PA Gov. Rendell Announces $3 Million Investment in Alternative Fuel Technologies

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http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/061207/phth031.html?.v=72

PITTSBURGH, Dec. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Governor Edward G. Rendell today announced the investment of more than $3 million in Alternative Fuel Incentive Grants to stimulate the production, distribution and use of biofuels made in Pennsylvania.

The grants leverage more than $40 million in private funds for the production of almost 64 million gallons of clean-burning biodiesel annually, as well as for the installation of storage tanks that are needed to distribute and sell biofuels. AFIG also covers 100 percent of the added costs to eligible applicants who purchase high-percentage biofuels blends for use in their fleets.

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Pittsburgh joins other Pennsylvania entities converting fleets to biodiesel. The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, York County Transit Authority and Great Valley School District in Chester County also are early adopters of this environmentally and fiscally responsible fuels strategy. Because there are no mechanical changes needed for vehicle fleets to operate on the cleaner- burning biodiesel, the switch to this fuel is relatively simple. Further, it has been shown that biodiesel reduces wear on engines and helps to cut down on maintenance expenses.

"Pittsburgh's purchase represents a far-reaching combination of environmental protection and economic development," McGinty said. "By combining the recycling of waste vegetable oil with the local production of cleaning-burning biodiesel that will fuel its fleet, the city is supporting innovative new businesses, reducing waste and lowering emissions of soot and pollutants that form smog. This is high-performance public policy that truly deserves our support."

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