Zoo puts stock in biodiesel
New fuel made strictly from vegetable oil
By Kathi Keys
Staff Writer, The Courier-Tribune
ASHEBORO - The N.C. Zoo received its first 400 gallons of biodiesel,
a fuel made completely from vegetable oil, Tuesday afternoon - the initial
step to eventually producing its own while providing a cleaner air quality
for its visitors and staff.
"We'll start using it right away," said Mary Joan Pugh, the
zoo's finance officer and chief of staff, as the biodiesel was transferred
from a yellow Piedmont Biofuels tank truck to a recently installed new tank,
next to one containing diesel fuel.
The biodiesel, known as B100, contains no petroleum products. It's made
from vegetable oil, such as oil from soybeans.
Zoo officials will use the biodiesel to create its own B20 blend of 20
percent biofuel and 80 percent conventional diesel fuel for its diesel trams
and buses for visitors, service equipment and mega generator.
A $2,000 grant has made the purchase of the biodiesel possible for the
next several months. There will also be signage letting zoo visitors know
about the vehicles being fueled by this energy source.
"Eventually we will make our own from vegetable oil - 100 percent
from our restaurants," Pugh said.
The zoo has applied for a second grant to build a reactor to accomplish
the transformation of waste vegetable oil into biofuel for its vehicular
fleet.
"This is cleaner burning and has a fraction of the emissions,"
said Lyle Estill of Piedmont Biofuels about the biodiesel delivered Tuesday
at the zoo.
He noted that the tank truck making the delivery was fueled by the pure
biodiesel. And his 1992 Dodge pickup truck has been operating on biodiesel
since January.
Rachel Burton, co-founder of the cooperative based in Pittsboro, said
Piedmont Biofuels representatives originally met with zoo staff a year ago
to discuss the use and production of biodiesel from vegetable oil.
Two zoo employees were also educated further about the process through
Central Carolina Community College in Chatham County where Burton is a biofuels
and automotive instructor. CCCC offers, through its continuing education
program, biofuels courses.
Information about biofuels was available at this year's Earth Day activities
at the zoo.
The partnership has grown as the zoo was awarded the grant to purchase
biodiesel. Piedmont Biofuels will also assist with the reactor design, for
the state agency to do its own processing, when the zoo receives its second
grant.
Additionally, the Pittsboro-based cooperative has received a grant to
offer six biodiesel workshops throughout the state. One is expected to be
held next spring at the zoo.
Burton said other agencies are also involved in using biodiesel - the
N.C. Department of Transportation and all Chatham County Schools buses now
use a B20 blend.
The zoo was one of seven state and local agencies recently selected by
the N.C. Solar Center, affiliated with N.C. State University, to receive
grants to combat U.S. reliance on imported oil and improve transportation-related
emissions.
The funding is from the State Energy Office which is encouraging increased
use of alternative fuels to support energy security and economic development
while reducing harmful emissions.
Copyright 2002, Stephens Media Group
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