Climate change is underway. Due to increased levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, Minnesotans can expect more server and more frequent droughts and floods in the next 50 years. Hundreds of families in northern Minnesota who make a living off winter recreation activities such as ice fishing, cabin rentals, and snowmobile rentals will tell you that their businesses have suffered in recent years due to abnormally warm winters.

Although the United States accounts for less than 5% of the world population, our insatiable appetite for fossil fuels makes us the largest producer of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrous oxide.

Cars, trucks and airplanes produce about a third of all the greenhouse gases that are emitted into the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels. In fact, heavy-duty diesel trucks account for 69% of road fine particulate matter air pollution. One way to reduce greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels is to ride your bike whenever possible, walk, or take public transportation. If none of these options work for you, you can also join the growing number of people and businesses that are switching to BIODIESEL!!!

Derived from just about any plant that produces oil, biodiesel is a viable and practical alternative to diesel (which is derived from crude oil). In fact, the diesel engine was originally designed to burn plant-derived fuel, so the switch to this sustainable fuel won’t come as a shock to your diesel engine.

Oil prices are steadily increasing due to the finite amount of crude oil that is available. Biodiesel, on the other hand, is not a finite resource. In 2003, 24 million gallons of biodiesel was produced in the US. Experts predict that annual production capacity is approximately 150 million.

In terms of dollars, biodiesel is quickly becoming competitive with gasoline and regular diesel. The average price in 2003 for 20% biodiesel (a blend of 80% regular and 20% biodiesel) was $1.43. A pure blend of 100% biodiesel (B100) is a little more expensive. Despite the fact that it is subject to commodity pricing, more and more people are willing to pay a premium for this safe, clean, domestically produced fuel. In fact, many fleet fueling services are now offering biodiesel to their customers.

As many people know, Peace Coffee’s delivery van uses B100 derived from soybeans. We purchase our righteous fuel from the Cannon Valley Cooperative in Cannon Falls, MN. We’re not the only ones who have made the switch. St. Paul’s recycling waste hauler, Eureka Recycling, has a fleet of 15 heavy-duty diesel trucks that use B20. Making the switch was an easy decision for them. "When our drivers are in your neighborhood, the trucks idle the entire time they’re out there and produce a lot of exhaust. We don’t want residents, or our drivers, to breath in noxious fumes from our trucks," says Alex Danovich, Business Manager for Eureka Recycling.

What about our cold Minnesota winters? Does biodiesel perform in freezing weather? Mr. Danovich said that Eureka Recycling experienced zero problems related to the B20 in their tanks last winter. It is, however, recommended that trucks using B100 mix additives into the fuel to prevent problems related to cold temperatures.

In addition to being environmentally friendly, Eureka’s trucks are ergonomically suited to make dumping the recyclables into the trucks a lot easier for the drivers. Drivers are able to dump recycling into waste-high collection troughs instead of having to toss recycling into baskets overhead, thereby reducing the likelihood of neck or back injury. When the troughs are full, the driver pushes a button and the trough is lifted and dumped into the truck’s inside compartment.

The switch to biodiesel falls inline with the mission of Eureka Recycling, "Reduce waste today through innovative resource management and to reach a waste-free tomorrow by demonstrating that waste is preventable not inevitable."

Fortunately, this is not a local phenomenon. The City of Berkeley, California uses B100 in all City-owned vehicles! Will we ever be able to keep up with those crazy radicals in Berkeley?

We at Peace Coffee salute the fine folks at Eureka Recycling, and everyone across the country, for making the switch to clean, efficient, environmentally friendly biodiesel.

In closing, I’d like to point out that there are currently no wars being fought over biodiesel.

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