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Developing Railway Markets for Montana Biodiesel Opportunity Link, Inc.

Developing Railway Markets for Montana Biodiesel Opportunity Link, Inc. Opportunity Link Non-profit agency founded in 2004 to reduce poverty and build economic assets in 11 counties and 3 Indian reservations in Northcentral Montana FOCUS AREAS: Employment Training Accessible Transportation

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Developing Railway Markets for Montana Biodiesel Opportunity Link, Inc.

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  1. Developing Railway Markets for Montana Biodiesel Opportunity Link, Inc.

  2. Opportunity Link Non-profit agency founded in 2004 to reduce poverty and build economic assets in 11 counties and 3 Indian reservations in Northcentral Montana FOCUS AREAS: Employment Training Accessible Transportation Asset & Wealth Creation

  3. Opportunity Link assisted in the establishment of four new public transportation systems in Northcentral Montana. Northern Transit Interlocal (March 2008) Fort Belknap Transit Service (March 2009) North Central Montana Transit (August 2009) Rocky Boy Transit (September 2009)

  4. Biodiesel Demonstration Projects North Central Montana Transit, 2009 to present Fleet using biodiesel blends • One 35-passenger 1995 Gillig Phantom (20% blend) • Two 24-passengers 1998 Orion II (20% blend) • One 15-passenger 2009 Dodge Sprinter van (5% blend) • Leased buses from Glacier National Park (approved up to 5% blend) BNSF Railway, 2010-2011 Locomotive switch engine, BNSF 1928 Model: EMD SD40-2 Horsepower: 3,000 Fuel Cap: 4010 Gallons Sand Cap: 40 cu ft Length: 65 feet Height: 16 ft Width: 10 ft Engine: 16 cylinder 645E3B, 2008 Tier-0 Certificate Weight: 391,500 lbs

  5. Opportunity Link’s North Central Montana Transit has three lines with daily fixed routes services that average 630 miles a day. NCMT ridership has been estimated at 250 a month but has a 1,600 monthly average in 2010 – six times more than projected.

  6. Opportunity Link’s North Central Montana Transit buses piloted the use of locally grown and produced biodiesel. A 5% to 20% biodiesel blend, processed by Montana State University Northern Bio-Energy Center, is used by the buses year-round.

  7. Photo courtesy of Havre Daily News Regular riders are a mix of ages, abilities, income levels, communities of origin, and final destinations. They include low-income individuals, non-drivers, employed commuters, recreational travelers, tribal and university college students, medical patients and shoppers.

  8. Commendation from the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) based in Brussels, Belgium Selected as one of twelve communities for Mobility Planning Services by Easter Seals Project ACTION based in Washington, D.C. Received two Transportation Planning Excellence Awards by FTA/FHWA on Planning & Leadership and Tribal Transportation Planning Invited as panelist to “Keeping Kids Moving”, a national roundtable discussion held in Washington, D.C. by Policy Link and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for Childhood Obesity

  9. BNSF Biodiesel Demonstration Project is funded by the Montana Department of Agriculture’s Growth through Agriculture Program to Bear Paw Development Corporation and by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality’s Alternative Energy Development Program to Opportunity Link

  10. DEVELOPING RAILWAY MARKETS FOR MONTANA BIODIESEL Use of Montana biodiesel produced from locally grown oilseed crops Assess engine performance including regular emissions testing and locomotive engine maintenance (oil analysis, injector evaluation, engine performance, fuel consumption and durability) Promote oilseed and biodiesel production

  11. Oilseed farmers Biomass refiners Transport and storage businesses User industries Municipal and county governments Economic development agencies Education institutions and job training agencies State and Federal agencies Consumers REGIONAL PARNTERS IN OILSEED & BIODIESEL PRODUCTION

  12. Possibly multiple smaller facilities Value-added production Local workforce is trained Ancillary industries Agriculture policy supports farmers Existing infrastructure is used, improved Local biodiesel users are rewarded STRATEGIES THAT FIT NORTHCENTRAL MONTANA

  13. Assist in coordination Seek public input Help secure funding Provide administration during funding process Help train and transport workforce Educate public and policy makers Advocate and promote WHAT CAN OPPORTUNITY LINK DO?

  14. For more information, contact: Barbara Stiffarm, Executive Director Opportunity Link, Inc. Phone: (406) 265-3699 E-mail: bstiffarm@opportunitylinkmt.org www.opportunitylinkmt.org Jessica Windy Boy, Director Bio-Energy Center MSU Northern Phone: (406) 265-4199 E-mail: j.alcornwindyboy@msun.edu www.bioenergytestingcenter.com Beau Price, Superintendent BNSF Railway Havre Diesel Shop Phone: (406) 265-4199 E-mail: beau.price@bnsf.com www.bnsf.com

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