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Volkswagen TDI Race Series Names B5 Official Fuel
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B5 will be the official fuel for Volkswagen’s Jetta TDI cup season. As 30 drivers compete in ten events on eight road courses around North America they will showcase biodiesel’s potential both on the race track and off. HYPERFUELS (whose parent company is NBB member Gulf Hydrocarbon) has been selected as the official fuel sponsor. The collaboration, and biodiesel’s prominent role in the series, was made possible through NBB’s OEM outreach efforts.
“We are extremely pleased to have HYPERFUELS as a partner with the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup series in 2009," said Clark Campbell, Motorsport Manager of Volkswagen of America, Inc. "The addition of SynDiesel B5 diesel fuel in the Jetta TDI Cup race cars further demonstrates the feasibility of biodiesel as an alternative fuel source for American consumers, and supports the clean and green racing of the Jetta TDI Cup series.”
Several NBB board members were on hand at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, CA as driver candidates competed for the series positions. Starting next month the series will make stops in Salt Lake City, Lexington, OH, Chicago, Elkhart Lake, WI, Ontario, Milville, NJ and Braselton, GA.
“During the 2009 season, our drivers will compete on some of the most storied and challenging road courses in North America,” said Kyle Novak, Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup SCCA Program Manager.
And now those drivers are powered by renewable biodiesel.
The Jetta TDI Cup, touted as the first green racing series, is in its second year celebrating Volkswagen’s clean diesel technology.
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Border to Border, and Coast to Coast Cities Turn to Biodiesel
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More cities around the U.S. are turning to biodiesel as a renewable energy solution. NBB put the spotlight on the largest city to use B20 fleet-wide—San Francisco – last month when the city hosted the National Biodiesel Conference & Expo. Here are just a few of the initiatives announced recently.
New Orleans – As the city continues rebuilding efforts following Hurricane Katrina, there is a new emphasis on renewable energy. Homes are boasting solar panels and organic gardens, and the City has taken note as well. New Orleans’ newest buses use biodiesel to carry tourists and community members around the historic city.
Atlanta – Atlanta is working to introduce a Zero Waste Zone. The target area, in the downtown convention district will focus on recycling and reusing all waste products. As an integral part of the initiative restaurants will recycle used grease for the local production of biodiesel.
Savannah, GA – When city officials in Savannah restored a 1930s streetcar, they added a new twist to the old shuttle, a hybrid engine operated on electricity and biodiesel. The streetcar covers 10 blocks along Savannah’s historic riverfront.
San Francisco – Though the city by the bay has been on the biodiesel bang wagon for some time, they continue to come up with new and innovative initiatives. A new plant under construction now will convert brown grease collected from restaurants to biodiesel. (The city already collects and recycles yellow grease.) The plant is the first brown grease to biodiesel plant in the nation. As part of the project San Francisco will create a tool kit to make it easy for other communities to adopt similar programs.
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YouTube Launch Fires Up the Web
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Music, celebrities, biodiesel philosophy and fast cars are all a part of the National Biodiesel Board’s YouTube Channel, www.YouTube.com/NationalBiodiesel.
A staggering 70 million people worldwide visit YouTube each month. Social media sites like YouTube have become wildly popular in recent years. They drive public awareness, public opinion and mainstream media coverage. The new site gives NBB a voice in this forum and ensures people who seek information about biodiesel have the opportunity to learn about the benefits of biodiesel from a credible source.
NBB’s YouTube Channel features a wide array of biodiesel information in video form. Clips from celebrity users, samples of news coverage and informative videos are among available videos.
Increasingly more people are turning to the Internet for information than any other media source – including television and newspapers. Biodiesel fans can become subscribers to the channel. They can find out whenever new videos are posted, offer comments and share videos with friends.
NBB’s new YouTube page At one point after its launch, it became the third most-subscribed site among nonprofits at that point in the month. You can subscribe to show your support to biodiesel and check out the new social marketing effort at www.YouTube.com/NationalBiodiesel.
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National Biodiesel Conference and Expo Wows Attendees
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The 2009 Conference and Expo again wowed all who attended. High-energy, information packed general sessions anchored valuable breakout sessions and productive networking events. Educational sessions targeted sustainability, fuel production, technical updates, fuel distribution, policy/regulations and markets and users.
The conference offered even more than expected and had something for everyone. The vehicle showcase and expo was the perfect backdrop for supporters and suppliers to reach out to biodiesel industry leaders and pioneers. NBB’s sustainability task force unveiled a formalized list of sustainability principles to serve as the foundation for biodiesel’s continued growth. Presentations and performances ranged from a local panel instrumental in expanding San Francisco’s biodiesel use, to Melissa’s Etheridge’s moving music, to dynamic tales of adventures on the high sea. Audiences were captivated, motivated and inspired to take biodiesel through the economic turmoil and challenges both known and unknown. Eye on Biodiesel awards honored advocates for environmentally friendly biodiesel.
This is one conference that serious industry players simply can’t miss. The 2010 National Biodiesel Conference & Expo takes place Feb. 7 – 10 in Grapevine, Texas.
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Survey Says…Yes to Biodiesel
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According to a July 2008 survey, 69 percent of people are familiar with biodiesel, a huge jump from just 27 percent four years earlier. The National Agricultural Image Survey released in late January showed 85 percent of people feel favorably towards biodiesel, a notable increase from 77 percent last year. Both statistics demonstrate that NBB and industry communications initiatives and outreach efforts are showing positive results.
The increase in the number of people who feel favorable about biodiesel is particularly significant when considering the multi-million dollar ad campaign the Grocery Manufacturers Association launched to spread misinformation. Food companies, like KRAFT and Nestle, are unsuccessfully trying to hide their record profits behind false accusations. Despite what food companies would have shoppers believe, higher food costs have continued to plague grocery store shelves even as costs for commodities have gone down drastically.
Despite the 8 point jump in favorable rankings, January’s study also shed light on potential hazards that may undermine today’s positive view of biodiesel. Biodiesel’s position as a sustainable, renewable, home grown alternative energy source continues to come under attack. Fact sheets, letters to the editor, news releases, editorial board meetings, a social media campaign, the creation of biodieselsustainability.com and a constant vigilance to shine light on the truth are all tools the NBB communications team has called on in what has become a battle to safeguard biodiesel’s good name.
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Biodiesel Fuels Kids’ Health in Colorado
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Hundreds of children in southern Colorado now have access to health and dental care powered by biodiesel. The newest Ronald McDonald Care Mobile provides checkups, health education, immunizations, and medical and dental care for underserved children in their own neighborhoods. The care mobile is the 35the in the program and is the first in the U.S. to run on biodiesel.
The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile is 40-feet long, 8-feet wide. It accommodates two patient rooms that double as dental operatories and medical exam rooms, a laboratory, a reception area and connection to specialty care.
Peak Vista Community Health Centers and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern Colorado sponsored the care mobile. Unlike most mobile clinics, Ronald McDonald Care Mobiles are designed and built specifically as pediatric healthcare vehicles.
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Drivers Can Fill Up with their Blackberry
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New Tool Directs Drivers to Biodiesel Stations
Blackberrys have been more than proven as must-have technology for on-the go go-getters, and now they can even help fill up gas tanks with the new Alternative Fueling Station Locator. A U.S. Department of Energy program allows drivers to use a cell phone, Blackberry or other PDA to find biodiesel and other alternative fuel sites.
"Most drivers don't realize alternative fuels are readily available in their areas. The goal of the mobile station locator is to show them that alternative fueling sites are conveniently located and available at the touch of a button," says Dennis Smith, National Clean Cities director. "Mobile Internet access means consumers can find alternative fuel stations at their convenience whenever and wherever they want."
The Mobile AF Station Locator allows drivers to find the five closest biodiesel, E85, natural gas, hydrogen, propane or electric fueling sites. The tool uses well-known, easy-to-navigate Google Maps and lists each station's contact information and business hours. Detailed driving directions and an instant phone connection to the station can be accessed by inputting the link www.afdc.energy.gov/stations/m/ into your Internet-capable mobile device.
The mobile station locator was developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The tool is sponsored by the Clean Cities initiative.
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Brinkmann Honored by ASA for Work with NBB
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One of the National Biodiesel Board’s champions has been honored for his life’s work in furthering biodiesel. The American Soybean Association recognized Darryl Brinkmann, immediate past chairman of NBB, with the ASA Lifetime Achievement – Association Focus Award for his work with biodiesel through NBB, among his other service to ASA.
“It is a real honor to have your colleagues pay tribute to you in that way,” said Brinkmann, who was surprised with the award at ASA’s banquet Friday night at the Commodity Classic in Grapevine, Texas. “Usually getting a new product to market takes longer than it has for biodiesel. During my time serving ASA on NBB’s board, there have been lots of challenges, lots of successes, and lots of fun. The Commodity Classic is an annual agricultural trade show and convention.
Brinkmann, from Carlyle, Ill., serves on the NBB Executive Committee and Governing Board as the ASA representative. He was NBB’s chair from 2004-2007. He has also served on ASA’s executive committee as vice president.
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Upcoming Events
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Alternative Fuel & Vehicles Conference and Expo
Alternative Fuel Vehicle Institute
April 19-22, 2009
Disney's Swan and Dolphin Resort and Conf Center
Orlando, FL
www.afv2009.com
Please visit "biodiesel events" on biodiesel.org for more.
The NBB Family of Web Sites
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