The two most traded goods in the world are coffee and oil. The U.S is the biggest consumer of both. Currently, we consume 17 gallons of coffee a year and 20 million barrels of oil per day (mb/d). The oil market, like coffee, is dominated by a few large multinational companies that set and control industry prices. Over the last thirty years both commodities have been subject to a volatile market place. Coffee prices have dropped while oil prices have consistently risen.

Petroleum based fuel is dominant in the U.S. energy market, meeting almost 40 percent of total U.S. energy needs. Transportation (personal cars and trucks, freight hauling, airlines, shipping, and railroads) is responsible for the largest portion of U.S. oil consumption, and it is the fastest growing sector in terms of oil consumption. Our current system is so dependent on petroleum based fuel that if we were suddenly without it food would not be delivered to stores, most people could not get to work without it, and most of the transportation system would shut down. U.S. domestic oil production has been declining since its peak in 1970 while total U.S. oil consumption has been increasing steadily since the mid-1980s. By 2025, if nothing changes, the U.S. will be consuming more than 28 mb/d. With this increase in demand, the U.S. will need to import more than 70 percent of its needs.

Dependence on imported oil is very risky. The flow of oil from oil-producing countries to oil-consuming countries can be disrupted by weather, accidents, transportation breakdowns or shortages, manipulation by cartels, unanticipated increases in demand, labor strikes, social unrest, sabotage, and war. When shortages occur, the price goes up.

Throughout the history of Peace Coffee we’ve done all our local deliveries by bicycle. Over the past two years Peace Coffee’s growth has included new customers outside of the Twin Cities area. In running a fair trade business, we have considered our impact on the producers, the environment, the workers here, the consumers, and our role in the world market. Taking all of these variables into consideration it made sense to seek alternative fuel for our deliveries outside the reach of bike. We discovered that biodiesel was our best alternative.

Biodiesel is a fuel made from vegetable oil or animal fat mixed with methane and a small amount of lye. It runs a diesel engine just as petroleum-based diesel would.

The original engine designed by Rudolph Diesel in the late 1800’s was build to run on pure vegetable oil. Later, the petroleum industry modified the engine to run on a by-product of the gasoline distillation process. They dubbed the by-product "diesel" and marketed it for use in the modified diesel engine. Although contemporary diesel engines are made to run on the less viscous fuel, vegetable oil is still a viable source of fuel. The process of blending it into biodiesel alters the viscosity to make it appropriate for use in the modern diesel engine.

You may have also heard of vehicles being run on pure vegetable oil. To do this, the vehicle has to be altered so that there are two tanks, one for the diesel fuel, and one for the pure vegetable oil. Diesel or biodiesel fuel has to be used to start the vehicle. When the engine has warmed up, it is possible to switch to the other tank and run the vehicle on vegetable oil. More details on conversion for use of straight vegetable oil can be found on the web.

The biodiesel that we use at Peace Coffee is made from soy oil. Many types of oil can be used to make fuel, but soy seems to be the most common oil in the Midwest. Other oils used include rapeseed oil and hemp oil. We purchase ours from Cannon Valley Coop, located southeast of the Twin Cities. We need to buy the fuel in relatively small quantities, and Cannon Valley Coop is uniquely willing to sell biodiesel in a 55 gallon drum. Most biodiesel is being sold and used as an additive to petroleum based diesel, frequently as low as 2% biodiesel (B2) to 98% diesel. There are few fuel dealers in the city that offer 100% biodiesel (B100). It is currently impractical for us to make our own biodiesel at Peace Coffee, but many people do make it for their personal use. Resources are available on the web for folks who are interested in making their own fuel. Used fryer oil from restaurants is a great source of oil: it’s inexpensive, and it turns a waste product into a useful source of fuel.

At Peace Coffee, we hope that our use of alternative fuel will encourage other individuals and businesses to purchase renewable fuel and high-efficiency vehicles. As more fair trade products become available, it is essential that American consumers realize their role in the growth of dominant corporate interests. An increase in fair trade purchases is a bold statement that improves the lives of thousands of families. Let’s stop participating in unfair business practices-starting with the two most traded commodities in the world. Alternative fuel–it’s only Fair!

www.boulderbiodiesel.com

www.grassolean.com

www.cu-biodiesel.org

www.greasle.com

www.journeytoforever.org

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