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this region unless emissions are reduced. He said that a study was done of the Triangle area <br />was done that showed that the commuter traveling time of this region had the highest increase <br />over the last ten years in the nation. This is an economic development issue, environmental <br />issue, and a land use issue. He said that they are very proactive in this area, but there is a lot <br />of work to be done. <br />Chair Jacobs said that Beau Lossoff is here from the Human Kindness foundation to talk about <br />the use of bio-diesel. <br />Beau Lossoff said that he is founder of Carolina Bio-diesel. He distributed vials of bio-diesel. <br />He said that there are three components -environmental, employment security, and essential <br />sustainability. They have been working with prisoners for the past 30 years and how to develop <br />a training program for them to help them get jobs in bio-diesel production when they are <br />released. He said that North Carolina is the fifth leading state in the use of bio-diesel. He said <br />that this could reduce the dependence on foreign petroleum to a tremendous degree. <br />He said that there are two reasons that these prisoners cannot get jobs - no job skills and a <br />felony record. They are hoping to create abio-diesel refinery and to supply this to the local <br />area. The closest bio-diesel refinery is Kentucky or Florida. He said that they are not using this <br />in the school buses yet and the kids are breathing diesel fumes. Bio-diesel is less toxic than <br />table salt. They are asking the Assembly of Governments for friendship and collaboration <br />between their non-profit, Carolina Bio-diesel, and the governmental entities so that they can <br />raise public awareness together. He said that two counties in Hawaii have mandated that all of <br />the waste vegetable oils go to Pacific Bio-diesel Company to make fuel. <br />Sally Greene said that she visited this and that the story in the Independent is wonderful. She <br />urged everyone to read it and think about all of the aspects. <br />Beau Lossoff said that he was not going to ask the County for money, but only for collaboration <br />and partnership. <br />Joal Hall Broun asked if Chapel Hill transit was using B20 and Mayor Foy said they use <br />kerosene. He said that they go through this every year about what they should use. They are <br />not using diesel. <br />~. Transportation Funding Options <br />Alex Zaffron said that he assumes that all local governments are supporting the request from <br />the General Assembly for dedicated sources of funding. The two proposed funding <br />mechanisms are not his favorite, and they are an additional registration fee and additional fuel <br />taxes. They have been endorsed by the DCHC MPO, CAMPO, the Metropolitan Coalition, and <br />the Regional Transportation Alliance. He said that he hopes to see movement on these in the <br />short sessions. <br />Regarding the non-attainment status, he said that this was a result of the change in standard by <br />the EPA. He said that despite what is in the paper, the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro MPO and <br />CAMPO are working cooperatively and are developing a formal relationship to link the long <br />range transportation plans for the entire region so that they can conform. <br />Chair Jacobs said that the County Commissioners will be asked to endorse these revenues. <br />The Durham Board of County Commissioners have not endorsed them yet because they had <br />some reservations. <br />