Community-Based Biodiesel is the Circular Economy

by Kelly King (Pacific Biodiesel/Biobased Diesel Daily) There is a lot of talk about what the circular economy is, but there is much less understanding of how community-scale biodiesel production is the concept’s poster child.

I’ve had the honor of being a delegate to and presenting at the past two United Nations Conference of the Parties—COP26 and COP27—representing at these global climate-change conferences as a local elected official specifically from the island state of Hawaii, the most isolated population on the planet and a glaring example of vulnerable island communities feeling the heat on the front lines of the climate crisis.

On this world stage where local and international leaders converged to discuss climate action, there was not a lot of talk—and sadly even less action—when it comes to supporting biodiesel’s role in climate solutions. There was a virtual void of voices about community-based biodiesel and its abundant benefits as part of the circular economy.

Since COP26, there seems to be more buzz around the circular-economy concept, but clearly not much understanding about what it means—especially when you see world leaders singularly focused on wind, solar and batteries as the only solutions to fighting the catastrophic consequences of greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions. There is not a “one size fits all” silver bullet. Batteries, for example, rely on an extractive manufacturing process by global corporations—raw materials are mined in one country while batteries are produced in another and shipped for manufacturing of vehicles to yet another country. It seems easy to confuse with the global economy, but just because the world is round doesn’t mean it’s a circular economy.

Extractive renewables leave us vulnerable to catastrophic world events, natural disasters and other supply-chain disruptions that can sever our energy and food supply. It is shortsighted and dangerous to ignore locally produced biodiesel and other biofuels. We must have a balanced, diversified portfolio of renewable energies to face whatever the future brings.

I currently serve as a board member of ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability, a global network of more than 2,500 local and regional governments committed to sustainable urban development. At the recent ICLEI “Cities Summit of the Americas” in Denver, Colorado, the focus was on “promoting regional cooperation and uniting subnational leaders from government, civil society, business, academia, youth, culture and the arts, and indigenous and underrepresented groups.” I met with mayors from our country and other nations including Ukraine. The common thread was a focus on basic needs— fighting climate change while focusing on local food production, clean water, housing and jobs.

Community-based biodiesel is the poster child for the circular economy. My husband Bob King and I founded Pacific Biodiesel with this model in 1995 on Maui, where we created the first retail biodiesel pump in America. We first produced biodiesel by recycling used cooking oil from local restaurants—and still do. Today we’re expanding our local feedstock through agriculture, using regenerative-farming practices to grow crops like sunflowers to produce culinary oils for local restaurants and consumers, which also supports food security in Hawaii. Coming full circle, we then recycle the used cooking oil for production of our premium distilled biodiesel sold entirely in Hawaii, creating local jobs, revenue and energy security for our island state.

I can’t count all the times I’ve been thanked by customers for providing them with a cleaner, more-environmental alternative to fossil diesel.

Community-based biodiesel gives power to local communities, literally and figuratively, and it connects with the basic needs that folks must consider in their daily lives. Whether or not you believe in the science of climate change, the benefits are increasingly clear: You can change your fuel even if you can’t afford to change your car, and you can support local, green jobs as well as energy and food security. Collectively, we can leave a sustainable, cleaner environment for the next generation to enjoy. READ MORE