As gas prices remain above $3.50 a gallon, the recently established WSU Biodiesel Club intends to help ease the pain of high pump prices.

The club, which had its first official meeting Monday, is in the process of contacting individuals involved in food services, the motor pool and various other organizations that can aid in the production and distribution process of biodiesel, said Nate Storrs, a sophomore mechanical engineeering major and a member of the Biodiesel Club.

“Before starting production, the club must first determine who is responsible for things like transportation and storage, and who exactly we are going to be getting the grease and other necessary resources from,” said David Smith, a senior mechanical engineerng major and president of the Biodiesel Club. “It really all depends on how much of the necessary materials we are able to get our hands on.” The club expects to be able to produce about 200 gallons of biodiesel per day, Storrs said. Once the club begins producing a profit, the club’s first goal is to pay back their main supporter, Bob Richards, who has invested $4,000 of his own money into making this idea a reality.

The Biodiesel Club is not an official WSU club, as they still need their members to register on the school’s RSO Web site. However, the group had more than ten members show up to its Monday’s meeting. So far, all members of the club are engineering majors currently attending WSU.

“There’s really no qualifications necessary to be a part of this club,” Storrs said. “It was just by chance that we are all of the same major. Really we’re just looking for people who would be willing to devote time and energy into a process that they believe to be worthy.” However, not just anyone can hop onto a machine and make biodiesel. Before production can start, members will need to take a hazardous materials course as well as read up on materials that are on the material safety datasheet, to prevent problems down the line. Once preparation is done, the actual production of biodiesel is simple, Smith said. “All it really takes is cleaning out the oils and grease and then mixing it with methanol and potassium hydroxide, and after a heating process you create usable biodiesel,” Smith said.

Many feel that biodiesel, while an improvement in terms of sustainability, is not the future of alternative fuels, Storrs said. While a cheap alternative, biodiesel, a partial solvent, has been shown to break down hoses and gaskets in the engine of vehicles, leading to lengthy repairs and replacements.

“In Brazil, wheat fields are being planted to be converted to biodiesel,” Storrs said. “In the process, however, many acres of rain forests are being clear cut. It’s for this reason and others that I feel that while biodiesel may be useful now, it’s by no means the end all of the alternative fuel search.” Smith said biodiesal is an “important initiative for WSU.” “This program will be big, so make sure to get in the club soon and help WSU go green,” he said.

The Biodiesel Club meets at 5:30 p.m. Mondays at the Sloan Hall second-floor lounge.