Bio Products Opportunity

North Carolina biodiesel pioneers, including industry leaders, community college
representatives and workforce development experts, have formed a trade
association to promote increased use and production of biodiesel fuels in North
Carolina. The group, known as the North Carolina Biodiesel Association
(NCBA), hopes to involve all stakeholders interested in the development and
growth of the North Carolina biodiesel industry sector. As a non-profit
membership organization, NCBA seeks to represent the business interests of the
biodiesel industry, including producers, distributors, and retailers. Other service
providers to the industry, such as engineers, consultants, contractors, law firms,
and financers, educators, as well as other supporters and allies who are directly
involved in the biodiesel industry will be included in the NCBA.

The founding Board of the Association includes Randy Dellinger, Foothills Bio-
Energies, Tommy Evans, Evans Environmental Energies, Leif Forer, Piedmont
Biofuels, Larry Sullivan, Kreido Biofuels, and Brian Winslett, Blue Ridge Biofuels.
“Now that we are established we are inviting producers, suppliers and members
of the public to join us in unleashing the power of the biodiesel here in North
Carolina,” said Association member Leif Forer of Piedmont Biofuels.

Forer went on to say, “We believe that we can support North Carolina’s
achievement of improved air quality and energy independence while enabling
refiners to sustain reasonable economic returns and support local economic
development.”

Founding Member Rachel Burton said that “We see that many of our industry’s
interests are directly aligned with those of North Carolina’s farming community
and other raw material suppliers. We look forward to working on common issues
with our allied industries.”

“Our goal is to serve as the voice of the industry, representing the State’s
biodiesel sector in government relations in Raleigh and beyond, said Board Member Randy Dellinger of Foothills Bio-Energies. “We hope to continue to
educate the public about the value of biodiesel fuels in promoting energy
independence, enhancing local economies, improving air quality and reducing
our collective impact on climate changes.”

Biodiesel is the fastest growing alternative fuel in the US market with production
having tripled between 2005 and 2006, from 75 million gallons to about 250
million gallons. It is renewable, biodegradable, and nontoxic. Biodiesel
significantly cuts life cycle carbon dioxide and other harmful environmental
emissions, including carbon monoxide, sulfur, and aromatics. It can be made
from recycled cooking greases and any vegetable oil or animal fat, can run in any
diesel engine with little or no modification, and is compatible with the existing
petroleum distribution infrastructure.

NCBA offers memberships to biodiesel producers, marketers, and distributors as
well as to companies and individuals who support the industry. The North
Carolina Biodiesel Association is developing a website. In the
meantime, interested parties should contact Paul Knott at 828-254-1921, x5844
or knottp@ncbionetwork.org.

Original post by Leif

Piedmont Biofuels has begun collecting waste vegetable oil in earnest. On January 13, we will be having an organizational meeting for those interested in getting involved in the oil collection aspect of our enterprise.

The meeting will start with a full tour of the industrial facility (click here for directions) from 3 - 4pm, followed by an information session about oil collection from 4 - 6, followed by a potluck dinner.

This is a great opportunity for those interested in getting more involved without turning wrenches, covered in grease, or getting dirty at all. Feel free to show up at 3 for the tour or 4 for the information session, and if you have any questions email greg@biofuels.coop. See you there!

Original post by greg

Minutes from Board Meeting - October 28, 2007

In attendance: Matt Rudolf, Lyle Estill,Rachel Burton, Rachel Hoff,
Simon Lobdell

Presenting: Caleb Daniels

1) Simon is inducted (drafted) as secretary
2) Agenda
a. Minutes
b. Financials
c. Farm
d. Executive Director / Education Director
e. Digester Update
f. Grease collection
g. Greenhouse heat
h. SEI wrap up
i. Guatemala update
i. Addendum
i. NCAT trailer update
3) Caleb’s Digester update
a. Premise of the digester : to break down all the organics in wash water
b. Design goal: get to 85% wash water and 15% manure
c. Current model is a prototype with an assumed capacity of 300 gallons per week. The goal is to reach 1000 gal/week
d. Ultimately hoping to reduce level of BOD in wastewater by the use of an amberlite column
e. Planning the use of solar water heater and clay platform as a heating block
f. Caleb ensures everyone that he will put together a manual if/when he is not directly managing the system
g. Caleb and Lindsey are planning a digester fundraiser/ intern project fundraiser for two weekends from now
h. Current expenses are between $1300 and $1500
i. Board members Rachel Burton and Lyle Estill were surprised and frustrated by the expenses associated with the system
j. Caleb believes a functional system may be possible with approximately $300 more in funds
4) Financials
a. This month was a large loss and next month will be bigger. Coop will be approximately 6,000 to 7,000 in the hole at the end of the month at the current rate
b. Board recommends to refocus all energies for the time being on revenue generating measures:
i. Demethylation of glycerin and sale of finished product
ii. Send more SVO from our current WVO stock directly out for sale.
iii. Focus on providing salable quality oil for industrial

v. Weak financials indicate that the Abundance foundation will have to be fired as education director.
c. Lyle will negotiate new relationship and report back
d. Current member retention program is not functional.
e. Caleb and Lindsey will make this part of their duties for several hours each day.
f. Caleb suggested the possibility of visiting members houses directly but this did not seem appropriate for the coop as it would mean unnecessary driving

5) Farm update
a. Tes Thraves would like to become a farm incubator/manager at the existing coop plot.
b. She would be titled as Farm Incubator Manager and receive a token salary
c. She would like to begin some sort of a cooperative bargaining insurance program with BCBSNC for farmers
d. Rachel Burton’s primary concern is that the area be tour-ready but is highly supportive of the turnaround
e. Board requires clarity on Doug’s role and a clear delineation of space and utilization rights so as to avoid future conflict
f. Lyle will contact Tes to have her complete the arrangements and meet with Doug within 2 months
g. Matt is continuing to explore wood stoves

6) NCAT update
a. For next season
i. 40 farm tours at $350/tour
ii. 10 cleantech demoss in the North and 10 in the south at $1000/event
iii. 1 intensive farm workshop at $3500 - board requests a 25$ sign in fee to ensure positive buy in by farmers
b. Matt has received a $2500 grant to attend an oil crushing seminar
c. Matt has received a grant for $20,000 for clean tech trailer upgrades
i. Planning the purchase of a 24ft trailer at approximately $11,000
ii. $2,000 budgeted for design build to transfer existing equipment to new trailer
iii. want to do beautiful wrap currently proposed budget of $3,000 (note from Matt- for $2000 we can get a partial wrap, see email with details)
iv. remainder of funds for an oil crusher
7) Executive Director/ Education Director
a. Matt is overworked and is considering leaving
b. Several proposals for new interns suggested but rejected
c. Matt will write an email to all board members describing his situation and why he feels the way he does.
d. The board will meet next week to on Sunday discuss the implications and possibilities for the future
Grease Collection
a. Planning on getting to 2500 gal this month and 3500 next month. (Recent Development: The bank will provide the loan if we can reach 4800 gal/month in contracts)
b. Current pump is only having limited success and cannot pass current collection. It clogs and pumps far too slow. The pump cost $600 and will have other uses.
c. Biobox repairs and Dually repair have cost approximately $5500
d. The brakes in the biobox need repair in the near term. Current estimates exceed $1000 but we are suggesting getting a second opinion. (Note- Matt spoke with Johnny at the college and he agreed to help with the labor. The biobox is at the college on 10/30 for an inspection.)
e. Rachel will come up with maintenance schedule
f. Biobox wll be taken to the shop on Monday
9) SEI wrap up
a. The program was well attended and well delegated
b. SEI personnel were not helpful
c. Logistics were bad
d. This was mostly a result of last minute staff changes and hand off o responsibility to Abundance just before the conference began
e. Rachel has put together a checklist so that this does not happen again
f. The Coop house was deemed unsuitable as a classroom and the college was used. This seemed like an acceptable choice and will likely be repeated next year.
10) Final notes
a. To Matt finalize the trailer purchase
b. Plan for final completion of the system by National Biodiesel Board conference

Next Board Meeting was scheudled for Sunday, November 4, at 10:30, at the Coop.

Original post by Lyle

Piedmont Biofarms is pleased to announce the opening of its CSA.

CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture.

A CSA derives some or all of its support from members who contribute financially to the farm in exchange for a weekly share of farm vegetables. The farm receives payment at the beginning of the season which allows it to finance the planting of the crops.

In this way, the members and the farmer share the risks of farming along with the benefits. Members can pick up vegetables on the day they are harvested, and get the opportunity to try new vegetables, and beautiful heirloom varieties of the ones they already love.

In the Piedmont Biofarms CSA, we are dividing our year long growing season into several harvest sessions.

The first session is 10 weeks and will last from October 9th-
December 18th . We will be harvesting eggplants, peppers, okra, basil, green beans, head lettuce, salad mix, carrots, beets, spinach, turnips, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, collards, swiss chard, sweet potatoes, and more this Fall. You will have at least 5 or 10
items to choose from each week. The cost for the session is $110 and includes a $10 administrative fee along with the first $100 worth of vegetables that you order.

On the Monday morning of each week of the session, we will send out an email with a list of available produce along with prices.  To place your order, you simply reply to the email with what you would like to purchase and in what quantity by 8am on the Tuesday morning of each week.

We will assemble your order and have it ready for you to pick up from the farm anytime between 2 and 6pm on Tuesday. We will deduct the price of what you order each week from your $100 account. The minimum order for each week is $10, but feel free to order as much as you want.

Which means it will look like this:

1.  Email goes out to
members describing
the week’s available
harvest on Monday morning.

2.  Members respond
to email with their
order, ready for pickup Tuesday at 2:00.

3.  Members pick up their order at the Piedmont (Industrial location, south side of Building 3) and enjoy veggies for the week.

To sign up, please drop us an email with your name, phone number, street address, email address, and where you would like to receive your weekly ordering information (please only include one email address/share). Also send a check written out to Piedmont
Biofarms  with CSA on the memo line to:

Piedmont Biofarms
P.O. Box 661
Pittsboro, NC 27312

Mailto:info@biofuels.coop
We are looking forward to shipping boxes of amazing local food which is sustainably produced.  Thanks for joining in…

Original post by Lyle

Way out on Six Forks Road, near the intersection of 540, there is an intriguing country gas station called Taylor’s Grocery.

Surrounded by the sprawling subdivisions of Raleigh, it appears to be a hub of community activity.  It’s part General Store, selling everything from propane to gas jugs, part convenience store, with the usual Gatorade to go, and now it is selling Piedmont Biofuels brand B20 Biodiesel.

Customers driving up to the pump are greeted by a freshly wrapped yellow dispenser which mentions that the biodiesel is Made in North Carolina.  Those entering the store find a rack of Larry’s Beans-locally roasted shade grown organic fair trade coffee.

Larry’s is the brand of coffee served in Piedmont’s kitchen.  And Piemont’s fuel is the brand Larry dispenses in his yard in downtown Raleigh.

Today the folks from Piedmont made the haul to Taylor’s to drop off some brochures about biodiesel that were furnished by the National Biodiesel Board.  It will be a great location for some locally made fuel-which is priced the same as its petroleum counterpart.

Original post by Lyle

Learn the fundamentals of this alternative fuel source that can be used in any diesel engine. For industrial producers as well as grassroots brewers, the workshop will examine the emerging world biodiesel markets.

Participants will make biodiesel fuel with locally available materials, visit existing small scale production plants, and learn from top biodiesel industry specialists.

Optional recomended reading includes: Biodiesel: Growing a New Energy Economy by Greg Pahl and Biodiesel Power by Lyle Estill of Piedmont Biofuels

Topics Include:
Safe biodiesel production
Making and using biodiesel in both small and large-scale applications
Biodiesel Feedstock and fuel Quality
Diesel engines modifications for straight vegetable oil
Making a small scale biodiesel processor
Engine care when using biodiesel
Advances in biodiesel technology
Legislation and grassroots initiatives
National and International business models
Discussions with experts in the biodiesel field

When?
Oct. 1-5, 2007

Where? Pittsboro, NC

Instructor: Rachel Burton

Cost: $700  SEI Member cost: $650

 register at http://solarenergy.org/workshops/register.html

Original post by Rachel

http://www.spacecoastprogressivealliance.org/phpEventCalendar/eventdisplay.php?id=1561

Brevard Biodiesel will be at the upcoming 3rd Annual Progressive Fest held Sunday July 22nd at the Eau Gallie Civic Center in Melbourne FL.
We plan to have a few biodiesel vehicles and would be happy to chat about biodiesel with any visitors. We’ll also have prizes for people trying to answer an energy based quiz.
Other fun:
Live Entertainment
Book Fair
Rummage Sale
Face Painting
Food including locally roasted Fair Trade Coffee

Original post by BrevardBioDiesel Blog

http://www.ctre.iastate.edu/educweb/transaq/transa�.htm

The “Transportation Land Use, Planning, and Air Quality Conference 2007” will be held at the Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, FL on July 9,10,11 2007.

Of particular note to biodiesel interests are these two sessions:

MONDAY, JULY 9, 2007
1:30-2:45
Review of the Impact of Biodiesel, Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel, and Conventional Diesel on Emissions from Orange County School Bus Fleet-Ali Bayat, University of Central Florida.

TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2007
1:15-2:30
The Impact of Biodiesel on Emissions from School Buses - Mohamadreza Farzaneh, Josias Zietsman, and Dennis G. Perkinson, Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX.

Full Agenda

Original post by BrevardBioDiesel Blog

July 13-15, 2007 at The Colorado School of Mines
in Golden, Colorado

“Strategies For Community-based Biodiesel Groups”

http://www.collectivebiodiesel.org/

Original post by Rachel

http://www.environmentaldefense.org/article.cfm?contentID=6343

Diesel ships and trains are not subject to the same fuel and exhaust requirements that on-road vehicles are subject to by the EPA. The pollution from trains in the Chicago area is estimated to be equivalent to over 53 million cars! (Compare to 6 million registered automobiles in all of Illinois).
The pollution from ships in the Houston area is estimated to be equivalent to over 76 million cars! (Compare to 9 million registered automobiles in all of Texas).

The EPA is stepping up controls on both ships and locomotives. The proposed rules are intended to reduce particulate emissions from ships and locomotives by 90 percent, NOx by 80 percent, and “sizeable” reductions in HC, CO, and other air toxics. Comments on the new rules are due by July 2nd. Instructions for submitting comments are located at this page under the “Public Participation Opportunities” section.

Original post by BrevardBioDiesel Blog

http://trends.autoblog.com/2007/06/04/honda-accord-says-no-to-hybrid-yes-to-diesel/

Honda has seen the light with regard to its hybrid Accord and is dropping that model for the upcoming year.

The 2007 Honda Accord hybrid model boasts a whopping 2 more MPG (combined) than the gasoline only model. Honda must have figured that consumers would go for the extra power the 6 cylinder hybrid model provided - but consumers didn’t bite. Last month, only 1.4% of the Accords purchased were the hybrid type. Meanwhile, the hybrid Toyota Camry, which gets 10 more MPG than the gasoline mode, accounts for 15% of the model sold.

The good news for biodiesel users is the expected appearance of diesel models in Honda’s line for 2009. Honda produced an award winning ad in the UK to promote their clean diesel technology:

Original post by BrevardBioDiesel Blog