Page 2 March 31, 2016 TORRANCE TRIBUNE Police Reports Cleaner Jet Fuel Debuts at LAX By Rob McCarthy United Airlines flights at Los Angeles International have started using a low-carbon jet fuel made from renewable waste, giving new meaning to “when pigs fly.” United Airlines made U.S. commercial aviation history on March 11 when San Francisco-bound flights from LAX began using a low-carbon fuel made from a refining process that uses farm waste and non-edible oil in the blend. The biofuel is a 70-30 mixture, with the higher amount being ordinary jet fuel and the remainder the organic material, according to an airline spokesman. United has taken the lead on the issue of greenhouse gas emissions from jetliners by voluntarily switching to biofuels on a limited number of daily flights, all originating from LAX. The federal government eventually will force the U.S. airline industry to curb jet-engine emissions, which are believed to be a contributor to climate change. Federal regulations on carriers are believed to be years away. “We are committed to operating an environmentally sustainable and responsible airline,” spokesman Charles Pannuzio told the Herald. “The advancement of biofuels is not only good for our environment, but it provides us with the opportunity to hedge against oil volatility and helps the communities we serve.” At least three domestic carriers - United, Alaska Airlines and Southwest - have shown interest in converting jet-fuel supplies to include biofuels. United was the first to demonstrate a commercial jet flying on biofuel back in 2009, and then in 2011 it flew one of its planes using a fuel partially derived from algae. Three weeks ago, United began fueling up to 14 West Coast flights per day with biofuel, made and delivered to LAX from a Paramount refinery operated by AltAir Fuel. The Federal Aviation Administration has approved jet biofuel and considers it safe. The fuel for United passenger planes meets the same performance standard as traditional jet fuel, ASTM Standard D-1655. The AltAir biofuel is chemically similar, but instead of crude oil it is derived from stock feed, nonedible natural oils and other sources that are readily available. Alaska Airlines also experimented with the algae-blend fuel, but discontinued it because of its high cost. United’s spokesman said the AltAir biofuel for the LAX-to-San Francisco flights is competitively priced with traditional jet fuel. He did not provide specifics on the cost per gallon. Southwest announced two years ago that it would begin using biofuel in 2016 in the Bay area. An airline spokeswoman told the Herald the expected started date now is sometime in 2018. The environment benefits of AltAir’s jet fuel, which is blended with renewable wastes from farms and non-edible natural oils, include a 60 percent reduction or more in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. That reduction combines includes the emission totals from refining, delivering, fueling and burning the fuel in United jets, according to United. United plans to purchase 15 million gallons of AltAir’s biofuel over the next three years, enough to power 12,500 flights from LAX to San Francisco, according to the carrier. The AltAir refinery in Paramount created 65 jobs as a result of the contract with United, not including construction-related jobs to reopen the plant. AltAir transformed the underused refinery in Paramount with technology developed by Honeywell’s oil-industry unit into a 30 million-gallon-per year biofuel facility, according to United. Today’s jet engines go farther on less fuel, lowering the airlines’ No. 1 cost and encouraging more passengers to fly. By 2020, international aviation emissions could be 70 percent higher than in 2005, even if fuel efficiency improves by 2 percent a year, according to estimates cited by the New York Times article. Southwest Airlines is another major U.S. carrier that wants to begin using a low-carbon jet fuel this year. Southwest agreed to buy 3 million gallons of jet fuel per year from Red Rock Biofuels in Colorado, and deliveries to Southwest’s San Francisco Bay airports is expected sometime in 2018, said spokeswoman Lori Crabtree. Red Rock refines the blended fuel in Oregon using leftover trees and wood from logged areas. The amount planned won’t cover much of Southwest’s needs, according to the Dallas newspaper that first reported the biofuel deal. Three million gallons is about 60 percent of what the airline uses on an average day, though the paper noted “it might provide a noticeable portion of the fuel needs at Southwest’s Bay Area airports — San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose.” Pigs can’t fly obviously, but feedstock and soon household trash have practical applications in aerospace and job creation. Carriers such as United and soon Southwest are out in front on reducing greenhouse gases and finding renewable fuel sources that stretch the world’s petroleum supply. United has plans in 2018 to introduce into its flying operations a biofuel made from city garbage, which otherwise would go to a landfill. The biofuel material is converted to jet fuel using a chemical heating process developed by Fulcrum Bioenergy of Pleasanton, Calif. United is working with Fulcrum to set up refineries near the carrier’s U.S. hubs. The airline isn’t saying which hubs will be serviced by Fulcrum fuel. Chicago, Dallas, Denver, San Francisco, Newark, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles are the traditional hubs for United. Houston became another hub after the merger with Continental in 2010. The waste-to-fuel technology can reduce carbon emissions by 80 percent over its lifecycle compared to conventional jet fuel and fossil fuels, according to Fulcrum. United invested $30 million in the bioenergy company for jetfuel distribution sites near its five hubs. The refineries when completed could supply the aviation industry with 180 million gallons of jet fuel per year. United holds an option on 90 million of those gallons for 10 years, once deliveries begin in 2018. Cathay Pacific airlines also is an investor for the company’s commercial-grade jet fuel. The Department of Defense also expects Fulcrum to become a future supplier of fuels to the military. A defense department grant and a loan guarantee from the Department of Food and Agriculture are financing expansion of Fulcrum’s development and refining capabilities for jet fuels and diesel, the company said. The New York Times last summer reported about ongoing efforts within the United States by the Environmental Protection Agency to curb jet engine exhaust and greenhouse gas buildup, which has been linked to climate change. Aviation represents about 2 percent of global emissions, a figure that is expected to increase because air travel is more affordable worldwide. The EPA has no timetable for airline-emission regulations, but industry observers told the Times it will take years for the U.S. government to roll out proposed rules. • Theft 3/19/2016 9:00:00 PM 5500 BLOCK NORTON ST Suspect(s) takes property from rear of location/ bicycle Burglary-Auto 3/19/2016 4:30:00 PM 19300 BLOCK HAWTHORNE BLVD Suspect(s) enters vehicle by unknown means, ransacks and takes property/work bag, registration, remote, work ID Vandalism 3/19/2016 4:00:00 PM 20900 BLOCK HIGGINS CT Suspect(s) uses spray paint to tag victim’s parked vehicle and building exterior Theft 3/19/2016 3:30:00 PM 3500 BLOCK CARSON ST Suspect(s) takes unattended property from counter/cell phone Burglary-Auto 3/19/2016 12:00:00 PM 3800 BLOCK ARTESIA BLVD Suspect(s) enters vehicle by unknown means, ransacks and takes property/ manual, registration, insurance, magnifying glass, jumper cables Theft 3/19/2016 10:45:00 AM 2500 BLOCK REDONDO BEACH BLVD Suspect(s) takes property from victim’s purse as she shops/cell phone, ID Burglary-Auto 3/19/2016 12:01:00 AM 4100 BLOCK 182ND ST Suspect(s) smashes window for entry and takes property/GPS, dash cam Burglary-Auto 3/18/2016 9:00:00 PM 3600 BLOCK FASHION WAY Suspect(s) pries window for entry and takes property/third row seats Battery-Simple 3/18/2016 3:00:10 PM BECKWORTH AVE & TOWERS ST Suspect punches victim in the face Theft 3/18/2016 2:00:00 PM 21800 BLOCK WESTERN AVE Suspect flees without paying for services rendered Theft 3/18/2016 12:00:00 PM 23000 BLOCK ARLINGTON AVE Suspect(s) takes property from exterior wall/ solar inverters Burglary-Auto 3/18/2016 9:00:00 AM 4300 BLOCK REDONDO BEACH BLVD Suspect(s) smashes window for entry, ransacks and takes property/ boxes of eyeglass cases, eyeglass cleaners Burglary-Auto 3/17/2016 9:30:00 PM 3600 BLOCK EMERALD ST Suspect(s) takes property from vehicle trunk by unknown means/bag, laptop, paperwork Burglary-Auto 3/17/2016 12:30:00 PM 3900 BLOCK CARSON ST Suspect(s) takes property from victim’s open vehicle trunk/briefcase Theft 3/17/2016 11:00:00 AM 1600 BLOCK CABRILLO AVE Suspect(s) takes property from open business/ bicycle Theft 3/17/2016 2:00:00 AM 1200 BLOCK MADRID AVE Suspect(s) takes property off of victim’s parked vehicle/tailgate, tires Theft 3/16/2016 12:40 PM 23000 BLOCK WALNUT ST Suspect(s) takes property from construction site/materials Theft 3/16/2016 11:30:00 AM 3600 BLOCK LOMITA BLVD Suspect(s) takes property from desk/cash Battery-Simple 3/15/2016 7:48 PM 19300 BLOCK HAWTHORNE BLVD Suspect punches victim in the face Theft 3/15/2016 4:30:00 PM 18400 BLOCK HAWTHORNE BLVD Suspect(s) pries open mailbox door and takes property/ mail Auto Theft-All 3/15/2016 3:00:00 PM 3500 BLOCK CARSON ST Stolen vehicle: ‘03 Cadillac Escalade Burglary-Auto 3/15/2016 1:30:00 PM 2000 BLOCK MIDDLEBROOK ROAD Suspect(s) cuts trailer latch for entry and takes property/string trimmer Auto Theft-All 3/15/2016 1:30:00 PM 19800 BLOCK HAWTHORNE BLVD Stolen vehicle: ‘01 Honda CRV Burglary-Commercial 3/15/2016 11:24:23 AM 3100 BLOCK 182ND ST Suspect(s) defeats door lock for entry, forces open storage lockers and takes property/cash Burglary-Auto 3/15/2016 9:55 AM 5400 BLOCK 190TH ST Suspect(s) enters vehicle by unknown means, ransacks and takes property/ GPS Burglary-Commercial 3/15/2016 7:00:00 AM 3500 BLOCK 190TH ST Suspect(s) takes property from unsecured laundry room/washer, dryer Burglary-Auto 3/15/2016 5:00:00 AM 23700 BLOCK WESTERN AVE Suspect(s) enters vehicle by unknown means, ransacks and takes property/ GPS, chargers, registration Theft 3/14/2016 9:30:00 AM 1800 BLOCK 205TH ST Suspect(s) takes unattended property from business exterior/pallets of boxes of shoes Burglary-Commercial 3/14/2016 1:35 AM 23800 BLOCK HAWTHORNE BLVD Suspect(s) smashes window with bricks/ no entry, no loss Theft 3/13/2016 8:42 PM CRENSHAW BLVD & DOMINGUEZ ST Suspects brandish a portable welding torch, threaten to torch victim’s vehicle and take victim’s property/ cell phone, gardening equipment Vandalism 3/13/2016 5:52:00 PM 3500 BLOCK CARSON ST Suspect(s) uses spray paint to tag parking structure Theft 3/13/2016 1:26:00 PM 3600 BLOCK PACIFIC COAST HWY Suspect(s) takes property from front of location/ bicycle Burglary-Commercial 3/13/2016 12:45:00 PM 22900 BLOCK HAWTHORNE BLVD Suspect(s) smashes glass door for entry and takes property from register/ cash • Follow Us on Twitter @heraldpub
Torrance_033116_FNL_lorez
To see the actual publication please follow the link above