A biodegradable diesel fuel substitute that can be used in most diesel engines without any modifications to the engine. Biodiesel is derived from natural oils like soybean oil. Biodiesel can be combined with any amount of petroleum based diesel fuel for use in non-modified diesel engines.

TECHNOLOGY
A fat or oil is reacted with an alcohol, like methanol, in the presence of a catalyst to produce glycerine (a by-product) and biodiesel. This normally slow process is sped up by the use of excess methanol. The catalyst is usually sodium or potassium hydroxide which has already been mixed with the methanol. Biodiesel can be blended with petroleum based diesel fuel at levels of 2%, 20%, 99% and 100%. Blends that are 2% or 20% biodiesel can be used in vehicle with no engine modifications. Biodiesel is not the same thing as raw vegetable oil.

BIODIESEL FEEDSTOCKS

• Yellow grease: This oil byproduct may be filtered and re-used by restaurants but eventually • it will have to be disposed of. Issues associated with disposal of this particular oil have led to its use in biodiesel production.

• Canola: A variety of the mustard plant that has very high oil seed content and grows in cold dry climates.

• Jatropha: Grown in India and is relatively inexpensive. This plant also has very high oil seed content.

• Algae: Discovered to have very high oil content. It has been estimated that algae have the potential to produce 10-15 times more oil per acre than any other known crop.1

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
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.2 These independent tests conclusively demonstrated biodiesel's significant reduction of virtually all regulated emissions, and showed that biodiesel does not pose a threat to human health. A U.S. Department of Energy study showed that the production and use of biodiesel, compared to petroleum diesel, resulted in a 78% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.3

BENEFITS
Increased utilization of renewable biofuels results in significant economic benefits to both the urban and rural sectors, and the U.S. balance of trade. In addition to being a domestically produced, renewable alternative fuel for diesel engines, biodiesel has positive performance attributes, which may make it a preferred blending stock with ultra-low sulfur diesel.

DISADVANTAGES
There are concerns with biodiesel's so-called "gelling" effect that occurs in cold weather. Pure biodiesel will freeze up more easily than standard diesel fuel. While it might be more efficient to use a lower percentage blend of biodiesel, the cost becomes higher for low percentage blends than for pure diesel fuel. The use of biofuels in automobiles also has the potential to void the car's warranty. Check with your manufacturer before considering biofuel as an alternative to gasoline or diesel.

VALLEY ACCESS POTENTIAL
Central Valley farmers are working to grow canola on selenium contaminated land, which is toxic to water fowl. Canola can absorb selenium as it grows. There are currently only a handful of Valley retail fueling stations offering biodiesel products.

For more information on biodiesel visit the U.S. Dept. of Energy at www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/fuels/biodiesel.html

1 Biodiesel Industries: www.biodieselindustries.com (last accessed April 22, 2009)
2 US Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry Committee: http://agriculture.senate.gov/Hearings/hearings.cfm?hearingid=2726&witnessId=6451 (last accessed April 22, 2009)
3 US DOE http://www1.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/pdfs/basics/jtb_biodiesel.pdf (last accessed April 22, 2009)