The Great Lakes Zephyr - Wind Energy & Hydrogen Journal

NBB Biodiesel Bulletin (http://www.biodiesel.org)

* Neil Young Goes on Tour with Cleaner Burning Biodiesel
* Harvard Makes Smart Move to Biodiesel
* Senate Passes Short Extension of Transportation Bill
* Krysta Harden Says Goodbye


* Biodiesel Alliance Contest Winners Announced
* NBB Sets Industry Priorities at Board Meeting
* Canada's First Retail Biodiesel Pump Opens


Neil Young Goes on Tour with Cleaner Burning Biodiesel

Rock legend Neil Young is currently driving cross-country on biodiesel as part of his Greendale tour, which began in Vancouver on Feb. 19. Young’s tour buses and trucks are fueled by B20 at his request.

“Our Greendale tour is now ozone friendly,” Young said. “I plan to continue to use this government approved and regulated fuel exclusively from now on to prove that it is possible to deliver the goods anywhere in North America without using foreign oil, while being environmentally responsible.”

Young is performing at venues nationwide with his band Crazy Horse while promoting an original film he shot and directed, called Greendale.

The Iowa-based farmer owned cooperative West Central Soy will supply the soy biodiesel for the tour. The singer/songwriter, whose career has produced such hits such as “Heart of Gold” and “Rockin’ in the Free World,” has long championed the family farm.

“I've supported the American farmer through FarmAid for 18 years, and biodiesel is a renewable fuel that America can grow in its own soil,” Young said.

For more on the Greendale tour, visit www.neilyoung.com/tour.html


Harvard Makes Smart Move to Biodiesel

Harvard University announced in February that its diesel vehicles now run on B20. Biodiesel stood out from other alternative fuels under consideration for use at the university because it provides the largest health and environmental benefits in the most cost effective way, according to David Harris, Jr., general manager of transportation services at Harvard.

“We researched many alternative fuels, and biodiesel was clearly the least cost of entry to the cleaner burning alternative fuel market,” Harris said. “There’s no investment on our part other than a fuel tank so we have access to the fuel on campus. We also looked at other biodiesel users in the East, and all had positive experiences with the fuel, so it was an easy choice for Harvard.”

Harvard joins a growing list of other universities using biodiesel nationwide, including the University of Colorado, University of Michigan, Northwest Missouri State University and the University of Idaho.

“Harvard is not a stand-alone campus,” Harris said. “Our shuttle buses drive down the streets of Cambridge, past houses and other schools. We feel a responsibility to be a good neighbor and be as environmentally friendly as possible. Biodiesel helps us accomplish that using the vehicles we already have.”

World Energy, a major provider of biodiesel based in Chelsea, Mass., will provide the fuel to the university. Harvard is using the fuel as part of its Green Campus Initiative.


Senate Passes Short Extension of Transportation Bill

The Senate passed a two-month extension of the transportation bill last week, and President Bush signed it on Sunday. The extension was a “clean” bill even though Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) has attempted to add the biodiesel and ethanol tax provisions to the measure. The Senate has already passed a comprehensive package reauthorizing transportation spending for six years. However, since the House has not finished its six-year bill, short term extensions are required, or the current transportation bill would have expired on Sunday, February 29.

The Senate is also hoping to consider a scaled back energy bill some time in March. Senate leadership had hoped to address the measure last week, but differences could not be resolved. Biodiesel tax provisions are included in the energy bill “light.”


Krysta Harden Says Goodbye

After 11 years representing the American Soybean Association (ASA), biodiesel lobbyist Krysta Harden has left Gordley Associates to become the executive director of the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD). Harden was instrumental in orchestrating the biodiesel tax incentive as it currently stands in the Senate energy and transportation bills.

“The NACD position is an excellent opportunity for Krysta. She has our full support and we’re certain she’ll be successful,” said Joe Jobe, NBB executive director. “Krysta has served the biodiesel industry with exceptional performance and dedication. She has been a part of our family for many years and she will be missed.”

NBB presented Harden with the Outstanding Service Award at the first annual Biodiesel Conference & Expo in Palm Springs last month. She is also the recipient of the United Soybean Board award for Outstanding Service in the Domestic Marketing/Industrial Category.

“I know now more than ever that I was very lucky to have been a part of the NBB team, and in my heart, I always will be,” she said. This was always more than a job to me because of the wonderful people who make up this industry.”

Gordley Associates has hired Mark Palmer to take over responsibilities as ASA's lobbyist for biodiesel, bio-based products, conservation, and transportation issues. Palmer has been Director of Public Policy for the National Corn Growers Association, working primarily on ethanol issues, including the Energy Policy Act, the Clean Air Act, and the Renewable Fuels Standard. Previously, he served on the staff of Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) as Agriculture Legislative Assistant. In his new position, Palmer will work closely with NBB in representing soybean farmers and industry on biodiesel and bio-based issues in Washington, D.C.

“We’re very excited to welcome Mark on board,” said Bob Metz, chairman of NBB. “He has substantial experience with biofuels and renewable energy legislation. NBB and ASA will do everything we can to help him transition into his new role.”


Biodiesel Alliance Contest Winners Announced

The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) and farm equipment giant New Holland are pleased to honor five top recruiters for their work in gaining greater recognition of biodiesel benefits by recruiting new members to the Biodiesel Alliance. Thanks in part to their efforts, the ranks of the Biodiesel Alliance doubled in size during the recognition program that NBB and New Holland announced Feb. 25, 2003. More than 700 groups, ranging from environmental organizations to school associations to government agencies and fuel suppliers, are now members.

Wisconsin Agriculture Spokesperson Natalie Parmentier, who won first place by recruiting 63 new organizations, will receive a one-year use of a New Holland compact tractor, the prize offered for the highest recruiting effort. However, the significant recruiting efforts of the second place winners, Saginaw, Michigan farm couple Gail and Thomas Frahm, also impressed New Holland so much that the company decided to award a bonus prize to them – also a one-year use of the New Holland compact tractor.

Gail Frahm, who serves as an executive of the Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee, is also launching a state Biodiesel Alliance.

“The energy that these recruiters have put into the Alliance is impressive,” says Gene H. Hemphill, New Holland’s Manager of Industry Affairs for North America. “We encourage both current and new members to use the Alliance resources to stay abreast of the issues and to continue showing their support for this important alternative fuel source.”

Tying for third place were two Clean Cities Coordinators, Anne Tazewell of Triangle J Council of Governments based in Durham, North Carolina and Linda Graham of the Puget Sound Clean Cities Coalition in Seattle, Washington. The winners receive 55-gallon drums of biodiesel (B100) as prizes thanks to NBB member biodiesel producers Ag Environmental Products, American Biofuels, Biodiesel Industries, Griffin Industries, Imperial Western Products and West Central Soy.

“The recruiting incentive program was every bit as successful as we and our program partner, New Holland, expected,” said NBB Executive Director Joe Jobe. “It showed that it is easy to generate support for biodiesel. We hope that friends of biodiesel will continue to recruit to the Alliance, since everyone benefits from greater awareness and use of this American-made fuel.”


NBB Sets Industry Priorities at Board Meeting

Following the first annual National Biodiesel Conference & Expo in Palm Springs, Calif., NBB held its spring Governing Board and membership meetings in February. The board’s primary objective was to discuss, rank, and approve the 2005 industry priorities. The prioritization process is a culmination of months of work by committees and working groups in the three main program areas. The top 4 program priorities are:
1) National Energy Initiatives
2) State Energy Initiatives
3) Original Equipment Manufacturer Development
4) 2007 Engine Testing and Technology Development Program

The 2007 Engine Testing and Technology Development Program was determined to be a very high industry priority because it will provide industry match money to do critical engine testing on advanced diesel technology in collaboration with engine companies and the US Department of Energy. The board also agreed that a special level of effort will be needed to help raise the funding for this substantial new program, since funding for core functions or existing top priorities must not be reduced at this time. Successful implementation and completion of this program over the next 3 years will be necessary to ensure that biodiesel will have a place in future diesel engine platforms.

The Governing Board also agreed to re-activate the Small Producers working group. A number of issues were raised and discussed at the conference during the Small Producers discussion forum. The working group will be charged with addressing those issues for discussion at the summer NBB meeting in Washington DC. Current members of that working group include Russ Teall, Graham Noyes, and Jacques Sinoncelli. Other appointments to the working group are being confirmed and will be announced soon.

Other highlights of the meeting include the election of Jerry Osterholt as NBB’s new Treasurer. Jerry is a farmer leader from Indiana. Bev Thessen, NBB Information Coordinator, was recognized for 10 years of service with the National Biodiesel Board. “Bev has served as a main artery of information for biodiesel worldwide through its most formative years of development,” said Joe Jobe, NBB executive director. “She has definitely had an influence on the industry, and you would be hard-pressed to find someone more dedicated to her work than Bev.” Bev was honored with a standing ovation by the NBB members, and in her typical manner accepted this recognition with the following speech: “Thank you.”



Canada's First Retail Biodiesel Pump Opens

Diesel vehicle owners, and bus and trucking fleets in the Greater Toronto Area now have a convenient local source of biodiesel. Topia Energy Inc. held the grand opening of Canada’s first retail Biodiesel fueling pump on March 2 at 24 Main St., Unionville, Ontario. The pump will offer B20, which is 20% biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel. Ottawa-based Topia Energy Inc. is supplying the fuel.

“We see this as an opportunity for individuals to experience the benefits of biodiesel,” said Topia Energy’s Sam Goldberg. “For the past two years, only large fleets such as the City of Brampton, City of Guelph, and the City of Greater Sudbury have had the chance to use this fuel. Now diesel drivers everywhere can increase their vehicle's performance while helping to clean the environment.”

Govindh Jayaraman, Topia Energy president, also announced that the company is the first to open a biodiesel terminal in Canada, which is also in the Greater Toronto Area. The Biodiesel terminal is a central depot that allows large tanker trucks to fill and properly blend biodiesel to various levels before delivery to fleets and retail fueling stations.

“Opening the terminal was a first step in ensuring that we could make this move,” Jayaraman explained. “Clearly, we needed to have a large, conventional fuel distribution center before we were able to do this. With the biodiesel terminal now open, we’ll be able to service a number of stations like this one.”

Thousands of fleet vehicles have driven millions of kilometers using biodiesel in Canada. Canada produces large amounts of canola and soybeans.


Upcoming Events:


* 10th National Clean Cities Conference, May 2-5, 2004, Fort Lauderdale, Florida


* 95th American Oil Chemists' Society Annual Meeting & Expo,May 9 - 12, 2004 Cincinnati, Ohio


Contact Us:
Jenna Higgins, Director of Communications
jhiggins@biodiesel.org
Bev Thessen, Information Coordinator
bthessen@biodiesel.org


This bulletin is also available in PDF format online at
http://www.biodiesel.org/news/bulletin/