Burning Green

MLGW is an original founding partner of the West Tennessee Clean Cities Coalition, which was created in August 2005 to help reduce our nation’s dependence on high carbon fuels and improve air quality by advancing the use of energy efficient technologies and cleaner burning, domestically produced renewable energy.

MLGW's role is to support clean and alternative energy fuels such as biodiesel (B20) and ethanol (E85) by using it in our operations when financially and operationally feasible.

In August of 2007, the Brunswick Service Center received their first shipment of B20 from Memphis Biofuels. Brunswick goes through approximately 10,000 gallons of biodiesel fuel per month. As long as the price of biodiesel is not too expensive compared to ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD), MLGW will continue purchasing B20 instead of ULSD.

MLGW employees have been pretty positive about using B20, which is about the same with regards to gas mileage, performance, etc. to ULSD. The only potential problem with B20 is gelling due to the cold weather. So far, there haven’t been any problems with engines not starting.

Later this year, there are plans to purchase flex fuel vehicles which utilize ethanol-blended fuel. Underground storage tanks will be installed to house the ethanol fuel at one or more of the service centers.

In addition, MLGW also has 10 hybrid vehicles in its fleet—four Priuses and six Ford Escape Hybrids. MLGW will continue to add hybrids to its fleet when they become more affordable and/or when Federal credits are available.