Biodiesel and Marine Use: Boats, Shipping, & Ferries. Learn what boaters need to know about using biodiesel. What’s happening with the ferries using biodiesel again? What’s the scoop on biodiesel use in cruise ships and commercial shipping? Why is biodiesel use especially important on our waters? Speakers include Barbara Cole with the Port of Seattle and Paul Brodeur with Washington State Ferries. Get your questions answered! 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm, Seattle Phinney Center, 6532 Phinney Ave. N, Seattle WA 98103. Cost is Free. Information at www.nwbiodiesel.org/.
Entries categorized as 'Green Business'
NW Biodiesel Network Monthly Meeting on Tuesday April 22, 2008
April 10, 2008 · No Comments
Categories: Biodiesel · Biodiesel Research · Climate Change · Cold Weather Biodiesel · Emissions · Green Business · Introduction
CleanDrive members on the cutting edge
March 28, 2008 · No Comments
Are you a CleanDrive member? If so, you are at the forefront of a movement towards tracking and monitoring you carbon footprint. A recent New York Times article discusses how visibility into our carbon output will become a part of our lives, and influence behavior for the better. From thermostat price monitors, to eco-mood jewelry – the article outlines several ways carbon savings, or lack thereof, will be worn on our sleeve. Have a read: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/25/science/25tier.html?ex=1207108800&en=30d6236cc4c256da&ei=5070&emc=eta1
So if you haven’t already, register for CleanDrive and be at the head of the carbon tracking revolution. Review you report with your family, or show your customers. It’s a powerful thing to see how your choice to use biodiesel is making a change for the better. Combined the Propel community has saved nearly 1 million pounds of CO2. Now that’s powerful.
Register for CleanDrive: http://propelbiofuels.com/content/cleandrive/
Check your CleanDrive account: https://www.propelbiofuels.com/site/clean/login.htm
Categories: Biodiesel · Biodiesel Production · Climate Change · Emissions · Energy Balance · Green Business · Green House Gases (GHG) · Media · Personal Carbon Credits · Propel Biofuels
Safeway Goes Biodiesel
January 21, 2008 · 1 Comment
Safeway has boldly chosen to become one of the nation’s first major retailers to convert its fleet to clean burning biodiesel. No doubt the benefits of biodiesel were hard for the Pleasonton, California-based company to ignore.
In addition to improved engine performance, less harmful emissions, and a fuel source that isn’t tied to the volatility of the Middle East, none of the company’s 1,000 fleet vehicles will require any major mechanical conversion as biodiesel performs exceptionally well in any diesel motor.
Categories: Biodiesel · Biodiesel Quality · Green Business · Media · Propel Biofuels · Retail locations · Vehicles
Tagged: Biodiesel, biofuel, BMW, carbon, diesel, ethanol, global warming, hybrid, Mercedes, propel, VW
New Food Vs Fuel Report
September 6, 2007 · 1 Comment
New Report from Worldwatch Institute…
“Decades of declining agricultural prices have been reversed thanks to the growing use of biofuels,” says Christopher Flavin, president of the Institute. “Farmers in some of the poorest nations have been decimated by U.S. and European subsidies to crops such as corn, cotton, and sugar. Today’s higher prices may allow them to sell their crops at a decent price, but major agriculture reforms and infrastructure development will be needed to ensure that the increased benefits go to the world’s 800 million undernourished people, most of whom live in rural areas.”
Biofuels for Transport, undertaken with support from the German Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Consumer Protection, assesses the range of “sustainability” issues the biofuels industry will present in the years ahead, ranging from implications for the global climate and water resources to biological diversity and the world’s poor. The book finds that rising food prices are a hardship for some urban poor, who will need increased assistance from the World Food Programme and other relief efforts. However, it notes that the central cause of food scarcity is poverty, and seeking food security by driving agricultural prices ever lower will hurt more people than it helps.
Growth in biofuels production may have unexpected economic benefits, according to the experts who contributed to the report. Of the 47 poorest countries, 38 are net importers of oil and 25 import all of their oil; for these nations, the tripling in oil prices has been an economic disaster. But nations that develop domestic biofuels industries will be able to purchase fuel from their own farmers rather than spending scarce foreign exchange on imported oil.
Categories: Biodiesel · Climate Change · Energy Balance · Green Business · Politics · Pricing · Propel Biofuels · blog
Farmer decides to grow his own biodiesel crop
August 22, 2007 · No Comments
From High Plains Journal...
Luke Jaeger was fed up with high fuel prices.
Jaeger and his wife Darcy farm with his family in the Clark County area, raising a variety of row crops, including wheat and sorghum. When Jaeger found just how little of their acreage could be devoted to an oil crop production and still meet his farm’s energy needs, he knew that it was time for action.
“Dryland farmers, in western Kansas, if they would just put 1 to 2 percent of their farm acres to winter canola or sunflowers, they would have enough acreage to get diesel fuel to run their farm for the whole year,” Jaeger said. He planted 60 acres of winter canola because it holds moisture in the soil, similar to sorghum, and because it can protect soil from erosion at even the early stages in its growth cycle. Also, canola seeds have higher oil content, about 40 percent, than other oil crops like sunflowers or soybeans, Jaeger said.
Categories: Biodiesel · Energy Balance · Feedstocks · Green Business
Big Auto Pushing Hard for No Consumer Choice
May 31, 2007 · No Comments
With consumer sentiment and political consensus clearly aligning for change, Big Detroit is looking like Big Oil as they push back against innovation and consumer choice in a desperate struggle for a continuation of the status quo. The question must be asked- what status quo? Chrysler has been sold, Ford is near failure, VW is in a leadership position with diesel vehicles, Toyota with Prius and new hybrids… strange bedfellows when CAFE is on the table. Diesels are running the table in EU markets, hybrids and diesels in the emerging markets of India and China, while the largest global vehicle market, the USA, is being relegated to the dark ages.
Green Car Congress reports: Automakers Rally US Citizens to Oppose Higher Fuel Economy Standards
The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers (AAM) has launched a website (www.drivecongress.com) that encourages citizens to compose messages of protest against “unrealistic fuel economy increases” to be hand-delivered to elected officials. AAM represents BMW, DaimlerChrysler, General Motors, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Porsche, Toyota and Volkswagen.
The website allows users to insert statements provided by the AAM, such as “I value fuel economy, but I also want many other attributes in my automobile like safety, passenger and cargo room, performance, towing, hauling capacity and more” or “Rather than setting a harmful mandates [sic] like the one being proposed, the government should encourage the use of alternative fuels like ethanol, and provide incentives for consumers, like me, to purchase alternative fuel autos.”
The Detroit News reports that the campaign will also include at least a million dollars of radio ads in ten states that have a high percentage of truck and SUV owners.
The AAM’s efforts are bolstered by parallel campaigns from DaimlerChrysler and General Motors, each of which has brought a dedicated website online to help with the campaign.
According to GM’s website (drivingamericasfuture.com), CAFE standards “deter innovation”; “have no near term effect on oil consumption”; “foster competitive disparities that discriminate against US automakers”; and are “a 1970’s solution to a 21st Century problem.”
The website cites the steady rise in US oil consumption as an indicator that CAFE standards have failed, but does not calculate the level of consumption that might exist if such standards had not been enacted.
DaimlerChrysler’s password-protected website (www.grabdemocracybythehorns.com) is described as a “grassroots advocacy website, a legislative activation tool that provides employees, retirees, dealers and suppliers with a means to conveniently contact elected officials about the issues that concern you, your family and our company.”
Markets have a way of balancing themselves, particularly when consumer demand overwhelms entrenched suppliers of goods. The US automotive market is undergoing a massive populist driven transformation. Detroit automakers are fighting for survival, can they innovate? Will Detroit compete in a market based economy, anymore? AutoBlog Green reports on India based Mahindra’s plans for diesel, and diesel-hybrid ,vehicle offerings in the US for the 08 model year.
Categories: Biodiesel · Climate Change · Green Business · Propel Biofuels · Vehicles · blog
Diesels to Outpace Hybrids
May 29, 2007 · No Comments
GreenCar Congress reports:
A recent report (pdf download) by UBS and Ricardo joins JD Power in predicting a higher rate of diesel passenger car adoption compared to hybrids.
“…Diesel’s cost burden is lower than that of hybrids for similar fuel economy, even with the advanced technologies needed to meet tough US emissions regulations (including California).
Diesel’s cost lead over hybrid is the most marked for larger vehicles (crossovers/SUVs).”
The report includes a graphic representing fuel economy benefit as a function of driving regime. (below)
Categories: Biodiesel · Green Business · Vehicles · blog
Dr. Weil is Onboard with Biodiesel
May 12, 2007 · No Comments
Dr. Andrew Weil — the world-famous physician who works to heal our bodies as naturally as possible — is now doing his part to try to heal a polluted planet.
While the rest of us belch toxic crap out of our cars at three-plus dollars a gallon, Weil can hardly believe how well this bio thing really works. So well that he wants to form a co-op and offer this golden moonshine to any and all takers in Tucson. “I’ve always written and taught that it’s very difficult to be healthy in an unhealthy world,” said Weil, explaining why he’s gone into the backyard brewing business.A pioneer at combining mainstream medicine with alternative therapies, Weil founded the integrative medicine program at the University of Arizona and has written numerous best-sellers on the topic.
“We have to be very immediately concerned about finding solutions for the toxic effects the combustion engine has on human health,” he said.
Categories: Biodiesel · Emissions · Green Business · Green House Gases (GHG) · Nox · Particulates · Propel Biofuels
Earth Friendly Moving
April 22, 2007 · 1 Comment
Another progressive business using biodiesel: Earth Friendly Moving
Categories: Biodiesel · Green Business
A Realy Big Charcoal Nugget
April 20, 2007 · No Comments
One day’s CO2 produced by typical gasser car. A big charcoal briquette. (click to enlarge)
Based on 12k miles/year and standard EPA CO2 emissions by fuel:_
7,510 pounds/CO2/Year: Gas VW Jetta at 31 mpg. 19.4 pounds CO2/gallon x 12,000 annual miles/31
6,498 pounds/CO2/Year: Diesel VW Jetta at 41 mpg. 22.2 pounds/gallon x 12,000 annual miles/41
4,565/pounds/CO2/Year: - Toyota Prius at 51 mpg. 19.4 pounds CO2/gallon x 12,000 annual miles/51
1,430 pounds/CO2/Year: Diesel Jetta on at 41 mpg. b100 Biodiesel
(78% reduction vs diesel, 69% reduction vs Prius, 81% reduction vs gas)
Categories: Big Oil · Biodiesel · Emissions · Green Business · Green House Gases (GHG) · Politics · Pricing · Vehicles
The tough business of getting down to business
April 20, 2007 · No Comments
As concern about climate change and backlash against biofuels increase exponentially together, choices need to be made. Debates making news this week:
Vinod Khosla on “Environmentalists versus pragmentalists” The problem with exponential growth of electric vehicles:
Our least-cost electric power options–coal-fired power plants–are by far our most destructive and dangerous ones. Coal burning directly kills hundreds of thousands of people worldwide in particulate, sulfate and mercury releases, thousands of tons of radioactive emissions yearly, and emits over twice as much carbon dioxide per kilowatt-hour (kWh) as any other form of power generation. The coming costs from worsening droughts from Africa to Indiana, intensified storms, and rising sea levels will bring misery to billions. (ed: Not to mention the destruction of vital habitats as hydropower expands)
Categories: Big Oil · Biodiesel · Green Business · Politics
B100 for Fleets
March 11, 2007 · No Comments
From Biofuel Review
Simon Oldridge, Sandtoft’s managing director commented: “Through our research we have found that converting to 100 percent biodiesel is a great way to achieve reductions in CO2, but we have been very frustrated at the obstacles we have found whilst pursuing the idea of converting our fleet. One of the key issues was finding somewhere local to refuel, so the obvious step was to install pumps at our own offices.”
Although a 5 percent biodiesel mix is more common in the UK, Sandtoft was dissatisfied with the reduction in carbon emissions this offered and began looking into 100 percent biodiesel as a viable option. Compared with conventional diesel, 100 percent biodiesel can reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by up to 90 percent*; meaning Simon Oldridge’s car alone will save 6,900Kg of CO2** being released into the atmosphere each year.
Simon Oldridge, continued: “As with a number of our green policies, the switch has required a financial investment, spending more on our fuel per litre; but we believe the benefits of the move far outweigh any financial cost.
“In our view, businesses in the UK have a responsibility to generate a demand for biodiesel in order to catalyse this progression, and the government also has a responsibility to provide financial incentives for switching to biodiesel. At 28p, duty on biodiesel is 20p less than the 48p on regular diesel, but this still leaves biodiesel too expensive for most people to consider making the transition. We strongly urge government to eliminate duty on biodiesel in order to kick-start the market. Once the market is established and scale economies kick in, duty can be ratcheted back up.” He added.
According to the Energy Saving Trust, the transportation of construction materials accounts for around 5 percent of the UK’s total energy burden, and Sandtoft is looking to motivate suppliers to switch to biodiesel by establishing an incentive programme for its transportation sub-contractors. Suppliers using biodiesel vehicles will be given priority over other sub-contractors when competing for work, and further financial incentives will be introduced in 2008.
Categories: Biodiesel · Green Business · Green House Gases (GHG) · Propel Biofuels · blog
Imperium Announces WA Canola Deal
February 1, 2007 · No Comments
Imperium CEO Martin Tobias and Founder/President John Plaza. Photo: Imperium
A major milestone for the WA state biodiesel industry: Imperium announces 1m gallon canola contract with Yakima Valley farmers. Propel will make this locally grown biodiesel available to customers at our existing retail sites when the fuel becomes available. Look for rapidly expanding retail outlets in spring/summer this year.
“We’ve always said that we’d be the state’s biggest customer for Washington state produced canola oil, and today we are,” Imperium founder John Plaza said. “This is just the beginning of what we hope will further establish a new market for Washington state farmers.”
The owner of Natural Selection Farms said the deal with Imperium was a winner.
“Diversifying our crop base to include canola makes both great agricultural and business sense,” Ted Durfey said. “I hope others will realize the benefits of adding canola to their crop mix.”
Natural Selection Farms is focused on environmentally responsible agriculture, and since 2003 has been working with the federal and state governments to construct an oilseed pressing facility on its property that is the first in the state.
Categories: Biodiesel · Biodiesel Production · Feedstocks · Green Business · Politics · blog
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