[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 72 (Thursday, May 26, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1132-E1133]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     WEST PHILADELPHIA HIGH SCHOOL TAKES TOP HONORS IN TECHNOLOGY 
                              COMPETITION

                                 ______
                                 

                              CHAKA FATTAH

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 26, 2005

  Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the West 
Philadelphia High School for taking top honors in the Technology 
Competition at the National 2005 Tour de Sol.
  The National 2005 Tour de Sol, a nationwide competition, allows 
students and entrepreneurs to showcase their efforts to design vehicles 
that approach zero carbon emissions and use renewable fuels. The Tour 
de Sol highlights the largest innovations in alternative-energy 
technology and advanced fuel vehicles, showcasing the future of the 
clean-energy and transportation industry. The cars are put through 
rigorous tests to assess emissions, fuel economy, and other technical 
standards.
  The Tour de Sol provides a key platform for vehicle manufacturers, 
students, and entrepreneurs to demonstrate future designs and current 
products that aim to reduce oil and carbon emissions to zero. This 
year, over a dozen teams from all over the United States and Canada 
participated in the Tour de Sol Championship, which began in 1989. The 
competition aims to inspire students and businesses to design, build, 
showcase, and use concept vehicles that push the envelope and work 
toward the ultimate goal of the event.
  The winner of the coveted ``Greenest Vehicle'' was awarded to one of 
the only high school teams to enter the competition, West Philadelphia 
High School, for their electric car called The Saturn. The team beat 
university and private teams from around the country for developing a 
vehicle that demonstrates high energy efficiency. The Saturn ran the 
equivalent of 280 miles per gallon of gasoline, with a greenhouse gas 
reduction of nearly 80 percent.
  I salute the students, faculty and team sponsors who worked 
tirelessly over the past two years to construct a hybrid vehicle that 
uses biodiesel fuel instead of gas to create a cleaner environment. I 
applaud your efforts and congratulate you on a winning design that 
makes all Philadelphians proud.

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