KINGSTON, R.I. – November 2, 2012 – The Ocean State Clean Cities Coalition at the University of Rhode Island will hold an advanced biofuels symposium on Wednesday, Nov. 14 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. to discuss the production and use of biofuels and the federal legislation mandating its use.

The event will be held in Weaver Auditorium at the Coastal Institute on the URI Kingston Campus. The program is open to the public and costs $5 for those who register in advance or $10 for those who do not pre-register.

“There are exciting new developments in advanced biofuels, including breakthroughs in production that hold a great deal of promise to change the fuel market,” said Wendy Lucht, coordinator of Ocean State Clean Cities. “The symposium discussion will focus on the policies and economics of biofuels and what Rhode Island can do to help meet the goals of the federal regulations.”

Speakers at the symposium include Tom Verry, director of outreach and development at the National Biodiesel Board, John Logan from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and Anthony LaRusso from National Grid’s Emerging Gas Operations.

They will discuss the production, use and market for biofuels, as well as the federal policies that promote their use, including the Energy Policy and Security Act and its associated Renewable Fuel Standard, which established the first renewable fuel volume mandate in the country.

The cosponsor of the symposium, the Rhode Island Biofuels Study Commission, was established to study the feasibility and effectiveness of incentives that promote the development and use of advanced biofuels in the state, including production credits, feedstock incentives, and direct use consumer credits.

Those with a professional interest in alternative fueled vehicles, including fuel providers, municipal administrators, state agencies, transit agencies, automobile dealers and environmental groups, are encouraged to attend. Students, academics and economists will also be interested in the program.

One of 87 such coalitions around the country, the Ocean State Clean Cities Coalition receives programmatic support from the URI Energy Center and has been promoting alternative fuels in Rhode Island since 1998.

For additional information about the Clean Cities Coalition or the November 14 symposium, contact Wendy Lucht at 401-874-2792 or wlucht@uri.edu.

# # #