In attendance:
Councilman James F. Gennaro
Councilman David Yassky
Brent Baker, Chief Executive Officer Tri-State Biodiesel LLC
Luke Tonachel, NRDC
Josh Tickell Director, FUEL

Nominated for the 2009 Writers Guild Award for Best Documentary Screenplay and Winner of the 2008 Sundance Film Festival Audience Award for Best Documentary, FUEL exposes shocking information about our nation’s dependence on foreign oil and issues a resounding call-to-action to explore viable alternatives which provide real solutions for our future.

FUEL is an insightful portrait of America’s addiction to oil and an uplifting testament to the immediacy of new energy solutions. Director, Josh Tickell, a young activist, shuttles us on a whirlwind journey to track the rising domination of the petrochemical industry—from Rockefeller’s strategy to halt Ford’s first ethanol cars to Vice President Cheney’s petrochemical company sponsored energy legislation — and reveals a gamut of available solutions to “repower America” —from vertical farms that occupy skyscrapers to algae facilities that turn wastewater into fuel. Tickell and a surprising array of environmentalists, policy makers, and entertainment notables take us through America’s complicated, often ignominious energy past and illuminate a hopeful, achievable future, where decentralized, Sustainable living is not only possible, it’s imperative.

The film features an all-star cast and interviews with leading voices ranging from our nation’s leaders to Hollywood celebrities, including: JULIA ROBERTS, SHERYL CROW, LARRY HAGMAN, WILLIE NELSON, PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER, ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR., LARRY DAVID, LAURIE DAVID & SIR RICHARD BRANSON.

First-time filmmaker Josh Tickell was selected by PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON for his Global Initiative on Climate Change. In 1997, Tickell set out on the road with a “Veggie Van” and a video camera and began filming what would eventually become known as FUEL. Over the course of his 11 year journey, Tickell traveled the world going to over 25 countries, authored two books, founded a nonprofit organization, and participated in jump-starting America’s green energy movement. Change your fuel. Change the world.