Indiana city turns WVO into biodiesel

March 9, 2009

Kokomo, Ind., a city of 50,000 people, is producing biodiesel using a processor recently installed at its wastewater treatment plant. City officials began processing waste vegetable oil (WVO) collected from participating restaurants and residents into what will total approximately 1,500 gallons of biodiesel each month, building up to 20 percent of the city's diesel usage, or approximately 30,000 gallons of biodiesel per year over the next 18 months. The city will be collecting data on its oil collection and biodiesel production, including vehicle performance, to share as the program continues. "Our hopes are to grow this, bring in partners and expand to help other cities," explained David Galvin, Kokomo's sustainability manager. He said the city would eventually like to develop a home heating fuel program for low-income families, as well. "We make the biodiesel for about 80 cents a gallon, and we could distribute to low-income residents using some sort of criteria to help with their heating bills," he said. In the second phase of the city's renewable energy effort, it will look at incorporating glycerin with other municipal waste streams for additional bioenergy applications.

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