SUMMARY DESCRIPTION

Worldwide pressure on industry and consumers has driven our demand for cleaner, more economical fuels sources.  One of the more successful industries born out of this demand is E85, a blend of ethanol and gasoline.  The more evident perk from E85 is its cost effectiveness.  The perks are noticed in the wallet, while not quite as evident are the perils associated with E85 and alternative fuels if they are treated the same as gasoline.

E85 is a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline.  Ethanol is produced in a wide variety of ways and from an increasing number of sources including corn, beets, wood, animal byproducts and others being explored.  While in some states 10% ethanol is blended with 90% gasoline as a means of reducing emissions, we are in the midst of a revolution.  Those that stand to be impacted by this revolution must not wait until a new world is set upon us.

In 2006, manufacturers produced 4.3 billion gallons of ethanol from 95 biorefineries in response to the demand for cheaper, cleaner energy sources.  By 2022, that production capacity is predicted to exceed 36 billion gallons per year.  Consistently the demand for ethanol exceeds the industry ability to produce by a substantial amount.

There are scores of other alternative fuels not only on the market, but under development, and scarier yet, under development in backyards!  These can include methane, biodiesel, hydrogen, electricity, methanol, and p-series fuels.
E85 and many of these alternative fuels and technology are not like yesterday’s fuels.  Although sought after for their financial benefits, these alternative fuels pose special hazards much different than petroleum products.  Those involved in current or future storage, handling, transportation, or incident response to E85 or these alternative fuels must be educated through and for awareness, safety, and response.

Participants will become engaged in this dynamic, interactive and hands-on training seminar while learning awareness of, safety issues regarding, and basic tactical intervention methods to control the various types of alternative fuels responders are likely to encounter today and into the future

GOALS:

The goal of this Signet North America E85 and Alternative Fuels Safety and Awareness course is to provide a solid day of high-energy, interactive and informative education designed to take the attendee through a wide range of subject matter to include, but not be limited to:

• Alternative fuels in use today
• Local impacts/production
• Illicit and clandestine production of alternative fuels
• Ethanol  and biodiesel production methods
• Physical properties of ethanol (E85) and other alternative fuels
• Response tactics and methods

PREREQUISITES:

None Required