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Processor Wants to Turn Scraps into Biofuel
US - A company that processes food scraps, animal parts and used restaurant grease in San Francisco now wants to turn that waste into fuel.| * "This facility will serve as a model for cities throughout the world who aim to reduce their carbon footprint and transform their grease waste into useable, sustainable energy." |
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Mayor Gavin Newsom
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Darling International has reached a tentative agreement with the Port of San Francisco to build a biodiesel plant on the city's southeastern waterfront. The Port Commission is scheduled to vote on the agreement today.
For 38 years, Darling has run a rendering plant on Pier 92, at Amador Street, that creates tallow by processing byproducts from dairies, meatpacking facilities, butcher shops and restaurants. Darling's plant ships so much finished tallow - 21,731 liquid tons in 2007 - that the company has become the port's largest exporter.
Tallow can be used to make biodiesel, a fuel that can be blended into regular, petroleum-based diesel or used on its own in vehicles with minor modifications. So Darling wants part of the pier to house a biodiesel plant capable of churning out 7.5 million to 10 million gallons each year. The project would cost roughly $7 million to $10 million.
"This facility will serve as a model for cities throughout the world who aim to reduce their carbon footprint and transform their grease waste into useable, sustainable energy," said Mayor Gavin Newsom.
SFGate reports that the city government uses a blend of 20 percent biodiesel in all 1,500 of its diesel vehicles. The proposed agreement with the port, however, does not obligate the city to buy biodiesel from Darling.
Biodiesel has grown in popularity during this decade's historic run-up in oil prices, which pushed the price of regular diesel above $5 per gallon this summer in California. Biodiesel can be made from multiple sources, such as soy oil or recycled restaurant grease.
Under the proposal, Darling and the port also will collaborate on creating a marine fueling station at the pier, for boats that use biodiesel. Darling is based in Irving, Texas.
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