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Going Green: Test Your Biofuel IQ

victoria-campbe
Explorer B
As you may have seen last week, Southwest recently announced our agreement to purchase biofuel from Red Rock Biofuels, which creates renewable jet fuel using forest residue.  Southwest agreed to purchase about three million gallons of fuel per year, which will be used at our Bay Area operations. We wanted to share a little more about this green alternative, so we put together a trivia game.  Check your biofuel knowledge below! True or False?
  1. Biofuel is less cost-effective than traditional fuel options.
  2. Biofuel is made from natural substances, such as logs or branches.
  3. The production of this biofuel helps reduce the risk of wildfires.
  4. Three million gallons makes very little difference in the bigger picture.
  5. Biofuels have the same level of carbon emissions as traditional fuel sources.
Answers:
  1. False. Biofuel is actually comparable in price to our traditional jet fuel options. In addition, Southwest hopes to support these alternatives to encourage further development and make biofuel a more competitive and possibly less expensive alternative.
  2. True. Biofuel is made from materials found in nature that can be recycled into fuel. Red Rock Biofuels focuses on converting woody biomass to renewable fuel sources.
  3. True. Red Rock Biofuels converts forest residue into fuel, reducing the risk of wildfires in the Western United States.
  4. False. While three million gallons is less than one percent of our total annual operations, it makes up about three percent of the total usage in the Bay Area where the fuel will be used. In addition, Southwest continues to look for future opportunities for biofuels, and Red Rock Biofuels hopes to build additional plants throughout the United States.
  5. False. Biofuels produce significantly less carbon emissions in comparison to traditional sources, decreasing the resulting air pollution.
How did you do?  Let us know by commenting below.