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Background
The Maine Chapter
Sierra Club and the Maine Energy Investment Corporation (MEIC), with the
other Maine Partners for Cool Communities, offer green power information to
communities through the Biodiesel for Maine
project (BFM). BFM works with
interested towns, cities, municipal departments and their decision-makers,
to understand how cleaner, renewable fuels, often made in Maine, can help
tackle global warming. Biodiesel is a great way to make a dramatic
reduction in global warming pollution by changing the fuel used by trucks,
buildings, municipal and commercial vehicles.
What is Biodiesel?
Biodiesel is a
renewable fuel made from animal or vegetable oils. Completely mixable with
regular diesel in virtually any blend, it can replace regular fuels to heat
homes or in any diesel-powered engine. Because of its characteristics,
biodiesel is environmentally friendly—pure bio-diesel is less toxic than
table salt and dissolves more easily than sugar.
Biodiesel has many
positive features and increasingly it is available in Maine at close to the
same price as regular diesel. Maine’s first biodiesel manufacturing
facility opened in 2006, and in summer 2006, pumps and home heating
retailers were providing it to more and more Maine customers.
Tailpipe CO2
emissions are roughly the same whether an engine uses biodiesel or petroleum
diesel. Yet, biodiesel is plant-based – the plants that give rise to
biodiesel (soy, canola, cellulosic biomass, other greases) all take CO2 out
of the atmosphere as they grow. On a lifecycle basis, B100 (100% biodiesel)
releases 78% less CO2 (Pahl, Greg) and B20 16% less CO2 into the atmosphere
than regular diesel (NREL).
Replacing regular
diesel with a biodiesel blend benefits air quality in another way, as it
also cuts the release of toxics like sulfur and lead. In short, biodiesel
is a cost-effective way for Cool Communities to take a significant step in
addressing their global warming emissions.
Facts About Petroleum Diesel
It is becoming more widely
recognized that emissions from “regular” diesel are toxic. Diesel emissions
account for
80%
of all the
cancer risks attributable to hazardous air pollutants.
Cancer burden -- According to
Environmental Defense, the rate of cancer-causing diesel emissions in
Cumberland County is
high enough to cause
70 lifetime cases of cancer in Cumberland County alone.
(Environmental Defense Scorecard,
“Hazardous Air Pollutants.”) |
Emissions burden on bus-riding kids --
Exposure to toxic diesel exhaust is
greater inside a school bus than outside. By one calculation, riding a
diesel school bus may pose 23-46 times the cancer risk level considered
significant under federal law (Natural Resources Defense Council and
Coalition for Clean Air study – “No Breathing in the Aisles,” January 2001).
Mutagenicity -- Researchers use
the term “mutagenic” to describe the ability of a toxin to cause cancer. A
National Renewable Energy Lab study found that emissions from pure biodiesel
can be as much as 73.5% less mutagenic (cancer-causing) than diesel
emissions. (NREL study: “Bioassay Analysis of Particulate Matter from a
Diesel Bus Engine Using Various Feedstock Fuels’)
Air toxics -- Air toxics, such as
formaldehyde and benzene, increase the risks of cancer, immune disorders and
reproductive problems. B100 emits 60-90% fewer air toxics. (Union of
Concerned Scientists)
Respiratory problems -- A National
Renewable Energy Lab study estimated that changing Southern California
fleets to B20 would reduce premature death from particulate matter or soot
by 5%. (NREL study: “Impact of Biodiesel Fuels on Air Quality and Human
Health)
The
Benefits of "Greening" Your Diesel Use?
Switching to
biodiesel is a great way to capture both global warming benefits and health
and economic benefits. Switching to biodiesel makes sense for Cool
Communities:
Good for global warming.
Transportation emissions are a major contributor to global warming.
Substituting a biodiesel blend for regular diesel unhooks our fuel supply
from diminishing fossil fuels, while building a local, indigenous and
cleaner fuel supply.
Good for air quality. The burning
of pure biodiesel releases 50% less particulate matter or soot and burns
more efficiently, leaving fewer unburned hydrocarbons and therefore less
carbon monoxide emissions (Union of Concerned Scientists). It also has few
aromatics and is lead- and sulfur-free (Pahl, Greg).
Good for engines. Adding even a
small amount of biodiesel to an existing diesel fuel will add fuel lubricity
and help engine parts remain cleaner and last longer. Fleets using
biodiesel often find that they can change the oil less frequently, saving on
maintenance costs.
Good for workers. Biodiesel in
any blend cuts the biting smell of regular diesel, often reducing the
headaches experienced by those working closely with the fuel. In addition,
because biodiesel has a higher flashpoint than regular diesel. This lower
combustibility means that biodiesel –unlike regular diesel –is not
considered a hazardous material.
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Making the Switch to Biodiesel
MEIC will work with
any Cool Community to map out the best way to implement a switch to
biodiesel. Some transition steps:
Competitive prices. Since fall
2005, biodiesel blend costs are very close to regular diesel costs. With
more retailers and distributors now offering biodiesel, Cool Communities can
request bids from several sources for their supply.
Storage. Fleets and municipal
users can phase in the use of biodiesel by mixing a biodiesel blend into
existing diesel storage facilities. Because biodiesel blends so seamlessly
with regular diesel, there is no need to set aside dedicated storage
separate from regular diesel tanks.
Warrantees. At lower blends, the
fuel specifications of biodiesel blends are virtually indistinguishable from
regular diesel. Most engine manufacturers allow B5 (5% biodiesel, 95%
regular diesel) use and many are currently testing higher blends. To avoid
any issues, however, start your pilot test with engines no longer under
warrantee.
Transition issues. Biodiesel
blends have slightly higher solvent properties. As a result, older engines,
particularly those with considerable accumulated oil sludge may require
more frequent filter changes during introduction of biodiesel. With time,
however, the biodiesel will clean out all such sludge.
Learn
More
Biodiesel sources MEIC maintains
a handout at www.renewmaine.org/BFM.htm listing Maine sources of biodiesel
for transport and heat.
Introductory presentations MEIC
offers an informative introductory presentation to any Maine Cool
Community. This generic presentation is meant as an introduction to
biodiesel for decision-makers.
Technical information The
Chewonki Foundation of Wiscasset has produced its own biodiesel since 2002,
and now uses 2-3,000 gallons per year, fueling its 15-vehicle fleet and
heating several buildings. Fleet managers and others wishing a more
technical presentation on biodiesel may visit Chewonki for a tour of their
Biodiesel shed.
References:
Pahl, Greg.
Biodiesel: Growing a
New Energy Economy. Chelsea Greean
Publishing. January 2005.
National Biodiesel Board. <www.biodiesel.org/>
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