Utah’s Freeway-to-Fuel uses idle roadsides, airport, military lands for biofuels production

Biofuels Digest
September 18, 2009 Jim Lane

In Utah, the “Freeways-to-Fuel” project, sponsored by the Utah Department of Transportation, US Department of Transportation, New Holland Agriculture and the National Biodiesel Board, has identified 200 acres of vacant lands near the Salt Lake City Airport that will be used for an expansion of safflower cultivation using idle lands along roadsides, and near military bases, airports and local municipalities.

The project currently being trialed at the Utah Botanical Center, advocated the use of idle lands to reduce up to $300 per mile in roadside maintenance costs, and cultivating safflower, canola and soybeans to produce protein for humans and livestock, and vegetable oil for biodiesel.

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