Biosolids for Biodiesel

Biodiesel is a type of diesel fuel that is made from vegetable oil instead of petroleum. Obstacles to wide scale use in the US are the higher cost of biodiesel and the dearth of local processing facilities. In Washington State, canola is a high oil seed crop that can be used to make biodiesel. The canola meal that is left after oil extraction is an excellent food for cattle. However, high production costs in combination with fluctuating wholesale prices have made canola an unsure prospect for farmers. Finally, biosolids are the nutrient rich by-product of wastewater treatment. Although biosolids are used by farmers there are some concerns in the general public about their suitability as a fertilizer for food chain crops. We will create a closed loop facility to produce biodiesel in a cost effective manner. The key to our operation is to involve biodiesel users in the production process itself. Emerald Ranches currently contracts with 15 municipalities to distribute their biosolids. We will integrate an oil extraction and diesel processing facility into our existing biosolids application operation. The farmers will have a guaranteed market for canola, municipalities will have a home for their biosolids, diary farmers will have a local source of meal, and all participants will have a local source for their diesel fuel. In addition, the extraction and diesel production facility will create new jobs in our county.