12/27/06 Biodiesel workshop

There's a workshop in the Treasure Valley on January 31st that's going to focus on biodiesel production. As part of the Harvesting Clean Energy Conference the University of Idaho is conducting a one day workshop that will look at farm crops and how they're processed into fuel. U of I's Jon Van Gerpin says biodiesel burns cleaner and has better lubricating qualities than today's diesel fuel. VAN GERPIN "They tend to cause extra wear in the fuel injection system so those fuels have to have some sort of an additive to restore the lubricity, the lubricating property. With just as little as two percent biodiesel in the regular diesel fuel you can restore all of that lubricating ability for the fuel." The University of Idaho has been deeply involved in biodiesel research for decades whether its canola, rapeseed or mustard. VAN GERPIN "You know we can even add to that things like tallow that comes from beef operations, restaurant frying oils, things like that can be put into biodiesel." "Biodiesel in the Northwest," January 31st in Garden City and if you register at harvestcleanenergy.org before the end of the year you get a reduced rate for the conference. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott