Last Tuesday, August 4th 2009 Oregon Live.com reported that the state of Oregon has now begun initiating its 2% bio diesel blend. According to the article gas stations in nine northwest Oregon counties must now be selling diesel fuel that contains a 2 percent bio diesel blend. The state of Oregon is requiring the 2% blend in an effort to put Oregon on the leading edge of green fuels.
This is just a little more news on the Bio diesel issue. It seems like now its just a matter of time before bio diesel blends become more readily available. Here is a list of the Counties in Oregon that now require the 2% blend:
Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas, Marion, Clatsop, Columbia, Tillamook, Yamhill, Polk
In Oregon these counties are just a tip of the iceberg. On October 1 2009 Oregon will be requiring the 2% blend in the entire state. According to the article, Oregon state representatives have conducted price check research and found that the blended diesel is costing consumers on average 1 cent or less per gallon.
The article did also discuss the economic benefits in Oregon. Those interviewed in the artice said that little economic benefit may be derived so far from the B2 blend initiative. The article seem to point out economies of scale and the ability for very large producers to keep prices down have hampered economic growth from the initiative.
The bio diesel intital in Oregon should be accepted easily. Portland, has apparently been at a 5% blend since 2007. For jobs that truck drivers do, the article says the low 2% blend is unlikely to have any effect on freezing when it comes to cold weather.
For students in truck driving school, the blend inititives that are taking place nation wide should create only small differences in the training that students get today versues the traing they get when the entire nation is using Bio Diesel blends. The siginficant issues may arrive if freezing becomes a common problem.
The original article can be found at: http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2009/08/biodiesel_blend_in_diesel_star.html
Tags: BioDiesel, TruckDrivingSchool
