The City of Smyrna plans to open a biodiesel processing plant, designed to cut fuel costs and reduce fossil fuel consumption, by January 2012. The use of biodiesel results in the substantial reduction of unburned hydrocarbons.
The Biodiesel Program in Smyrna is modeled after the program implemented by the City of Hoover, Alabama. The program is operated in-house, by City of Smyrna employees. Public Works oversees the construction and maintenance of the building addition, assembly/operation of the processing plants, collection of the cooking oils and production of the biodiesel. The program is operated with existing staff and no additional staff will be hired for the implementation of the program.
The Biodiesel Program has three integrated goals, to 1) Reduce the City’s consumption of fossil fuel (diesel); 2) Reduce the City’s fuel costs; and 3) Reduce green house fossil fuel emissions from the City’s service fleet. An objective of the Biodiesel Program is to reduce fossil fuel (diesel) consumption of service vehicles by 25% by 2020, fossil fuel (diesel) emissions by 25% by 2025 and save approximately $25,000 per year (savings must be adjusted with emerging conditions).
After the plant opens, residents will be asked to recycle cooking oil to help operate the biodiesel processors. Citizens can help by donating used Cooking Oil (not grease, but Cooking Oil) in sealed plastic containers (such as a milk carton) and either taking it to the Smyrna Recycling Center or having it at curbside on recycling day (same day as your sanitation collection day).
The project is being funded by a federal grant the city of Smyrna was awarded from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program.
The funds will be used to expand an existing Public Works building to create an area for two 55-gallon biodiesel processing plants with assorted storage tanks and containers. In addition to the facility improvements, funds will be used for associated start-up costs such as collection containers and drums. General public participation by local restaurants will be vital to the success of the program but citizens will be able to participate in the program.
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