BBEDC hosting biodiesel seminar

Program to provide info to small producers

MOSES LAKE — This week, area residents will have the opportunity to talk biodiesel with people who have some hands-on experience.

The Big Bend Economic Development Council and Big Bend Community College's Center for Business and Industry Services will be presenting a free small producer biodiesel seminar Friday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the college's ATEC Building.

BBEDC executive director Bill Riley said the seminar is to determine the interest of small producers — individual farmers, businesses and cooperatives — so he has tried to bring in people already working on biodiesel projects to talk with interested parties.

"We're heavy on people that have hands-on experience, and we're lighter on the university professors and chemistry professors," Riley said, adding an additional seminar will be held in the fall in conjunction with the University of Idaho.

The university is probably 20 years ahead of other western states on biodiesel knowledge, Riley estimated, adding the Midwest is probably 30 years ahead.

"Because of their growth of corn, soybeans, 20 percent of the country's corn crop goes into making ethanol, and you're going to see that start to spread," Riley said. "If we can get the second half of the Basin developed, so that we have irrigation water to grow crops like other grains, corn, sorghum, soybeans … you then have the possibility of producing huge quantities of biofuels within the state, without importing anything."

Also at the seminar, the United States Department of Agriculture will award the council a $95,300 grant to build a mobile small biodiesel-producing unit, which the BBEDC will use as a teaching aid in small seminars held in the surrounding counties.

"We may actually produce biodiesel on the site," Riley said. "Also, there's going to be people who maybe will not build their own little unit to produce. They can use ours. It's pullable, we'll just bring it to their site, they can produce biodiesel right there. When they're done we'll pull it away and take it to another site."

The council wants people to know biodiesel is "perfectly compatible" with any diesel usage, be it on a farm tractor, an SUV, even home heating oil, Riley said.

"Once you get out of Grant County, electricity is not the preferred heating method, fuel oil is," he said with a chuckle. "Sometimes, it's the only method available." A Pendleton, Ore., cooperative will produce a biodiesel only for home heating, Riley added.

Riley, engineer Ron Baker and North Columbia Community Action Council director Ken Sterner formed the nonprofit Northwest Energy cooperative earlier this year, which is looking at all forms of "green," or environmentally-friendly energy. The mobile unit is part of the cooperative's mission, Riley said, adding BBEDC board member Baker is helping design the unit.

He added he hopes people come to the seminar to realize they're not alone in wondering about biodiesel, and is making sure the people speaking can relate their own experiences with the alternative energy source, including the cost and challenges to make biodiesel.

"I think the people that are going to come will quickly understand that they can do this too," Riley said, noting a part of the seminar will include where to get the necessary materials. "If you decide you want to build one, we will put you in contact with people who have already built and can help you. You don't have to be an engineer, a chemist or a rocket scientist. You just have to be motivated and interested."

Riley estimated that about 50 people will be in attendance, noting a biodiesel-related BBEDC meeting drew 30 interested people fascinated with the subject last fall.

Riley said he has a little personal experience making biodiesel at someone else's facility.

"That's why I'm so enthused about this process for small producers," he said. "For the 10 million and 20 million-gallon plants, I'll leave that to someone else, but there's a definite role for the small producer here."

Rising gas and oil costs catch everyone's attention, Riley said, which is why it's important to show people there are alternatives to importing oil.

"We see the potential for whole new spin-off industries," he said. "You have to have oilseed. That means the farmers need to grow that seed, and the farmers themselves can produce their own fuel for their tractors. They don't have to buy it on the market."

There's a ready market and an unlimited demand for biodiesel, Riley added.

"The question is not where can I sell my biodiesel, or even if I can use it," he said. "The question is, where do I find help and a source for how I can get started?"

Pre-register for the seminar by calling the BBCC Center for Business and Industry Services at (509) 793-2374.