Workshop sheds light on alternative fuels
by Abby Lietz
Herald Journal Reporter - Monticello, IN

About 80 residents of and visitors to the 47980 Zip code gathered in the White County 4-H Community Building Friday during Extreme Energy Makeover Day to learn more about alternative vehicle fuels.

Kellie Walsh, executive director of the Central Indiana Clean Cities Alliance (CICCA), discussed the origins and uses of both soy biodiesel and ethanol among other related fuel topics as part of a series of educational opportunities for BioTown residents Friday.
Also on hand during the afternoon workshop was IndyCar Series driver Paul Dana, whose ethanol race car was on showcase in the 4-H arena. Dana briefly shared information about IRL vehicles usage of ethanol and stressed the need for increased awareness regarding the use of alternative fuels.

"Thirty percent of all gasoline in the U.S. contains at least some ethanol," he said. "The difference is not everybody knows about it."
Getting everybody to know about alternative fuels is indeed a major part of BioTown's Phase One, Walsh reinforced, as she began her presentation by sharing the fact that 60 percent of America's oil is imported from the Middle East.


CICCA has as its two goals to reduce dependence of foreign oil and improve air quality in the United States. To inform workshop attendees, Walsh explained the sources of biodiesel and ethanol. Biodiesel is derived from renewable vegetable oils, recycled cooking grease and soybeans. The biodiesel fuel used by most Hoosiers, however, is soy based. Ethanol arises from corn and other starch feedstocks such as wheat and sugar cane. There are currently no biodiesel production facilities in the state, though that may change soon, Walsh explained, adding that several ethanol plants are under construction.

Earlier in the afternoon, 20 Reynolds residents each were announced as winners of a two-year lease for a new flex-fuel vehicle, and the concept of flexible fuel vehicles is a necessary one to understand in the process.

"Any diesel engine can you biodiesel blends, from B2 to B20," said Walsh. "The Environmental Protection Agency maintains that B20 is the most beneficial in remission reductions. E85 flex-fuel vehicles like the ones the 20 Reynolds winners will take home, can safely run on both regular gasoline and E85 - an 85 percent ethanol-15 percent gasoline mix.

E85, Walsh reported, has been proven to reduce ozone-harming emissions by 20 percent and greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent. And while its octane rating is higher than that of premium gasoline, its BTU level is lower which will result in about a 1.5 mile per gallon loss in fuel economy. That drawback is almost certain to be recouped in maintenance and fuel filters in the long run, said Walsh.

Interest in flex-fuel vehicles and alternative fuels in general has spread rapidly since the BioTown announcement made in September by Governor Mitch Daniels and the state department of agriculture.

West Lafayette residents Ward and Karen Jameson were busy scratching notes during Walsh's workshop Friday, eager to take in new information. The couple's daughter and son-in-law, Karen explained, have been longtime supporters of energy conservation and environmental issues and prompted their interest in BioTown.

"We're better off if we have a fuel that's renewable," said Ward. "It's much to our advantage to reduce dependency on foreign oil."
Karen said she and her husband are considering purchasing a flex-fuel vehicle in the near future in order to do their part to help the environment and the American economy. But more education is in order first, Karen said. "I saw a bunch of school kids coming when we were on our way in here. I wondered why they didn't bring them in here because it's important to understand what's happening."