Smyrna's Biodiesel Production Program Makes National Headlines

The national spotlight shined on Smyrna last week with regards to city’s efforts to increase its energy efficiency.

First, USA Today picked up a story about Smyrna getting into the diesel production business. The city received a Community Development Block Grant as part of the federal stimulus program. With the $208,000 grant, construction began on a new biodiesel processing center at the city’s facility and the hope is that it will be up and running by the end of this month.

The city is collecting biodiesel in the form of recycled cooking oil from restaurants and residents and will then use it in a fuel mix for the nearly 70 diesel operating vehicles in its fleet.

Recycling the vegetable oil will also help with the prevention of clogged sewers and storm drains. Restaurants will be encouraged to recycle their cooking fat, and the city will pick it up for free.

Last Friday, Smyrna City Administrator Eric Taylor was an in-studio guest at CNN in downtown Atlanta to talk about the program. Taylor was live on camera for about five minutes singing the praises of the program and the city’s council for its outside-the-box thinking in increasing its energy efficiency.

“The long-term hope is to save about 25 percent of our fuel costs and at our current rate that’s about $25,000 a year,’’ Taylor told the CNN host.

Taylor also said that several southeastern cities have contacted Smyrna officials about the program. But he was unable to officially confirm what was the smell of the fuel, adding with a smile, “personally speaking, the smell of french fries is a little bit better than the smell of diesel oil.’’

Residents are asked to donate used cooking oil – but not grease - in sealed containers at the located at 645 Smyrna Hill Drive. For more information on the Smyrna’s biodiesel production program, see here.