IT IS NOT very often that the University Transit System takes part in a worldwide political movement. But, with its buses switching from using regular diesel fuel to a fuel with biodiesel additives, UTS has not only taken a small step towards relieving our societies dependence on oil, it has also made a move that will be good for the University's bottom line.
Moreover, while this switch is a good first step, the University must continue to search for alternative forms of fuel if it is to both act as a catalyst for change and shelter itself from the cost of ever increasing oil prices.
After the success of a pilot program to test the feasibility of switching to a biodiesel fuel, UTS officially began using the B20 biodiesel blend on Oct. 18. The new fuel is a blend of 20 percent biodiesel derived from vegetable oil with 80 percent traditional oil derived diesel fuel. Director of Parking and Transportation Rebecca White said in an interview that, "We use about 125,000 gallons of petroleum fuel in a year," and that the change allows the University to "reduce our impact on the environment and reduce our dependency on petroleum."
A major benefit that the switch offers to the University is that it the University will be protected from the ever-climbing prices of oil. Although the smear campaign against green fuels such as biodiesel has led many to believe that they are financially uncompetitive, in fact, biodiesel is gaining a growing share of the world energy market as petroleum prices continue to rise.
According to the May 12 issue of the Economist, biofuels have become cost-competitive with traditional petroleum fuels, causing its market share to surge across the developed world. The magazine goes on to report that American production of the leading biofuel, methanol, has risen by an astounding 30 percent in the last year alone.
Moreover, although White points out that, "Currently, biodiesel fuels cost slightly more than regular diesel fuel,"in the future the soaring price of oil is sure to give biodiesel and advantage. Right now demand for energy is soaring in the booming economies of China and India, and leading experts such as former advisor to President Bush, Matthew Simmons, are warning that the world is hitting a ceiling on the maximum amount of oil it can produce. These trends ensure that the price of oil is sure the rise and the attractiveness of alternative fuel sources is sure to improve.
While the move makes sense for the University it is also a good first step towards building a movement for other institutions to switch away from petroleum derived fuels. In The End of Oil, Paul Roberts noted that when government institutions switch to alternative fuel sources, they make these alternatives more competitive on the market by creating economies of scale for producers and lowering the price consumers pay for alternatives.
While the University is not large enough to create such a change on its own, by moving towards alternative energy sources it draws attention to the feasibility of alternatives and sets an example for other institutions. The University could further enhance this impact by acknowledging a fundamental commitment towards seeking out alternative energy sources. Moreover, the University could also band together with other institutions to collectively bargain for alternative, fuels such as biodiesel, and to present a united political force that can share ideas and pressure the government to provide greater resources for incentives to switch to energy alternatives and research into alternative energy sources.
Ultimately, energy is going to be one of the defining issues of the coming decades. As oil production grows increasingly unable to satisfy the world's insatiable appetite for energy, and as global warming creates enormous environmental disasters we will be forced to rethink the way we use energy in our society. If UTS's decision to switch to biodiesel is followed up by a long term commitment to alternative fuels, the University can play a role in this transformation.
Hopefully, the University will see the wisdom in such a strategy and make a commitment that will be a step towards establishing a more sustainable society for future generations.
Adam Keith is a Cavalier Daily associate editor. He can be reached at akeith@cavalierdaily.com
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