Office Enterprise 2007 regulators ok biodiesel add

state environmental regulators have accepted an additive for biodiesel that addresses a nagging emissions situation using the vegetable oil-based fuel.

the texas commission on environmental high quality said the additive cuts nitrogen oxide, or nox, emissions to a level which is acceptable for biodiesel to fulfill state air-quality criteria.

but biodiesel producers are even now waiting to hear no matter whether state officials will allow biodiesel blends to get offered without the need of additives, which can add to their manufacturing expenses.

last yr, the agency practically banned the sale of biodiesel in a few of texas' most populous areas, which includes houston, because of research exhibiting biodiesel blends produced higher ranges of ozone-polluting nox emissions than regular diesel.

biodiesel backers,Windows 7 Activation, however, say modern analysis reveals the fuel generates the same or much less nox emissions than petroleum diesel. more, they say biodiesel significantly cuts other smog-forming emissions, offers enterprise to american farmers and can help wean the u.s. from foreign oil.


a deadlineacknowledging there is certainly conflicting investigation, state regulators gave the biodiesel industry till the finish of 2007 to demonstrate the fuel can meet texas low-emission diesel standards.

the criteria, typically named txled, have been passed in november 2005 as component of an effort to chop pollutants in the state's smoggiest 110 counties — roughly, those along and to the east of interstate 35. this area includes dallas, san antonio,Windows 7 Pro, houston and austin.

this month, the fuel additive developed by irvine, calif.-based oryxe energy international became the first product of its kind to get clearance by the state to address the biodiesel nox problem.

but in a march 5 letter to oryxe, the texas commission on environmental high quality warned that the approval is nonetheless "subject to the actual emissions performance" of diesel engines using a b20 or much less fuel blend treated using the additive. b20 is a blend of 20 percent pure biodiesel with 80 percent petroleum diesel.

james cleary, ceo of oryxe,Office 2007 Key, mentioned the additive is already being used in texas in petroleum diesel. but it will want to become used in greater doses to achieve lower nox emissions from biodiesel blends, he mentioned.

the additive — which includes both hydrocarbon compounds and renewable-based materials — will be made at a chemical plant in pasadena,Office Enterprise 2007, cleary explained.


increasing costsbut biodiesel producers may have issues with additives because they can increase fees of making the fuel.

"our position is we support additives if it is proven they are effective," said jenna higgins, a spokeswoman for the national biodiesel board in jefferson city, mo. but she said additives do take away a competitive advantage of petroleum diesel.

cleary declined to give an exact cost of the additive but stated "it's pennies per gallon treated."

tom paquin, who is building a biodiesel plant in fort worth, said he likes the sound of the additive if it means he will be able to sell fuel in texas.

but,Office 2010 Key, he stated, "the reality is, it's whatever the customer wants."

u.s. biodiesel production more than doubled very last 12 months to an estimated 225 million gallons. the industry has set a goal to replace 5 percent of the country's petroleum diesel for on-road uses by 2015 — about 2 billion gallons.

with 15 existing commercial plants and several more under construction, texas is expected to double its manufacturing capacity in 2007 to 250 million gallons.

brett.clanton@chron.com