Commissioner Encourages Development, Use of Biofuel To Benefit Farmers, Decrease Dependence on Foreign Oil

ATLANTA, GA (Nov. 3) - Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin toured the facilities of U.S. Biofuels in Rome, Tuesday to see first hand how the company uses fat left over from poultry processing to make biodiesel. A non-petroleum fuel, biodiesel can be blended with petroleum diesel to use in unmodified diesel engines.

   During the tour, Irvin said he will recommend to state lawmakers they introduce legislation during the next General Assembly to encourage the use of biofuels such as biodiesel in the state. Biofuel is a gas or liquid fuel derived from biological sources. “Biofuels are renewable fuels,” said the Commissioner.

   Irvin pointed out that existing diesel engines and equipment do not require alteration in order to use biodiesel blends of up to five percent, which is good news for farmers, truckers and others who regularly use diesel fuel. Currently, many gas stations and truck stops do not have a separate tank to dispense biodiesel. If all diesel were required to be blended with a percentage of biodiesel, however, these facilities would not need separate tanks, eliminating the cost of converting or installing separate tanks and pumps.

   “The energy bill passed by Congress this year includes several provisions, including the extension of a federal excise tax credit, to promote more production and use of renewable fuels such as biodiesel,” Irvin noted.

   “Increasing our production and use of biofuels will help to reduce our dependence on foreign oil,” Irvin said. The Commissioner noted petroleum is a non-renewable resource and “once it’s gone, it’s gone.” Biofuels are considered renewable resources and are more environmentally friendly as they emit less pollution when burned.

   “I said back in November of last year when my staff and I participated in the Georgia/Florida Soybean Association’s ‘Biodiesel 101 Conference’ in Macon that we should investigate and invest in anything that would make our air cleaner, lessen our dependence on foreign oil and benefit Georgia farmers and consumers. Biofuels do all those things,” said Irvin.

   While the 2004 conference in Macon focused on soybeans, fuel from fats was the focus of the 2003 Georgia Biodiesel Conference in which Commissioner Irvin took part. “I am especially excited about the possibilities for our poultry industry. Georgia is the leading poultry state in the country. Turning an agricultural waste product into a way to make money while helping the environment and lessening our dependence on unfriendly countries is something that should be encouraged,” said Irvin.

   The two most common biofuels used in the United States today are ethanol and biodiesel. Both are most often blended with conventional fuels.

   Whereas U.S. Biofuels makes biodiesel from poultry fat, biofuel can be made from other by-products or residues of Georgia's agriculture and forestry industries. “Since disposing of these products can be costly to producers, using them to make biofuel can save disposal costs while providing the raw materials to create a usable product,” Irvin said. “That benefits everyone from the producer to the end user. It is a win-win situation.”