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If you have a moment, please get involved in this:
Biodiesel Action Now!
Everyone,
I’m sorry for the impersonal email, but I don’t have the time for an individual email to all of you in the biodiesel community as I have to get out over 3,000 emails this weekend. I have written each of you as a Bcc: to keep your email private.
I am asking each of you to take a little of your time to take action on this important issue facing those of us in the state that have made the personal decision to use biodiesel.
Recent rulings by the California State Water Resource Board have resulted in the closing of B99.9/B100 stations in the state.
Do your part to keep biodiesel stations open in the state.
Go to Biodiesel Action Now! and educate yourself about the issue and take action, write letters and make your voice heard.
Also ask your partner, relatives, friends, co-workers and others to join in this letter writing campaign. The more letters on this issue that are received by the recipients, the more our cause will rise to be heard.
Our goal is to get a fair hearing for B99.9/B100 users and to level the playing field.
Copy and paste the letter template and modify it as needed to fit your situation. Bcc: me on at least one letter so I can get an idea of the effects we are having.
Thanks, from a fellow member of the biodiesel community.
Kent Bullard
CFO (Chief Founder & Operator)
Southern California Biodiesel Users Group, Inc.
A 501c3 non-profit corporation
kent@socalbug.org c 805-218-6945
Everyone,
I’m sorry for the impersonal email, but I don’t have the time for an individual email to all of you in the biodiesel community as I have to get out over 3,000 emails this weekend. I have written each of you as a Bcc: to keep your email private.
I am asking each of you to take a little of your time to take action on this important issue facing those of us in the state that have made the personal decision to use biodiesel.
Recent rulings by the California State Water Resource Board have resulted in the closing of B99.9/B100 stations in the state.
Do your part to keep biodiesel stations open in the state.
Go to Biodiesel Action Now! and educate yourself about the issue and take action, write letters and make your voice heard.
Also ask your partner, relatives, friends, co-workers and others to join in this letter writing campaign. The more letters on this issue that are received by the recipients, the more our cause will rise to be heard.
Our goal is to get a fair hearing for B99.9/B100 users and to level the playing field.
Copy and paste the letter template and modify it as needed to fit your situation. Bcc: me on at least one letter so I can get an idea of the effects we are having.
Thanks, from a fellow member of the biodiesel community.
Kent Bullard
CFO (Chief Founder & Operator)
Southern California Biodiesel Users Group, Inc.
A 501c3 non-profit corporation
kent@socalbug.org c 805-218-6945
I apologize for the late notice, but I will be on the radio tomorrow night on the "Ecology Hour" on KZYX (91.5 FM) from 7-8 pm. The subject of the entire hour will be biodiesel, and the second half hour will be open for callers. Hopefully, they'll ask me some tough questions!
The host of the show is Ed Nieves. He spoke with me about biodiesel about 2 years ago, and figured that enough has happened between then and now that it's a good time for an update.
If your internet connection is better than your radio reception, you can find streaming audio links at www.kzyx.org
And, yeah, my thumb:
2000 Freightliner FL 70, replacing the 1996 FL 70 that we got rid of. This one has 1000 gallons greater capacity (3000 gallons total), a more desirable (at least to our mechanic, Art) Caterpillar engine, as well as two compartments, enabling us to deliver both winterized and unwinterized fuel on the same route. Also, the ability to pump to either side thanks to the hanging reel in the rear cabinet. And our very first preset meter. Huzzah!
2000 Freightliner FL 70, replacing the 1996 FL 70 that we got rid of. This one has 1000 gallons greater capacity (3000 gallons total), a more desirable (at least to our mechanic, Art) Caterpillar engine, as well as two compartments, enabling us to deliver both winterized and unwinterized fuel on the same route. Also, the ability to pump to either side thanks to the hanging reel in the rear cabinet. And our very first preset meter. Huzzah!
(click picture for zoomable image)
Art admires my dad's handiwork. The area around the headlight, comprised of fiberglass, had been punched through in a minor accident. My dad applied the "wet lasagna" bandages, structure aided by a piece of an old plastic bowl he cut to form, bondo and sanding (with help from Barry), and then the "Freightliner white" coat of paint. Nahss!!
Knee-deep in Financial Accounting (love the "official" name of the class: BAD 1), personnel changes, engineering projects, and all the other daily grinds.
We just had a "power lunch" management meeting at Oco Time, home of the locally famous "Oco" and green tea cheesecake, among many other things. The meeting felt really good. We filled in some blank spots in the business plan, and had a great meal. Cesar had never been there before. Saw some people we knew, and realized that somehow that place isn't already a grease account (I had thought it was). Sunny and my dad both walked there (Sunny from the Perry Street office, my dad from his house). We all ended up feeling something along the lines of this is why we live here.
By the way, I just visited the website of our production plant's neighbor to the east, Shady Brady. Pretty cool. Nice hats. I got a tour of the manufacturing warehouse a while back. Support local manufacturing!
We just had a "power lunch" management meeting at Oco Time, home of the locally famous "Oco" and green tea cheesecake, among many other things. The meeting felt really good. We filled in some blank spots in the business plan, and had a great meal. Cesar had never been there before. Saw some people we knew, and realized that somehow that place isn't already a grease account (I had thought it was). Sunny and my dad both walked there (Sunny from the Perry Street office, my dad from his house). We all ended up feeling something along the lines of this is why we live here.
By the way, I just visited the website of our production plant's neighbor to the east, Shady Brady. Pretty cool. Nice hats. I got a tour of the manufacturing warehouse a while back. Support local manufacturing!
From the Biofuel Oasis:
URBAN FARMER GET TOGETHER and "FARM CITY" BOOK RELEASE PARTY
Urban Agriculture is in the air! Come celebrate urban farming in its many forms in the Bay Area
On June 13, 7:30pm, the Biofuel Oasis will celebrate the grand opening of their Urban Beekeeping and Feed Store. Purveyors of quality biodiesel since 2003, the BFO’s new location on Ashby Ave will now feature supplies for your urban farm, including: honey supers, beekeeping gear, hive tools and smokers, kelp meal, salt licks, goat and chicken feed.
To launch the store, we’re inviting Bay Area urban gardeners, beekeepers, chicken owners, and biodiesel users to come check out our new store. Local urban farming groups such as Spiral Gardens, City Slicker Farms, Urban Eggs, All Edibles, and many more will be on-hand to pass out information and answer any pressing urban farming questions. Light snacks like local, homemade goat cheese, olives, and beer will be served.
Novella Carpenter will read from her just-released book, Farm City: the Education of an Urban Farmer and show a slide presentation about her adventures raising vegetables, chickens, bees, turkeys, rabbits, pigs, and goats on her farmlette near downtown Oakland. There is some hope that we’ll be screening some slides and short films on our billboard as the night grows darker.
What: Urban Feed Store launch party
When: June 13, 7:30pm
Where: 1441 Ashby Ave (corner of Sacramento and Ashby in south Berkeley)
17 days on the road, over 5000 miles logged, around 1% on foot. Most of the trip spent above 5000 ft., with quite a few days spent above 7500 ft. Unfortunately, much of the trip was spent on diesel, since a number of biodiesel retail outlets have closed (I will be writing a letter to the National Biodiesel Board demanding that they do a better job updating their listings- several that they listed did not exist anymore). Thank goodness for Blue Sun in Colorado, and Bently in Nevada! Without them, we would have been entirely screwed.
Pictures will be up soon, with a link.
While the trip was 27 kinds of wonderful, abounding in good karma, beautiful environments, inspiring animals, etc., I do have to report that the Dragonfly stove did not work the way we had hoped. It never lit as well as it did prior to the trip. I finally found out that I was using the wrong nozzle, so I switched it out, and I haven't been able to get it to light since. I will be getting to know this piece of equipment, and report back my results.
Pictures will be up soon, with a link.
While the trip was 27 kinds of wonderful, abounding in good karma, beautiful environments, inspiring animals, etc., I do have to report that the Dragonfly stove did not work the way we had hoped. It never lit as well as it did prior to the trip. I finally found out that I was using the wrong nozzle, so I switched it out, and I haven't been able to get it to light since. I will be getting to know this piece of equipment, and report back my results.
*UPDATE: Well, it did when we tested it prior to the trip. See 6/2 entry.
Here's our new MSR Dragonfly stove fired up on biodiesel:
Here's our new MSR Dragonfly stove fired up on biodiesel:
I'm posting this from my phone.
Here's Sunny after our hike this morning. We're getting ready for the long-awaited vacation, which includes some hefty hikes.
From autobloggreen:
Polystyrene is pretty much an environmentalist's nightmare. It's difficult to recycle in most areas and does not biodegrade if simply thrown away. But, because the stuff is so incredibly useful, it is produced and used in tremendous quantities. There's good news for biodiesel fans who want to reduce the amount of polystyrene in the environment and want to get a bit more kick out of their biofuel.
Two researchers at Iowa State University, Najeeb Kuzhiyil and Song-Charng Kong, have found that it is easy to dissolve packing peanuts into biodiesel; the enhanced biodiesel then produced more power in a diesel engine, as long as the polystyrene makes up no more than five percent of the biodiesel. The downside is that harmful emissions also increased. This is not too surpising, since petroleum is often used to make the styrofoam in the first place. According to Kong, quoted in New Scientist, the polystyrene cups dissolved quickly in biodiesel, "like a snowflake in water."
More discussion on this here: http://biodiesel.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/t
Certainly an interesting idea. Perhaps a good use for Cesar's test engine!!!
Polystyrene can be dissolved in biodiesel, boosts power and emissions
Polystyrene is pretty much an environmentalist's nightmare. It's difficult to recycle in most areas and does not biodegrade if simply thrown away. But, because the stuff is so incredibly useful, it is produced and used in tremendous quantities. There's good news for biodiesel fans who want to reduce the amount of polystyrene in the environment and want to get a bit more kick out of their biofuel.
Two researchers at Iowa State University, Najeeb Kuzhiyil and Song-Charng Kong, have found that it is easy to dissolve packing peanuts into biodiesel; the enhanced biodiesel then produced more power in a diesel engine, as long as the polystyrene makes up no more than five percent of the biodiesel. The downside is that harmful emissions also increased. This is not too surpising, since petroleum is often used to make the styrofoam in the first place. According to Kong, quoted in New Scientist, the polystyrene cups dissolved quickly in biodiesel, "like a snowflake in water."
More discussion on this here: http://biodiesel.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/t
Certainly an interesting idea. Perhaps a good use for Cesar's test engine!!!
From the Ukiah Daily Journal:
Note: we're actually over 850 restaurants currently.
Sandy Turner of Yokayo Biofuels was smart to wear a hat. "I guess global warming must be taking its toll," was the comment on the unseasonable 90-degree heat. The biofuel company had made a commitment to locally source as many of its business resources as it can. Owner Kumar Plocher hopes that soon, the creation of a locally based currency will "become the guiding principle on placing value upon the limitations of what we do." The company's "small is beautiful," decentralized business model currently recycles used restaurant fryer oil from more than 600 restaurants, and Plocher and his staff are working on creating other areas of recycling.
Note: we're actually over 850 restaurants currently.
Remember: we have all the answers to prolonged peaceful coexistence with this planet: we just need to implement them!
(picture by the ever-excellent Jonathan)
We're set up at Mendocino College. Click the pic below for more info.
(picture by the ever-excellent Jonathan)
We're set up at Mendocino College. Click the pic below for more info.
1) Lyle from Piedmont Biofuels was on Democracy Now! this morning (click the picture to go to the website for the segment):
2) Out with the old, in with the new. So long old FL 70 biodiesel delivery truck: you were a good truck, but you were short in length and tall in height, which is dangerous, and you lacked a 2nd compartment and could have stood to have a little bigger capacity. Oh, and did I mention we prefer Caterpillar engines? C'est la vie. So we shipped you to Alaska, and will be showcasing the new and improved "you" soon.
Goodbye old friend...
3) We have filled all open positions! Now I just have to get to work putting pictures at the 4 new "photo not available" slots in the people section of our website.
4) Congressman Thompson wasn't able to make it, but his assistant, Heidi Dickerson, did stop by, and so we gave her the tour. She was impressed, and promised to get our legislator out here at the next possible opportunity. Thank you Heidi!
2) Out with the old, in with the new. So long old FL 70 biodiesel delivery truck: you were a good truck, but you were short in length and tall in height, which is dangerous, and you lacked a 2nd compartment and could have stood to have a little bigger capacity. Oh, and did I mention we prefer Caterpillar engines? C'est la vie. So we shipped you to Alaska, and will be showcasing the new and improved "you" soon.
Goodbye old friend...
3) We have filled all open positions! Now I just have to get to work putting pictures at the 4 new "photo not available" slots in the people section of our website.
4) Congressman Thompson wasn't able to make it, but his assistant, Heidi Dickerson, did stop by, and so we gave her the tour. She was impressed, and promised to get our legislator out here at the next possible opportunity. Thank you Heidi!
In the past, I've been tempted to think of Cellulosic Ethanol as yet another "white whale" - the thing that it's easy to want, to chase, but to never find. I've lumped it with algae biodiesel, a mythical product that I used to fantasize about, but not-so-much anymore.
However, I've been chatting with a local ethanol researcher lately, and it appears that fuel from paper and green waste may not be that far off after all. I can't say much more than that at the moment, but I am excited that Yokayo may be able to help in this effort!
However, I've been chatting with a local ethanol researcher lately, and it appears that fuel from paper and green waste may not be that far off after all. I can't say much more than that at the moment, but I am excited that Yokayo may be able to help in this effort!
It's always kind of frustrating when so much is going on that I forget to keep the blog updated, and everyone assumes that nothing is going on. Here are a few updates:
- We have filled the production plant assistant position. Interestingly, our newest employee is a chemical engineer who moved here from Georgia for this job. How did he find out about our job opening? "Reading your blog, I noticed you need a P/T production plant assistant." Sweet!
- We have also hired a P/T mechanical engineer who is moving here from Washington State. He came to us unsolicited, although I had written a note to myself saying, "Find a retired mechanical engineer who can work part time for us." Funny that the exact embodiment of that description emailed me, looking for work.
- We are still looking for a P/T (20-30 hrs/wk) barrel/dumpster delivery/pickup driver. No commercial license necessary, but a clean driving record is a must!
- I resigned today from the NBB Sustainability Taskforce, in order to make room for a number of accounting, business, and management classes that I will be taking.
- Today, the management team will have a mini-retreat, focused on Cesar's plans for Honduras.
- We sold over 25,000 gallons of biodiesel in March, which makes me feel cautiously optimistic about things.
- The Obama reduction in payroll withholdings looks to save us nearly $1000/mo.
- Congressman Mike Thompson will be visiting our plant a week from today.
- The committee I formed in my Rotary Club, the Environmental Stewardship Committee, awarded its first ever Environmental Hero award to Rebecca Kress last month (would link to article in Ukiah Daily Journal, but it's archived already).
I finally said goodbye to my original pair of Timberlands today, in favor of a shiny new one. The smelly, tattered, but largely-still-functional boots of yore finally gave up the ghost when a small tear emerged in one of them. They lasted 2 1/2 years, including much tromping around in biodiesel and biodiesel-saturated grease sweep without any sole degrading. Sandy wears the same boots, and his original pair lasted the same amount of time. Go polyurethane outsoles! Yeay Timberland! I heartily recommend this boot:
Timberland Pro "Powerwelt" 6" Steel Toe Work Boots (click image for more info)
Timberland Pro "Powerwelt" 6" Steel Toe Work Boots (click image for more info)
