Fried Shrimp Plates to Biodiesel Fuel:
Award-winning Program Prepares New Orleans Youth for Green Collar Jobs
The Gulfsouth Youth Biodiesel Project is a “youth-led social enterprise” through which local youth collect used cooking oil from local restaurants and convert it to biodiesel fuel. The program combines business and science education with leadership development to prepare participants for green collar jobs. Read More

Clean Cities Program Wins Golden Bullet Award
The Alternative Fuel Vehicle Institute (AFVi) recognized the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities initiative for its deployment of over 9,000 advanced vehicles and 542 alternative fueling stations through Recovery Act projects. Read More

Save the Date: CNG, Propane, and Biodiesel Workshops
Mark your calendars now for the free upcoming Clean Transportation Education Project series that is coming to New Orleans and Baton Rouge on July 14 and 15th! Please contact us if you are interested in sponsorship opportunities. Read More or View our Save-the-Date

From Fried Shrimp Plates to Biodiesel Fuel:
Award-winning Program Prepares New Orleans Youth for Green Collar Jobs

The Gulfsouth Youth Biodiesel Project started with a plate of fried shrimp and a simple question, “What’s happening with the used cooking oil in New Orleans?” The question was posed to Operation REACH, Inc. Founder and CEO, Dr. Kyshun Webster, and Chief Development Officer, Hamilton Simons-Jones. Neither knew the answer at the time, but together they have offered a solution.

Over the past six months, twenty-five participants were enrolled in the Gulfsouth Youth Biodiesel Project. The 17- to 24-year-olds established a business, coordinated with stakeholders, secured donations of used cooking oil from local restaurants and caterers, converted the oil to biodiesel, and ultimately prepared the bio-fuel for sale to local diesel fleets. By graduation in April, the first class had networked with local professionals, established a production facility at Louisiana Technical College (LTC), and produced nearly 1,000 gallons of biodiesel. The fuel meets specifications per the ASTM D 6751 standard and will ultimately reach fleets through a licensed distributor.

The Science and Business of Biodiesel
The Gulfsouth Youth Biodiesel Project (GYBP) is a “youth-led social enterprise” that promotes leadership development and social entrepreneurship amongst local youth while teaching them the ins and outs of the production of biodiesel fuel. The program enrolled its first participants in the fall of 2009 with support from the American Honda Foundation, the City of New Orleans, Job1, Goodwill Industries, and the Louisiana Workforce Commission.

GYBP participant Donald Wimby learns the chemistry
and engineering associated with biodiesel production.
Photo courtesy of ORI

Through a partnership with Louisiana Technical College, the GYBP offers six months of hands-on training in the science and business of biodiesel, while participants become certified for work in construction-related industries by the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER). Participants gain knowledge related to:

• basic construction and safety;
• the mechanics of diesel engines;
• the chemistry and engineering of biodiesel production;
• the environmental impacts of petro- and bio-based fuels;
• business development; and
• business management, marketing and sales.

From Fried Foods to Workforce Development
Operation REACH, Inc. (ORI) seeks to empower local youth and families through community-based learning opportunities. The organization has developed a cradle to career pipeline of educational programs that lead to lifelong learning, career success and community leadership. Operation REACH’s founded Gulfsouth Youth Biodiesel Project in 2008 to “engage, empower and inspire young people to play a meaningful role in rebuilding a greener community.” The Biodiesel Project engages youth in learning about and taking action on environmental issues while developing the skills to succeed in the green economy.

The GYBP responds to a combination of national and local conditions. Nationally, the Obama administration has identified clean energy as critical to the long-term stability of America’s economy and has vowed to reduce the country’s dependence on oil. Locally, green collar jobs are starting to develop, and the potential for biodiesel production is supported by the abundance of cooking oil. “New Orleans is a city of cuisine,” says Phoebe Cook of Tulane University’s Dining Services, “We have a lot of fried food, and being able to turn that into something positive like biodiesel fuel would be outstanding.”

The Future of the Program
Last fall, GYBP participants primarily came from low-income, under-educated backgrounds. Some are high school graduates and some are still working on GEDs. What these students now have in common, however, are the tools and knowledge to be successful in the local green economy. The 15 recent GYBP graduates will pursue further education, enter green-collar jobs, or continue producing biodiesel through the summer with Operation REACH.

GYBP participant Kristyn Kelson guides visitors
through the biodiesel processing plant on Graduation Day.
Photo courtesy of ORI

The Southern Growth Policies Board recently recognized the Operation REACH’s biodiesel project with an Innovator Award that acknowledges its innovation in contributing to the development of a local green collar workforce. The recent oil spill in the Gulf underscores the need to continue producing alternative fuels such as biodiesel. The positive impact of the Gulfsouth Youth Biodiesel Project has highlighted the way in which young people can be on the forefront of this developing industry.

Building on an 11-year tradition of community partnership, Operation REACH will expand its partnership with LTC to offer shorter biodiesel courses for a broader audience. Additionally, ORI expects to partner with local schools and provide tours of the biodiesel production facility for school-aged students.

The Gulfsouth Youth Biodiesel Project is expected to commence again this September with a second group of local youth. With the production facility already established, the next class of GYBP participants is expected to produce up to 10,000 gallons of biodiesel each month.

For more information on Operation Reach and the Gulfsouth Youth Biodiesel Project, visit http://www.operationreach.org or watch a short documentary about the GYBP at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDv7s_2YKwE

Clean Cities Program Wins Golden Bullet Award

The Alternative Fuel Vehicle Institute (AFVi) recently awarded the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities initiative with the Golden Bullet Award for “its speed and success in deploying alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act [ARRA].”

Clean Cities is a U.S. Department of Energy Program that works to advance the nation's economic, environmental, and energy security by supporting local decisions to adopt practices that reduce petroleum consumption. The Southeast Louisiana Clean Fuel Partnership was designated the local Clean Cities Coalition in 2008 and is part of a network of over 80 coalitions nationwide.

Last fall, 48 Clean Cities projects were selected to be funded through a combination of ARRA and annual Clean Cities appropriations. The projects include deployment of alternative fuel vehicles, infrastructure development, and educational components. Recovery Act funds for Clean Cities’ projects totaled $300 million and will ultimately result in 9,000 alternative fuel and energy efficient vehicles on the roads. Locally, the Clean Fuel Partnership was awarded $1.4 million in ARRA funding through the EPA’s Clean Diesel program to retrofit a CSX switcher locomotive in the Gentilly Rail Yard.

AFVi awards draw attention to industry leaders who have advanced the sale and use of alternative fuels and energy efficient vehicles. The Golden Bullet Award is one of eight awards that were presented at the AFVi Alternative Fuels & Vehicles National Conference + Expo this May in Las Vegas. In addition the Clean Cities, other recipients of the 2010 AFVi awards included:

• the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA),
• Chrysler Group Global Electric Motorcars (GEM),
• A,T&T,
• Paul Kerkhoven of Natural Gas Vehicles (NGV) for America,
• Transportation Director Ralph Knight of the Napa Valley Unified School District,
• the Ford Fleet Team, and
• writer Tom Whipple.

To read about other AFVi award recipients, visit http://www.afv2010.com/awards.html.
For a complete list of Clean Cities’ ARRA awards, visit http://www.energy.gov/recovery/cleancities.htm.
To track the progress of Clean Cities’ ARRA projects, visit http://www.recovery.gov/ .

Save the Date: CNG, Propane, and Biodiesel Workshops

Mark your calendars now for the upcoming Clean Transportation Education Project (CTEP) series that is coming to New Orleans and Baton Rouge on July 14 and 15th!

CTEP is an initiative funded by a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) grant. The two-year project educates fleet managers, mechanics, and local communities about alternative fuels and clean transportation by providing 48 free half-day workshops across the country. Each workshop focuses on one of the following subjects:

• Biodiesel
• Ethanol
• Compressed natural gas (CNG) / propane, and
• Idle reduction/fuel economy.

The North Carolina Solar Center, Wake Technical Community College, and several industry partners have collaborated to provide the fuel-specific educational content, which will include technical training, a policy update, and an implementation discussion. Workshops will provide practical information to help fleet managers:

• To transition fleets to alternative fuels/technology,
• To implement fuel saving policy, and
• To save money.

The workshops began this spring and continue through September 2011. This summer two workshops will be held in Louisiana. The Southeast Louisiana Clean Fuel Partnership will host a workshop on CNG and propane on Wednesday, July 14; and the Baton Rouge Clean Cities Coalition will host a biodiesel workshop on the following day—Thursday, July 15. Both workshops will require an RSVP to guarantee seating.

See our save-the-date and look for additional information in upcoming weeks.

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