http://biodieselmagazine.com/articles/385908/biodiesel-helps-power-volvo-ocean-race
Biodiesel helps power Volvo Ocean Race
By The National Biodiesel Board | May 14, 2015
The Volvo Ocean 65 race boats that sailed into Narragansett Bay, Rhode
Island, for the North American Stopover are refueling with biodiesel
made from recycled cooking oil sourced from thousands of New England
restaurants.
As a supporting sponsor of the May 5-17 stopover, the National Biodiesel
Board is providing biodiesel blends for the race boats and for all of
the diesel generators and land vehicles associated with the shoreside
operations—helping the event to obtain certification by Sailors for the
Sea as a “Platinum Level” Clean Regatta.
“Biodiesel stakeholders are excited to take part in this
much-anticipated international regatta,” said Paul Nazzaro, NBB program
manager. “It seems fitting that America’s first advanced biofuel will be
featured at the U.S. leg of the race, where sustainability is such a
prominent theme. Our entire team looks forward to sharing the many
benefits of biodiesel over the course of this extraordinary event.”
Biodiesel is a domestically produced, clean-burning diesel replacement
made from an increasingly diverse mix of resources, including
agricultural oils, recycled cooking oil, and animal fats. Compatible
with all diesel engines without modification, biodiesel blends can be
used in many types of marine vessel, including inland and ocean-going
commercial ships, research vessels, the U.S. Coast Guard Fleet, and
recreational vessels, which alone consume nearly 100 million gallons of
diesel fuel annually.
While start-up, power, range and cold-weather performance
characteristics are similar to diesel, biodiesel’s higher lubricity is
proven to reduce engine wear, and its nontoxic, low carbon,
biodegradable qualities are less polluting to the ocean and air, and
safer for humans and marine life.
“We’re in a chicken-or-egg situation where boaters can’t readily
purchase biodiesel because it’s not typically supplied by marinas, and
the marinas don’t dedicate tanks to biodiesel because they aren’t sure
if there will be sufficient demand” said Nazzaro. “We hope Volvo’s show
of confidence in biodiesel to help power such a high profile event will
help address this conundrum by educating consumers and raising demand.”
NBB has a display at the Volvo Race Village throughout the stopover
where 5-gallon jerry cans of biodiesel are available for the public to
test out blending biodiesel with their regular marina fuel.
NBB is the national trade association representing America’s first
advanced biofuel. The industry has produced more than a billion gallons
each of the last four years, supporting more than 62,000 US jobs and is
the first and only EPA-designated advanced biofuel produced on a
commercial scale nationwide.
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