What is Biodiesel?
Biodiesel is an alternative fuel intended for diesel engines. It is usually made from vegetable oils or animal fats and can be used to power a long list of passenger and commercial vehicles. It is non-toxic, biodegradable, and its use produces far fewer harmful emissions than petroleum diesel. Aside from producing fewer emissions than petroleum diesel, biodiesel is also derived from plants that absorbed carbon during their lifetime. The carbon released in biodiesel is the same carbon that the plant absorbed while it was alive, meaning that no net carbon was released into the atmosphere and therefore classifies biodiesel as carbon neutral.
Closed Loop Sustainability:
We are committed to finding a closed loop system for producing energy. Closed loop refers to a production system that is in balance and does not deplete our natural resources. We want our energy to be accounted for from the seed it grows from to the miles it takes us.
Research:
BCK is devoted to research focused on biofuels, efficient automotive technology, community development, and sustainable energy production. The co-op is always working towards better ways of producing energy out of a variety of feedstocks. Whether it is waste vegetable oil, trap grease, pharmaceutical waste, or other industrial sources, we are committed to finding ways to turn it into biodiesel.
Localized Energy Production:
BCK does not support the type of centralized energy production seen across the world today. Oil companies are making record profits while we pay ever-increasing amounts for a finite resource. International relations are strained as nations play a dangerous game of chess over table scraps from the age of oil. As technology, population growth and other factors push our energy needs relentlessly upward, our power grids are succumbing to the pressure and blackouts in major cities are becoming more common. Scandals such as Enron tell us that those in charge of keeping our lights on may not have our best interest in mind.
We would like to contribute to the change that is necessary. Biodiesel is easy and safe to make, and we feel that each community should incorporate it into their infrastructure along with other alternative energy sources to gain control of an industry gone haywire.
Recycled Materials:
One thing BCK is not focused on is virgin vegetable oil. We believe in the tried and true mantra of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Our focus on reduction leads us to promote the use of diesel cars, trucks, and SUVs that are more efficient than their gasoline counterparts. We reuse fryer grease to make biodiesel and hope to extend that to vegetable oil powered vehicles in the future. To recycle we intend to refine our glycerin and methanol, and our water recovery system is designed to cut down water use.