Friday, February 29, 2008

February 2008 Food and Fuel America.com Articles

February 2008
Food and Fuel America
Good and Balanced Food and Fuel News!

Be sure to check out these articles which appeared during the month of February 2008 on Food and Fuel America.com:
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Tuesday, February 26, 2008

AMI Opposes New FOOD SAFETY Initiatives

bad ground beef e coli recall food safetyWe were a little surprised this week to read an email from the American Meat Institute (AMI) opposing new food safety initiatives in the President's budget:

AMI LEGISLATIVE ALERT: Oppose Food Safety
Taxes!

Take Action: Urge your Representatives and Senators to Oppose User Fees!

Congress is now considering the Administration's proposed FY2009 budget which includes new user fees for meat, poultry and egg product inspection programs. These "user fees" will cost consumers, livestock and poultry producers and the meat, poultry and egg processing industries an additional $96 million.
American consumers expect safe food. So for Big Meat to argue about new programs based solely on user fees seems to be a very weak argument. The merits of the proposals should be more carefully reviewed to ensure food is both safe and affordable. Food that is unsafe at any speed will cost all consumers and all of agriculture even more.

Consumers who want to stay informed on food recalls can visit the USDA website to see the latest recall information, http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FSIS_Recalls/index.asp

The USDA offers a number of educational programs and websites to assist consumers in safe preparation of foods. Visit an overview HERE.

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E85 for 85 Cents in Los Angeles

conserv fuels LA Los Angeles ethanol E85Motorists in car-lovin' Los Angeles will be loving E85 for 85 cents a gallon this week.

The rising price of gasoline is hard to avoid in Los Angeles, but owners of Flexible Fuel Vehicles (FFV) capable of running on E85 ethanol will pay only 85.9 cents a gallon for the cleaner, alternative fuel.

On February 26th from noon to 2:00 p.m., Conserv Fuel at 11699 San Vicente Blvd. in Brentwood will offer E85 ethanol for 85 cents a gallon courtesy of General Motors.

E85 is 85% cleaner-burning ethanol and 15% regular gasoline that can be used in millions of Flexible Fuel Vehicles on the road today.

Conserv Fuel is the first filling station in L.A. where drivers can find the fuel alternatives from a company that shares and promotes values of quality, conservation, and sustainability. In addition to offering E85, Conserv also offer biodiesel fuels and regular gasoline.

Smog smoggy Los Angeles California air pollutionGeneral Motors is sponsoring the promotion to help raise awareness about the first station in Los Angeles to offer E85 ethanol, and to encourage drivers of Flexible Fuel Vehicles to use this cleaner, renewable fuel instead of gasoline.
“At GM, we believe the biofuel with the greatest potential to displace petroleum-based fuels and help reduce tailpipe carbon gas emissions in the United States is ethanol, and so we have made a major commitment to vehicles that can run on E85 ethanol,” said Susan Docherty, general manager of GM’s 16-state Western Region, which includes California.
GM is the automotive industry leader in producing vehicles that run on E85 ethanol with more than 2.5 million Flexible Fuel Vehicles on the road today,

Source: GM, Conserv, EPA

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Monday, February 25, 2008

The Whole Truth of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill

The Whole Truth Alaska Exxon Valdez Oil SpillThis week, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) will hear arguments in Exxon Shipping v. Baker, on whether a federal jury's 1994 $5 billion damage award against Exxon is excessive or even legal under maritime laws.

The case stems from the Exxon Valdez oil spill on March 24, 1989 that resulted in the most devastating man-made disaster ever.

Although the award was eventually reduced on appeal to $2.5 billion, Exxon has continued the fight all the way to the Supreme Court to overturn the award.

But the fishermen, Native Alaskans, municipalities and residents of Alaska who have had to deal with the environmental mess of the oil spill have not forgotten the impact of the disaster and Exxon's failure to comply with the jury's award.

This month, the Cordova District Fishermen United and Prince William Soundkeeper have joined together to deliver The Whole Truth (www.wholetruth.net), a new website about the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, to demand justice and end Exxon’s quest to escape responsibility.

So what happened in Valdez Alaska nearly 20 years ago?
On March 23, 1989 the Exxon Valdez an oil supertanker operated by Exxon and under the command of Captain Joseph J. Hazelwood left the port of Valdez headed for Long Beach, CA with 53,094,510 gallons of oil on board. Shortly after midnight on March 24, 1989, the supertanker collided with Bligh Reef, a well known navigation hazard, ruptured 8 of its 11 cargo tanks and spilled 11 million gallons of crude oil into the pristine waters of Prince William Sound. The result was catastrophic. Although the spill was radioed in shortly after the collision Exxon’s response was slow. In fact, there was no recovery effort for three days while Exxon searched for clean up equipment. During that time millions of gallons of oil began to spread down the coast. Days later as the clean up effort began the oil slick was no longer containable. It eventually extended 470 miles to the southwest, contaminated hundreds of miles of coastline and utterly destroyed the ecosystem.
This dirty side of oil, literally the oil spill in the pristine waters of Alaska as well as Exxon's failure to take full responsibility for its mess, will certainly be in the news this week as the court hears the case.

Let's not lose sight of yet another example of the "real" cost of oil on the American economy and environment.

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Sunday, February 24, 2008

T. Boone Pickens Picks Ethanol; Warns of Danger of Foreign Oil

T Boone Pickens oil ethanolLegendary oilman T. Boone Pickens sounded the alarm about the dire consequences of America's dependence on foreign oil.

He's not the first person to do so but his influence as one of America's top moneymen should help convince others of the increased financial danger to America's economy.

Pickens appeared on CNBC's "Squawk Box" this past week and said that half a trillion dollars of America's wealth is being plundered by foreign oil suppliers every year.
"You take 10 years and you've got $5 trillion," said Pickens. "That's more than $1 billion a day. We can't stand that."
He went on to tell the viewers on CNBC:
"If we do not get on the alternative energy bandwagon and if we don't have a global recession, we could be sitting on $150 oil in two years."
Finally, Pickens talked about changing his stance on support of more American-grown ethanol:
"I'd rather have ethanol, and recirculate the money in the country, than to have it go out the back door on us."
Source: CNBC.com (watch the video)

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The Golden Grenade Award Goes To...

hand grenade food vs fuel grocery manufacturers association ethanol silver bulletSometimes people really say the dumbest things. So in honor of the Academy Awards today, we're launching our own award for the day.

Dumbest Analogy in the Food and Fuel Debate:
And the award goes to Scott Faber of the Grocery Manufacturers Association.

In a recent USA Today article, it's clear that the GMA is opposed to the energy legislation that the bi-partisan congress and the President agreed to late last year:
"This is a mandate that would make Stalin blush," Scott Faber, vice president of federal affairs for the Grocery Manufacturers Association, says of the energy bill. "Ethanol is seen in the minds of some very smart and some very powerful legislators as a silver bullet. It's not a silver bullet, it's a hand grenade."
Seems to us that dismissing alternative energy policy in such a manner ignores the factual cost and benefits of renewable fuels. And its limited impact on consumer food prices. And the whole hand grenade analogy just strikes us as being really, really dumb.

We're really waiting to see if GMA will ever really discuss the cost impact of higher oil costs and world-wide demand rather than blaming corn ethanol for every price hike, real or imagined.

Maybe that's a land mine Scott and the GMA don't want to touch?

Source:USA Today

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Saturday, February 23, 2008

New Ethanol Blender Pumps Unveiled

gilbarco ethanol flex fuelThis week Gilbarco introduced the industry’s first alternative fuel blending dispensers.

Designed to blend ethanol or biodiesel with standard fuels, the new blenders have Weights & Measures approvals.

With access to cost effective supplies of alternative fuel feedstock, this product provides fuel station owners with the ability to add flexibility to their operation while improving site profitability and helping the environment.

“The new ethanol blenders are going to provide opportunities for more retailers to sell alternative fuels,” said Brian Beggs of Walt’s Petroleum Service in Schofield, Wisconsin. “Greater availability will also make it easier and more convenient for consumers to find and use ethanol.”

Gilbarco is in the process of obtaining U.L. approval for up to E85 and will submit for approval of biodiesel when a U.L. specification is issued.

Source: Gilbarco


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Friday, February 22, 2008

Ethanol Pipeline Could Fuel Northeast

magellan ethanol pipelineMagellan Midstream Partners, L.P. and Buckeye Partners, L.P. recently announced they have begun a joint assessment to determine the feasibility of constructing a dedicated ethanol pipeline. The proposed ethanol pipeline system would safely and efficiently deliver renewable fuel ethanol from the Midwest to distribution terminals in the northeastern United States.

ethanol pipelineThe proposed pipeline could have the capacity to supply more than 10 million gallons of ethanol per day, enough to meet the needs of millions of northeastern motorists who purchase 10% ethanol blended gasoline or higher ethanol blends such as E85.

The pipeline would gather ethanol from production facilities in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota and South Dakota to serve terminals in major markets such as Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and the New York harbor. The project, which preliminarily has been estimated to cost in excess of $3 billion, would span approximately 1,700 miles and would take several years to complete.
“The most promising liquid fuel alternative to conventional gasoline today is ethanol. But without an efficient means to transport ethanol from the Midwest to other markets, its benefits are limited,” said Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry and a leader in promoting ethanol pipelines. “Having a dedicated ethanol pipeline running from the Midwest to the eastern markets will help bridge the gap between the Midwest and the East, aiding America’s energy security. So I applaud these two companies’ efforts and I look forward to working in Congress to support the development of such pipelines.”
Although there are many hurdles to overcome to make this ethanol pipeline project a reality, the two partnerships are hopeful that the obvious need for a pipeline to deliver ethanol from the Midwest to distribution terminals in the northeastern United States will lead to a viable and successful project.

Source: Magellan

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Thursday, February 21, 2008

Oil and Gasoline Prices Soar Higher

crude oil unleaded gasoline price february 2008The consequential role that oil and gas prices plays in the American economy was clearly evident this week. On Monday, an explosion at a refinery in Big Spring, Texas was cited as one of the reasons for a rapid increase of crude oil prices to a record high over $100 a barrel. Others factors include OPEC's production slowdown and Venezuelan President Chavez' threats to cut off oil sales to the US.

Even before the refinery explosion, regular unleaded gasoline prices had already started to increase. As of Tuesday, the average retail unleaded gas price was UP 8.2 cents from last week to $3.042 according to the US Department of Energy. This is up nearly 75 cents from last year at this time.

The volatility of foreign oil poses an economic and security risk to the United States. Higher oil and gasoline prices impact all aspects of the economy. And with many Americans already feeling the pain of a slowing economy, these higher prices will continue to cause economic pain and suffering.

Source: Energy Information Agency, Department of Energy

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There HAS to be Something We Can Blame on Ethanol!

Blame Something on Ethanol















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Wednesday, February 20, 2008

EPA Raises Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS)

Environmental Protection Agency EPA Renewable Fuels Standard RFS corn ethanol food vs fuelThe US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is raising the 2008 renewable fuels standard (RFS), which determines how much non-petroleum fuel will power vehicles, to 7.76 percent.

The change is in response to the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA), which President Bush signed in December.

Last November, EPA announced a RFS of 4.66 percent, based on previous law, that mandated at least 5.4 billion gallons of renewable fuels be blended into the nation's transportation fuels this year.

However, EPA is now increasing the standard to 7.76 percent to comply with the new minimum of 9.0 billion gallons of renewable fuel that EISA requires.

Source: Environmental Protection Agency

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Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Michigan Looks to Sweden

Michigan Governor Granholm Sweden EthanolWhen discussing ethanol and energy policy, Brazil is usually cited as the example. And indeed, Brazil's push to use renewable ethanol for transportation fuel is outstanding.

But often overlooked is another country, Sweden, that has embraced cleaner-burning, renewable ethanol as a domestic weapon against dependence upon foreign oil.

As we told you last year, even Swedish smugglers are playing a role in helping to fuel Sweden. Every drop counts.Sweden flag renewable energy ethanol biodiesel alcohol

Although the US media hasn't made much of it, many top officials are taking a closer look at how Sweden's efforts can be used as a model for the United States.

Last month, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm made renewable energy and its job creation a focus of her State of the State address. And she prominently mentioned Sweden as an example that Michigan should look to.
First, we must commit as a state to use alternative energy to meet our own energy needs.

To understand the connection between renewable energy and jobs, just look at Sweden - a country with striking resemblances to our state: the same size population, similar geography with two-thirds of their land covered by forests, a strong automotive sector. Sweden set high goals for their use of renewable energy. The result? They created over 2,000 businesses and 400,000 jobs in their renewable energy sector. 400,000 jobs!
She went on to mentioned that 25 other states have set aggressive goals for their alternative energy use. In fact, late last year many Midwest governors agreed to increase their use of renewable energy.

The governor has challenged the Michigan legislature to set ambitious alternative energy goals for Michigan - produce 10 percent of our electrical energy from renewable sources by the year 2015 and a full 25 percent by the year 2025.

The governor even challenged the legislature to spur the use of ethanol and biodiesel by eliminating its gas tax:
And to make sure that ethanol is made here and sold here and is competitive with gasoline, I'm asking you once again to eliminate the gas tax for fuel purchases of ethanol and biodiesel at gas stations.
It's clear that the policymakers in Michigan will do whatever it takes to promote renewable energy like ethanol and to compete for alternative energy jobs in the state.

Source: Gov. Granholm State of the State Address, January 2008

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Monday, February 18, 2008

Great Race Races Green

Great Race 2008 Renewable Fuels Ethanol BiodieselIn the one hundred years since the original 1908 "Great Race" event showed the world the value and dependability of automobiles, fueling autos remains a challenge.

In a re-run of the milestone event, the 2008 Great Race will depart New York City on 30 May 2008 and travel 22,000 miles to Paris, France and finish on 2 August.

The challenge has been given to engineers, scientists, entrepreneurs and institutions from all over the world to showcase their new automotive technologies using sustainable energy.

The 2008 Great Race will feature vehicles running on alternative fuels, such as biodiesel, ethanol, and even solar power.

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Sunday, February 17, 2008

Oil Imports Fuel Trade Deficit

Department of Commerce Oil Imports Fuel Trade DeficitSoaring high prices for foreign oil fueled a 2007 US trade deficit of $711.6 billion according to the US Department of Commerce.

Imports hit a record at $2.33 trillion, up 5.9 percent from the 2006 level. That increase was fueled by a 9.5 percent jump in oil imports which hit an all-time high of $331.23 billion. The average annual price for crude oil rose to a record of $64.27.

With oil prices rising even higher at the start of 2008 to nearly $100, expect the foreign oil bill to cause further trade issues and misery for the United States economy.

Source: US Department of Commerce

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Saturday, February 16, 2008

Researchers Respond to Biofuel Critics

Department of Energy Michael Wang Zia Haq BiofuelsTwo Department of Energy Department researchers have responded to a study which claims that biofuels *could* increase greenhouse gas emissions.

The study, released last week in Science, claimed that production of corn ethanol and biodiesel could lead to forests and grasslands being converted to cropland in other parts of the world.

The two researchers, Michael Wang of the Argonne National Laboratory and Zia Haq of the Energy Department's biomass program, faulted the study for a number of reasons including current land use assumptions and failure to consider future crop yield increases.
"There has also been no indication that U.S. corn ethanol production has so far caused indirect land use changes in other countries" - Michael Wang and Zia Haq
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Friday, February 15, 2008

Oil Industry Launches PR Effort

Big Oil PR Campaign Gas Gasoline Inflation EconomyApparently, Big Oil feels it is misunderstood. So they are going to help change your mind.

The public must not think oil is a renewable, cleaner burning fuel that's good for the environment, reduces our dependence upon foreign countries and improves our American economy. Oh wait, that's NOT oil!

In this article from the West Virginia State Journal, a representative from the American Petroleum Institute (API) describes its new effort at shaping public opinion:
Now an organization that represents the industry has launched a program aimed at clearing up misconceptions about the industry."There are a lot of stereotypes about our industry," said Denise McCourt of the American Petroleum Institute.

"We blame ourselves. We haven't done the job we've needed to do."
So look out, that big sucking sound you here coming is Big Oil's PR machine.

Source: The State Journal

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Thursday, February 14, 2008

Iowa Recognizes Top Ethanol and Biodiesel Marketers

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey announced that Kum & Go of West Des Moines and Cobb Oil Co. of Brighton are the first two winners of the Secretary’s Ethanol and Biodiesel Marketing Awards. The awards were created by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship to recognize fuel marketers that have gone above and beyond in their efforts to sell renewable fuels.
“Distributors and retailers are the connection between the Iowa renewable fuels industry and the customer,” Northey said. “Both Kum & Go and Cobb Oil Company have gone to great lengths to promote both ethanol and biodiesel, and these awards are an opportunity to recognize them for their efforts.”
Ethanol
Kyle Krause of Kum & Go is the winner of the 2008 Secretary’s Ethanol Marketing Award. As president and CEO of Kum & Go, Kyle Krause has made his family-owned company a cutting-edge innovator in the delivery of alternative fuel choices. Kum & Go was one of the first convenient store chains in the nation to offer a 10-percent ethanol blend and since 1997 Kum & Go has offered E-85, a fuel mixture of about 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline.

Kum & Go’s total reduction of fossil fuel dependency was more than 18 million gallons from ethanol in 2007. The company currently offers 25 E85 fueling sites nationwide, including 15 in Iowa, which is the most of any company. And those numbers continue to grow, with two new Kum & Go E85 locations scheduled to open in the next two weeks.

Besides offering ethanol and E85 at its stores, under Krause’s leadership Kum & Go has gone to great lengths to raise awareness of the benefits of renewable fuels. Last summer Kum & Go gave away three FlexFuel Chevy Impalas that can run on E85, more than $20,000 in ethanol gas and $15,000 worth of stock in VeraSun Energy, one of the largest producers of ethanol in the United States.

Biodiesel
Mark and Laurie Cobb of Cobb Oil Company are the winners of the 2008 Secretary’s Biodiesel Marketing Award. Cobb Oil currently offers biodiesel blends at four of their retail outlets and, as a result, has sold several million gallons of bio-blended diesel in the past 18 months. Also, by competitively pricing the bulk biodiesel, they have effectively encouraged its use by their farm customers.

Besides selling biodiesel, Cobb Oil uses it extensively. Every fuel truck that Cobb Oil has uses biodiesel. They have also utilized funds from the Iowa Department of Economic Development to help their associate dealers and distributors market and promote biodiesel by installing a heated storage tank and using an insulated fuel trailer.

Iowa has 28 ethanol refineries with the capacity to produce over 2 billion gallons annually. Iowa only uses approximately 1.6 billion gallons of gasoline annually, which makes the state a net exporter of gasoline product, without pumping a single gallon of oil from the ground.

In addition, Iowa has 16 biodiesel refineries with a combined annual capacity of over 350 million gallons either in operation or under construction.
“Iowa is truly the national leader in renewable fuels, and that would not be possible without support from retailers across the state that market these home-grown fuels,” Northey said.
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Wednesday, February 13, 2008

GM Asks "What's Next?"

GM General Motors E85 Ethanol GMnextWhat should power the world's vehicles in 20 years? How can personal transportation become more sustainable in an age of increasing global competition for resources? What role will the automotive industry play in developing markets?

Decisions on issues like these will largely shape transportation in the 21st century. To speed the process, GM will mark its 100th anniversary by launching a global dialogue through an initiative called GMnext.
"We're starting our second century at a time of fundamental change in the auto industry," said GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner. "We'll use GMnext to introduce some of our ideas for addressing critical issues concerning energy, the environment and globalization. In the process, we also hope to spark a broader, global discussion on these important topics."
To initiate that dialogue, GMnext will spotlight GM’s introduction of next‐generation vehicles and technologies, including new applications of the E‐Flex drive system and continued work on GM’s line of Plug‐In and Two‐Mode hybrids.

Source: GMnext

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Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Florida State Fair Goes Green

Florida State Fair Ethanol Biodiesel Food FuelThe Florida State Fair is going green! What better way for an agriculture venue to promote renewable fuels than to lead by example?

The Fair, which runs from February 7 through 18, 2008, will use only biodiesel products and is championing alternative fuels that will impact state farmers with an innovative exhibit during the upcoming fair.

The switch is a result of Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson’s plans to make Florida a leader in the production and usage of cleaner, renewable fuels. The fair will use biodiesel in all of its vehicles, generators and heavy equipment.

During the 2008 Florida State Fair, a “Farm to Fuel” Exhibit will explain how various alternative fuels are made and showcase five vehicles that run on alternative energy. The exhibit, which will be located in the Ag Hall of Fame building near gate 3, will show visitors how Florida is pursuing renewable fuel technology, including ethanol, biodiesel and other alternative fuels. The display will highlight renewable fuels that can be derived from agricultural waste from Florida grown crops and other biomass sources.
“These fuels are the energy of the future and it’s exciting to be able to show the public how far along Florida has come in putting the technologies into practice,” Bronson said. “I encourage people to stop by the exhibit and see firsthand the innovations that have become a reality and will impact our economy, environment and farmers.”
Bronson’s “Farm to Fuel” Initiative involves promoting the production and distribution of renewable energy using feed stocks from Florida farms, ranches and forests to reduce the nation’s dependence on foreign oil and provide farmers with an off season crop. He says this will help keep farms viable and prevent development of the land and further the “25 by 25” vision of farms producing 25% of the nation’s energy by the year 2025.
“In order to accomplish that goal we have to keep up the momentum,” Bronson said. “That’s why I have made available on the department website information about where consumers can locate ethanol and biodiesel fueling stations around Florida”.
To learn more about the Farm to Fuel Initiative or locate gas stations that have alternative fuels available, log onto http://www.floridafarmtofuel.com. Farm to Fuel Exhibit is open all days of the Fair for visitors to learn about alternative fuels.

Source: Florida State Fair

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Monday, February 11, 2008

Austin Texas Turns to Ethanol

Austin Texas City Seal Oil Black Gold Texas TeaThe oil barons of Texas must have been out of town last month. While they weren't looking, the Austin Texas City Council unanimously approved a multi-year contract worth up to $138 million to supply alternative fuel for city vehicles in the coming years.

Within the next four months, the majority of the city of Austin’s vehicle fleet will be running on alternative fuels, including biodiesel and ethanol. The remaining fleet will operate on an alternative fuel blend of E10 Ethanol (90 percent gasoline blended with 10 percent ethanol). The move marks another step in the City’s implementation of the Austin Climate Protection Plan.

The Austin Climate Protection Plan, introduced by Mayor Will Wynn and adopted by the City Council last year, is aimed at making Austin the leading city in the nation in the fight against global warming. Broad elements of the plan are designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with steps such as making all City facilities, fleets and operations totally carbon-neutral by 2020.

Source: City of Austin Texas

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