E-85 Gas Station Opens in Duplin County, 2nd in eastern North Carolina

[excerpted from WITN, reported by April Davis] The 16th ethanol E-85 gas station in the state opened on June 17, 2011, the second to open in eastern North Carolina. At the Magnolia Marketplace in Duplin County, just off of Interstate 40, flex fueled vehicles can now fill up with their intended alternative fuel. The E-85 fuel dispenser is the first one to open that's funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Organizers say it's important for these dispensers to continue to open across the state because ethanol fuel has a large potential to grow the economy of North Carolina.

"There's a lot of potential. There's never going to be potential that we'll produce petroleum in this county but there's great potential that we'll be able to grow the crops that make this fuel and that's what's exciting", said Anne Tazewell, N.C. State University.

The owner of the Magnolia Marketplace says having the dispenser open to the public is a 5-year dream come true.

Chatham Installs Biodiesel Tank with Carolina Blue Skies funding

Pittsboro, NC - Chatham County received $6800 as part of the "Carolina Blue Skies and Green Jobs Initiative", using it to purchase and install a 1000-gallon biodiesel fueling station at the county's garage. Biodiesel is a renewable fuel produced from vegetable oil or animal fats that is easily blended with petroleum diesel, typically at a 20% biodiesel 80% petroleum diesel ratio.



The Waste Management department began using B20 earlier this month in three of its recycling trucks. The department estimates it will reduce its annual usage of petroleum diesel by 2,500 gallons or more. The project also has a positive impact on the local economy. Chatham County currently obtains its biodiesel from Piedmont Biofuels in Pittsboro. In addition, the Waste Management department partners with Piedmont Biofuels to provide cooking oil recycling tanks and pick-up service at the county's 12 Collection Centers. Another recycling tank is located at the county's main Waste Management facility for any county resident, restaurant, or other small business. Teresa Chapham, Chatham's waste reduction coordinator says,

"Chatham residents and businesses can directly contribute to cleaner emissions in the county and support the local economy by recycling their used cooking oil. The oil is used locally to produce biodiesel, which is used to fuel our recycling trucks. It's also a great way to keep cooking grease out of the plumbing systems, as well as landfills in North Carolina".

The US Department of Energy reports that biodiesel also substantially decreases harmful emissions, and reduces visible smoke and noxious odors. "While our vehicles are equipped with emission controls, using the B20 blend will further reduce our fleet's negative impact on the air quality in Chatham", said Dan LaMontagne, Chatham County's solid waste director.

For more information on Chatham County's recycling programs contact Waste Management department at 919-542-5516.

NC Biofuels Center to Host Biofuels Status Report in Asheville

The NC Biofuels Center will host a discussion forum on the status of biofuels in western North Carolina on June 15th from 3-5pm at the North Carolina Arboretum (100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville NC). The discussion will explore the present status and future possibilities for meeting the 2017 goal of 10% of liquid transportation fuel used in NC coming from state-produced biofuels. Visit this website for more information and to RSVP.

Hybrid electric vehicles a big hit in Guilford County

Guilford County Fleet Services has been busy racking up the miles with their five Toyota Prius hybrid vehicles. Guilford County is the first sub-award to be actively using their vehicles under the Carolina Blue Skies Project. According to the Fleet Manager, Shane Inman, the Prius have quickly become the "vehicle of choice" at their motorpool since October 2010.

Ribbon-cutting! Welcoming new E85 station in Magnolia, NC

A ribbon-cutting event for Magnolia Marketplace will take place on June 17 from 10-11. Already in operation, the Marketplace is the first E85 station to open under the Carolina Blue Skies Project. The impetus for the project came from Magnolia native Lounell Mainor, who wanted to contribute to improving air quality in her immediate environment. Ms. Lounell is truly a visionary and pillar of her community. The ribbon-cutting is open to the public, and local and state leaders will be in attendance to celebrate the opening. 1486 S. Kenansville Byp, I-40 exit 373. Refreshments will be served. RSVP and more info: NC Solar Center, 919-515-0352 or alascur@ncsu.edu.