WHITMAN COUNTY, Wash.-The quest to switch from fossil fuels to something more sustainable has a lot of people looking to a tiny seed. Washington State University scientists are studying oil seeds as possible stand-ins for diesel and even jet fuel. One Whitman County farmer is already growing his own fields of fuel.
When Steve Camp looks out across his Whitman County farm he doesn't visualize his particular crop going to market. The sound of an engine is Steve's reward. He is growing a crop called Camelina.
Camelina has been grown since ancient times for use as lamp fuel, among other things. Today, Steve wants to sow its seeds into a bio-fuel revolution.
"It's one of the answers to the fuel issues we're having. We can take dependence on foreign oil away," said Steve.
Camelina likely won't be the only answer. But Steve thinks this golden crop can help bring fuel freedom to the United States.
Washington State University scientists are studying Camelina as fuel as well. They are leading a charge to figure out Camelina's use as renewable jet fuel. It could reduce a plane's carbon emissions by 80%. The U.S. Navy chose Camelina for its test flight of aviation biofuel.
Steve's aspirations are more modest. He uses nearly 6,000 gallons of diesel a year. He would like a greener product with a price that does not seem to fluctuate with the wind.
Steve begins by separating the seed. From there, it goes into a hopper where the seed is pressed. The oil goes one way and the meal goes another. Farmers buy this nutritious feed for livestock. Steve knows the oil can do a lot more. Once he mixes it with a catalyst, he has his own renewable biofuel. He is still trying to figure long-term costs. But he says it took about three gallons of regular fuel to plant and harvest each acre. Each acre produces 60 gallons of biofuel.
The USDA awarded Steve a Conservation Innovation Grant. The Whitman Conservation District supports Steve's project by providing a seed crusher. The Conservation District would like to see more farmers plant oil seeds as rotational crops because they improve soil health for the next crop.
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