Biodiesel starts flowing in Metro buses
Metro's biodiesel project is supported by a broad partnership. Representing
those partners are (from left): King County Metro Transit General Manager
Kevin Desmond; King County Wastewater Treatment Division Director Don Theiler;
King County Department of Transportation Director Harold Taniguchi; Dean
Boyer, Washington State Farm Bureau; K.C. Golden, Climate Solutions; Seattle City Light Superintendent Jorge Carrasco; and King County
Executive Ron Sims.
King County Metro Transit is taking another major step toward cleaner
emissions and energy independence, as it turns on the pump and begins fueling
its buses with biodiesel.
Biodiesel is a fuel that is made from natural ingredients, such as the seed
crops that are used to make vegetable oil. Metro has committed to pilot the
use of a blend of five percent biodiesel and 95 percent Ultra Low Sulfur
Diesel (ULSD) over the next two years, and is already using the fuel at its
Ryerson and Bellevue bases. It hopes to power its entire fleet of more than
1,200 diesel buses with the biodiesel by the end of 2006.
Although King County's primary concern is cleaner emissions, the project could
also lower the price of biodiesel, and create new markets for Washington
farmers.
The pilot project is being funded through a Seattle City Light mitigation
program. The City of Seattle is a national leader in greenhouse gas mitigation
and works towards the 2005 goal of becoming "greenhouse gas neutral."
Over the past several years, Metro has switched all of its diesel buses to
ULSD. This was done far in advance of the federal regulations that will soon
require all diesel vehicles to use the clean-burning fuel. The fuel switch
reduced particulate emissions by 90 percent in Metro's buses. Now, the
addition of biodiesel to the fuel mix will help reduce the amount of carbon
dioxide coming out of the tailpipe.
Because Metro buys more than 10 million gallons of fuel a year, even a five
percent addition of biodiesel will result in a big increase in demand for fuel
distributors. Metro believes this will open up the local biodiesel market to
other consumers, such as school districts, small trucking firms and even
individual car owners.
"Metro Transit's commitment to piloting the use of biodiesel will make it the
single largest user of the fuel in the State of Washington which will, in
turn, significantly increase markets for this clean burning alternative to
fossil fuel," said King County Executive Ron Sims.
Because biodiesel is a not a fossil fuel, the state's agricultural boosters
are excited that it could create a whole new cash crop for Washington's
farmers. Demand for biodiesel has been growing rapidly, and now the industry
has reached a tipping point where the first in-state commercial-scale
production is viable. Farmers and fuel producers throughout the region are
actively pursuing business plans to bring this new clean, renewable industry
to Washington State.
Since Metro purchases more than 10 million gallons of diesel a year, it
expects to purchase approximately one-half million gallons to operate the
entire fleet on the biodiesel blend.
Over the next two years, Seattle City Light and King County will monitor the
program and document actual reductions in greenhouse gas emissions tied to
Metro's use of the biodiesel.
Environmental award
In addition to the exciting news about biodiesel, King County also learned on
Tuesday that Metro is one of seven organizations being recognized by the
Environmental and Energy Study Institute (ESSI) as a National Clean Bus Leader
for 2004.
Metro was recognized for its leadership in investing in advanced technologies
and emissions reduction strategies. By year's end, King County expects to
fully integrate 213 hybrid-electric buses into full-time service. In their
first year of service, the hybrids are expected to save approximately 750,000
gallons of petroleum and provide a quieter, more efficient service. King
County 's use of ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD) continues to significantly
reduce particulate matter and other emissions, while spurring the development
of this important market.
For more information on this prestigious award, visit the
ESSI website.
VIDEO REPORT
Watch a video report on the October 26
biodiesel event.
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Text Transcript
Top
As part of the statewide celebration of Washington's Archaeology
Month in October, King County Road Services is sponsoring the "Footpaths
to Freeways" Lecture Series. It is an illustrated series focusing
on the history of roads in King County.
The final presentation will be this Thursday, Oct. 28 at the Auburn
Library, 1102 Auburn Way S.
Topics to be discussed include the wildly differing ways in which
roads have been established, a chronology of building techniques, and
the myriad of funding schemes and packages used to pay for their
construction over the past 150 years. It features a mixture of
historic and modern photographs, and concludes with an opportunity for
the audience to "find" their favorite historic road on electronic maps
using GIS.Top
Pacific Standard Time (PST) officially starts at 2 a.m. on Sunday,
Oct. 31, and bus riders should keep that in mind when taking early
trips.
On Saturday night, Oct. 30, all Saturday service, including Night Owl
trips that leave the Central Business District at 2:15 AM and 3:30 AM,
operate on Daylight Saving Time. If you ride the bus Saturday night,
including the 2:15 a.m. and 3:30 a.m. Owls, wait to set your clocks
back until after you are done riding buses for the night.
All trips leaving the bus bases on Sunday morning operate on Pacific
Standard Time. If you are planning to ride Sunday morning service, be
sure to set your clock back Saturday night.Top
 Here is a list of King County Department of Transportation projects that may disrupt traffic and travel in the coming weeks:
Northeast 124th Street, north of Redmond - Work continues
through the end of November on the
Northeast 124th Street project between Willows Road and State
Route 202. Most of the work now is concentrated at the bridge
over the Sammamish River.
South 277th Street, between Auburn and Kent - The Washington State
Department of Transportation will be closing State Route 167 at
South 277th Street between midnight and 4 a.m. on both Monday and Tuesday,
Oct. 25 and 26. This closure will also result in traffic disruptions to South
277th Street. King County is widening the overpass and the Washington State
Department of Transportation is overseeing the construction project. Work
continues through October 2005.
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VIDEO REPORT
DOT Dash