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| South City To Give Biodiesel A Try
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Location: Blogs In The Media |
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| Posted by: Community Fuels |
5/6/2006 |
Inside Bay Area.com, SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA-- Seniors in South City soon could be treated to an eco-friendly ride.
Saturday, May 6, 2006
South City To Give Biodiesel A Try |
Inside Bay Area.com, SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA-- Seniors in South City soon could be treated to an eco-friendly ride.
http://www.insidebayarea.com/sanmateocountytimes/localnews/ci_3792775
As early as next week, the city could begin testing biodiesel in one of two buses used to ferry residents to and from its senior centers. The tests are part of a larger effort that may lead to the conversion of a fire engine that will be powered by alternative fuel.
The Fire Department, which created the pilot project, originally planned to make its own biodiesel with used vegetable oil collected from restaurants around town. After talking to local restaurant owners, that just didn't seem possible, said firefighter/paramedic John Grimaldi.
"There just wasn't enough cooking oil for us to produce fuel," Grimaldi explained.
The city is working with a biodiesel vendor near Watsonville who uses soybeans and seeds to create the fuel. While diesel costs at least $3.25 a gallon, biodiesel can run around $2.49, Grimaldi said.
Not only is biodiesel cheaper than regular diesel, it's thought to be easier on engines.
"There's a significant (price) difference between the two, and if you compare them, the maintenance is going to be less," said South City Fire Chief Phil White.
With the price of gasoline skyrocketing, people are looking more and more to alternative fuels, said White, who points to the rising cost of diesel. Biodiesel would give the city an option,particularly if the situation comes close to how it was it was during the oil crisis in the 1970s, he said.
"I remember the gas lines and the tremendous impact it had on the community," White said. "I want to be in front of that."
Keith Potter, lead mechanic at South City's corporation yard, said he was a bit skeptical of the plans for the city to make its own biodiesel because of all the work involved. Now, he's excited about the idea.
The city will try out biodiesel in one of its 18-person senior buses for the next three months or so. Every month, employees will do what is called an opacity test to see how much smoke is coming from the biodiesel-powered vehicle, Potter said. Biodiesel is touted as having lower emissions.
"We're looking forward to doing the tests," he said. "You'll have something in black-and-white to see if there are any results."
If the biodiesel works well in the bus, the Fire Department will use it for one of its engines. White said he'd eventually like to bring more vehicles that use alternative fuels or technologies into the Fire Department's fleet.
"With the price (of gas) being what it is right now, it's going to go farther," White said. "It's right around the corner."
Staff writer Amy Yarbrough covers police and public safety. She can be reached at (650) 348-4339 or ayarbrough@sanmateocountytimes.com.
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Staff writer Amy Yarbrough | |
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