Govt thinks fuel-saving idea is fishy

Knox Journal
Wednesday 4/10/2006, Page: 9

AS oil prices increase, demand for alternative fuels such as ethanol intensifies
- but there is one alternative that has received little attention.

Colin Gillam of Mt Evelyn started making biodiesel about eight years ago. He collects cooking oil from fish and chip shops and restaurants and turns it into fuel that is clean, cheap and efficient. "It's identical to diesel, you can run any diesel car on it - all you have to do is pour it in," Mr Gillam said.

The cooking oil is filtered to remove any "burnt crunchy bits". The end product is biodegradable and non-toxic, and has fewer emissions than petroleum-based diesel when burned. Mr Gillam said Australia had been slow to catch on to the benefits of biodiesel, unlike Europe and America where it was big business.

He said the Federal Government was largely to blame. In 2003, the Government imposed a 38 cents per litre tax on biodiesel. After two years of lobbying, the excise was dropped to 19 cents. biodiesel users must report back to the tax office with details of where they pick up the oil and how they use it.

"We must account for every drop of oil. "In other words they [the Federal Government] don't want us using it. "Oil companies are putting too much money into Liberal coffers."

Mr Gillam said often many people felt helpless in the fight against global warming. "People don't realise that there are little things they can do.

"They can install compact fluoro lights which can reduce your lighting bill by 75 per cent." Mr Gillam's work as managing director of Alternative Fuels and Energy caught the eye of the United Nations earlier this year. He sent four solar heaters to Afghanistan, where people have limited access to energy sources such as gas.

"People freeze to death over there in winter," he said. "And yet no one is taking advantage of the sun's energy." He said solar power had fallen off the Government's radar, while spirited debate continued on nuclear and wind power.

Mr Gillam will talk about alternative fuels and energy at the Knox Heritage Festival, as part of the architecture and environment series.

He will speak on October 21 at Stamford Park, 1070 Stud Road, Rowville.
Bookings essential: 9729 7287.