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Biodiesel plans for Hawaiian Department of Public Works

A Hawaiian Department of Public Works has announced that it will begin phasing in biodiesel, the Honolulu Advertiser reported.

Kaua'i county's engineer Donald Fujimoto has said there is a goal to move all of the vehicles and equipment that currently use diesel to a biodiesel blend.

Commenting on how the plan will be implemented, Dwayne Adachi, the department's automotive equipment superintendent, said: "We're starting with two fuel storage tanks and plan to eventually expand to other tanks located at our Kapa'a and Hanalei baseyards."

Mr Adachi has said that there are some manufacturers of county vehicles who are holding up the conversion to the alternative fuel.

They have expressed concern that biodiesel may have a negative effect on engines and "will not honor their warranties if anything goes wrong".

The county currently uses a blend of five per cent biodiesel in their vehicles.

In related news, Hawaii suffered a setback in its quest to employ alternative fuels with the announcement that a biodiesel plant - Imperium Renewables - is closing its Hawaiian offices.

It was reportedly going to supply between five and 12 million gallons of biodiesel a year to the Hawaiian Electric Company.