Biodiesel Expansion

2008-05-14T09:07:00.001-07:00

Beating the High Prices of Gas with Biodiesel
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By: Joseph Then
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With the price of traditional fuel rising faster everyday, people everywhere are looking for alternatives. Electric cars were once touted as the way to save the environment and beat the cost of gasoline, but they are so expensive that very few people can afford to save money by purchasing one.Alternative fuels have long been discussed as a way to cut fuel prices and help the environment, but with the specialized engines they require, and their inability to pass the regulation tests required by the EPA, they have been a disappointment. The more solutions that are offered to the problem of high fuel costs and dangerous emissions, the further it seems we are from a solution…until now.There is a fuel alternative that is all that it has promised to be and more. Biodiesel is not only cost effective it is environmentally friendly, as well. Biodiesel is completely biodegradable and made from renewable resources. That means that when you use biodiesel to power the engine of your car you aren’t robbing the earth of the riches meant for your grandchildren to enjoy.Unlike the previous vegetable oil based fuels that can only be used in modified, specially made combustion- ignition engines, biodiesel can be used in its basic form to power the everyday diesel engines on the market today. That means that a simple to make batch of biodiesel could be used to power the family car on its daily errands.Biodiesel is registered with the EPA as a legal motor fuel meaning that it can be sold and distributed just like the gasoline you pump into your car at the gas station. Unlike traditional gasoline, biodiesel isn’t as widely available for the average consumer. It can be purchased directly from distributors and manufactures and it is sold a few select stations around the country. If you are interested in trying biodiesel in your car, your best chance of finding it is to make it yourself.The process is surprisingly easy and the ingredients are readily available. By simply mixing lye, alcohol, and vegetable oil in the right amounts, you can great biodiesel. This economical alternative fuel is made through the simple chemical process of transesterification. During this process, the glycerin is removed from fat or vegetable oil. The process naturally leaves behind byproducts, including methyl esters, which is the chemical name for biodiesel, and glycerin, commonly used in soap production. Biodiesel is completely free of sulfur and aromatics, something that can’t be said about traditional fuels.Batches of biodiesel can be mixed up in small or large sizes and if done effectively will end up costing about seventy cents a gallon.With the price of traditional fuel rising faster everyday, people everywhere are looking for alternatives. Electric cars were once touted as the way to save the environment and beat the cost of gasoline, but they are so expensive that very few people can afford to save money by purchasing one.

www.mywire.com

2007-12-12T09:53:00.000-08:00

Soy Biodiesel Earns National Cemetery a White House Award
Jun 13, 2007 353 words, 0 images
WASHINGTON, DC (ENS) — --> Keeping more than 90 pieces of equipment running smoothly at Michigan's Fort Custer National Cemetery, a 770-acre facility with more than 20,000 graves, is the job of mechanic Tim Trittschuh.
He has replaced petroleum-based fuel and lubricants at the cemetary with biodiesel blends and soy biobased lubricants wherever possible.
"All of the products we've used have worked as well, or better, than their non-biobased counterparts, and the equipment they are used in is performing normally," says Trittschuh.
These efforts led to Fort Custer National Cemetery being honored with a 2007 White House Closing the Circle Award. The awards recognize outstanding achievements of federal employees and their facilities that result in positive environmental impacts.
The award has made Chuck Myers very happy. As Domestic Marketing Committee chair of the United Soybean Board, Myers said the Fort Custer Cemetary is one of seven winners and honorable mention recipients that are using biobased products, many made from soybeans, as part of their overall environmental stewardship efforts.
"It is exciting to see that soy biobased products have again contributed ... /50% unread/
Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2004-2007. All Rights Reserved.

Biodiesel-Fuel of the Future?

2007-09-17T09:48:00.000-07:00

www.squidoo.com
Have you ever heard of biodiesel fuel? You probably have, but like many, you may not understand exactly what it is. Many believe that biodiesel fuel is the wave of the future.
Country singer Willie Nelson thinks so—he now has his own line of biodiesel fuel. If you are not sure what this new fuel of the future is, read on to discover the basics of biodiesel and why many people feel it is truly the fuel of the future.Biodiesel fuel is most simply described as a clean burning, yet very viable alternative to fuel that we all now depend upon on. It is produced domestically and is made from renewable resources. This is good news for the United States and good news for the environment. This new type of environmentally friendly fuel does not contain petroleum, but can be mixed with petroleum to create a type of useful blend.
In addition, it can be used in diesel engines, unlike regular unleaded gasoline. It does not need modification. Perhaps the best part of biodiesel fuel is that it is very easy to use, is nontoxic and it is completely biodegradable.
It also does not contain aromatics or sulfur.Okay, so now that you know what biodiesel fuel is, you might be wondering just how this futuristic fuel is made. Have you ever heard of transesterification? Transesterification is the process by which biodiesel fuel is made using certain chemical components.
More simply put, this process occurs when glycerin is taken away or separate from fat or vegetable oil. When this process is complete, it gives you methyl, glycerin (the same stuff used in soap) and esters, which is the chemical name used for biodiesel.You may wonder why you just can't pour a little vegetable oil in your tank to make your car go. That is because raw vegetable oil and biodiesel are not quite the same thing. The type of biodiesel used for fuel, must meet strict standards and specifications so that your car will function to the best of its ability.
Furthermore, vegetable oil does not meet those specifications and it is not registers with the Environmental Protection Agency as a proper fuel substitute. It's not legal according to the EPA. Biodiesel is legal and meets all of the health requirements set forth by the Clean Air Act.So, the fact that biodiesel fuel is more environmentally friendly and more cost effective may make this type of fuel the biggest thing of the future. In fact, it is estimated that in the year 1999, only 500,000 gallons of biodiesel fuel was used. That number jumped to 75 million gallons in 2005. People are catching on and carmakers are taking notice. It may be that in the very near future all cars will be made to use this form of fuel.
It is better for the environment and the United States can produce this fuel without relying on importing fuel from other countries.What can biodiesel do for the future? It is better for the humans and animals: This makes biodiesel a good choice for the future and future generations. It is non-toxic and very biodegradable. This is easier on the health of humans and on animals and marine life. It w will not kill fish as regular fuel does. When biodiesel is used it puts out very little odor and has less exhaust. Those that work in the car and automotive industry will not be harmed by fuel vapors.It is biodegradable: Diesel fuel is only 40 percent degradable. That means the rest seeps into the air, water and the environment. This is not the case for biodiesel fuel. It is 95 percent degradable. This is much better for everyone.It reduces emissions: Using biodiesel fuel cuts down on the amount of emissions. This is the first alternative fuel to be approved by the Clean Air Act. Biodiesel lets off less unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and other dangerous particles and chemicals. Now is the time to learn more about the alternative—biodiesel fuel. It is the wave of the future. This type of alternative fuel cuts down on the amount of "bad" stuff that affects the health of humans, animals and the environment.

2007-08-21T09:47:00.000-07:00

www.nbb.grassroots.com
NBB Praises Bill to Close Tax Loophole in U.S. Energy Policy Rep. Doggett introduces bill to properly define “renewable diesel”
WASHINGTON, D.C.– The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) praised bipartisan legislation introduced today by Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) to prevent large integrated oil companies from exploiting a federal tax incentive designed to stimulate biodiesel and renewable diesel production. The bill, entitled the Responsible Renewable Energy Tax Credit Act of 2007, would prevent oil companies from claiming a one dollar-per-gallon tax credit when using small amounts of biomass as an ingredient in making diesel fuel. Under the Doggett legislation, producers making renewable diesel solely from renewable sources, and as it was originally defined, would continue to be eligible for the credit. “Unless the abuse of this tax credit is prohibited, it will have the exact opposite effect of what Congress intended - it will discourage the creation of real renewable diesel fuel - and all on the taxpayer's dime,” said Congressman Doggett, a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee. “Green energy initiatives must not be converted into public boondoggles.” In April, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) approved a request to expand the definition of “renewable diesel” in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to include the act of adding biomass to conventional refinery processes. “The recent IRS ruling could lead to unintended recipients taking advantage of the renewable diesel credit,” said Rep. Kenny Hulshof (R-MO), an original cosponsor of the bill and longtime champion of biodiesel. “This bill fixes that problem. We should take every available step to encourage the use of renewable, homegrown fuels like biodiesel. This bill is designed to protect and encourage that potential.” Joe Jobe, NBB CEO, noted that the bill has 50 cosponsors, many on the Ways and Means Committee. “This is a question about what makes sound energy policy: do you take limited taxpayer dollars and invest them in new energy companies and technologies built from the ground up, or do you take those same dollars and give them to already large, mature, highly profitable oil companies? It is very encouraging to see Rep. Doggett and so many others recognize the flawed policy that has resulted here, and try to correct it,” Jobe said. “Sustainable biofuels are essential to breaking our dangerous oil addiction and solving global warming,” said Jim Presswood, an energy policy analyst for the Natural Resources Defense Council. Jobe noted that Congress recognized the need to reduce dependence on foreign oil when it enacted the biodiesel and renewable diesel tax incentives. As a result, the country now has a domestic biodiesel industry with 105 small biodiesel plants capable of producing 864 million gallons of fuel. “This capacity and the future growth of the industry represents new capacity of environmentally friendly biodiesel and renewable diesel. Economic analysis shows that biodiesel production will create at least 40,000 new jobs and will add $24 billion to the U.S. economy,” Jobe said. “By contrast, subsidizing the existing operations of oil refineries accomplishes none of these goals, and in fact, could endanger free-standing biodiesel and renewable diesel producers by artificially inflating feedstock costs.” The NBB is the national trade association of the biodiesel industry and is the coordinating body for biodiesel research and development in the U.S. NBB’s membership is comprised of state, national, and international feedstock and feedstock processor organizations, biodiesel suppliers, fuel marketers and distributors, and technology providers.

2007-08-16T13:45:00.001-07:00

www.biodieselfuelonline.com
With biodiesel expansion underway the biodiesel industry has exploded in recent years to include biodiesel construction, with at least sixty-five plants under construction at this moment in the United States alone. Biodiesel demand has grown from seventy-five million gallons sold in 2005 to an estimated 200 million gallons sold in 2006.
Significantly, the rapid growth of the biodiesel industry has lead to a need for new producers to gain a full understanding of the construction and transportation challenges facing the industry. The first biodiesel plant was built in 1996. Currently, there are three live plants, four in construction and four on the docket for this year. It is predicted that by 2009 we will have plants in varying stage of development and more than 600 million gallons of production capacity per year. Furthermore, transportation is an issue of concern for biodiesel producers, particularly as the cost of fuel remains high and railcars are difficult to come by.
Even as biodiesel appears to expand, many factors may disrupt the rapidly growing industry. Consequently, farmers are directly impacted by this growing phenomenon. Farmers believe that simple economics issues are inhibiting further construction of biodiesel plants. For example, high soybean oil prices, in addition to projected petroleum prices that rang from fifty to sixty dollars a gallon has dampened the incite for biodiesel investment. This is an indication, without alternative solutions, that it is unlikely that new biodiesel plants will be completed in 2008. Additionally, more ethanol plants are contemplating extracting the corn oil from the ethanol process and using it to make biodiesel. Meanwhile, seed companies are attempting to find methods of getting more oil from a soybean. That would inevitably create more feedstock, reducing the cost.
Many speculate that there are some government policies that are hindering biodiesel production or development of its industry. The first policy issue is the extending of the biodiesel blenders tax credit that is scheduled for expiration. Basically, the tax credits provide innate comfort and project stability for investors and bankers who are looking to finance more biodiesel projects. Another policy issue is the Federal Commodity Corporation BioEnergy program. This program would offset costs of the feedstock to produce biodiesel. There is also an increasing debate between biodiesel and renewable diesel. Specifically, the “renewable diesel” definition was expanded by the IRS in the Energy Policy Act of 2006 to include biomass, vegetable oils and animal fats, in the oil companies in order to qualify for the biodiesel blender’s tax credit.
The renewable energy is dispersed for biodiesel, ethanol and electricity. As the three components are interactive in some aspects, they may also be affected by any external condition at any given time. Generally, the use of bioenergy feedstocks could not only assist in the reduction of the reliance of foreign oil, but also provide significant environmental benefits to invigorate rural economies. More so, the actual expanding of ethanol levels and biodiesel production may impact the United States agriculture and the economy. The impact of meeting production targets of 60 million gallons for ethanol and 1.6 billion gallons for biodiesel by 2030 are incorporated in the projections surrounding the concern and stability of agriculture and the economy. It is predicted by 2030, agricultural exports are reduced by three billion, which is the most significant reduction occurring in the soybean market. Ironically enough, during that same period of time, ethanol is projected to displace more than twenty percent of domestic gasoline consumption, potentially reducing oil imports by fifty- two billion dollars.
The employment of two models is used to measure the effect of expanded ethanol and biodiesel production on agriculture and economics. The POLYSYS model and the IMPLAN model are both implemented to detect such impact. The POLYSIS model is unique in that it has the ability to provide annual estimates of changes in land use. The results are generated from the demand of the bioenergy industries, including changes in the economic conditions that affect adjustment costs. This approach accounts for adoption and the identification of short- term requirements that a market or policy incentive mechanism must meet for agriculture to remain a reliable source of feedstocks for bioenergy, without imposing an incline in costs for customers. Subsequently, the POLYSYS model is linked with an input- output model entitled IMPLAN. This model is designed to protect the economic impacts of ethanol and biodiesel feedstock production and conversion.
Recently, policy initiated the active increase in the development and use of bioenergy and bioproducts using starch, cellulose, oil, etc. An Executive Order was actually signed by President Clinton to triple the use of bioproducts and bioenergy in the United States by 2010. In addition, the National Energy supply Diversification and Disruption Prevention Act, passed 2005, encourages the evolution of more renewal energy. While ethanol is the primary focus, biodiesel is also defined as an eligible renewal fuel.
The most common sources of oil for biodiesel production in the United States are soybean oil and yellow grease (primarily recycling cooling oil). Despite the possible discrepancies that follow biodiesel expansion, the interest in the production of the renewable fuel has been fostered by mandates and financial incentives offered by the governments. On the other hand, projected increases in vegetable oil prices, especially soy bean oil, will continue to pressure margins for biodiesel producers.

2007-07-31T20:04:00.001-07:00

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July 20, 2007 11:59 AM

2007-07-31T20:02:00.001-07:00

http://newenglandbiodiesel.net/biodiesel.htm
Biodiesel - as easy as ABC...
What is Biodiesel?Biodiesel is a vegetable oil-based fuel that runs in unmodified diesel engines - cars, buses, trucks, construction equipment, boats, generators, and oil home heating units. It's usually made from canola oil or soy, and can also be made from used fryer oil from your local restaurant. It can be blended with regular diesel or run 100% biodiesel.

Biodiesel Challenges

2007-06-30T07:25:00.000-07:00

Challenges to Producer Ownership of Ethanol and Biodiesel Production Facilities
Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Aug 2006 by Kenkel, Phil, Holcomb, Rodney B

This study examines the rapidly expanding biofuels industry and identifies challenges for producer-owned biofuel projects. The U.S. ethanol industry has been growing rapidly, and biodiesel production is poised for similar growth. Producer involvement is driven by the desire to add value to farm commodities and the impact of biofuel projects on local grain prices. Local state and federal incentives have also stimulated producer interest. The long-run profitability of biofuel projects is driven by feedstock availability, access to market centers for biofuels, access to markets for coproducts, and utility costs and availability. The rapidly increasing size and scale of ethanol and biodiesel plants make it difficult for producers to fund these projects. Additionally, the development and adoption of new non-grain biofuel technologies may negate some comparative advantages of producers, such as feedstock cost and availability. The geographic expansion of biofuel projects into grain deficit regions will also create additional challenges.