Editorial: Vegetable oil versus smog

Thursday, Oct. 13, 2005 | 8:12 a.m.

Today is a milestone in the history of local efforts to achieve cleaner air for the Las Vegas Valley. For the first time a refueling station for biodiesel will be open to the public. A ceremony commemorating the event is scheduled to begin at 11 this morning at the Haycock Petroleum facility at A Street and Washington Avenue. Several city, county and state officials are planning to attend, and the federal Clean Cities Program will be represented as well.

Cleaner air is not all that will be commemorated. Biodiesel also represents one proven way of reducing the nation's dependence on foreign oil.

Biodiesel fuel has been available from Haycock for four years, but only through a pilot program serving local governments and the Clark County School District. The program has proven that biodiesel fuel emits significantly less particulate matter, carbon monoxide and sulphur dioxide (all of which cause smog and health problems), while actually improving engine performance.

The biodiesel now being used is a specially formulated blend consisting of 20 percent biological oils (from plants and vegetables) and 80 percent regular diesel fuel. This blend, known as B-20, is the preferred fuel because of cost, performance and supply.

As demand grows for biodiesel, and supplies of biological oils increase to meet the demand, it might become possible to mass-market B-100. This would be a fuel made from 100 percent biological sources -- a fuel that would put a decent-sized dent in our need to import crude oil.

Biodiesel, which enjoys a temporary federal subsidy that makes the cost per gallon about a nickel cheaper than regular fuel, is seen as an interim fuel for all diesel-powered vehicles until such time as hydrogen fuel cells are in common use.

The progression of biodiesel from a pilot program to public availability has been fairly quick, which should serve as an inspiration to all businesses, governments and utilities that are striving against odds to offset fossil fuels with renewable energy sources.

Nevada Power Co., for example, has been encountering difficulties in trying to comply with state legislative mandates, which, since 1997, have been calling for greater percentages of electricity to be generated from solar, geothermal, wind and other renewable sources. The 2005 Legislature set the toughest standard yet for Nevada utilities -- 20 percent of all power coming from renewable sources by 2015. Nevada Power has never met any of the target dates for showing progress toward meeting the goals.

The utility, however, is not giving up, as reported Wednesday by Las Vegas Sun reporter Kevin Rademacher. Its main problem has always been making the numbers work for ratepayers, as renewable energy is far more expensive than energy from fossil fuels. But as the price of conventional energy rises, renewable forms of energy are becoming more feasible.

When biodiesel first came to public recognition in the 1990s, people laughed at the thought of powering vehicles with french-fry grease. But today's event shows that odds can be overcome, and we're anticipating the day when Nevada and its utilities are regarded as national leaders in renewable energy.