ComEd turns to soybean power

A new use has been developed for the versatile soybean.

ComEd announced Wednesday that it has bought 4,000 new power transformers that use soybean oil instead of petroleum for insulation.

Developed by Cooper Power Systems, based in Houston, the new transformers cost roughly the same as petroleum but last longer, are not flammable, and emit less greenhouse gas emissions.

"We have to realize that agriculture is the heart and soul of the Illinois economy, and our agriculture can help fuel the world, feed the world, and clean the world," said Illinois Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn said.

Behind him was a flatbed truck with 50 soy oil-insulated Envirotran FR3 transformers, the first shipment of the 4,000 ComEd has purchased from Cooper Power. Transformers lower the voltage of electricity flowing from distribution lines to power lines for homes and businesses, and the soy bean insulation cools and insulates electrical distribution products.

Use of soy oil willl mean better reliability for our customers, a longer life span for the transformers--and at the same time they are a green product, said Terry Donnelly, senior vice president of transmission and distribution for ComEd.

"Soy oil is almost 100 percent biodegradable. You can almost actually-if it was FDA approved-you could actually almost drink it." He then added, "Now I'm not advocating that."

Patrick McShane, global technology manager of dielectric fluids products of Cooper Power Systems, said, "Our company's been involved in replacing PCP-type fluids since 1975. We used to use petroleum-based [insulation] to do that, but we thought there had to be a better way-something that was sustainable." He added that unlike petroleum, soybean oil is not flammable, and therefore does not pose the risk of fire and personal injury.

"This fluid, from cradle to grave, has essentially a neutral carbon footprint, because of the growth of the plant and because soybeans require a lot less fertilizer than other plants," McShane said. Illinois is the second-largest grower of soybeans in the U.S.

Donnelly said that ComEd will continue to buy 4,000 new soy oil-insulated transformers each year, and will buy additional ones for any old transformers that must be replaced.

ComEd currently has over 500,000 transformers, so the "4,000 is a small percentage," he admitted. Cooper Power estimates ComEd's transition to the soy oil-insulated transformers will reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions by more than 1,400 tons per year.

The energy company's overall goal, however, is to reduce the carbon dioxide that enters the atmosphere by 88,000 metric tons by the end of this year, he said.

Quinn stressed the importance of looking to soybeans to ensure economic growth in Illinois at the same time as reducing dependence on foreign oil. He advocated a new economy based on "green-collar" jobs.

Pat Dumoulin, district director for the Illinois Soybean Association, used to be a farmer herself. "As Illinois farmers we are so lucky to have soybeans-because they are so versatile-they are food, fuel and feed."

However, there are some critics of the soybean solution. Many say as energy companies turn to biofuels, food prices are rising. Environmentalists are also wary of encouraging farmers to have monocultures, where one product is grown exclusively, to the detriment of biodiversity.