Feb 27 2013
Piedmont Biofuels of Pittsboro, North Carolina has been certified under the internationally recognized Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels (RSB) Program following a third-party assessment conducted by SCS Global Services (SCS).
Piedmont Biofuels collects used cooking oil from restaurants in the Research Triangle Park area and uses it to produce biodiesel that it sells locally through seven filling stations.
"By achieving certification, Piedmont Biofuels has demonstrated excellence as a model for sustainable biofuel production," said Dr. Robert J. Hrubes , Executive Vice President of SCS. "The company is contributing to the local economy by converting a waste product into a valuable fuel source while meeting rigorous standards of environmental and social responsibility."
SCS' assessment included an inspection of the biodiesel plant and several of the filling stations as well as verification that the company's biodiesel reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 70% compared to conventional diesel fuel. For instance, Piedmont Biofuels has lowered its already low carbon footprint by operating an efficient automobile fleet and by deploying both active and passive solar equipment and strategies.
"Our mission has always been to lead the sustainability effort in North Carolina through the development and production of clean, renewable fuels," said Lyle Estill , President of Piedmont Biofuels. "Undergoing independent assessment by SCS and earning RSB certification allows us to validate our sustainable practices. Not all biofuels are created equal," said Estill, "And this certification will go a long way toward proving that."
Piedmont Biofuels, a Certified B corporation, currently sells its fuel to approximately 300 members of a biodiesel cooperative. The company is strategically located in a previously underutilized industrial area that has been converted into an "eco-industrial park" that houses businesses committed to modeling sustainable business practices, operating coops, sharing information, providing internship opportunities and building community alliances with Central Carolina Community College and other organizations.