Biodiesel - Available Now Around Puget Sound
Reducing the use of petroleum fuels in our vehicles, boats, and homes saves energy and reduces the environmental problems associated with its use. One alternative fuel option available is biodiesel. It’s clean, green and readily available in the Puget Sound area!
What is Biodiesel?
Biodiesel is a diesel-like fuel derived from vegetable oil or other renewable resources. It can be made from soy or canola oil, waste cooking oil, and even animal fats. Biodiesel is made by combining the vegetable oil with alcohol [usually methanol but occasionally ethanol] in the presence of a catalyst through a process called transeterification.
Biodiesel derived from waste cooking oil is arguably the greenest liquid fuel available because the primary ingredient is a post-consumer waste product. Most biodiesel today, however, is "virgin biodiesel" produced domestically from soy or canola crops. Both recycled and virgin biodiesel are being produced to meet ASTM standard D 6751, approved in December 2001. This new standard, in the works since 1994 by the ASTM Biodiesel Standards Task force, for the first time provides a consistent biodiesel standard. Manufacturers can now design equipment with biodiesel in mind!
Some biodiesel today is mixed with petroleum diesel. The most common mixture is B20, a mixture of 20% biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel. B100, or 100% biodiesel (sometimes called "neat biodiesel") is being used very successfully by some but is not as widely recommended, due to concerns about cold weather performance, equipment compatibility, and cost.
BENEFITS OF BIODIESEL
Environmental Benefits
In 2000, biodiesel became the only alternative fuel in the country to have successfully completed the EPA-required Tier I and Tier II health effects testing under the Clean Air Act. These independent tests conclusively demonstrate biodiesels' significant reduction of virtually all regulated emissions, and showed biodiesel does not pose a threat to human health.
Biodiesel contains no sulfur or aromatics, and use of biodiesel in a conventional diesel engine results in substantial reduction of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and particulate matter. A US Department of Energy study showed that the production and use of biodiesel, compared to petroleum diesel, resulted in a 78.5% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. Moreover, biodiesel has a positive energy balance. For every unit of energy needed to produce a gallon of biodiesel, 3.24 units of energy are gained.
Energy Security Benefits
With agricultural commodity prices approaching record lows, it is clear that more can be done to utilize domestic surpluses of vegetable oils while enhancing our energy security. Because biodiesel can be manufactured using existing industrial production capacity, and used with conventional equipment, it provides substantial opportunity to immediately address our energy security issues.
Economic Benefits
Increased utilization of renewable bio-fuels results in significant micro-economic benefits to both the urban and rural sectors, and the balance of trade. A study completed in 2001, by the US Department of Agriculture, found that an average annual increase of the equivalent of 200 million gallons of soy-based biodiesel demand would boost total crop cash receipts by $5.2 billion cumulatively by 2010, resulting in an average net farm income increase by $300 million per year. The price for a bushel of soybeans would increase by an average of $0.17 annually during the 10 year period.
Where can I purchase biodiesel in the Puget Sound area?
Biodiesel is available nationwide. It can be purchased directly from biodiesel producers and marketers, petroleum distributors, or at a handful of public pumps throughout the nation. Locally many convenient options do exist. When planning a trip refer to www.biodiesel.org/buyingbiodiesel/ to determine fueling locations along your route.
Dr. Dan's Alternative Fuel Werks
912 N.W. 50th Street, Seattle, WA public access by arrangement only.
(206) 783-5728 www.fuelwerks.com
Chevron
1607 145th Pl. SE, Bellevue, WA 98007
5am-11pm - sells B-100
(425) 641-1531
Elliot Bay Fuel Dock
2601 W. Marina Pl # K, Seattle, WA 98199
Summer 8am-8pm; Winter 8am-5pm
(206) 282-8424
West Bay Marine Services
210 West Bay Dr. NW, Olympia, WA 98502
B100 only as an "additive"
M-Sat 8:30am-5:00pm
(360) 943-2080
Does biodiesel cost more than regular diesel?
Commercially available biodiesel is more expensive then petroleum diesel or #2 heating oil. However, since diesel vehicles are 30%-35% more fuel efficient then gasoline vehicles, the net cost may be the same or less than that of a conventional vehicle.
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Biodiesel: An Alternative Fuel Available Now!