Firm's cookin' with biofuel

Constitution Biofuels LLC is fueled for growth.

After more than a year of startup aches and pains, lessons learned and a few fits and starts, this manufacturing firm in Groton has opened its doors and is preparing to market its biofuel products - biodiesel for vehicles and heating oil for homes - to southeastern Connecticut.

From its small production plant in Groton, chock full of large tanks and storage drums to accommodate the used restaurant oils it transforms into fuel, Constitution Biofuels hopes to become a major player in the growing - and "green" - biofuel industry.

Its product can be used in a variety of home heating systems as well as diesel trucks and cars, either in full strength or as a blend.

Douglas Dickey, the company's chief executive officer and manager, says there is plenty of potential for the firm, which has just produced its first batch of some 200 gallons of biofuel.

Dickey and his wife, Renee Grossman Dickey, are the firm's principals, and the day-to-day operations are run by Dickey and his childhood friend, Damien Deck, who is also an enthusiastic investor in the startup venture.

All three are proud of their company's quick growth, from some initial production of biofuel in Dickey's garage a few years back to its 2,400-square-foot production facility that is converting used cooking oil from restaurants into biofuel, which Dickey says is non-toxic, less flammable and more organic than regular diesel.

And, he says, there's a growing desire among consumers to use the more earth-friendly fuel. "We've got customers calling us wanting biofuel," says Dickey, who estimates full production may still be a few months away.

Dickey says biofuel is in a lower flammability class than other fuels, has lower particulate emissions, lower carbon monoxide levels and is not considered a hazardous material. "It's in the same class as vegetable oil," he explains.

Constitution Biofuels celebrated its grand opening with ribbon-cutting festivities at its Leonard Drive plant in the Airport Industrial Park on Saturday, and earlier in the week the firm hosted a visit by U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, who stopped by to encourage the entrepreneurs and their new "green" business.

Constitution Biofuels' slogan, says Dickey, reflects its commitment toward recycling what some consider waste into what he considers a great business opportunity. "Reclaiming Today, Delivering Tomorrow" is painted on the side of the firm's recycling truck, as well as its business cards.

That truck, explains Dickey, travels to restaurants across the region - the company's supplier base of used cooking oils is already around 40 sites - and sucks up the oils into a holding tank where it's brought back to the plant, filtered and then readied for a large "reactor" type vessel that converts the product into biofuel.

Dickey and Grossman say their firm has been very resourceful in acquiring its machinery and tanks. Some of the equipment has been bought by Dickey from his former employer, Pfizer Inc., while some has been bought from industrial auction sites - even eBay was tapped to purchase a metal structure to accommodate the plant's mezzanine level where Dickey envisions a new testing lab as the biofuel production ramps up.

The couple says that nearly all the equipment is recycled from past uses, and it was done purposely to support their commitment to recycling and environmentally friendly practices as their certified-green business grows.

"Everybody has been excited about new manufacturing occurring down here," says Dickey.

The couple also are proud of their Groton connection. Douglas Dickey grew up in Groton, graduating from Fitch Senior High School and the University of Connecticut with a degree in chemistry.

He worked at the Pfizer Inc. manufacturing plant but was laid off. He says he used his severance package as seed money for his biofuel operation. In addition, the company received a loan from the New London-based Southeastern Connecticut Enterprise Region as a manufacturing startup operation.

Deborah Donovan, who heads marketing for the regional economic-development agency, says Constitution Biofuels is good news for the regional economy, one of the few new manufacturing startups to emerge from our recession-wringed economy.

The company also hopes to ink agreements with local companies, including home-heating oil providers, for its new biodiesel product.

Renee Dickey, who holds degrees in special education and education administration, teaches special education at Fitch Middle School in Groton. She says her career has provided financial stability as the couple gets their biofuel venture off the ground.

The couple estimates they now have about 3,500 gallons of product to be converted to biofuel, and they hope to double that number once the company gets into full production mode.

In the meantime, they'll still looking for restaurants and other outlets with used cooking oils for their production, and they currently pay 18 cents per gallon of the used product. "Not all the restaurants want money. Some are just happy to have it stay local (and produce biofuel)," says Dickey.

The couple also plans to donate some of their product to good causes locally, including the Mystic Area Shelter and Hospitality program, which provides emergency shelter for homeless families with children. The biofuel would be used to supplement the agency's fuel needs. In addition, they say they plan to help other social-service agencies once the plant's production gets fully under way.

"We've always said that one of our goals is to be socially responsible," says Dickey.