Our future energy resources have to be renewable and diverse. They also have to be paired with energy conservation practices to ensure air quality and energy security for generations to come.
Transportation is one area where we have plenty of room to improve, providing opportunity to create a big impact from adopting alternatives. To get away from one, non-renewable fossil fuel, it’s especially important for the every day driver, as well as large vehicle fleets, to approach new, cleaner transportation fuels with an open mind.
Many innovative options are on the horizon, and rather than depending on one fuel, it’s key to look at an entire portfolio of alternative fuels.
Companies throughout Mid-Michigan and the rest of the state are looking at conventional biofuels, cellulosic fuels, compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG, better known as propane), hydrogen and electricity as a way to encourage sustainability and economic development.
In East Lansing, Greater Lansing Area Clean Cities (GLACC) member Working Bugs, LLC., converts natural feedstocks like wood, grass and even algae into cellulosic fuel. The process of fermentation used to make this biofuel is similar to the fermentation used in cheese, wine and penicillin. Microorganisms (“bugs”) such as yeast, bacteria and fungi work to convert the raw materials into fuel, creating a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels.
Lansing-based waste management company, Granger, is exploring another option. Granger captures the methane produced from its landfills for electricity. This methane also has the potential to be used as a transportation fuel. Compressed natural gas (CNG) used as motor fuel primarily takes the form of methane gas. CNG is considered renewable when produced as “biogas” which is captured from municipal solid waste and landfills.
Michigan State University (MSU) is working on long term plans to incorporate plug-in parking spaces for electric cars in campus parking garages. MSU has a charging station in the Communication Arts parking garage oncampus, which is intended for electric vehicles for MSU Parking Services that are currently on order. Campus electric cars will test the initiative and MSU will use those results to plan eventual plug-in parking spaces for the public in campus parking garages.
Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) can be used in internal combustion engines and has more recently been used in diesel engines. Varieties of LPG bought and sold include mixes that are primarily propane, mixes that are primarily butane, and the more common, mixes including both propane (60 percent) and butane(40 percent), depending on the season. LPG is non-toxic, non-corrosive and lead free. LPG burns cleanly and most importantly is free of harmful particulates. Though not a Capital region based company, GLACC member Schwan’s Fine Frozen Foods has used propane fuel in delivery trucks for more than 20 years, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, vehicle maintenance costs and fuel costs.
This broad portfolio of alternative fuel options will supply energy to move us from place to place in the future. We now have a responsibility and the capability to address environmental and public health issues related to the way we travel and move goods.
Initial research and development fostered through government initiatives along with public acceptance is crucial for the success of young alternative energy industries. Incentives help the public and the business community access alternatives to petroleum, and help companies that produce alternative fuels and vehicles develop products that benefit public health and the environment.
The work of Michigan companies, research institutions and organizations – like GLACC and members – is incredibly important to create a supportive environment for new fueling infrastructure.
Options like biodiesel and ethanol replace petroleum diesel and gasoline. Biodiesel is non-petroleum-based diesel fuel made from vegetable oil, soy beans, or animal fat (tallow), which can be used alone or blended with conventional petro-diesel in unmodified diesel-engine vehicles.
Most vehicle manufacturers support the use of biodiesel blends up to 20 percent biodiesel/80 percent petro-diesel. Similarly, conventional ethanol can be made from crops such as sugar cane and corn to replace gasoline.
Ethanol is the same type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages, but is not intended for consumption and blended with fuel additives. Farmers across Michigan are finding new markets by growing these renewable resources, which are being used by local companies.