Blue Sun brings biodiesel fuel to Larimer County

By Cherry Sokoloski
North Forty News

Proponents of renewable energy had something to crow about in July: Fort Collins' first public biodiesel fuel pumps. The fuel is now available at the Poudre Valley Cooperative Association in northeast Fort Collins, which offers both pure biodiesel fuel (B100) and a fuel with 20 percent biodiesel (B20). Supplier for the product is Blue Sun Biodiesel, a Fort Collins renewable energy company founded in 2001.

Ed Race, operations manager of the co-op, said that biodiesel fuel is "becoming more and more of a focal point. Public awareness is increasing all the time, and we felt we needed to be in on the ground floor and help with that movement."

The co-op began selling biodiesel May 1 and celebrated the new product with a grand opening on July 9.

Blue Sun plans to build a production plant in Johnstown within the next year, a move that will give biodiesel fuel a much larger presence in the state. Currently, the company brokers fuel from Midwest plants and distributes it in Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico and Wyoming.

Poudre Valley Co-op began selling biodiesel for two reasons, Race said: the potential to help local growers and concern for the environment. Farmers who want to be involved contract with Blue Sun to grow the brown mustard seed needed for the fuel, and they also become members of biodiesel production co-ops to share in the profits.

The fuel is environmentally friendly, Race noted, because it "cuts down on pollution, increases the efficiency of vehicles and, most importantly, eliminates some of our dependence on foreign oil." To demonstrate its commitment to the product, the co-op is using biodiesel fuel in its delivery trucks and pickups.

Switching from a petroleum product to biodiesel fuel requires no vehicle modification. Biodiesel can increase fuel efficiency by 5 to 10 percent, increase power and reduce engine wear, according to Jeff Probst, president and CEO of Blue Sun. These advantages, he said, make the fuel "cost neutral" compared to petroleum products, even though biodiesel costs about 20 cents more per gallon.

Race said sales of biodiesel have been steadily increasing since the co-op began offering it, with the greatest interest coming from young, environmentally concerned urbanites. "It's opened up a whole new clientele for us," he said.

He expects greater response from ag producers and truckers once more data is available about cost savings with biodiesel.

Potential markets for the product include city transit systems and school buses, vehicle fleets for private companies and individual consumers. With biodiesel, Probst noted, "you don't have to compromise on the environment, health or fuel mileage, and you keep the money local. We don't have to import this stuff - we grow it in our back yard."

At present, several Colorado farmers contract with the company to produce mustard seed; the closest is in Eaton. Blue Sun has 13 retail outlets in Colorado, with another seven in the works for fall. The company also funds research projects at Colorado State University to develop seed crop varieties that work well for biodiesel fuel.

"It's a good industry to have in Colorado," Probst said, because of the agricultural base.

He predicts that the biodiesel industry will create a lot of new jobs in the state.

Poudre Valley Co-op is located at 225 N.W. Frontage Road, near Interstate 25 and East Mulberry.