By Heidi Paek, July 6, 2006

Biodiesel fuel is the fastest growing alternative fuel in America. Made from common crops like soybeans and sunflowers, biodiesel supports the farming industry and creates jobs. By keeping our fuel-buying dollars at home, biodiesel reduces our dependence on foreign oil and increases our national security. Considering that $475,000 is spent each minute on foreign oil, biodiesel represents a different choice, and a more patriotic one.

Biodiesel is also operationally superior to standard oil fuels. A better lubricant than regular diesel, it results in less engine wear while giving users a smoother, quieter ride. Biodiesel engines emit almost none of the greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. Biodiesel is non-toxic, safe to handle, and can be used in standard diesel engines in either its pure form or as a blend with regular diesel.

Proof of its effectiveness is easy to find. Nationwide, more than 600 major fleets use biodiesel commercially, and nearly 800 retail filling stations make it available to the public. To meet the rising demand, U.S. production has skyrocketed from 25 million gallons in 2004 to an estimated 150 million gallons this year. Sixty-five processing facilities currently make biodiesel, and another 49 facilities are under construction.

Could Ipswich be a part of this growing trend toward safer, cleaner, more independent fuel sources? There are plenty of applications. Each of the diesel powered engines in our homes and businesses - the cars, boats, trucks, buses, construction equipment, generators, and oil furnaces we use - could run on biodiesel fuel with minimal, if any, modifications. Leading the way toward greater use, some local individuals have already made the change.

Paul Wallace of Topsfield Road and Bill Graham of Ward Street make their own biodiesel using recycled vegetable oil from local restaurants. Wallace blends his batch with between 50% and 80% regular diesel. Commuting sixty miles per day in his 2002 Volkswagen Jetta TDI, he consistently records 50 miles-per-gallon.

Graham, a committed recycler, prefers a higher ratio of biodiesel in his tank - sometimes 100%. He gets at least 50 miles per gallon from his 2003 Volkswagen Golf TDI. Equally significant to improved mileage are the cost savings achieved by using biodiesel. By using waste fry oil that restaurants would otherwise discard, the production cost is only about sixty cents per gallon.

Another example is John Soininen of County Street who modified his 1985 Mercedes Benz to run on 100% vegetable oil. Since he uses petroleum only to warm the engine and flush the fuel injectors, he calculates a remarkable 194 miles per gallon. Using this highly efficient engine, Soininen only needs to stop for gas about once every three months.

Though these men have made producing biodiesel their hobby, Wallace concedes, "I'd rather pull up to the pump and buy biodiesel at a station. I'd like to support growth of the industry here in Ipswich." And herein lies the problem - biodiesel is not readily available in Essex County. And it isn't likely to become available until suppliers and gas station owners are assured of adequate demand.

In an effort to draw attention to the economic, environmental, and social benefits of using biodiesel fuel, and to encourage more drivers to use it, some of the biodiesel users in Ipswich will be featured (along with their cars) at The Green Car and Transportation Festival, a free event at the Ipswich Town Hall on Saturday, July 29th. The Festival is sponsored in part by Burke Oil, a regional leader in fuel distribution, including many grades of biodiesel. Burke Oil will have an exhibit at the Festival and representatives will be on hand to answer questions.

The Green Car and Transportation Festival is a program hosted by Ipswich Citizens Advocating Renewable Energy (ICARE). The public is invited to learn more about cost efficient, cleaner ways to travel, to see the newest innovations in automotive technology, and to sign the waiting list for biodiesel in Ipswich. More about the festival is posted at www.IpswichRenewableEnergy.org.

Heidi Paek is a freelance grant writer and an ICARE volunteer. ICARE meets at 7:30 pm on the second Wednesday of the month at Town Hall.