|
| Jeff Coombe, left, talks with new biodiesel co-op member Lex Johnson of Salida about how the pump works and how Johnson would operate the machine Thursday at the shop in Smeltertown.
Photo by Jennifer Denevan
|
|
Denver Biodiesel returns alternative to Salida
by Jennifer Denevan
Mail Staff Writer
Diesel vehicle owners will have an alternative fuel option because Jeff Coombe of Denver Biodiesel Cooperative, opened a branch of the business in Salida.
It opened Aug. 9 at 7900 Silver St. in Smeltertown and is available to members during weekends. The shop is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays for members.
Biodiesel was available until about last September through A-1 Auto on U.S. 50, owner Chris Collins said.
He sold B20 fuel, 20 percent biodiesel, but found it wasn't cost effective, demand wasn't there and there were questions about integrity of the fuel during winter, he explained.
Coombe said he believes there is a demand for it. He moved from Denver and said he noticed there is a fair amount of farming and other use of diesel vehicles and felt Chaffee County would be a good place for the co-op.
DBC Salida Biodiesel is technically a branch of the Denver co-op, but it will operate independently of that shop, Coombe explained. It was easier to open a branch than it would be to start a new co-op.
It is designed to be mutually beneficial. The co-op is member driven through fees and volunteer labor.
Co-op members benefit by getting discounted ASTM-quality B100 biodiesel. ASTM refers to the government-required standard for biodiesel.
Discounts are available on recycled vegetable oil and co-op workshops and other events.
The Denver company honors memberships from the Carbondale and Salida co-ops and vice versa. Members will be able to fuel in the other locations in addition to Salida, Coombe said.
Fuel is bought at cost. Members purchase fuel at wholesale price. Fuel will be shipped from Denver in totes, or approximately 300 gallon containers.
Prices for fuel varies depending upon factors such as number of members. Coombe explained if eventually there is enough demand, fuel prices will come down if a plant is established in Salida.
Biodiesel is an alternative fuel option to regular diesel. It's made from vegetable or animal fats or oils. The process of exchanging glycerin to methanol is called transesterifcation.
It can be done with oils or fats, leaving glycerin as a by-product Coombe explained. Glycerin is typically burned, but can be used in other products he said.
B100 is the type of fuel the co-op will be selling Coombe said. The "B" refers to biodiesel and the number explains the percentage of biodiesel. In this case, pure biodiesel.
Other blends exist such as B20, meaning 20 percent biodiesel he explained. Using other blends is a good way of getting the fuel system of a vehicle used to the biodiesel.
Building up to using pure biodiesel helps avoid some potential problems Coombe said. Biodiesel has different solvent properties than regular diesel.
It's possible the driver might need to change the fuel filter frequently because biodiesel has broken down diesel residue, clogging the filter.
Using blends helps during the winter Coombe said. Biodiesel gels or freezes at a higher temperature than petrodiesel. A blend of biodiesel will help prevent gelling.
Although there may be side effects, benefits of using biodiesel outweigh a higher freezing point or a clogged filter. Coombe said he has larger clients, such as River Runners, who have been using the fuel and have recognized difference in performance of a bus they use.
He said typically fuel mileage is about the same, but depending upon vehicle performance it may be improved. Farm equipment such as tractors run well on biodiesel.
Biodiesel is a cleaner burning fuel Coombe explained. Everything needed to make it is in the U.S., it's nontoxic and it doesn't smell bad or smoke.
Coombe recently held an informational meeting about the co-op at Bongo Billy's Salida Café. He wants to expand membership and get information to residents about it.
He had five new members by the end of the meeting. He wants to get membership up to about 40 or 50 eventually.
Memberships are available on an individual or commercial basis. Cost for an individual is $100 per year without any volunteer hours. Cost is discounted to $50 a year for 12 volunteer time periods.
Commercial memberships are $250 per year and require purchase of at least 110 gallons per month. Agricultural and industrial deliveries are $200 per year and require purchasing 3,000 gallons per year and at least one 250-gallon delivery per month plus delivery charges.
For additional information, to sign up, or to volunteer people may contact Coombe at (720) 934-8130 or e-mail jeff@paradigmbiogas.com.
|
