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    Laughing Stock Farm, Freeport, Maine

 

Biodiesel And The Clean Air Act

All transportation fuels must meet the Clean Air Act and national standards for quality, because burning fuels lacking quality, even fuels called biodiesel, will damage diesel engines and emit more air pollutants. If you purchase biodiesel from a reputable dealer, such as the Solar Market in Arundel or Frontier Energy in South China, you can be sure that your biodiesel is safe to use, because it is registered with the EPA and is subject to quality controls by the manufacturer.  It is interesting to note that many environmental groups who normally advocate strong environmental regulation have chosen to ignore these regulations as they apply to small scale biodiesel production. 

The US EPA has recently relaxed its position with respect to biodiesel production for self use and determined that, under the Clean Air Act, you are allowed to make small quantities for personal noncommercial use, but not to sell or for any commercial use on roads without EPA registration or a special exemption.  This means that even homemade biodiesel must be registered with the EPA if it will be used in any on-road commercial activity including farms, schools, campgrounds, or other commercial activities. Last summer it was the EPA’s opinion that any use of any unregistered fuel on the road was prohibited. Under this new opinion the EPA considers that the only exemptions to this rule are for legitimate limited scientific studies and for schools to make small batches for demonstration purposes.  The Clean Air Act governs on-road fuels only, so registration is not required for biodiesel made for off-road use in farming, construction, heating, or marine activities.

Other Regulatory Considerations

 

 

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Send to ralph@rturner.com with questions or comments about our energy project. 
Copyright 2008, Laughing Stock Farm
Last modified: February 01, 2008