Recovery Act Announcement: Vice President Biden Announces $300 Million in Recovery Act Funds for Clean Cities Program

DOE
April 22, 2009

During a visit to the WMATA Carmen Turner Maintenance and Training Facility in Landover, Maryland, Vice President Joe Biden today announced $300 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for state and local governments and transit authorities to expand the nation's fleet of clean, sustainable vehicles and the fueling infrastructure necessary to support them.

"For city and state governments across this country, every day is Earth Day thanks to the ambitious commitments they are making to green their vehicles and transit systems. Now it's time for Washington to help them deliver on those promises," said Vice President Biden. "From advanced battery cars to hybrid-electric city buses, we're going put Recovery Act dollars to work deploying cleaner, greener vehicles in cities and towns across the nation that will cut costs, reduce pollution and create the jobs that will drive our economic recovery."

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Jointed trailer moves chips efficiently

Capital West
Barbara Coyner
For the Capital Press
11/27/2008 6:00:00 AM

Development center builds combo from available machines

A common logging trailer and an ordinary cargo container just might have a future together, says Dave Haston.

Haston recently debuted the combo, dubbed the stinger-steered chip trailer, as a new means of hauling wood chips more efficiently. The jointed trailer performed as an impressive acrobat in the woods, taking on loads of chips, negotiating tight turns and offloading at remote landings. For private woodland owners, the more flexible chip transport means another value-added opportunity.

"We took a regular logging trailer and a cargo container, both readily available, and came up with a trailer that can get into tighter spots in the woods," said Haston, a mechanical engineer in charge of developing the trailer. "This is an excellent opportunity to convert existing equipment and lower investment costs."

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First UK Biodiesel Train Launched

The Voyager fleet could run on 100% biodiesel in the future
The UK's first train to run on biodiesel is going into service as part of an attempt to make rail travel more environmentally friendly.

The Virgin Voyager has been modified to run on eco-friendly fuel and the company is aiming to convert more in the future.

The train uses a blended fuel which is 20% biodiesel - to reduce CO2 emissions without harming the engine.

The London Euston to Llandudno passenger train leaves at 1127 BST.

The journey will be launched by prime minister-in-waiting Gordon Brown.

Biodiesel is a processed fuel derived from biological sources including rapeseed, soyabean and palm oil.

It is biodegradable and produces less CO2 than conventional diesel.

During the six-month trial, the train will run from Birmingham to Scotland, across South Wales, North East England, the North West, the West Country, the South West and the South coast.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6729115.stm