Biodiesel offers renewable fuel alternative

May 16, 2004

By Alex Breitler

Right now, you'd have to drive to Ukiah, Berkeley or Medford, Ore., to fill up on biodiesel.

But if one group of enthusiasts has its way, the vegetable-based alternative fuel might one day flow from pumps here in the north state.

The Shasta Energy Group and Redding-based Cross Petroleum are gauging public interest in biodiesel, which supporters say is cleaner for the environment and reduces U.S. dependence on foreign oil.

Questions remain about where and when a biodiesel fueling station might be built. The idea is just now sputtering to life.

But organizers like the sound of biodiesel, which might be particularly useful in the north state.

"There are so many diesel-fired furnaces and stoves up here, and half the vehicles on the road are trucks," said Thomas Deerfield of the energy group, based in Mount Shasta. "Siskiyou County is probably higher per capita diesel truck ownership than anywhere."

Biodiesel is gleaned from soybean oil, corn oil or other crops. The fuel is refined with alcohol and can be used in any old diesel engine, with only a few modifications or none at all.

It contains no petroleum, but can be blended with regular diesel to make the endeavor more affordable.

There are 200 retail pumps nationwide, most of them built in the past two years, according to the nonprofit National Biodiesel Board. Most are in the Midwest. Eighteen are in California, many in the San Francisco Bay area or Southern California.

Whether the north state's scattered population would provide enough demand for biodiesel remains to be seen, said Dennis Cross, vice president of Cross Petroleum.

Still, he said his company is "actively" looking at the possibility.

"For the customers that are environmentally sensitive, it's a good recycling tool," Cross said. "I think it's going to be difficult for some customers to justify the cost."

John Tannaci and his wife, Kirsten Olson, plan to give biodiesel a whirl this summer while harvesting peaches, cherries, plums, apricots and mixed vegetables on their 20-acre farm near Grenada.

The idea of a renewable fuel source rather than fossil fuel reliance fascinated Tannaci, who's been farming the land for 15 years.

"They're not making dinosaurs anymore, but you can keep growing soybeans," he said.

Plus, his wife said, it's a way for farmers to support other farmers.

The couple plans to purchase 270 gallons of biodiesel from an Oregon supplier. It'll cost $2.50 a gallon, compared with about $2.25 a gallon for regular diesel. They won't use pure biodiesel it's likely to coagulate in the Siskiyou County cold but instead will mix it with standard diesel.

The only difference Tannaci expects next month when he fires up his tractors and delivery trucks for the harvest season is exhaust that smells like french fries.

As for the north state fueling station, Deerfield said there's enough interest to start an informal co-op, but that commercial biodiesel would require massive amounts of regulatory paperwork.

Still, he said the energy group is hoping to attract interest from diesel consumers.

"I'm sure it's not that far away" from catching on, he said.

Reporter Alex Breitler can be reached at 225-8344 or at abreitler@redding.com.

Courtsey of the Redding Record Searchlight