Correcting Misinformation about Biodiesel
One of the most disconcerting problems in trying to promote biodiesel
is the coverage of biodiesel in the media. Frequently articles concentrate
on pressing energy concerns while listing expensive, impractical
and long term solutions like Hydrogen, Hybrids or LPG. Biodiesel
is here and represents an immediate step which can be taken to decrease
smog and air pollution.
Some selected samples of letters to various editors:
Dear Editor(s),
Regarding your recent article entitled, "Fill it Up, Hold
the Chips", it was very misleading and vague and could give
the general public the idea that you can just pour grease into a
diesel vehicle and be fine. There is a profound difference between
dumping filtered grease into a fuel tank and refining grease to
turn it into biodiesel. Please be aware that you neglected to make
a key distinction between "grease cars" and vehicles that
actually burn biodiesel.
The former must use a modified set up that includes a second fuel
tank to hold filtered, straight vegetable oil. The start up procedure
includes burning traditional petro-based diesel until the engine
is warm enough to switch over to the secondary tank. The procedure
is then reversed prior to shutting down for the night, or you risk
subjecting all of your fuel lines to a Crisco-like fiasco.
The latter is a completely stock, unmodified, production, diesel
engine running on any concentration of vegetable oil that has had
the glycerin removed from it. As long as you do not exceed B20 during
severe winter weather, absolutely no other change in consumer behavior
is required.
There is a fundamental difference between the two, and in this
information age the responsibility is incumbent on you to at least
google the subject before going to print. You will come off with
more authority and credibility, and may avoid spreading misinformation,
a problem that is seen in the media more and more these days.
That said, it is important in these times that the general public
be constantly informed and educated about viable alternatives to
petroleum fuel and I appreciate your attempt to do this. If you'd
like more information, may I humbly recommend www.biodieselnow.com.
Sincerely,
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Dear editors,
I would like to ask why your recent article entitled Coal in a
Nice Shade of Green never mentioned biodiesel or ethanol. I realize
that the main focus of this article was to inform your readers of
potential green uses of coal, but since the authors took the time
to mention other emerging alternatives it struck me as a monumental
omission to ignore these two additional fuel-types, particularly
since their adoption is increasing at a very significant pace in
our fleets and trucking industry! Private consumers like myself
have already been burning biodiesel for a few years now in completely
stock Volkswagens that have the TDI engine option (turbo direct
injection diesel). No modification is required to do this, and since
no modification to traditional diesel fuel tanks is required at
our filling stations either, the infrastructure is already in place
- a MAJOR stumbling block to other alternatives. And since it is
completely mixable, concentrations can be ramped up as supply increases.
Surely this is something that you are already aware of and simply
neglected to mention!
Just ramping up a supply of biodiesel that would be sufficient
to power the US trucking industry with B20 (20% biodiesel; 80% petroleum
based diesel) would SIGNIFICANTLY address some of our pressing energy
needs, not to mention co2 output - all without touching Alaska!
Please consider informing your readers of this development. One
of the most significant inhibiting factors of this market is the
fact that people simply have not heard about this fuel, yet in my
experience practically everyone I talk to about it 'gets' it. Do
you?
Serve your readers.
Thank you
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Re: Biodiesel, Made From Soybeans, Is Catching On, June 12, 2005
Dear Editors,
Biodiesel is the best alternative to using petroleum based diesel
fuels. Americans produce every drop of biodiesel used in this country
from American products. Although biodiesel may have a slightly higher
purchase price for the consumer, the fuel provides many positive
returns. Every gallon of biodiesel used reduces our trade deficit
and our dependence on imported oils. As biodiesel becomes readily
available at the pump, the US will not have to contemplate drilling
in sensitive places like the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge. Other
benefits include increased mileage, reduction in greenhouse gasses
and the satisfaction that comes from using a fuel that is CO2 neutral
and made from 100% renewable resources.
Two statements in the article require clarification.
Production of biodiesel does not require the use of food grade
oils. Most commonly the oil used is a byproduct of meal production,
is used restaurant cooking oils or is grown as non-edible oils.
Although there is some pollution associated with growing crops for
biodiesel, only one-third of the energy is used to produce biodiesel
compared to petroleum fuels. The energy return for biodiesel is
3.2 to 1 compared to .83 to 1 for petroleum fuels.
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