Small Businesses Worldwide would Greatly Benefit from a
Significant Reduction in Fuel Cost
DALLAS, June 21, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The
American Small Business Travelers Alliance (ASBTA) serves America's
27 million small companies by working to improve service, reduce
costs and maintain safety and comfort in air travel.
"Public and private sector experts agree that small business
success in creating jobs despite critical economic challenges is an
essential factor in stabilizing the nation's economy.
Skyrocketing costs of air travel are a major hurdle but,
fortunately, there is light at the end of the tunnel," said
Chuck Sharp, president of the
Alliance.
The Alliance referred to the two year Yale study funded by Boeing that found that little
known Jatropha, an inedible weed-like plant that grows on otherwise
unused land, could be converted to jet fuel and provide major cost
savings while eliminating 60% of all harmful emissions.
Mission NewEnergy, Limited (Nasdaq: MNEL ASX: MBT), the world's
largest producer of Jatropha, based on acreage used, applauded the
study and ASBTA's efforts to gain public support for an all-airline
changeover to biofuel. "Air New Zealand, Continental, Brazil TAM,
Japan, Virgin Atlantic and KLM are
already testing Jatropha in flight use. Now it is time for all
carriers, large and small, to sample the benefits of sustainability
and environmental responsibility while reducing their own
operational costs significantly," James
Garton, President of Mission NewEnergy Limited, USA said.
The Mission NewEnergy executive pledged to make Jatropha
available through any responsible conversion company so that all
230 airlines in the International Air Transport Association could
experience the benefits and savings.
"The airline industry has been plagued with unprecedented costs
since each penny jump in oil prices literally means millions in
expense for a carrier," Roger
Frizzell, Vice President of American Airlines and an a
Mission NewEnergy advisory board member said.
Major General Wilbert Pearson
(USAF-Ret), the former Vice President of Lockheed Martin, is one of
aviation's superstars as a Hall of Fame pilot known as the first
Space Ace. "The Air Force has an insatiable appetite for fuel and a
compelling commitment to environmental correctness. It certainly
seems that Jatropha can provide great sustainability and major cost
savings," said Pearson, the new Chairman of Mission New Energy's
Advisory Board.
At one point, it was thought Ethanol would be the answer to
in-flight fuel needs but it has become accepted that Ethanol
freezes and loses its potential at relatively low altitudes.
"In light of successful test flights by several major carriers
using Jatropha and this week's successful trans-Atlantic biofuel
powered crossing, it would seem appropriate for U.S. officials to
expedite approval of the plant as a base for jet biofuel as other
nations have done," Sharp concluded.
ASBTA is conducting an international outreach to further
determine the impact a significant reduction in fuel cost would
have on small businesses. To participate in the ASBTA Survey please
email: surveys@asbta.com.
For Information: Susan Ferguson,
469-648-0190 (Susan.ferguson@asbta.com)
SOURCE ASBTA