Movement toward local energy self-sufficiency clearly must include a focus on transportation fuels. Petroleum accounts for 40% of all energy consumed in the U.S., and 2/3 of that petroleum fuels motor vehicles. About 58% of our petroleum is imported, and none of it, obviously, is produced in Minnesota. Local energy self-sufficiency can only be achieved by improving vehicle efficiency, using all transit options more wisely, and developing locally produced, cleaner, renewable fuels (such as ethanol and biodiesel).To that end, RENew Northfield, in partnership with Northfield Transit, is sponsoring Northfield’s first-ever B-BOP (bike, bus, or carpool) Day on May 20, 2005.

Area residents are encouraged to fill out the Commuter Challenge Pledge Form and detail how they will reduce their annual petroleum consumption by one or more of the following methods:

• Reducing annual solo driving miles.
• Using clean, domestic, renewable E85 (85% ethanol, 15% gasoline) or biodiesel fuel. For a list of cars able to use E85, go to http://www.ethanol.org/ACEFFVs.htm. Biodiesel may be used in any diesel vehicle. For more information on biodiesel, go to http://biodiesel.org/ or http://www.biodieselnow.com/.
• Purchasing a more efficient vehicle and/or one able to burn E85 or biodiesel. For information on vehicle fuel efficiency, go to http://www.fueleconomy.gov/.

You may fill out the form and submit it online, or you may prefer to fill it out, print the form, and bring it to our B-BOP Breakfast on Northfield’s Bridge Square between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. on May 20. Pledgers are encouraged to gather at Bridge Square to walk, bike, carpool, or take the bus to their workplace on the morning of the 20^th. All pledgers are eligible to win fabulous prizes! Free coffee, pastries, fruit, and RENew Northfield t-shirts will be available (while supplies last!), and Northfield Transit will be offering discounted rides from Bridge Square to destinations around town between 6:00 and 8:00 a.m.

When we have received all the pledge forms we will be calculating the following totals: mileage reduction, petroleum usage reduction, money saved, and pollution reduction. In addition, after one year, we will be contacting all pledgers to see how they did and we will then issue a follow-up report. Stay tuned for details!

This local event is part of the statewide Commuter Challenge Week (http://b-bop.org/). From the Commuter Challenge Week website: “Commuter Challenge,

Share the Road (formerly known as B-BOP) is a statewide partnership between business and government designed to encourage and help employers and employees promote the use of alternative transportation modes.

This week-long event is organized and sponsored by The Minnesota Department of Transportation to promote the awareness and use of alternative transportation options such as busing, carpooling, vanpooling, biking, walking, and telecommuting.”

For more information on the Northfield B-BOP Day, call RENew Northfield at 645-7133.