WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Bill Delahunt today announced that he is cosponsoring a forum for local communities on the benefits of biodiesel fuel on September 14, 2007 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Yarmouth Town Hall.

“Expanding the market for renewable fuels will not only help the environment, but give consumers additional domestic fuel options that will help lessen our dependence on foreign oil.  Clean fuels are also an important segment of the Commonwealth’s emerging clean energy business sector that has significant potential for future growth.” said Delahunt.

The forum -- cosponsored by the Cape Cod Renewable Fuels Partnership -- will explore the benefits associated with using biodiesel for on and off road vehicles, as well as an alternative for heating oil. It is estimated that over 40% of the homes in the 10th District heat their homes with oil, with most of it coming from foreign countries.   The forum will feature a panel of experts and current users of biodiesel.  Delahunt will be joined by Senator Rob O’Leary who shares the Congressman’s interest in boosting the use of renewable fuel on Cape Cod and in Massachusetts.

Congressman Delahunt helped form the Cape Cod Renewable Fuels Partnership a year ago with help from the Cape Cod Commission and the Cape and Islands Self-Reliance Corporation. Since that time, the group has been dedicated to developing a Renewable Fuels Strategic Implementation Plan for Cape Cod and funding to subsidize fuel and infrastructure needed to support this plan. A number of towns, private oil companies, interested organizations, as well as state and federal agencies have been involved in the Partnership activities.

Organizations that will be making presentations at the forum include; The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Amelot Holdings Inc., the Town of Barnstable, Harvard University, Cape Cod National Seashore, the City of Keene, NH, JP Noonan Transportation, Inc., Dennis K. Burke, Inc., Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority, Barnstable County, the Cape Cod Self-Reliance Corporation and the Cape Cod Commission.

For more information on the forum, please contact Clay Schofield at the Cape Cod Commission at 508-362-3828 x 372. RSVP to frontdesk@capecodcommission.org by September 10, 2007.

 

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