May 9, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACT:

Mark C. Bentley, Executive Director Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition 2131 Data Office Drive, Suite 240 Birmingham, AL 35244 205.402.2755 Phone 205.402.9907 Fax mark@AlabamaCleanFuels.org www.AlabamaCleanFuels.org

BIRMINGHAM - The City of Birmingham’s vehicle fleet will begin the move to a "green" fleet when the City opens their first biodiesel refueling stations on May 9th. The stations will fuel the 600 current diesel vehicles with a biodiesel blend known as B20. B20 is a blend of 20% biodiesel, made from soybean (or similar) oil with 80% regular diesel. The cleaner burning B20 biodiesel fuel is provided by Allied Renewable Energy/Rice Oil Company of Birmingham.

"Today, the City of Birmingham joins the State of Alabama in moving to more environmentally friendly fuels. This is an important step in reducing harmful vehicle emissions in our area while helping lessen our country's dependence on foreign oil," says Mark Bentley, Executive Director of the Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition.

"We applaud the leadership that Mayor Kincaid and the City of Birmingham is providing in this important area. Using a cleaner burning fuel that is produced right here in Birmingham just makes good sense. We hope that other cities in Alabama will follow Birmingham's good example and consider using alternative fuels in their vehicle fleets." continues Bentley.

The Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition is a non-profit membership based coordinating point for Alternative Fuel and Alternative Fuel Vehicle activities in Alabama. The primary goals are to expand both the use of vehicles powered by alternative fuels and the availability of alternative fuels infrastructure in our state. According to Bentley these expansions will foster increased domestic energy security, enhanced economic development and improved air quality in Alabama.

- END -