Biodiesel fueling station praised by officials
By CLYNTON NAMUO
Union Leader Correspondent
Friday, Aug. 4, 2006
Durham – Public officials unveiled a biodiesel fueling station at the University of New Hampshire Wednesday with the promise it would help usher in a new era of clean, renewable fuels.
Gov. John Lynch and U.S. Rep. Jeb Bradley yesterday praised biodiesel as both an environmentally friendly and economically beneficial alternative, pegging New Hampshire as a future producer of the fuel.
Biodiesel is a cleaner burning form of diesel made from plant or animal matter. It is normally combined with traditional diesel in a 20 percent blend and works only in diesel powered vehicles.
"It is in all of our interests to reduce air pollution and energy use," said Lynch in support of biodiesel.
The ultimate goal of alternative fuel projects like this is to reduce the state's dependence on foreign oil while bolstering the environment and the local economy, Lynch said. Support for such projects has risen along with gas prices.
The fueling station will be used for UNH's six new biodiesel powered buses and a handful of biodiesel powered vehicles for the state Department of Transportation. Lynch promised increased support from the state by converting more vehicles to renewable and cleaner burning fuels.
Bradley assailed the trend toward ethanol as the dominant alternative fuel and praised biodiesel, saying energy diversity brings price stability.
"I'm hopeful that we're going to move away from those massive subsidies for ethanol," he said. "We should not be putting all our eggs in one basket." The expansion into biodiesel further diversifies UNH's fleet of buses, 12 out of 30 of which now run on alternative fuels such as compressed natural gas.
Interim President Bonnie Newman said the school hopes to convert even more vehicles to alternative fuels in the future.
The fueling station and the small host of vehicles that will use it are largely symbolic, but Bradley said it was important to show support for new fuels.
"The state is showing they can create an infrastructure here for the fuels of tomorrow," he said.
Others liked the new buses for completely different reasons.
As the mercury passed 100 during the outdoor press conference yesterday, bus driver Phil Rollins was happy for one of the new vehicle's best features - air conditioning.
"This is a super bonus," he said, adding the old buses had none. "This is one of the reasons we're so excited."
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