`Biodiesel' method uses soybeans to produce fuel

Tennessee is known for horses, whiskey, music and rifles.

What about Tennessee diesel fuel, crafted from homegrown soybeans?

That's exactly what East Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition director Jonathan Overly has in mind, and he describes it as a way to both reduce the nation's dependence on imported petroleum and improve the air quality of the Tennessee Valley.

While numerous ``clean fuels'' are available -- including electricity and compressed natural gas -- Overly is promoting the use of ``biodiesel,'' a relatively clean-burning concoction derived from soybean oil or animal fat.

``None of them are perfect answers,'' Overly told a wide range of interests gathered for an information session Thursday at the Blount County Chamber of Commerce.

But B-20, a mixture of 20 percent soybean oil and 80 percent diesel, is ``a baby step'' in the right direction.

``Any vehicle that can run on diesel can run on biodiesel,'' he said, and no retrofitting is needed to run a diesel engine on B-20 or lesser ratios of soy oil to diesel.

Widespread use of B-20 -- which may soon be for sale in Blount County -- could ``reduce transportation-based pollution and foreign oil dependence,'' Overly said. In fact, he likes to describe the acronym for Alternative Fueled Vehicles -- AFV -- as standing for ``American Fueled Vehicles.''

Elsewhere in the country, the fuel is used in vehicles ranging from trolleys to passenger cars and buses.

On a regional level, Knoxville Area Transit and the cities of Sevierville and Chattanooga are among those who have expressed interest in weaning their fleets off traditional diesel.

If, and when, they get on board, two Blount County fuel distributors will be ready to provide the B-20.

``Everything we've seen has been very positive,'' said Pete Gale of McNutt Oil. ``Farmers can make a profit to clean the air,'' he said.

Among those farmers is Blount County's Susan Keller, who, incidentally, grows soybeans. She appeared receptive to the proposal at Thursday's meeting, and indicated she would use the alternative fuel in her farm vehicles.

Of course, it will cost about 22 cents to 27 cents more a gallon, but savings in fuel economy and federal tax incentives could serve to even the difference, B-20 proponents said. Unquantifiable improvements in area air quality could also result.

Impact on emissions

The non-toxic, biodegradable B-20 can cut emissions of hydrocarbons by 20 percent; carbon monoxide by 12 percent, particulate matter by 12 percent, sulfur oxides by 20 percent and cancer-causing compounds by 20 percent.

A slight increase in the emission of nitrogen oxides -- about 2 percent -- may raise eyebrows in ozone-sensitive Tennessee, but Overly said informal testing of fuel additives suggests possible reductions in nitrogen oxides -- the main precursor to ozone -- of up to 40 percent.

A reduction in the amount of volatile organic compounds emitted by B-20-burning engines could also reduce summer ozone levels in the valley, as nitrogen oxides must mix with volatile organic compounds to produce ozone.

Cities interested

Maryville City Manager Gary Hensley expressed interest in using B-20 in the city's fleet, but at the same time wondered aloud what federal subsidies were available to help defray the costs of the product.

No such assistance is yet available, Overly said, but the East Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition could ultimately help secure federal funds to help municipalities recoup some of the investment in alternative fuels.

Still, Hensley said Thursday the city would look into the proposal.

Alcoa City Manager Mark Johnson went a step further, indicating the city would experiment with the fuel when it became available.

``We'll probably do B-20,'' he said. ``It will cost a little more,'' but he noted the city already purchases, for example, recycled paper that is more expensive than traditional paper.

``In the long run, I think it's the right thing to do,'' Johnson said. ``An example has to be set somewhere.''

The benefits of biodiesel could even extend around the world to help AIDS-ravaged African nations, said Park Wells, president of the Tennessee Soybean Promotion Council.

Protein byproduct

The B-20 manufacturing process -- the soy oil must have its glycerin removed to operate effectively in an engine -- yields a large amount of protein byproduct, which can be mixed with corn to provide a cheap, nutritious food source for export.

``If we push demand on the oil side, we can provide more protein for around the world,'' Wells said.

Tennessee farmers tend some 14 million acres of soybeans every year, he said.

For the time being, though, East Tennessee fuel distributors would have to buy their wholesale B-20 from one of eight processing stations in the nation, all outside of Tennessee.

Tommy Hunt of Calloway Oil is ready to do just that.

``If you are considering it,'' for either personal or commercial use, ``we'd like for you to call us,'' Hunt said.