01/26/09 Revving Up Oregon's Biodiesel

Revving Up Oregon's Biodiesel. I'm Greg Martin with today's Line On Agriculture. Oregon's foray into renewable fuels takes another step this year with an approaching requirement for diesel sold in the state to contain two percent biodiesel. If you drive a motor vehicle with a diesel engine, here's a heads up: PAGE: "Motorists can expect, probably by the end of the summer or early fall, to have two percent biodiesel in their diesel fuel. Stephanie Page is the Oregon Department of Agriculture's renewable energy specialist. She says the requirement for dealers to sell diesel blended with two percent biodiesel kicks in when the state's production- using materials from Oregon Washington, Idaho, and Montana- reaches five million gallons a year. That will happen later this year. When it happens, motorists should not be concerned. PAGE: "The two percent biodiesel blend would have a point-two difference in energy content versus conventional diesel. Basically no effect on fuel economy there. We don't expect any effect on vehicle performance or gelling point of the diesel. So really, people should not notice any difference. ODA's Measurement Standards Division, which inspects motor fuel quantity and quality, is preparing to conduct an examination program of biodiesel before it is blended at the receiving terminal to assure it meets specifications. In the meantime, the B2 renewable fuel standard should result in cleaner vehicle emissions and support for agricultural producers who grow some of the oil crops used in biodiesel. Clark Cooney of the Oregon Department of Agriculture's Measurement Standards Division says biodiesel is nothing new to Oregon, even though the B2 requirement has not been implemented yet. COONEY: Biodiesel blends are currently being sold in Oregon as it is. Some businesses have chosen to sell blends of biodiesel from five percent, ten percent, twenty percent blends are common. So the product is already out there. People may already be purchasing this product. Page emphasizes that motorists who fill up their vehicles with diesel probably won't notice the difference. PAGE: I think the most important thing for them to know is that they shouldn't see any changes to their fuel economy or their vehicle performance with the two percent biodiesel blend. That's today's Line On Agriculture. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.