Inspectors To Begin Checking Diesel Pumps For Biodiesel

Oregon's Department of Agriculture will start sniffing around Portland's biodiesel pumps beginning this week, to make sure the fuel measures up. Rob Manning reports.

The City of Portland's requirement that all diesel pumps in the city contain at least 5% biodiesel goes into effect in about two weeks.

To enforce the standard, Portland is contracting with the Department of Agriculture to ensure that pumps are, in fact, meeting the standard.

Ag spokesman Clark Cooney says there's not an easy way to do the measurement.

Clark Cooney: "Testing to assure that there truly is truly 5% of biodiesel in the retail motor fuel that the customer sees relies primarily on the delivery documentation from when that fuel was produced, blended, and delivered to the station."

Cooney says there are screening tests, but they're not entirely precise.

Oregon also has enacted statewide biodiesel requirements. But they depend on Northwest producers reaching minimal output levels.

Jason Berkes
http://www.jasonberkes.com/biodiesel