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John Green inspects a truck in the Eastman fleet, one of the 200 vehicles being switched to biodiesel to help reduce air emissions at its Kingsport plant. David Grace photo.

KINGSPORT - Eastman Chemical Co. is getting greener.

The company announced plans Tuesday to switch its 200-plus vehicle fleet from diesel fuel to biodiesel to help reduce air emissions at its Kingsport plant.

Pure biodiesel is biodegradable, nontoxic and easy to transport and store. It's produced from natural, renewable sources such as canola, sunflower, cottonseed or other vegetable oils or animal fats. Most biodiesel in the United States is made from soybean oil.

Jerry Repass, vice president and general manager of Eastman's Tennessee and Texas operations, said Eastman will use the most common form of biodiesel, called B20, which consists of 80 percent conventional petrodiesel and 20 percent biodiesel.

"And that should help us reduce emissions of several pollutants," Repass said.

The change is expected to result in a 10 percent reduction in both carbon monoxide emissions and hydrocarbon emissions; a 15 percent reduction in particulate emissions; and a 20 percent reduction in sulfate emissions at the Kingsport plant.

B20 biodiesel also offers other benefits, such as greater engine lubricity, fewer odors, and less wear and tear on vehicles. And biodiesel is expected to reduce greenhouse gases and air toxics, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

The B20 formula can be used without any vehicle modifications, allowing Eastman to make the switch with virtually no costs, according to the company.

Darren Curtis, fleet administrator and staff engineer for the Plant Transportation Department at the Kingsport site, said Eastman expects to be the first large user of biodiesel in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. He said the company projects using more than 60,000 gallons of biodiesel through the rest of this year.

"By itself, this is just a small accomplishment. The real success will come when others in the region make the switch and usage expands beyond Eastman. That's when the air quality benefits will really begin to take effect," Curtis said.

Eastman will begin the conversion to biodiesel in March and expects to have all of its diesel-burning vehicles switched to B20 by April 1.

"We don't see any reason to delay a good thing," Curtis said. "This is an easy, inexpensive way to help improve air quality, and we're hopeful that others in the region will take up the challenge and switch their vehicles to biodiesel as well."

Jonathan Overly, director of the East Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition, said the switch to biodiesel is a fast-growing trend across the state. At the beginning of 2004, the alternative fuel was virtually nonexistent in East Tennessee. Today, companies and municipalities in nine counties use a blend of biodiesel, and organizations in another seven counties have expressed interest in the fuel.

Overly said Eastman is leading the effort in Northeast Tennessee.

"The journey of 1,000 miles starts with one step. In the Tri-Cities area, Eastman has taken that first step with biodiesel," Overly said.

And the use of biodiesel not only impacts large companies and municipalities. It can also impact individuals with diesel-consuming vehicles. So far, B20 biodiesel is available at five public fuel stations in East Tennessee - in Maryville, Alcoa, Newport, Loudon and Chattanooga.

Overly said he purchased a diesel-consuming Dodge Ram to take advantage of the B20 alternative.

"You can see the visible reduction of black smoke out of the vehicle," Overly said. "It makes a difference."

The East Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition is a participant in the Department of Energy's national Clean Cities program, which works to further the use of alternatives to gasoline and diesel in the transportation sector.

The coalition will meet in Kingsport from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 4 at Ming Garden restaurant off Eastman Road. Those interested in learning more about alternative fuels are welcome to attend.

For more information visit the East Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition Web site at etcfc.org.

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