NY Harbor Renewable Fuels Producer Innovation Fuels Opens Up

New York, NY - Innovation Fuels, the rapidly emerging, New York-based renewable fuel company that manufactures, markets, and distributes biodiesel fuel to customers around the world, announced that on January 14, 2009, an additional 15,000 barrels of biodiesel was shipped directly from its New York Harbor plant in Newark, NJ via the Passaic River. This effort firmly marks the establishment of the Passaic as a water transportation venue for renewable fuels such as biodiesel.

Innovation Fuels, with important contributions from the City of Newark, Essex County, and transportation authorities, was able to overcome several hurdles to provide adequate shipping conditions from its biodiesel manufacturing facility:

• Extensive repairs were conducted over several months to a number of the bridges the barge carrying the biodiesel needed to pass
• During test runs, operation failures occurred on two bridges requiring extensive maintenance.
• Innovation Fuels was delayed in persuading a barge operator to partner in shipping the biodiesel due to general ambivalence in transportation along the Passaic River thoroughfare.

"We are pleased to be able to provide customers with significant quantities of biodiesel product utilizing the Passaic River waterway," said Innovation Fuels CEO John Fox. "Our primary goal remains to produce and provide biodiesel to consumers, particularly those in the local New York harbor market."

Added Fox, "In order to encourage the large oil companies to blend biodiesel we need mandates and additional government support. Without mandates, all of our hard work will benefit our European customers instead of reaching the local users of distillates."

"The production of renewable fuels, such as biodiesel, in the City of Newark is a great example of the urban economic development opportunities held in our nation's transition to a green economy. Innovation Fuels is reusing existing infrastructure, providing good green jobs for Newark residents and expanding fuel choice for the region as well as for the nation," commented Newark Mayor Cory A. Booker.

Innovation Fuels has received strong local support among Essex County officials who've expressed excitement at the prospect of creating "green-collar" jobs and revitalizing the Passaic River waterway. Donald M. Payne Jr., Newark Municipal Councilman-at-Large remarked, "This is a great step for our local economy here in Newark. I believe the reopening of the river as a shipping conduit for renewable fuels is going to play a major part in the great urban renaissance here in Essex County." "We're looking forward to working with Innovation Fuels and their strategic logistics partner I.C.E. Service Group, Inc. in developing long term growth opportunities of their operations and continued support of the Newark community."

Dennis Morgan, II, Senior Program Manager for I.C.E. Service Group, Inc. (ICE), Innovation Fuels' transportation and logistics partner, remarked, "Despite the logistical and mechanical challenges stemming from re-establishing a long-dormant waterway that involved the opening of seven different bridges, ICE endured, and with a coordinated effort with our partners and various government agencies was able to ensure the safe and secure passage of the biodiesel barge down the Passaic River to New York Harbor."

SOURCE: Innovation Fuels