More people using Biodiesel

The oil that cooked yesterday’s onion rings could be the same oil being used to fuel diesel trucks that haul the onions to the burger joint.

About five years ago people said Bill Webster was crazy for suggesting that soybean oil could be a viable alternative to diesel fuel.

Webster, co-manager of Earth Biofuels’ Meridian plant, said: “It’s not that way anymore. Now, every drop we produce is sold. Our production is up to about 3,000 gallons a day.”

Longtime alternative fuels advocate and country music artist Willie Nelson has been appointed to the board of directors of Earth Biofuels Inc. of Jackson. Webster said native Mississippian and actor Morgan Freeman is also on the board.

“I am excited about getting involved with Earth Biofuels. We share the same goals in advancing the biodiesel industry,” Nelson said in a news release.

A year-and-a-half ago, Webster, the area’s biodiesel pioneer, couldn’t give the fuel away. But the former auto mechanic knew it was only a matter of time.

“You wait two years until crude oil goes above $40 a barrel,” he told naysayers. “Then I’ll be able to compete.”

The price of crude oil surpassed the $40 mark in January; by early July it weighed in at more that $61 per barrel.

The company collects used cooking oil from area restaurants at the rate of 1,200 gallons to 1,500 gallons per month. Restaurants that would normally pay a rendering company to haul discarded oil away are saving that money when Webster includes them in his process.

“I collect oil from places like Backyard Burgers, Catfish Plus and Seafood & Chicken Express,” Webster said. “We get one gallon of biodiesel for every gallon of discarded cooking oil we collect.”

The Mississippi Development Authority’s Energy Division provided a grant to the Lauderdale County School District in 2003. Susan McKee, purchasing agent for the county schools, said West Lauderdale Elementary school buses are being used in a pilot program.

“For every dollar we spend on biodiesel, we get a dollar from the grant agreement,” McKee said. “So far the fuel is working fine. We haven’t had any problems.”

Roger Wright, transportation director for the Lauderdale County School District, said West Lauderdale Elementary School has a fleet of nine buses, all of which use the soy-based biodiesel.

“This is the third year we’ve used the fuel,” he said. “We use a 10 percent blend with regular diesel. For every 3,000 gallons of regular diesel, we add 300 gallons of biodiesel.”

Wright said there has been no reduction in power, and the buses’ fuel filters are showing no problems whatsoever.

“As the prices go down on regular diesel, the cost of biodiesel could become prohibitive,” Wright said. “But widespread usage would be a real boon for the soybean farmers.”

Webster said soybean farmers from the Delta are some of the company’s best clients.

“The same soybeans they produce are now fueling the tractors they use to plant and harvest the crop,” he said.

Webster said the federal government gives rebates to oil distributors who use the biodiesel.

“They get a dollar back for every gallon they buy,” he said. “Anyone can buy the biodiesel, but you have to be a distributor to qualify for the rebates.”