The case of the missing Biodiesel

In our attempt to find a green balance in life, the last car we purchased was a Diesel VW Jetta. No, its wasn't the new Green Diesel that have been hitting the asphalt trails as of late with the nice dealer price hikes. It was a used Jetta, imported from Arizona during the short term ban on non-Tier 2 Bin 3 conforming vehicles in California.

Yes, we looked at the Hybrid options, but in reflecting in our driving patterns, it wasn't practical for us since we tend to do long haul freeway driving instead of the stop and go city driving that benefits from hybrid technology. Our bi-monthly road trips take us from Palm Springs to Sacramento with a short stop over in San Jose and San Francisco. This was apart from our more common trips out of our Coachella valley into the Inland Empire and LA. Our last car had over 70,000 miles in two year!

So we got it, loved it and then came the hard part, trying to fill it with Biodiesel in the Coachella Valley. After countless minutes spent web surfing and a few half hearted phone calls it became clear that finding a filling station wasn't happening.

I know that we should have looked into the availability of Biodiesel before buying the car. But, I really, really liked it. In my rationalization of impulsive actions I remembered that we drive out of the valley often, and I knew that in Central California and Northern California my key to a green earth was pumping and available. Well, it was until lately.

According to my research, the California State Waterboard had taken up the issue of Biodiesel blends that are greater than 5 percent (95% Diesel and 5% Biofuel=B5) and the safety of its storage in conventional underground storage and dispensing systems. Their findings are that there isn't enough data and research on the possible effects of Biodiesel on the integrity of storage containers designed for regular diesel, and there is a possibility that any fuel that leaks from these underground containers may not be detected by current leakage detection systems.

Now, in Kern Valley, a place plagued by poor air quality health alerts and one of the largest produces of produce could really benefit from Biodiesel. The switching over to Biodiesel can cut sulfur dioxide emission by 100% and cut carbon dioxide emissions-a major green house gas- from 80-100%. This agricultural center is a large user of diesel fuel in farming vehicles, Cummins Turbo Diesel pickup trucks and the big rigs used in the transportation of fresh produce to parts of the state and country. Even with all the Green lights to go they can't. The state has recommended to not have any underground storage of Biodiesel in blends over 5% in underground contains and Kern County is following these guidelines.

So, here we are and the cusp of a energy revolution and because of a lack of information, or some misguided information, fear is keeping us from reducing our dependance on oil in the state that could benefit the most from alternative forms of energy.

California+millions of vehicles=horrible air pollution

We are the perfect place to have alternative forms of energy. We have wind power and solar power fighting towards reduced carbon foot prints! We can be the state that trail blazes the direction the country needs to take to fight oil dependancy, to end our oil wars and to give people jobs so they can keep their homes. But this is the state that is issuing I.O.U's and elected a Terminator to govern and has people who believe chickens have a right to be outside free for a hour a day, but then revokes the rights of gay and lesbian couple to be married.

Here I am stuck, waiting for something to change and doing what I can to make change happen.

Back to my missing Biodiesel- the best I can do now is have a Biodiesel sticker on my bumper fill up with Biodiesel in places like Sacramento, San Jose and Santa Cruz and hope that none of my hybrid driving friends notices that when I am home fill up at the Flying J down the street! At least for the time being I still pay less a gallon then they do!