Maine Audubon Using Biofuel at Falmouth Facility

FALMOUTH, Maine, October 27, 2005

Maine Audubon has signed a one-year contract to purchase renewable, cleaner-burning BioHeat heating oil to heat the buildings and biodiesel fuel to run the tractor at Gilsland Farm Audubon Center in Falmouth.

Supplied by Independence Fuel in Durham, the alternative fuels are made by blending regular petroleum with domestic agricultural resources such as soybean oil or other natural fats and oils. Using biofuel reduces the harmful emissions and other threats to wildlife and humans that result from burning petroleum.

“As Maine’s leading wildlife conservation organization, Maine Audubon has an obligation to not only protect, advocate for, and teach people about wildlife, but also to make consumer choices that minimize threats to wildlife,” said Kevin Carley, Maine Audubon’s executive director.

Emissions from burning fossil fuels threaten wildlife by contributing to global climate change, acid rain, ozone pollution, and nitrogen and mercury deposition in lakes, streams, and coastal waters. Mercury pollution can impair growth, health, and reproduction in wildlife, which may explain why the number of Maine’s loon chicks has plateaued in recent years.

In addition, mining and drilling for petroleum destroys important wildlife habitat such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.

Produced in the United States, biofuel works in any diesel engine or furnace oil burner with few or no modifications. It’s used in its pure form (B100) or blended with petroleum at any level, most commonly B20 (20 percent biofuel and 80 percent petroleum fuel).

Maine Audubon will use BioHeat B20 for heating oil and biodiesel B5 for its tractor. B20 reduces unburned hydrocarbons by 20 percent and carbon monoxide and particulate matter by 12 percent.

“In addition to increasing our efficiency, improving air and water quality, and helping mitigate global warming, biofuel is competitively priced, required no equipment modifications, and is better for our boilers and engines. There was no reason for Maine Audubon not to start using it,” said Robert Savage, property manager of Gilsland Farm Audubon Center.

Nontoxic, biodegradable biofuel is used by citizens, businesses, organizations, national parks and major vehicle fleets nationwide, as well as by all branches of the U.S. Military.

Businesses or homeowners interested in using BioHeat or biodiesel should visit www.biofuelme.com or call Independence Fuel at 1 (800) 228-1883.

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