Twin Falls station now offers biodiesel fuel

TWIN FALLS — A Chevron gas station recently installed a biodiesel pump, making the refined mixture of diesel and vegetable oils available commercially for the first time in Twin Falls.

Last summer, Dick Larsen, Idaho Department of Water Resources public information officer, drove the “Mustard Bug” from Boise to Twin Falls and gave a presentation about biodiesel.

The Mustard Bug is owned by the University of Idaho, where researchers have been growing mustard seed for fuel. The car gets about 44 mpg and can cruise up to 600 miles on a single tank.

Biodiesel can be made from vegetable oils such as soy, canola, palm, sunflower and mustard, and from animals fats such as fish oil, lard and chicken fat and even recycled cooking fats or grease.

Soon after Larsen´s pitch, BriCo Chevron station owner David Maestas began to operate the first biodiesel pump in Idaho, with a mixture of 20 percent vegetable oil and 80 percent diesel.

No mechanical modifications are necessary to use the fuel, called B20, which is cleaner-burning than plain diesel, but costs about 15 cents per gallon more.

“It is a wonderful option for people concerned that Earth is a place to live,” Maestas said.Biodiesel also is being used in the Meridian School District to operate school buses, Larsen said.

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