Oregon Public Broadcasting

Jatropha plant

Over the past several weeks, we’ve explored various sources of energy, and how viable they are here in the Northwest. 

Earlier this week, we heard about biomass: the living matter in Oregon’s forests that could be converted to energy.

Today, we’re expanding the idea and talking about a plant that is very promising as a fuel source, but you won’t find it here.  The Jatropha plant is a shrub that grows in the tropics.

To learn more about it, we called Roy Beckford.  He’s an extension agent with the University of Florida.  He says the Jatropha fruit has seeds that are anywhere from 17 to 40 percent oil.