DaimlerChrysler, Michigan State University and NextEnergy Turn Former Dump Site Into Research Lab for Bio-fuels
19 Octobre 2006 - 6:00PM
PR Newswire (US)
* Oakland County brownfield fuels green vehicles of the future *
MSU Researcher harvests soybeans, sunflowers, corn and canola from
Rose Township site * Testing of the crop from the site may lead to
"greening" of additional brownfield sites AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Oct.
19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- A Detroit-area brownfield site was
anything but brown this year due to a unique experiment by a
Michigan State University researcher. Sunflowers, corn, soybeans
and other crops lent their colors to a section of the former dump
site under the watchful eye of Professor Kurt Thelen, Ph.D. Thelen
has partnered with DaimlerChrysler, the State of Michigan, the
United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and
NextEnergy of Detroit in a project to reuse the former dump site to
research and develop better renewable fuels. He is leading the
investigation into the possibility that crops can be grown on
former industrial sites for use in ethanol or biodiesel fuel
production. His first crops of soybeans, corn, sunflower, canola
and switchgrass -- harvested this fall -- will be tested for their
potential to be refined into renewable fuels. The Rose Township
Project will serve as a model for potential reuse of hundreds of
Superfund and brownfield sites nationwide. The EPA has endorsed the
research under the agency's Return to Use initiative, designed to
encourage the reuse of Superfund sites. Approximately two acres of
the 110- acre site are being used for research. "This site may seem
like a drop in the bucket, but we're looking at the possibility of
taking land that isn't productive and using it to both learn and
produce," said Professor Thelen. "The research we're conducting in
Rose Township could have major implications for both rural and
urban brownfield sites nationwide. If I had a brownfield in my
neighborhood, I know I'd prefer it be 'greened' and put to a
constructive use." "Bio-fuels represent a huge opportunity to
reduce our nation's consumption of petroleum," said Deb Morrissett,
Vice President - Regulatory Affairs for the Chrysler Group. "The
Rose Township Project could give us a homegrown solution to our
energy, environmental and economic challenges, and a chance to
return these contaminated lands to use." Fuels produced in Thelen's
research will be tested at the National Biofuels Energy Laboratory
located at NextEnergy Center, the headquarters of Michigan's
non-profit alternative energy business accelerator program. "This
research, and related work here at NextEnergy, will further
position Michigan as a leader in the national effort to reduce our
dependence on oil and reduce the impact of transportation on our
environment," said NextEnergy CEO Jim Croce. DaimlerChrysler is a
global leader among automakers in using and promoting renewable
fuel sources. More than 15,000 Jeep(R) Liberty CRD diesels have
already been delivered to customers running on B5, a fuel
comprising 5 percent biodiesel and 95 percent conventional diesel
made from petroleum. In early 2007, DaimlerChrysler will launch the
Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD with 3.0-liter, common rail, turbo-diesel
engine, and the Dodge Ram diesel, both of which also will be fueled
with B5 at the factory. These vehicles are also approved for
regular use with B5 biodiesel fuel. The company has emerged as the
leader in supporting the development of a national B20 -- 20
percent biodiesel fuel -- standard, and has approved the use of B20
in the 2007 Dodge Ram for commercial, government and military
fleets. In 2007, DaimlerChrysler will produce more than 250,000
Flexible Fuel Vehicles (Fives) capable of running on E85 fuel,
conventional gasoline or any combination of the two fuels. The
company's FFV fleet will increase to nearly 500,000 in 2008. The
2007 FFV lineup includes: * The Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep
Commander, Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen SUVs (4.7-liter engine)
* Dodge Ram and Dodge Dakota pickups (4.7-liter engine) * Chrysler
Sebring sedan (2.7-liter engine) * Dodge Caravan, Dodge Grand
Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country minivans (3.3-liter engine)
The Rose Township site was used by waste haulers for the
unauthorized disposal of oils, paint sledges and solvents in the
late 1960s. More than 5,000 drums of waste were removed from the
site between 1979 - 1986. While DaimlerChrysler wasn't responsible
for all the pollution at the Rose Township site, an agreement was
reached between all responsible parties and the company took over
the cleanup project in 1988. The Chrysler Group, headquartered in
Auburn Hills, Mich., produces Chrysler, Jeep(R), Dodge and Mopar(R)
brand vehicles and products. The company increased worldwide sales
in 2005 by five percent to 2.83 million vehicles, making the
Chrysler Group the only North American-based automaker to achieve a
sales increase last year. Its product lineup features some of the
world's most recognizable vehicles, including the Chrysler 300, the
Jeep Commander and the Dodge Charger. The DaimlerChrysler
Corporation Fund, the company's philanthropic arm, gave $26 million
in grants in 2005. The Chrysler Group is a unit of DaimlerChrysler
AG, the world's fifth largest automaker, which produces passenger
and commercial vehicles including the Mercedes-Benz, Maybach, smart
and Freightliner brands. For more information on the EPA's Return
to Use initiative, visit their website at
http://epa.gov/superfund/programs/recycle . DATASOURCE: Chrysler
Group CONTACT: Katie Zuchowski, +1-248-512-2927, , or Max Gates,
+1-248-512-2688, , both of Chrysler Group Web site:
http://www.media.daimlerchrysler.com/
http://www.daimlerchrysler.com/
http://epa.gov/superfund/programs/recycle
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