Here are some images of the production facility in Dartmouth back in 2006
Friday 17 December 2010
Wednesday 15 December 2010
National Biodiesel Board December Newsletter
Here is a rather long but interesting newsletter from the American National Biodiesel Board.
Really good content to show how serious USA is about Biodiesel:
The Biodiesel Bulletin
A Monthly Publication of the National Biodiesel Board
December 2010
Student scholarships offered for National Biodiesel Conference & Expo
NBB presses for passage of Tax Extenders during Lame Duck session
Amtrak’s B20 test named to TIME’s 50 Best Inventions list
Peoria Transit System promotes biodiesel use with bus wrap
Studies show potential for using a nuisance weed as a biofuel
Promethean Biofuels wins CalRecycle Award
National Biodiesel Board members elect Governing Board
Count down to 2011 National Biodiesel Conference & Expo
Student scholarships offered for National Biodiesel Conference & Expo
Student scientists with an interest in biodiesel have a one-of-a-kind opportunity for front row seats to the biggest biodiesel event of the year - the National Biodiesel Conference & Expo, Feb. 6 – 9 in Phoenix, Ariz. One full-ride scholarship will be awarded to a student with a demonstrated interest in and commitment to biodiesel.
The scholarship will include: conference registration (a $725 value); three nights hotel; airfare (domestic travel only); networking opportunities with some of the brightest minds in biodiesel research and recognition in conference materials. In addition to the full-ride, there are several other scholarships available for students that would reduce the conference registration fee to $100.
Applicants must be a college/university student in a scientific field of study, and have signed the Next Generation Scientists for Biodiesel declaration. For further details and to submit an application, CLICK HERE. The deadline is December 15, 2010.
“We encourage scientific thought leaders of tomorrow to sign the declaration and show their support for biodiesel – America’s only commercially available, advanced biofuel,” said Don Scott, NBB Director of Sustainability. “By doing so, students will be eligible to apply for the scholarship to attend the biodiesel industry’s largest event of the year where they will hear from a wide range of industry leaders.”
The National Biodiesel Board launched the Next Generation Scientists for Biodiesel initiative in August. The student group was formed to demonstrate and grow support for biodiesel among tomorrow’s scientific leaders.
NBB presses for passage of Tax Extenders during Lame Duck session
The National Biodiesel Board continues to deliver a clear message to Congress--pass legislation before the end of the year to extend critical expired and expiring tax provisions through, at a minimum, 2011. Congress has returned to Washington, D.C., and NBB leaders are making personal visits to them to urge passage of the biodiesel tax credit in the lame duck session.
In addition, NBB joined more than 1,200 companies, associations and organizations in a coalition letter that represents millions of individuals, businesses, organizations and members of the U.S. Armed Forces. NBB and the other co-signers urged Congress to pass legislation in the lame duck session to extend key tax provisions that, while temporary in nature, are critical to the U.S. economy.
A press release issued by the coalition that organized the letter included a quote from the NBB:
“There are significant job creation, energy security and environmental benefits associated with the domestic production and use of biodiesel, and the loss of thousands of good paying jobs in the U.S. biodiesel industry can be directly linked to the expiration of the biodiesel tax incentive. Before adjourning for the year, Congress should remedy this problem and provide certainty to America’s only commercial scale producers of Advanced Biofuels by extending the biodiesel tax incentive through 2011.”
You can view a copy of the letter by clicking HERE.
Amtrak’s B20 test named to TIME’s 50 Best Inventions list
Amtrak’s B20 powered Heartland Flyer train was named to TIME magazine's list of "The 50 Best Inventions of 2010." The Heartland Flyer, which makes daily runs between Oklahoma City, Okla. and Fort Worth, Texas, has been running on a B20 biodiesel blend since April 2010.
Amtrak received a grant from the Federal Railroad Administration to carry out a biodiesel research project in partnership with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (Okla. DOT). The General Electric P32-8 locomotive 500, which has a 3,200-horsepower, 12-cylinder engine, will continue running on B20 through April 2011. Amtrak will collect locomotive exhaust emissions data for analysis over the one year period.
"This recognition from TIME magazine is an honor to our state partners and all of us at Amtrak who are working on this project, the nation's first test of biodiesel in an interstate passenger train," Amtrak Vice President, Environmental, Health and Safety, Roy Deitchman, said in a news release. "Amtrak travel is already more energy efficient than most other forms of intercity transportation. If the test shows this use of a renewable fuel in our locomotive is successful, it's a home run for our passengers, for our partners and for the planet."
Amtrak joins other innovations like the Apple iPad and 3-D glasses on the "50 Best" list.
Peoria Transit System promotes biodiesel use with bus wrap
CityLink, the Greater Peoria Illinois Mass Transit System, unveiled a fully wrapped bus promoting B20 biodiesel use last month. CityLink has used B20 in their entire fleet of buses and vans since August 2009. The bus wrap is dedicated to promoting the environmentally friendly fuel made from domestic renewable resources. The B20 use has reduced the fleet’s greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 80 percent.
CityLink Assistant General Manager Rick Tieken said in a news release the transit company is doing everything it can to contribute to a clean environment. Tieken also announced the Greater Peoria Transit Board approved purchasing another 20 transit buses bringing the total to 46 that will be in the fleet by January of 2012. All will be equipped with clean diesel technology.
"They will all meet 2010 federal emission standards where they clean the air as they drive through town," said Tieken.
Teaming with CityLink on the bus wrap project was the American Lung Association, Renewable Energy Group, AG-LAND F-S, Peoria Farm Bureau, Illinois Soybean Association and the United Soybean Board.
Studies show potential for using a nuisance weed as a biofuel
A common roadside plant could become a new source of biofuel, according to Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists.
Researchers at the ARS National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research in Peoria, Ill., have found that field pennycress yields impressive quantities of seeds and seed oil that could be used in biodiesel production. ARS is the chief in-house scientific research agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The scientists obtained oil from wild field pennycress, pretreated it with acid, and used a type of alcohol called methanol to react with the pennycress oil to produce both biodiesel and glycerol. After some additional refining, test results showed that with some work pennycress could become a commercial commodity.
Diesel-based oil starts to gel when it gets cold, so the temperature when crystals become visible in the fuel, known as the cloud point, is a crucial factor in biodiesel production. Another important property is the pour point, or the temperature when a fuel will fail to pour because it begins to solidify. The results, published in Energy & Fuels, showed cloud and pour points for field pennycress well below the points for other biodiesel fuels, suggesting that it may be better suited for cold climates. Pennycress also can be grown during the winter and harvested in late spring, so that farmers can cultivate it and continue to grow summer soybeans without reducing crop yields.
For more information visit the Agricultural Research Service website.
Promethean Biofuels wins CalRecycle Award
NBB Member, Promethean Biofuels Cooperative Corp., recently won the 2010 CalRecycle Waste Reduction Award sponsored by the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery. Based in Temecula, Calif., the company was recognized for its waste reduction efforts, including producing biodiesel from waste oils.
Promethean opened its doors in January 2010, and is currently producing between 5,000 and 25,000 gallons of biodiesel per week, depending on how much feedstock is available, Promethean’s founder, Todd Hill, told Biodiesel Magazine.
“Ninety-nine percent of our product is made from used cooking oil and kitchen grease,” Hill said in the article. “We are taking a waste product…and really increasing its value and creating something that’s of value here domestically in the U.S.”
In addition to the waste oils used in biodiesel production, Promethean recycles hazardous household wastes, such as paint and motor oil, and has an aggressive internal recycling program. These efforts also played a role in the company being selected for the CalRecycle Award.
As a winner, Promethean is authorized to use the Waste Reduction Award Program winner logo for marketing efforts, something Hill says will help increase the coop’s visibility in the community.
“Every drop [of feedstock] is vital to us,” Hill said. “We also really do want community involvement.”
According to CalRecycle, Promethean helps to divert more than 15 million pounds of waste grease and oil from entering the sewer system each year. “Promethean Biofuels’ community-based approach exemplifies recycling for reuse and energy independence,” said the department.
National Biodiesel Board members elect Governing Board
National Biodiesel Board members selected their trade association leadership in November, including the first producer to take the chairman role. Members also elected four returning governing board members and three new members to serve on the leadership committee.
Officers elected to lead the board are:
Gary Haer, chairman, Renewable Energy Group, Inc.
Ed Ulch, vice chair, Iowa Soybean Board
Ron Marr, secretary, Minnesota Soybean Processors
Jim Conway, treasurer, Griffin Industries
Biodiesel board members also voted to fill seven board member spots. Board members elected to the Governing Board include officers and:
Greg Anderson, Nebraska Soybean Board
Ramon Benavides, GEN-X Energy Group
Steven Levy, Sprague Energy
Dave Lyons, Louis Dreyfus
Doug Smith, Baker Commodities
David Womack, Tennessee Soybean Promotion Board
John Wright, Owensboro Grain Company
Ed Hegland, Kris Kappenman, Bob Metz, and Darryl Brinkmann also serve on the Governing Board.
Based in Jefferson City, Mo., NBB is dedicated to supporting the commercial biodiesel industry. Its membership is comprised of biodiesel producers, state, national, and international feedstock and processor organizations; fuel marketers and distributors; and technology providers.
Count down to 2011 National Biodiesel Conference & Expo
Plan now to participate in the biodiesel event of the year. The annual National Biodiesel Conference & Expo is the only event that gathers biodiesel decision-makers from all around the United States and the world. Opportunities abound for attendees and exhibitors to network, connect and learn.
Come see what industry experts have to say in the three breakout session areas: Technical, Markets, and Regulatory. See in depth topics such as innovations in biodiesel production, biodiesel commodity and risk management, addressing food and fuel arguments, ASTM future developments, RFS basic training, and much more.
Visit www.biodieselconference.org for information about the conference including: online registration, a full list and descriptions of all the general and breakout sessions, exhibitor information, and more.
Upcoming Events
Please visit "biodiesel events" on biodiesel.org for more.
Contact Us
For more information on biodiesel visit our website at www.biodiesel.org or contact us at 888-BIODIESEL.
Kaleb Little, Communications and Member Specialist
klittle@biodiesel.org Bev Thessen, Information Coordinator
bthessen@biodiesel.org
This bulletin is also available online at
http://www.biodiesel.org/news/bulletin/
------------------------------------------------------------
Upcoming Events
Please visit "biodiesel events" on http://www.biodiesel.org for more.
Really good content to show how serious USA is about Biodiesel:
The Biodiesel Bulletin
A Monthly Publication of the National Biodiesel Board
December 2010
Student scholarships offered for National Biodiesel Conference & Expo
NBB presses for passage of Tax Extenders during Lame Duck session
Amtrak’s B20 test named to TIME’s 50 Best Inventions list
Peoria Transit System promotes biodiesel use with bus wrap
Studies show potential for using a nuisance weed as a biofuel
Promethean Biofuels wins CalRecycle Award
National Biodiesel Board members elect Governing Board
Count down to 2011 National Biodiesel Conference & Expo
Student scholarships offered for National Biodiesel Conference & Expo
Student scientists with an interest in biodiesel have a one-of-a-kind opportunity for front row seats to the biggest biodiesel event of the year - the National Biodiesel Conference & Expo, Feb. 6 – 9 in Phoenix, Ariz. One full-ride scholarship will be awarded to a student with a demonstrated interest in and commitment to biodiesel.
The scholarship will include: conference registration (a $725 value); three nights hotel; airfare (domestic travel only); networking opportunities with some of the brightest minds in biodiesel research and recognition in conference materials. In addition to the full-ride, there are several other scholarships available for students that would reduce the conference registration fee to $100.
Applicants must be a college/university student in a scientific field of study, and have signed the Next Generation Scientists for Biodiesel declaration. For further details and to submit an application, CLICK HERE. The deadline is December 15, 2010.
“We encourage scientific thought leaders of tomorrow to sign the declaration and show their support for biodiesel – America’s only commercially available, advanced biofuel,” said Don Scott, NBB Director of Sustainability. “By doing so, students will be eligible to apply for the scholarship to attend the biodiesel industry’s largest event of the year where they will hear from a wide range of industry leaders.”
The National Biodiesel Board launched the Next Generation Scientists for Biodiesel initiative in August. The student group was formed to demonstrate and grow support for biodiesel among tomorrow’s scientific leaders.
NBB presses for passage of Tax Extenders during Lame Duck session
The National Biodiesel Board continues to deliver a clear message to Congress--pass legislation before the end of the year to extend critical expired and expiring tax provisions through, at a minimum, 2011. Congress has returned to Washington, D.C., and NBB leaders are making personal visits to them to urge passage of the biodiesel tax credit in the lame duck session.
In addition, NBB joined more than 1,200 companies, associations and organizations in a coalition letter that represents millions of individuals, businesses, organizations and members of the U.S. Armed Forces. NBB and the other co-signers urged Congress to pass legislation in the lame duck session to extend key tax provisions that, while temporary in nature, are critical to the U.S. economy.
A press release issued by the coalition that organized the letter included a quote from the NBB:
“There are significant job creation, energy security and environmental benefits associated with the domestic production and use of biodiesel, and the loss of thousands of good paying jobs in the U.S. biodiesel industry can be directly linked to the expiration of the biodiesel tax incentive. Before adjourning for the year, Congress should remedy this problem and provide certainty to America’s only commercial scale producers of Advanced Biofuels by extending the biodiesel tax incentive through 2011.”
You can view a copy of the letter by clicking HERE.
Amtrak’s B20 test named to TIME’s 50 Best Inventions list
Amtrak’s B20 powered Heartland Flyer train was named to TIME magazine's list of "The 50 Best Inventions of 2010." The Heartland Flyer, which makes daily runs between Oklahoma City, Okla. and Fort Worth, Texas, has been running on a B20 biodiesel blend since April 2010.
Amtrak received a grant from the Federal Railroad Administration to carry out a biodiesel research project in partnership with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (Okla. DOT). The General Electric P32-8 locomotive 500, which has a 3,200-horsepower, 12-cylinder engine, will continue running on B20 through April 2011. Amtrak will collect locomotive exhaust emissions data for analysis over the one year period.
"This recognition from TIME magazine is an honor to our state partners and all of us at Amtrak who are working on this project, the nation's first test of biodiesel in an interstate passenger train," Amtrak Vice President, Environmental, Health and Safety, Roy Deitchman, said in a news release. "Amtrak travel is already more energy efficient than most other forms of intercity transportation. If the test shows this use of a renewable fuel in our locomotive is successful, it's a home run for our passengers, for our partners and for the planet."
Amtrak joins other innovations like the Apple iPad and 3-D glasses on the "50 Best" list.
Peoria Transit System promotes biodiesel use with bus wrap
CityLink, the Greater Peoria Illinois Mass Transit System, unveiled a fully wrapped bus promoting B20 biodiesel use last month. CityLink has used B20 in their entire fleet of buses and vans since August 2009. The bus wrap is dedicated to promoting the environmentally friendly fuel made from domestic renewable resources. The B20 use has reduced the fleet’s greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 80 percent.
CityLink Assistant General Manager Rick Tieken said in a news release the transit company is doing everything it can to contribute to a clean environment. Tieken also announced the Greater Peoria Transit Board approved purchasing another 20 transit buses bringing the total to 46 that will be in the fleet by January of 2012. All will be equipped with clean diesel technology.
"They will all meet 2010 federal emission standards where they clean the air as they drive through town," said Tieken.
Teaming with CityLink on the bus wrap project was the American Lung Association, Renewable Energy Group, AG-LAND F-S, Peoria Farm Bureau, Illinois Soybean Association and the United Soybean Board.
Studies show potential for using a nuisance weed as a biofuel
A common roadside plant could become a new source of biofuel, according to Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists.
Researchers at the ARS National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research in Peoria, Ill., have found that field pennycress yields impressive quantities of seeds and seed oil that could be used in biodiesel production. ARS is the chief in-house scientific research agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The scientists obtained oil from wild field pennycress, pretreated it with acid, and used a type of alcohol called methanol to react with the pennycress oil to produce both biodiesel and glycerol. After some additional refining, test results showed that with some work pennycress could become a commercial commodity.
Diesel-based oil starts to gel when it gets cold, so the temperature when crystals become visible in the fuel, known as the cloud point, is a crucial factor in biodiesel production. Another important property is the pour point, or the temperature when a fuel will fail to pour because it begins to solidify. The results, published in Energy & Fuels, showed cloud and pour points for field pennycress well below the points for other biodiesel fuels, suggesting that it may be better suited for cold climates. Pennycress also can be grown during the winter and harvested in late spring, so that farmers can cultivate it and continue to grow summer soybeans without reducing crop yields.
For more information visit the Agricultural Research Service website.
Promethean Biofuels wins CalRecycle Award
NBB Member, Promethean Biofuels Cooperative Corp., recently won the 2010 CalRecycle Waste Reduction Award sponsored by the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery. Based in Temecula, Calif., the company was recognized for its waste reduction efforts, including producing biodiesel from waste oils.
Promethean opened its doors in January 2010, and is currently producing between 5,000 and 25,000 gallons of biodiesel per week, depending on how much feedstock is available, Promethean’s founder, Todd Hill, told Biodiesel Magazine.
“Ninety-nine percent of our product is made from used cooking oil and kitchen grease,” Hill said in the article. “We are taking a waste product…and really increasing its value and creating something that’s of value here domestically in the U.S.”
In addition to the waste oils used in biodiesel production, Promethean recycles hazardous household wastes, such as paint and motor oil, and has an aggressive internal recycling program. These efforts also played a role in the company being selected for the CalRecycle Award.
As a winner, Promethean is authorized to use the Waste Reduction Award Program winner logo for marketing efforts, something Hill says will help increase the coop’s visibility in the community.
“Every drop [of feedstock] is vital to us,” Hill said. “We also really do want community involvement.”
According to CalRecycle, Promethean helps to divert more than 15 million pounds of waste grease and oil from entering the sewer system each year. “Promethean Biofuels’ community-based approach exemplifies recycling for reuse and energy independence,” said the department.
National Biodiesel Board members elect Governing Board
National Biodiesel Board members selected their trade association leadership in November, including the first producer to take the chairman role. Members also elected four returning governing board members and three new members to serve on the leadership committee.
Officers elected to lead the board are:
Gary Haer, chairman, Renewable Energy Group, Inc.
Ed Ulch, vice chair, Iowa Soybean Board
Ron Marr, secretary, Minnesota Soybean Processors
Jim Conway, treasurer, Griffin Industries
Biodiesel board members also voted to fill seven board member spots. Board members elected to the Governing Board include officers and:
Greg Anderson, Nebraska Soybean Board
Ramon Benavides, GEN-X Energy Group
Steven Levy, Sprague Energy
Dave Lyons, Louis Dreyfus
Doug Smith, Baker Commodities
David Womack, Tennessee Soybean Promotion Board
John Wright, Owensboro Grain Company
Ed Hegland, Kris Kappenman, Bob Metz, and Darryl Brinkmann also serve on the Governing Board.
Based in Jefferson City, Mo., NBB is dedicated to supporting the commercial biodiesel industry. Its membership is comprised of biodiesel producers, state, national, and international feedstock and processor organizations; fuel marketers and distributors; and technology providers.
Count down to 2011 National Biodiesel Conference & Expo
Plan now to participate in the biodiesel event of the year. The annual National Biodiesel Conference & Expo is the only event that gathers biodiesel decision-makers from all around the United States and the world. Opportunities abound for attendees and exhibitors to network, connect and learn.
Come see what industry experts have to say in the three breakout session areas: Technical, Markets, and Regulatory. See in depth topics such as innovations in biodiesel production, biodiesel commodity and risk management, addressing food and fuel arguments, ASTM future developments, RFS basic training, and much more.
Visit www.biodieselconference.org for information about the conference including: online registration, a full list and descriptions of all the general and breakout sessions, exhibitor information, and more.
Upcoming Events
Please visit "biodiesel events" on biodiesel.org for more.
Contact Us
For more information on biodiesel visit our website at www.biodiesel.org or contact us at 888-BIODIESEL.
Kaleb Little, Communications and Member Specialist
klittle@biodiesel.org Bev Thessen, Information Coordinator
bthessen@biodiesel.org
This bulletin is also available online at
http://www.biodiesel.org/news/bulletin/
------------------------------------------------------------
Upcoming Events
Please visit "biodiesel events" on http://www.biodiesel.org for more.
Tuesday 25 November 2008
Monday 25 June 2007
HM Gov's dodgy agenda
Early on in my bio oil career I was amazed to find how much dis-information there was in the public domain concerning bio fuels. Things like "you can use straight vegetable oil in a diesel car with no problems particularly if you mix it with regular diesel" and "you can't put bio diesel into new cars" Probably the worst stuff was and still is that bio fuels are not the answer. They are responsible for a whole catalogue of evil things such as pushing the price of food up, accelerating the cutting down of forests and gaining no advantage on emmissions over fossil fuel!
One presumes there are forces at work here to dis' the honest bio brigade.
The next thing that amused me was to learn last year that the UK missed the target set by the EU on supplying a % of all fuel sold as bio fuel. We were fined millions of euros for that. Didn't get a lot of coverage in the UK papers though did it? THe target is even tougher for 2010. Predictions are we will miss that one too.
And finally if people think HM Gov are turning really green these days why do think they increased the excise duty on bio fuels in December 2006 and will increase it again this year? It just doesn't make sense.
One presumes there are forces at work here to dis' the honest bio brigade.
The next thing that amused me was to learn last year that the UK missed the target set by the EU on supplying a % of all fuel sold as bio fuel. We were fined millions of euros for that. Didn't get a lot of coverage in the UK papers though did it? THe target is even tougher for 2010. Predictions are we will miss that one too.
And finally if people think HM Gov are turning really green these days why do think they increased the excise duty on bio fuels in December 2006 and will increase it again this year? It just doesn't make sense.
Sunday 24 June 2007
It was all so simple to start with!
The original idea was to make "local fuel for local people".
If you could set up a fuel club using waste cooking oil to supply car fuel tosome of the local community you could satisfy so many interests, not least of which was your conscience, regarding the planets diminishing resources etc.
It would also be cheaper (a big plus) and you wouldn't be giving your hard earned cash to the global fuel giants. Sadly you still had to pay excise duty to HM Gov, but that's for another posting.
How difficult could it be? After all, the whole world was beginning to wake up to the evils of emmission output big style in 2005 and this would help. Even HMGov was banging on about lowering carbon output and setting up working groups left and right.
Actually some of the Agencies, Environment and unbelievably HM Revenue and Customs were very good about it. Made it easy to start.
So why does our Gov and the car makers resist it so vigorously I wonder?
If you could set up a fuel club using waste cooking oil to supply car fuel tosome of the local community you could satisfy so many interests, not least of which was your conscience, regarding the planets diminishing resources etc.
It would also be cheaper (a big plus) and you wouldn't be giving your hard earned cash to the global fuel giants. Sadly you still had to pay excise duty to HM Gov, but that's for another posting.
How difficult could it be? After all, the whole world was beginning to wake up to the evils of emmission output big style in 2005 and this would help. Even HMGov was banging on about lowering carbon output and setting up working groups left and right.
Actually some of the Agencies, Environment and unbelievably HM Revenue and Customs were very good about it. Made it easy to start.
So why does our Gov and the car makers resist it so vigorously I wonder?
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