Alternative Energy Coalition
It's about the Environment, Community, and Sustainability
HISTORY The process of making fuel from vegetable oil in NOT a new concept. Rudolph Diesel in 1892 ran the first Diesel engine prototype on castor bean and peanut oil. His main message to the world was that Agriculture and Industry could work in harmony with each other and support the demand for economic growth. Stay tuned for more History of Alternative Energy Coalition and where we are going. IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE LARGEST STRAIGHT VEGETABLE OIL (SVO) CONVERSION TO DATE
Loren Fennell Alternative Energy Coalition.org and co-founder of Oregon Bio Diesel Workshop in association with Richard Jones supervisor/engineer for the Port of Tillamook Bay Authority rail division, brought together alternative fuel use to its height and made Oregon’s first diesel/electric locomotive to run on straight vegetable oil (SVO). This is a monumental achievement in a time of peak petroleum oil decline and high cost of diesel at $2.25 per-gallon. Quote “we both knew that using SVO would work” in that Richard had researched SVO use and Loren has been converting diesel vehicles to burn “veg oil” for three years including the second largest a 1991 32 foot Thomas school bus. An up coming City of Portland maintenance vehicle is scheduled for SVO conversion some time in June. Richard Jones frustrated with pollution and the high cost of fuel started doing research and found Oregon Bio Diesel Workshop, a research/design facility providing workshops on diesel vehicle conversions, home heating, processor design and devoted to education while keeping alternative and its fuel use in our community. A preliminary meeting was scheduled and a plan of action was set in motion to convert one of 16 diesel/electric locomotives in service for the past 75 years hauling goods and services up and down the coast and between Tillamook and Banks OR. Fuel consumption is approx. 20,000 gallons per month. Richard and his staff with many years of experience and knowledge with the help of Oregon Bio Diesel Workshop, set to work. Using manual control valves on the supply and return lines with a 55-gallon barrel filled with de-watered and filtered waste vegetable oil (WVO) from deep fat frying opened the valves and shut off the diesel system. There was a smooth and distinct reduction in vibration and performance was flawless. Only a slight puff of white smoke and the lovely smell of Mothers home cooked bread, emanated from the smokestack.
Contact: |