08/17/2010 Enterprise Celebrates Opening of Biodiesel Facility
iStockAnalyst, The Enterprise Ledger
August 15, 2010
Economic Development, Energy and Environment
Alabama Gov. Bob Riley joined local officials and members of the community Thursday to celebrate the grand opening of the new Enterprise Biodiesel Facility.
The biodiesel facility is the first such project in the state that uses cooking oil collected from area restaurants to produce fuel for city vehicles and equipment at a low cost, said Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs Assistant Director Wendy Hester. Riley awarded the city a $200,000 grant from ADECA to help Enterprise reduce fuel costs and develop renewable sources of energy.
"We can't continue to do what we've done in the last 100 years and depend on foreign lands to supply our fuel in this global economy. We've got to be less dependent on them for oil and this is indicative of what small communities can do when we search for lowering fuel costs and a greener climate," Riley said.
The governor continued that "this county is unique. You have the most innovative and creative leaders of anywhere in the state and these leaders are taking this city to a different level. This is just a prelude of what is to come, and I can't wait to see what this county does in the next five to15 years. This biodiesel facility will change the way things operate and you've done something very significant that the whole country needs to replicate."
Enterprise Mayor Kenneth Boswell said the city has been working on the biodiesel project since 1995.
"I spoke with our Public Works Director Jimmy Kilgore and we aggressively started pursuing funding and Gov. Riley helped us after many talks together and planning," Boswell said. "This facility will allow us to take away waste that would end up in our sewage system and this will benefit our children and our grandchildren for generations to come. We intend to reach out to all the cities in the Wiregrass."
The biodiesel facility is at the Enterprise Public Works Facility on Glover Avenue.
###
Southern Governors’ Association (SGA), founded in 1934, is the oldest and historically the largest of the regional governors' associations. SGA uses the power of connection, collaboration and communications in a bipartisan manner to solve regional problems, improve quality of life and secure an economically vibrant and prosperous American South.