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Susanne Zilberfarb

Soybean Checkoff grant to help Indian River install biodiesel pump

Delaware and National Soybean Boards and the State of Delaware

To Introduce Soy Biodiesel Fuel at the Indian River Marina

On January 26, Jeffrey Allen, President of the Delaware Soybean Board announced a program that will introduce soy biodiesel fuel at the Indian River Marina this spring. Located at the Indian River Inlet on U.S. Rt. 1, north of Bethany Beach, the Indian River Marina will be the first marina in the Mid-Atlantic region to offer soy biodiesel fuel to government and commercial marine fleets, as well as private boat owners. The marina is part of the Delaware Seashore State Park, managed by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC).

Soy biodiesel is a cleaner-burning fuel made from soybeans, Delaware’s #1 crop, and works in any diesel engine. Pure biodiesel is biodegradeable and non-toxic, making it a safer fuel for the marine environment and for boaters to use and handle.

According to Jeffrey Allen, the fuel’s introduction is being made possible by a grant of $30,571 from the United Soybean Board, the national Board consisting of growers representing soybean-producing states throughout the country. “The Delaware Soybean Board is pleased to receive this grant from the United Soybean Board,” said Mr. Allen, “and we are especially fortunate to have Janice Dahl, Executive Director of the United Soybean Board, here today to make this announcement with us. The grant award provides the funds necessary to make changes to an existing fuel tank at the marina and for our educational efforts to marine groups on the environmental and operating attributes of biodiesel,” he said.

“In addition, the grant will expand our biodiesel efforts to increase the availability and usage of soy biodiesel in the state,” continued Mr. Allen, “as well as support the new soy biodiesel manufacturing facility to be built in Clayton by Mid-Atlantic Biodiesel, Inc.,” he said.

“The introduction of soy biodiesel fuel at the Indian River Marina represents an excellent opportunity for the Delaware Soybean Board, the Delaware Department of Agriculture, and DNREC to partner on a program that supports Governor Minner’s “Livable Delaware” initiative,” said Michael Scuse, Delaware Secretary of Agriculture. “Soy biodiesel fuel is good for Delaware’s environment providing significant improvements to Delaware’s air and water quality,” he said.