NYSERDA Awards NOCO Energy Corp. $320,000 for Bio-Diesel
Development; NFTA to Receive $62,000 to Demonstrate Fuel in Bus Fleet
Release: Immediate, March 18, 2002
Contact: Tom Collins, NYSERDA
(518) 862-1090, ext. 3250.
Albany, NY – While speaking at the Renewable Diesel Workshop
2002 today in Albany, William M. Flynn, President of the New York
State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced
a $320,000 award to the NOCO Energy Corporation in Tonawanda (Erie
County) for two projects to develop and use bio-diesel fuel in the
transportation sector. A separate award of $62,000 to the Niagara
Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) will help that agency fuel
140 of its 330 buses with bio-diesel produced by NOCO for at least
a year.
Bio-diesel is a renewable, biodegradable fuel that can substitute
for diesel fuel. It is made by chemically combining any of several
natural oil or fat feedstocks with an alcohol such as ethanol or methanol.
Common feedstocks include vegetable oils such as soybean oil, corn
oil, peanut oil, cottonseed oil, and rapeseed oil (canola), as well
as animal fat byproducts such as lard, tallow and yellow grease (used
restaurant cooking oil).
"Governor Pataki has placed a great emphasis on improving our
energy security by reducing New York State's dependence on imported
petroleum as well as using cleaner energy technologies to improve
air quality," William M. Flynn said. "Bio-diesel blends
can help us achieve those goals by stretching existing petroleum supplies
while reducing harmful emissions. If they gain commercial acceptance,
bio-diesel products may also help to stabilize prices for petroleum
products, which have spiked in recent years causing economic hardships
on residential and commercial petroleum customers alike."
NYSERDA's projects with NOCO are intended to help demonstrate the
viability of bio-diesel in the transportation sector as well as potential
applications in home heating. NYSERDA will provide $170,000 to NOCO
through its Research and Development program to evaluate the use of
bio-heating fuels in boilers and furnaces. The goal is to identify
affordable domestic fuels that can be derived from cooking oils, soaps,
or other consumer items that can be blended with Number 2 and Number
6 oils, which are used in home and commercial heating systems. The
expectation is that the bio-blended heating fuels will reduce Nitrogen
Oxide and particulate emissions.
James D. Newman, President, NOCO Energy Corporation said, "As
a New York State based, family-owned energy company, the bio-diesel
project creates a unique opportunity for us to diversify our energy
products and services while enhancing our commitment to protecting
our environment and dependence on oil. We are grateful to Governor
Pataki and NYSERDA for this funding and we look forward to working
closely with the NFTA on this exciting project."
NYSERDA is also providing $150,000 to NOCO to help it make the necessary
infrastructure improvements in order to blend, market and sell bio-diesel
in the Buffalo Niagara area. In addition to producing the bio-diesel,
NOCO will use the fuel in its fleet of trucks while also providing
the fuel to the Town of Tonawanda for its truck fleet. A separate
award of $62,000 to the NFTA will help offset added costs for bio-diesel
fuel as compared to conventional diesel to enable the transit agency
to fuel part of its bus fleet with NOCO's bio-diesel as well. Funding
for this effort comes from federal grants provided through the New
York State Clean Cities Challenge, which attempts to reduce transportation-related
emissions by encouraging the use of alternative fuels and vehicles.
Lawrence M. Meckler, NFTA executive director said, "The NFTA
is pleased to receive the NYSERDA funding that will allow us to introduce
bio-diesel fuel to our Metro fleet. It is incumbent upon us to look
for cleaner and renewable forms of fuel, so that we can operate our
fleet of buses as efficiently and environmentally friendly as possible."
NYSERDA is a public-benefit corporation established by the State
Legislature in 1975 to address the State's energy and environmental
challenges in ways that also benefit the economy. NYSERDA helps New
York State businesses develop energy and environmental products, commercializing
the type of high-value-added products that give New York State businesses
a chance to compete in the expanding global marketplace. NYSERDA also
helps New York State energy consumers identify cost-effective energy
efficiency measures that lower their operating costs and reduce environmental
emissions.
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