Here is an article from the South Florida Business Journal on the City's new biofuel program:Friday, May 9, 2008
Miami mayor signs biofuel purchasing program into law
South Florida Business Journal - by Oscar Pedro Musibay
Miami Mayor Manny Diaz won approval from the City Commission and signed into law a biofuel purchasing program for city vehicles.
The program is part of the mayor's green initiative for the city, which also includes the remediation of a landfill at Virginia Key and the goal of replacing a portion of the city's vehicles with hybrids.
The city put out a public bid for a biodiesel fuel contractor, with Biodiesel of South Florida, led by Federico Garcia-Cartaya, coming out on top.
The biodiesel provided by Biodiesel of South Florida comes from sustainably harvested soybeans grown in the United States.
"The fuel has significantly lower emissions of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, particulates and sulfur dioxide [the cause of acid rain] than petroleum diesel," according to the city. "It is also less flammable and burns cleaner, leaving fewer residues in the engine."
"This is an excellent opportunity to promote local green industry and increase green-collar jobs in South Florida," Diaz said.
Diaz also pushed for the Virginia Key landfill remediation project, also approved by commissioners, which would provide clean up for the site, and ideally restore area wetlands.
The project would involve a lengthy process that would include surveys, contamination assessments and multiple strategies to remove waste.
"This is a great first step in cleaning up a landfill at Virginia Key that should never have been," Diaz said. "It is a pleasure to see this project approved by the City Commission, and I look forward to seeing the wetlands of Virginia Key fully restored."
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