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Capitol Christmas Tree's cross-country journey powered by biodiesel
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The more-than-six-story-tall blue spruce Christmas tree that will illuminate the U.S. Capitol lawn is greener than ever this year thanks to help from the National Biodiesel Foundation and others. The tree made its way from its home in Arizona to Washington, D.C. powered by cleaner burning biodiesel.
Working with the State of Arizona, Southwest Industrial Rigging, and the Tucson Regional Clean Cities Coalition and generous sponsors, NBF helped the tree's host state make real their dream of a cleaner trip for the Christmas tree.
The route was specially tailored to allow for easy refueling with biodiesel blends and public education along the way about the benefits of biodiesel.
"This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase how biodiesel is a green, sustainable part of the solution to meeting America's energy needs," said National Biodiesel Foundation Executive Director Tom Verry.
The tree was cut from the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, who led the overall Christmas tree program this year with support from many partners and sponsors. The official lighting ceremony will take place December 8 and the public can view the tree on the West Front of the Capitol grounds through January 1, 2010.
"This is the first time Arizona has contributed the Capitol Christmas Tree, and it's appropriate that we made this landmark trip with biodiesel," said Colleen Crowninshield, manager, Clean Cities Program of the Pima Association of Governments. "Using biodiesel reduces emissions at the same time it cuts dependence on foreign oil."
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Pittsburgh area food bank to hit the road with biodiesel
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The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank in Duquesne, Penn. will fuel its 11 trucks with a biodiesel blend pumped from the areas first “dial-a-blend” tank beginning in January. The tank allows diesel users to set their own biodiesel blend levels at the pump.
The tank is part of the Pittsburgh Region Clean Cities "Clean Pump Initiative". Within the next year, two more dial-a-blend tanks will begin operation serving other non-profits -- Construction Junction in Point Breeze and at Transportation Solutions in Uptown. Another four pumps are expected to open shortly thereafter.
"We are thrilled to support the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, a non-profit that is already doing good for the community, and wants to do right by the environment as well by fueling with biodiesel blends,” said Ryan Walsh, executive director of Pittsburgh Region Clean Cities. “We hope to see this initiative continue to grow as other non-profits become aware of the initiative."
Eventually the fuel tanks will be available to members of Pittsburgh Region Clean Cities, which the public can join for a cost of $125 annually.
The food bank's vehicles use about 33,000 gallons of diesel each year. Switching to biodiesel blends is expected to reduce their carbon footprint by 400 tons.
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Conversessions at NBB conference make connecting easy
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One of the most important benefits of the annual Biodiesel Conference & Expo is the opportunity to talk. Talk to leaders, talk to potential business clients and customers, talk to stakeholders, talk to industry experts, talk to technical groundbreakers. Talk, network and interact with the widespread industry leadership on hand at the conference.
To make it easy, this year's event in Grapevine, TX will feature "Conversessions". Conversessions are specially designed to facilitate networking and to provide a “free-flow” of discussion around a topic of interest to biodiesel stakeholders. Each session will be moderated by an expert on the subject matter and will include ample time for Q&A among and between attendees and the moderator alike. Direction of discussions will be driven by the participants. Topic suggestions will be accepted on your registration form.
In addition NBB has listened to our past attendees and exhibitors who, overwhelmingly, indicated they attended the conference to network with the numerous biodiesel marketers, feedstock growers, fuel distributors, government leaders and other biodiesel stakeholders. From our new Monday evening reception in the Exhibit Hall, the addition of a new Biodiesel Networking Center, a new and improved NBB Connections social networking system to the numerous open forum "conversessions", NBB wants to assist in these efforts to connect and learn! These additions and changes to the program will create boundless networking opportunities and allow you to meet new people with some of the same biodiesel interests. The conference will be held at the Gaylord Texan just minutes from the Dallas-Ft. Worth Airport February 7-10. Plan now to attend - link to conference site.
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Biodiesel survey shows 99% would recommend biodiesel to others
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Biodiesel users remain a solid fan club. For the third year in a row, 99 percent of respondents to a national survey say they would recommend biodiesel to others. Energy security and environmental/health benefits continue to reign as the top reasons for biodiesel support in the annual survey of biodiesel users across the United States. The Biodiesel Alliance project supported by the United Soybean Board has conducted the online survey for three years in a row. More than 500 biodiesel users responded to the 2009 survey in August and September 2009. The respondents to the 2009 survey own, operate or manage a total of 4,025 diesel vehicles. They identified themselves as 46% motorists; 8% farmers; 7% fleet managers; 4% petroleum distributors; 4% truck drivers; and 28% other. The average respondent had used biodiesel for four years; 89% reported little to no engine and/or fuel quality problems using biodiesel. Biodiesel support by an original equipment manufacturer was an important consideration in decisions for 87% of respondents when making a purchase of that company’s products. This is up from 82% the previous year. By far the leading reason for not using biodiesel was availability at 80%, down slightly from the previous year's 89%. At 15%, price was the next biggest obstacle cited for not using biodiesel. Go to http://www.biodiesel.org/aboutnbb/alliance/ to join the Biodiesel Alliance, for organizations and companies, or the Biodiesel Backers program for individuals.
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A fresh start for clean cities
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Some of the nation’s strongest champions for alternative fuels like biodiesel gathered in Tennessee last month to collaborate on their efforts to reduce petroleum consumption. About 78 coordinators in 38 states participated in the 2009 Clean Cities Coordinator Leadership Retreat at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This was record attendance and reflects the growing Clean Cities program, infused with new life from federal investment. The Clean Cities network now includes 87 active coalitions covering 80 percent of the U.S. population.
The three day event gave the coordinators the opportunity to learn from their peers and provide input for strategies that will guide the future of Clean Cities. The Department of Energy staff attending included DOE Washington, D.C. headquarters staff, new regional office staff from the National Energy Technology Laboratory in Pittsburgh, Penn., and key staff from the national laboratories.
The National Biodiesel Board participated in the event, leading a roundtable discussion and sponsoring the opening night reception, along with member REG Inc. NBB congratulates four of biodiesel’s top champions. Mindy Mize, Dallas-Ft. Worth Clean Cities and Chelsea Jenkins, Virginia Clean Cities won Coordinators of the Year. Also, Kellie Walsh, Central Indiana Clean Cities, was named Clean Cities' Mentor of the Year. Vandana Bali, a general session speaker representing the City of San Francisco at the 2009 National Biodiesel Conference & Expo, was named Clean Cities' Most Enterprising New Coordinator. Congratulations to all!
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National Biodiesel Board members elect Governing Board
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National Biodiesel Board members selected their trade association leadership at the November membership meeting in D.C., electing seven returning members and one new member to serve on its governing board. The election was held at the November membership meeting in Washington, D.C.
Ron Marr with the Minnesota Soybean Processors was newly elected to the governing board as an at large candidate.
Returning members elected include:
- Ed Ulch, Iowa Soybean Association, (at large)
- Kris Kappenman, ADM (producer)
- Bob Metz, South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion Council (at large)
- Ed Hegland, Minnesota Soybean Promotion and Research Council (farmer)
- Gary Haer, Renewable Energy Group, Inc. (producer)
- Jim Conway, treasurer, Griffin Industries (renderer/producer)
- Darryl Brinkmann, American Soybean Association (at large)
NBB's governing board elected officers for the coming year. Ed Hegland will serve as chairman; Gary Haer as vice chair; Ed Ulch as secretary; and Jim Conway as treasurer.
Greg Anderson, Nebraska Soybean Board; Denny Mauser, Western Iowa Energy, LLC; David Womack, Tennessee Soybean Promotion Board; Robert Stobaugh, Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board; Greg Hopkins, U.S. Biofuels, Inc.; Doug Smith, Baker Commodities, Inc.; and Dave Lyons, Louis Dreyfus Corporation, also serve on the Governing Board.
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Oilheat industry embraces Bioheat®
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Oilheat leadership from Maine to South Carolina recently set the industry on a new cleaner, greener and more sustainable course. The historic collaboration of assembled oilheat associations and stakeholders formally adopted long-term goals, including expanding Bioheat®. Bioheat is defined as oilheat blended with 2 to 5 percent biodiesel.
A resolution calls for changes to heating oil, including that by July 2010, all heating oil will be mixed with a bio component to ensure that at least 2 percent of the fuel is renewable, with goals to increase levels over time.
"It is an exciting time for the industry," said Peter Carini of Champion Energy of New York. "As an industry, we face many challenges, but most of them can be met if we embrace this exciting opportunity to create a new product that will be environmentally responsible and competitive, ensuring that our industry will be a part of the solution to the energy security and climate change challenges that face our nation."
At the national oilheat industry policy summit, oilheat leadership including National Oil Heat Research Alliance, the New England Fuel Institute, and Petroleum Marketers Association of America approved a statement formally embracing cleaner burning fuels, like Bioheat, as well as endorsing an ultra low sulfur standard and solar technology.
The Bioheat market, at a 5 percent blend, has the potential to increase demand for biodiesel by 450 million gallons annually.
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Da Vinci Science Center highlights biodiesel education program
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The Da Vinci Science Center in Allentown, Pa., recently hosted a biodiesel education program for 6th-9th grade students as part of its Alternative Fuels program. Michael Tucker, President of GenX in Allentown, Pa., delivered the program on alternative fuels based on his method of preparing biodiesel from Jatrophia Curcas (physic nut) that he is currently developing in Alabama. The commercial process cleans and polishes the biodiesel using wood shavings to eliminate the water wash process, making the GenX process of biodiesel production nearly waste-free and 100% eco-friendly. Tucker explained to the students that this biodiesel production method lowers production costs compared to the traditional dry wash of resin materials. The students had a keen interest in the economics as well as the technology of producing biodiesel.
The Alternative Fuels program of the Da Vinci Science Center is part of a major effort to inform students and their parents about biodiesel, wind power, hydrogen, and ethanol addition to replace our common source of transportation fuel, petroleum-derived gasoline. The inquiry-based education program allows students to get hands-on experience with current technology to enhance their understanding.
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