Leading the charge on biodiesel - Looking forward to Earth Day

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Leading the charge on biodiesel - Looking forward to Earth Day - Printable Version - April 21, 2006 - 3 Comments

Do you remember Marty McFly and Emmett Brown stuffing banana peels, soda pop, and food scraps into the fuel tank of that sweet Delorean in Back to the Future II? Just how far off was that vision? It might not be as simple as the movie, but that vision is not too far off. Today’s biodiesel is made from refining plant and animal oils into usable diesel fuel. For the last few years the city has been using 20% biodiesel (B20) in its fleet of diesel-powered trucks and equipment. Now the Water Bureau is taking one more step forward. Starting as early as June, the Bureau will be running 99% biodiesel (B99) through its in-town diesel-powered vehicles and equipment (except for back up generators). Sandy River and Headworks will use 50% biodiesel (B50).

During FY 06-07 the bureau will likely purchase around 75,000 gallons of biodiesel for use in about 150 pieces of equipment and vehicles. Using biodiesel not only reduces the Bureau’s reliance on foreign sources of oil, it also helps provide an extra boost to an emerging industry in Oregon.

"With a fleet the size of the Water Bureau’s, we have a unique opportunity to catalyze the emergence of alternative energy sources in our community," said Commissioner Randy Leonard, "A by-product of this effort will be the opportunity to begin bridging the urban/rural divide in this State by partnering with Oregon farmers to produce the crops that will fuel this effort."

Using B99 will also reduce the Bureau’s total Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions by 4-5%, bringing us half way toward achieving the reduction goals established in the City’s Global Warming Action Plan. Biodiesel is the most environmentally friendly and economically viable diesel fuel out there, and it’s great to see the Bureau make such a strong commitment.

The Bureau is developing additional communications to inform people about the benefits and challenges of using higher blends of biodiesel. Stay tuned!

Don Holmes

Sustainability Coordinator

Comments

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Posted by: Randy Leonard - April 21, 2006 12:22 PM

Outstanding.

The Water Bureau is on the cutting edge on a number of fronts and I could not be prouder to be associated with such a progressive group of men and women.

We are setting the standard!

Posted by: Craig - May 10, 2006 11:51 AM

Many say we will see $3.50/gal this summer. If you factor in Iran, who knows how high it could go. Everyone knows America MUST get off the oil. After September 11, 2001 I expected our President to call on Americans to GET OFF THE OIL. I was expecting a speech like the one JFK gave that motivated us to reach for the moon. As you know, this never happened. Eventually I realized that the only way this is going to happen is for us to do it ourselves. To that end I created this idea and have been trying to make it a reality..

The EPA is offering a research grant opportunity that I believe is a perfect fit for this idea. I have sent an e-mail to a hand picked list of university professors who have experience with government research projects. I’m looking to form a research team to apply for the EPA grant, conduct a social-economic experiment and surveys to determine to what extent the American public will support it, project the economic potential of WPH, and identify logistical, social and political obstacles as well as opportunities.

All government grants are awarded based on merit of the proposed research. I believe WPH has merit but your help is needed to verify it. You can help by posting your feedback. Let the professors and the EPA know what you think about WPH. Do you think this idea is worth pursuing? We need to know if Americans will support a plan like this.

Do you have any ideas to improve the plan?

Share any and all of your thoughts.

Tell your friends and family about this Blog post and ask them to post their thoughts on WPH

http://wepayhalf.org

Thank you

Craig

Posted by: chris davis - March 13, 2008 07:02 PM

want to start making biodiesel for commercial fishing boats using between 100 and 400 gals per day for each boat , a fleet of 60 boats Chatham ma.W have cape cod with many fried food resturants lots of veg. oil available , the resturants are payng to have this oil removed.
I fished for 31 years abd was hurt in a crash ,I now own 2 fishing vessels ,spent 90000 dollars on fuel last year want to start a biodiesel factory to give relief to the fishing fleet and save the U.S.from oil death.

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