losfelizstreetfair.com/green_scene.php Tel: 323-620-1675 Email: lon@lonhaber.com It might be best for us to get together on this – email main@sustainableclub.org or margaret.kemp@flexcar.com so we can get the best deal and organization – group buying can save resources. Call 310-450-7419 |
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Whole Children, Whole Planet Expo. Exhibitor
invitation for 2008: This could be a good venue for another Sustainable Transport Village next year - it is for the children after all. Here is the invitation -
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May 5th Energy Fair in Palos Verdes The Sustainable Transport Club abd its members are supporting and participating in the energy fair again this year. Please let all your South Bay and PV friends know about the event. We are working toward building a south bay coaliton of people working toward sustainable energy and transportation. This is a great chance to move forward in this area. South Bay Energy Fair
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Pacific Unitarian Church
5621 Montemalaga Dr.
Rancho Palos Verdes
8:30 AM - 3:00 PM
The South Bay Energy Fair will show you how to:
This same group will be conducting their annual solar
homes tour - Solar Homes Tour in the Palos Verdes/South Bay area June 16, 2007 |
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LIVE presentation of An Inconvenient Truth in Hermosa Beach!!! A live slide show of "An Inconvenient Truth" will be presented by Al Gore trained presenter, Nick Karno, on **April 28th** at the Hermosa Beach Playhouse located at Pier Avenue at Pacific Coast Highway Hermosa Beach, California (310) 372-4477 Vendor booths will be open at 6 PM and the presentation will start promptly at 7 PM. The slideshow includes updated information from the Al Gore movie, An Inconvenient Truth and will focus on 20-30 minutes of solutions at the end. For more information call: (310) 697-8522 Get your ticket at the following locations: Planet Earth, eco café, located at 509 Pier Ave.,HB; Yari, women's clothing, located at 327 Pier Ave, HB; Core Fitness, located at 1301 Manhattan Ave suite B, HB New website link: www.hermosaverde.org Check it out!!! The suggested ticket donations are $10.00 and the proceeds will help with Sierra Club's Cool Cities Campaign and Hermosa Verde's commitment to education and awareness in the community along with programs toward reducing the Hermosa Beach carbon footprint. We invite you to decrease your carbon emissions by walking to the event or by calling pedicabs. Looking forward to seeing you there!!! **If you would like to help with this event, please contact Nicky Tenpas at greenikita@gmail.com.** **Please encourage your friends and family to come. If you can't make it, buy a ticket for a friend instead.** The Bio-Diesel Co-op will be among the vendor booths promoting solutions at the following event this coming Saturday night, April 28 [VOLUNTEER HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED!! CALL OR E-MAIL CHRIS PINE 310.325.6370]: |
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ENVIRONMENTAL LECTURE SERIES INCLUDES |
Paris Embraces Plan to Become City of BikesParis is launching a hi-tech bicycle sharing program this summer. They are putting 20,000 bicycles on the streets with a massive installation of distribution stations around the city. This is to help deal with the congestion and the global warming problems. What is your City doing about these issues. This program is based on the one that was a success in Lyon, France. The one in Lyon was based on one in Vienna Austria. The one in Vienna started after the success in Amsterdam. This is how ideas that work spread. For more details try the following link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/23/AR2007032301753.html |
Way to go - MyGo-Pasadena.Join MyGo-Pasadena and get a $500 instant rebate on a new electric bicycle, plus up to $30 a month cash!If you board the Metro Gold Line from either the Sierra Madre Villa, Memorial Park or Del Mar stations in Pasadena at least 2 times a week, you could qualify for $500 towards your purchase of new electric bike to enhance your commuting options. Through our Rewards Program, you could also receive up to $30 extra per month depending on how many days per week you commute to your station using your new e-bike. What a great way to reduce the cost of your monthly Metro Pass! All you need to do is to register on our “Sign-up” page and, if you qualify, we will contact you and send you an Orientation Package and Users Agreement in the mail. Take your signed agreement to one our participating dealers and get started on a new, healthier way of life. Or contact: Whitney Pitkanen MyGo Project Manager WestStart-CALSTART 48 S. Chester Ave. Pasadena, CA 91106MyGo Info Line: (626) 744-5679 |
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Bikerowave has a new, and permanent, space. We've moved into 1816A Berkeley Ave in Santa Monica. For now our open hours will be as before - Monday and Wednesday from 6:30pm - 10pm, and Saturday from 1pm to 5pm. We're ready to kick it into high gear. We've got tools, a space, and a vetted volunteer base. We're looking to y'all to help spread the word about Bikerowave in any way you can. Please don't hesitate to mention Bikerowave to other bikers or contact us about how you might help. We need volunteers so if you know anyone interested in helping please send the our way. Lastly please note that we are accepting bike, part, and monetary donations. You can contact us by emailing either yolanda@aponeurotica.com or alexcthompson@gmail.com Come by and visit sometime, Alex http://www.bikerowave.org |
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Mayor Newsom Opens S.F.’s First Commercial Biodiesel Fueling Station, Heralds City’s Progress on Conversion of City Fleet to Biodiesel Mayor Also Announces New Program to Recycle Restaurants’ Waste Oil into City Biodiesel Starting Fall 2007 San Francisco, CA: A year
after setting an aggressive goal of converting 100% of San Francisco’s diesel
fleet to running on a biodiesel blend, Mayor Gavin Newsom today touted the
City’s progress after the first quarter of 2007 even as he opened San
Francisco’s first viable commercial biodiesel fueling station. Thirty-Nine percent
(39%) of the City’s fleet has already converted to use of a biodiesel blend,
well ahead of the 25% expected by this point, and 100% of Norcal
Recycling/Waste Management’s fleet has converted to the use of biodiesel.
Mayor Newsom also announced a new program beginning this Fall that will pick
up waste oil from the City’s thriving restaurant industry and recycle it as
biodiesel for the City’s fleet. “Every City bears
responsibility for taking local action to address our global climate crisis,
and vehicle emissions are a major source of greenhouse gases,” said Mayor
Newsom. “When it comes to the use of alternative fuels, renewable energy
sources and greening our City fleet, San Francisco is demonstrating
leadership and commitment on every front.” The conversion from use of
traditional diesel fuel to biodiesel fuel by the City fleet, Norcal and many
resident’s personal vehicles is made possible by use of what is known as
“B20,” a mix of 20% recycled biomass and 80% traditional diesel fuel. Unlike
“B100,” or 100% biofuel, most commercially sold diesel engines can run on B20
without any adjustment or adaptation. Use of biodiesel will enable the City
to achieve significant reductions in very fine soot particles. These
microscopic particles are one of many toxic pollutants that are emitted from
diesel exhaust, which has been linked to an array of serious health problems
such as increased incidences of asthma and premature death. Biodiesel usage
also greatly reduces carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, toxic air pollutants and
greenhouse gas emissions. The City has worked for more than a year on
biodiesel projects with the support and advice of the citizens and experts on
the City’s Biodiesel Access Task Force. The new fueling site at
the Olympic station at 2690 Third Street (at 23rd St) will supply
commercially licensed diesel vehicles through card-lock dispensers with B20
twenty-four hours a day. It is the first viable biodiesel fueling station to
open in San Francisco. A station supplying B100 existed for a short time in
2001, but there existed no market for 100% biofuel at the time. San Francisco’s progress
on biodiesel puts the City on track to meet its commitments under Mayor
Newsom’s Climate Action Plan, which calls for reducing greenhouse gas
emissions to 20% below 1990 levels by 2012, said San Francisco Department of
the Environment Director Jared Blumenfeld. We’re not just talking about what
needs to be done to stave off global warming, we’re doing it. From blocking sewers to
fueling cars, we’re going to turn one of our sewer system’s biggest problems
- grease - into an asset for restaurants and an alternative energy source for
City vehicles, said SFPUC General Manager Susan Leal. Federal officials were
also on hand Tuesday to laud the City’s biodiesel initiatives lend their
support for the projects. In celebration of Earth
Day, US EPA congratulates the City of San Francisco on its biofuels
initiative. This project to convert waste grease to biodiesel will reduce
diesel emissions, conserve natural resources, and help lower our country's
dependence on foreign oil, said Jeff Scott, Director of the Waste Management
Division of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (US EPA) Pacific Southwest
Office. Mayor Newsom also
announced a new project between the Department of the Environment and the
non-profit Green Depot program to educate Bayview-Hunters Point and southeast
community residents about the environmental benefits of converting to
biodiesel when possible. Biodiesel results in reduced NOx and particulates
emissions compared to diesel, which is most commonly used in large trucks and
industrial vehicles. In addition to City efforts to close the remaining
older, polluting Potrero power plant, increased use of biodiesel by the City,
residents and businesses would further reduce harmful emissions in the
neighborhood. Our biodiesel projects are
not just about combating climate change, said Mayor Newsom. They’re also
about making our air cleaner and protecting the health of all San
Franciscans. ### |
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Biodiesel in Brentwood There is a new biodiesel pump on the Westside. Here are the details USA/Conserve Fuel - 11699 San Vicente Blvd. (Intersection with Barrington), West Los Angeles/Brentwood, 90049, B99.9 at the pump. http://www.conservfuel.com So we have three biodiesel pumps on the Westside now - what is taking the downtown/Silverlake people so long? Torrance is on its way. What about Pasadena? |
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AB 1358 (Leno) As introduced 02-23-07 The Complete Streets Act of 2007 FACT SHEETPURPOSE The Complete Streets
Act of 2007 will ensure that the transportation plans of California
communities meet the needs of all users of the roadway including pedestrians,
bicyclists, users of public transit, motorists, children, the elderly, and
the disabled. By encouraging good
planning for all modes of travel, AB 1358 will make our roads safer and more
convenient places for Californians who choose to walk, ride a bike, or take
transit. Safer roads enable more people to gain the health benefits of
choosing an active form of transportation, and benefit everyone by reducing
traffic congestion, auto-related air pollution, and the production of
climate-changing greenhouse gases. SUMMARY AB 1358 requires the
legislative body of a city or county, upon revision of the circulation
element of their general plan, to identify how the jurisdiction will provide
for the routine accommodation of all users of the roadway including
motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, individuals with disabilities,
seniors, and users of public transportation. The bill also directs
the Office of Planning and Research to amend guidelines for the development
of general plan circulation elements so that the building and operation of
local transportation facilities safely and conveniently accommodate everyone,
regardless of their mode of travel. The Act would take effect beginning on
January 1, 2009. WHAT’S NEEDED The bill is before the
Assembly Local Government Committee. It is expected to attract considerable
opposition from city and county groups. A California Complete Streets
Coalition has formed to promote this legislation and is seeking a broad base
of organizations to endorse it. To sign on to the CA Complete Streets
Coalition, contact Justin Fanslau (justin@collectiveinfluence.com 916-524-3890) and see www.calbike.org. For information and examples of complete streets go to: www.completestreets.org |
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Support Current Biodiesel Legislation in the CA Senate There are some great activists working with our state political process. They have been able to help get the following biodiesel activity going. Thanks to Lindsay Hassett, Rob Reed, Kent Bullard and others for the information. There are currently several bills in progress in the California Senate, which are intended to move biodiesel implementation in the state forward. The bills are introduced by Senator Dean Florez and are: SB 70 (Create State specific Biodiesel Standards), SB 71 (Mandate B20 for state, county, local government and mass transit), SB 72 (Mandate B20 for all public and private school fleets), SB 73 (Provide a $.30 biodiesel production tax credit for fuel made in California), SB 74 (Create a biodiesel equipment and fuel exemption from state sales and use taxes), SB 75 (Require manufacturers to provide B20 warranty for vehicles purchased by the State) and SB 76 (Create a biofuels investment account for infrastructure). "Senator Florez will take up SB 70 on Monday, April 9 in Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee at 1:30 PM in Room 3191. There are 13 bills on the agenda and given Senator Florez's scheduled committee hearing at 2:00 PM on the same date, there is a good chance that he could be heard first. There are eight members on the Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee: Mark Ridley-Thomas (D-Los Angeles, Chair), Sam Aanestad (R- Nevada City, Vice Chair), Ellen Corbett (D-Hayward/East Bay), Jeff Denham (R-Merced), Tom Harman (R-Orange), Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto), Leland Yee (D-San Francisco), and Senator Florez. SB 70 will need five (5) votes to pass Senate Business and Professions. This is an important series of bills, review them at http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/bilinfo.html and contact your state representative and tell them to support these bills.
Rod Brewer from Senator Florez's office (the Senator with the 7 Biodiesel bills currently in the senate SB 70-75) was strongly encouraging any Biodiesel supporters to email letters of support to the six leading senators for next weeks Transportation and Housing and Environmental Quality Committee reviews of these bills.
The call to action is to email letters to the individual senators by Monday am supporting Senator Florez's bills.
If letters from various coops, groups, companies, etc could write letters it would carry the most weight rather than individuals. I understand there may be an issue with nonprofits lobbying and not sure how much a letter of support walks that line. If we want wider acceptance for Biodiesel in the state of CA then I suggest considering walking that line. If you work for an agency that clearly cannot send this letter than send it from yourself personally.
PLEASE SEND TO THE FOLLOWING SENATORS
Senator Joe Simitian joe.simitian@sen.ca.gov Senator George Runner george.runner@sen.ca.gov Senator Sam Aanestad sam.aanestad@sen.ca.gov Senator Allan Lowenthal allan.lowenthal@sen.ca.gov Senator Tom McClintock tom.mcclintock@sen.ca.gov Senator Roy Ashburn roy.ashburn@sen.ca.gov ************************************** ********** April 23, 2007
Senator __________ State Capitol Sacramento, CA 95814
Dear Senator _______________
This letter is urging you to support Senate Bills 70-75 as related to the Biodiesel industry in California. Our reasons for supporting Biodiesel in the state of California are the following:
Biodiesel is good for the CA economy as it can be made in our own state and not have to be imported from foreign countries Biodiesel is good for the environment as it does not require the use of fossil fuels and uses waste product or feedstock grown on CA soil Biodiesel is good for farmers as they can grow seed crops in rotation with other crops Biodiesel is good for engines and has been reported by numerous school bus districts that it reduces the amount of oil changes the engine needs and keeps the engine cleaner. Biodiesel is good to blend with ULSD since removing sulphur reduces lubricity and Biodiesel can provide that back Biodiesel reduces emissions specifically, particulate Matter, Hydrocarbons (GHG's), PAH, nPAH, sulfates, and carbon Monoxide.
In regards to Nox, the 1990's EPA study that found Nox to increase by 2% has been met with recent controversy. In regards to the October 2006 NREL study that found vehicles using B20 fuel—a blend of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent petroleum diesel—B20 does not produce an increase in nitrogen oxide (NO x) emissions. NREL did the study on 8 different vehicles vs. EPA's testing only a couple vehicles. The attached link will provide you more information about this NREL study. http://www.nrel.gov/vehiclesandfuels/npbf/pdfs/40554.pdf
Those of us in the Biodiesel industry are focused on Biodiesel becoming a viable fuel which is currently used by millions of people and fleets around the country. There are many issues regarding general acceptance of Biodiesel and we need the support of the California Senate to ensure that Biodiesel as an alternative fuel gets included in this growing need for changing the way we transport people and goods.
We support Senator Florez series of bills in support of Biodiesel and urge you to do the same.
In spirit of cleaner air for all,
Name Organization Address City, State, Zip
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Please sign up to receive this newsletter by going to www.sustainableclub.org or call 310-450-7419 or by emailing to main@sustainableclub.org We also have a group discussion area at http://groups.google.com/group/sustainableclub?lnk=srg Anyone wishing to be removed from this mailing list just hit reply and put the word remove at the top of your response. Speakers Press produces this newsletter for the Sustainable Transport Club. You are encouraged to contribute articles that support developing sustainable transportation. Authors contribute electronic first serial rights only and retain all other rights. Copyright Speakers Press April 2007. All rights reserved. You are authorized to electronically forward all or part provided this copyright notice is included. Except as noted above. |
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An added benefit to being a part of this debut-scene is that the media
partners and all media coming to the show will be hitting up the GREEN SCENE
booths. Whole Life Times is an official sponsor and all other media outlets
are expected.