Increasing clean transportation options throughout the state, the California Energy Commission today approved $17,223,593 for a wide range of projects.
“These awards are helping to support the expansion of alternative fuels and zero-emission vehicles in California,” said Energy Commission Chair Robert B. Weisenmiller. “Additionally, the funded projects will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants to protect our environment and improve the health of all Californians.”
The awards were made through the Commission’s Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program, created by Assembly Bill 118. The program, which is essential to fulfilling the state’s pioneering climate-change policies, is slated to invest approximately $90 million during this fiscal year to develop new transportation technologies, as well as alternative and renewable fuels. It is paid for through surcharges on vehicle and boating registrations, and smog check and license plate fees.
These awards also assist in fulfilling Governor Brown’s executive order directing state government to support the rapid commercialization of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) in California, with a 2025 target of having 1.5 million ZEVs on the state’s roads. The order also requires the installation of sufficient infrastructure to support 1 million ZEVs in California by 2020.
The state’s investments in these projects are safeguarded by matching fund requirements for awardees, and by making payments on a reimbursement basis after invoices are submitted.
Central California projects include-
FRESNO: Eslinger Biodiesel, Inc., will receive $6 million to build a commercial biodiesel production facility in Fresno. The first phase of this $32 million refinery is slated to be operating within a year of funding, producing 5 million gallons a year of biodiesel made from waste vegetable oils obtained from restaurants and commercial food producers, and animal fats obtained from rendering operations. Eventual production of biodiesel is expected to be 45 million gallons a year. The output will be shipped by pipeline to commercial blending facilities and is slated to be pre-sold to companies obligated to purchase carbon credit offsets. In addition to high-quality biodiesel, the plant will produce pharmaceutical and technical grade glycerin. Pipeline transport of fuel and waterless processing will result in near-zero production emissions at the facility. The new plant is located next to the Kinder Morgan terminal in Fresno.
Sacramento Municipal Utility District will receive $1,819,166 to facilitate the completion of a project to demonstrate a patented process developed at the Argonne National Laboratory to optimize the production of biomethane and reduce carbon dioxide from anaerobic digestion. The project will be demonstrated at the American River Packaging organic waste recycling facility in Natomas.
Paso Robles Waste & Recycle, will receive $300,000 to build a compressed natural gas (CNG) refueling station to serve a new fleet of CNG refuse haulers, as well as providing public fueling. CNG is much less polluting than conventional diesel. More than 50,000 gallons of conventional diesel fuel will be displaced by CNG annually by the five refuse trucks that will be initially used in the project. Once completed, the project is expected to create two permanent jobs. Paso Robles is located in San Luis Obispo County.
