Salt Lake biofuel project in national spotlight

Last Update: 8/16 2:40 pm

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - Did you know that biofuel is being grown in Salt Lake City? And the crops are now in the national spotlight.

The United States Army took a tour of the land which is just southwest of the Salt Lake International Airport. Earlier this year, Salt Lake County, Salt Lake City Public Utilities, the South Davis Sewer District, Utah State University and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints partnered to create a biofuel feedstock pilot project.

Safflower plants were planted on about twenty acres of land. Every acre creates about 1,000 pounds of biofuel. "Here in the state of Utah we are basically researching and developing. Because if we can do it here, we can do it anywhere. That's become kind of our motto. So if we develop the technology here.. it can be easily transferred anywhere in the country," says Dallas Hanks, a Utah State University Research Scientist.

The purpose of the program is to find out if publicly owned lands that aren't suitable for traditional farming can grow crops that can be made into biodiesel. USU produces biodiesel from the safflower right at the farm using just power and water.

The military is interested in the process for use on its land across the United States, as well as across the world. That way, fuel wouldn't have to be brought in by a convoy.

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