[Biodiesel In Utah] UBC Newsletter

[Andre Shoumatoff]

Utah Biodiesel Newsletter
Utah Biodiesel Cooperative, PO Box 4301 Park City UT 84060   435 649-0316

 

Friday, March 9, 2007 - Early Spring 2007

 

3rd Annual Biodiesel in Utah Forum

While traditionally this forum has been in the spring (April), we are
planning to have this event some time during the summer.  There has been a
lot of biodiesel activity in the state this year, and this forum will cover
that.  It is free and open to all, look for times and information posted on
our site and on UBC's email list at UtahBiodiesel.Org

 

Harvesting Energy Summit, February 2007

Last week, director of Utah Biodiesel Andre Shoumatoff participated and
co-hosted the major biodiesel segments (along with a representative from the
National Biodiesel Board) of a major intermountain-region renewable energy
summit, "Harvesting Energy."

The summit itself was excellent, and was really the first time, most people
agreed, that during a special breakout session for Utah persons that most of
the major advocates (and many related government officials) for renewable
energy & energy efficiency were all in the same room together.  There was
sort of a "community feeling" of like minded persons interested in the same
issues (global warming, energy efficiency, renewables, etc).  Spearheaded
and coordinated by reps from Utah Clean Energy, we are expecting to see some
activity and action from the group along with possible bi-monthly meetings.

Utah Biodiesel hosted and coordinated a 1.5 hour period of 15 minute
breakout sessions.  In 15 minute increments, we were able to educated pretty
much all attendees of the conference on biodiesel and were able to plug the
fuel as the easiest to implement renewable fuel, and give general education
about advantages and drawbacks of the fuel.  In general, speaking for this
event, and compared to ethanol which has been front and foremost in other
states, biodiesel is and is expected to take a significant role in the
impact of renewables in the state.  Case in point, there are nearly 20
biodiesel retail stations here now while there is only one major ethanol
station, which is in stark contrast to the rest of the county.  Not to
discount ethanol, but I believe the advocacy and efforts by key leaders in
the biodiesel community here have been quite successful.

 

Utah Biodiesel also met with some of the other biodiesel persons/programs
who attended:

.        Some may or may not be aware that researchers and professors from
USU in Logan were awarded a ~$6.5 million grant to develop a biodiesel algae
program, with funding from a special state program called USTAR.  (Utah
Biodiesel actually met with USTAR this morning regarding biodiesel so they
could get a grasp on biodiesel activity in the state).  They plant to have a
small plant and full algae production in as little as 5 years.  Utah
Biodiesel is considering authoring a concept to present to the state and
USDA Rural Development called the "Biodiesel from Algae from Utah
Initiative" which will hopefully allow Utah to become a leader in biodiesel
from algae initiatives.

.        Some of you may be aware of the biodiesel feedstock research
program that was taking place at USU's extension program at Snow College in
central Utah, which was briefly discussed at last year's Biodiesel in Utah
Forum by me.  They have gotten about half way through their program to
evaluate the agricultural yield of different crops/feedstocks for biodiesel
purposed in the arid and dry Utah climate, and are currently reporting the
best yields having been Safflower crops so far. Biodiesel can be a potential
source of revenue for some of these rural farmers struggling to compete with
Midwest crop efficiency.  As more information comes from this program feel
free to contact us any time about this.  Attendees from this program will be
at this year's annual Biodiesel in Utah Forum.  

 

 

 

Biodiesel Production Plants in Utah

There are still no concrete plants that we are aware of for a major
biodiesel plant in Utah.  Last summer UBC met with a person who was
interested in starting a small plant and that turned into a company called
Denali Industries that has emerged in American Fork that will be a small
scale (possible 1 million gallons?) biodiesel production facility.
HOMEBREWERS:  These guys are also accepting glycerin an no cost.  Contact
Slade Barnett (801) 763-0137.   

 

There is also another small plant also in the area headed by key note
speaker from last year's annual Biodiesel in Utah Forum, Ron Crafts, with
info available at www.betterbiodiesel.com <http://www.betterbiodiesel.com/>
.

 

 

State Energy Policy and Recent Biodiesel Legislation

In January, Utah Biodiesel director Andre Shoumatoff met with Gov Huntsman's
Energy Policy Advisor Dr. Laura Nelson and with another energy policy
coordinator Ron Daniels about ways to possibly implement biodiesel into the
state energy program.  UBC will be participating in an event they are
hosting in April.    For more info about this event, see
http://www.utahenergysummit.com.

 

There was a biodiesel specific bill in the state house this last session.
The goal was a $.25 per gallon credit for any biodiesel produced in the
state with a cap at $1 million.  UBC with the help of the NBB helped clarify
some language on the bill so that the definition of biodiesel was properly
addressed, which it was not previously. The bill was introduced by Rep. Mike
Noel of Kanab and UBC did have some input regarding the matter to both the
actual legislation and to some subsequent followup by various agencies about
the effectiveness and benefits/drawbacks of the bill.  The bill was amended
to $.15 a gallon then ultimately defeated, unfortunately.  

 

There have also been some other bills that have been of interest to UBC,
including some state fleet vehicles initiatives but biodiesel has been
unable to make it into any of the legislation at this point, but we are
working on it.

 

 

Biodiesel at Sundance Film Festival

During January, UBC participated and coordinated with two film efforts.  The
first, "Everything's Cool," which was a global warming film and is
considered a "followup to Al Gore's movie," featured UBC member John "Bish"
Neuhauser as a major character as he learned how to and successfully brewed
biodiesel for the first time a few years ago.  The film was widely covered
in the local Park City press and may have an impact nationally.  It also
featured commentary and followed the stories of several global warming
experts around the country, some of whom UBC director Andre Shoumatoff has
known and worked for back east before moving to Utah.

            Mayor Dana Williams also participated in some events during the
festival and reported that the Park City B20 program is going excellently
and there is some interest in possibly running higher biodiesel percentages
if possible.

 

UB also supported and served as a key contact point for a short film that
has been widely embraced by the National Biodiesel Board, about biodiesel
and other biofuels, called "Freedom Fuels."  The film is only about 20
minutes long, is excellent, and is available for viewing & free copies at
www.freedomfuels.info <http://www.freedomfuels.info/> .  UB helped
coordinate media efforts, served as a center for mailing materials, etc.  On
a Saturday during the festival, the film makers, with the help of UBC member
Shea Pickelner and her biodiesel school bus, coordinated a public
information campaign on Main Street during the festival, using the school
bus.  It attracted some notable attention, including support from actor Ed
Begley Jr among others.

 

Moab Getting Biodiesel, Finally.

Look for the upcoming Outside Magazine article that features Moab as a "up
and coming" environmentally friendly city.  Mayor Dave Sakrison of Moab has
been a key environmental advocate and has been interested in biodiesel for
some time.  A station in Moab will be receiving biodiesel this April and
will be supplied either by Blue Sun or possibly by one of the Salt Lake
suppliers.  For more info, contact us.

 

Biodiesel Retail Stations

Biodiesel retail stations have been steadily expanding, coming in close to
20 now, with locations in Salt Lake City, Midvale, Delta, Price, Logan,
Brigham City, and several other places.  For more info on these, see follow
a link from utahbiodiesel.org

 

Membership Cards, Looking for a Volunteer!

As many of you know, we have not been good about getting membership cards
out in a timely manor.  While we are working hard for biodiesel, director
Andre Shoumatoff has been horrible about printing and mailing the cards,
sometimes with several months delay.  UBC has a card printing machine that
is compatible with all PCs.  If anyone is interested in becoming UBC's card
printing person, you basically receive an email any time someone joins the
group (about 150 people currently, over 250 overall!), and need to simply
print a card and mail it along with a sticker.  If you are interested in
volunteering for this position, feel free to email us!  

UBC updates.

UBC has asked member Paul Diegel, who has been a staunch supporter of UBC
and has participated in various events with UBC, to become a trustee and
advisor of the group.  He joins another rep from Squatter's Brew Pub who
serve as mostly advisory persons. UBC continues to get its only support from
membership dues, $25 a year, per person.  

 

__________________________

 

If you have any questions or exciting biodiesel information, feel free to
contact us!

Content by UBC Director Andre Shoumatoff.

 

 

 

 


 


Contact us with any questions:


Utah Biodiesel Cooperative

 <http://www.utahbiodiesel.org/> www.utahbiodiesel.org

 <mailto:info at utahbiodiesel.org> info at utahbiodiesel.org

(435) 649-0316 

 

 

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