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| Community Going a Bit Green Paine's makes the move to use soybean-based biodiesel fuel in its vehicles by Kelly Callaghan, Simsbury Life It took a year of planning and experimenting, but Ernie Tarca, general manager at Paine's Rubbish and Recycling, Inc., has made it work. Today, the company's fleet of 45 vehicles run smoother and smell better thanks to the changeover from diesel oil to a fuel made from 20 percent soybean-based biodiesel fuel. Mr. Tarca completed the experiment with the fuel last summer and the company, located on Floydville Road in East Granby began using it two months ago. According to Mr. Tarca, no engine modifications had to be done on the 45 vehicles in order to use the 80/20 mixture. Biodiesel is a clean burning alternative fuel produced from domestic, renewable resources. It contains no petroleum and can be blended at any level with petroleum diesel to create a biodiesel blend. Mr. Tarca first investigated the possibility of using biodiesel fuel a few years ago, but found that "at that point is was cost prohibitive. The infrastructure was not in place," he said. Today, things have changed. "They've done more in biodiesel. It's a viable fuel resource for people like us who buy it in truckload quantities," he said. According to Mr. Tarca, Paine's purchases the biodiesel already mixed from Santa Energy in Bridgeport. The tractor trailer full of fuel is delivered to Paine's, where it is offloaded into the company's own gas pumps. From there, the company's employees fill the tanks of the trucks. The rising costs of fuel have hit consumers, not only at the gas pump but virtually everywhere. Armed with the knowledge of how biodiesel can help save both dollars and the environment, Mr. Tarca went ahead with the conversion plan with the blessing of the business owners. In operation since 1929, Paine's offers recycling and rubbish removal for 22 towns in the Greater Hartford area. Having the fleet of trucks running on an alternative fuel source will help give customers a better value for their money, Mr. Tarca said. "We were always very concerned about providing the best possible value to our customers. Having a safer, cleaner environment greatly reduces emissions and greatly reduces a dependency on foreign oil," Mr. Tarca said. According to his figures, the company is only using 5,000 gallons per month of foreign oil. The payoff for both the customers and the residents is cleaner and American-made. "We're supporting America. Soybean fuel is made in America," Mr. Tarca said. Having trucks running on biodiesel also makes for a better smelling exhaust that only a trained nose could smell. "Some people think it smell likes French fries. Personally, I think it smells like popcorn," Mr. Tarca said. Other benefits abound from using biodiesel. Biodiesel, according to the National Biodiesel Board, can address the country's energy security issues. It can also help reduce all regulated emissions and does not pose a threat to human health. "It's a great alternative," Mr. Tarca said. In his own experiments last year, Mr. Tarca took 100 percent soybean fuel and blended the liquid with different concentrations of diesel fuel and then added them to the gastanks of four trucks. "I watched the fuel economy of the vehicles. I selected four drivers for feedback and all of the results we got in were good," Mr. Tarca said. Using the fuel alternative is "safer, better and cleaner. The fuel itself is biodegradable in its liquid form, is non-hazardous and it's made from a natural product." Converting to biodiesel has come at a good time for Paine's. According to Mr. Tarca, in 2007, all diesel fuel products will see a decrease in its sulfur content, making it harder on engines. "Biodiesel is very slippery. It puts back some of that into the fuel without adding sulfur. It helps in lubricating the engine," he said. Biodiesel is also used by Farmer Nevin, otherwise known as Nevin Christensen, owner of Flamig Farm. Three years ago he began using a mixture of B 100 (100 percent biodiesel) and today, uses it in a tractor, payloader, two trucks, his car and a 28-year old eight horsepower diesel rototiller. "When I make my own fuel it costs around 65 cents a gallon," Mr. Christensen said. "I haven't had time to make it all the time so I have purchased fuel from a company called Greenleaf Biofuels. The last purchase I made was $3.39 per gallon, just a little more than diesel at the pump. I will gladly pay more for biodiesel than for petroleum diesel," he said. Saving money really isn't an issue for Mr. Christensen, who along with his wife Julie runs the 45-acre the farm on the corner of Shingle Mill Road and West Mountain Road. "Saving the planet from global warming, creating an energy independent America and helping to get a very promising renewable energy into mainstream use is the focus," he said. Mr. Christensen believes that all Americans can help reduce the amount of energy used. "In Europe where the price at the pump more closely reflects the actual cost of fuel, Esmart cars abound. These are four passenger cars that get around 80 miles per gallon. In the United States, there are many hidden subsidies that keep the price of fuel artificially low at the pump. If the true cost of fuel was paid at the pump, people long ago would have adapted to a less wasteful lifestyle," Mr. Christensen said. Mr. Tarca also believes that if enough people started using biodiesel, good things could happen. "I think if enough people did we could so greatly decrease our dependency on foreign oil and decrease emissions and help the environment. It just seems to be one of those things that help everyone," he said. |
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