Grainnet

New Ethanol and Biodiesel Service Stations to Open in Lawrence, KS

Kansas City, KS—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will highlight green technologies at next week's grand opening of the Zarco 66 Earth Friendly Fuels Station in Lawrence, KS. Besides offering a variety of ethanol and biodiesel fuels, the station at 2005 W. 9th Street (corner of 9th and Iowa streets) is being designed and built with a number of environmentally-friendly aspects, including:

• Energy efficient lighting and signage

• A green roof garden and rain garden to reduce urban heat-island

effects and stormwater runoff, while filtering pollutants and

greenhouse gases from the air

• Video screens carrying environmental education information

• Waste reduction and recycling, and

• Energy production through solar technology

To develop a framework for other fuel stations that might want to "go green" with similar approaches, EPA will scientifically evaluate the energy and pollution reduction benefits of the Zarco station.

In recognition of their commitment to green technologies, EPA Region 7 will present station representatives with a Blue Skyways Collaborative Partnership Award.

Additional stakeholders in the venture include the University of Kansas, Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Kansas Department of Agriculture, Kansas Department of Revenue, Kansas Department of Commerce, Kansas Soybean Commission, Kansas Corn Growers, U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in Kansas, and the Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association of Kansas.

For more infomation, call 785-843-6086.