How To Get Ahead Of The New Biodiesel Blend Requirements
In recent years, the EPA has been slowly and gradually instating standards as to how much of your fuel has to be made from renewable resources. While these regulations have begun in full force in the private sector via gasoline blending requirements, the transition in the industrial sector has been much slower. However, if the current trend is any indication of what's to come, it's in the best interests of any business to preempt these regulations, both to save money and to ensure compliance when the regulations come down from the EPA for your sector.
What Will the EPA Require?
Currently, the EPA requires transportation fuel, including diesel fuel used for trucks, to have a certain percentage of renewably-sourced material in order to reduce greenhouse gases and national reliance on fossil fuels in general. This percentage changes year-to-year and has been increasing over the past few years. These trends indicate that the move to the industrial sector is imminent, and that there is no end in sight for the growth of the use of biodiesel in American energy.
Is It Economical?
The surprising answer to this question is yes, converting to a biodiesel blend can do wonders for your bottom line. Not only will you save yourself the pressure and money associated with converting to blended biodiesel at the last minute before the regulations kick in, but the fuel itself is actually cheaper than conventional fuel. In fact, a Navy-owned steam plant in Virginia was projected to save around $30,000 over the course of a heating season when they switched to an 80/20 diesel/biodiesel blend in 2013.
How Do I Get Started?
Thankfully, in anticipation of these regulations, many fuel providers have begun to distribute biodiesel blended fuel. 80/20 is the most commonly distributed blended biodiesel used today, and according to the US Department of Energy, this ratio will run in your current generator or engine without modification. All you have to do is ask for a biodiesel blend the next time you schedule a diesel delivery.
While the recent progress in eco-friendly fuel initiatives has been relatively slow as far as social programs go, the movement is still gaining steam. This means that in the years and decades to come, more and more environmental stewardship will be expected of the nation's most competitive industries. In order to gain an easy advantage over any competitors, consider making the switch to biodiesel blended fuel early, as it could save you money and time now and when the new EPA regulations come out.