Haycock partners to produce fuel additive in Nevada

Friday, Feb. 2, 2001 | 11:20 a.m.

A joint-venture partnership between Haycock Petroleum Co. and Biodiesel Industries Inc. will produce a clean-burning diesel fuel additive made from recycled cooking grease.

Russell Teall, chairman of Biodiesel, based in Marathon, Fla., with operations in Las Vegas and Pahrump, made a presentation to the National Clean Cities Association about the benefits of the fuel additive, to be processed at a plant being built for Haycock.

Marty O'Connor, vice president of sales and marketing for Haycock, said her company is sharing the cost of development of the plant as well as offering space for it at the company's facility at Sloan.

Teall said a 5-1 mixture of diesel fuel and the additive, known as biodiesel, qualifies as an alternative fuel and will cut black smoke emissions from diesel-burning vehicles.

The mixture, which is expected to be available in two weeks, will sell for about a nickel more than diesel fuel, Teall said.

After a series of small-scale tests and demonstration projects, Teall said biodiesel is ready for commercial production and is building a unit in Pahrump that will be transported to Haycock. When fully operational, the plant will produce a million gallons of the additive a year and operate around the clock with about six to 12 employees.

The recycled vegetable oil -- known in the industry as "yellow grease" -- is acquired for about 65 cents a gallon from local food outlets. Teall said one of the unusual benefits of burning biodiesel is that the emissions have a pleasant odor -- hot french fries.