Biodiesel is an environmentally friendly diesel-equivalent fuel derived from biological energy sources typically consisting of renewable lipid feedstock such as oilseed, cooking grease or animal fat. Biodiesel blends consist of a combination biodiesel and petroleum diesel (petrodiesel) in various proportional volumes from 1% and 99%. In Canada, blends are designated as "Bxx", with the "x" representing the percentage of the biodiesel component (eg: B5 refers to a blend consisting of 5% biodiesel and 95% petrodiesel).

There are many reasons to add biodiesel as a fuel option to Canadian consumers. A plethora of research has been done on the negative health effects of petroleum diesel as compared to biodiesel. Scottish researchers have determined that exposure to petrodiesel exhaust fumes, especially in concentrated form within large urban centers, significantly disrupted blood vessel function in their ability to expand (dilate). Another study by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Center for Environment Assessment found that exposure to petrodiesel emissions posed a lung cancer hazard, irritation and inflammatory symptoms, as well as exacerbation of existing allergies and asthma conditions. In addition, school districts that use biodiesel fueled buses reported a decrease in student and driver complaints regarding headaches and asthma attacks.

Biodiesel emissions do not contain aromatic compounds and have therefore substantially reduced levels of PAH (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) and nPAH (nitrated PAH) compared to petrodiesel, both identified as potentially cancer causing agents. Also, Ames mutagenicity studies have shown biodiesel to dramatically reduce the potential of birth defects, as well as 90% cancer risks, in relation to petrodiesel tests. Evaluations performed by USDA (under the EPA Clean Air Act) determined biodiesel to be non-toxic, as well as about ten times less toxic than table salt (NaCl).

Another bonus to biodiesel is its increased ability to biodegrade! USDA sponsored tests confirmed biodiesel to be biodegradable since it decomposes virtually at the same rate as dextrose (a test sugar). Compared to petroleum diesel, biodiesel degrades about four times faster, or up to 90% after approximately 1 month in contact with water. Also, diesel blends tend to accelerate petroleum diesel biodegradability (eg: a B20 product degrades twice as quickly as pure No. 2 petroleum diesel).

Of course the big reason to use biodiesel is to lower emissions! Currently around the world billions of litres of biodiesel are produced every year. Up until recently Canada has trailed the global industry in production and distribution. The most recent federal legislation has acknowledged the importance of renewable content in fuels not only for its environmentally friendly attributes but to be used to reduce the rapid consumption of petroleum fules on the whole. The Canadian government has know passed a bill that will require renewable fuels. The regulation, under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA 1999), as may be amended by Canada's Clean Air Act 1, will require fuel  producers and importers to have an average annual renewable fuel content of at least 5% of the volume of gasoline that they produce or import, commencing in 2010. In addition, the Government intends to put in place an additional requirement for an average 2% renewable fuel content in diesel fuel and heating oil, upon successful demonstration of renewable diesel fuel use under the range of Canadian conditions. This would not be

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in place for 2010, but is intended to come into effect by no later than 2012. This requirement is approximately equivalent to a renewable fuel content requirement for 5% of on road diesel fuel.

Thanks to this legislation, Alberta is now fast becoming the hub of biodiesel production in western Canada. With two plants starting production this summer and a local Calgary area company opening the first biodiesel retail site in Alberta within the next couple months, Albertans will finally have access to a true environmentally friendly, sustainable, renewable alternative, made locally by Albertans for Albertans!

For more information on the Biodiesel Industry in Alberta, please visit www.albertabiodiesel.org and to find out where you can buy biodiesel locally, visit www.greenwayfuels.ca

(Resource: Alberta Biodiesel Association)

Jaimey Farnese is CEO of Green Way Fuels, a family run company dedicated to providing fellow Albertans with sustainable biodiesel made responsibly using local supplies.