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North Hempstead Poised to Launch Bio-Diesel Production Project

 

For Immediate Release                                                                                                                   Contact: Collin Nash or Sid Nathan
March 23, 2011                                                                                                                                                              (516) 869-7794

North Hempstead Poised to Launch Bio-Diesel Production Project

Manhasset, NY—Furthering the administration’s mission to protect the environment and save taxpayer dollars, Supervisor Jon Kaiman, Town Councilman Thomas Dwyer and the North Hempstead Town Board announced that the town will soon embark on a pilot biodiesel production initiative.

Plans are to kick off a pilot initiative later this spring at North Hempstead’s Solid Waste Management Authority facility in Port Washington. The initiative requires the acquisition of used cooking oil, which in many cases can be had for free from local restaurants.

“We are always studying was to save taxpayer dollars but in this challenging economic climate, we are even more committed to doing more with less,” Supervisor Kaiman said. “This initiative not only promises to benefit us fiscally but environmentally as well.”

The idea for the bio-diesel program was spawned by the Town of North Hempstead Ecological Commission which was formed last year by the Town Board. Town Councilman Thomas Dwyer, the Town Board representative and facilitator, is one of a dozen Commission members.

Councilman Dwyer explained that the goal of the Ecological Commission is to advance ideas that the town can spin-off into specific projects. In addition to biodiesel production, which would eventually be also based at the Town’s Highway and Parks headquarters, some other projects being explored include storm water filtering system and solar powered Town buildings.

Biodiesel is made by processing —in a mixing reactor—cooking oil (canola, soybean or corn oil) with common chemicals such as sodium hydroxide and methanol.

The fuel may be used in any diesel automotive engine in its pure form or blended with petroleum-based diesel.

Officials note that the Town can potentially produce 40 gallons of biodiesel per day. That amount hinges on the amount of used vegetable oil the town is able to procure.

Initially, the biodiesel will be used to fuel diesel-powered vehicles in the SWMA fleet as well as ancillary equipment such as water pumps.

“I am honored to play such an important role in helping to bring to reality innovative programs that will benefit constituents while protecting our environment,” Councilman Dwyer said.

Made from used cooking oil, biodiesel is only an inexpensive alternative to fossil fuel but it also is a means of recycling a troublesome waste product that too often ends up in sewers and landfills.



North Hempstead’s Ecological Commission members include (L to R) Joanne Piluso, Patti Wood, Linda Brickman, T.J. Costello, Jennifer Wilson-Pines, Councilman Tom Dwyer, Patty Katz, A.J. Smith, Peg Markham, Fran Reid
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