Ala. city creates fuel from wood

ALABAMA: City of Hoover believed to be first U.S. city to convert wood waste to biofuel

The nation's first program recycling municipal wood wastes into automotive biofuel is operating in Hoover, Alabama. Ethanol produced from tree limbs pulled off curbside heaps is going into gas tanks after processing. The first 100 gallons of the fuel were put into a few police cars at a kickoff ceremony in the city.

"We don't produce corn, but we can grow pine trees," said Mark Bentley, executive director of the Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition. "If we can establish a couple of plants in the state to convert that tree waste into cellusoic fuel it can be used ... to fuel entire fleets."

The city of 73,000 people has aggressively sought alternative fuels, and Mayor Tony Petelos said 88 percent of its vehicles are powered by a combination of ethanol fuels, electricity and recycled cooking oil.

Way to go, Hoover!

Also in the South:

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GEORGIA: Speculation surrounds 2010 governor's race now that Cagle is out

KENTUCKY: State's public defenders get $2 million to avoid shutdown

LOUISIANA: 5% tuition increase approved by LSU System board

MISSISSIPPI: New law gives state more control over school accountability

NORTH CAROLINA: 'Green' drugstore concepts to open in Raleigh, Asheville

SOUTH CAROLINA: Lawsuit filed to allow legislature to request stimulus funds

TENNESSEE: Senate passes bill that allows guns to be where alcohol served

VIRGINIA: Groups sponsor first statewide Invasive Plant Removal Day

OPINION:

Tom Eblen --New approaches to Kentucky's energy challenges
"A couple hundred leaders from academia, politics and business gathered Thursday in Lexington to talk about energy and Kentucky — where we are, where we need to be and how we might get there."

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