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Supporters of Soybean Biodiesel Fuel Meet at Jackson, Tenn., Research Center

Posted on: Friday, 1 July 2005, 12:00 CDT

Jul. 1--Soybean oil has helped power Glynn Griffin's vehicles for two years without any problems.

The Union City farmer said soybean biodiesel fuel works as well for him as diesel.

"You can't tell a bit of difference, my equipment runs just as well as before," he said.

Griffin was among about 50 supporters of the soybean biodiesel fuel, B20, who gathered Thursday at the Western Tennessee Research and Education Center in Jackson, Tenn.

At the convention, plans were announced to educate the business community and the public about the benefits of B20.

Spearheading the promotion is Jackson-based Panther Energy Co. Panther, along with Tennessee Department of Transportation, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and others in the farming industry, has been working together to have soybean based fuel readily available for West Tennessee, said Panther president Bob Campbell.

Soybean oil has several advantages over crude oil -- it is cleaner for the environment, benefits area farmers (West Tennessee produces 1.2 million acres of soybeans a year) and lessens U.S. dependence on foreign oil, said state Sen. Don McLeary, D-Jackson, who helped pass a bill offering 80 percent funding to fueling stations that move to biodiesel fuel.

Soybean oil blended with petroleum fuel creates a biodiesel fuel that can run in most diesel engines and reduces carbon dioxide emissions, making it an important way to improve air quality, said Tracy Carter, TDEC senior director for air resources.

"The use of alternative fuel plays a role in maintaining air quality and protecting public health," Carter said.

Panther plans to open the first biodiesel fueling station in the area within in the next few months -- a move company officials and other supporters hope will lead to other companies using biodiesel fuel.

Biodiesel can be produced at a cost close to the price of diesel fuel, and through a better process, said Parks Wells of the Tennessee Soybean Foundation.

Soybean oil is renewable and can be processed quickly, while crude oil isn't renewable and can take millions of years to process.

One challenge is that the amount of soybean oil can cover only a small fraction of crude oil consumption. While using soybean-based biodiesel won't stop the need for crude oil, it is one step to slowing the dependence, Wells said.

"Biodiesel fuel is not the only answer," he said. "But it is an answer."

As the promotion of biodiesel fuel continues, Griffin said it's already popular among the farmers in Obion County.

"It's gaining gravity," he said. "I'd say half of our county's farmers are using it."

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Copyright (c) 2005, The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, Tenn.

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Source: The Commercial Appeal

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