From the Office of Mayor Tony Petelos

City of Hoover  

For Immediate Release

April 16, 2009

CITY OF HOOVER ANNOUNCES FIRST SHIPMENT OF FUEL MADE FROM THEIR VERY OWN WOOD WASTE

(Hoover, AL) The City of Hoover will make history on April 16^th, becoming the first city in America to power some of their police cars with fuel made from Hoover’s very own wood waste.  Hoover is set to receive its first shipment of the clean-burning fuel that is processed at Gulf Coast Energy’s demonstration plant in Livingston, AL.  Officials will fill up several General Motors Flex-Fuel police cars with wood-based ethanol at a public ceremony hosted by Mayor Tony Petelos and the Hoover City Council.

Senator Jeff Sessions and Congressman Artur Davis will be among those attending the historic event on Thursday, April 16, 2009 at 1:30 PM at the Hoover Fueling Facility (2020 Valleydale Road, Hoover, AL). 

Gulf Coast’s demonstration plant in Livingston, AL is the first facility in the country to take a cities wood waste and implement “gasification of wood waste” technology.  The City of Hoover’s fleet includes 196 cars operating on ethanol and 161 in the equipment fleet.

Mayor Tony Petelos says this is the first time in this country’s history where municipal wood waste has been converted into liquid fuel.  “It’s not only huge for Hoover, it’s huge for this country.”

According to a Press Release put out by Senator Sessions office, Senator Sessions is a key advocate in the Senate for reducing the nation’s dependence on foreign oil by increasing production of American oil and gas, improving efficiency, and finding long-term alternative fuel sources.

“I strongly believe that alternative energy could become the 21^st century’s version of what automobile manufacturing meant for Alabama in the 1990s,” said Congressman Artur Davis. 

The City of Hoover is a recognized national and international leader in the areas of alternative energy and environmentally sensitive practices.  As of January, 88% of Hoover’s entire fleet is running on alternative fuels. 

“The City of Hoover’s wood and yard waste to fuel partnership with Gulf Coast Energy makes sense well beyond city budgeting,” said Mark Bentley, executive director of the Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition.  “In addition to reducing our dependence on foreign oil, there are significant environmental benefits from the lower emissions generated by the Hoover vehicles consuming wood-based ethanol.  Also, Hoover reduces the amount of waste they send to landfills.  Just as important, Hoover is reinvesting taxpayer dollars into a local Alabama plant that provides jobs in the Black Belt. It’s a win-win.”

 “The City of Hoover is a great example of a municipality committed to reducing the consumption of oil,” said Beth Lowery, GM vice president of Energy, Environment and Safety Policy, "The use of GM Flex-Fuel vehicles powered by advanced bio-fuels developed from local wood waste is a proof point of the viability of these fuels and growing infrastructure support.”

The City of Hoover has been using alternative fuel since 2004 as detailed by the timelines below:

Ethanol

• 2004 – City of Hoover receives a grant from Alabama Clean Fuels to install alternative fuel pumps and tanks.

• 2005 – City purchases fleet of police Tahoe’s that operate on alternative fuel and Hoover had the largest fleet of police cars in the U.S. operating on E-85 at that time.

• 2006 – In September, President Bush visits the City of Hoover to highlight the City’s use of alternative fuel.

• 2007- In November, the City of Hoover is recognized in London, England by The International Awards for Liveable Communities for its Environmentally Sensitive Practices. 

• 2008 – In June, City of Hoover works with Gulf Coast Energy to take Hoover’s wood waste and convert into fuel.

• 2009 – In January, 88% of the fuel used by the City of Hoover is made from alternative fuel sources making our fleet one of the largest alternative fuel fleets in the United States.

• 2009 – In March, the City of Hoover receives approval from General Motors on the fuel that is made from Hoover’s wood waste.

• 2009 – On April 16th, the City of Hoover holds a Press Conference to announce that Hoover is now using alternative fuel made from Hoover’s wood waste and will be fueling several GM Flex-Fuel vehicles that day with the fuel.

• 2009 – As of April, the City of Hoover has driven close to 10 million miles on ethanol.

Bio-Fuel

• 2006 – In June, the City of Hoover begins using B-20 Bio-diesel.

• 2007 – In March, Hoover installs a processor that converts used cooking oil into fuel and starts a commercial recycling program by collecting used cooking oil from restaurants.

• 2007 – In November, Hoover starts a residential recycling program and collects used cooking oil from residents. The City provides the containers for residents to use and has designated pickup and drop-off points for the containers.

• 2008- In February, the City of Hoover partners with Jefferson State Community College students to help with the processing of our used cooking oil as well as marketing our alternative fuel program.

• 2009 – As of April, the City of Hoover has processed 25,000 gallons of used cooking oil from residents and restaurants.

The City of Hoover was incorporated in 1967 making it only 42 years old.  Hoover has grown to be the 6^th largest city in the State of Alabama and has a population today of approximately 75,000 residents.

Contact:

Lori Salter

Public Information Officer/Mayor’s Office

City of Hoover

Office: (205) 444-7588

Cell: (205) 602-9999

Fax: (205) 444-7723

Salterl@ci.hoover.al.us