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Maine Audubon goes biodiesel
BY SARA DONNELLY
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Maine Audubon, in Falmouth, is using biodiesel fuel (see "Biofuel to the Rescue," April 17, 2003, by Jonathan Cook) to heat two of its buildings this winter, despite a significant increase in cost to the organization. According to Robert Savage, property manager at the Gilsland Farm Audubon Center, the company signed a one year contract with Independence Fuel at an estimated rate of more than 14 cents higher than regular oil per gallon. All told, Savage expects Audubon will flush an extra $900 this winter to heat with the earth in mind. Independence Fuel, which is located in Durham, will supply Maine Audubon with the B20 biodiesel fuel, which is made of 20 percent biofuel and 80 percent petroleum fuel. So why is Maine Audubon, at the beginning of a winter when nearly everyone is looking to cut heating costs, intentionally increasing theirs? For Mother Earth, of course. "We think that since Maine Audubon is an environmental organization we need to sort of walk our talk," Savage says. B20 oil has 20 percent less unburned hydrocarbons than regular oil and reduces carbon monoxide in the air by 12 percent. Independence Fuel provides B20 fuel to L.L. Bean, Colby College, and several state government offices in Augusta, among other clients. Maine Audubon fired up biodiesel heat for the first time in its history on October 10.
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