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Planning for Clarksville's Growth
Clarksville gets a little greener with biodiesel fuel for city buses
Clarksville keeps getting a little greener as City leaders continue to seek ways to reduce cost and improve the environment. The latest initiative is a program that will convert used cooking oil from area restaurants to power city transit buses.
"We can make this product for less than a dollar a gallon – from $.92 to $95," said Tommy Williams, assistant superintendent of Clarksville's Wastewater Treatment Plant.
A federal grant will help purchase equipment to produce the fuel, and the city has already identified 95 restaurants that can provide 1,300 gallons of used oil per week.
According to Jim Hall, city transportation planner, using biodiesel fuel made from recycled cooking oil will not only improve air quality and reduce the amount of oil in the city's sewer system, it will also reduce the cost to operate the city's mass transit system.
Biodiesel Highlights:
• Green Technology – biodiesel helps mitigate global warming by reducing emissions in carbon monoxide, particulate matter, smog and ozone.
• The biodiesel system helps in the removal of grease currently being poured into the sewer system. Reduction in cost of maintenance and repairs to the sewer system.
• Savings in diesel cost. One gallon of biodiesel cost approximately $1.00 to produce by this process.
• The by-product is liquid soap. It is a good cleaning solution for the City and County garages.
• Biodiesel helps us become energy independent and reduce our dependency on foreign oil.
• The biodiesel processing system can produce 55 gallons of biodiesel per day if the used grease is available. The used grease required to run the system and produce the 55 gallons of biodiesel is approximately 55 gallons also.
• The biodiesel system was purchased through a CMAQ grant at 100% federal funding with the help of TDOT. The grant is for $45,000.00 and does include for marketing and outreach along with the equipment.
• The City and County would like more participation from local restaurants and businesses for the donation of their used cooking oil. The Gas and Water Dept will distribute barrels for the grease and will pick the grease up on a regular basis from the local business. Businesses interested in donating their used cooking oil are asked to call Mike Gray at (931)-645-7495.
• The Gas and Water Dept will soon begin an awareness and outreach campaign to the public for their participation in recycling their home cooking oil. They are still working out where to have the drop off points. More information will be given as the program develops.
• Pat Hickey, General Manager of Clarksville Gas and Water, has housed the system at the Wastewater Treatment Plant under the direction of Mike Gray, Assistant Plant Manager.
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