2/26/08- as seen on keynoter.com

County goes a bit more green

BY Alyson Crean

Monroe County's fleet of trucks and cars is about to go green, according to Public Works Director Dent Pierce.

In his monthly report to the County Commission, last week Pierce said his department is in the process of switching to a biodiesel blend of fuel.

“We're testing it out to see how it works,” he told the commission during its Feb. 20 meeting in Key Largo.

He said the blend is 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent petroleum fuel.

Commissioner Mario Di Gennaro was concerned the environmentally motivated move might be too expensive, but Pierce said the current load of the special fuel actually costs 2 cents less per gallon than regular diesel.

The county is following in the carbon footsteps of the city of Key West, which began using biodiesel fuel in December.

The county's initial order was 1,000 gallons. It'll fuel engines that run fairly often since biodiesel tends to have a shorter shelf life than standard petroleum fuel.

The county has 750 engines that run on fuel, including cars, generators, tractors and the like.

Using biodiesel and a catalytic converter will do a lot to cut air pollution, according to Key West General Services Director David Fernandez.

“This combination will reduce particulate matter emissions by 45 percent, carbon monoxide emissions by 41 percent and total hydrocarbon emissions by 65 percent,” he said in December.

Biodiesel fuel has been available for delivery in the Keys only for the past year or so, and the change by local government is part of a heightened environmental sensibility countywide.

Florida Keys GLEE - Green Living and Energy Education - has worked to educate local residents and governments since 2003.

That group will hold its third annual Green Living and Energy Education Expo in May. The three-day event offers “practical solutions for people to learn about sustainable living, water and energy conservation, renewable energy and green building so they can lead healthier lifestyles, reduce business costs, improve their community and save energy, water and the Earth,” the group says on its Web site.

The expo, which starts May 9 at Marathon High School, will include vendors, seminars, educational presentations and more.