The state began phasing in a 2-percent blended fuel requirement for diesel on Saturday.
Roughly two years after implementing a renewable fuel standard requiring 10 percent ethanol in most gasoline sold in Oregon, the state took a similar step with diesel fuel.
With a few exceptions, diesel fuel in nine northwest Oregon counties must contain at least 2 percent biodiesel. By Oct. 1, the rest of the state must join the effort.
The new fuel standard was established as part of renewable energy legislation passed in 2007. The only exceptions to the biodiesel blend mandate are rail, marine, and home heating oil applications. The 2-percent requirement has been triggered by Oregon's biodiesel production capacity recently reaching 5 million gallons.
Echo biodiesel producer Kent Madison, who helped contributed to that capacity, applauds the state reaching the milestone.
"I think for Oregon's agriculture, it's a good thing," he said. "It helps stabilize agriculture."
Madison is disappointed, however with the response of the major oil companies.
"Big Oil says, 'We'll meet the mandate, but we're not going to do it with Oregon products,' " he said, adding that the major companies will use biodiesel made from Midwest soybeans instead.
State officials say those who fill up the tank with diesel shouldn't worry.
"Motorists shouldn't see any change to their fuel economy or their vehicle's performance when using a 2-percent biodiesel blend," said Stephanie Page, the Oregon Department of Agriculture's renewable energy specialist.
The biodiesel blend is mandatory in Multnomah, Clackamas, Washington, Clatsop, Columbia, Tillamook, Yamhill, Polk, and Marion counties.
While the impact to diesel engines around the state is not expected to be great, the new standard has a significant reach. About 1.5 billion gallons of gasoline are sold in Oregon each year and about a half billion gallons of diesel.
"Pure biodiesel, or B100, contains only 8 percent less energy per gallon than the diesel motor fuel currently offered for sale in Oregon," Page said. "A 2-percent biodiesel blend, or B2 blend, has less than two-tenths of a percent less energy that the standard diesel motor fuel. That is such a small difference that motorists should see no noticeable effect on their fuel mileage."
Inspectors with ODA's Measurement Standards Division check motor fuel quantity and quality routinely. The inspectors don't expect any major issues with the new renewable fuel standard.
"Blended biodiesel has actually been sold by some retailers and wholesalers in Oregon for quite some time now, but it has not been mandatory," said Clark Cooney, assistant administrator with the Measurement Standards Division. "Many businesses have been using it in their own vehicles on a voluntary basis, typically in a 20 percent blend. The city of Portland has mandated a B5 blend since August 2007 and I'm not aware of any problems being reported to us."
Diesel consumers should remember biodiesel is a natural solvent. The 2-percent blended fuel will slightly enhance the cleaning ability of that fuel, Cooney said.
"Consequently, any deposits built up in the fuel tank over time will have a tendency to be cleaned out by the B2," he said. "It would be advisable to have fuel filters checked or changed as the renewable fuel standard is implemented to alleviate potential problems."
The B2 mandate, along with the 10-percent ethanol requirement for gasoline, is expected to help clean the air and perhaps put money in agriculture's pocketbook.
Biodiesel is a cleaner fuel that produces fewer harmful emissions than standard diesel. Besides some environmental benefits, B2 can aid the local economy.
"We believe the use of a biodiesel blend is a good thing," Page said. "It supports Oregon biodiesel producers, which are local businesses. It also supports the folks who produce the material used to make the biodiesel - farmers who grow oilseed crops, and others who make use of waste oil and grease."
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