Our Past
Eugene BioSource formed through the association of six interested parties with the intention of creating an entity to promote, produce and advocate the use of alternative fuels from biological sources. Originally, our net was cast wide, encompassing fuel alternatives such as methane, hydrogen, biogas, and of course, Biodiesel.

Our first exploration of these fuels was Biodiesel, as it can be made from readily available materials and feed stocks, can be consumed in ordinary motor vehicles and other equipment which uses commercial petroleum diesel fuel, and it's production requires only rudimentary equipment when produced in limited quantities.

After explorations into making the fuel proved satisfactory, we acquired some basic equipment, such as elementary lab equipment, a 55 gallon reactor tank, washing vessels, fuel storage containers and a suitable fuel pump and filtering devices.

Associations with locally-owned restaurants and production food manufacturing plants were easily formed, and we had access to an adequate supply of used vegetable oil with which to make batches of fuel. In all cases, the businesses with which we dealt were very happy to allow us to dispose of their waste oil, and all of them were quite interested in the concept of being "in-the-loop" with a local energy provider, however small.

Through the year of 2001, we reacted, washed, filtered, stored and consumed several hundred gallons of Biodiesel fuel made from waste cooking oil. This experience taught us quite a lot about the process, brought to light a few complicating factors associated with home-scale Biodiesel production, and allowed us to fuel our diesel vehicles with clean, non-polluting fuel. Photographs and descriptions of our experiments can be found on the 'Making Biodiesel' pages.

Our Present
Making fuel in an unheated garage that frequently flooded in the winter rains, dealing with congealed waste oil, and concerns about detrimental effects of the use of amateur quality Biodiesel in winter weather prompted us to close down our small fuel operation in November of 2001.

We continued to hold semi-monthly meetings, and considered our place in the process, where we wanted to go with the association, and how to get there. The consensus was that in order to be successful at fuel production, we were going to have to bring ourselves up to a level of operation that was much more professional than originally expected, both in terms of the association, and as a business and "manufacturing plant" as well. It was decided that while the "hobbyist" approach had been fun and provided a valuable learning experience, the true potential of the group could be better realized if we took the potential of Biodiesel seriously, and began the process of forming a for-profit business.

Presently, Eugene Biosource is formed as a club while we prepare to incorporate as an Oregon Corporation. We have undertaken a comprehensive study to formulate a business plan with the intention of constructing a commercial Biodiesel refining facility capable of producing a significant quantity of fuel which can be certified to meet ASTM standards for motor fuel. At the present time, all of our funding is provided by the six members while we seek sources of funding for our future refining plant.

Our Future
When our for-profit corporation is formed, it will likely be a completely separate entity from Eugene Biosource. We still believe that there is a place for community service regarding alternative fuels, and expect to incorporate EBS as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt organization, dedicated to the research and promotion of renewable energy fuels. One popular model for this entity is that of a co-op, which can advocate for and perhaps channel funding and resources to other groups participating in similar fields of interest.

Education about all forms of renewable energy remains one of our top priorities, reaching persons of all ages, walks of life and economic levels. We will maintain an active participation at local energy fairs, festivals, lectures and conventions.

While the task of forming a commercial fuel facility is daunting, to say the least, we are dedicated to the working concept of locally-based fuel production which results in protection of the environment, sustainably based sources of energy, and retention of jobs and monetary resources in our local economy. We believe that biofuels meet these criteria as well as any other technology available today.