Vermont sees inspiration in rising state demand for biodiesel

January 23, 2012

Biodiesel has a range of advantages over pure heating oil, ranging from reduced emissions to better availability and helping America reduce its dependence on foreign oil.

Whether burned in houses for bioheat or in vehicles as on / off road diesel, biofuel is rapidly winning a greater share of the energy market as increasing numbers of consumers learn about its benefits. That trend could soon continue to sweep through Vermont, as New England states take notice of regional initiatives to use the fuel.

The state of Washington recently became the largest public consumer of biodiesel in the country when it decided to use a biodiesel fuel blend - soy-based biodiesel blended with petroleum diesel - to power its Puget Sound ferry boats, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

As the country's largest ferry service, Washington State Ferries uses 22 vessels to transport 11 million passengers each year, burning 18 million gallons of fuel along the way.

In another regional initiative, the town of Smyrna, Georgia, committed this year to building its own biodiesel production facility, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Workers will convert used cooking oil into 2,200 gallons of biodiesel per month. By using the new stream of clean fuel to power the city's municipal service vehicles on a B20 blend, city managers expect to save $32,000 per year compared to current diesel fuel spending.