Another city seeing the benefits of biodiesel. We all know the benefits of biodiesel:
• Biodiesel is a clean-burning alternative fuel produced by domestic products such as grease, animal fat and soybeans
• The fuel can be used as a pure blend or mixed with any percentage of petroleum
• Biodiesel has no sulfur or aromatic compounds
• B20 works in any diesel engine.
• Increased lubricity which means potentially less damage to the engine and quieter running engine.
• Less oil is needed from foreign sources.
• Help American farmers.
The city is currently in the research stage of the switch which would initially be $13,000 and affect 18 vehicles for Forest Acres. Cayce, Aiken, and Rock Hill are cities in South Carolina that have already made the switch. I’m glad the article mentions that the issue of biodiesel use is more of an awareness thing instead of being some experiment where the user has to worry about destroying their engine. Although anyone looking into using biodiesel should probably look on the internet at least for other users, that have their car, to verify it won’t hurt their seals(manufacturers will most likely say not to just to cover their arse). The city of Columbia is currently still experimenting on two trucks before possibly rolling it out to almost 300 diesel vehicles. Manufacturers are soon going to be running biodiesel in some of their cars from the factory so that should lay most worry to rest.
He also mentions lack of availability as a reason that the use of biodiesel isn’t as widespread. I fully agree with that one. Their is only one station that I know of within about a 25 mile radius of me. I’ve been working on a section of the site to be user updatable where you can post the cheapest diesel you can find and the location of biodiesel stations. I’ll need everyones help for keeping things current, just because of the sheer magnitude.