Soybean-based diesel fuel arrives in Alcoa

The American flag never looked so good to Jonathan Overly.

As he looked at Old Glory, emblazoned on the side of one of Doug Mincy's diesel dump trucks lined up at Mr. Gas on Lincoln Road in Alcoa, Overly saw more than the symbol of the mightiest nation on earth.

Overly, director of the East Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition, saw a symbol of a new American future, free from the side effects of fossil fuel consumption and dependence on foreign oil.

Mincy brought some of his flag-bedecked MDM Trucking fleet Wednesday to Mr. Gas to buy some of the first soybean-based diesel fuel available for public purchase in East Tennessee.

``Those colors are brighter and stronger now that you are using an American fuel,'' Overly told Mincy.

Not only is the concoction of 20 percent soy oil and 80 percent diesel fuel -- known as B-20 -- derived in part from American soybean farmers, it burns much cleaner than standard diesel fuel.

According to figures from the Environmental Protection Agency provided by Overly, diesel engines burning B-20 in place of straight diesel emit 20 percent less sulfur; 18 percent less carcinogens; 18 percent less toxins; 12 percent less particulate matter and 10 percent less carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. An additive allows for a 5 to 10 percent reduction in nitrogen oxides, one of the prime causes of ozone pollution in East Tennessee.

Given the fact Blount County is likely to be officially deemed in non-attainment of federal air quality standards as soon as this week, ``that is very important,'' said Mark Downey, owner of Trans Tech in Oak Ridge. He drives a Volvo that runs on 100 percent biodiesel, and terms his interest in biodiesel as ``personal and professional.

``You can take an existing diesel vehicle and add biodiesel without a problem,'' Downey said.

There is an added cost, and that is one reason the fuel has been slow to catch on. Regular diesel was selling for $1.59 a gallon Wednesday at Mr. Gas. The biodiesel, available to the general public as well as fleets, was selling for $1.79. However, Downey estimates fuel mileage increases some 10 to 15 percent with the use of biodiesel.

The price could come down in the future, said McNutt Oil Co. Vice President Pete Gale. McNutt is providing the fuel for the Lincoln Road gas station, and plans to offer B-20 at Mr. Gas Texaco stations in Loudon and Newport.

One of the reasons for the price difference is the fact the B-20 now on sale on Lincoln Road had to be shipped from Cincinnati.

``In the not-too-distant future we'll be able to buy it locally,'' Gale said. There are tentative plans to build a soy diesel processing plant in the area.

For now, Mincy is eating the extra cost.

The increase in cost ``is a whole lot better than we thought it might be to start with,'' he said. Several of his 10-truck fleet lined up Wednesday for their first taste of biodiesel.

``I've gotten so pro-American in my old age, I'm cranky about it,'' Mincy said.

``It's good for the environment, and it will put American farmers back to work. We need to be more self-reliant on fuels.''

He acknowledged ``we can't live without trucks,'' but ``we've got to make them do better.''

The B-20 requires no advance modification, though rubber engine parts may need to be replaced more frequently when using biodiesel.

``I've tried for years to get this stuff,'' he said, and credited Gale with leading the way to a local supply.

Overly was there the whole way, too, and will continue to publicize the benefits of fossil fuel replacement.

He spoke with a receptive BellSouth van driver at Mr. Gas, and planned to visit a Blount County Volunteer Rescue Squad garage down the street.

So how does he sell that current 20-cent per gallon hike in fuel costs?

It comes back to the flag, he said.

``You do good things for the region for cleaner air, and you do good things for the nation in reducing foreign oil dependence,'' he said.

``What's the price of that?''