www.cvbizjournal.comNovember 2007 15

see Biodiesel at the Port page 16

Photos © Rich Turner/© ColorNet, Inc, P. Di Marino

The second busiest inland port on theU.S. West Coast, handling seven milliontons of cargo.

The Port supports more than 4,500 family-wage jobs.

Jobs at the Port generate $171 million inannual income.

The Port is self-su�cient and does not taxthe citizens.

Private sector investment at the Port exceeded $100 million in 2006.

California-grown bagged rice is a leading export. Since 2000, more than 87 vessels carringmore than one million tons of California rice destined to the Far East have crossed the docks.

More than 90 percent of the farmers in theSan Joaquin Valley use fertilizer that is shipped through the Port of Stockton.

The Port trades with more than 55 countries worldwide.

Quick facts about the Port of Stockton

By Craig W. Anderson In the biofuel realm ethanol has a two-decade jump on biodiesel but Community Fuels is intent on do-ing something about catching up via their biodiesel plant under construc-tion at the Port of Stockton. “We want to provide cost effec-tive ways to use waste and help clean the Central Valley’s air,” said Lisa Mortenson, Community Fuels CEO. “We’re looking to partner with ag in the area to acquire feedstock in bulk to make the biodiesel that will then be sold and used locally.” She said the Port site is ideal be-cause of its “tri-modal logistics” con-sisting of easy truck, rail and deepwa-ter channel access. The 40,000 square foot facility, located in an existing warehouse will pump out 7.5 million gallons annu-ally, increasing to 15 million gallons within a year. Additional construc-tion is expected to be completed by the end of the year and producing biodiesel sometime in the first quar-ter of 2008. “The tanks have been purchased but not installed, the bulk of the equipment is scored offsite, storm drains are being dug and the ware-house is being significantly refur-bished and will include a laboratory,” said Ms. Mortenson, adding that the plant will “support future expansion” on the two acres of open yard space.

She said a “whole host of innova-tive high tech, state of the art process-ing technology” will be installed in the plant to create a “controlled process that produces a consistently high qual-ity product.” Food and chemical pro-cessing technologies are combined for use in biodiesel production. She anticipates the operation will employ 20 to 25 people. Stockton is the primary plant in the area that will provide wholesale biodiesel to petroleum diesel dis-tributors who will blend and send it

Biodiesel plant rising at Port of Stocktonto market. A gas station would need to convert only one tank and pump to biodiesel which would also allow diesel users to blend their own fuel at the pumps by adding biodiesel to normal diesel. Biodiesel is made using vegetable oils, fish oil, animal fats, algae or recycled waste cooking oil. In fact, Community Fuels has received a DOE research grant to evaluate pro-cesses needed to use algae as a feed-stock for biodiesel. “Algae is exciting because feed-

stock availability limits how large the biodiesel industry can become,” Ms. Mortenson explained. “Algae has a higher oil yield than land crops and we’re researching nutrient combina-tions for algae.” Another potential source of oil is jatropha, a plant grown in India that is high in oil and won’t compete with food products for biodiesel feedstock. Other foodstocks that can provide biodiesel oil include soybeans, cot-ton, canola, sunflower, peanuts, saf-flower and a DOE mustard hybrid.

The 150 biodiesel plants in the U.S. produced 250 million gallons last year and in 2008 it is estimated more than 350 million gallons of the fuel will be created. Biodiesel is a fuel for the times: 100 percent biodiesel is non-toxic and biodegradable; its flashpoint is 150 degrees higher that petroleum diesel, making it very safe; it is 10 times less toxic and it degrades quickly. Ms. Mortenson pointed out that biodiesel is “a pollution solution that

Lisa Mortenson of Community Fuels - photo courtesy of Community Fuels

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results in immediate emission reduc-tions” by lowering carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and hydrocarbon levels by 50 to 100 per-cent, thus reducing soot, smog and cancer-causing compounds. And a gigantic plus is that biodiesel requires no engine modification and doesn’t need new vehicles, pumps or infrastructure to be used. Its higher lu-bricity adds life to engines and it mixes with regular diesel fuel at any level. So: if biodiesel is so terrific why are there only 12 plants in California, THE most pollution-aware state in the nation? Ms. Mortenson didn’t have an answer but said the state would ben-efit from biodiesel-fueled vehicles and equipment used by agriculture, construction and truckers and noted the California’s Air Resources Board has clambered aboard the biodiesel tanker via a working group which is examining biodiesel as a way to re-duce pollution in the Central Valley and the state. “CARB is very aware of biodiesel and is working to define how it can best be used in working group ses-sions that are open to the public,” explained Ms. Mortenson.

Biodiesel’s cost depends on how far the fuel has to travel and the bulk of California’s biodiesel fuel is trucked in from Florida. Thus, fuel

produced, blended, distributed and sold here will significantly lower the cost to consumers. As Community Fuels builds the

continued from page 15Biodiesel at the Port

Bruce Cohen of Community Fuels at the new plant site at the Port - © Rich Turner

biodiesel market in the Central Valley the fuel could prove to be a cheaper and more effective pollution fix than over-praised ethanol.