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Ceremony to mark opening of biodiesel plant in Kane |
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Written by Publisher
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Wednesday, 18 November 2009 |
Photo by Ted Lutz
Eagle Bio Diesel of Kane will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday to mark the start of operations in the former Holgate Toy building on Wetmore Avenue. Key staff members for Eagle Bio Diesel include, left to right: John Shuey, vice president of manufacturing; Bob Howard, vice president of quality; Dan Howard, president; and Dan DiIulio, vice president of operations. The company makes biodiesel, which is blended with diesel fuel for trucks, school buses and other diesel-powered equipment.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony at noon Thursday will mark the start of operations at Eagle Bio Diesel in Kane.
The company produces biodiesel for blending with diesel as fuel for trucks, school buses and other diesel-powered equipment.
The plant is located at 99 Wetmore Ave., Kane, in a building that formerly housed Holgate Toy.
“We starting to build up our customer base,” Dan Howard, Eagle Bio Diesel president, said. He said the company operates one shift with nine employees.
“As our sales increase and the demand for our product grows, we definitely will be adding employees,” Howard said.
According to Howard, the company’s “next step” will establish a second shift of production. He said he “envisions” a third shift in the future.
Under state legislation, diesel fuel will need a minimum blend of 2 percent biodiesel by next May. The action is a move to reduce emissions.
Eagle produces its biodiesel primarily from waste vegetable oil from restaurants. Biodiesel also is produced from agricultural byproducts such as soybean oil.
Eagle sells biodiesel to customers who blend the product with regular diesel fuel.
Howard said he expects to see future legislation that raises the blend of biodiesel with diesel fuel. He said the percentage of biodiesel in a tank of diesel fuel could hit 20 percent.
“We’re just in the beginning stages,” Howard said in painting a bright future for Eagle Bio Diesel in Kane. “We should see significant growth.”
Eagle has the capacity to produce five million gallons of biodiesel annually. Howard said this figure could rise to 10 million gallons “with minimal investment.”
“We know we’re in the right business,” Howard said. “It’s a good feeling.”
According to a company statement, biodiesel “has been proven over the years to be cleaner, safe and better than petroleum-based diesel.”
“A blend of biodiesel in an existing fuel tank will provide a safer and cleaner burning fuel for the engines as well as significant decrease in noxious emissions,” the company said. “Due to the company’s location and size, Eagle Bio Diesel will bring all of these benefits to the local community and will not cause the consumer any increase in their spending.”
Howard said Eagle Bio Diesel already is serving several local customers, including Asel Enterprises of Kane. Howard said school buses owned by the Bradford School District and Muccio Transportation in Elk County are mixing Eagle biodiesel with their diesel fuel.
The Veolia Greentree Landfill of Brockway uses Eagle biodiesel for many of its diesel vehicles. The Moshannon Valley High School is blending Eagle biodiesel with heating oil.
Howard said the “biggest savings” for users of biodiesel is from the projected cut in maintenance costs. He said the use of biodiesel would extend “the life of engines and result in fewer oil changes.”
Howard said Eagle welcomes inquiries from area residents who use oil to heat their homes. Residents also can ask their own distributors about the use of blended heating oil.
Howard said Eagle Bio Diesel is “definitely very happy to be located in Kane.”
“The people of Kane have been great,” he said. “Everywhere we go, we’re met with open arms.”
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 10 December 2009 )
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