For Immediate Release
ALAMEDA POWER & TELECOM SWITCHES
TO BIODIESEL FOR POWER GENERATORS
ALAMEDA, Calif., July 11, 2002 - Alameda Power & Telecom has made another investment
in green power with the conversion of its four auxiliary emergency power generators from
the use of conventional petroleum diesel fuel to the use of cleaner-burning B20 biodiesel
fuel.
Biodiesel (fatty acid alkyl esters) is a diesel replacement fuel made from natural,
renewable sources such as vegetable oils and recycled restaurant grease.
Just like petroleum diesel, biodiesel operates in compression-ignition engines.
Using biodiesel as an alternative fuel in a conventional diesel engine substantially
reduces emissions of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and sulfates.
Alameda Power & Telecom Utility Planning Supervisor Don Rushton says
that the generators now will run on 20 percent biodiesel and ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel.
He estimates that the use of the B20 biodiesel will reduce the hydrocarbon,
carbon monoxide and diesel particulate matter emissions of the emergency generators by
15 to 20 percent. In addition, the use of ultra-low-sulfur diesel will reduce sulfur
dioxide emissions by as much as 92 percent. He adds that the conversion process was
easy and relatively inexpensive.
Alameda Power & Telecom leased the four emergency generators in 2001 to
provide supplemental power generating capabilities during last year's power crisis.
The generators were purchased in 2002 to provide a permanent source of supplemental
power for Alameda, when needed. Each of the four emergency generating units is capable
of producing up to 1-1/2 megawatts of electric power. The power generators were last
used in March of 2001.
"We are 100 percent committed to the use of green power," says Alameda Power & Telecom
General Manager Junona Jonas. "The use of biodiesel fuel is just one more way we've
found to keep Alameda a clean and green community."
For more information about biodiesel fuel, visit the Alternative
Fuels Data Center website at www.afdc.doe.gov.
|
