Energy: Biodiesel fans show their go-power

Energy: Biodiesel fans show their go-power

By Lewis Taylor
The Register-Guard
March 3, 2005

SALEM - Carolyn Stein, 35, of Eugene drove a biodiesel- powered Volkswagen Passat to the state Capitol on Wednesday to make a point. "It (biodiesel) is not just for subversives," Stein said. "I'm a stay-at-home mom with two kids."

Joined by her children, husband and a handful of other Eugene bio fuel advocates and their vegetable-guzzling cars, Stein led a caravan to the base of the Capitol steps, where they joined other like-minded Oregonians for an event called Bio fuels Lobby Day.

"We're going to see if we can get legislative issues passed to help support the use and production of biodiesel in the state," said Stein's husband, Howard, a biodiesel user since 2002.

	Carolyn Stein's Volkswagen led a procession of biodiesel-powered cars from Eugene to Salem on Wednesday to lobby for bipartisan legislation that would create subsidies for the use of biodiesel and ethanol. Advocates say the fuel is better for the environment and could help the Oregon economy. Rhett Ashley was part of the caravan to Salem on Wednesday, driving his biodiesel-powered Volkswagen. Use of the vegetable-based fuel is growing. Photos: Paul Carter / The Register-Guard

Just as important as the scores of people who came from throughout the state were the vehicles they came in: shiny Volkswagens, hazy old Mercedes Benzes, delivery trucks, utility vehicles, a John Deere tractor and what looked to be a VW Rabbit covered in Astroturf. The window signs and bumper stickers were hard to ignore.

"Biodiesel for the People"

"Grow your own fuel"

"50 mpg on nuts and beans"

Wednesday's event was staged to encourage the passage of a series of biofuel bills with bipartisan backing. The Steins met with state Sen. Bill Morissette, D-Springfield, while other biodiesel backers met with their representatives.

The new bills, which are being co- sponsored by Rep. Jeff Kropf, R- Sublimity, and Rep. Jackie Dingfelder, D- Portland, include provisions to subsidize the use of both biodiesel - a renewable, biodegradable and nearly nontoxic fuel that can be used with or instead of diesel - and ethanol, a cleaner-burning renewable fuel that can be mixed with gasoline. The bills would provide tax exemptions and incentives for biofuel production plants along with tax reductions and credits for farmers who grow biofuel crops. They also would involve renewable fuel standards for the state.

"I would like to see more state support for (biodiesel)," said Barbara Bochnovic of Eugene who joined the caravan in her biodiesel-fueled VW Jetta wagon. "If there could be a tax rebate, it becomes a lot more affordable for a lot of people."

Biodiesel users pay anywhere from $2.50 to $3.50 a gallon depending on the source and the concentration of their fuel.

Biodiesel works in conventional diesel cars and trucks with little or no modification. The fuel is available in pure form, known as B100, or mixed with conventional diesel in varying ratios. A popular blend, B20, is 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent diesel.

One of the first things many people notice about biodiesel is the smell, which is often compared to french fries or popcorn.

"Somebody says it smells like doughnuts, but I wouldn't go that far," said Rhett Ashley of Eugene, who bought a Jetta wagon after reading about the Steins in a local newspaper.

Wednesday's event featured biodiesel displays with free samples of the amber-colored fuel; informational booths run by biofuel collectives from Bend, Corvallis and Portland; and biofuel supporters such as Mike Haynes, a window cleaner from Portland who drives a 2004 Sprinter van that runs on B20 biodiesel.

"I would like to see more incentive for Oregon growers to start growing," said Haynes, a member of a Portland co-operative that is planning to produce its own biodiesel. "We need to have more incentives."

Convincing lawmakers that biofuels are viable is one thing, but in Eugene there are signs that biodiesel already is catching on. SeQuential Biofuels, a homegrown distributor/marketer, has been bringing biodiesel to Eugene with the help of Tyree Oil. SeQuential has about 500 Lane County customers using B100. There's a local car share running on biodiesel. The city of Eugene, the University of Oregon, Lane County and the Oregon Country Fair all are using vehicles fueled by biodiesel. Most recently, Rexius/Grant's Landscape Services began running its entire fleet of trucks and cars on B20.

"It just really became apparent that the time was right," said Jason Giles, Rexius' director of sustainability. "We really feel that long term, this is the way to go. ... I think we're going to continue to see fuel prices that are quite high."

In addition to the obvious environmental benefits of a renewable, biodegradable fuel, supporters say biodiesel lessens dependence on foreign oil and could become a potential boon to the Oregon economy. They envision a day when Oregon farmers will grow the plants to produce it, Oregon refineries will render it into fuel and Oregon factories will make plastics and other exportable goods from biodiesel.

"The whole thing makes sense across conservative and liberal boundaries. You can be from all walks of life and be excited about this," said Tim Reed, sales manager for Tyree Oil.

"It's great for air quality and it's great if you can grow it in Oregon."

Most of the commercially available biodiesel is imported from the Midwest and made from soybean oil. Biodiesel can be manufactured from a variety of different sources including rapeseed, mustard seed and even reclaimed cooking oil from restaurants.

Because Oregon's climate is not right for growing soybeans, supporters say the state's best option would be to rotate mustard seed or rapeseed with current cash crops such as wheat and grass seed.

"We're not talking about replacing petroleum overnight, we're talking about what will be a gradual change to a more renewable resource," said Ian Hill, a managing principal and co-founder of SeQuential Biofuels.

Copyright © 2005 The Register-Guard