The Seeds of Change: Blue Sun Biodiesel Shows the Virtues of Canola Biodiesel
This dragster is powered by 100-percent Canola-based biodiesel supplied by Blue Sun
Many of us have heard of Canola oil. If you haven't heard of it specifically, you've more than likely heard of Crisco, the well-known cooking oil and shortening brand of the J.M. Smucker company, made most famous by its Smucker's fruit preserves. Though very versatile as a cooking oil, it may prove to be just as valuable as a key feedstock crop for biodiesel. And lest you think Canola is just an obscure greenie fuel being used by eccentric graying hippies driving 25-year-old Peugeot and Rabbit diesels plastered with environmental-activist bumper stickers, consider that the world's quickest diesel down the quarter-mile, running 7.98 seconds at 167.43 mph, runs on straight Canola-based B100 biodiesel, supplied by Blue Sun Biodiesel.
Blue Sun biodiesel is available in a few select Western states, with a nationwide rollout expected in a few years
According to Jeff Probst, CEO of Blue Sun, based in Fort Collins, Colorado, canola has several advantages over soy-based biodiesel. "Based on our research and testing, Canola will produce a better fuel in terms of cetane, cold flow, oxidative stability, and lubricity than conventional soy biodiesel," he said. Blue Sun currently uses soy biodiesel as part of its blend, but is moving toward making Canola the primary and ultimately exclusive source of its biodiesel. Although Blue Sun is available primarily in Colorado and surrounding states at the moment, the distribution of the fuel is growing steadily. "We are in Utah, Idaho, and New Mexico right now. The next states coming on stream include Wyoming, Nebraska, and Arizona," Probst said. As production and infrastructure develop to facilitate, Probst said he would eventually like to go nationwide with the Blue Sun brand.
Canola-based biodiesel keeps the farmers happy by growing acres of crops
Although there are many advantages to using biodiesel, according to Probst, he said the enthusiast can feel good not only about contributing to a cleaner environment, but also supporting the American farmer. "Enthusiast fuel dollars are kept in the local communities and with our farmers, instead of foreign countries," he said.