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Nebraska Green Fuels (NGF) in Lyons would like to announce the re-opening of the E-85 pump at our station after fire damage took the station off line in October, 2010. Repairs have been affected and NGF has now taken an expanded role in creating a new paradigm for powering sustainable fueling stations.

NGF has already been setting new standards when the facility was initially created 2 years ago. The NGF Co-op too over a historical gas station after stood empty on Lyons Main Street for some time when the former business closed up. NGF has continually improved this property since and now offers renewable fuels only in the form of E-85, biodiesel and advanced fuel additives and equipment for enhancing performance and mileage. NGF has been the only place to obtain reformed alcohols from biomass commercially for some time and NGF leadership has been using experimental fuels for almost a decade. The station converted to a rainwater recovery system over the Summer of 2010 that received regional TV attention.

Upon close examination of the damaged, out of date electrical system, a new approach was taken to restore electrical service and heating systems. NGF Manager, Robert Byrnes worked with Brehmer Manufacturing of Lyons to design an advanced photovoltaic solar mounting system for the south face of the station. This adjustable and sturdy mounting system will soon be available as a commercial product at www.NebraskaWind.com and other sites. The solar mounting system is an excellent example of the local ingenuity and expertise that exists across Nebraska if applied to this area. Support from the Lyons City Council also helped the project along and the resulting 2.4Kw PV solar power system will charge the batteries that operate the facility, making it the first completely off-grid renewable fuels station in the Midwest and potentially the nation.

The original, functioning, natural gas furnace was removed from the structure soon after purchase and was replaced by an oil burning furnace that was being adapted to run clean, renewable oils. NGF currently has a state of the art Yellow Heat vegetable oil furnace that can operate on a wide variety of renewable oils and other materials. While the numbers will be crunched this summer by student interns, it is anticipated that NGF will become one of the first carbon negative commercial enterprises in this sector.

Not satisfied with these advancements alone, NGF will be integrating numerous other energy conservation innovations including, polycarbonate window replacement and encasement, Brown�s Gas, masonry insulation techniques including straw bale variations using different materials. Solar air heating and high efficiency LED and T-8 lighting will complete the green energy showpiece.

Future inclusions will see involvement with compressed air vehicles, electric and gaseous fuels and biomass pellet systems.

Nebraska Green Fuels is a Cooperative that offers renewable energy products to their members at a discount from public pricing and enables members to sell renewable materials to the CO-OP. The NGF CO-OP supports and is a big part of the annual Lyons Renewable Energy Fair held in Lyons at the end of July each summer, sponsored by the Center for Rural Affairs. If you are interested in becoming a member please contact us.