News and information about Biodiesel & alternative fuels.

2005/01/13

Calculations?

A Biodiesel Blog reader posted a comment, inquiring:
"I'm at the University of Florida and am trying to do prelim. research on biodiesel production. I got an email back from one of the dining hall directors telling me that they produce 750 lbs of 'waste grease' a month. How could I determine how much of a fuel yield would one get from that?"
If you know how to calculate this, please leave a comment - thanks!

2005/01/09

Biofuel seminar in Ohio

(snagged from the LJ Biodiesel Community!)

Ohio Biofuel Seminar -- January 18, 2005

From Farm to Factory to Fuel Tank:
Stimulating Availability and Use of Biofuels for Motor Vehicles in Ohio

Policy Seminars for Ohio Legislators, Staff and Interested Parties

January 18, 2005
Vern Riffe Tower, 77 South High Street, 31st Floor, Columbus

**How many jobs and other economic benefits for Ohio could result from production of biofuels? Hear about research done at The Ohio State University.

**What is the practicality of using more and higher blends of biodiesel by fleets and individuals? Hear about great examples being set today by fleets in Ohio.

**Ohio uses a large amount of E10, 10% ethanol blended with gasoline, but what is the potential for vehicles that can use much higher blends such as E85? Learn about the increasing number of flex fuel vehicles (FFVs), capable of using E85, owned by governments, private fleets and individuals in Ohio?

**In 2004, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency declared several Ohio counties in non-attainment with two different federal air quality standards. Learn about the potential for biofuels to help improve air quality.

**In October 2004, President Bush signed the FSC/ETI Jobs Act, which included strong tax benefits for ethanol and biodiesel. Learn the facts about the landmark law and its potential impact on price and terminal availability of biodiesel and E85.

#61523; Other states have enacted policies to help increase availability of biodiesel and E85 to fleet and individual consumers. Learn about model policies passed in other states and legislation being developed by Ohio state legislators, and how new policies could help put biofuels in Ohio motorists' tanks.

Repeating Seminars beginning at 8:30 am and 1:00 pm
Light refreshments will be available

AGENDA

1. Welcome – TBA

2. Overview – Sam Spofforth, Executive Director, Central Ohio Clean Fuels Coalition

3. Economic and Job Creation Potential from Biofuels Production – Dr. Thomas Sporleder, Ohio State University College of Food, Agriculture and Environmental Science (Invited)

4. Status of New Biodiesel and Ethanol Plants in Ohio; Wholesale and Retail Availability of Biodiesel and E85 – John Lumpe, Ohio Soybean Council and Dwayne Siekman, Ohio Corn Growers Association

5. Federal Tax Credits for Biodiesel and E85; Models of Effective State-Level Policy and Recommendations for Ohio – Scott Hughes, National Biodiesel Board

6. Draft State Legislation on Biofuels Use – Rep. Steve Reinhard (R-Bucyrus)

7. Conclusion

Please RSVP by Friday, January 14 by contacting Sam Spofforth, Executive Director, Central Ohio Clean Fuels Coalition, at (614) 292-5435 or sam@cocfc.org. Remember to indicate your choice of the morning or afternoon session.

Sponsored by Central Ohio Clean Fuels Coalition, Ohio Soybean Council, Ohio Corn Growers Association, and Others

(Snatched from the BiodieselNow Forums)

b100 Blog

Yesterday I came across an excellent new blog, b100 Fuel, Living on Biodiesel, written by Martin Tobias:
"A reader of my Deep Green Crystals has been tracking my Touareg adventures with Biodiesel. This reader also has a Touareg and has a friend with one. They were wanting a place to share experiences. So here it is. But I have made the idea a little larger (who woulda guessed). I was lying in bed this morning with this question running through my head: What would the world be like if all the current diesel cars, trucks and generators were switched over night to B100? How would things be different? How do we get there? Hopefully this blog will explore that idea over the next few years."

Biodiesel License Plate Frames

BiodieselNow has Powered by Biodiesel license plate frames available for $10:

Biodiesel license plate frame

"Our good friend PizzaMan (George) is producing a bunch of license plate frames to help you show off your support of biodiesel! George has made many plate frames in the past for TDIClub.com, and his work is top-notch. He's making special offer to BioDieselNow supporters - buy one (or two!) for $10 ($1.50 off his regular price), and he'll donate $2 per plate frame to BioDieselNow!"

2005/01/08

Renewable Energy Law Blog

I just heard from Geoff Hand about his group's new Renewable Energy Law Blog, where they'll be discussing "the evolving law, science, and policy of renewable energy development." This'll be a fantastic resource, and they've already got a post up about the recently-passed biodiesel tax incentive.

SVO conversion kits

Last week I got an email inquiring about conversion kits for running cars on straight veggie oil (SVO), rather than biodiesel. A Google search shows a bunch of sites:

2005/01/04

Near the Pentagon

According to the LiveJournal Biodiesel Community, biodiesel is available at the Citgo near the Pentagon in Washington D.C.:
"Hi! I just found this community and I had to tell you that the Pentagon has biodiesel. They just got it this past month. It's the Pentagon Citgo where they have alternative fuels for their fleet. Anyone can purchase it though. It's B20."
If any of you live nearby, could you send a photo (if they'll let you, heh)? Thanks!

News from India

Two bits about potential Biodiesel use in India, first from RenewableEnergyAccess.com:
"India is actively involved in implementing a national program for the phasing in of BioDiesel-blended fuel oils, primarily with respect to government-run rail and other transportation systems. India currently imports more than 70% of its crude petroleum diesel needs, which are refined in-country. RCAI estimates the value of its portion of India's BioDiesel needs, based on the work with the Ministry of Railroads alone, at approximately US$4 million annually, based upon a B5 (5% BioDiesel) blend, which could grow to over $10 million as the country moves toward a B10 (10% BioDiesel) blend in the future."
Next, news from Sify that the Tatas are considering a biodiesel project:
"The Tatas are mulling over a biodiesel project and the Lucknow-based premier National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) is providing consultancy services to the group."

"Addressing a news conference here yesterday, NBRI director Dr P Pushpangadan said Tatas have evinced interest in the processing of biodiesel from Jatropha plant for commercial production and consumption..."

"He said Jatropha plant could be cultivated on waste lands and with minimum water requirement gave handsome returns to farmers."

IMG_9369.JPG
(a Tata tourist bus on the Agra-Jaipur road, a photo of mine from India)

2005/01/03

Biodiesel in Florida

Mike Weitzel of HUGR Systems recently emailed me regarding their operation in Apopka, Florida — sounds like things are going extremely well for them. First, two Congress-folk visited their facility for a tour:
According to J.P. Patten, owner of HUGR Systems, a lunch was held for Keller and Baker's visit, and when the food was done cooking, the oil it was cooked in was used later to fire up the company's lawn mowers ..."
Then last month they received a Clean Air Award from MetroPlan Orlando:
"'HUGR was selected for their use of biodiesel technology to decrease emissions, increase efficiency and help maintain clean air in Central Florida,' said Mayor Land."

"Biodiesel is a renewable fuel made from waste vegetable oil (french fry grease) that is environmentally friendly and non-flammable. HUGR Systems hopes to one day build up to utilizing biodiesel technology in vehicles. For now, HUGR is using biodiesel technology in lawnmowers, pressure cleaning systems and carpet cleaning systems. They have also created the company vehicle to run on biodiesel and a sample generator that could run inside a home without causing carbon monoxide poisoning."