New Biodiesel Plant Runs on Landfill Gas

Science & Technology (alternative energy)

Denton Biodiesel Plant Being Constructed A new biodiesel plant is being hailed as the first "renewable energy plant to run on renewable energy".

The plant was opened in Denton, Texas, and runs on biogas, collected from a nearby landfill.

Actress Daryl Hannah, who was on hand for the opening, said: "Taking waste, methane gas and turning waste, vegetable grease into fuel, that's remarkable... It has much more of a ripple effect than we realize."

According to the Associated Press, the city of Denton provided money for the project and will buy 300,000 gallons of biodiesel each year for five years to run its 386 garbage trucks, and other service trucks and buses.

Biodiesel Industries, the firm which headed up the project, plans to collect used soybean and vegetable oil from Dallas-Fort Worth area restaurants that produce about 12 million gallons of used cooking oil and grease a year and from farmers who grow oil-bearing crops.

Biodiesel Being Poured