Reader: I guess no one read my letter to the editor in response to Gale Banks' quote in your magazine about biodiesel a few issues back. If you had, Jerrod Jones' latest article, "Fry Cooker" (Sept. '07), would have the benefit of more accurate facts.
There are more than 1,000 retail stations nationwide currently selling biodiesel blends. These blends range from 2 to 99 percent biodiesel content, though 20 percent and lower blends are the most common and bear the blessing of engine manufacturers. All biodiesel that is sold commercially must meet the ASTM specification and be registered with EPA as a legal motor fuel. Vegetable oil does not meet either of these requirements. Biodiesel is a uniform fuel and can be burned in any diesel engine with no modification. It does, indeed, burn cleaner than petroleum diesel. The companies that sell vegetable-oil conversion kits will tell you vegetable oil burns cleanly, but then they'll point you to data that actually came from our tests on biodiesel. It is unclear whether vegetable-oil conversion kits are in compliance with the clean air act.
There are currently 148 plants producing biodiesel across the country. That number is expected to increase to 244 plants within 18 months. Those plants will have a total production capacity of 1.89 billion gallons per year. These independent biodiesel producers and the associated economic development are predicted to create 40,000 new U.S. jobs. It is still a small industry compared to traditional oil refineries. Accurate reporting will help biodiesel compete with those "oil barons," as Jerrod put it. You might say 40,000 jobs depend on you getting the story straight. Your readers also deserve accurate information so they know what fuels they can burn without damaging their vehicles, violating clean air standards, or getting in hot water over fuel tax evasion.
I've been a reader and driver for more than a dozen years. I work on my own trucks. I have even burned my share of straight vegetable oil before I knew better. The National Biodiesel Board is a non-profit organization. We would be happy to work with your staff providing accurate information on biodiesel. We work with the engine manufacturers on their latest biodiesel projects. I can provide article material on biodiesel trail rigs like the Dodge Power Wagon in the attached photo.
Don Scott, Technical & Regulatory Engineer, National Biodiesel Board
P.S. E85 is 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline.
Editor: Technically, we never mentioned biodiesel in the story, so we question your questioning of accurate facts since facts are accurate or they can't be a fact. But thanks for the important info on biodiesel. Yeah, and then Jerrod actually got the percentages crossed on the E85. Too much late-night typing, and now Jerrod has corn farmers after him. The Web site for the National Biodiesel Board is www.biodiesel.org. Thanks for the update!
Reader: Love the magazine. I subscribed after buying just one. I just received my September issue and I have read lots, but the other day when I was in a store I picked up the same issue and realized that it was thicker than mine. I opened it up and found a section titled "Greatest Whoops Ever." I was just wondering how come I didn't receive this section in my magazine.
Alex Rodgers, via 4wheeloffroad.com
Editor: Sorry, that section is what is known in our industry as a premium, and is only included in the newsstand editions, since the price is so much higher than the subscription price. We wish we could include it in the subscription issues, but that is not possible due to the extra cost.
Reader: I just started reading In Box (Aug. '07) and the first letter ("Dept. of Corrections") is about the new Super Duty not having the industry's first integrated tailgate step. The person who wrote in is claiming that the Avalanche had this feature first and you agreed with him. However in the writer's own words, the step is molded out of the rear bumper. Therefore the Super Duty does in fact have the industry's first integrated tailgate step.
Dino Redd, Las Vegas, NV
Editor: Now we all know. Thanks!