Vermont Biodiesel Case Studies
Introduction
One of the most interesting components of the Vermont Biodiesel Project (VBP) has been documenting the successes and challenges of the early adopters in the Vermont biodiesel sector. In order to gain a better understanding of the trends occurring within this sector, the case studies process has looked at the individuals and businesses from four distinct (but related) groups; biodiesel entrepreneurs, fuel dealers, commercial scale users of biodiesel, and members of the agricultural community.
These case studies have been instrumental not simply as an exercise in historical preservation but have also provided us with valuable information to gauge progress, assess emerging development needs, and inspire others who are considering entering this growing market.
The following case study reports have been organized by market group. To read the individual one-page narratives, accompanied with photo images, click on the links below.
Agriculture
Cate Farm, Plainfield
Richard Wiswall, Sally Coleman and their family are organic farmers with 148 acres in Washington County.
Ekolott Farm, Newbury
Larry Scott and Peggy Hewes looked out their window this summer at the three beautiful acres of sunflowers they grew as feedstock for biodiesel.
Borderview Farm, Alburgh
Heather Darby and Roger Rainville can now imagine the development of a central seed oil crushing and biodiesel processing facility in their area—and even mention the possibility of it being right there on his farm.
State Line Farm, Shaftsbury
John Williamson, together with his agricultural partners Stephen Leblanc and Steve Plumber have formed perhaps the most innovative of the farm operations in the state.
Vermont Natural Ag Products/Foster Farm, Middlebury
The Fosters were the first farm in Vermont and one of the first in the nation to install an anaerobic (methane) digester.
Commercial Users
Green Mountain Power, Colchester
One of the three core values that the utility company holds is that of environmental responsibility.
Town of Norwich
The Norwich Energy Committee was set up three years ago as a model for other Vermont towns to promote energy conservation and renewables.
Smugglers' Notch Resort, Cambridge
From his vantage point, Tom McGrail, Environmental Compliance Manager for the mountain, sees these biodiesel programs as a way for the resort industry to provide leadership to other sectors.
Sugarbush Resort, Warren
Sugarbush Resort is a member of "Sustainable Slopes" and has set standards for reducing the environmental footprint of ski resorts.
Vermont Department of Buildings and General Services, Montpelier
In January of 2004, Teigh Southworth, BGS project manager, began researching biodiesel extensively, based on a decision by the Commissioner to get at least one state building using B20 for heating fuel.
Entrepreneurs
Algaepower, Montpelier
Gail Busch feels that there is a drawback in producing energy crops on land that could be devoted to food cultivation, so she started researching oil production from algae as an alternative.
BioQuantum, Inc., White River Junction
BioQuantum was incorporated on March 18th, 2005 (Rudolph Diesel's birthday) with a mission to "transition energy from its traditional fossil fuel roots to more renewable, sustainable fuels.
Dog River Alternative Fuels, LLC, Berlin
Since 1973 John Hurley has been running a sawmill on fourteen hundred acres of forestland he manages in the foothills above Dog River in Washington County.
Green Technologies, LLC, Winooski
Scott Gordon is approaching Green Technologies as a business experiment to show that sustainable businesses can survive in a world of declining resources.
Fuel Dealers
Champlain Oil Company, South Burlington
Champlain Oil Co. prides itself in staying up with positive changes in the industry and Tony Cairns is pleased to be in the forefront with biodiesel.
Fleming Oil Co., Brattleboro
Rick Fleming says the support for it is overwhelming: "Once people try biodiesel, they like it and keep coming back."
Jack F. Corse Inc., Cambridge
As soon as they received their first delivery of B20, Jack Corse Co. began using it in their delivery trucks and off-road equipment and the fleet is going through 600-700 gallons in a week.
Patterson Fuels, Richmond
Jason's father, Moe Harvey started Patterson Fuels in 1973 with one truck and thirty customers in Colchester, Vermont.