Please do not leave this page until complete. This can take a few moments.
A Portland company that turns restaurant grease into fuel has opened its first gas pump for vehicles.
Maine Biofuel is able to produce about 3,000 gallons of biodiesel a day, according to founder and CEO Jarmin Kaltsas, and can make 1 million gallons of fuel a year. The pump's located at 51 Ingersoll Drive, off Riverside Street in Portland, and is open between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Payment must be in cash for now, but credit cards will be accepted soon.
"We've been building the plant for the past two and a half years," Kaltsas says. "It feels really good to have a product ready for people to pull up their cars and fuel up." Customers with diesel engines can fuel up at the plant, and the company anticipates serving individuals and trucking fleets, he says. The price of fuel at his pump will be about 2% higher than the average retail market price for diesel, he says.
Kaltsas calls his company a "recycling plant," because the biofuel is made from recycled vegetable oil, rather than food crops that have been converted into fuel. The waste grease is collected from local restaurants. The company also uses the vegetable biodiesel to power its production and heat its building. Plus, the Maine Biofuel is looking into reusing glycerin, another byproduct, to sell to soap manufacturers, he says.
Most of the company's investors are local, and management hopes to sell most of the product within greater Portland, according to a company press release. Maine Biofuel has enlisted students from the University of Southern Maine to paint murals on their tanks, and hopes to encourage schools groups and others to tour the Warren Avenue plant.
Thank you Mr. Sutherland for clearing up a point that has been fraught with rumor, innuendo, and misinformation for far too long now. It is refreshing to hear the well said, simple truth come from someone who, as far as I know, is not
involved in the alt fuel business. You've just helped the rest of us gain a lot more credibility.
Congratulations to Mr. Kaltsas! I will him much success with this exciting venture. However, as a biodiesel supporter, I would like to correct one statement from the story.
Production of soybean oil biodiesel is not made by grinding up soybeans into fuel. Soybeans have two components – oil and protein meal. The meal represents the majority of the soybean, and is used in food and livestock feed. Biodiesel uses only the oil portion of the soybean.
Biodiesel is the most diverse fuel on the planet. Besides recycled kitchen grease, it is made from regionally available, renewable resources that are abundant in the U.S., including soybean oil, other plant oils and beef tallow and other fats.
Thanks to biodiesel, we don’t need to take food off the dinner table to reduce harmful emissions. We just use a little American ingenuity!
All taxes are worked into the price. They include excise and road tax. We use the daily AAA Fuel guage report average to price our fuel. Todays price is $2.80 gal. It fluctuates with the market.
Are they paying excise tax? If they are paying excise tax how much is it per gallon...compared to what regular diesel is saddled with?
The Giving Guide helps nonprofits have the opportunity to showcase and differentiate their organizations so that businesses better understand how they can contribute to a nonprofit’s mission and work.
Learn MoreWork for ME is a workforce development tool to help Maine’s employers target Maine’s emerging workforce. Work for ME highlights each industry, its impact on Maine’s economy, the jobs available to entry-level workers, the training and education needed to get a career started.
Learn MoreFew people are adequately prepared for all the tasks involved in planning and providing care for aging family members. SeniorSmart provides an essential road map for navigating the process. This resource guide explores the myriad of care options and offers essential information on topics ranging from self-care to legal and financial preparedness.
Learn moreThe Giving Guide helps nonprofits have the opportunity to showcase and differentiate their organizations so that businesses better understand how they can contribute to a nonprofit’s mission and work.
Work for ME is a workforce development tool to help Maine’s employers target Maine’s emerging workforce. Work for ME highlights each industry, its impact on Maine’s economy, the jobs available to entry-level workers, the training and education needed to get a career started.
Few people are adequately prepared for all the tasks involved in planning and providing care for aging family members. SeniorSmart provides an essential road map for navigating the process. This resource guide explores the myriad of care options and offers essential information on topics ranging from self-care to legal and financial preparedness.
In order to use this feature, we need some information from you. You can also login or register for a free account.
By clicking submit you are agreeing to our cookie usage and Privacy Policy
Already have an account? Login
Already have an account? Login
Want to create an account? Register
In order to use this feature, we need some information from you. You can also login or register for a free account.
By clicking submit you are agreeing to our cookie usage and Privacy Policy
Already have an account? Login
Already have an account? Login
Want to create an account? Register
This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Our privacy policy
To ensure the best experience on our website, articles cannot be read without allowing cookies. Please allow cookies to continue reading. Our privacy policy
Comments