A series of workshops sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Fuels Development, and the California Energy Commission brought biodiesel to the attention of several communities throughout the country this fall. A good attendance at all the meetings indicated that a push for cleaner diesel fuels is on.
“The focus was on getting people [customers and regulators] the information they needed to use the fuel,” said Dr. K. Shaine Tyson, renewable diesel project manager, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO. “The interest appears to be growing still.”
The first workshop took place in Sacramento, CA, where 160 attendees representing such entities as the Department of Water Resources, California Air Resources Board, Department of the Air Force, various city and county offices, and private fleet managers, heard various speakers discuss the properties of biodiesel and the benefits realized by those who are already using the renewable fuel in their vehicles. Manufacturers of biodiesel and those industries who supply raw material in the production process, including renderers such as Baker Commodities and Griffin Industries, were also present, not only to educate those wanting to know more about biodiesel, but to learn themselves what potential customers are seeking in an alternative fuel.
One speaker, Dave Skokan, Bodie Concrete, San Francisco, CA, explained his company’s experience using B100 in their fleet of trucks. He said at first there was a concern with emissions.
“But everything’s been fine,” reassured Skokan. Bodie began their program with only six trucks running on biodiesel but now operate half the company’s fleet on the alternative fuel. “Try it out for yourself and see what you think,” he encouraged.
Another satisfied customer of biodiesel is the U.S. Postal Service in San Francisco. Using a biodiesel blend of B20, the fuel is being used in 253 heavy-duty trucks and was so well received, the program was extended into nearby Oakland, CA.
A representative from Berkeley, CA, shared the city’s dedication to using biodiesel produced from recycled cooking oil in its municipal fleet of trucks that, ironically, pick up newspapers, bottles, and cans targeted for recycling. Other government and private company spokespersons told similar success stories of using biodiesel.
While the emphasis appeared to be on using soy-based biodiesel, supporters of fuel derived from animal fats and yellow grease were present. Dr. Tyson is one such supporter. She stated that at one time she had hoped renderers would be producers of biodiesel but has come to realize that because of the capital costs associated with biodiesel production equipment, most renderers will primarily be suppliers of raw material. Tyson presented comparisons of using vegetable versus animal feedstocks and acknowledged that in order to produce biodiesel that is cost competitive with regular diesel, the focus needs to be on using inedible tallow and yellow grease.
The workshop included a “smell the tailpipe” exposition where biodiesel manufacturers started the engines of several vehicles, from small Volkswagens to large one-ton trucks, running on various blends of biodiesel produced from soy and yellow grease. Attendees were encouraged to “smell” the exhaust and see for themselves how clean the fuel is. Chatter around the tailpipes indicated a significant decrease in regular diesel emissions.
Two other workshops took place in Seattle, WA, and Cedar Rapids, IA. Attendance at both those meetings was also above expectations and the programs were well received. More work-shops will be held next spring. v
For more information on the government’s biodiesel program, log onto www.ott.doe.gov/biofuels/biodiesel.html.
Newsline - December 2001 Render