Biodiesel is produced from a
variety of renewable sources including vegetable oils
and animal fats. It is usable in its purest form, known
as B100, or it is available in various blends, in which
is mixed with standard diesel fuel.
There are at least 30 manufacturing facilities
nationwide that produce biodiesel, but more than 20 new
facilities have been proposed including one in Harriman.
While there are no biodiesel manufacturing plants in
Tennessee, biodiesel can be purchased from a number of
suppliers in the state.
Source:
Environmental Protection Agency, East Tennessee Clean
Fuels Coalition and National Biodiesel Board
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's
Farm Service Agency, one bushel of soybeans yields
approximately 1.4 gallons of biodiesel. Soybeans contain
about 20 percent oil, so it takes almost 7.3 pounds of
soybean oil to produce a gallon of biodiesel. U.S.
soybean production reached about 2.5 billion bushels in
2003, according to the USDA National Agricultural
Statistics Service. The United States produces about 20
million gallons of biodiesel per year using soybeans and
other feedstock.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy
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