[Biodiesel In Utah] Biodiesel Bulletin - April 2, 2007
Andre Shoumatoff
andre at utahbiodiesel.org
Mon Apr 2 20:32:01 EDT 2007
National Biodiesel Board
In This Issue April 2007
a.. Cummins Approves B20 Blends for Engines
b.. NextEnergy Biodiesel Summit Sets Goals for Research
c.. Don't Get Left Behind on Fuel Quality
d.. National Trucking Company's Biodiesel Study Shows Positive Results
e.. AFVI National Conf. in Full Swing; Local Public Welcome on Wed.
a.. 2007 to be a Bumper Crop Year for Legislation
b.. Earthrace Record Attempt Continues Despite Tragedy
c.. Houston Power Plant First in U.S. to Run on Biodiesel
d.. Biodiesel U: Collegiate Exposure to the Alt Fuel
Cummins Approves B20 Blends for Engines
Drivers of a wide range of Cummins-engine diesel vehicles will have added support in using biodiesel blends. Cummins Inc. has announced approval of the use of a 20% blend of biodiesel (B20) in many of its engines. The B20 approval is for 2002 and later emissions-compliant ISX, ISM, ISL, ISC and ISB engines, including recently released 2007 products.
The engines approved for B20 are used to power a variety of vehicles including medium and heavy-duty trucks, motor homes, school buses, fire and emergency vehicles, and urban buses and shuttles. The announcement is likely to help Cummins grow its truck engine market share by meeting consumer demand through B20 support.
Cummins decided to upgrade its previous position on the use of biodiesel fuel, which limited the recommended use to B5, for three key reasons:
a.. The American Society of Testing Materials specification ASTM D 6751 now includes an important stability specification for B100 biodiesel.
b.. The availability of quality fuels from BQ-9000 Certified Marketers and Accredited Producers is growing rapidly.
c.. Cummins has completed the necessary testing and evaluations to ensure that customers can reliably operate their equipment with confidence using high quality B20 fuel.
Headquartered in Columbus, Ind., Cummins serves customers in more than 160 countries through its network of 550 company-owned and independent distributor facilities and more than 5,000 dealer locations. See biodiesel.org for more on this announcement and www.everytime.cummins.com for warranty coverage information.
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NextEnergy Biodiesel Summit Sets Goals for Research
Manufacturers, policy makers, regulators and biodiesel industry representatives met in March for a Biodiesel Summit to identify and remove barriers to widespread acceptance of up to B20 biodiesel blends by engine and vehicle manufacturers. DaimlerChrysler, a sponsor of the B20 Summit, challenged the group to come up with a viable fuel standard for the B20 finished blend.
"Biodiesel represents a huge opportunity to address some of our nation's toughest energy, environmental and economic challenges," said Deborah Morrissett, DaimlerChrysler's VP of Regulatory Affairs. "We know this is the right thing to do - so the goal now is to develop a national B20 standard that can be universally applied to all diesel vehicles, both on road and in production, to confidently support higher blends of biodiesel such as B20."
The multi-industry Biodiesel Summit group met at the NextEnergy Center, Michigan's alternative and renewable energy business incubator, located in Detroit's TechTown district. Participants identified several other areas that need additional study and funding to bolster full B20 support, including:
a.. Long-term effects of B20 on emissions control and after-treatment devices
b.. Long-term engine durability testing
c.. Greater fuel quality monitoring efforts to ensure the fuel standards are being met.
While full B20 support is the goal, several auto and equipment manufacturers have recognized that the market may not be willing to wait years for it to happen. DaimlerChrysler was the first auto manufacturer to approve the use of B20 by government, military and commercial fleet customers in its 2007 model year Dodge Ram pickup truck. New Holland has also approved the use of B20 in all of its equipment using New Holland engines, becoming the first original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to announce full formal support for B20 in the engines it produces. Now Cummins has announced B20 support (see above). All major automakers support at least B5 in their diesel vehicles. For more, please see biodiesel.org.
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Don't Get Left Behind on Fuel Quality
As fuel quality takes center stage, companies with the BQ-9000 seal of approval will have an edge over their competitors. One-day seminars, held throughout North America, will help companies learn about the program. "Understanding and Implementing BQ-9000" seminars will provide the fundamentals for implementing BQ-9000 - the voluntary quality management system for biodiesel producers and marketers.
BQ-9000 couples the foundation of universally accepted quality management systems with the product specification ASTM D 6751, and has become the premier quality designation in the industry. These seminars focus on understanding the details of the requirements, the steps to implement the requirements, and the most efficient approaches to managing the registration project. Organizers encourage quality managers, operations managers, and other management personnel from biodiesel industry companies and organizations to attend.
The dates are as follows:
a.. April 12-Kansas City, Mo.
b.. May 3 - Charlotte, N.C.
c.. June 14 - Seattle
d.. July 12 - Winnipeg, Manitoba
e.. August 16 - Boston, Mass.
f.. October 18 - Las Vegas
The first two BQ-9000 sessions of the year were held at the National Biodiesel Conference in February, and in Kansas City in April.
Visit bq-9000.org or contact Anne Klempke at the NBB office, 800-841-5849 or aklempke at biodiesel.org, to register for a course.
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National Trucking Company's Biodiesel Study Shows Positive Results
Dale Decker is a third-generation trucker in the family business, which started in 1931 with one Model B Ford truck. Since then, the Fort Dodge, Iowa-based Decker Truck Line has grown to more than 700 trucks and more than 1,400 trailers, with nine terminals in five states. Dale Decker found out about biodiesel several years ago. The more he learned, the more he wanted to try it. Now, Decker Truck Line is not only using biodiesel, but documenting testing on its use over-the-road fleet use.
Decker Truck Line, Inc. is the first major trucking company to compare a soy biodiesel B20 blend to regular diesel in a comprehensive over-the-road test covering two million miles. Announced last fall, the "Two Million Mile Haul" has covered 350,000 miles towards the goal. Partners released interim results at the Mid-America Trucking Show two weeks ago. In addition to Decker, partners in the Two Million Mile Haul include the Iowa Soybean Association, National Biodiesel Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Iowa Central Community College and Renewable Energy Group.
Decker says so far, so good. He has observed cleaner engine oil analyses, decreased maintenance and no cold weather issues, even with temperatures in the single digits. Decker Truck Line is using B20 biodiesel (20% biodiesel, 80% No. 2 petroleum diesel) in 20 of the company's trucks, running from its terminal in Fort Dodge, Iowa to either Chicago or Minneapolis. All trucks have Caterpillar C13 or C15 engines built to EPA 2004 and EPA 2007 emissions levels.
Caterpillar is also following the results of the study and conducting further analysis on the effects of biodiesel. To keep Caterpillar and other companies and agencies abreast of the progress, Decker Truck Line and Iowa Central Community College have developed a Web site to show results: www.2millionmilehaul.com. For more details, please visit www.biodiesel.org.
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AFVI National Conf. in Full Swing; Local Public Welcome on Wed.
The Alternative Fuel Vehicle Institute (AFVI) is currently hosting the 13th Alternative Fuels & Vehicles National Conference + Expo, running through April 4 in Anaheim, Calif. More than 1250 fleet and industry professionals are gathering for four days of information and product previews. This national conference on all alternative fuels, vehicles and advanced technologies offers one-stop information and product shopping to fleets, policy-makers, and advocates for clean transportation choices.
Beyond educational sessions and keynote addresses, the expo is held Monday through Wednesday, with one public day, at the Anaheim Convention Center, 800 West Katella Avenue, Hall E. On Public Day, held Wednesday, there is no admission charge and the expo is open from 8:00 a.m. to noon.
The conference features nationally recognized leaders in the fields of fuels, emissions, vehicles, policy, foreign relations and climate change. Iconic oilman T. Boone Pickens is joined by federal level policymakers including foreign policy strategist and former CIA Chief James Woolsey; Neel Kashkari, Senior Advisor to Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson; and fifteen-year veteran of the U.S. Congress, Pete McCloskey. Joe Jobe, CEO of the National Biodiesel Board (NBB), will present at the conference. Larry Hagman, "Dallas" star and recent National Biodiesel Conference participant, will sign autographs. California policymakers, and auto reviewers and analysts Jim Kenzie of the Toronto Star and JD Power Director of Automotive Emerging Technologies, Mike Marshall, will also be participating.
The NBB is a sponsor of this event.
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2007 to be a Bumper Crop Year for Legislation
States around the country have picked up the pace in addressing biodiesel policy. Policy makers are considering everything from mandates, to production incentives, to tax exemptions and credits to encourage the growth of the industry.
At least 11 states are considering some form of requirement legislation that would require a certain percentage of diesel sold in a state to be biodiesel. These states include Florida, Connecticut, Missouri, California, Oregon, Mississippi, Arkansas, Nebraska, Montana and New Mexico. Many states are adding language that would increase a B2 blend (two percent biodiesel) to a B5 level after a designated period.
Oregon's mandate legislation has a unique twist in that it coincides with the city of Portland's biodiesel mandate that passed in 2006 - that effective July 1 all diesel fuel sold by fuel distributors or resellers to fuel retailers, nonretail dealers or wholesale purchaser-consumers, to contain a minimum blend of B5.
Other states have legislation to establish a Task Force, or study committee, to research mandates; label pumps that dispense biodiesel; exempt the state's diesel tax for the portion of biodiesel in the blend (Connecticut and Tennessee); encourage biodiesel use and production through a variety of tax incentives and grants and loans. For example, Florida Governor Charlie Crist asked the state legislature for $68 million in funding incentives for Florida-based biodiesel and ethanol projects.
California is also considering a series of bills introduced by Sen. Dean Florez (D-Shafter). Among other things, the proposals would define biodiesel as a fuel, not an additive, and require meeting ASTM D 6751; mandate the use of biodiesel in state-owned diesel-powered vehicles; require the use of biodiesel fuel in school buses throughout the state; create a tax credit to stimulate the production of biodiesel in California; exempt biodiesel fuels from state sales and excise taxes; and establish the California Biodiesel Investment Account, which would offer incentives such as grant money to build fueling stations, grow feedstock crops and develop new biodiesel technologies.
It is likely that many of these proposals will become law in some form by the end of this year. The year 2007 promises to be yet another active one for the biodiesel industry. For more details on state legislation, please visit this link at biodiesel.org.
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Earthrace Record Attempt Continues Despite Tragedy
Earthrace captain Pete Bethune and his crew were allowed to leave Guatemala in late March after a fatal collision involving their biodiesel-powered vessel and a fishing boat Mar. 18. Earthrace is a wave-piercing boat in a bid to break the world record for circumnavigating the globe. After a year-long promotional tour with the boat, the crew started the record attempt Mar. 10.
The crew was detained for 10 days after the incident which left a local fisherman missing and presumed dead and another seriously injured. The New Zealander Bethune, and crew, told officials the fishing boat did not appear on radar and did not have the appropriate lights.
During this time, Bethune was detained at a military base in Puerto Quetzal, and it was only after the intervention of the Guatemalan President, Oscar Berger, that the country allowed Bethune's trial.
A judge in Guatemala has ruled it was an accident. Bethune has told the widow of the fisherman killed in the accident they would put his name on the boat, in memory of him. Bethune and crew feel they helped the injured man survive by administering saline solution intravenously until they reached the hospital.
Bethune and his crew left Guatemala on Mar. 28. Before they left, repairs had to be made to the propellers. This second set of props was damaged in the tragic accident. The first set suffered unpredictable wear and tear and had to be replaced, slowing the boat in the first leg, between Barbados and Panama.
The team feels they have an extremely difficult challenge to get the record now, due to the amount of time they lost in Guatemala, but that they will do their best, according to an Earthrace press release. The Discovery Channel Web site (www.discovery.com) has been reporting news on the endeavor, and has posted numerous background videos. According to earthrace.net, Earthrace is in San Diego today; the Web site also shows ways that you can support the ongoing bid attempt.
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Houston Power Plant First in U.S. to Run on Biodiesel
Biofuels Power Corp. has begun producing and selling electricity into the ERCOT Power Grid from its biodiesel-powered generating plant in Oak Ridge North, Texas. The Oak Ridge North facility is the first power plant in the country to run entirely on biodiesel, according to Biofuels Power Corp. Biofuels Power plans to build a series of biodiesel-powered electric generating plants to serve residential and industrial customers in the Houston Metropolitan area.
The Oak Ridge North facility has a capacity of up to 5 Megawatts and uses three diesel powered Caterpillar generators that run exclusively on biodiesel fuel produced by the Safe Renewables Corp. refinery located within two miles of the power plant. Currently supplying biodiesel fuel to meet power generation and transportation needs, SRC produces biodiesel from renewable sources including soy, cottonseed, canola oil and animal fats.
Biofuels Power company officials say it is now constructing a larger turbine-based biodiesel power plant at the Safe Renewables' refinery site. The second facility is expected to deliver over 10 Megawatts into the Entergy power grid that delivers electricity to customers in East Texas and Louisiana. Company officials say renewable power projects such as these can ultimately provide "islands of power," protecting areas from blackouts.
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Biodiesel U: Collegiate Exposure to the Alt Fuel
College students are seen as the future, and increasingly they are having opportunities to learn about, even profit from, a fuel that is seen as one necessary for our future energy needs. From music tours that hit college towns, to a unique scholarship program, biodiesel may become the big fuel on campus.
Guster, an independent pop/rock band popular with U.S. students, hit the road last week on its second annual Campus Consciousness Tour, which shows students more than just the band's act. The Campus Consciousness Tour educates on ways to live in a more eco-friendly way, and its biodiesel blend use is testament to that. Its three buses and one truck run on B20, a blend of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent regular diesel fuel.
In this cause, Guster is joined by Reverb, a nonprofit organization founded by Guster guitarist-vocalist Adam Gardner and his wife Lauren Sullivan. Reverb works with other musical tours to offset their impact on the environment.
Minnesota may be a state known for biodiesel, with its 2 percent standard and its BQ-9000 accredited production facilities. In the educational community, though, the fuel is being brought to light through a scholarship program available to high school seniors. The new Clean Air Choice T scholarships, through the American Lung Association of Minnesota and the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association is meant to help raise awareness of biodiesel. A first place, $500 scholarship, and a second place, $250 scholarship, will be awarded.
All entries, focusing on benefits, opportunities and impacts of the fuel's growth, must be submitted by 4:30 p.m., April 30, to the American Lung Association of Minnesota. Essays must be 1,000 words or less in length. Online entries are preferred; to submit an entry or for more information, see cleanairchoice.org.
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Upcoming Events
a.. Brazil Bio-Energy Tour
Renk Agribusiness Institute
March 31-April 10, 2007
Brazil - various cities
www.aae.wisc.edu/renk
b.. National Alternative Fuels and Vehicles Conference
Alternative Fuel Vehicle Institute (AFVI)
April 1-4, 2007
Anaheim, CA
www.afvi.org
c.. Ethanol & Biodiesel Management
OPIS
April 11-13
Chicago
www.opisnet.com/ethbiomgmt/index.html
d.. Clean Moves Expo
April 16-20, 2007
Hannover Fair, Germany
www.cleanmoves.com
e.. Biofuel Summit, European Summit for Bio Fuel Industry
April 17 - 18
Madrid
Palacio de Congresos
www.biofuelsummit.es
f.. Bioenergy Business 2007
German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest
April 25
Chicago
www.gaccom.org/consulting/bioenergybusiness.html
g.. RENEXPO INDIA at the 2nd South-Asia Renewable Energy Conference
April 25- 26, 2007
New Dehli, Hotel Le Meridian
www.renexpo-india.com
h.. AOCS Short Courses at the 98th AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo
May 11-17
Québec City, QC, Canada
http://Annual_Mtg.aocs.org
i.. Biofuels Markets Asia
June 12-13
Orchard Hotel, Singapore
www.greenpowerconferences.com
j.. NBB Board Meeting
June 18-20
Washington, D.C.
Please visit "biodiesel events" on biodiesel.org for more.
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Contact Us
For more information on biodiesel visit our website at www.biodiesel.org or contact us at 888-BIODIESEL.
Amber Pearson, Communications Specialist
apearson at biodiesel.org Bev Thessen, Information Coordinator
bthessen at biodiesel.org
This bulletin is also available in PDF format online at
http://www.biodiesel.org/news/bulletin/
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2004 National Biodiesel Board - www.biodiesel.org
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