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Title: Promoting alternative fuels in Philadelphia. Final report

Abstract

The US Department of Energy`s grant to Citizens Fund was designed to support a grassroots organizing campaign, local coalition building and media activity initially focused on getting the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority (SEPTA) to acquire clean burning alternative fueled buses (e.g. natural gas). In addition, Citizens Fund through Pennsylvania Citizen Action would become involved in the Philadelphia Clean Cities organization sponsored by the City of Philadelphia through a DOE grant. The city reached out to a substantial number of organizations and community leaders and actively worked to get out the message on the need to promote and use alternatively-fueled vehicles. This report summarizes these activities.

Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Citizens Fund, Washington, DC (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
238522
Report Number(s):
DOE/R3/40439-T1
ON: DE96010880; TRN: AHC29612%%72
DOE Contract Number:
FG43-94R340439
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: 16 Apr 1996
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION; 33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS; BUSES; FUEL SUBSTITUTION; PENNSYLVANIA; PROGRESS REPORT; INTEREST GROUPS; DECISION MAKING

Citation Formats

NONE. Promoting alternative fuels in Philadelphia. Final report. United States: N. p., 1996. Web. doi:10.2172/238522.
NONE. Promoting alternative fuels in Philadelphia. Final report. United States. doi:10.2172/238522.
NONE. Tue . "Promoting alternative fuels in Philadelphia. Final report". United States. doi:10.2172/238522. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/238522.
@article{osti_238522,
title = {Promoting alternative fuels in Philadelphia. Final report},
author = {NONE},
abstractNote = {The US Department of Energy`s grant to Citizens Fund was designed to support a grassroots organizing campaign, local coalition building and media activity initially focused on getting the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority (SEPTA) to acquire clean burning alternative fueled buses (e.g. natural gas). In addition, Citizens Fund through Pennsylvania Citizen Action would become involved in the Philadelphia Clean Cities organization sponsored by the City of Philadelphia through a DOE grant. The city reached out to a substantial number of organizations and community leaders and actively worked to get out the message on the need to promote and use alternatively-fueled vehicles. This report summarizes these activities.},
doi = {10.2172/238522},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Apr 16 00:00:00 EDT 1996},
month = {Tue Apr 16 00:00:00 EDT 1996}
}

Technical Report:

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  • The City of Philadelphia was awarded a grant for the ``development of a Public Information Component for the Clean Cities Program involving alternative fuels usage within the city of Philadelphia and the surrounding counties in the Philadelphia region``. During the summer of 1993, it was felt that the public needed considerable information on the costs, benefits, emission data, conversion information, and infrastructure requirements. Embodied in the 1993 proposal was the notion that a model could be developed within some type of structure charged with the tasks of market introduction of alternative fuels in the Greater Philadelphia area in a concerted,more » comprehensive way. As originally envisioned, in executing this grant, the City had several objectives in mind. Among these were the following: the organizing of various media events to showcase alternative fuels usage; (2) to begin a networking process with fleet managers in the area; (3) to provide sources of information to fleet managers and others interested in, and concerned with the conversion to alternative fuels; (4) documentation on research and analysis associated with alternative fuels.« less
  • This study examines the feasibility of constructing an alternative fuel production facility using wood waste fuel at a steam generation plant owned by the Youngstown Thermal Corporation. The project plan calls for Youngstown Thermal Corporation to own and operate the equipment, which will consist of a fluidized-bed gasification unit. Approximately 100,000 tons per year of wood waste are to be gasified in order to produce a low-Btu gas that will be burned in retrofitted boilers, replacing No. 2 fuel oil. The product steam is to be distributed to the central business district of Youngstown. The project team found that fluidized-bedmore » gasification of wood waste had a great potential to reduce fuel oil demand of the Youngstown Thermal Corporation. The low-Btu gasification process has a potentially broad application in view of rising fossil-fuel costs, stringent environmental controls, and the widespread availability of biomass fuels. A by-product of gasification, char, is also marketable as a fuel. Despite many favorable aspects of the project, it was concluded that the poor rate of return for the plant when it was compared to coal conversion eliminated the viability of the project.« less
  • The study of alternative highway-transportation fuels was conducted in three major phases. Linear-programming models were used in the first phase to show how shale-oil and coal liquids would be used. Models for Rocky Mountain, Mid-Continent, and Great Lakes composite refineries were developed to make forecast quantities of products in 1995. Computer cases investigated maximum diesel fuel and broadcut fuel in each region. Use of methanol, ethanol, and MTBE in gasoline was explored in one region. Results included product quality and compositions. Fuel formulation and blending were conducted in the second phase. Synthetic products from shale and coal were used inmore » a series of diesel and broadcut fuels. A group of synthetic gasolines was also prepared, some of which were simulated coal-derived products. Products were shared with other laboratories for evaluation. Engine testing was the final phase of the project. All fuels were subjected to screening tests in single-cylinder CLR engines of either spark- or compression-ignition type. Selected fuels were given durability tests in the same engine and chassis dynamometer tests in vehicles. Diesel fuels and broadcut fuels were found to save refinery raw materials due to better vehicle fuel economy compared to gasoline engines. Broadcut fuel emissions were high but may be reduced by fuel or engine modifications. Other problems and promising fuels were identified.« less
  • A summarization has been made of the available nonproprietary information on the technological status of automotive power systems which are alternatives to the conventional internal combustion engine, and the technological status of nonpetroleum-based fuels derived from domestic sources which may have application to future automotive vehicles. The material presented is based principally upon the results of research and technology activities sponsored under the Alternative Automotive Power Systems Program which was originated in 1970. Supplementary data are included from programs sponsored by other government agencies and by private industry. The results of the study are presented in four volumes; this volumemore » presents available information pertaining to alternative nonpetroleum-based automotive fuels.« less
  • This study examines the feasibility of constructing an alternate fuel production facility using a rice hull fuel currently being generated at the American Rice, Inc. (ARI) processing facility in Houston, Texas. The demands for energy at the existing plant closely match the potential energy outputs which can be produced from the quantities of alternate fuels available. It was found that fluidized-bed gasification of the rice hulls which produces a low Btu gaseous fuel and a char by-product has the greatest potential for meeting the energy demands of ARI. The char by-product produced is potentially a marketable item, although no marketmore » has been developed to date. The low Btu gaseous fuel can be used to produce various forms of useable energy. The proposed plant, to be located within the ARI facility, would consume 340 tons a day of rice hulls, the projected average daily output of the existing facility. It would produce 5.17 megawatts of electric power; 30,000 pounds per hour of process steam and 84 tons a day of char. This output would completely fulfill ARI's steam and electricity demands with an additional 1.9 megawatts of electricity available for sale to the local power company. The estimated total installed cost of the proposed plant is $8,787,000. The estimated return on investment is 36.8%, assuming natural gas costs and char marketing revenue predictions hold true.« less