Domestic Fuel

The Soybean Checkoff has helped grow the biodiesel industry to where it is today and they want to ensure continued growth by ensuring the quality of the product. To that end, the checkoff-funded National Biodiesel Board has formed the National Biodiesel Accreditation Commission (NBAC), which developed and implemented a voluntary industry quality-control program known as BQ-9000. The United Soybean Board sent a release out about it this week providing information about the program. (link to release)
Quality standards in the BQ-9000 program are based on the American Standard for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D-6751 Specification for Biodiesel Fuel (B100, 100 percent biodiesel) Blend Stock for Distillate Fuels. ASTM specifications are used to ensure the quality standards of petroleum diesel, gasoline and even ethanol. Americans rely on these specifications every day and now that same confidence can be found in biodiesel carrying the ASTM D-6751 standard.
“We strongly encourage all biodiesel manufacturers to become accredited by participating in the BQ-9000 program,” says NBB Chairman Darryl Brinkmann, a soybean farmer from Carlyle, Ill. “This will help ensure fuel quality and the great engine performance that I and the millions of other diesel users have come to expect from biodiesel.”
There is a website for the program – bq-9000.org – where marketers can get more information.
There was a pre-conference session devoted to BQ-9000 at the recent National Biodiesel Conference in San Diego. Here is a link to stories on the Biodiesel Conference Blog that include an interview with Leland Tong of Marc IV Consulting, which is helping to coordinate this program

Another sweetheart of a story for the day after St. Valentine’s.
Heartland Biodiesel is the name of a group of Missouri farmer-investors planning to build a biodiesel plant in Rock Port, MO. According to an AP report, the northwest Missouri plant will cost $40 million to $45 million to build and will employ about 28 people, producing roughly 30 million gallons of biodiesel per year.
“Renewable energy – that’s what everybody’s talking about,” said Kent Fisher, of Fairfax, vice president of the group’s board of directors.
The group’s website is under construction at www.hartlandbiodiesel.com and they have no logo available as yet.

Texas Tea may one day be Texas-E. The Texas State Energy Conservation Office is holding a two-day workshop and expo in Austin this week called “The Road to Renewables.” According to the agenda, the event will introduce perspectives from ethanol and biodiesel producers, production technology providers, and government researchers. Attendees will explore the challenges and opportunities presented from various different perspectives such analytical methods, production technology, applications for use and sharing information related to barriers to increased use of biodiesel and ethanol. The event is being held Wednesday and Thursday this week at the Hilton Austin Airport and registration is $35.
One of the “Road to Renewables” sponsors is the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council – our friends at EPIC.

Any kid between 7th and 12th grade who can complete a 450 word essay on alternative fuels from agriculture and get it sent in before the deadline on February 15 could win $1000. It’s the National Ag Day contest and I was remiss in not posting this last week when I saw it, since the theme is “Growing our energy: Alternative fuels from agriculture.” So, the deadline is now literally just around the corner – well, more like on the doorstep at this point. Besides the $1000, the winning essay writer will receive a trip to Washington DC and recognition during the National Ag Day Luncheon at the National Press Club. According to information from the Ag Day website: At the luncheon, the winning essayist will have the opportunity to join with industry representatives, members of Congress, federal agency representatives, media and other friends in a celebration of agriculture. Statewide winners of the contest will also be selected. Each will receive a $100 prize.
All entries should be sent to: Ag Day Essay Contest (MC), 1201 NW Briarcliff Pkwy., Ste. 200, Kansas City, MO 64116, or msandfort@mccormickcompany.com.

I just received the following statement from Tim Haig, Chair of the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association. He issued the following statement today in regard to recent biofuel issues in the Halifax area:

The Halifax Regional Municipality recently purchased what we now understand to be partially converted fish oil for use as a biofuel blend. Despite the best of intentions, the partially converted fish oil did not meet the universally recognized American Society of Testing Material (ASTM) biodiesel standard of quality.

The ASTM standard exists to ensure the highest quality of biodiesel fuel is available for consumers and its trouble free use in transportation. The Canadian Renewable Fuels Association does not recommend or support blending any biofuel which does not meet the very specific standard of ASTM D6751. Biodiesel can be produced from fish oil but it must be manufactured to meet ASTM standards. Meeting the ASTM specification is the only guarantee of a reliable and efficient fuel.

Quality for biodiesel is going to be a big focus with the industry this coming year. That was made very clear at the just completed National Biodiesel Conference in San Diego.

A Michigan-based paper shredding company has begun using biodiesel fuel in its mobile shredding trucks. Secure Eco Shred, which carries the motto “Protecting Your Business and the Environment” destroys documents on site and carries them off in shreds to be recycled. According to recycling news sources,“Biodiesel is a proven alternative to petroleum-based diesel fuel,” said Steve Kalapos, president of Secure Eco Shred. “It is safe, biodegradable and reduces toxic pollutants such as soot, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and other air toxins. Blends of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent petroleum diesel can be used in unmodified diesel engines, and its high lubricity helps the engine run smoother, quieter and more efficiently, Kalapos said.

Willie Nelson outshone the other stars at the National Biodiesel Conference in San Diego this week, creating somewhat of an odd media sensation for a city so close to Hollywood. Biodiesel conference blogger Chuck Zimmerman said it was a media circus when Nelson, his wife Annie, and several hundred conference attendees went to Pearson Ford Fuel Depot in San Diego to celebrate the opening of California’s first fulltime “BioWillie” B20 retail outlet. Chuck describes Pearson’s as a “fuel supermarket” offering just about every type of alternative fuel available in one spot. Could be the fueling station of the future. With the addition of California, BioWillie is now sold in four states – including Texas, South Carolina and Georgia.
Prior to the Pearson event, Willie wowed the crowd all morning at the Biodiesel Conference – receiving the Eye on Biodiesel Award and participating in a live XM Satellite Radio broadcast hosted by Bill Mack, The Satellite Cowboy. Check out all of Willie’s activities at the conference – with audio, video and photos – on the Biodiesel Conference Blog.

EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson spoke at the National Biodiesel Conference this morning and talked about the future of the domestic fuel industry in America. “Renewable fuels like biodiesel are the next step in our steady march toward cleaner, healthier air.” Johnson said. “President Bush and the EPA are encouraging investments in the technology that are powering the nation’s economy and driving our environmental successes.” Listen to his interview with biodiesel conference blogger Chuck Zimmerman here.
After his talk, Johnson visited the Ride & Drive area outside the convention center, where Chuck took this picture of him checking out a biodiesel powered VW. (Johnson is the one in the center of the photo)

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Celebrities are all about biodiesel in California, apparently. Here is my husband with “Beverly Hills 90210″ star Luke Perry, who was at the National Biodiesel Conference in San Diego to show his support. He and actress Daryl Hannah held a joint press conference today just to say how much they like biodiesel. Perry was also showing his support for his buddy, author Josh Tickell, who introduced his new book “Biodiesel America“ tonight at the conference.
Singer Willie Nelson will be there tomorrow and Wednesday.
Our daughters – aged 17, 18 and 23 – are usually not all that impressed with what mom and dad do for a living. But, they were pretty excited to see dad with this teen idol, I can tell you that. Even though the first run of 90210 was a bit before their time, they watched it all the time in syndication – and they think he’s still a heart-throb even though he’s over 40!

USDA Undersecretary for Rural Development Tom Dorr was one of today’s speakers at the National Biodiesel Conference in San Diego. Chuck Zimmerman interviewed him about USDA’s renewable energy initiatives, which fall under the umbrella of the Rural Development agency with in the Department. Dorr talks about the administration’s committment to reducing imports of foreign oil and USDA’s value added energy programs. Dorr says, “We consume 140-150 billion gallons of liquid transportation fuels in this country every year. Right now we’re producing about five billion gallons of ancillary fuels. There’s gonna be a tremendous opportunity to grow this industry.”
You can listen to the full 7:00 interview here.

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Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns unveiled details of the administration’s proposed FY2007 budget for USDA in a press conference today. The $93 billion budget is down $3 billion from ’06, as Johanns stressed that agriculture needs to do it’s part to reduce the deficit.
Energy was named by Johanns as one of the department’s priorities for ’07.
Now moving on to another USDA priority, which is energy. I recently announced a comprehensive energy strategy to help producers with high energy costs. I am pleased that this budget continues to provide tools that help producers manage the impact of high energy costs. This budget also funds the development of renewable energy resources and new energy efficient technology.
For 2007 we will have at least $345 million available in loans, grants and other support for energy projects. Within this total, USDA’s core investment in energy-related projects increases to $85 million in 2007 and that’s up from $67 million in 2006.
This includes resources available to support renewable energy research and demonstration projects as well as additional efforts to support energy development and transmission across public lands.
In addition, and not shown on the chart, we are targeting renewable energy and energy efficiency projects through Rural Development Loan and Grant Programs. We anticipate investment in excess of $250 million each year in Fiscal Years ’06 and ’07.
Throughout ’07 USDA will continue its many successful energy partnerships with the Department of Energy, the Department of Interior, and the Environmental Protection Agency. USDA’s efforts will be coordinated by the newly formed Energy Policy Council.
Johanns noted that some of the $3 billion in budget reductions is coming from programs that are ending this year and one of those is the bioenergy program – which was started three years ago to “expand industrial consumption of agricultural commodities by promoting their use in production of ethanol and biodiesel.”
Authority expires for the CCC bioenergy program in September 2006, so these dollars are no longer included. Having been an advocate for ethanol now for over 20 years, I can tell you that the strength of the industry today is really nothing short of remarkable. We are projecting that commodity prices for feed grains will increase in the ’07 due to the need for more ethanol production.
The program paid out nearly $100 million to producers last year.
Here’s a link to all the info about USDA’s budget proposal.

This is what my husband is doing out in San Diego – interviewing beautiful actresses. Daryl Hannah, star of “Splash” and other films, is a big biodiesel supporter and a regular attendee at the National Biodiesel Conference. Chuck interviewed both her and Charris Ford, founder of Grassolean Solutions. You can listen to the interview here

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It's Super Sunday in San Diego, where the National Biodiesel Conference is kicking off today. Catch all the action this week – play by play on the Biodiesel Conference blog starting today with the pre-game show – that is, the pre-conference sessions. Blogging pro Chuck Zimmerman got in to San Diego last night after spending the last four days in Denver blogging the Cattlemen's Beef Board meeting. It has been a busy week for him! Someday he will be home again…
Anyway, you can check out the biodiesel conference blog for complete coverage – I will be providing highlights here on DomesticFuel. Have a super day!

Reuters has a little factiod list out about biofuels that has a few simple key points about ethanol and biodiesel in it and is very accurate. It’s really just Biofuels 101 and doesn’t touch on any judgements or opinions regarding energy efficiency or the like. More interesting to me than the Reuters fact list was the post about it on Autoblog, or I should say, the comments about the post. They showed a much greater lack of understanding and misinformation about biofuels than I would have expected from automaniacs. I hope that will change.
I really loved the image on that Autoblog post – so much that I “borrowed” it to use here and want to give them full credit. Don’t know if it’s an Autoblog original, but I thought it was very cool. Nice job, whoever designed it.

Through a joint venture announced today, Veridium Corporation of New Jersey was granted the exclusive worldwide rights to Mean Green’s patent-pending Corn Oil Extraction System(TM). Both companies are owned in part by GreenShift, with Veridium having a primary focus on waste management services. According to a GreenShift release, the proprietary new technology extracts high grade corn oil from ethanol by-products. Veridium intends to provide ethanol producers with turn-key Corn Oil Extraction Systems(TM) for no up-front cost in return for long-term corn oil purchase agreements based on a fixed discount to prevailing market prices. Pictures and video of the new Veridium technology are available online at www.meangreenbiofuels.com.