energy.agwired.com

A column entitled “Should America invest in bio diesel in a big way?” debates the merits of making investments into biodiesel… and the conclusion seems to be a big positive endorsement of putting greenbacks into the development of green fuel.

Here are some of the highlights posted on Helium.com:

-Benefits of biodiesel-

Biodiesel is a clean and renewable fuel to other energy sources like petroleum, which means using it reduces air pollution and relieves fossil fuels reliance. Jatropha nut has been an increasing favourite raw material over others for biodiesel production because the plant can survive in tough conditions and it is inedible. Thus, it will not compete with other crops for valuable fertile land and the production will not be at the deprivation of food supplies. There are developing new technologies, such as, enzymes usage to speed up the production rate, removing the extreme condition requirements…

According to a United Nations official, biofuels like biodiesel is expected to provide for 25% of the world’s energy needs (Paul, 2007). Although the use of biodiesel locally is still in its infancy, biodiesel is projected to serve ready markets in Asia, Europe and United States. The European Union has mandated that 2% of petrol-based diesel must be mixed with biodiesel (Seng, 2007). There are plans to augment biodiesel blend to 5% in South Korea and to tighten diesel sulphur standards in Japan (Chan, 2007). Already, biodiesel blends is compulsory in Thailand while India wants to substitute 5% of the diesel consumption with biodiesel (Mukherji and Ramachandran, 2006). As such, the emergent biodiesel market is estimated to be worth US$1 trillion by 2020 (Wong, 2006).

But not everything’s perfect and the article offers caution:

-Uncertainty in biodiesel business-

Rising prices of the biodiesel supplies and decreasing diesel price is shaking investors’ confidence. Feedstock’s costs comprise 80% of biodiesel production and investment analysts have stated that palm oil diesel can remain lucrative only if palm oil, a raw material for biodiesel, is below US$450/ton (Foo, 2007). From 2006, the price of palm oil has increased to US$556/ton (Thukral, 2007). Moreover, regular diesel prices have dropped by 23% (Reuters, 2006)

In conclusion, the article encourages America to invest heavily in biodiesel because of the push worldwide for the cleaner fuel and favorable conditions in this country to make it happen. It says hedging investments can help diminish problems caused by rising biodiesel and feedstock prices.

As we mentioned here before, one of the best ways to make biodiesel more mainstream is to get it into the mainstream of the trucking industry in this country.

This story on eTrucker.com says Iowa-based Renewable Energy Group (REG) is offering a service to truck stops across the country to make biodiesel more available:

REG’s Retail Biodiesel Blending Program, announced at the NATSO Show in Orlando, Fla., offers truck-stop operators both biodiesel injection equipment and a regular supply of high-quality biodiesel.

The new service “offers a tremendous incentive for truck stops to adopt a biodiesel blend program while ensuring their customers have access to the highest-quality biodiesel available on the market today,” said Gary Haer, REG vice president of sales and marketing.

REG is also keeping up its end of the supply line as it has seven biodiesel plants in production, three under construction, and another two being developed.

Biodiesel could save Americans billions of dollars, while making the country cleaner… that according to a spokesman for a Mississippi-based biodiesel manufacturer.

Dr. Richard Craven, of Mississippi-based Universal Bioenergy, tells AllHeadlineNews.com that the U.S. is going through 40 billion gallons of pertoleum worth $100 billion a year in the form of diesel:

But Craven says the U.S. can produce biodiesel as an alternative to diesel and purchasing this locally “can stimulate the economy by keeping our U.S. dollars in U.S. pockets.”

Craven acknowledges that an increase in the usage of biodiesel would profit Universal Bioenergy. But he points out that its benefits to other companies and industries, as well as to the environment, far outstrip those of the biofuel manufacturers.

He adds that since biodiesel contains no sulfur, it burns much cleaner than regular diesel and produces much less carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and other hydrocarbon emissions. In addition, the plant feedstocks to make biodiesel help clean up carbon emissions.

Colorado Springs, Colorado has been picked as the top municipal biodiesel fleet in the nation, according to Government Fleet Magazine.

The Colorado Springs Gazette says the city beat out San Francisco and Austin, Texas for the honor:

The magazine also awarded the city 17th in its overall rankings of public sector fleets using alternative fuels.

Since 2003, more than 2,400 pieces of city equipment have run on biodiesel, consuming almost 1.6 million gallons of B20 biodiesel. That is the equivalent of more than 5 million pounds of carbon dioxide not making it into the atmosphere, or 491 passenger cars not driving for one year.