Media tour highlights food, fuel story

GILMAN, Ill. — Clean Fuels Alliance America hosted biodiesel farm-to-tank media events June 2-3.

“There’s a lot happening in the clean fuels industry right now, and I think with rapid growth comes a lot of misconception and a lot of complexities with our industry, as well,” said Heather Buechter, Clean Fuels Alliance America communications director.

“We thought it would be a good opportunity to educate members of the media, kind of give them a first-hand look at not only how our fuels are being used, but also how they’re being made, and what does that mean for the entire supply chain.

“Illinois is always a great reference to showcase biodiesel because they have the soybean growers here, but they also have these urban areas that are looking to decarbonize and looking to make an impact.”

The tour kicked off in Chicago with a river cruise on a boat powered by B17 and also showcased how the Chicago Park District and Indigenous Energy are partnering to implement biodiesel into the district’s fleet, including in refuse haulers, mowers and other equipment.

The Chicago Park District began a pilot program five years ago using B100 biodiesel to fuel park refuse haulers. The effort was in partnership with the Illinois Soybean Association checkoff program and the American Lung Association.

“They’ve been using biodiesel since, I believe, 2012 when they started with B5. They’re up to B100 — 100% biodiesel in some of their fleet,” Buechter said.

“It’s always good to hear that testimony, hear the performance and how their drivers feel about it. We were able to speak with a driver who said there’s no performance issues on B100, even in the dead of winter when they’re using it.

“From the early days of biodiesel 20 years ago, 25 years ago, there were some gelling property issues that happened, but I always like to say, you don’t use the same cell phone you used 20 years ago because things evolve.”

The Clean Fuels Alliance America’s technical team works closely with the American Society for Testing Materials International, “to make sure that biodiesel is on spec and the performance is there,” Buechter said.

“What we found is this is a high-quality fuel, and if anyone ever is questioning the properties or any of the quality assurance, we are always happy to work with them. We have an entire program that does the testing on that, as well.

“Overall, it’s always good to hear those testimonies about performance and the Chicago Park District was a great testimony to that.”

Food, Fuel Story

The final day featured a tour of Incobrasa Industries, near Gilman in northeast Illinois, a plant that draws soybeans from a 50-mile radius and processes 120,000 bushels of soybeans per day.

The soybeans are sourced from area farmers and local elevators and delivered via truck and railcar.

Incobrasa has an annual biodiesel production capacity of 44 million gallons. It also operates a packaging and labeling facility that features various product lines of bottled and canned vegetable oil.

The soybean meal and hulls produced at the facility are utilized for animal feed.

“The main reason we wanted to bring everyone out to Incobrasa was to really showcase the food and fuel story that comes with the clean fuels industry,” Buechter said.

“Incobrasa just has a really great story of bringing in the soybeans, crushing them, making biodiesel, using the glycerin byproducts and also using the vegetable oil part of it, as well, because they bottle on-site, too.

“So, really just squeezing that soybean and using every single aspect of it, and ultimately it’s contributing to a stronger local economy and it really showcases how biodiesel is essential for America’s farm and food security.”

Clean Fuels Alliance America is the U.S. trade association representing the entire biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel supply chain, including producers, feedstock suppliers and fuel distributors.

It receives funding from a broad mix of private companies and associations, including the United Soybean Board and state checkoff organizations.