Bioenergy
Bio-fuels
Transportation accounts for 65 percent of U.S. oil consumption and is the predominant source of air pollution. New transportation technologies are intended to improve the efficiency and emissions of vehicles using petroleum-based fuels, provide cleaner-burning alternative fuels, and reduce the quantity of miles individual vehicles travel on our roads and highways.
What are bio-fuels?
Bio-fuels are derived from biological feed stocks (corn, soy, sugarcane, etc.) that are available as renewable sources of fuel.
Biodiesel a low-polluting diesel alternative made from vegetable oils, animal fats, and even recycled cooking greases.
Ethanol an alcohol-based fuel derived from crops such as corn, barley, and wheat. Ethanol can be blended with gasoline in varying concentrations. E85, for example, is a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline.
Many other alternative fuels are being used today in place of gasoline and diesel fuel, including:
Natural gas domestically produced and available to end-users through the utility infrastructure. It can either be stored onboard a vehicle as compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied natural gas (LNG). Natural gas also can be blended with hydrogen.
Electricity stored in batteries or produced onboard.
Propane produced as a by-product of natural gas processing and crude oil refining.
Liquids made from coal - gasoline and diesel fuel that doesn't come from petroleum.
Alternative-Fuel Vehicles
Alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) use alternative fuels instead of gasoline or diesel fuel. AFVs range in size and shape, from small commuter cars to large 18-wheeler trucks. A number of automobile manufacturers offer light-duty vehicles for personal transportation.
AFVs are well-suited for fleets in certain "niche" markets. Taxi fleets, for example, with high-mileage vehicles that drive fairly centralized routes, may benefit from using a less expensive alternative fuel such as natural gas or propane. Local delivery fleets-with low mileage, high-use vehicles that frequently idle in traffic or must often start and stop may be good candidates for electric vehicles. Medium- and heavy-duty AFV applications include transit buses, airport shuttles, delivery trucks and vans, school buses, refuse haulers, and street sweepers.
AFV Types
Flex-Fuel Vehicles can be fueled with gasoline or, depending on the vehicle, with either methanol (M85) or ethanol (E85). The vehicles have one tank and can accept any mixture of gasoline and the alternative fuel.
Bifuel or Dual-Fuel Vehicles have two tanksone for gasoline and one for either natural gas or propane, depending on the vehicle. The vehicles can switch between the two fuels.
Dedicated Vehicles are designed to be fueled only with an alternative fuel. Electric vehicles are a special type of dedicated vehicle.
Hybrid Vehicles combine the best features of two different energy sources, one of which is electric power. Until alternative fuels really catch on, hybrids can be a good choice. A hybrid gets about twice the fuel economy as a conventional car of the same size and capacity.
- Plug-in hybrids will be available soon. These get about twice the fuel economy of a hybrid. A plug-in hybrid, running on biofuel (e.g., 85 percent ethanol) could almost entirely eliminate its use of petroleum.
Fueling
Alternative fuel stations are becoming increasingly popular across the country, as more consumers and agencies turn to clean fuels. Find out where these stations are located using the Arkansas Farm Bureau's Arkansas Biofuels Suppliers and DOE's Alternative Fueling Station Locator.
Financial Incentives
State
The HEV State Agency Rebate Program, administered by the Arkansas Energy Office, provides an incentive to state agencies to purchase new HEVs. HEVs that currently qualify are the Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid and Honda Insight. The incentive covers the sales tax paid for the HEV. A rebate application must be submitted within six months of the delivery and registration of the vehicle. Rebates are available on a first-come, first-served basis until available funds are exhausted.
The Biodiesel Incentive Act
An income tax credit is available to biodiesel suppliers for up to 5 percent of the costs of the facilities and equipment used in the wholesale or retail distribution of biodiesel fuels.
The Biodiesel Incentive Act also provides a tax refund to suppliers on the sale of biodiesel fuel that is to be used in producing a biodiesel fuel mixture. The refund will be fifty cents for each gallon of biodiesel fuel used by the supplier to produce a biodiesel mixture that contains no more than two percent biodiesel and that is for sale by the supplier or for use by the supplier in a trade or business.
The refund will be available to a supplier when one or more biodiesel producers: signs a financial incentive agreement with the Arkansas Department of Economic Development; is approved by the Alternative Fuels Commission as a biodiesel producer with biodiesel fuel production capacity to produce at least one million gallons in a twelve-month period; certifies that it will produce biodiesel fuel meeting federal and state standards; and begins production and is approved as a biodiesel supplier by the Director of the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration.
For more details, see the text of Arkansas' Biodiesel Incentive Act.
Federal
Qualifying electric vehicles and clean-fuel vehicles (including gasoline/electric hybrids) purchased new are eligible for federal income tax incentives:
Clean-fuel vehicles are eligible for a one-time tax deduction up to $2,000
Electric vehicles are eligible for a one-time tax credit up to $4,000 per vehicle
The maximum incentive will be reduced to $500 in 2006 and will expire at the end of the year. Learn more.
Links
Alternative Fuels Data Center
The U.S. Department of Energy’s very comprehensive source for information on alternative fuels. The site contains links to many other sites focusing on transportation. They also offer an Alternative Fuels Hotline at (800) 423-1363.
Alternative Fuel Vehicle Group
Provides news and information on the rapid advances in natural gas, biofuel, battery-electric, hybrid and fuel cell vehicles.
Clean Cities
A locally-based government/industry partnership, coordinated by the U.S. Department of Energy to expand the use of alternatives to gasoline and diesel fuel. Web site provides information on alternative fuels and transportation, a listing of Clean Cities, Clean Cities documents, and other useful information.
EERE: Transportation
Provides links to information on a host of topics related to alternative fuels and alternative-fuel vehicles.
EV Rental Cars
A rental car company that rents the most technologically advanced electric, natural gas and hybrid vehicles to the public from 12 major airports in the United States, to raise awareness of clean-fuel cars.
Green Car Institute
A nonprofit research organization that encourages the development and widespread use of alternative and clean fuel vehicles. Green Car Institute also places emphasis on related areas such as energy efficiency, recycling, and environmentally conscious manufacturing to promote understanding of these important and interconnected issues.
GreenerCars.com
The website for the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy's (ACEEE) Green Book, an environmental guide to cars and trucks.
Hybrid Center
A website of the Union of Concerned Scientists that provides consumer and technological information on hybrid vehicles. Features include a hybrid buying guide, hybrid reviews, and hybrid incentives.
National Biodiesel Board
The national trade association representing the biodiesel industry as the coordinating body for research and development in the U.S. Website includes information on biodiesel and related topics.
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
The U.S. Department of Energy provides information on clean transportation technologies and related topics through its FreedomCAR & Vehicle Technologies Program. In addition, the Hydrogen, Fuel Cells and Infrastructure Technology Program is helping to develop and introduce new clean technologies.
Towards Sustainable Transportation
Makes available conference papers on alternative fuels from an international conference sponsored by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and Environment Canada.
Articles and Publications
Alternative Fuels
An Arkansas Energy Office publication that addresses alternative fuels, alternative-fuel vehicles, financial incentives, and fueling.
Biofuels for Your State
A DOE publication that provides a good overview of biofuels and their benefits. It also lists ethanol incentives by state.
Consumer's Guide to Renewable Energy in Arkansas
Provides an introduction to solar, wind, and renewable fuels, and their applications in Arkansas. Produced by the Arkansas Energy Office, October 2005.
Stuttgart Biodiesel Startup Company Sees Great Potential in State
Announces a new biodiesel production facility slated to open in spring 2006 in Stuttgart.
Success Stories
National Clean Bus Leadership Recognition Program
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) in October 2004 recognized six state and local initiatives for leading the nation in deploying cleaner bus fleets.
Profiles the Truck-in-the-Park project, which successfully demonstrates the use of low-emission, biodegradable fuel in Yellowstone National Park.