Soy what? Soybeans provide an alternative, earth-friendly fuel source for park and recreation agencies.

There's an underutilized wealth of resources in the brown, dry fields of soybeans so prevalent in the Midwest. Increasingly, the soybean is not just a source of protein in tofu and milk substitutes; it's also the basis of an alternative, renewable fuel and lubricant choice that can help conserve fossil fuels, reduce pollutants in the environment and lessen our dependency on foreign oil. Park and recreation agencies, such as where I work, Metroparks of the Toledo Area, in Ohio, are discovering that soybeans provide an opportunity to take a leading role in committing to positive change.

Soybean-based fuel is called biodiesel. Although the product has been refined in processing in recent years, its basic premise isn't a new concept for the internal combustion engine. Rudolph Diesel developed the diesel engine in 1895 with the idea of creating an engine that could run on an alternative fuel source. In fact, at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, Diesel ran his engine on peanut oil. In 1991, Missouri soybean growers funded an experiment on this new energy source by having agricultural engineers run a pick-up truck year-round on biodiesel. The truck is still running today.

What is it? Biodiesel is created by removing glycerin from soybean oil. More specifically, as the United Soybean Board puts it, "Biodiesel is a mono-alkyl oxygenated fuel made from soybean or other vegetable oils or animal fats." The formulation may be pure non-petroleum alternative fuel (known as B100) or a combination of petroleum-based diesel fuel and biodiesel. In the greater Toledo area, the most common formulation is referred to as B20, which is a blend of 20 percent soy and 80 percent petroleum-based diesel.

Who's Driving This?

Is this simply a grand experiment funded by those who have a vested interest in the matter, such as the soybean industry? The study I've been doing over the past couple of years says no. Major fleets from New Jersey through the Midwest and on to the San Francisco Bay area are operating on biodiesel. Industry is making an investment in the future by recognizing the value of the product at a variety of levels. As noted, the product is fully renewable in U.S. farm fields. Historically, the main value in soybean production has been the protein component in the beans, which is approximately 82 percent of the plant, leaving the remaining 18 percent, the oil, in abundant supply.

Further, biodiesel presents an environmentally-friendly alternative to the pure petroleum-based culture we've become so accustomed to. Biodiesel has completed rigorous health effects testing under the requirements of the Clean Air Act. According to the United Soybean Board, "the results show that biodiesel reduces air toxins by 90 percent." Also noted are substantial reductions in unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and particulate matter over pure petroleum-based diesel fuels. Department of Energy and Department of Agriculture lifecycle emissions studies have shown that biodiesel carbon dioxide emissions are 78 percent lower than those from petroleum-based diesel.

Biodiesel merits consideration as a cleaner-burning alternative to the normal fare of fuels we depend on to get our work done in park maintenance. The Environmental Protection Agency's rule to reduce sulfur content of on-road diesel--set to become effective in 2006--has raised concern over the loss of the lubricating properties of fossil diesel fuels. Research has shown that blending as little as e percent-biodiesel into petroleum diesel can increase lubricity by at least 65 percent.

Adding to these benefits are matters such as reduced dependency on foreign oils, boosting the U. S. economy by supporting the use of home-grown resources and setting an example for the long-term preservation of resources while servicing our fleets with products that can potentially extend the life-cycle efficiency. Moreover, biodiesel isn't the only soy-based lubricant alternative offered by the industry. Soy-based motor oils, hydraulic fluids and solvents can further add to the benefits of conversion to environmentally friendly alternatives.

Costs of Conversion

So what's the downside? Notably, for us in the northern climates, soy oils are reported to "gel" at temperatures higher than straight petroleum diesel. This phenomenon, however, is a relatively minor one--an increase only in the range of 1 to 3 degrees Celsius utilizing a blend of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent petroleum diesel. Blending No. 1 diesel, utilizing fuel heaters and storage in heated areas addresses this concern effectively. The front mower units that we convert to snow blowers and brooms in the winter still function quite effectively.

Cost? I expected to find that, as in many cases, taking care to be more environmentally responsible would increase our expenses. Instead, we found that the delivered price of B20 was roughly 20 cents per gallon cheaper than the pump price of regular diesel fuel. Of course, supply and demand may have different effects on your decisions.

As a result, at Metroparks of the Toledo Area, we've begun the transition to B20 diesel fuels. Our diesel storage tanks are being filled with the B20 blend as the volume allows. Our local supplier is metering the delivered product to produce a filled supply to-equal the 20 percent configuration. This fuel will run all of our diesel-powered equipment, including mowers, tractors and dump trucks. A leap of faith? Certainly, but one that has a good deal of research behind it and is expected to produce some highly positive results.

We're also converting our hydraulic systems along our river park areas to soy hydraulic fluid, out of recognition that a line failure here could have a great impact on the environment of some of the best walleye fishing areas in the region. We're also running a comparative test on three types of new on-road vehicles. For each type, we're running one on high-end "molly" synthetic engine oils and one on soy engine oils (after they're broken in) to study the effective lubricating properties of these alternative products. By going to the biodegradable soy alternative, we hope to achieve extended oil change cycles, thereby saving labor and product costs as well as incurring reduced disposal costs for used petroleum products.

Is this approach right for you? I can't answer that. Time and data collection will tell us if this decision offers the benefits we expect. In the meantime, we join agencies such as Cleveland Metroparks in field testing the products and evaluating the results in practical applications. Research from a variety of other sources, as noted, leads me to believe that the "greening" of our fleet will produce another enhancement in our commitment to the preservation of the environment and precious natural resources.

So Where Can I Get Soy?

To be honest, we at Metroparks of the Toledo Area were concerned that we might not be able to find biodiesel. Checking with local suppliers turned up few sources. After checking the United Soybean Board's Web site (www.unitedsoybean.org/), however, I quickly found a vendor within 25 miles of our district's-central location. Several contacts later, I found a vendor/distributor in our immediate area that offered a custom-blended, delivered product. The distributor was excited to hear of our interest and commitment. Check around--you'll be surprised what you find.

Another good source is http://soygold.com/dieselsuccess. There you'll find a wealth of information on the research that has gone into the soy alternative to straight fossil fuel products.

Also, John Deere offers its endorsement of biodiesel for all of its diesel-powered products. This endorsement, along with several advisories on the use, storage and handling of the product, can be found at www.deere.com and searching with keyword biodiesel. The site is worth visiting to assure yourself of the practicality and support that John Deere will offer you. Other companies that recognize soy alternatives include Saab, Volvo, BMW and Ford, as they look to the lubricating value of these products.

David Parker is director of operations and safety services for Metroparks of the Toledo Area, in Ohio. He can be reached at [e-mail]. Metroparks of the Toledo Area's Web site is at www.metroparkstoledo.com.