Before headlining his 32nd annual Fourth of July concert in Fort Worth, Tex., country singer Willie Nelson was at the Carl’s Corner truck stop along Interstate 35 south of Dallas for the July 3 official launch of the first branded biodiesel blend in the US, distributed by his Willie Nelson Biodiesel Co., otherwise known as “BioWillie.”
The BioWillie fuel is a B20 blend of 20% biodiesel-made from vegetable oils, primarily soybeans-with 80% conventional diesel. Launch of the environmentally friendlier fuel was celebrated with a chili cook-off, a tractor pull, and, of course, country music.
The BioWillie firm, owned by Nelson and four partners, was formed in December 2004 “with the idea of doing something useful for the country, the American family farmer, the economy, and the environment,” according to the company. It apparently is an outgrowth of Nelson’s longstanding interest in preserving small family farms in the US, which prompted him and rock singer John Mellencamp to organize the first Farm Aid concert in 1985 to raise money for financially troubled farmers.
Before he got into the fuel distribution business, Nelson was already using biodiesel in his personal car and tour buses. He met Peter Bell, a Dallas biodiesel distributor who is now a partner in BioWillie, during a telephone search for the greener fuel. “At first, I didn’t know who he was,” Bell, a South African, told OGJ. But as soon as he learned about Nelson’s fame in country music, Bell figured he’d be a great agent for selling biodiesel to US truckers. “What Willie brings to this is the ability to communicate directly with a truck driver. That kind of community is hard for people to get to,” he said. “When he starts talking, these folks really listen to him.... It’s like having Tiger Woods talk about golf clubs.”
Early alternative fuel
Biodiesel is an ester-based oxygenated fuel made from vegetable oil or animal fat. The concept of vegetable oil as a fuel dates back to 1895 when Dr. Rudolf Diesel developed the diesel engine. The basic ingredients of biofuel can be harvested from many renewable sources, including soybeans, sunflower seeds, rape seeds, palm oil, and even some types of algae. Recycled vegetable oil from restaurants and other sources also can be used in making biodiesel. Proponents claim the amount of used vegetable oil available in the US totals 4.5 billion gal/year.
Biodiesel has an added benefit, depending upon the source of the recycled vegetable oil. Proponents claim the exhaust from vehicles fueled by biofuel sometimes smells like popcorn or doughnuts.
Unrecycled vegetable oil has too high a viscosity for use as an alternative fuel in most diesel engines. It requires either a modification of the engine or additional processing of the oil to reduce its viscosity. Even proponents acknowledge that the transesterification process to create esters from vegetable oil is “relatively expensive and produces a quantity of glycerin byproduct that has to be processed again before it has any value.”
Moreover, the final biodiesel product has detergent qualities that make it loosen debris from conventional fuels in fuel tanks, resulting in clogged fuel filters. Biodiesel also will soften and degrade certain types of elastomers and natural rubber compounds in older fuel hoses and pump seal systems.
Supporters, of course, highlight the environmental benefits.
“The use of biodiesel in a conventional diesel engine results in substantial reduction of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter,” BioWillie says on its web site. “Emissions of nitrogen oxides are either slightly reduced or slightly increased depending on the duty cycle of the engine and testing methods employed.”
Official support for biodiesel is strong. The federal government last year added a biodiesel tax credit to a jobs bill (OGJ, Nov. 1, 2004, Newsletter). Texas recently reduced the fuel excise tax on B20 biodiesel to 16¢/gal from 20¢/gal. In some parts of the country, biodiesel was recently selling for as much as 10¢/gal less than the climbing price of conventional diesel.
Short supply
Biodiesel remains in short supply, however. The National Biodiesel Board estimates current production capacity at 110 million gal/year in a US highway-diesel market of 2.4 million b/d.
BioWillie is looking to buy more truck stops “in good locations.” It’s providing the fuel in above-ground tanks decorated with pictures of the bearded 72-year-old Nelson in his trademark long braids and headband.
BioWillie fuel may sell among Nelson’s fans. If so, it won’t be the first time a new product has been marketed by a pretty face.✦
