Drivers look to alternative fuels

WILMINGTON — Some drivers are looking at alternatives to filling their tanks. One local alternative is bio-diesel, made from bio-degradeable fats and oils.

But the eco friendly alternative costs more than its crude oil counter-part.

There are two bio-diesel pumps available to the local public. The average price of diesel fuel in our area is $4.12 per gallon. Bio-diesel costs about $4.28 a gallon.

One local gas station sells B20 — 20 percent bio-diesel and 80 percent petrol diesel fuel.
Bio-diesel is different from ethanol. While they’re both gas alternatives, ethanol is made from corn.

Bio-diesel is made from fats and oils, like vegetable oil. Bio-diesel doesn’t decrease our food supply like ethanol could and at the same time decreases our dependency on foreign oil.

Ben Silvester with Cape Fear Bio-fuels said, “There is a steady stream of people coming to this pump, even with prices as high as they are a lot of folks feel first of all, they are helping the local economy and they are helping the environment, they are making a difference.”

There is no conversion process required to use bio-diesel. If your car was made before 2007 and has a diesel engine, you can use it. Newer diesel cars can’t use the B20 bio-diesel because of a change in the emissions laws.

Right now the bio-diesel in Wilmington is made in Raleigh and brought to the area.
Cape Fear Bio-fuels, the co-op that distributes the bio-diesel, says the plan is to build a plant in Winnabow in the next few years.