B-20 is back in Portland & Surrounding Areas

One of the best kept secrets in the Portland Area environmental community is Maine Standard Biofuels. What these guys do is amazing! Maine Standard Biofuels has created a refinery in Portland that takes waste veggie oil from restaurants and turns it into Bio-fuel. They’ve developed an amazing system that first collects the oil in recycled oil tanks (some of which are supplied by reVision heat). Then, they go around and pick up the fuel, and let it sit to separate out the water.

Next, they add alcohol and lye to the waste oil in a two-step process to remove the glycerin form the oil which is then shipped elsewhere to make soap. Finally, they use wood chips to filter the oil and remove any other impurities. The resulting product is very similar to both diesel fuel and home heating oil.

We’re really excited here at reVision heat to announce a partnership between reVision heat, Maine Standard Biofuels, and Peaks Island Fuel, to deliver local, recycled biofuel to homes in the Portland and surrounding areas: Portland, South Portland, Cape Elizabeth, Cumberland, Falmouth, Scarborough, Westbrook, and Yarmouth.

• Maine Standard Biofuels will add 20% biofuel to standard heating oil to create b20
• Peaks Island Fuel will deliver the fuel
• reVision heat will service the equipment and help you use less fuel

When you buy B-5 or B-20, from other producers, it needs to be shipped in. While it’s better than B-0, it is a biofuel that comes from virgin crops (canola from Canada mostly). Again, better than most, but the energy required to grow fuel in our energy intensive agriculture system is significant compared to that required to recycle it right here in Portland. There isn’t any premium to be paid for locally produced biofuel either as it will cost about the same as standard oil.

In terms of service, there are a few differences between B-20 and B-0. We’ve had a few years’ experience dealing with B-20 and now have the knowledge and expertise to make the appropriate adjustments to your system ensuring it will operate properly with the new fuel. Biofuel has a natural cleansing agent which disperses sludge build up in a tank that previously stored standard oil. New users of biofuel may experience a clogged nozzle due to this sludge being dispersed. Our preference is to schedule regular service not long after the conversion to minimize the risk of an emergency service.

reVision heat is excited to once again be able to offer locally recycled B-20 to our Portland oil customers. Contact Keith at Peaks Island Fuel to order B-20.

Ready to Get Started?