Oakhurst (Dairy) trucks head to biodiesel (largest commercial fleet in New England)

[jpak]

http://www.sunjournal.com/index.php?t=3&storyid=187548

PORTLAND (Maine) (AP) - Portland-based Oakhurst Dairy plans to begin using a biodiesel blend in 130 delivery trucks by year's end, creating the largest private biodiesel fleet in New England, company officials announced Tuesday.

The decision is good for the environment because biodiesel is a cleaner-burning fuel and because it's produced from waste vegetable oil, among other things, said Maine Gov. John Baldacci.

"It reduces our need for, and our addiction to, foreign oil," he said.

Oakhurst's decision, which affects 90 percent of its fleet, will remove from the air an estimated 1,332 tons per year of carbon dioxide, a heat-trapping gas that's associated by scientists with global climate change.

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[GreenPartyVoter]

1. I love being a Mainer. So much to feel proud about. :^)

[jpak]

4. Oakhurst stood up to Monsanto a few years back - when they sued them over hormone-free milk

Monsanto's Bullying of Maine Dairy Backfiring

http://www.organicconsumers.org/rbgh/monsanto_rbgh_maine.cfm

For Monsanto, Oakhurst Dairy presented a problem. Not only was Oakhurst refusing to buy milk from farmers who used a Monsanto product called Posilac, it was promoting its milk on the fact.

Oakhurst labels and markets its milk as coming from farmers who vow not to use artificial growth hormones to increase cows' milk production. Posilac is the only such hormone approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

Monsanto Co. is now suing Oakhurst, accusing it of misleading labeling and advertising that Monsanto says disparages its product.

Oakhurst, however, is hardly alone. Dozens of dairies and food retailers nationwide promote their milk, cheese, butter, yogurt and other dairy products as coming from milk from cows not given growth hormones.

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[GreenPartyVoter]

5. Oh, yes. I remember that quite well.

[Gormy Cuss]

2. Cool. Oakhurst has a history of positive firsts for Maine.

On the management side of things, I knew Oakhurst employees who were so happy with their jobs that it would take a crowbar to remove them from the place.

[MountainLaurel]

7. That's good to know

I'll feel a lot happier drinking their milk now.

[quispquake]

3. They're "Growth Hormone" friendly too...

I love Oakhurst...they created quite the flap a few years ago when they labeled their milk saying they buy no milk from any farmers that use growth hormones...woohoo!!!

[4dsc]

6. Hope they have alot of new fuel filters

Because this crap(biodiesel) will fuck with their engines real good!!

[jpak]

8. Nonsense

http://www.cytoculture.com/Biodiesel%20Handbook.htm

http://www.biodiesel.co.uk/press_release/submission_for_biofuels_4.htm

http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/plugs/plbiodsl.html

www.biodiesel.org/resources/reportsdatabase/reports/gen/19960808_gen-218.pdf

[phantom power]

9. My dad-in-law told me a story about this issue.

According to this story, biodiesel can clog up a fuel filter, but it's because it loosens up crud deposited from regular diesel. He said it was recommended to switch gradually and keep filters changed frequently durinng the change. Biodiesel by itself is cleaner.

I know fuck-all about engines, but it sounded like a plausible theory. So here I am passing it on.

[Chemical Bill]

10. References please, with links.

My old Mercedes 300D runs fine on biodiesel. You need to back up that statement if you want to show any credibility.

Bill