On Our Own For Supper

Chuck Zimmerman May 8, 2006

This has absolutely nothing to do with alternative fuels unless you consider that this blogger needed “fuel” and got it in the form of some fine Irish stew at Seamus McCaffrey’s. This excellent pub is in my hotel, the Hotel San Carlos.

I am not the only Clean Cites Congress participant partaking of the atmosphere and good food and beverage. I recommend a draft Smithwick’s which I tried here for the first time.

It’s Phoenix and it’s hot but the inside is cool at Seamus McCaffrey’s! We’re on our own this evening so it was time to relax and sample some great food.

Clean Cities Congress

Ethanol Plants in NY, LA and IA

Cindy Zimmerman May 8, 2006

Governor George E. Pataki announced nearly $6 million in State funding to assist Western New York Energy in the development of the first state-of-the-art dry mill ethanol plant in New York State. The $87.4 million facility is to be located on 144 acres in the Town of Shelby, Orleans County.

BioEnergy International, a privately held, biotechnology company headquartered in Norwell, Massachusetts, announced that it has commenced site work on its first biorefinery, a 108 million gallon per year ethanol plant located on land leased from the Lake Providence Port Commission in East Carroll Parish, Louisiana.

VeraSun Energy broke ground on its third ethanol biorefinery in Charles City, Iowa over the weekend. When complete, the biorefinery will produce 110 million gallons of ethanol and 353,000 tons of distillers dried grains (DDGs) annually from 39 million bushels of corn.

Ethanol, Facilities, Production

PG&E Luncheon Keynote Speech

Chuck Zimmerman May 8, 2006

Our keynote speaker at lunch today was Robert Howard, VP of Corporate Planning and Logistics for Pacific Gas & Electric Company.

I have his speech for you here. I started recording just after he started. He starts out talking about partnerships and what companies like Honda are doing. He says that PG&E’s goal is to be the best clean air fleet in the country.

You can hear his speech here: Robert Howard Speech (11 min MP3)

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Audio, Clean Cities Congress

What’s New From Honda

Chuck Zimmerman May 8, 2006

As I mentioned in an earlier post today, American Honda Company unveiled a new alternative fuel vehicle. It’s the 2006 Civic GX NG. Pictured second from the right in this group of Honda representatives is Gunnar Lindstrom. Gunnar emceed today’s awards luncheon and I’ll have more on those later.

I interviewed Gunnar about what’s new from Honda in the alternative fuels arena. Besides the new Civic he says they’ve got lots of plans to continue their support for fuel efficient vehicles.

You can hear my interview with him here: Gunnar Lindstrom Interview (4 min MP3)

Domestic Fuel coverage of the Clean Cities Congress is made possible by the following sponsors:

Audio, Clean Cities Congress

Hearing From The Media

Chuck Zimmerman May 8, 2006

Right now there are numerous workshops and sessions taking place here at the Congress. I wish I could cover them all. Pictured here is Robert Jay Gordon, President/Co-Publisher of The Auto Channel. He’s taking part in a session with several reporters from various publications.

While I was there they were doing a little Q & A with the participants and it was getting lively.

I want to say a special thank you to Bob because he featured a link to Domestic Fuel on his website in a story they did on the Congress. So please visit his site and learn all about the auto industry.

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Clean Cities Congress

Leading The Way

Chuck Zimmerman May 8, 2006

James Boyd is a member of the California Energy Commission and he took the stage to talk about how California is “Leading The Way.”

I got to talk with him just before the morning session kicked off. He says that California is often cast in a leadership role in the quest to move to alternative energy.

He explains some of the things his Commission is doing in light of the Governator’s request for a biofuels plan.

You can hear his speech here: James Boyd Interview (4 min MP3)

Domestic Fuel coverage of the Clean Cities Congress is made possible by the following sponsors:

Audio, Clean Cities Congress

Dr. Robert Hirsch On Peak Oil

Chuck Zimmerman May 8, 2006

On this morning’s agenda was Dr. Robert Hirsch, Senior Program Advisor, Science Applications International Corporation.

Hirsch’s talk is titled, “Peak Oil – And Then What?”

He starts out explaining what he means by peaking. His presentation included slides which I don’t have so keep that in mind as you listen

You can hear his speech here: Dr. Robert Hirsch Speech (22 min MP3)

Domestic Fuel coverage of the Clean Cities Congress is made possible by the following sponsors:

Audio, Clean Cities Congress

Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon

Chuck Zimmerman May 8, 2006

Welcoming everyone to the Clean Cities Congress this morning was Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon.

Gordon talks about how the city is involved in using alternative fuels.

He also said that he would appreciate us doing a little shopping while we’re here too.

You can hear his speech here: Mayor Phil Gordon Speech (5 min MP3)

Domestic Fuel coverage of the Clean Cities Congress is made possible by the following sponsors:

Audio, Clean Cities Congress, Government

AFVI Executive Director

Chuck Zimmerman May 8, 2006

The lady who is making it all happen here in Phoenix is the Executive Director of the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Institute. She’s Annalloyd Thomason. Actually, I’m sure she’ll say it was a lot of effort from a lot of people. But she’s been in constant motion since I’ve been here working the radio and making sure everything is running smoothly.