Passenger Trains > FL Brightline to use biodiesel

Deal with FPL to supply fuel for Brightline diesel locomotives. Electric utility FPL uses biodiesel for many of its trucks, and has a substantial delivery network.

http://gobrightline.com/brightline-fpl-announce-clean-energy-partnership/

Posted from Android

I bet that the Siemens warranty won't cover any fuel system related problems if they run biodiesel. Most engine manufacturers don't trust the stuff.

Is something weird going on? Is FPL using Bio Diesel to offset some pollution credits and it can't use enough itself?

If Brightline is paying a market price (not subsidized in any fashion), I would question its sincerity in being a for profit corporation.

There's an active market for biodiesel in South Florida.

Lackawanna484 Wrote:
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> There's an active market for biodiesel in South
> Florida.

What's driving the market? All the tourists eating French fries?

radar Wrote:
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> I bet that the Siemens warranty won't cover any
> fuel system related problems if they run
> biodiesel. Most engine manufacturers don't trust
> the stuff.

I bet whole heartedly they have Siemens blessing.

ts1457 Wrote:
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> If Brightline is paying a market price (not
> subsidized in any fashion), I would question its
> sincerity in being a for profit corporation.

Why, because they are trying to do things fairly and out in the open?

ts1457 Wrote:
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> Is something weird going on? Is FPL using Bio
> Diesel to offset some pollution credits and it
> can't use enough itself?
>
> If Brightline is paying a market price (not
> subsidized in any fashion), I would question its
> sincerity in being a for profit corporation.

After many cases of over-promising and under-delivering from the passenger rail agencies (out here in California, for example), I can sympathize with your skepticism. I don't live in Florida, so I lack the intuition to feel out what's going on, but I did a very quick research and found out there was a biodiesel conference in southern Florida (Tampa) last year, trying to grow the industry in the area. In the article, it seems biodiesel is trying to become more mainstream, relying less on "used french fry oil" but instead rely more on refining raw resources, soybean oil for starters. Even with all that, it's still a blend with the regular petroleum-based diesel fuel.

One angle is that Brightline taking the biodiesel stance, trying to portray itself as a "partner" in the growing biodiesel industry in Florida, to get support from the supply-side folks.

Another angle is a preemptive strike against the ignorant NIMBYs, that "dirty" diesel particulates won't be generated by the Brightline train sets burning "cleaner" biodiesel, although in practice, the fuel is a blend, so who knows. Less soot on the roof and on your head, to preserve your property values! :-)

Hope TO members living in Florida can offer some healthy speculation on what's going on.

here is a question: how many diesel owners here would use biodiesel in their trucks?

66

goneon66 Wrote:
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> here is a question: how many diesel owners here
> would use biodiesel in their trucks?

B20 is a great compromise. I run it in two trucks. B100 requires a couple things to make it work, namely that it doesn't like the cold and is hard on o-rings and seals, also requires more filtration.

As said, B20 has served me well. I've heard the horror stories of it, but my 4 year old Ram diesel that we bought new has ran all 70k miles with it. My '83 chevy 6.2l diesel has ran it for 40k miles and the both fuel pumps are still in great shape.

Word of caution, not all trucks are rated for it. I know some third gen dodge trucks are only rated for B5.

FPL has hundreds of trucks running on biodiesel, and a robust supply network. That's one reason why they're a good partner.

Posted from Android

goneon66 Wrote:
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> here is a question: how many diesel owners here
> would use biodiesel in their trucks?
>
> 66

If there were cost effective readily available sources near me, I would.