Biofuels from Waste: Good Economics, Good for our Environment
On Thursday, February 25, 2010, the LWVGB meeting occurred as climate and energy legislation was stalled in the Senate, and, internationally, there were no binding agreements on climate protection in Copenhagen in December. President Obama has stated that creating clean energy jobs remains a crucial part of the administration's strategy to combat devastating unemployment and to restore American leadership in clean energy technology. Although Alabama has room for improvement, we can be proud of action at the local level.

David Lindon, Fleet Manager for the City of Hoover, spoke to the League of Women Voters of Greater Birmingham and guests at the Homewood Library. He explained how sound economic decisions and some entrepreneurship continue to lead to savings for Hoover and to environmental improvements for the region. As one pollster has pointed out regarding the clean energy economy:

“If we do it right, we get cleaner air. We get less dependence on fossil fuels and enhanced national security. We get more innovation in our economy, more jobs and more sustainable jobs.

And that’s if the scientists are wrong.

If the scientists are right, we get all of those things, and begin to solve what could be the most catastrophic environmental problem that any of us have ever faced.

That’s a pretty good bet to make -- because it’s a ‘No Regrets’ strategy. It doesn’t mean it’s easy. But it means if we do it, and do it right, we get all of those benefits out of this policy approach. We think that’s why it’s the right thing to do.”

Given the strides made by the City of Hoover in the last fifteen years, the city’s fleet of over 400 vehicles might just be fuel-independent in the future. Lindon explained that the Energy Policy Act of 1992 promoted the use of alternative fuels and alternative fuel vehicles in order to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil. (Alternative fuels are designated E for Ethanol or B for Bio-Diesel, followed by a number which is the percent of the fuel from that source.)

Not knowing when the fleet might be penalized for violation of that law, under the leadership of Mayor Tony Petelos, Hoover began purchasing - for the same price – flex-fuel automobiles that could run on E-85 or regular gas. If the E-85 fuel wasn’t available, the fleet got credit for compliance anyway. But an economical entrepreneurial spirit evidently kicked in because now 85% of the fuel used by the City of Hoover is a qualified alternative fuel made in the United States, and the B-100 Bio-Diesel is made in Hoover from used cooking oil gathered from restaurants and homes.

Detailing the costs from unclogging sewers fouled by grease, Mr. Lindon showed how the G2O (Grease 2 Oil) program pays it’s own way, saving service calls and cutting fleet fuel costs at the same time. B100 costs Hoover only $.70 per gallon to make. The by-product of the conversion process produces water and glycerin, which is sold to a car wash to be used as soap. By his calculations, if each household in Hoover failed to wipe a frying pot free of cooking oil before washing, it could put about 1 tablespoon down the drain. If each home created only one tablespoon of oil a week this way, with 30,000 homes, there would be one hundred ten 55-gallon barrels of cooking oil per year clogging the sewers.

In April, 2009, the City of Hoover fueled the first police vehicles in the country with E-85 fuel - made from eight tons of Hoover municipal wood waste. The waste was taken to a demonstration plant in Livingston, Alabama where it was processed into ethanol. This cellulosic ethanol is preferable to corn ethanol, and David would like to see a commercial-scale production facility making it available in his own city.

David Lindon left us with a reminder: “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.” Leadership like this program in Hoover can help the greater Birmingham area be right – in the right way.

Even if you don’t live in Hoover, you can take your waste cooking oil to any Hoover Fire Station for recycling.