Tue., July 7, 2009 2:41pm (EDT)

Biodiesel Flows Through Georgia Pipeline

By Josephine Bennett

Updated: 4 years ago

ATHENS, Ga.  —   The nation's first commercial shipment of B-5 biodiesel to flow through a pipeline has moved through Georgia. A 15,000 barrel test batch was shipped from Collins, Mississippi to Athens. B-5 is a blend of five percent biodiesel and 95 percent diesel. Normally it is transported by truck because biodiesel can contaminate jet fuel if shipped in the same pipeline.

The Plantation Pipe Line Company will initially focus on moving biodiesel through parts of the pipeline that only transport gasoline and diesel.

Demand for the fuel has risen as federal mandates call for increasing levels of biofuels to be blended into petroleum. Plantation Pipe Line also sent batches to Bremen and Atlanta.

Company officials say the fuel passed quality tests upon arrival.