Blue Sun, which will supply Shoco Oil, is developing regional farmer cooperatives to produce biodiesel feedstock from crops adapted to arid high-plains growing conditions. Jeff Probst, president and chief executive officer of Blue Sun, says, "Planted in rotation with winter wheat, oilseed crops for biodiesel can provide additional revenue streams for local farmers and keep energy dollars here in our local communities where they belong."
Biodiesel offers health and environmental advantages over petroleum diesel, reducing particulate emissions, greenhouse gases, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons. Producing biodiesel uses one unit of fossil energy and yields 3.2 units, giving it a higher energy balance than petroleum fuels or ethanol. Biodiesel can be used in existing diesel engines without modification.
