Biodiesel Availability: Where in the World is Parker, Arizona?
RC&D brings biodiesel to western Arizona

Contact: Renee Bodine (602) 280-8778
or George Couch (602) 280-8806   

PARKER, ARIZ. - July 26, 2007 - For those with a diesel vehicle, they will want to know where in the world is Parker, Arizona. On July 25, Parker became the first location in western Arizona to offer biodiesel to the public.

The Shell station at 1601 Geronimo Road in Parker has two different blends of biodiesel available. The biodiesel is made with oil from soybeans. The most common, B20, is 20 percent soy and 80 percent petroleum. The station also has a blend that is 99 percent from soybeans. “This is a great fuel because it can be blended at various levels,” said Gary Haer of Renewable Energy Group. B20 is the most popular blend because it provides the performance and environmental benefits while minimizing the costs, according to Haer.

Prior to the station in Parker, a 250-mile trip from Phoenix to Coachella, Calif, might have been necessary, or maybe a 415-mile drive from Tucson to San Diego. Parker, with a population of around 3,200, is better known for its location next to the Colorado River and home to the Colorado River Indian reservation.

Danny Markus, Coordinator of the Lower Colorado Resource Conservation and Development non-profit group, drove the effort to get biodiesel to western Arizona. “Biodiesel is going to take over eventually, said Markus.” It has too many benefits to our environment and national economy for it not to.”

In Pima County, Arizona, more than 4.2 million gallons of petroleum was displaced in 2006, according to the Pima Association of Governments’ Clean Cities Coalition. Markus hopes for similiar success in western Arizona.

Coleen Crowinshield from the Pima Association of Government’s Clean Cities Coalition reached outside of her Pima County area to help Markus bring biodiesel to Parker. “The main thing right now is to show people it’s easy to do,” said Crowinshield. “You just fill up.” 

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