PROVIDENCE – Mayor David N. Cicilline joined Providence restaurants at Gregg’s Restaurant, in the city’s North End, to promote an innovative green partnership aimed at protecting the environment and providing clean fuel for diesel-powered vehicles.

The partnership collects and converts the restaurants’ used cooking oil into clean biodiesel, which contains no petroleum and can be used in diesel engines with little or no modifications. Biodiesel is simple to use, biodegradable, nontoxic, and essentially free of sulfur and aromatics. It is the only alternative fuel to have fully completed the health effects testing requirements of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments.

“As recycling, hybrid cars and fluorescent and LED lighting play an increasing role in our everyday lives, it is critical that we maximize our green, sustainable practices while minimizing our carbon footprint,” Mayor Cicilline stated. “Environmental sustainability isn’t just good policy, it makes economic sense as well. I encourage all Providence restaurateurs to take part in this program.”

More than a 100 Providence restaurants, ranging from Alforno to Mekong Restaurant, have already joined the Green Dining Network, in addition to larger organizations such as the Dunkin Donuts Center, Providence Place Mall and RISD.

The City of Providence currently purchases Biodiesel for use in more than 30 trucks in the Public Works, Parks and Recreation departments. This is in addition to a series of sustainable practices adopted as part of the Mayor’s GreenPrint Providence initiative.

“We are grateful to the Mayor and the hundreds of restaurant partners that recognize that partnership with Newport Biodiesel helps to fuel a greener, healthier Rhode Island,” said Chris Benzak, Managing Partner at Newport Biodiesel.

Representatives from Newport Biodiesel were on hand to demonstrate the collection process using one of their specially designed pump trucks.

About Providence’s green initiatives:

Mayor Cicilline has launched numerous initiatives aimed at creating new “green collar” jobs and reducing the City’s carbon footprint.

• Greenprint Providence is the City’s comprehensive strategic plan for this effort;
• Mayor Cicilline’s Green Jobs Corps and a variety of public-private partnerships are providing the training and placement services to steer residents to good green jobs;
• The City of Providence is aggressively pursuing the growth of the green sector, especially in the “green corridor” at the Olneyville end of Promenade, which  is home to United Natural Foods, Alteris Renewables, and Ecolect;
• Green Up Providence is the citywide initiative to double the recycling rate and save taxpayer money.

 ##