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Summary
During the last week of August 2008 Metrolina Biofuels
began pumping B99 (99% biodiesel and 1% petrodiesel) out of its solar
powered pump in north Charlotte. The pump will be the first B99 pump publicly
available in the Charlotte region. The pump is one of several regional
projects funded through the NC Solar Center's Clean Fuel Advanced Technology
grant program. |
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Project Details
The opening of the pump marks the end of a long journey for the
members of Metrolina Biofuels, a long-standing member of the Centralina Clean
Fuels Coalition. In 2006, Metrolina Biofuels received a $9,800 grant from the
North Carolina Solar Center through it Clean Fuels Advanced Technology program
for the installation of a biodiesel pump. The group began work on the pump only
to find obstacles for the pump location and power source. The pump was finally
located at 3711
Miranda Road Charlotte, NC 28216 and is fully powered by a solar panel.
Metrolina Biofuels will be filling their 500-gallon tank at the pump with biodiesel
locally produced in North Carolina. The fuel will be sold for close to the cost
of petrodiesel. The high cost of diesel fuel and concerns about the environment
and foreign oil dependence may help boost their business at the pump. In addition,
Metrolina Biofuels hopes that the pump’s location near the intersection
of 1-77 and 1-85 will attract motorists traveling through the region that are
interested in fueling with biodiesel.
The Metrolina Biofuels mission is a sustained and sustainable effort to educate
the public about the necessity of a radically different transportation model
and to provide plant-based fuel from local sources in as many venues as they
are able. Their biodiesel pump will be open 10:00 am - 4:00 p.m. weekdays or
by appointment.
By the numbers:
| Fuel Type: |
Biodiesel |
| Project Cost: |
Over $20,000, including in-kind services |
| Grant Amount: |
$9,800 |
Contact Information:
George Bostic
Metrolina Biofuels
george@sunsetcoachmen.com
If you have a success story you would like to submit please
contact Sarah
Niess at (sniess@centralina.org).
