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EPA Spotlights Green Technologies at Grand Opening of Zarco Earth Friendly Fuels Station in Lawrence, Kan.

Release Date: 06/30/2008
Contact Information: Beckie Himes, 913-551-7253 or 913-387-7548, [email protected]

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Environmental News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Kansas City, Kan., June 30, 2008) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency highlighted green technologies at the grand opening of the Zarco 66 Earth Friendly Fuels Station today in Lawrence, Kan. 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

EPA Regional Administrator John Askew said, "EPA is here today to celebrate the innovations and technology found at this station, and the collaborative efforts that made it all happen. We intend to provide funding to evaluate the energy and pollution reduction benefits of this pilot project, and help develop a framework for other fuel stations that wish to 'go green'."

In recognition of their commitment to green technologies, EPA Region 7 presented station representatives with a Blue Skyways Collaborative Partnership Award. The Blue Skyways Collaborative is a voluntary, public-private network of individuals, businesses and communities that embraces partnerships and innovations and is voluntarily working to reduce pollution emissions beyond regulatory requirements. Participants identify cost-effective, innovative solutions to air pollution issues.

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, Kansas Farm Bureau, the Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association of Kansas, Hydrotech, Inc., PowerFilm, Inc., and Windterra.