Clearing the air with biodiesel

Buses and other diesel-burning vehicles will run cleaner if they mix soybased biodiesel with their regular diesel fuel. To test the feasibility of switching to this fuel blend, ARS began a year-long demonstration at the Beltsville (Maryland) Agricultural Research Center in January. BARC has 65 vehicles

This test is part of a federal effort to reduce reliance on petroleum and create new markets for U.S. crops. There is interest in permanently switching as many federal government vehicles as possible nationwide to alternative diesel fuels, using biodiesel from soybean and other seed oils or animal fat.

One goal is to increase the federal purchases of biobased fuel and other products by 10 percent each year for the next 5 years.

The demonstration may help encourage local governments and the private sector to do the same-especially in areas where air quality is an issue. Crop-based diesel burns cleaner and produces less soot, and vehicles don't need modification before being switched to the fuel.

Recent changes in the Energy Policy Act of 1992 allow for credits for biodiesel usage in existing vehicles, reducing the number of alternative fuel vehicles that must be purchased.

Future changes could also affect large municipal vehicle fleets, such as buses and public works vehicles. Ronald F. Korcak, Associate Director of Beltsville Area, USDA-ARS, Beltsville, Maryland; phone (301 ) 504-5193, e-mail korcakr@ ars. usda.gov.