A Peaceful Alternative to Petroleum Are we there yet? Minnesota flirts with alternative energy. (Featuring Peace Coffee) IT'S SUSTAINABLE. IT'S LOCAL It has the ability to dramatically reduce sulfate and hydrocarbon emissions, as well as reduce particulate matter in the air we breath. It is nontoxic, and does not damage water quality. It's made from agricultural products and other nontoxic materials available locally. So why isn't it available at the pump? The two most valuable goods in the world (in terms of dollars) are coffee and oil. The U.S is the biggest consumer of both. Currently, we consume 17 gallons of coffee a year per capita and 20 million barrels of oil per day (mb/d). Just like the conventional coffee market, a few large multinational companies set and control industry prices for the oil market. A major difference between the coffee and oil marketplace is that coffee prices have drastically fluctuated over the years 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-1980's. 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. This doesn't mean that there aren't healthy alternatives to curb our current reliance on petroleum! BIODIESEL IS A ENVIRONMENT-FRIENDLY ALTERNATIVE TO PETROLEUM 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. THE PURE VEGETABLE OIL ALTERNATIVE 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. We first got our biodiesel from Cannon Valley Coop, southeast of the Twin Cities. At the time we began buying from them because we needed to purchase in smaller quantities. They were uniquely willing to sell biodiesel in 55 gallon drums. Also, most biodiesel is being sold and used as an additive to petroleum based diesel, most commonly 2% biodiesel (B2) to 98% diesel. We were unable to find a seller in the city who offered 100% biodiesel (B100). We felt it was important to take the step of using commercially prepared biodiesel immediately and remain open to more local, more sustainable choices as they become available. Lucky for us the tables have turned and we are now buying our biodiesel from the newly formed Twin Cities Biodiesel Coop. Some of this biodiesel is made from used fryer oil. 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! CHECK OUT THESE LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.boulderbiodiesel.com www.grassolean.com www.cu-biodiesel.org www.journeytoforever.org