From gena5 at bellsouth.net Fri Jun 1 10:18:09 2007 From: gena5 at bellsouth.net (Gena) Date: Fri, 1 Jun 2007 10:18:09 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] wanted: passat TDI Message-ID: <746B0BC9-3BC8-45FE-A986-13887E5DD046@bellsouth.net> wanted: 04 or 05 passat TDI, less than 100K miles, no black interior or exterior. will travel to buy. thanks :) laura 919 924 2168 From wrenchwench at blast.com Sat Jun 2 17:04:22 2007 From: wrenchwench at blast.com (Rachel Burton) Date: Sat, 2 Jun 2007 17:04:22 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] ASU to hold workshop on community-based biodiesel Message-ID: Dale Neal May 31, 2007 1:47 pm BOONE?The Western North Carolina Renewable Energy Initiative at Appalachian State University will present a workshop on Sustainable Community-Scale Biodiesel Production June 22 and 23 in Katherine Harper Hall located on Rivers Street on campus. The workshop will include field work at Appalachian?s Biodiesel and Education Research Lab. State and national experts in the field of biodiesel production will lead the workshop focusing on sustainable community-scale biodiesel production with classroom and hands-on components. Cost is $100. Space is limited to 15 participants. There will be no student discount because of the limited workshop size. For more information about the workshop or to register, visit http:// www.wind.appstate.edu/workshops/workshops.php. Additional information also is available by calling the Office of Conferences and Institutes at Appalachian at 262-2933 or Brent Summerville at 262-7333. For information about Appalachian?s biodiesel research facility, visit http://biodiesel.appstate.edu/. From newobjects at nc.rr.com Sun Jun 3 19:00:41 2007 From: newobjects at nc.rr.com (Toby Sarver) Date: Sun, 3 Jun 2007 19:00:41 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] looking for diesel 7-seater In-Reply-To: <2CFB2D9B-1F62-4466-AA6B-1311BEF693E8@sbcglobal.net> Message-ID: <200706032302.l53N1Mfv007972@ms-smtp-02.southeast.rr.com> Hello, You might also consider an Excursion. They stopped production with the 2004 model, but they are still around. They are an SUV built on the F-150 chassis, and available in diesel. BTW, my favorite way of finding diesel vehicles is to go to cars.com, and search by keyword: "diesel TDI powerstroke". Cheers, --Toby Sarver -----Original Message----- From: biofuels_interest_group-bounces at lists.emji.net [mailto:biofuels_interest_group-bounces at lists.emji.net] On Behalf Of eurydice Sent: Monday, May 28, 2007 9:59 AM To: Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] looking for diesel 7-seater I'm searching for a diesel 7-seater - we've outgrown our sedan. First choice would be a diesel Eurovan but since this may not be an option, I'm open to all sorts of things including a diesel Yukon or Suburban. Any leads would be appreciated. eurydice at sbcglobal.net _______________________________________________ Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group From patjamie23 at isp.com Sun Jun 3 20:11:22 2007 From: patjamie23 at isp.com (patjamie23 at isp.com) Date: Sun, 3 Jun 2007 20:11:22 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] F-250 for sale Message-ID: <819943d8b3595ae02296ed49b5e7a8b0@isp.com> Selling 1987 F-250, extra cab, long bed, bed liner, CD player. Serviced by Automotive Solutions in Raleigh (have all records). Been running on Bio for yr. or so. 130K miles. Asking $4000/neg. Think it has MANY more miles left on it and is in pretty good shape for 20 yrs. old. Needs nothing at this time. Email if interested. Thanks, Jamie From carolinabiofuels at gmail.com Sun Jun 3 22:47:15 2007 From: carolinabiofuels at gmail.com (Harry John Albert) Date: Sun, 3 Jun 2007 22:47:15 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] looking for diesel 7-seater In-Reply-To: <200706032302.l53N1Mfv007972@ms-smtp-02.southeast.rr.com> References: <2CFB2D9B-1F62-4466-AA6B-1311BEF693E8@sbcglobal.net> <200706032302.l53N1Mfv007972@ms-smtp-02.southeast.rr.com> Message-ID: Not to be a know it all but to my knowledge the excursion was built on the super duty pick ups frame, and was also sold until 2005. The good thing is with a bench front seat they seat 9. MIght want to keep an eye out for a 300TD with a third row. good luck On 6/3/07, Toby Sarver wrote: > Hello, > You might also consider an Excursion. They stopped production with the 2004 > model, but they are still around. They are an SUV built on the F-150 > chassis, and available in diesel. > > BTW, my favorite way of finding diesel vehicles is to go to cars.com, and > search by keyword: "diesel TDI powerstroke". > > Cheers, > --Toby Sarver > > -----Original Message----- > From: biofuels_interest_group-bounces at lists.emji.net > [mailto:biofuels_interest_group-bounces at lists.emji.net] On Behalf Of > eurydice > Sent: Monday, May 28, 2007 9:59 AM > To: Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net > Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] looking for diesel 7-seater > > I'm searching for a diesel 7-seater - we've outgrown our sedan. First > choice would be a diesel Eurovan but since this may not be an option, > I'm open to all sorts of things including a diesel Yukon or Suburban. > Any leads would be appreciated. > > eurydice at sbcglobal.net > > _______________________________________________ > Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list > Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net > http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group > > > _______________________________________________ > Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list > Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net > http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group > From tavanas at gmail.com Mon Jun 4 08:06:39 2007 From: tavanas at gmail.com (t avanas) Date: Mon, 4 Jun 2007 08:06:39 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] looking for diesel 7-seater References: <2CFB2D9B-1F62-4466-AA6B-1311BEF693E8@sbcglobal.net><200706032302.l53N1Mfv007972@ms-smtp-02.southeast.rr.com> Message-ID: <01af01c7a6a0$cfa84c80$c701000a@amer.cisco.com> MB 300TDs are very hard to find, i have been looking for one in decent shape and reasonable price for a long time. eventually i decided to make my own, i bought an 88 300TE with a bad engine and am in the process of putting a 2.5 liter diesel engine in it from a '92 300D. not sure how successful i will be, but i like this challenge. I have also heard about a company near charlotte that does similar conversions. btw does anyone have the special socket required to replace the pressure valve seals on an MB 602/603 engine? saeed ----- Original Message ----- From: "Harry John Albert" To: "Toby Sarver" Cc: Sent: Sunday, June 03, 2007 10:47 PM Subject: Re: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] looking for diesel 7-seater > Not to be a know it all but to my knowledge the excursion was built on > the super duty pick ups frame, and was also sold until 2005. The good > thing is with a bench front seat they seat 9. MIght want to keep an > eye out for a 300TD with a third row. good luck > > On 6/3/07, Toby Sarver wrote: >> Hello, >> You might also consider an Excursion. They stopped production with the >> 2004 >> model, but they are still around. They are an SUV built on the F-150 >> chassis, and available in diesel. >> >> BTW, my favorite way of finding diesel vehicles is to go to cars.com, and >> search by keyword: "diesel TDI powerstroke". >> >> Cheers, >> --Toby Sarver >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: biofuels_interest_group-bounces at lists.emji.net >> [mailto:biofuels_interest_group-bounces at lists.emji.net] On Behalf Of >> eurydice >> Sent: Monday, May 28, 2007 9:59 AM >> To: Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net >> Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] looking for diesel 7-seater >> >> I'm searching for a diesel 7-seater - we've outgrown our sedan. First >> choice would be a diesel Eurovan but since this may not be an option, >> I'm open to all sorts of things including a diesel Yukon or Suburban. >> Any leads would be appreciated. >> >> eurydice at sbcglobal.net >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list >> Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net >> http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list >> Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net >> http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group >> > _______________________________________________ > Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list > Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net > http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group From mweaver at misteam.net Mon Jun 4 09:01:05 2007 From: mweaver at misteam.net (Mike Weaver) Date: Mon, 4 Jun 2007 08:01:05 -0500 (CDT) Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] looking for diesel 7-seater In-Reply-To: <01af01c7a6a0$cfa84c80$c701000a@amer.cisco.com> References: <2CFB2D9B-1F62-4466-AA6B-1311BEF693E8@sbcglobal.net><200706032302.l53N1Mfv007972@ms-smtp-02.southeast.rr.com> <01af01c7a6a0$cfa84c80$c701000a@amer.cisco.com> Message-ID: <9790.66.92.150.160.1180962065.squirrel@www.misteam.net> Both Ford and Chevy made full size vans in diesel. Soemtimes they show up on Ebay or Craigslist. > MB 300TDs are very hard to find, i have been looking for one in decent > shape > and reasonable price for a long time. > > eventually i decided to make my own, i bought an 88 300TE with a bad > engine > and am in the process of putting a 2.5 liter diesel engine in it from a > '92 > 300D. not sure how successful i will be, but i like this challenge. > > I have also heard about a company near charlotte that does similar > conversions. > > btw does anyone have the special socket required to replace the pressure > valve seals on an MB 602/603 engine? > > saeed > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Harry John Albert" > To: "Toby Sarver" > Cc: > Sent: Sunday, June 03, 2007 10:47 PM > Subject: Re: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] looking for diesel 7-seater > > >> Not to be a know it all but to my knowledge the excursion was built on >> the super duty pick ups frame, and was also sold until 2005. The good >> thing is with a bench front seat they seat 9. MIght want to keep an >> eye out for a 300TD with a third row. good luck >> >> On 6/3/07, Toby Sarver wrote: >>> Hello, >>> You might also consider an Excursion. They stopped production with the >>> 2004 >>> model, but they are still around. They are an SUV built on the F-150 >>> chassis, and available in diesel. >>> >>> BTW, my favorite way of finding diesel vehicles is to go to cars.com, >>> and >>> search by keyword: "diesel TDI powerstroke". >>> >>> Cheers, >>> --Toby Sarver >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: biofuels_interest_group-bounces at lists.emji.net >>> [mailto:biofuels_interest_group-bounces at lists.emji.net] On Behalf Of >>> eurydice >>> Sent: Monday, May 28, 2007 9:59 AM >>> To: Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net >>> Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] looking for diesel 7-seater >>> >>> I'm searching for a diesel 7-seater - we've outgrown our sedan. First >>> choice would be a diesel Eurovan but since this may not be an option, >>> I'm open to all sorts of things including a diesel Yukon or Suburban. >>> Any leads would be appreciated. >>> >>> eurydice at sbcglobal.net >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list >>> Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net >>> http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list >>> Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net >>> http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group >>> >> _______________________________________________ >> Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list >> Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net >> http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group > > _______________________________________________ > Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list > Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net > http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group > From peter at prkbikes.com Mon Jun 4 09:18:25 2007 From: peter at prkbikes.com (Peter Koskinen) Date: Mon, 4 Jun 2007 09:18:25 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] 300td, ford excursion Message-ID: <20070604131817.BUPR9593.ibm62aec.bellsouth.net@gateway> SNIP< Message: 9 Date: Mon, 4 Jun 2007 08:06:39 -0400 From: "t avanas" Subject: Re: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] looking for diesel 7-seater To: "Harry John Albert" , "Toby Sarver" Cc: Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net Message-ID: <01af01c7a6a0$cfa84c80$c701000a at amer.cisco.com> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"; reply-type=original MB 300TDs are very hard to find, i have been looking for one in decent shape and reasonable price for a long time. eventually i decided to make my own, i bought an 88 300TE with a bad engine and am in the process of putting a 2.5 liter diesel engine in it from a '92 300D. not sure how successful i will be, but i like this challenge. I have also heard about a company near charlotte that does similar conversions. btw does anyone have the special socket required to replace the pressure valve seals on an MB 602/603 engine? saeed ----- Original Message ----- From: "Harry John Albert" To: "Toby Sarver" Cc: Sent: Sunday, June 03, 2007 10:47 PM Subject: Re: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] looking for diesel 7-seater > Not to be a know it all but to my knowledge the excursion was built on > the super duty pick ups frame, and was also sold until 2005. The good > thing is with a bench front seat they seat 9. MIght want to keep an > eye out for a 300TD with a third row. good luck > > On 6/3/07, Toby Sarver wrote: >> Hello, >> You might also consider an Excursion. They stopped production with the >> 2004 >> model, but they are still around. They are an SUV built on the F-150 >> chassis, and available in diesel. >> >> BTW, my favorite way of finding diesel vehicles is to go to cars.com, and >> search by keyword: "diesel TDI powerstroke". >> >> Cheers, >> --Toby Sarver >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: biofuels_interest_group-bounces at lists.emji.net >> [mailto:biofuels_interest_group-bounces at lists.emji.net] On Behalf Of >> eurydice >> Sent: Monday, May 28, 2007 9:59 AM >> To: Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net >> Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] looking for diesel 7-seater >> >> I'm searching for a diesel 7-seater - we've outgrown our sedan. First >> choice would be a diesel Eurovan but since this may not be an option, >> I'm open to all sorts of things including a diesel Yukon or Suburban. >> Any leads would be appreciated. >> >> eurydice at sbcglobal.net END SNIP> I have a Mercedes 300TD wagon PARTS CAR FOR SALE. Engine and Trans still good. All glass good except rear window. This is a good parts car for your bio-fuel diesel projects. It has a rolling chassis. $500 takes it away. Email me directly if you are interested. Bring your trailer or rollback when you come. Cheers, Peter Peter Reid Koskinen Owner PRKBIKES LLC 9506 Collins Creek Drive Chapel Hill, NC, 27516 USA H/O: 919.960.5871 Fax: 919.960.0641 Cell: 410.991.7539 Peter at prkbikes.com www.prkbikes.com From bobteixeira at mindspring.com Mon Jun 4 14:10:59 2007 From: bobteixeira at mindspring.com (Robert Teixeira) Date: Mon, 4 Jun 2007 14:10:59 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] looking for diesel 7-seater In-Reply-To: <9790.66.92.150.160.1180962065.squirrel@www.misteam.net> References: <2CFB2D9B-1F62-4466-AA6B-1311BEF693E8@sbcglobal.net><200706032302.l53N1Mfv007972@ms-smtp-02.southeast.rr.com> <01af01c7a6a0$cfa84c80$c701000a@amer.cisco.com> <9790.66.92.150.160.1180962065.squirrel@www.misteam.net> Message-ID: Re: I have also heard about a company near charlotte that does similar >> conversions. The guy in Charlotte is Mark Englander and He run's a business called Charlotte Energy Solutions. He does have a small number of converted Mercedes from time to time. 704-333-4358 Good luck, Bob Teixeira On Jun 4, 2007, at 9:01 AM, Mike Weaver wrote: > Both Ford and Chevy made full size vans in diesel. Soemtimes they > show up > on Ebay or Craigslist. > >> MB 300TDs are very hard to find, i have been looking for one in >> decent >> shape >> and reasonable price for a long time. >> >> eventually i decided to make my own, i bought an 88 300TE with a bad >> engine >> and am in the process of putting a 2.5 liter diesel engine in it >> from a >> '92 >> 300D. not sure how successful i will be, but i like this challenge. >> >> I have also heard about a company near charlotte that does similar >> conversions. >> >> btw does anyone have the special socket required to replace the >> pressure >> valve seals on an MB 602/603 engine? >> >> saeed >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Harry John Albert" >> To: "Toby Sarver" >> Cc: >> Sent: Sunday, June 03, 2007 10:47 PM >> Subject: Re: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] looking for diesel 7-seater >> >> >>> Not to be a know it all but to my knowledge the excursion was >>> built on >>> the super duty pick ups frame, and was also sold until 2005. The >>> good >>> thing is with a bench front seat they seat 9. MIght want to keep an >>> eye out for a 300TD with a third row. good luck >>> >>> On 6/3/07, Toby Sarver wrote: >>>> Hello, >>>> You might also consider an Excursion. They stopped production >>>> with the >>>> 2004 >>>> model, but they are still around. They are an SUV built on the >>>> F-150 >>>> chassis, and available in diesel. >>>> >>>> BTW, my favorite way of finding diesel vehicles is to go to >>>> cars.com, >>>> and >>>> search by keyword: "diesel TDI powerstroke". >>>> >>>> Cheers, >>>> --Toby Sarver >>>> >>>> -----Original Message----- >>>> From: biofuels_interest_group-bounces at lists.emji.net >>>> [mailto:biofuels_interest_group-bounces at lists.emji.net] On >>>> Behalf Of >>>> eurydice >>>> Sent: Monday, May 28, 2007 9:59 AM >>>> To: Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net >>>> Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] looking for diesel 7-seater >>>> >>>> I'm searching for a diesel 7-seater - we've outgrown our sedan. >>>> First >>>> choice would be a diesel Eurovan but since this may not be an >>>> option, >>>> I'm open to all sorts of things including a diesel Yukon or >>>> Suburban. >>>> Any leads would be appreciated. >>>> >>>> eurydice at sbcglobal.net >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list >>>> Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net >>>> http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list >>>> Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net >>>> http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group >>>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list >>> Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net >>> http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list >> Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net >> http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group >> > > _______________________________________________ > Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list > Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net > http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group From scotttsmith at bellsouth.net Mon Jun 4 23:13:56 2007 From: scotttsmith at bellsouth.net (Scott Smith) Date: Mon, 4 Jun 2007 23:13:56 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] looking for diesel 7-seater In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <002501c7a71f$91099ea0$6503a8c0@Dell> The Excursions were built on the 3/4 and 1 ton chassis. They have a great ride and were available in both 7.3 and 6.0 liter diesel engines. We have found ours to be an outstanding tow vehicle. Depending upon the rear-end ratio, they will get up to 20mpg or better on the highway. Ours has a 3.73 ratio and we average about 18.5 on the highway. The last one left the factory in August or September '05. -----Original Message----- From: Harry John Albert [mailto:carolinabiofuels at gmail.com] Sent: Sunday, June 03, 2007 10:47 PM To: Toby Sarver Cc: Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net Subject: Re: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] looking for diesel 7-seater Not to be a know it all but to my knowledge the excursion was built on the super duty pick ups frame, and was also sold until 2005. The good thing is with a bench front seat they seat 9. MIght want to keep an eye out for a 300TD with a third row. good luck On 6/3/07, Toby Sarver wrote: > Hello, > You might also consider an Excursion. They stopped production with the 2004 > model, but they are still around. They are an SUV built on the F-150 > chassis, and available in diesel. > > BTW, my favorite way of finding diesel vehicles is to go to cars.com, and > search by keyword: "diesel TDI powerstroke". > > Cheers, > --Toby Sarver > > -----Original Message----- > From: biofuels_interest_group-bounces at lists.emji.net > [mailto:biofuels_interest_group-bounces at lists.emji.net] On Behalf Of > eurydice > Sent: Monday, May 28, 2007 9:59 AM > To: Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net > Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] looking for diesel 7-seater > > I'm searching for a diesel 7-seater - we've outgrown our sedan. First > choice would be a diesel Eurovan but since this may not be an option, > I'm open to all sorts of things including a diesel Yukon or Suburban. > Any leads would be appreciated. > > eurydice at sbcglobal.net > > _______________________________________________ > Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list > Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net > http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group > > > _______________________________________________ > Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list > Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net > http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group > From jeffmoreadith at charter.net Tue Jun 5 00:15:22 2007 From: jeffmoreadith at charter.net (jeffmoreadith at charter.net) Date: Mon, 4 Jun 2007 21:15:22 -0700 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] looking for diesel 7-seater Message-ID: <56649539.1181016922154.JavaMail.root@fepweb03> I have a 2001 Excursion. Awesome vehicle. Runs great on B100. Only negative is fuel economy, and I would not buy the 6 liter engine in mid-2003 to 2005 year models. If you're looking for 8 to 10 passenger with up to 25mpg but not great towing capacity, check out the Dodge Sprinter, basically a Mercedes with a Dodge front grill. I talked a buddy with family of 7 into getting a 10 seater and they love it. ---- Scott Smith wrote: > The Excursions were built on the 3/4 and 1 ton chassis. They have a great > ride and were available in both 7.3 and 6.0 liter diesel engines. We have > found ours to be an outstanding tow vehicle. > > Depending upon the rear-end ratio, they will get up to 20mpg or better on > the highway. Ours has a 3.73 ratio and we average about 18.5 on the > highway. > > The last one left the factory in August or September '05. > > -----Original Message----- > From: Harry John Albert [mailto:carolinabiofuels at gmail.com] > Sent: Sunday, June 03, 2007 10:47 PM > To: Toby Sarver > Cc: Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net > Subject: Re: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] looking for diesel 7-seater > > Not to be a know it all but to my knowledge the excursion was built on > the super duty pick ups frame, and was also sold until 2005. The good > thing is with a bench front seat they seat 9. MIght want to keep an > eye out for a 300TD with a third row. good luck > > On 6/3/07, Toby Sarver wrote: > > Hello, > > You might also consider an Excursion. They stopped production with the > 2004 > > model, but they are still around. They are an SUV built on the F-150 > > chassis, and available in diesel. > > > > BTW, my favorite way of finding diesel vehicles is to go to cars.com, and > > search by keyword: "diesel TDI powerstroke". > > > > Cheers, > > --Toby Sarver > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: biofuels_interest_group-bounces at lists.emji.net > > [mailto:biofuels_interest_group-bounces at lists.emji.net] On Behalf Of > > eurydice > > Sent: Monday, May 28, 2007 9:59 AM > > To: Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net > > Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] looking for diesel 7-seater > > > > I'm searching for a diesel 7-seater - we've outgrown our sedan. First > > choice would be a diesel Eurovan but since this may not be an option, > > I'm open to all sorts of things including a diesel Yukon or Suburban. > > Any leads would be appreciated. > > > > eurydice at sbcglobal.net > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list > > Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net > > http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list > > Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net > > http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list > Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net > http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group From tjayweaver at hotmail.com Tue Jun 5 17:59:46 2007 From: tjayweaver at hotmail.com (Jay Weaver) Date: Tue, 05 Jun 2007 17:59:46 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Free 98 jetta tdi Message-ID: Found this ad under FREE on charlotte craigslist- act fast!! http://charlotte.craigslist.org/zip/345066869.html I am not affiliated, dont ask me... Jay Weaver From wrenchwench at blast.com Wed Jun 6 10:11:01 2007 From: wrenchwench at blast.com (Rachel Burton) Date: Wed, 6 Jun 2007 10:11:01 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Elsbett Installation Training and workshop Message-ID: Greetings! We are hosting an Elsbett Vegetable Oil installation training and workshop scheduled for the week of August 1st through the 5th. in Pittsboro, North Carolina, U.S. We are looking for people interested in converting the following vehicles: 1. 2003 or newer Dodge Sprinters 2. Ford F250, F350, or Excursion- Powerstroke 7.3L 3. Agricultural equipment ( ie New Holland or Kubota equipment) 4. 1994-2006 Dodge Ram 2500, 3500 5. 2005 Mercedes-Benz E320 CDI If you have one of these vehicles and would like to participate in the installation training, please contact me at rachel at biofuels.coop. If you are not familiar with Elsbett vegetable oil conversions please check out the following links: www.elsbett.com http://biofuels.coop/services/elsbett/ Thank you, Rachel Burton Piedmont Biofuels www.biofuels.coop From Gabe at Oak Wed Jun 6 11:00:50 2007 From: Gabe at Oak (Gabe at Oak) Date: Wed, 6 Jun 2007 11:00:50 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Diesel Generator for sale Message-ID: <20070606150050.CPZR24553.ibm63aec.bellsouth.net@mail.bellsouth.net> Oak Biodiesel is selling their 75 KW diesel generator. It has a Greasel conversion kit, and about 900 hours. You can see pictures of it at www.myspace.com/oakbio With $6,500 invested the price is negotiable. From bobteixeira at mindspring.com Wed Jun 6 12:17:01 2007 From: bobteixeira at mindspring.com (Robert Teixeira) Date: Wed, 6 Jun 2007 12:17:01 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Free 98 jetta tdi In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <7A91D644-E4B1-431D-8F69-004B297C5C92@mindspring.com> Hello to all, I thought that the folks on the list should be made aware of my situation with the Department of Revenue and using non-road taxed fuel. Rather than write the story again I thought I'd send a copy of my letter to Governor Easley. The Charlotte Observer will do a story on this issue in the next several weeks and I will forward a link to the list when it comes out. Here's the letter, let the discussions begin, Bob Teixeira Dear Mr. Easley, For six months I have been operating a vehicle on vegetable oil and I am currently in a bit of a legal situation with the Department of Revenue. I was stopped as I drove by an RV checkpoint for the use of dyed diesel and I have been issued federal and state revenue penalties for driving on fuel that did not include road tax. Total fines are $1000.00 State and $1000.00 Federal. They suspected me because I proudly displayed a sticker stating that the vehicle ran on 100 percent vegetable oil. The fines are steep because of the common abuse of off road dyed diesel being used in trucking companies and RV's. They view this as the same offense. I have no quarrel with the collection of road tax but I feel the penalties are not related to my offense and that the continued collection of these fines is not in the best interest of the country and our move towards independence from foreign oil. Individuals who are trying to do the right thing environmentally cannot and should not continue to take this kind of financial hit. This exact situation has occurred in Illinois in January 07. The difference was that their Department of Revenue did not issue a penalty for the use of non-tax paid fuel. They simply were interested in the lost revenue which I should also pay and gladly will do so. By my generous calculations I owe the Dept. of Revenue $ 86.00. In addition the state of Illinois has recently made changes to the laws regarding this issue. In order to make it easier for individuals to comply with road tax issues, no license is required for usage of up to 5000 gallons per year and payments are to be made once yearly. If we really want to encourage NC residents to take the lead on alternative fuel use we could follow the example from Washington State where individuals can use up to 600 gallons of bio-fuels per year tax exempt. Currently NC law requires a license to be a fuel provider, a bond of $2000.00, and monthly payments. The bond portion is currently up for review, a step in the right direction. I see great inequity in the current system. Toyota Priuses and other hybrid vehicles do not pay road tax for any miles driven on their electric motors and what about vehicles that run on natural gas? I have written Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger wondering how he calculates his road usage tax on his hydrogen powered Hummer. The Department of Revenue is targeting vehicles that run on bio-fuels because it sort of fits with the existing laws. It is clear that the laws for this kind of activity are behind what is happening on the street. We need to make some changes. We need equity and clarity. I suggest reporting odometer readings as part of our annual tax obligations. Perhaps it is too late for me, since my offense falls under current laws, but it pains me to think that individuals will continue to be discouraged from using fuels from renewable sources that are better for the environment, I know I have been. My penalty is due by June 13th and any advice before that date would be greatly appreciated! Sincerely, Bob Teixeira On Jun 5, 2007, at 5:59 PM, Jay Weaver wrote: > Found this ad under FREE on charlotte craigslist- act fast!! > > http://charlotte.craigslist.org/zip/345066869.html > > I am not affiliated, dont ask me... > > > Jay Weaver > > > _______________________________________________ > Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list > Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net > http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group From biodiesel at yovo.info Wed Jun 6 12:52:35 2007 From: biodiesel at yovo.info (Jurgen Henn) Date: Wed, 06 Jun 2007 12:52:35 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Free 98 jetta tdi In-Reply-To: <7A91D644-E4B1-431D-8F69-004B297C5C92@mindspring.com> References: <7A91D644-E4B1-431D-8F69-004B297C5C92@mindspring.com> Message-ID: <4666E653.6080105@yovo.info> Oh yeah! And in order to be able to pay the road tax you'd have to post a $2000 bond with the state. If you have a bonding agency do that, they charge about $100 per year for that bond. So even if you go strictly by the book, you are penalized for doing the right thing. Jurgen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ J?rgen Henn 2002 Jetta TDI 40/50 MPG on biodiesel http://words.yovo.info/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Robert Teixeira wrote: > Hello to all, > > I thought that the folks on the list should be made aware of my > situation with the Department of Revenue and using non-road taxed fuel. > > Rather than write the story again I thought I'd send a copy of my > letter to Governor Easley. > > The Charlotte Observer will do a story on this issue in the next > several weeks and I will forward a link to the list when it comes out. > > Here's the letter, let the discussions begin, > > Bob Teixeira > > > Dear Mr. Easley, > > For six months I have been operating a vehicle on vegetable oil and I > am currently in a bit of a legal situation with the Department of > Revenue. > > I was stopped as I drove by an RV checkpoint for the use of dyed > diesel and I have been issued federal and state revenue penalties for > driving on fuel that did not include road tax. Total fines are > $1000.00 State and $1000.00 Federal. They suspected me because I > proudly displayed a sticker stating that the vehicle ran on 100 > percent vegetable oil. > > The fines are steep because of the common abuse of off road dyed > diesel being used in trucking companies and RV's. They view this as > the same offense. > > I have no quarrel with the collection of road tax but I feel the > penalties are not related to my offense and that the continued > collection of these fines is not in the best interest of the country > and our move towards independence from foreign oil. Individuals who > are trying to do the right thing environmentally cannot and should > not continue to take this kind of financial hit. > > This exact situation has occurred in Illinois in January 07. The > difference was that their Department of Revenue did not issue a > penalty for the use of non-tax paid fuel. They simply were interested > in the lost revenue which I should also pay and gladly will do so. > By my generous calculations I owe the Dept. of Revenue $ 86.00. > > In addition the state of Illinois has recently made changes to the > laws regarding this issue. In order to make it easier for individuals > to comply with road tax issues, no license is required for usage of > up to 5000 gallons per year and payments are to be made once yearly. > > If we really want to encourage NC residents to take the lead on > alternative fuel use we could follow the example from Washington > State where individuals can use up to 600 gallons of bio-fuels per > year tax exempt. > > Currently NC law requires a license to be a fuel provider, a bond of > $2000.00, and monthly payments. The bond portion is currently up for > review, a step in the right direction. > > I see great inequity in the current system. Toyota Priuses and other > hybrid vehicles do not pay road tax for any miles driven on their > electric motors and what about vehicles that run on natural gas? I > have written Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger wondering how he > calculates his road usage tax on his hydrogen powered Hummer. The > Department of Revenue is targeting vehicles that run on bio-fuels > because it sort of fits with the existing laws. It is clear that the > laws for this kind of activity are behind what is happening on the > street. We need to make some changes. We need equity and clarity. I > suggest reporting odometer readings as part of our annual tax > obligations. > > Perhaps it is too late for me, since my offense falls under current > laws, but it pains me to think that individuals will continue to be > discouraged from using fuels from renewable sources that are better > for the environment, I know I have been. > > My penalty is due by June 13th and any advice before that date would > be greatly appreciated! > > Sincerely, > > Bob Teixeira > > > > > > > On Jun 5, 2007, at 5:59 PM, Jay Weaver wrote: > >> Found this ad under FREE on charlotte craigslist- act fast!! >> >> http://charlotte.craigslist.org/zip/345066869.html >> >> I am not affiliated, dont ask me... >> >> >> Jay Weaver >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list >> Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net >> http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group > > _______________________________________________ > Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list > Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net > http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group From markj.ambrose at gmail.com Wed Jun 6 14:58:12 2007 From: markj.ambrose at gmail.com (Mark J. Ambrose) Date: Wed, 06 Jun 2007 14:58:12 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Road Tax on fuel In-Reply-To: <4666E653.6080105@yovo.info> References: <7A91D644-E4B1-431D-8F69-004B297C5C92@mindspring.com> <4666E653.6080105@yovo.info> Message-ID: <466703C4.3060702@gmail.com> As I recall, at one point the folks at Piedmont Biofuels Coop said that they would be willing to submit the road tax for coop members running their cars on SVO or home brew biodiesel since they already went thru the hassle of posting the bond with the state because they are paying the taxes on the fuel made at the coop. I also seem to recall that almost no members took them up on that offer. (If I am misremember this, please correct me). So if you are a Coop member and aren't paying taxes on the SVO or home brew you are using, there is a relatively easy way to comply with the law and avoid risking the steep fines. -- Mark Jurgen Henn wrote: > Oh yeah! And in order to be able to pay the road tax you'd have to post > a $2000 bond with the state. If you have a bonding agency do that, they > charge about $100 per year for that bond. So even if you go strictly by > the book, you are penalized for doing the right thing. > > Jurgen > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > J?rgen Henn > 2002 Jetta TDI > 40/50 MPG on biodiesel > http://words.yovo.info/ > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > Robert Teixeira wrote: > >> Hello to all, >> >> I thought that the folks on the list should be made aware of my >> situation with the Department of Revenue and using non-road taxed fuel. >> >> Rather than write the story again I thought I'd send a copy of my >> letter to Governor Easley. >> >> The Charlotte Observer will do a story on this issue in the next >> several weeks and I will forward a link to the list when it comes out. >> >> Here's the letter, let the discussions begin, >> >> Bob Teixeira >> >> >> Dear Mr. Easley, >> >> For six months I have been operating a vehicle on vegetable oil and I >> am currently in a bit of a legal situation with the Department of >> Revenue. >> >> I was stopped as I drove by an RV checkpoint for the use of dyed >> diesel and I have been issued federal and state revenue penalties for >> driving on fuel that did not include road tax. Total fines are >> $1000.00 State and $1000.00 Federal. They suspected me because I >> proudly displayed a sticker stating that the vehicle ran on 100 >> percent vegetable oil. >> >> The fines are steep because of the common abuse of off road dyed >> diesel being used in trucking companies and RV's. They view this as >> the same offense. >> >> I have no quarrel with the collection of road tax but I feel the >> penalties are not related to my offense and that the continued >> collection of these fines is not in the best interest of the country >> and our move towards independence from foreign oil. Individuals who >> are trying to do the right thing environmentally cannot and should >> not continue to take this kind of financial hit. >> >> This exact situation has occurred in Illinois in January 07. The >> difference was that their Department of Revenue did not issue a >> penalty for the use of non-tax paid fuel. They simply were interested >> in the lost revenue which I should also pay and gladly will do so. >> By my generous calculations I owe the Dept. of Revenue $ 86.00. >> >> In addition the state of Illinois has recently made changes to the >> laws regarding this issue. In order to make it easier for individuals >> to comply with road tax issues, no license is required for usage of >> up to 5000 gallons per year and payments are to be made once yearly. >> >> If we really want to encourage NC residents to take the lead on >> alternative fuel use we could follow the example from Washington >> State where individuals can use up to 600 gallons of bio-fuels per >> year tax exempt. >> >> Currently NC law requires a license to be a fuel provider, a bond of >> $2000.00, and monthly payments. The bond portion is currently up for >> review, a step in the right direction. >> >> I see great inequity in the current system. Toyota Priuses and other >> hybrid vehicles do not pay road tax for any miles driven on their >> electric motors and what about vehicles that run on natural gas? I >> have written Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger wondering how he >> calculates his road usage tax on his hydrogen powered Hummer. The >> Department of Revenue is targeting vehicles that run on bio-fuels >> because it sort of fits with the existing laws. It is clear that the >> laws for this kind of activity are behind what is happening on the >> street. We need to make some changes. We need equity and clarity. I >> suggest reporting odometer readings as part of our annual tax >> obligations. >> >> Perhaps it is too late for me, since my offense falls under current >> laws, but it pains me to think that individuals will continue to be >> discouraged from using fuels from renewable sources that are better >> for the environment, I know I have been. >> >> My penalty is due by June 13th and any advice before that date would >> be greatly appreciated! >> >> Sincerely, >> >> Bob Teixeira >> >> >> >> >> >> >> On Jun 5, 2007, at 5:59 PM, Jay Weaver wrote: >> >> >>> Found this ad under FREE on charlotte craigslist- act fast!! >>> >>> http://charlotte.craigslist.org/zip/345066869.html >>> >>> I am not affiliated, dont ask me... >>> >>> >>> Jay Weaver >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list >>> Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net >>> http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group >>> >> _______________________________________________ >> Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list >> Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net >> http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group >> > _______________________________________________ > Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list > Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net > http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group > > > From biodiesel at yovo.info Wed Jun 6 15:12:26 2007 From: biodiesel at yovo.info (Jurgen Henn) Date: Wed, 06 Jun 2007 15:12:26 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Road Tax on fuel In-Reply-To: <466703C4.3060702@gmail.com> References: <7A91D644-E4B1-431D-8F69-004B297C5C92@mindspring.com> <4666E653.6080105@yovo.info> <466703C4.3060702@gmail.com> Message-ID: <4667071A.6040307@yovo.info> Correct - but that picture has changed, and the current information on this issue is that the Matt recommended to me that I post a bond and remit road taxes for my homebrew myself in order to be clearly legal. So I have stopped producing fuel until I can get all that bureaucratic stuff dealt with. Jurgen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ J?rgen Henn 2002 Jetta TDI 40/50 MPG on biodiesel http://words.yovo.info/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mark J. Ambrose wrote: > As I recall, at one point the folks at Piedmont Biofuels Coop said that > they would be willing to submit the road tax for coop members running > their cars on SVO or home brew biodiesel since they already went thru > the hassle of posting the bond with the state because they are paying > the taxes on the fuel made at the coop. I also seem to recall that > almost no members took them up on that offer. (If I am misremember > this, please correct me). > > So if you are a Coop member and aren't paying taxes on the SVO or home > brew you are using, there is a relatively easy way to comply with the > law and avoid risking the steep fines. > > -- Mark > > Jurgen Henn wrote: >> Oh yeah! And in order to be able to pay the road tax you'd have to post >> a $2000 bond with the state. If you have a bonding agency do that, they >> charge about $100 per year for that bond. So even if you go strictly by >> the book, you are penalized for doing the right thing. >> >> Jurgen >> >> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >> J?rgen Henn >> 2002 Jetta TDI >> 40/50 MPG on biodiesel >> http://words.yovo.info/ >> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >> >> Robert Teixeira wrote: >> >>> Hello to all, >>> >>> I thought that the folks on the list should be made aware of my >>> situation with the Department of Revenue and using non-road taxed fuel. >>> >>> Rather than write the story again I thought I'd send a copy of my >>> letter to Governor Easley. >>> >>> The Charlotte Observer will do a story on this issue in the next >>> several weeks and I will forward a link to the list when it comes out. >>> >>> Here's the letter, let the discussions begin, >>> >>> Bob Teixeira >>> >>> >>> Dear Mr. Easley, >>> >>> For six months I have been operating a vehicle on vegetable oil and I >>> am currently in a bit of a legal situation with the Department of >>> Revenue. >>> >>> I was stopped as I drove by an RV checkpoint for the use of dyed >>> diesel and I have been issued federal and state revenue penalties for >>> driving on fuel that did not include road tax. Total fines are >>> $1000.00 State and $1000.00 Federal. They suspected me because I >>> proudly displayed a sticker stating that the vehicle ran on 100 >>> percent vegetable oil. >>> >>> The fines are steep because of the common abuse of off road dyed >>> diesel being used in trucking companies and RV's. They view this as >>> the same offense. >>> >>> I have no quarrel with the collection of road tax but I feel the >>> penalties are not related to my offense and that the continued >>> collection of these fines is not in the best interest of the country >>> and our move towards independence from foreign oil. Individuals who >>> are trying to do the right thing environmentally cannot and should >>> not continue to take this kind of financial hit. >>> >>> This exact situation has occurred in Illinois in January 07. The >>> difference was that their Department of Revenue did not issue a >>> penalty for the use of non-tax paid fuel. They simply were interested >>> in the lost revenue which I should also pay and gladly will do so. >>> By my generous calculations I owe the Dept. of Revenue $ 86.00. >>> >>> In addition the state of Illinois has recently made changes to the >>> laws regarding this issue. In order to make it easier for individuals >>> to comply with road tax issues, no license is required for usage of >>> up to 5000 gallons per year and payments are to be made once yearly. >>> >>> If we really want to encourage NC residents to take the lead on >>> alternative fuel use we could follow the example from Washington >>> State where individuals can use up to 600 gallons of bio-fuels per >>> year tax exempt. >>> >>> Currently NC law requires a license to be a fuel provider, a bond of >>> $2000.00, and monthly payments. The bond portion is currently up for >>> review, a step in the right direction. >>> >>> I see great inequity in the current system. Toyota Priuses and other >>> hybrid vehicles do not pay road tax for any miles driven on their >>> electric motors and what about vehicles that run on natural gas? I >>> have written Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger wondering how he >>> calculates his road usage tax on his hydrogen powered Hummer. The >>> Department of Revenue is targeting vehicles that run on bio-fuels >>> because it sort of fits with the existing laws. It is clear that the >>> laws for this kind of activity are behind what is happening on the >>> street. We need to make some changes. We need equity and clarity. I >>> suggest reporting odometer readings as part of our annual tax >>> obligations. >>> >>> Perhaps it is too late for me, since my offense falls under current >>> laws, but it pains me to think that individuals will continue to be >>> discouraged from using fuels from renewable sources that are better >>> for the environment, I know I have been. >>> >>> My penalty is due by June 13th and any advice before that date would >>> be greatly appreciated! >>> >>> Sincerely, >>> >>> Bob Teixeira >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> On Jun 5, 2007, at 5:59 PM, Jay Weaver wrote: >>> >>> >>>> Found this ad under FREE on charlotte craigslist- act fast!! >>>> >>>> http://charlotte.craigslist.org/zip/345066869.html >>>> >>>> I am not affiliated, dont ask me... >>>> >>>> >>>> Jay Weaver >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list >>>> Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net >>>> http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group >>>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list >>> Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net >>> http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group >>> >> _______________________________________________ >> Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list >> Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net >> http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group >> >> >> > _______________________________________________ > Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list > Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net > http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group From mweaver at misteam.net Wed Jun 6 19:26:30 2007 From: mweaver at misteam.net (Mike Weaver) Date: Wed, 6 Jun 2007 18:26:30 -0500 (CDT) Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Road Tax on fuel (LONG) In-Reply-To: <4667071A.6040307@yovo.info> References: <7A91D644-E4B1-431D-8F69-004B297C5C92@mindspring.com> <4666E653.6080105@yovo.info> <466703C4.3060702@gmail.com> <4667071A.6040307@yovo.info> Message-ID: <17070.66.92.148.86.1181172390.squirrel@www.misteam.net> Greetings Jurgen et al: Here is a summary of how many states handle the biodiesel issue. I added Texas at the top as it was not included, and probably the most useful for making your case. I left in the link Texas has to the federal tax structure though I expect you already know about it. I wonder if anyone on this list has a copy of the state statute Jurgen is in violation of? It may be worth a close reading to see if there is enough gray area to challenge the fine. I do not know how NC operates, but in many cases here in Virginia you can request a hearing. IANAL so this should not be construed as legal advice; perhaps there is someone who might be able to weigh in. Have you tried calling the agency in charge of the fuel tax? Good luck, Jurgen, and I hope that something may be worked out on your behalf w/ NC. Best regards, Mike Weaver Texas State Incentives State Tax Exemption So that biodiesel fuel can retail for about the same as petroleum diesel, the state diesel fuel tax is not imposed on biodiesel fuel (B-100) or any volume of biodiesel that is blended with petroleum diesel fuel. See Texas Tax Code, Chapter 162 (?162.001 and ?162.204) and the biodiesel tax fact sheet published by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Texas Biofuel Incentive Program To encourage the production of biofuel in Texas, the Texas Department of Agriculture created the Texas Biofuel Incentive Program in 2006. The program encourages Texas biofuel producers to apply for grants based on the amount of biofuel produced by their facilities. Qualified producers will receive 20 cents per gallon of biodiesel or ethanol produced, limited to the first 18 million gallons produced per year for the first 10 years. At the program web site, applicants can obtain guidelines and a registration form for the program, or they may call (512) 475-1608. Federal Incentives IRS Fuel Tax Credits and Refunds Also see IRS publication # 378 on the fuel tax credits and refunds. Summary of State Incentives for Biofuels (Fall 2006) In consultation with the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL), ASERTTI has prepared a summary of State Incentives for Biofuel Production and Use. Many states have pending legislation and executive orders not included below. We greatly appreciate your comments and additions. Arkansas AR S.B. 363 - Act No. 1287 - 2003 The Biodiesel Incentive Act Created an income tax incentive for biodiesel suppliers and grants for biodiesel producers. Full text of the act is available at: http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/acts/2003/public/act1287.pdf. Hawaii HI S.B. 2221 - Act No. 289 - 2000 Provides an investment credit for investment in a qualifying ethanol production facility. HI S.B. 3207 - Act No. 140 - 2004 Changes the ethanol investment tax credit to the ethanol facility tax credit (EFTC). Bars other credits if EFTC is claimed and limits EFTC to investment amount. Allows EFTC only in years that the facility is operating at 75% of nameplate capacity or more and if production commences on or before 1/1/12. Effective 7/1/03 for tax years after 12/31/03. Full text of the act is available at: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2004/bills/sb3207_.htm. Illinois IL S.B. 2370 - Public Act No. 93-724 - 2004 Amends the Use Tax Act. Provides that "gasohol" means motor fuel that is a blend of denatured ethanol and gasoline that contains no more than 1.25% water by weight. Provides that the blend must contain 90% gasoline and 10% denatured alcohol. Allows a maximum of one percent error factor in the amount of denatured ethanol used in the blend to compensate for blending equipment variations. Provides that an violation is a business offense subject to a fine. Effective immediately. IL H.B. 931 - Public Act No. 94-62 - 2005 Amends the Alternate Fuels Act. Provides that beginning July 1, 2005, owners of vehicles using domestic renewable fuel are eligible to apply for a fuel cost differential rebate. Provides that biodiesel blended fuel facilities may be included in the Alternate Fuel Infrastructure Program administered by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Provides for three types of rebates. Full text of the act is available at: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/94/PDF/094-0062.pdf. IL H.B. 112 - Public Act No. 94-346 - 2005 Amends the Vehicle Code. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2006, all diesel powered vehicles owned or operated by the State, any county or unit of local government, any school board, state college, university or mass transit agency as well as all diesel powered Chicago Transit Authority vehicles must use a blend containing at least 2% biodiesel fuel. Provides that the requirement does not apply to vehicles designed or retrofitted to operate on ultra low sulfur fuel. Full text of the act is available at: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/94/PDF/094-0346.pdf. Indiana IN H.B. 1032 - Public Law No. 6 - 2005 Requires the use of blended biodiesel fuel in state vehicles when feasible. Full text of the act is available at: http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2005/PDF/HE/HE1032.1.pdf. Minnesota MN S.B. 1495 - Chapter No. - 2002 Providing for a biodiesel fuel mandate. Requires all diesel fuel sold in the state for use in internal combustion engines to contain at least 2% biodiesel fuel oil by volume; exempts equipment at electric generation facilities, mining equipment and railroad locomotives; provides that distributors who made expenditures necessary to adapt equipment to blend biodiesel fuel may be eligible for reimbursement. Full text of the bill is available at: http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=S1495.3&session=ls82. MN H.B. 2633 - Chapter No. 217 - 2004 Provides for exemptions from environmental review for certain ethanol plants. Full text of the act is available at: http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=H2633.1&session=ls83. MN S.B. 4 - Chapter No. 52 - 2005 Increases the minimum ethanol content required for gasoline sold or offered for sale in the state; establishes a petroleum replacement goal; requires certain studies and reports. Full text of the bill is available at: http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=S0004.3&session=ls84. Montana - Gonna be a dental floss tycoon MT H.B. 362 - Chapter No. - 2001 Exempts from taxation all manufacturing machinery, fixtures, equipment, and tools used for the production of ethanol from grain during the course of the construction of an ethanol manufacturing facility and for 10 years after completion of construction of the manufacturing facility. Full text of the bill is available at: http://data.opi.state.mt.us/bills/2001/billhtml/HB0362.htm. MT H.B. 644 - Chapter No. - 2001 Encourages economic development by creating an energy market demand for agricultural based biofuels. Taxes gasohol and biodiesel at a percentage of the rate for gasoline of special fuels. Defines gasohol and biodiesel. Provides that biofuel pumps be labeled with a statement of the tax advantage of the fuel. Expands the uses of the research and commercialization expendable trust fund to foster market demand for value added products. Full text of the bill is available at: http://data.opi.state.mt.us/bills/2001/billhtml/HB0644.htm. Maine ME H.B. 1032 - Public Law No. 474 - 1999 Establishes the Agriculturally Derived Fuel Fund to promote the production and use of methanol and ethanol from agricultural biomass. ME H.B. 1089 - Public Law No. 698 - 2003 Promotes production and use of fuels derived from agricultural and forest products. Provides that biofuels may include ethanol, methanol derived from biomass, pyrolysis oils from wood, hyrogen or methane from biomass or combinations of the above; provides a tax credit to a certificated producer. Requires a producer claiming a tax credit to provide information to the Commissioner of Environmental Protection regarding the nature and composition of the fuel. Full text of the bill is available at: http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills_121st/billdocs/LD149201.doc. ME S.B. 160 - Public Law No. 266 - 2003 Defines biodiesel fuel as renewable fuel composed of mono-alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids derived from vegetable oils or animal fats that is registered with the United States Environmental Protection Agency as a fuel and a fuel additive under the federal Clean Air Act and as otherwise specified in the American Society for Testing Materials Standard or its subsequent Standard Specification for Biodiesel Fuel Blend Stock. Full text of the bill is available at: http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills_121st/billdocs/LD044102.doc. Michigan MI H.B. 4010 - Public Act No. 5 - 2003 Provides tax abatements for plants that manufacture biodiesel fuel. Provides for the establishment of plant rehabilitation districts and industrial development districts and exemption from taxes. Full text of the bill is available at: http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2003- 2004/publicact/pdf/2003-PA-0005.pdf. Mississippi MS H.B. 928 - Chapter No. - 2003 Provides that the Commissioner of Agriculture may make cash payments to producers of ethanol, anhydrous alcohol, bio-diesel and wet alcohol that is produced in the State from non-State originated products if the State originated products are not available. Declares legislative intent that corn, biomass and resource commodities be furnished totally by State farmers insofar as the supply is available. Nebraska NE L.B. 605 - Signed by Governor - 1999 Relates to the Ethanol Development Act. Changes and eliminates ethanol production credit provisions. Changes provisions relating to the Ethanol Production Incentive Cash Fund and an excise tax on corn and grain sorghum. Eliminates provisions relating to written agreements and powers and duties of the board and department and changes the motor vehicle fuel tax. NE L.B. 479 - Signed by Governor - 2003 Amends provisions related to ethanol tax credits and funds used for such credits. NE L.B. 983 - Signed by Governor - 2004 Changes provisions relating to motor fuel taxes and motor vehicle fuel taxes. Eliminates provisions relating to tax credit gasoline and the Diesel Fuel Tax Act; amends provisions regarding the International Fuel tax Agreement Act. Provides for ethanol or biodiesel facilities, agricultural ethyl alcohol, kerosene and aircraft fuel. NE L.B. 1065 - Signed by Governor - 2004 Provides funding for ethanol production incentives. Changes tax credits, tax rates, and fee rates and distribution as prescribed; eliminates a fuel tax provision. Mends provisions regarding excise taxes on corn and grain sorghum and employment and investment incentives. North Dakota ND H.B. 1390 - Signed by Governor - 2001 Relates to the biodiesel content of diesel fuel and its integration into the agricultural economy of this state. ND S.B. 2019 - Signed by Governor - 2001 Provides an appropriation for defraying the expenses of the Department of Economic Development and Finance and to the Agricultural Products Utilization Commission for grants; provides for the transfer of funds. Relates to ethanol plant production incentives and tax refunds for fuel used for agricultural purposes. ND S.B. 2454 - Signed by Governor - 2001 Relates to a special fuels tax reduction for sales of diesel fuel blended with biodiesel fuel. ND H.B. 1309 - Filed with Secretary of State - 2003 Relates to a biodiesel fuel mandate and a corporate income tax credit for a portion of the cost of retrofitting a facility for producing or blending diesel fuel containing biodiesel fuel. Provides for a special fuels tax reduction for fuel containing biodiesel. ND S.B. 2222 - Filed with Secretary of State - 2003 Relates to ethanol production subsidies. Relates to the distribution of motor vehicle registration fees and the taxation of motor vehicle fuel for agricultural purposes. Relates to the duration and limitation of ethanol plant production incentives. New Jersey NJ S.B. 2313 - Chapter No. 56 - 2005 Appropriates Federal funds for the Garden State Ethanol Project for costs related to an ethanol plant to covert corn to ethanol, an additive that stretches gasoline supplies, and will be owned by a company established by area farmers who grow corn. Full text of the bill is available at: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2004/Bills/S2500/2313_I1.PDF. Oklahoma OK S.B. 878 - Signed by Governor - 2002 Directs the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture to conduct certain feasibility study to attract ethanol processing plant to the State. Full text of the bill is available at: http://www2.lsb.state.ok.us/2001%2D02bills/sb/sb878%5Fsflr.rtf. OK S.B. 429 - Chapter No. - 2003 Relates to revenue and taxation. Authorizes tax credits for certain ethanol facilities; defines terms; specifies amount of tax credits; provides procedures; sets certain limitations; provides for applications; specifies certain duties of Oklahoma Tax Commission; provides for codification; provides an effective date; declares an emergency. Full text of the bill is available at: http://www2.lsb.state.ok.us/2003%2D04bills/sb/sb429%5Fsflr.rtf. OK H.B. 1398 - Signed by Governor - 2005 Relates to revenue and taxation. Authorizes tax credits for certain biodiesel facilities. Provides for transferability of credit and defines terms. Authorizes amount of tax credits against income tax for biodiesel credit; provides procedures; sets certain limitations; provides for applications; specifies certain duties of the Tax Commission; relates to definition of alternative biodiesel fuels; modifies definition of fill station; adds biodiesel to list of nonregulated fuels for sale in the state. Full text of the bill is available at: http://www2.lsb.state.ok.us/2005%2D06hb/hb1398%5Fenr.rtf. OK H.B. 1556 - Signed by Governor - 2005 Relates to revenue and taxation. Relates to tax credits for ethanol facilities and allows for transfer of credit. Requires the transfer agreement to be filed with the Tax Commission. Modifies maximum gallonage eligible for credits; authorizes a credit against a motor fuel tax levy; authorizes refund claims. Full text of the bill is available at: http://www2.lsb.state.ok.us/2005%2D06hb/hb1556%5Fenr.rtf. Rhode Island RI H.B. 8085 - Public Law No. 484 - 2004 Exempts organically produced biodiesel fuel from the motor fuel tax. Full text of the bill is available at: http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText04/HouseText04/H8085.pdf. South Dakota SD H.B. 1279 - Filed with Secretary of State - 2003 Defines biodiesel blend fuels. Full text of the bill is available at: http://legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2003/bills/HB1279enr.pdf. SD S.B. 162 - Filed with Secretary of State - 2003 Revises the definition of E85 ethanol blend fuel. Full text of the bill is available at: http://legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2003/bills/HB1279enr.pdf. SD S.B. 31 - Filed with Secretary of State - 2004 Clarifies certain provisions that levy the fuel excise tax on biodiesel, biodiesel blends and ethyl alcohol. Amends provisions regarding fuel imports and exports. Full text of the bill is available at: http://legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2004/bills/SB31enr.pdf. Tennessee TN H.B. 3067 - Chapter No. 89 - 2004 Provides for a review of alternative fuels such as biodiesel and gasohol as a means to enhance consumption of agricultural products; provides for recommendations and explanation of use of such fuels on contemporary motor vehicle engines. Full text of the bill is available at: http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/info/Leg_Archives/103GA/Bills/BillText/HB3067.pdf. TN H.B. 1740 - Chapter No. 370 - 2005 Authorizes the Department of Transportation to undertake public-private partnerships with transportation fuel providers, including by not limited to farmer co-ops, to install a network of refueling facilities, including storage tanks and fuel pumps, dedicated to dispensing biofuels, including but limited to ethanol (E85) and biodiesel (B20). Provides for the establishment of a grant program to render financial assistance to help pay the costs for such at private sector fuel stations. Full text of the bill is available at: http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/bills/currentga/BILL/HB1740.pdf. Washington WA S.B. 6508 - Awaiting Governor's signature - 2005 Mandates fuel dealers to sell two percent biodiesel out of total diesel sales and two percent ethanol out of total gasoline sales. The two percent requirements for biodiesel and ethanol will act as a baseline?the law is designed to boost the use of biofuels as the state's capacity to grow and produce biofuels increases. The standards eventually increase to five percent for biodiesel and 10 percent for ethanol. In addition to establishing market access for ethanol and biodiesel in the state, the bill includes a number of incentives for in-state fuel crops and production facilities. Full text of the bill is available at: http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005- 06/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Passed%20Legislature/6508-S.PL.pdf. WA H.B. 1240 - Chapter No. 261 - 2003 Provides tax incentives for biodiesel and alcohol fuel production. Full text of the bill is available at: http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003- 04/Pdf/Bills/Session%20Law%202003/1240-S2.SL.pdf. WA H.B. 1241 - Chapter No. 63 - 2003 Provides tax incentives for the distribution and retail sale of biodiesel and alcohol fuels. Exempts certain equipment, machinery and vehicles used in the distribution of such fuels from the sales tax. Exempts the use of machinery, equipment and services related to the sale of such fuels from the use tax. Full text of the bill is available at: http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003- 04/Pdf/Bills/Session%20Law%202003/1241-S2.SL.pdf. WA H.B. 1242 - Chapter No. 17 - 2003 Establishes requirements for the use of biodiesel by state agencies. Full text of the bill is available at: http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003- 04/Pdf/Bills/Session%20Law%202003/1242-S.SL.pdf. WA H.B. 1243 - Chapter No. 64 - 2003 Establishes a biodiesel pilot project for school buses powered by ultra low sulfur diesel fuel. Provides for the selection of participating school districts. Full text of the bill is available at: http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003- 04/Pdf/Bills/Session%20Law%202003/1243-S.SL.pdf. Wisconsin WI S.B. 378 - Signed by Governor - 2000 Relates to payments to ethanol producers; grants rule-making authority; makes appropriation. WI S.B. 39 - Act No. 43 - 2005 Relates to school transportation bio-diesel fuel cost assistance; makes appropriations. Proves state aid for pupil bus transportation. Provides that for state aid payments for school districts not participating in the program shall be prorated as though the minimum amount had not been made. Full text of the bill is available at: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/acts/05Act43.pdf. WI S.B. 41 - Act No. 83 - 2005 Relates to the definition of biodiesel fuel and the labeling, advertising, and promoting of biodiesel fuel and biodiesel fuel blends for sale. Requires such biodiesel blends to be correctly identified as to name when sold at retail. Full text of the bill is available at: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/acts/05Act83.pdf. Wyoming WY H.B. 5 - Chapter No. - 2003 Removes limitations on the ethanol tax credit. Modifies the requirements necessary to qualify for Page 8 8 the tax credit. > Correct - but that picture has changed, and the current information on > this issue is that the Matt recommended to me that I post a bond and > remit road taxes for my homebrew myself in order to be clearly legal. So > I have stopped producing fuel until I can get all that bureaucratic > stuff dealt with. > > Jurgen > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > J?rgen Henn > 2002 Jetta TDI > 40/50 MPG on biodiesel > http://words.yovo.info/ > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > Mark J. Ambrose wrote: >> As I recall, at one point the folks at Piedmont Biofuels Coop said that >> they would be willing to submit the road tax for coop members running >> their cars on SVO or home brew biodiesel since they already went thru >> the hassle of posting the bond with the state because they are paying >> the taxes on the fuel made at the coop. I also seem to recall that >> almost no members took them up on that offer. (If I am misremember >> this, please correct me). >> >> So if you are a Coop member and aren't paying taxes on the SVO or home >> brew you are using, there is a relatively easy way to comply with the >> law and avoid risking the steep fines. >> >> -- Mark >> >> Jurgen Henn wrote: >>> Oh yeah! And in order to be able to pay the road tax you'd have to post >>> a $2000 bond with the state. If you have a bonding agency do that, they >>> charge about $100 per year for that bond. So even if you go strictly by >>> the book, you are penalized for doing the right thing. >>> >>> Jurgen >>> >>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >>> J?rgen Henn >>> 2002 Jetta TDI >>> 40/50 MPG on biodiesel >>> http://words.yovo.info/ >>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >>> >>> Robert Teixeira wrote: >>> >>>> Hello to all, >>>> >>>> I thought that the folks on the list should be made aware of my >>>> situation with the Department of Revenue and using non-road taxed >>>> fuel. >>>> >>>> Rather than write the story again I thought I'd send a copy of my >>>> letter to Governor Easley. >>>> >>>> The Charlotte Observer will do a story on this issue in the next >>>> several weeks and I will forward a link to the list when it comes out. >>>> >>>> Here's the letter, let the discussions begin, >>>> >>>> Bob Teixeira >>>> >>>> >>>> From mweaver at misteam.net Wed Jun 6 19:56:14 2007 From: mweaver at misteam.net (Mike Weaver) Date: Wed, 6 Jun 2007 18:56:14 -0500 (CDT) Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Free 98 jetta tdi In-Reply-To: <4666E653.6080105@yovo.info> References: <7A91D644-E4B1-431D-8F69-004B297C5C92@mindspring.com> <4666E653.6080105@yovo.info> Message-ID: <16972.66.92.148.86.1181174174.squirrel@www.misteam.net> I found the document that relates to biodiesel and when the state code was amended. Interesting note: The documents states that NC "Mirros" the federal law. See below. Department of Revenue Website - http://www.dornc.com/practitioner/Law_Changes_2002.pdf#search=%22biodiesel%22 Page 111 Page 113 notes that the changes in the law were promulgated in anticipation of "a business" refining biodiesel in NC. This is not really the case and this law is not really germane. I think you have pretty solid grounds to challenge the fine. > Oh yeah! And in order to be able to pay the road tax you'd have to post > a $2000 bond with the state. If you have a bonding agency do that, they > charge about $100 per year for that bond. So even if you go strictly by > the book, you are penalized for doing the right thing. > > Jurgen > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > J?rgen Henn > 2002 Jetta TDI > 40/50 MPG on biodiesel > http://words.yovo.info/ > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > Robert Teixeira wrote: >> Hello to all, >> >> I thought that the folks on the list should be made aware of my >> situation with the Department of Revenue and using non-road taxed fuel. >> >> Rather than write the story again I thought I'd send a copy of my >> letter to Governor Easley. >> >> The Charlotte Observer will do a story on this issue in the next >> several weeks and I will forward a link to the list when it comes out. >> >> Here's the letter, let the discussions begin, >> >> Bob Teixeira >> >> >> Dear Mr. Easley, >> >> For six months I have been operating a vehicle on vegetable oil and I >> am currently in a bit of a legal situation with the Department of >> Revenue. >> >> I was stopped as I drove by an RV checkpoint for the use of dyed >> diesel and I have been issued federal and state revenue penalties for >> driving on fuel that did not include road tax. Total fines are >> $1000.00 State and $1000.00 Federal. They suspected me because I >> proudly displayed a sticker stating that the vehicle ran on 100 >> percent vegetable oil. >> >> The fines are steep because of the common abuse of off road dyed >> diesel being used in trucking companies and RV's. They view this as >> the same offense. >> >> I have no quarrel with the collection of road tax but I feel the >> penalties are not related to my offense and that the continued >> collection of these fines is not in the best interest of the country >> and our move towards independence from foreign oil. Individuals who >> are trying to do the right thing environmentally cannot and should >> not continue to take this kind of financial hit. >> >> This exact situation has occurred in Illinois in January 07. The >> difference was that their Department of Revenue did not issue a >> penalty for the use of non-tax paid fuel. They simply were interested >> in the lost revenue which I should also pay and gladly will do so. >> By my generous calculations I owe the Dept. of Revenue $ 86.00. >> >> In addition the state of Illinois has recently made changes to the >> laws regarding this issue. In order to make it easier for individuals >> to comply with road tax issues, no license is required for usage of >> up to 5000 gallons per year and payments are to be made once yearly. >> >> If we really want to encourage NC residents to take the lead on >> alternative fuel use we could follow the example from Washington >> State where individuals can use up to 600 gallons of bio-fuels per >> year tax exempt. >> >> Currently NC law requires a license to be a fuel provider, a bond of >> $2000.00, and monthly payments. The bond portion is currently up for >> review, a step in the right direction. >> >> I see great inequity in the current system. Toyota Priuses and other >> hybrid vehicles do not pay road tax for any miles driven on their >> electric motors and what about vehicles that run on natural gas? I >> have written Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger wondering how he >> calculates his road usage tax on his hydrogen powered Hummer. The >> Department of Revenue is targeting vehicles that run on bio-fuels >> because it sort of fits with the existing laws. It is clear that the >> laws for this kind of activity are behind what is happening on the >> street. We need to make some changes. We need equity and clarity. I >> suggest reporting odometer readings as part of our annual tax >> obligations. >> >> Perhaps it is too late for me, since my offense falls under current >> laws, but it pains me to think that individuals will continue to be >> discouraged from using fuels from renewable sources that are better >> for the environment, I know I have been. >> >> My penalty is due by June 13th and any advice before that date would >> be greatly appreciated! >> >> Sincerely, >> >> Bob Teixeira >> >> >> >> >> >> >> On Jun 5, 2007, at 5:59 PM, Jay Weaver wrote: >> >>> Found this ad under FREE on charlotte craigslist- act fast!! >>> >>> http://charlotte.craigslist.org/zip/345066869.html >>> >>> I am not affiliated, dont ask me... >>> >>> >>> Jay Weaver >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list >>> Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net >>> http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list >> Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net >> http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group > _______________________________________________ > Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list > Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net > http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group > From mark at veggiediesel.org Wed Jun 6 23:18:35 2007 From: mark at veggiediesel.org (Mark Puckett) Date: Wed, 6 Jun 2007 23:18:35 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] NC State Senator drives a Veggie Fueled Car, does he pay NC road tax? Message-ID: (maybe I'll get this message right on my 3rd try) NC State Senator, Stan Bingham, a republican from Denton, NC, drives an SVO converted VW Beetle and has gotten a lot of favorable publicity from it. I read he even uses WVO fron the legislative cafeteria. He should have an interest in this! He can also sponser a bill to change the law. http://ncaltfuels.blogspot.com/2006/01/nc-senator-stan-bingham-is-driving-o n.html (My apologies for the original message's HTML format) (Here's a text version.) Legislator to drive veggie car January 2, 2006 www.newsobserver.com/102/story/384082.html His email address is stanb at ncleg.net Here is a copy of my email to him: Senator Bingham, I commend you for personally taking a stand and leading by example. Converting your diesel VW Beetle to run on vegetable oil is a fine example of what individuals can do to reduce air pollution and lessen our dependence on mideast oil. I converted my '83 Mercedes diesel to run on vegetable oil last July. It can now run on regular diesel, biodiesel, vegetable oil or any mix of the three. I particularly enjoy driving past Exxon stations running on nothing but canola oil. I don't consider pouring vegetable oil into our cars to be a criminal act, but based on current NC law, the NC Department of Revenue does. Today, I learned of an NC citizen, Bob Teixeira, who is being fined $2000 by the DOR for pouring vegetable oil into his car. NC laws must change to prevent this! This is nothing but good old fashioned ingenuity. Imagine if the Wright Brothers had been fined for taking to the air or Thomas Edison had been fined for inventing the light bulb. None of us are trying to skip our portion of road taxes. There simply is not a mechanism available to pay road taxes unless you fill up at a gas station. NC added a way for individuals to pay sales/use tax on mail order and internet purchases a few years ago when they added this to our state tax returns. Perhaps NC could add a line for citizens using alternative fuels to estimate and pay their road tax based on miles driven. And this should apply to electric cars, hydrogen powered cars, water powered cars, wind powered cars, whatever they run on. Even better, we should get a TAX CREDIT for the investments we make in converting cars to run on alternative fuels, but certainly not a fine! If this NC citizen is made to pay a fine for simply experimenting with running a car on vegetable oil, I pledge to send him a $100 to help him pay it. How about you? His letter to Governor Easley is below. Mark Puckett Cornelius, NC www.veggiediesel.org From info at theforestfoundation.org Thu Jun 7 11:28:20 2007 From: info at theforestfoundation.org (Info-TFF) Date: Thu, 07 Jun 2007 11:28:20 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] NC State Senator drives a Veggie Fueled Car, does he pay NC road tax? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <46682414.9070208@theforestfoundation.org> But is he paying his road tax? Mark Puckett wrote: > (maybe I'll get this message right on my 3rd try) > > NC State Senator, Stan Bingham, a republican from Denton, NC, drives an SVO > converted VW Beetle and has gotten a lot of favorable publicity from it. I > read he even uses WVO fron the legislative cafeteria. He should have an > interest in this! He can also sponser a bill to change the law. > > http://ncaltfuels.blogspot.com/2006/01/nc-senator-stan-bingham-is-driving-o > n.html > (My apologies for the original message's HTML format) > (Here's a text version.) > > Legislator to drive veggie car > January 2, 2006 > www.newsobserver.com/102/story/384082.html > > His email address is stanb at ncleg.net > > Here is a copy of my email to him: > > Senator Bingham, > I commend you for personally taking a stand and leading by example. > Converting your diesel VW Beetle to run on vegetable oil is a fine example > of what individuals can do to reduce air pollution and lessen our dependence > on mideast oil. I converted my '83 Mercedes diesel to run on vegetable oil > last July. It can now run on regular diesel, biodiesel, vegetable oil or any > mix of the three. I particularly enjoy driving past Exxon stations running > on nothing but canola oil. > > I don't consider pouring vegetable oil into our cars to be a criminal act, > but based on current NC law, the NC Department of Revenue does. Today, I > learned of an NC citizen, Bob Teixeira, who is being fined $2000 by the DOR > for pouring vegetable oil into his car. NC laws must change to prevent this! > This is nothing but good old fashioned ingenuity. Imagine if the Wright > Brothers had been fined for taking to the air or Thomas Edison had been > fined for inventing the light bulb. > > None of us are trying to skip our portion of road taxes. There simply is not > a mechanism available to pay road taxes unless you fill up at a gas station. > NC added a way for individuals to pay sales/use tax on mail order and > internet purchases a few years ago when they added this to our state tax > returns. Perhaps NC could add a line for citizens using alternative fuels to > estimate and pay their road tax based on miles driven. And this should apply > to electric cars, hydrogen powered cars, water powered cars, wind powered > cars, whatever they run on. Even better, we should get a TAX CREDIT for the > investments we make in converting cars to run on alternative fuels, but > certainly not a fine! > > If this NC citizen is made to pay a fine for simply experimenting with > running a car on vegetable oil, I pledge to send him a $100 to help him pay > it. How about you? His letter to Governor Easley is below. > > Mark Puckett > Cornelius, NC > www.veggiediesel.org > > _______________________________________________ > Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list > Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net > http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group > > > From info at theforestfoundation.org Thu Jun 7 11:44:21 2007 From: info at theforestfoundation.org (Info-TFF) Date: Thu, 07 Jun 2007 11:44:21 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Microwave Biodiesel Reactor experiments Message-ID: <466827D5.60202@theforestfoundation.org> Hey All, Carolina Biodiesel, Bull City Biodiesel Coop and The Forest Foundation will be running experiments on one of the first, commercial microwave biodiesel reactors in the country each Sat. morning this month. Anyone interested in participating, please feel free to come by our new digs at 1404 Angier Ave., Durham, NC 27701 Starts at 9:00 AM and lead researchers are Bob Clemen from Duke and Keith Esch from RTI. Phone is 919.957.1505. The unit is on loan to us for determination of viability and purchase. The unit has been lab tested and has published results tauting it's efficiencies: 99.9% reaction rate with virgin oil, (we need to test with higher FFA's) 1/5 the energy of batch reactors, 20% less catalyst and reactants. This is a continuous flow reactor and has the capacity of 8 L per minute and 500K production annually running full out (not your parents' Appleseed)! So those interested in "cutting the edge," "pushing the envelop" or otherwise, come on over. Yet another variable in the moving target of biodiesel technology. Peace, Marc Dreyfors From wrenchwench at blast.com Fri Jun 8 16:05:40 2007 From: wrenchwench at blast.com (Rachel Burton) Date: Fri, 8 Jun 2007 16:05:40 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Fwd: Job Opening References: <9cb8afee26a22d084c6b5dd7c2b7a8a5@www.blueridgebiofuels.com> Message-ID: Begin forwarded message: > From: Brian > Date: June 8, 2007 2:26:03 PM EDT > To: wrenchwench at blast.com > Subject: Job Opening > Reply-To: Brian > > > Feedstock Coordinator > > Blue Ridge Biofuels is seeking an individual with strong > organizational and communication skills to help coordinate a steady > supply of feedstock for making biodiesel. Currently, BRB collects > waste vegetable oil from over 100 restaurants and plans to reach > out to local farmers for feedstock in the coming years. We need > someone to continue to vigorously grow this side of the business. > This is an excellent opportunity for the right individual who wants > to utilize their talents and feel good about what they are doing. > > > Tasks for Feedstock Procurement: > > sales/outreach to food establishments > precise record keeping of correspondence > record keeping to track clients and their specific needs > analyze data to update routes and scheduling > research other appropriate feedstocks in WNC > stay informed of issues involving competitors and new restaurants > design marketing materials > > Miscellaneous tasks: > > answer phones > design brochures and advertisements > create press releases > public outreach/education- table events > take home heating oil orders in the winter > > Skills/Attributes: > > > Organizational: Ability to create appropriate databases for keeping > detailed records of correspondence and tracking oil collection. > Attention to details and ability to create effective organizational > methods for business management. > > > Written and Verbal Communication: Communicate effectively with BRB > staff to be aware of needs and what is happening in the field. > Communicate effectively with customers and the general public about > the benefits of biodiesel and the mission of BRB. > > > Sales/Marketing: Recruit restaurants to our Waste-Oil-to-Biodiesel- > Program through outreach and education. Create effective marketing > strategies and materials. > > > Computer skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel required. > Database experience preferred. Knowledge of layout and design > programs and ability to work with digital photos preferred. > > > Please send resume, salary requirements, and availability as soon > as possible to office at blueridgebiofuels.com > > > > > > > > Your Subscription: > > > Change your subscription > Unsubscribe > > > Powered by TopFloorStudio > From mark at veggiediesel.org Fri Jun 8 16:31:01 2007 From: mark at veggiediesel.org (Mark Puckett) Date: Fri, 8 Jun 2007 16:31:01 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] NC State Senator drives a Veggie Fueled Car, does he pay NC road tax? In-Reply-To: <46682414.9070208@theforestfoundation.org> Message-ID: >"But is he paying his road tax?" I think not since no mechanism exists for him to do it. That's why he should have an interest in fixing this problem. Individuals who make biodiesel or use straight vegetable oil (or who come up with other ways to power a car) should be exempted from this untaxed fuel statute. If the state insists on getting money from veggie car drivers, how about paying a yearly fee to get a permit/sticker that shows you paid an alternate road tax and can run your car on anything you choose? Mark From englander at hotmail.com Sat Jun 9 07:53:27 2007 From: englander at hotmail.com (Mark Englander) Date: Sat, 09 Jun 2007 11:53:27 +0000 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Biofuels_Interest_Group Digest, Vol 23, Issue 4 In-Reply-To: Message-ID: Today is the day Bobs story came out on the front Page of the Charlotte Observer. This link doesn't include the two Photos they used of Bob above the fold. http://www.charlotte.com/171/story/153260.html Mark Englander Charlotte Energy Solutions 337 Baldwin Ave. Charlotte, NC 28204 www.charlotteenergysolutions.com >From: biofuels_interest_group-request at lists.emji.net >Reply-To: biofuels_interest_group at lists.emji.net >To: biofuels_interest_group at lists.emji.net >Subject: Biofuels_Interest_Group Digest, Vol 23, Issue 4 >Date: Wed, 06 Jun 2007 19:45:50 -0400 > >Send Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list submissions to > biofuels_interest_group at lists.emji.net > >To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group >or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > biofuels_interest_group-request at lists.emji.net > >You can reach the person managing the list at > biofuels_interest_group-owner at lists.emji.net > >When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific >than "Re: Contents of Biofuels_Interest_Group digest..." > > >Today's Topics: > > 1. Re: Road Tax on fuel (LONG) (Mike Weaver) > 2. Re: Free 98 jetta tdi (Mike Weaver) > > >---------------------------------------------------------------------- > >Message: 1 >Date: Wed, 6 Jun 2007 18:26:30 -0500 (CDT) >From: "Mike Weaver" >Subject: Re: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Road Tax on fuel (LONG) >To: "Jurgen Henn" >Cc: "Mark J. Ambrose" , > biofuels_interest_group at lists.emji.net >Message-ID: <17070.66.92.148.86.1181172390.squirrel at www.misteam.net> >Content-Type: text/plain;charset=iso-8859-1 > >Greetings Jurgen et al: > >Here is a summary of how many states handle the biodiesel issue. I added >Texas at the top as it was not included, and probably the most useful for >making your case. I left in the link Texas has to the federal tax >structure though I expect you already know about it. I wonder if anyone >on this list has a copy of the state statute Jurgen is in violation of? >It may be worth a close reading to see if there is enough gray area to >challenge the fine. I do not know how NC operates, but in many cases >here in Virginia you can request a hearing. IANAL so this should not be >construed as legal advice; perhaps there is someone who might be able to >weigh in. Have you tried calling the agency in charge of the fuel tax? > >Good luck, Jurgen, and I hope that something may be worked out on your >behalf w/ NC. > >Best regards, > >Mike Weaver > >Texas State Incentives > >State Tax Exemption >So that biodiesel fuel can retail for about the same as petroleum diesel, >the state diesel fuel tax is not imposed on biodiesel fuel (B-100) or any >volume of biodiesel that is blended with petroleum diesel fuel. See Texas >Tax Code, Chapter 162 (?162.001 and ?162.204) and the biodiesel tax fact >sheet published by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. > >Texas Biofuel Incentive Program >To encourage the production of biofuel in Texas, the Texas Department of >Agriculture created the Texas Biofuel Incentive Program in 2006. The >program encourages Texas biofuel producers to apply for grants based on >the amount of biofuel produced by their facilities. Qualified producers >will receive 20 cents per gallon of biodiesel or ethanol produced, limited >to the first 18 million gallons produced per year for the first 10 years. >At the program web site, applicants can obtain guidelines and a >registration form for the program, or they may call (512) 475-1608. > >Federal Incentives > >IRS Fuel Tax Credits and Refunds >Also see IRS publication # 378 on the fuel tax credits and refunds. > > >Summary of State Incentives for Biofuels (Fall 2006) >In consultation with the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL), >ASERTTI has prepared a >summary of State Incentives for Biofuel Production and Use. Many states >have pending legislation >and executive orders not included below. We greatly appreciate your >comments and additions. > >Arkansas >AR S.B. 363 - Act No. 1287 - 2003 >The Biodiesel Incentive Act >Created an income tax incentive for biodiesel suppliers and grants for >biodiesel producers. >Full text of the act is available at: >http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/acts/2003/public/act1287.pdf. >Hawaii > >HI S.B. 2221 - Act No. 289 - 2000 >Provides an investment credit for investment in a qualifying ethanol >production facility. >HI S.B. 3207 - Act No. 140 - 2004 >Changes the ethanol investment tax credit to the ethanol facility tax >credit (EFTC). Bars other >credits if EFTC is claimed and limits EFTC to investment amount. Allows >EFTC only in years that >the facility is operating at 75% of nameplate capacity or more and if >production commences on or >before 1/1/12. Effective 7/1/03 for tax years after 12/31/03. >Full text of the act is available at: >http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2004/bills/sb3207_.htm. > >Illinois >IL S.B. 2370 - Public Act No. 93-724 - 2004 >Amends the Use Tax Act. Provides that "gasohol" means motor fuel that is a >blend of denatured >ethanol and gasoline that contains no more than 1.25% water by weight. >Provides that the blend >must contain 90% gasoline and 10% denatured alcohol. Allows a maximum of >one percent error >factor in the amount of denatured ethanol used in the blend to compensate >for blending equipment >variations. Provides that an violation is a business offense subject to a >fine. Effective immediately. >IL H.B. 931 - Public Act No. 94-62 - 2005 >Amends the Alternate Fuels Act. Provides that beginning July 1, 2005, >owners of vehicles using >domestic renewable fuel are eligible to apply for a fuel cost differential >rebate. Provides that >biodiesel blended fuel facilities may be included in the Alternate Fuel >Infrastructure Program >administered by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. >Provides for three types >of rebates. >Full text of the act is available at: >http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/94/PDF/094-0062.pdf. >IL H.B. 112 - Public Act No. 94-346 - 2005 >Amends the Vehicle Code. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2006, all diesel >powered vehicles owned >or operated by the State, any county or unit of local government, any >school board, state college, >university or mass transit agency as well as all diesel powered Chicago >Transit Authority vehicles >must use a blend containing at least 2% biodiesel fuel. Provides that the >requirement does not apply >to vehicles designed or retrofitted to operate on ultra low sulfur fuel. >Full text of the act is available at: >http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/94/PDF/094-0346.pdf. > >Indiana >IN H.B. 1032 - Public Law No. 6 - 2005 >Requires the use of blended biodiesel fuel in state vehicles when feasible. >Full text of the act is available at: >http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2005/PDF/HE/HE1032.1.pdf. > >Minnesota >MN S.B. 1495 - Chapter No. - 2002 >Providing for a biodiesel fuel mandate. Requires all diesel fuel sold in >the state for use in internal >combustion engines to contain at least 2% biodiesel fuel oil by volume; >exempts equipment at >electric generation facilities, mining equipment and railroad locomotives; >provides that distributors >who made expenditures necessary to adapt equipment to blend biodiesel fuel >may be eligible for >reimbursement. >Full text of the bill is available at: >http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=S1495.3&session=ls82. >MN H.B. 2633 - Chapter No. 217 - 2004 >Provides for exemptions from environmental review for certain ethanol >plants. >Full text of the act is available at: >http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=H2633.1&session=ls83. >MN S.B. 4 - Chapter No. 52 - 2005 >Increases the minimum ethanol content required for gasoline sold or >offered for sale in the state; >establishes a petroleum replacement goal; requires certain studies and >reports. >Full text of the bill is available at: >http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=S0004.3&session=ls84. > >Montana - Gonna be a dental floss tycoon >MT H.B. 362 - Chapter No. - 2001 >Exempts from taxation all manufacturing machinery, fixtures, equipment, >and tools used for the >production of ethanol from grain during the course of the construction of >an ethanol manufacturing >facility and for 10 years after completion of construction of the >manufacturing facility. >Full text of the bill is available at: >http://data.opi.state.mt.us/bills/2001/billhtml/HB0362.htm. >MT H.B. 644 - Chapter No. - 2001 >Encourages economic development by creating an energy market demand for >agricultural based >biofuels. Taxes gasohol and biodiesel at a percentage of the rate for >gasoline of special fuels. Defines >gasohol and biodiesel. Provides that biofuel pumps be labeled with a >statement of the tax advantage >of the fuel. Expands the uses of the research and commercialization >expendable trust fund to foster >market demand for value added products. > >Full text of the bill is available at: >http://data.opi.state.mt.us/bills/2001/billhtml/HB0644.htm. > >Maine >ME H.B. 1032 - Public Law No. 474 - 1999 >Establishes the Agriculturally Derived Fuel Fund to promote the production >and use of methanol >and ethanol from agricultural biomass. >ME H.B. 1089 - Public Law No. 698 - 2003 >Promotes production and use of fuels derived from agricultural and forest >products. Provides that >biofuels may include ethanol, methanol derived from biomass, pyrolysis >oils from wood, hyrogen or >methane from biomass or combinations of the above; provides a tax credit >to a certificated producer. >Requires a producer claiming a tax credit to provide information to the >Commissioner of >Environmental Protection regarding the nature and composition of the fuel. >Full text of the bill is available at: >http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills_121st/billdocs/LD149201.doc. >ME S.B. 160 - Public Law No. 266 - 2003 >Defines biodiesel fuel as renewable fuel composed of mono-alkyl esters of >long chain fatty acids >derived from vegetable oils or animal fats that is registered with the >United States Environmental >Protection Agency as a fuel and a fuel additive under the federal Clean >Air Act and as otherwise >specified in the American Society for Testing Materials Standard or its >subsequent Standard >Specification for Biodiesel Fuel Blend Stock. >Full text of the bill is available at: >http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills_121st/billdocs/LD044102.doc. > >Michigan >MI H.B. 4010 - Public Act No. 5 - 2003 >Provides tax abatements for plants that manufacture biodiesel fuel. >Provides for the establishment of >plant rehabilitation districts and industrial development districts and >exemption from taxes. >Full text of the bill is available at: >http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2003- >2004/publicact/pdf/2003-PA-0005.pdf. > >Mississippi >MS H.B. 928 - Chapter No. - 2003 >Provides that the Commissioner of Agriculture may make cash payments to >producers of ethanol, >anhydrous alcohol, bio-diesel and wet alcohol that is produced in the >State from non-State originated >products if the State originated products are not available. Declares >legislative intent that corn, >biomass and resource commodities be furnished totally by State farmers >insofar as the supply is >available. >Nebraska >NE L.B. 605 - Signed by Governor - 1999 > >Relates to the Ethanol Development Act. Changes and eliminates ethanol >production credit >provisions. Changes provisions relating to the Ethanol Production >Incentive Cash Fund and an >excise tax on corn and grain sorghum. Eliminates provisions relating to >written agreements and >powers and duties of the board and department and changes the motor >vehicle fuel tax. >NE L.B. 479 - Signed by Governor - 2003 >Amends provisions related to ethanol tax credits and funds used for such >credits. >NE L.B. 983 - Signed by Governor - 2004 >Changes provisions relating to motor fuel taxes and motor vehicle fuel >taxes. Eliminates provisions >relating to tax credit gasoline and the Diesel Fuel Tax Act; amends >provisions regarding the >International Fuel tax Agreement Act. Provides for ethanol or biodiesel >facilities, agricultural ethyl >alcohol, kerosene and aircraft fuel. >NE L.B. 1065 - Signed by Governor - 2004 >Provides funding for ethanol production incentives. Changes tax credits, >tax rates, and fee rates and >distribution as prescribed; eliminates a fuel tax provision. Mends >provisions regarding excise taxes >on corn and grain sorghum and employment and investment incentives. > >North Dakota >ND H.B. 1390 - Signed by Governor - 2001 >Relates to the biodiesel content of diesel fuel and its integration into >the agricultural economy of this >state. >ND S.B. 2019 - Signed by Governor - 2001 >Provides an appropriation for defraying the expenses of the Department of >Economic Development >and Finance and to the Agricultural Products Utilization Commission for >grants; provides for the >transfer of funds. Relates to ethanol plant production incentives and tax >refunds for fuel used for >agricultural purposes. >ND S.B. 2454 - Signed by Governor - 2001 >Relates to a special fuels tax reduction for sales of diesel fuel blended >with biodiesel fuel. >ND H.B. 1309 - Filed with Secretary of State - 2003 >Relates to a biodiesel fuel mandate and a corporate income tax credit for >a portion of the cost of >retrofitting a facility for producing or blending diesel fuel containing >biodiesel fuel. Provides for a >special fuels tax reduction for fuel containing biodiesel. >ND S.B. 2222 - Filed with Secretary of State - 2003 >Relates to ethanol production subsidies. Relates to the distribution of >motor vehicle registration fees >and the taxation of motor vehicle fuel for agricultural purposes. Relates >to the duration and >limitation of ethanol plant production incentives. > >New Jersey >NJ S.B. 2313 - Chapter No. 56 - 2005 >Appropriates Federal funds for the Garden State Ethanol Project for costs >related to an ethanol >plant to covert corn to ethanol, an additive that stretches gasoline >supplies, and will be owned by a >company established by area farmers who grow corn. >Full text of the bill is available at: >http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2004/Bills/S2500/2313_I1.PDF. > >Oklahoma >OK S.B. 878 - Signed by Governor - 2002 >Directs the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture to conduct certain >feasibility study to attract >ethanol processing plant to the State. >Full text of the bill is available at: >http://www2.lsb.state.ok.us/2001%2D02bills/sb/sb878%5Fsflr.rtf. >OK S.B. 429 - Chapter No. - 2003 >Relates to revenue and taxation. Authorizes tax credits for certain >ethanol facilities; defines terms; >specifies amount of tax credits; provides procedures; sets certain >limitations; provides for >applications; specifies certain duties of Oklahoma Tax Commission; >provides for codification; >provides an effective date; declares an emergency. >Full text of the bill is available at: >http://www2.lsb.state.ok.us/2003%2D04bills/sb/sb429%5Fsflr.rtf. >OK H.B. 1398 - Signed by Governor - 2005 >Relates to revenue and taxation. Authorizes tax credits for certain >biodiesel facilities. Provides for >transferability of credit and defines terms. Authorizes amount of tax >credits against income tax for >biodiesel credit; provides procedures; sets certain limitations; provides >for applications; specifies >certain duties of the Tax Commission; relates to definition of alternative >biodiesel fuels; modifies >definition of fill station; adds biodiesel to list of nonregulated fuels >for sale in the state. >Full text of the bill is available at: >http://www2.lsb.state.ok.us/2005%2D06hb/hb1398%5Fenr.rtf. >OK H.B. 1556 - Signed by Governor - 2005 >Relates to revenue and taxation. Relates to tax credits for ethanol >facilities and allows for transfer of >credit. Requires the transfer agreement to be filed with the Tax >Commission. Modifies maximum >gallonage eligible for credits; authorizes a credit against a motor fuel >tax levy; authorizes refund >claims. >Full text of the bill is available at: >http://www2.lsb.state.ok.us/2005%2D06hb/hb1556%5Fenr.rtf. > >Rhode Island >RI H.B. 8085 - Public Law No. 484 - 2004 >Exempts organically produced biodiesel fuel from the motor fuel tax. >Full text of the bill is available at: >http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText04/HouseText04/H8085.pdf. > >South Dakota >SD H.B. 1279 - Filed with Secretary of State - 2003 >Defines biodiesel blend fuels. >Full text of the bill is available at: >http://legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2003/bills/HB1279enr.pdf. >SD S.B. 162 - Filed with Secretary of State - 2003 >Revises the definition of E85 ethanol blend fuel. >Full text of the bill is available at: >http://legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2003/bills/HB1279enr.pdf. >SD S.B. 31 - Filed with Secretary of State - 2004 >Clarifies certain provisions that levy the fuel excise tax on biodiesel, >biodiesel blends and ethyl >alcohol. Amends provisions regarding fuel imports and exports. >Full text of the bill is available at: >http://legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2004/bills/SB31enr.pdf. > >Tennessee >TN H.B. 3067 - Chapter No. 89 - 2004 >Provides for a review of alternative fuels such as biodiesel and gasohol >as a means to enhance >consumption of agricultural products; provides for recommendations and >explanation of use of such >fuels on contemporary motor vehicle engines. >Full text of the bill is available at: >http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/info/Leg_Archives/103GA/Bills/BillText/HB3067.pdf. >TN H.B. 1740 - Chapter No. 370 - 2005 >Authorizes the Department of Transportation to undertake public-private >partnerships with >transportation fuel providers, including by not limited to farmer co-ops, >to install a network of >refueling facilities, including storage tanks and fuel pumps, dedicated to >dispensing biofuels, >including but limited to ethanol (E85) and biodiesel (B20). Provides for >the establishment of a grant >program to render financial assistance to help pay the costs for such at >private sector fuel stations. >Full text of the bill is available at: >http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/bills/currentga/BILL/HB1740.pdf. > >Washington >WA S.B. 6508 - Awaiting Governor's signature - 2005 >Mandates fuel dealers to sell two percent biodiesel out of total diesel >sales and two percent ethanol >out of total gasoline sales. The two percent requirements for biodiesel >and ethanol will act as a >baseline?the law is designed to boost the use of biofuels as the state's >capacity to grow and >produce biofuels increases. The standards eventually increase to five >percent for biodiesel and 10 >percent for ethanol. >In addition to establishing market access for ethanol and biodiesel in the >state, the bill includes a >number of incentives for in-state fuel crops and production facilities. >Full text of the bill is available at: >http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005- >06/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Passed%20Legislature/6508-S.PL.pdf. >WA H.B. 1240 - Chapter No. 261 - 2003 >Provides tax incentives for biodiesel and alcohol fuel production. >Full text of the bill is available at: >http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003- >04/Pdf/Bills/Session%20Law%202003/1240-S2.SL.pdf. >WA H.B. 1241 - Chapter No. 63 - 2003 >Provides tax incentives for the distribution and retail sale of biodiesel >and alcohol fuels. Exempts >certain equipment, machinery and vehicles used in the distribution of such >fuels from the sales tax. >Exempts the use of machinery, equipment and services related to the sale >of such fuels from the use >tax. >Full text of the bill is available at: >http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003- >04/Pdf/Bills/Session%20Law%202003/1241-S2.SL.pdf. >WA H.B. 1242 - Chapter No. 17 - 2003 >Establishes requirements for the use of biodiesel by state agencies. >Full text of the bill is available at: >http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003- >04/Pdf/Bills/Session%20Law%202003/1242-S.SL.pdf. >WA H.B. 1243 - Chapter No. 64 - 2003 >Establishes a biodiesel pilot project for school buses powered by ultra >low sulfur diesel fuel. >Provides for the selection of participating school districts. >Full text of the bill is available at: >http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003- >04/Pdf/Bills/Session%20Law%202003/1243-S.SL.pdf. > >Wisconsin >WI S.B. 378 - Signed by Governor - 2000 >Relates to payments to ethanol producers; grants rule-making authority; >makes appropriation. >WI S.B. 39 - Act No. 43 - 2005 >Relates to school transportation bio-diesel fuel cost assistance; makes >appropriations. Proves state >aid for pupil bus transportation. Provides that for state aid payments for >school districts not >participating in the program shall be prorated as though the minimum >amount had not been made. >Full text of the bill is available at: >http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/acts/05Act43.pdf. >WI S.B. 41 - Act No. 83 - 2005 >Relates to the definition of biodiesel fuel and the labeling, advertising, >and promoting of biodiesel >fuel and biodiesel fuel blends for sale. Requires such biodiesel blends to >be correctly identified as to >name when sold at retail. >Full text of the bill is available at: >http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/acts/05Act83.pdf. > >Wyoming >WY H.B. 5 - Chapter No. - 2003 >Removes limitations on the ethanol tax credit. Modifies the requirements >necessary to qualify for >Page 8 >8 >the tax credit. > > > > > > Correct - but that picture has changed, and the current information on > > this issue is that the Matt recommended to me that I post a bond and > > remit road taxes for my homebrew myself in order to be clearly legal. So > > I have stopped producing fuel until I can get all that bureaucratic > > stuff dealt with. > > > > Jurgen > > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > J?rgen Henn > > 2002 Jetta TDI > > 40/50 MPG on biodiesel > > http://words.yovo.info/ > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > > > Mark J. Ambrose wrote: > >> As I recall, at one point the folks at Piedmont Biofuels Coop said that > >> they would be willing to submit the road tax for coop members running > >> their cars on SVO or home brew biodiesel since they already went thru > >> the hassle of posting the bond with the state because they are paying > >> the taxes on the fuel made at the coop. I also seem to recall that > >> almost no members took them up on that offer. (If I am misremember > >> this, please correct me). > >> > >> So if you are a Coop member and aren't paying taxes on the SVO or home > >> brew you are using, there is a relatively easy way to comply with the > >> law and avoid risking the steep fines. > >> > >> -- Mark > >> > >> Jurgen Henn wrote: > >>> Oh yeah! And in order to be able to pay the road tax you'd have to >post > >>> a $2000 bond with the state. If you have a bonding agency do that, >they > >>> charge about $100 per year for that bond. So even if you go strictly >by > >>> the book, you are penalized for doing the right thing. > >>> > >>> Jurgen > >>> > >>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > >>> J?rgen Henn > >>> 2002 Jetta TDI > >>> 40/50 MPG on biodiesel > >>> http://words.yovo.info/ > >>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > >>> > >>> Robert Teixeira wrote: > >>> > >>>> Hello to all, > >>>> > >>>> I thought that the folks on the list should be made aware of my > >>>> situation with the Department of Revenue and using non-road taxed > >>>> fuel. > >>>> > >>>> Rather than write the story again I thought I'd send a copy of my > >>>> letter to Governor Easley. > >>>> > >>>> The Charlotte Observer will do a story on this issue in the next > >>>> several weeks and I will forward a link to the list when it comes >out. > >>>> > >>>> Here's the letter, let the discussions begin, > >>>> > >>>> Bob Teixeira > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > > >------------------------------ > >Message: 2 >Date: Wed, 6 Jun 2007 18:56:14 -0500 (CDT) >From: "Mike Weaver" >Subject: Re: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Free 98 jetta tdi >To: "Jurgen Henn" >Cc: Robert Teixeira , > biofuels_interest_group at lists.emji.net, Jay Weaver > >Message-ID: <16972.66.92.148.86.1181174174.squirrel at www.misteam.net> >Content-Type: text/plain;charset=iso-8859-1 > >I found the document that relates to biodiesel and when the state code was >amended. Interesting note: The documents states that NC "Mirros" the >federal law. See below. >Department of Revenue Website - >http://www.dornc.com/practitioner/Law_Changes_2002.pdf#search=%22biodiesel%22 >Page 111 > >Page 113 notes that the changes in the law were promulgated in >anticipation of "a business" refining biodiesel in NC. This is not really >the case and this law is not really germane. > >I think you have pretty solid grounds to challenge the fine. > > > > Oh yeah! And in order to be able to pay the road tax you'd have to post > > a $2000 bond with the state. If you have a bonding agency do that, they > > charge about $100 per year for that bond. So even if you go strictly by > > the book, you are penalized for doing the right thing. > > > > Jurgen > > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > J?rgen Henn > > 2002 Jetta TDI > > 40/50 MPG on biodiesel > > http://words.yovo.info/ > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > > > Robert Teixeira wrote: > >> Hello to all, > >> > >> I thought that the folks on the list should be made aware of my > >> situation with the Department of Revenue and using non-road taxed fuel. > >> > >> Rather than write the story again I thought I'd send a copy of my > >> letter to Governor Easley. > >> > >> The Charlotte Observer will do a story on this issue in the next > >> several weeks and I will forward a link to the list when it comes out. > >> > >> Here's the letter, let the discussions begin, > >> > >> Bob Teixeira > >> > >> > >> Dear Mr. Easley, > >> > >> For six months I have been operating a vehicle on vegetable oil and I > >> am currently in a bit of a legal situation with the Department of > >> Revenue. > >> > >> I was stopped as I drove by an RV checkpoint for the use of dyed > >> diesel and I have been issued federal and state revenue penalties for > >> driving on fuel that did not include road tax. Total fines are > >> $1000.00 State and $1000.00 Federal. They suspected me because I > >> proudly displayed a sticker stating that the vehicle ran on 100 > >> percent vegetable oil. > >> > >> The fines are steep because of the common abuse of off road dyed > >> diesel being used in trucking companies and RV's. They view this as > >> the same offense. > >> > >> I have no quarrel with the collection of road tax but I feel the > >> penalties are not related to my offense and that the continued > >> collection of these fines is not in the best interest of the country > >> and our move towards independence from foreign oil. Individuals who > >> are trying to do the right thing environmentally cannot and should > >> not continue to take this kind of financial hit. > >> > >> This exact situation has occurred in Illinois in January 07. The > >> difference was that their Department of Revenue did not issue a > >> penalty for the use of non-tax paid fuel. They simply were interested > >> in the lost revenue which I should also pay and gladly will do so. > >> By my generous calculations I owe the Dept. of Revenue $ 86.00. > >> > >> In addition the state of Illinois has recently made changes to the > >> laws regarding this issue. In order to make it easier for individuals > >> to comply with road tax issues, no license is required for usage of > >> up to 5000 gallons per year and payments are to be made once yearly. > >> > >> If we really want to encourage NC residents to take the lead on > >> alternative fuel use we could follow the example from Washington > >> State where individuals can use up to 600 gallons of bio-fuels per > >> year tax exempt. > >> > >> Currently NC law requires a license to be a fuel provider, a bond of > >> $2000.00, and monthly payments. The bond portion is currently up for > >> review, a step in the right direction. > >> > >> I see great inequity in the current system. Toyota Priuses and other > >> hybrid vehicles do not pay road tax for any miles driven on their > >> electric motors and what about vehicles that run on natural gas? I > >> have written Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger wondering how he > >> calculates his road usage tax on his hydrogen powered Hummer. The > >> Department of Revenue is targeting vehicles that run on bio-fuels > >> because it sort of fits with the existing laws. It is clear that the > >> laws for this kind of activity are behind what is happening on the > >> street. We need to make some changes. We need equity and clarity. I > >> suggest reporting odometer readings as part of our annual tax > >> obligations. > >> > >> Perhaps it is too late for me, since my offense falls under current > >> laws, but it pains me to think that individuals will continue to be > >> discouraged from using fuels from renewable sources that are better > >> for the environment, I know I have been. > >> > >> My penalty is due by June 13th and any advice before that date would > >> be greatly appreciated! > >> > >> Sincerely, > >> > >> Bob Teixeira > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> On Jun 5, 2007, at 5:59 PM, Jay Weaver wrote: > >> > >>> Found this ad under FREE on charlotte craigslist- act fast!! > >>> > >>> http://charlotte.craigslist.org/zip/345066869.html > >>> > >>> I am not affiliated, dont ask me... > >>> > >>> > >>> Jay Weaver > >>> > >>> > >>> _______________________________________________ > >>> Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list > >>> Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net > >>> http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list > >> Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net > >> http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group > > _______________________________________________ > > Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list > > Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net > > http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group > > > > > >------------------------------ > >_______________________________________________ >Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list >Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net >http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group > >End of Biofuels_Interest_Group Digest, Vol 23, Issue 4 >****************************************************** _________________________________________________________________ Don?t miss your chance to WIN $10,000 and other great prizes from Microsoft Office Live http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/aub0540003042mrt/direct/01/ From efcox at charter.net Sun Jun 10 17:11:41 2007 From: efcox at charter.net (Everett Cox) Date: Sun, 10 Jun 2007 16:11:41 -0500 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Bob's story is in the Sanford Herald also Message-ID: <000001c7aba3$f4022a30$66b47744@CoxNC3809976> Go Bob! From panthercat at gmail.com Sun Jun 10 17:20:17 2007 From: panthercat at gmail.com (panthercat at gmail.com) Date: Sun, 10 Jun 2007 17:20:17 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Great blog about diesels in the U.S. In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <4b6e46c90706101420j3bb2ccf4oc482a153f9355d18@mail.gmail.com> http://mydrive.roadfly.com/blog/ExJxZ3/ -Carlos From rickyb at rickyb.net Mon Jun 11 04:58:35 2007 From: rickyb at rickyb.net (Rick Blevins) Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2007 04:58:35 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Bob's story is in the Sanford Herald also In-Reply-To: <000001c7aba3$f4022a30$66b47744@CoxNC3809976> References: <000001c7aba3$f4022a30$66b47744@CoxNC3809976> Message-ID: <466D0EBB.9070006@rickyb.net> and the winston salem journal Everett Cox wrote: > Go Bob! > > > _______________________________________________ > Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list > Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net > http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group > > From wrenchwench at blast.com Mon Jun 11 08:16:30 2007 From: wrenchwench at blast.com (Rachel Burton) Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2007 08:16:30 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Local gas station selling bio-diesel Message-ID: Submitted by WWAY on 7 June 2007 - 9:31pm. READ MORE: News | New Hanover County | Energy | Environment | Transportatio WILMINGTON -- The wait will soon be over for those looking for a more environmentally friendly fuel. By noon Friday bio-diesel will be available in our area. It's an eco-friendly fuel for eco-minded drivers. It's called B20, a special blend of 20 percent bio-diesel and 80 percent petroleum diesel. Cape Fear Biofuel has partnered with a local Exxon station. Together they're bringing Wilmington its first bio-diesel pump. Cape Fear Biofuels Vice President Brent Manning said, "It offers emission benefits, it offers ten percent reductions in particulate matter discharge and a 20 percent reduction in carbon based emissions and a reduction in aromatic elector carbon as well." Ashley Futral uses bio-diesel. She said, "By using bio-diesel I'm cutting out the emissions from my car that other people are putting out into the atmosphere..." Another benefit is that bio-diesel is a renewable fuel made from feedstocks, materials like virgin vegetable oil or old fryer grease. In addition to cleaner emissions and renewable sources, Manning says bio-diesel has the potential to boost the local economy. "This is coming from a triangle-based company, it employs local citizens and has an agreement with several manufactures that provide them with the oil that comes from other North Carolina businesses," Manning said. The price has not been determined yet but manning says it should hit just under three dollars per gallon. By noon Friday anyone with a diesel engine can fill up at the Exxon on the corner of College and Wrightsville Avenue. Cape Fear Biodiesel is a non-profit organization that wants to spread bio-diesel pumps across the Carolinas. http://www.wwaytv3.com/local_gas_station_selling_bio_diesel/06/2007 From wrenchwench at blast.com Mon Jun 11 08:23:19 2007 From: wrenchwench at blast.com (Rachel Burton) Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2007 08:23:19 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Biodiesel mandated in Portland, Ore. Message-ID: http://www.etrucker.com/apps/news/article.asp?id=60579 By Jill Dunn As of July, all diesel sold in Portland, Ore., must contain at least 5 percent biodiesel, a mandate approved by the City Council a year ago. City-owned diesel vehicles must use fuel with a biodiesel content of more than 20 percent. The rule also mandates that all gasoline sold in the city must contain at least 10 percent ethanol. City gasoline-powered vehicles that can operate on 85 percent ethanol will be required to do so. The council argued that the mandate will help Oregon farmers and reduce the city?s annual petroleum fuel consumption while not hurting vehicle owners, as vehicles can run on biofuels without modification. From hogarth at gmail.com Mon Jun 11 15:55:35 2007 From: hogarth at gmail.com (Susan Hogarth) Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2007 15:55:35 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Driver ticketed for using biofuel Message-ID: <3889aa560706111255m6bbd618cmc4addeafdaf4ccf9@mail.gmail.com> I know someone else posted this, but he did so as a reply to a digest, so a lot of folks might have missed it. http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/599471.html "But officials say they'll keep pursuing taxes on all fuels used in highway vehicles. With its 29.9-cent a gallon gas tax, the state collects $1.2 billion each year to pay for road construction." -- Susan Hogarth http://www.colliething.com From info at theforestfoundation.org Tue Jun 12 13:20:31 2007 From: info at theforestfoundation.org (Info-TFF) Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2007 13:20:31 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Diesels for sale Message-ID: <466ED5DF.1010904@theforestfoundation.org> Hi All, For Sale: 2004 Ford E-350 Diesel Cargo Van 69K-$19,500 2000 VW Golf TDI- 76K-$12,500 1980 Merc. 300D Wagon -only 122K-$4900 Marc Greenway Transit 919.957.1500 From hogarth at gmail.com Tue Jun 12 22:29:37 2007 From: hogarth at gmail.com (Susan Hogarth) Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2007 22:29:37 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Factcheck piece on ethanol and elections Message-ID: <3889aa560706121929u78b65676p8efe6cf528de37ea@mail.gmail.com> http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/audacious_ethanol_hopes.html " We do not dispute that ethanol along with other renewable fuels such as methanol and biodiesel have the potential to play a significant role in moving the U.S. away from foreign oil consumption and lessening greenhouse gas emissions. But ethanol has a long way to go before the campaign promises made by Clinton, Edwards and Obama can be fulfilled. " -- Susan Hogarth http://www.colliething.com From bobteixeira at mindspring.com Tue Jun 12 22:55:55 2007 From: bobteixeira at mindspring.com (Robert Teixeira) Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2007 22:55:55 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] fuel tax issues & the DOR Message-ID: <6EEE028B-EC1C-46A7-8FDC-1625B9D8B377@mindspring.com> Hello to all, Just wanted to let folks know that I'll be interviewed twice Wed morning regarding my recent fines with the Dept. of Revenue. WPTF out of Raleigh will interview me starting at 7:40-am with a segment to follow with State Senator Stan Bingham (a WVO driver). Afterwards in morning sometime between 10:30-11:00, I'll be on MSNBC. I hope to get our points across in a meaningful way. Wish me luck! Bob Teixeira ps: Thanks for all the supportive emails and insightful this past week! From mattr at biofuels.coop Wed Jun 13 18:40:32 2007 From: mattr at biofuels.coop (Matthew Rudolf) Date: Wed, 13 Jun 2007 18:40:32 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Fwd: [NC-EE] Raleigh: Big Green Bus from Dartmouth College, June 21st References: <4670193D.8370.0021.0@cccc.edu> Message-ID: Begin forwarded message: > Locations: Legislative Building, 16 West Jones Street, Raleigh > NC Division of Water Quality's Environmental Science Lab at 4401 Reedy > Creek Rd, Raleigh > > Fourteen Dartmouth College students are traveling cross-country on a > school bus converted to run on used vegetable oil to demonstrate > practical green technology. The group also hopes to foster awareness > about current global energy issues, create dialogs about tangible > solutions to these problem, and promote the use of sustainable energy > through education and example. http://www.thebiggreenbus.org/ > > The Big Green Bus will make a stop in Raleigh to conduct a green tech > demonstration for the NC General Assembly and the general public at > noon > on Thursday, June 21, 2007 at the NC Legislative Building. At 3:00 > pm, > the Big Green Bus and crew will move to the NC Division of Water > Quality's Environmental Science Lab at 4401 Reedy Creek Rd, > Raleigh, NC > 27607, and do a live demonstration and Q&A. > > The Dartmouth Club of the Piedmont is the local sponsor for the > Raleigh > stop. > > -- > www.eenorthcarolina.org > > Marty Wiggins > > Community Development Program Manager > NC-EE Listerv Moderator > NC Association of Environmental Education Centers Liaison > > NC Office of Environmental Education--NC Department of Environment > and Natural Resources > > Marty.Wiggins at ncmail.net > Phone: 919-733-0711 > Fax: 919-733-1616 Matthew Rudolf Piedmont Biofuels www.biofuels.coop From mweaver at misteam.net Wed Jun 13 20:21:52 2007 From: mweaver at misteam.net (Mike Weaver) Date: Wed, 13 Jun 2007 19:21:52 -0500 (CDT) Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Achieving immortality - Bob's story on slashdot.org. In-Reply-To: <6EEE028B-EC1C-46A7-8FDC-1625B9D8B377@mindspring.com> References: <6EEE028B-EC1C-46A7-8FDC-1625B9D8B377@mindspring.com> Message-ID: <43693.66.92.150.160.1181780512.squirrel@www.misteam.net> http://hardware.slashdot.org/hardware/07/06/12/2238213.shtml Although it's amazing, reading the comments, how the facts are skewed. "While this is the first time I've heard of a fine for using biodiesel" Argggh. From kcfoxie at gmail.com Wed Jun 13 20:26:42 2007 From: kcfoxie at gmail.com (Chris Browder) Date: Wed, 13 Jun 2007 20:26:42 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Achieving immortality - Bob's story on slashdot.org. In-Reply-To: <43693.66.92.150.160.1181780512.squirrel@www.misteam.net> References: <6EEE028B-EC1C-46A7-8FDC-1625B9D8B377@mindspring.com> <43693.66.92.150.160.1181780512.squirrel@www.misteam.net> Message-ID: <1bb86e040706131726j4d90403ci1c975cb10a1e4451@mail.gmail.com> At least it gets the idea out that cars can run on something OTHER than petroleum. I always end up telling folks "you modifiy the car to run straight veggie oil, you chemically modify the oil to make biodiesel. Biodiesel works in any engine without modification." > Although it's amazing, reading the comments, how the facts are skewed. > > "While this is the first time I've heard of a fine for using biodiesel" > > Argggh. From bonitz at cleanenergy.org Thu Jun 14 08:13:14 2007 From: bonitz at cleanenergy.org (John Bonitz) Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2007 08:13:14 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Bob's interview on WPTF radio Message-ID: Hello friends, Does anyone know whether or not the WPTF interview was recorded? I checked WPTF's site and found no obvious links to the segment. If anyone listened-in and would like to share what they heard, I sure would appreciate it. I'd like to learn Sen. Stan Bingham's stance on the issue. Thanks, John P.S. Bob, hope you are weathering this headache alright. Sorry you got pinched, but I'm glad the issue is getting some media attention. I appreciate the role you are playing in getting the word out. Regards, John ~ ~ ~ John Bonitz, Farm Outreach & Policy Advocate Southern Alliance for Clean Energy PO Box 1833, Pittsboro, NC 27312 Phone: 919-545-2920 Mobile: 919-360-2492 bonitz at cleanenergy.org Southern Alliance for Clean Energy promotes responsible energy choices that create global warming solutions and ensure clean, safe, and healthy communities throughout the Southeast. Learn more at http://www.cleanenergy.org. From perkinsfam at yahoo.com Thu Jun 14 09:56:45 2007 From: perkinsfam at yahoo.com (Brian Perkins) Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2007 06:56:45 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] epa & department of energy report? Message-ID: <459360.92584.qm@web60320.mail.yahoo.com> Back around February, I read a joint report that (I think) was from both the EPA and the Dept. of Energy that said if only 1/3 of the passenger vehicles in the U.S. were diesels, we wouldn't need a single drop of foreign oil. Does anybody else remember the report or have a link to it? I searched Google for about an hour to no avail. Thanks, Brian ____________________________________________________________________________________ Yahoo! oneSearch: Finally, mobile search that gives answers, not web links. http://mobile.yahoo.com/mobileweb/onesearch?refer=1ONXIC From rickyb at rickyb.net Thu Jun 14 13:02:45 2007 From: rickyb at rickyb.net (rickyb at rickyb.net) Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2007 13:02:45 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] epa & department of energy report? Message-ID: <20070614170245.024E216EB20@ws6-8.us4.outblaze.com> Brian, I am not sure about the report but here is an interesting that would suggest that would not be the case at all. In fact the consumption would still rise. Check it out. Interesting reading. http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/servicerpt/intro.html > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Brian Perkins" > To: biofuels_interest_group at lists.emji.net > Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] epa & department of energy report? > Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2007 06:56:45 -0700 (PDT) > > > Back around February, I read a joint report that (I think) was from both > the EPA and the Dept. of Energy that said if only 1/3 of the passenger > vehicles in the U.S. were diesels, we wouldn't need a single drop of > foreign oil. > > Does anybody else remember the report or have a link to it? I searched > Google for about an hour to no avail. > > Thanks, > Brian > > > > > > > > ____________________________________________________________________________________ > Yahoo! oneSearch: Finally, mobile search > that gives answers, not web links. > http://mobile.yahoo.com/mobileweb/onesearch?refer=1ONXIC > _______________________________________________ > Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list > Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net > http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group > From mark at veggiediesel.org Thu Jun 14 16:19:40 2007 From: mark at veggiediesel.org (Mark Puckett) Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2007 16:19:40 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Raleigh: Big Green Bus fromDartmouth College, June 21st In-Reply-To: Message-ID: I hope the Dept. of Revenue is not waiting for the Big Green Bus and its load of untaxed fuel. Maybe they should cancel the Raleigh stop in protest. Mark From info at theforestfoundation.org Thu Jun 14 16:49:59 2007 From: info at theforestfoundation.org (Info-TFF) Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2007 16:49:59 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Fwd: Fuel filter compatibility Message-ID: <4671A9F7.6010504@theforestfoundation.org> Hi Everyone, This is an email from a recycling company that switched their fleet of 8 trucks over to B99.9. Baldwin explicitly stated that their adhesive does not hold up, Wix said they have no problems. However, our WIX filters on our small, trail tanks have been clogging. The recycling company most recent filter had the typical black particles, but also a lot of mucussy clear stuff. One thought was that the heaters on some of the filters may be denaturing the fuel. Fuel is from Pittsboro made from fat. Marc Attached Message From: carolinawaste at aol.com To: biofuels_interest_group at lists.emji.net Subject: Fuel filter compatibility Date: Wed, 30 May 2007 13:35:03 -0400 We changed over to B100 3 months ago. Initially, we experienced some issues with filter clogging due to sediment/sludge emulsification, but that has passed. Now I am experiencing problems with filters stopping up within hours of installation, and the filters appear clean, but VERY heavy upon inspection. I have checked with many filter manufacturers with regard of performance with biodiesel, and have found that none with whom I've checked (Baldwin, Donaldson, Wix, CarQuest) recommend their filters with any concentration above B20. Does ANYONE make an automotive use fuel filter for use with B100? Thanks for your help. Thornton Burnette Carolina Waste Removal a division of ORS, Inc. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at *AOL.com* . From kcfoxie at gmail.com Thu Jun 14 18:29:45 2007 From: kcfoxie at gmail.com (Chris Browder) Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2007 18:29:45 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Raleigh: Big Green Bus fromDartmouth College, June 21st In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <1bb86e040706141529l7838ee63v2c360dfa3b361c81@mail.gmail.com> I would sincerly hope that would have paid the taxes for the fuel before announcing this roadtrip, or made arrangements to pay. On 6/14/07, Mark Puckett wrote: > I hope the Dept. of Revenue is not waiting for the Big Green Bus and its > load of untaxed fuel. Maybe they should cancel the Raleigh stop in protest. > > Mark From mweaver at misteam.net Thu Jun 14 20:24:08 2007 From: mweaver at misteam.net (Mike Weaver) Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2007 19:24:08 -0500 (CDT) Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Fwd: Fuel filter compatibility In-Reply-To: <4671A9F7.6010504@theforestfoundation.org> References: <4671A9F7.6010504@theforestfoundation.org> Message-ID: <54448.66.92.150.160.1181867048.squirrel@www.misteam.net> Don't know if it would be feasible to modify them so they'd work as an inline fuel filter, but I've been running stock VW fuel filters with homebrew B100 forever. I did change one but it wasn't due to any problems. I didn't open it up to see what is looked like inside. I had a fairly garden variety clear filter from the auto part store which I added inline before the VW metal one when I went to BD; I noticed it had some waxy (it was cooler then) clear gunk in it - may have been due to some reaction with the adhesive, the clear plastic case or gunk in the tank though the car had few miles on it when I went B100. I've since removed it. > Hi Everyone, > > This is an email from a recycling company that switched their fleet of 8 > trucks over to B99.9. Baldwin explicitly stated that their adhesive > does not hold up, Wix said they have no problems. However, our WIX > filters on our small, trail tanks have been clogging. The recycling > company most recent filter had the typical black particles, but also a > lot of mucussy clear stuff. One thought was that the heaters on some of > the filters may be denaturing the fuel. Fuel is from Pittsboro made > from fat. > > Marc > > > Attached Message > From: carolinawaste at aol.com > To: biofuels_interest_group at lists.emji.net > Subject: Fuel filter compatibility > Date: Wed, 30 May 2007 13:35:03 -0400 > > We changed over to B100 3 months ago. Initially, we experienced some > issues with filter clogging due to sediment/sludge emulsification, but > that has passed. Now I am experiencing problems with filters stopping up > within hours of installation, and the filters appear clean, but VERY > heavy upon inspection. I have checked with many filter manufacturers > with regard of performance with biodiesel, and have found that none with > whom I've checked (Baldwin, Donaldson, Wix, CarQuest) recommend their > filters with any concentration above B20. Does ANYONE make an automotive > use fuel filter for use with B100? > > Thanks for your help. > > Thornton Burnette > Carolina Waste Removal > a division of ORS, Inc. > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free > from AOL at *AOL.com* . > _______________________________________________ > Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list > Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net > http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group > From bobteixeira at mindspring.com Fri Jun 15 00:54:26 2007 From: bobteixeira at mindspring.com (Robert Teixeira) Date: Fri, 15 Jun 2007 00:54:26 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Good News! Message-ID: <94B2EBBA-5B8B-4E66-81B3-18CF03E4042E@mindspring.com> Hello to all, To update you, I heard from Senator Bingham. He is adamant about pushing through new legislature that will make individual users of less than 500 gallons per quarter, tax exempt! That's 2000 gallons per year folks and that would take care of just about all of us. They are in session right now and Senator Bingham is very aggressively trying to add this issue in to the current session. We couldn't have a better advocate, he's a real "shoot from the hip", "tell it like he sees it" man and it was a true pleasure to speak with him. Yippee! I think that my work is almost done and I'm ready to get back to music related stuff. Remember, It's not a law yet, wait for follow up. One more thing to do and then I think I'm done. I will interview with an NPR reporter tomorrow for a spot to air on NPR's "Market Place", not sure what day or time. Thanks again for all the support! Bob Teixeira From carolinabiofuels at gmail.com Fri Jun 15 01:36:02 2007 From: carolinabiofuels at gmail.com (Harry John Albert) Date: Fri, 15 Jun 2007 01:36:02 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Good News! In-Reply-To: <94B2EBBA-5B8B-4E66-81B3-18CF03E4042E@mindspring.com> References: <94B2EBBA-5B8B-4E66-81B3-18CF03E4042E@mindspring.com> Message-ID: I must have misread, but it was my understanding that an individual was allowed 400 gal per quarter of home made fuel tax free? This may be a federal law thing though. regardless, if it is a federal law,then the states should also agree. especially since NC charges a 3% tax on the book value of a vehicle, for a highway tax, and has one of the highest highway fuel taxes out of all of the states, and I VERY Rarely drive on the highway. (pretty close to never) Based on my reading, it seems that you were in the wrong place at the wrong time. I can only imagine how you were treated by our state employees. Recently I made the comment about someone I know who is a very nice person but completely incompetent at their job,"Have they fired her yet?" answer was "No" my reply was "Its a good thing, other wise she probably would have ended up with a government job... Do not get me wrong, I think the government is a ....to be continued On 6/15/07, Robert Teixeira wrote: > Hello to all, > > To update you, I heard from Senator Bingham. He is adamant about > pushing through new legislature that will make individual users of > less than 500 gallons per quarter, tax exempt! That's 2000 gallons > per year folks and that would take care of just about all of us. > They are in session right now and Senator Bingham is very > aggressively trying to add this issue in to the current session. We > couldn't have a better advocate, he's a real "shoot from the hip", > "tell it like he sees it" man and it was a true pleasure to speak > with him. Yippee! I think that my work is almost done and I'm ready > to get back to music related stuff. Remember, It's not a law yet, > wait for follow up. > > One more thing to do and then I think I'm done. I will interview > with an NPR reporter tomorrow for a spot to air on NPR's "Market > Place", not sure what day or time. > > Thanks again for all the support! > > Bob Teixeira > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list > Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net > http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group > From mattr at biofuels.coop Fri Jun 15 08:53:12 2007 From: mattr at biofuels.coop (Matthew Rudolf) Date: Fri, 15 Jun 2007 08:53:12 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Good News! In-Reply-To: <94B2EBBA-5B8B-4E66-81B3-18CF03E4042E@mindspring.com> References: <94B2EBBA-5B8B-4E66-81B3-18CF03E4042E@mindspring.com> Message-ID: <5B9690DE-25C3-4E32-9DB6-E54D45382EC7@biofuels.coop> Great news! Keep us posted Bob. On Jun 15, 2007, at 12:54 AM, Robert Teixeira wrote: > Hello to all, > > To update you, I heard from Senator Bingham. He is adamant about > pushing through new legislature that will make individual users of > less than 500 gallons per quarter, tax exempt! That's 2000 gallons > per year folks and that would take care of just about all of us. > They are in session right now and Senator Bingham is very > aggressively trying to add this issue in to the current session. We > couldn't have a better advocate, he's a real "shoot from the hip", > "tell it like he sees it" man and it was a true pleasure to speak > with him. Yippee! I think that my work is almost done and I'm ready > to get back to music related stuff. Remember, It's not a law yet, > wait for follow up. > > One more thing to do and then I think I'm done. I will interview > with an NPR reporter tomorrow for a spot to air on NPR's "Market > Place", not sure what day or time. > > Thanks again for all the support! > > Bob Teixeira > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list > Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net > http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group Matthew Rudolf Piedmont Biofuels www.biofuels.coop From francismiller at comcast.net Fri Jun 15 09:56:18 2007 From: francismiller at comcast.net (Francis M. Miller) Date: Fri, 15 Jun 2007 07:56:18 -0600 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Fwd: Fuel filter compatibility In-Reply-To: <54448.66.92.150.160.1181867048.squirrel@www.misteam.net> References: <4671A9F7.6010504@theforestfoundation.org> <54448.66.92.150.160.1181867048.squirrel@www.misteam.net> Message-ID: <46729A82.8050507@comcast.net> Gentlemen, et al: For questions related to filters, I would recommend Scott Galles at Galles Filter Service in Billings, MT. Scott's business has been around for 50 years and he personally knows more about the matter than anyone I know. You can email him Regards, Fran Miller Mike Weaver wrote: >Don't know if it would be feasible to modify them so they'd work as an >inline fuel filter, but I've been running stock VW fuel filters with >homebrew B100 forever. I did change one but it wasn't due to any >problems. >I didn't open it up to see what is looked like inside. > >I had a fairly garden variety clear filter from the auto part store which >I added inline before the VW metal one when I went to BD; I noticed it had >some waxy (it was cooler then) clear gunk in it - may have been due to >some reaction with the adhesive, the clear plastic case or gunk in the >tank though the car had few miles on it when I went B100. I've since >removed it. > > > > > > >>Hi Everyone, >> >>This is an email from a recycling company that switched their fleet of 8 >>trucks over to B99.9. Baldwin explicitly stated that their adhesive >>does not hold up, Wix said they have no problems. However, our WIX >>filters on our small, trail tanks have been clogging. The recycling >>company most recent filter had the typical black particles, but also a >>lot of mucussy clear stuff. One thought was that the heaters on some of >>the filters may be denaturing the fuel. Fuel is from Pittsboro made >>from fat. >> >>Marc >> >> >>Attached Message >>From: carolinawaste at aol.com >>To: biofuels_interest_group at lists.emji.net >>Subject: Fuel filter compatibility >>Date: Wed, 30 May 2007 13:35:03 -0400 >> >>We changed over to B100 3 months ago. Initially, we experienced some >>issues with filter clogging due to sediment/sludge emulsification, but >>that has passed. Now I am experiencing problems with filters stopping up >>within hours of installation, and the filters appear clean, but VERY >>heavy upon inspection. I have checked with many filter manufacturers >>with regard of performance with biodiesel, and have found that none with >>whom I've checked (Baldwin, Donaldson, Wix, CarQuest) recommend their >>filters with any concentration above B20. Does ANYONE make an automotive >>use fuel filter for use with B100? >> >>Thanks for your help. >> >>Thornton Burnette >>Carolina Waste Removal >>a division of ORS, Inc. >>------------------------------------------------------------------------ >>AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free >>from AOL at *AOL.com* . >>_______________________________________________ >>Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list >>Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net >>http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group >> >> >> > >_______________________________________________ >Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list >Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net >http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group > > > From wrenchwench at blast.com Thu Jun 14 17:42:17 2007 From: wrenchwench at blast.com (Rachel Burton) Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2007 17:42:17 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] From Centralina Clean Fuels References: <6D29349473E22449865356FEE7CE1849E03348@CCOGSBS1.ccogdom1.local> Message-ID: <9A1DDECD-B03C-416A-92FF-1ED0B3EBBE9A@blast.com> > Monthly Email Update ? June 2007 > > > Grant Announcement: > > > > Clean Fuel Advanced Technology (CFAT) Grants (second round): > > Funding will be available through the NC Solar Center for a program > supported by the NC Department of Transportation, NC Division of > Air Quality and the State Energy Office. Grants will be provided > for a portion of the incremental costs of alternative fuel > vehicles, refueling infrastructure and other projects that reduce > mobile emissions in national ambient air quality non-attainment and > maintenance counties in NC. > > 2007 funds available: $625,000 > Maximum per project award: $150,000 > Application deadline: July 16, 2007 > > There will be a conference call on June 15 from 1-3 p.m. to discuss > application and eligibility requirements. The call in number is > 919-515-7150. > > For more information, http://www.4cleanfuels.com/CFAT.asp > > > > Regional News: > > > > There?s been a lot going on at the Centralina Clean Fuels Coalition > recently: > > > > Mike Keziah, Administrative Services Manager for the City of > Monroe, has just been named Chair of the Centralina Clean Fuels > Coalition (CCFC). Mike was one of the founding members of the CCFC > Core Stakeholder group and was instrumental in the City of Monroe?s > switch to biodiesel for their fleet vehicles. Mike replaces > ?Coach? Joe White, who served the CCFC during four years of > tremendous growth for the Coalition. Under Mike?s leadership, the > CCFC expects to build upon recent successes in the region. > > The Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District has just announced that > it will have a new plug-in hybrid electric school bus for the > 2007-2008 school year. Charlotte-Mecklenburg will become one of > the first school districts in the country to operate this new > hybrid bus with the potential to double fuel efficiency and reduce > emissions by up to 90 percent. http://www.advancedenergy.org/ > corporate/initiatives/heb/Charlotte%20Hybrid%20Bus%20Press%20Release > %205-15-07.php > > Gaston County Schools (GCS) is the first school district in the > state to produce its own biodiesel fuel for use in its buses. > School officials are recycling used vegetable oil from school > cafeterias and restaurants. When working with such private sector > donors of waste oil, GCS has found that a letter of donation helps > to make this a win-win formula. The total cost of the recycled oil > is 60 cents a gallon. The school system expects to produce up to > 200,000 gallons fuel this coming year and save about $300,000 > annually. > > > The Town of Marshville has replaced a 1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera > with a 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid. The Town received Mobile Source > Emissions Reduction grant money from the NC Division of Air Quality > to cover the incremental cost difference between a ?standard? > engine 2006 Ford Taurus and the Civic Hybrid. The car is assigned > to Town Administrator Carl Webber and is expected to result in a > decrease of 2.3 tons of Greenhouse Emissions per year. > > -------------- next part -------------- > As an increasing number of fleets and individuals in NC purchase > and rely on alternative fuels there is a need to have the most up > to date information on station locations available online. CCFC > has added an online interactive map utilizing GIS capabilities and > layers in conjunction with web-based accessibility to enable users > to view locations and access information about current alternative > fuel retail stations. http://www.4cleanfuels.com/mapping.asp > > Biobased Information System Newsfeed! New and now available at the > CCFC website (http://www.4cleanfuels.com/news.asp) is this resource > for daily updates on the quickly bio-fuels industry. > > Thomas Petroleum Company has just received a NC Mobile Clean Air > Renewable Energy (CARE) award. Thomas Petroleum Company (TPC) has > been supplying petroleum fuels, home heat fuel, and off road fuel > since 1984. With no federal or state incentives to spur his move to > biofuels, Ray Thomas ?stuck his neck out? in 2005 and committed to > marketing and distributing both ethanol and biodiesel blends when > no other fuel retailers in North Carolina were willing to do so. > http://ncmobilecare.org/3/miscellaneous3.htm > > > Events/Conferences: > > A list of meetings and conferences of interest to alternative fuels > and renewable energy communities can be found at: http:// > www.eere.energy.gov/cleancities/progs/afdc/more_events.cgi?cc/d/a/0 > > Registration is still open for the second annual Southeast Diesel > Collaborative (SEDC) partners meeting on June 26-27, 2007 in > Atlanta, GA - lunch and reception on June 26 are provided but we > need everyone registered to accommodate the correct amounts. > Register now at http://www.metro4-sesarm.org. > > News/Other Items of Interest: > > Toll-Free Biodiesel Number Available > As motorists increasingly demand biodiesel, a new toll-free number > will help them find this homegrown fuel anywhere in the United > States. The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) recently announced the > launch of 866-BIODIESEL at the Great American Trucking Show (GATS). > The Biodiesel Hotline will be staffed twenty-four hours a day, > seven days a week. > The Biodiesel Hotline staff uses mapping software linked to a > database that is populated and kept up to date with retail outlets > carrying biodiesel. Information including truck accessibility and > blend percentages of biodiesel to petro-diesel is available. > > FedEx to Add More Hybrids to its Fleet > May 29, 2007 > http://www.fleet-central.com/af/t_inside.cfm? > action=news_pick&storyID=29138 > > MEMPHIS, TN? FedEx Express announced it has signed agreements with > Azure Dynamics to develop hybrid electric powertrains for its > delivery fleet, according to the Web site, www.etrucker.com. > Once the development phase is completed, FedEx Express has > committed to purchase a minimum of 20 pre-production hybrid > electric Ford E-450 delivery vans, to be delivered by May 2008. > > ?FedEx Express introduced hybrid electric vehicles to the > commercial vehicle market six years ago, and we look forward to > further advancing this important, environmentally conscious > initiative with Ford and Azure Dynamics,? said John Formisano, > FedEx Express vice president for global vehicles. ?We continue to > look for opportunities for economic efficiencies, environmental > stewardship and being a good corporate citizen.? > > FedEx Express claims the largest commercial fleet of hybrid > electric delivery vehicles in the United States, with 93 hybrids in > service that collectively have traveled more than 1 million miles > > NYC Taxi Fleet Going Green by 2012 > May 25, 2007 > http://www.fleet-central.com/af/t_inside.cfm? > action=news_pick&storyID=29127 > > NEW YORK - The city's yellow taxi fleet will go entirely hybrid > within five years, announced New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. > Nearly 400 fuel-efficient hybrids have been tested in the city?s > taxi fleet over the past 18 months, with models including the Ford > Escape, Toyota Prius, Toyota Highlander Hybrid, and the Lexus RX > 400h. Under Bloomberg's plan, that number will increase to 1,000 by > October 2008, then will grow by about 20 percent each year until > 2012, when every yellow cab ? currently numbering 13,000 ? will be > a hybrid. > > The standard yellow cab vehicle, the Ford Crown Victoria, gets 14 > miles per gallon. In contrast, the Ford Escape taxis get 36 miles > per gallon. > > In addition to making the yellow cab brigade entirely green within > five years, the city will require all new vehicles entering the > fleet after October 2008 to achieve a minimum of 25 miles per > gallon. A year later, all new vehicles must get 30 miles per gallon > and be hybrid. > > Hybrid vehicles are typically more expensive, but the city said the > increase in fuel efficiency will save taxi operators more than > $10,000 per year. Yahoo Inc. said it would donate 10 hybrid Ford > Escapes for the city's effort. > > Shifting the taxi fleet to hybrids is part of Bloomberg's wider > sustainability plan for the city, which includes a goal of a 30 > percent reduction in carbon emissions by 2030. > > Excellent USA Today Article on Natural Gas Vehicles > In case you missed it, on Wednesday, USA Today ran an extensive > article on NGVs. Titled, ?Natural-gas powered cars: Who even knows > they exist?,? the article fairly covered the many advantages and > the few disadvantages of NGVs. You can view the article at > www.usatoday.com. > > Brighter, Cleaner Outlook For U.S. Diesels > MSNBC.com > > Nissan?s plans for a new Maxima is just one example of a move to > cleaner, fuel-efficient diesel vehicles that could offer motorists > a surprising solution to the problem of high gasoline prices, > analysts say. > > Today?s diesel engines provide 25 to 35 percent better fuel economy > than typical gas engines, and thanks to new federal regulations > that came into effect last year requiring the use of low-sulfur > diesel, they are also much less harmful to the environment than in > the past, when many states, including California and New York, > banned their sale. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18394882/ > > Senate Energy Package Includes Incentives for Plug-Ins > The Senate is preparing to debate its first big energy bill of the > year with Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) placing a comprehensive > energy package Renewable Fuels, Consumer Protection, and Energy > Efficiency Act of 2007 (S. 1419) on the Senate calendar. The > Senate is expected to consider this legislative package in mid- > June. The bill is a comprehensive effort to increase the > production and use of clean renewable fuels; protect consumers from > price gouging; increase the energy efficiency of products; > buildings and vehicles; promote research on and deploy greenhouse > gas capture and storage options; and improve the energy performance > of the federal government. > Included in S.1419 are several incentives to promote the research, > development, demonstration and deployment of advanced technology > vehicles such as plug-in hybrids: > A provision requiring the Department of Energy (DOE) to study the > feasibility of issuing credits for trading purposes to electric > vehicles powered by renewable electricity. > Authorization of $60 million per year from 2008 to 2012 for > research and development of lightweight materials for automobiles. > The bill includes loan guarantees for fuel-efficient automobile > part manufacturers, including the manufacture of electric drive > technology. > Establishes an Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Incentive > Program which would provide federal grants to cover up to 30 > percent of the cost of establishing, re-equipping or expanding a > facility to manufacture advanced technology vehicles or components. > Addresses battery research and development through an Energy > Storage Competitiveness Program which establishes a research, > development and demonstration initiative for energy storage > including the following authorizations: > Basic research program - $50 million per year from 2008 through 2012 > Applied research program - $80 million per year from 2008 through 2012 > Establishing energy storage research centers - $100 million per > year from 2008 through 2012 > The bill authorizes an Advanced Transportation Technology Program > which provides $60 million per year in electric drive technology > demonstration grants from 2008 through 2012. > In addition, the bill stipulates certain petroleum reduction goals > for the federal fleet including: > 20 percent reduction in petroleum consumption (from 2005 baseline) > by 2015. > 10 percent increase in alternative fuel consumption required annually. > Petroleum reduction can be achieved through the purchase of plug- > ins, electric vehicles, hybrids and other alternative fuel vehicles. > According to a senior staffer in Senator Reid?s office, the bill is > likely to be taken up for consideration on the Senate floor in the > second week of June. > > New Texas Biodiesel Plant Has Capacity to Produce 110 Million > Gallons a Year > > BioSelect Fuels and Chevron have opened one of the first large- > scale biodiesel production facilities in North America. The plant, > located in Galveston, Texas, will initially produce 20 million > gallons of biodiesel a year and has the capability to expand > operations to produce 110 million gallons a year, produced from > soybeans and other renewable feedstocks. The biodiesel will be sold > to the marine, commercial, trucking and industrial markets for use > as pure biodiesel or biodiesel blended with off-road or on-road > diesel. > http://phoenix.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2007/05/28/daily4.html > > Jason Wager, AICP > Community & Regional Planner > Coordinator, Centralina Clean Fuels Coalition > > Centralina Council of Governments > PO Box 35008 > Charlotte, NC 28235 > > Ph: 704.348.2707 > Fax: 704.347.4710 > > COG web site: www.centralina.org > Clean Fuels web site: www.4cleanfuels.com > > Check out the Biobased Information System Newsfeed daily at the > Centralina Clean Fuels Coalition Website: http://www. > 4cleanfuels.com/news.asp! From wrenchwench at blast.com Mon Jun 18 10:03:50 2007 From: wrenchwench at blast.com (Rachel Burton) Date: Mon, 18 Jun 2007 10:03:50 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Fwd: Womens PV workshop at Solar 2007!! References: <000601c7b139$111f61b0$1603a8c0@sei.local> Message-ID: <697CC66C-03F2-4A65-A424-242BAE5FBFA5@blast.com> Begin forwarded message: > From: "Matthew Harris" > Date: June 17, 2007 7:41:45 PM EDT > To: > Subject: Womens PV workshop at Solar 2007!! > > > > WOMENS? PHOTOVOLTAIC > DESIGN & INSTALLATION WORKSHOP > > CLEVELAND,OH ? Join Solar Energy International (SEI) for a four day > Women?s Photovoltaic Design and Installation workshop. This > workshop will take place after Solar 2007, organized by the > American Solar Energy Society (ASES). The National Solar Energy > Conference is the largest and most inclusive solar and renewable > energy conference in the U.S. each year. SOLAR 2007, will explore > the theme ?Sustainable Energy Puts America to Work .? > > This workshop is part of SEI?s Renewable Energy Education Program > and will take place July 12 ? 15, 2007. This workshop will include > a theory component as well as an installation of a PV system at > local John Hay High School. > > Why women only? The workshops are intended to provide women with a > supportive learning atmosphere. Many women have little or no hands- > on electrical experience, and may be wary of attending a coed > course with men who have grown up using power tools. Even women > with hands-on experience already working in technical fields find > it helpful and rewarding networking with other women interested in > and/or working in renewable energy. > > Participants in this women?s only workshop learn how to use PV > (photovoltaic) technology to produce their own electricity from the > sun through practical design and installation of PV systems. > Participants learn system sizing, site analysis, hardware > specification and component selection. The workshop covers typical > applications and case study examples. Install an operational system > in the field and learn the proper use of tools and safety > precautions. This workshop is for the beginner who wants to use PV > or for those seeking employment in the solar industry. Other > topics that will be covered in the workshop include Basics of > Electricity, Solar Site Analysis, PV System Components, Components > Specification, Electrical Wiring, Safety Procedures, Tours of PV > Residences, and a Field Installation. > > SEI is a non-profit organization whose mission is to help people > incorporate renewable energy into their lives. Based in Carbondale, > Colorado, and actively teaching around the world, SEI provides > information, education and hands-on training to people who want to > shape a sustainable future. > > > Please visit www.solarenergy.org for additional information and > contact SEI at 970.963.8855 for workshop details or to register. > > > > From leif at biofuels.coop Tue Jun 19 14:19:53 2007 From: leif at biofuels.coop (Leif Forer) Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2007 14:19:53 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] New Green Show for the Science Channel References: <200706191529.l5JFTUaZ014296@alpha.thewire.ca> Message-ID: <1B2CD2F6-B105-464C-AA6A-74E60E501629@biofuels.coop> The Science Channel wants you and your green inventions! Are you a grassroots green inventor who wants to be featured on a new national television series? Do you take it upon yourself to create your own ingenious solutions to environmental conundrums? We?re looking to feature inventions and inventors from all walks of life that will inspire a greener globe! Send us a brief description of you, your savvy invention, what inspired it and why you feel it is deserving of national attention. Photos of you and your invention would be helpful but aren?t necessary. Please send submissions to: greeninventors at peacepoint.tv http://science.discovery.com/ From bonitz at cleanenergy.org Tue Jun 19 16:17:10 2007 From: bonitz at cleanenergy.org (John Bonitz) Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2007 16:17:10 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] "give ethanol a chance" Message-ID: Dear Friends, The following article from the Institute for Local Self Reliance offers a compelling argument in favor of ethanol. I personally prefer biodiesel, and find fault with his treatment of it. But the overarching message here is a very interesting one, with broad implications. I hope this stimulates a good discussion. Regards, John ~ ~ ~ John Bonitz, Farm Outreach & Policy Advocate Southern Alliance for Clean Energy PO Box 1833, Pittsboro, NC 27312 Phone: 919-545-2920 Mobile: 919-360-2492 *************************************************** Give ethanol a chance: The case for corn-based fuel The following is a guest essay from David Morris, co-founder and vice president of the Institute for Local Self Reliance in Minneapolis, Minn., and director of its New Rules project. It originally ran on Alternet last week. ----- Working Assets is my long-distance phone company. I love it dearly for its combination of business efficiency, social responsibility and progressive politics. Each month, my phone bill carries alerts that urge me to take action on a specific issue or two. Recent Citizen Actions suggest the gravity of the issues chosen: "Save Our Constitution," "Impeach Dick Cheney," "Close Guantanamo." This month Working Assets urged me to "Say No to Ethanol." How did the use of ethanol end up alongside tyranny and torture as an evil to be conquered? A couple of years ago, I was waiting my turn to speak to a well-attended California conference on alternative fuels. For this gathering, alternative fuels included natural gas, clean diesel, fossil fueled derived hydrogen, coal-fired electricity, as well as wind energy and biofuels. The leadoff speaker, from the California Energy Commission, spoke warmly about all the alternative fuels under discussion. Except one. When it came to ethanol, he visualized his perspective with the metaphor of a giant hypodermic needle from Midwest corn farmers to California drivers. For him and, I suspect, most of California's state government, ethanol belongs in the same category as heroin. In the late 1990s, the nation discovered that MTBE, a widely used gasoline additive made of natural gas and petroleum-derived isobutylene was polluting ground water. The environmental community largely defended its continued use and vigorously opposed substituting ethanol. One well-respected New England environmental coalition raised the possibility that ethanol blends could cause fetal alcohol syndrome. Fill up your gas tank with 10 percent ethanol and your baby could be alcoholic, their report warned. In the last few years, the environmental position has shifted from an attack on ethanol from any source to an attack on corn and corn-derived ethanol. The assault on corn comes from so many directions that sometimes the arguments are wildly contradictory. In an article published in the New York Times Magazine earlier this year Michael Pollan, an excellent and insightful writer, argues that cheap corn is the key to the epidemic of obesity. The same month, Foreign Affairs published an article by two distinguished university professors who argued that the use of ethanol has led to a runup in corn prices that threatens to sentence millions more to starvation. Ethanol is not a perfect fuel. Corn is far from a perfect fuel crop. We should debate their imperfections. But we should also keep in mind the first law of ecology. "There is no such thing as a free lunch." Tapping into any energy source involves tradeoffs. Yet when it comes to ethanol, and corn, we accept no tradeoffs. In 30 years in the business of alternative energy, I've never encountered the level of animosity generated by ethanol, not even in the debate about nuclear power. When it comes to ethanol, we seem to apply a different standard than we do when we evaluate other fuels. When California discovered MTBE in its groundwater, it petitioned the federal government to be allowed to phase out MTBE without using ethanol. It wanted to substitute a 100 percent petroleum-derived fuel. The environmental community was strongly supportive of that request. I can't but think that the environmental community, as currently constituted, would have supported the use of lead over ethanol as its no-knock additive of choice for gasoline in the early 1920s. When President George W. Bush first embraced the hydrogen economy, most environmentalists applauded, even though they conceded that for the first 10-20 years, hydrogen would be derived from fossil fuels. Indeed, so eager were they to jump-start hydrogen that Minnesota environmentalists helped enact a bill that defines hydrogen made from natural gas as a renewable fuel. When it comes to ethanol, reporters appear obligated by some unwritten rule of the profession to talk about whether ethanol uses more energy in the cultivation and processing of the crop than it contains. In the hundreds of interviews I've had with journalists about ethanol over the years, I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times the net energy issue did not come up. Articles about hydrogen in the mainstream, or alternative press, on the other hand, rarely talk about net energy. This despite the fact that while the net energy of ethanol may be debated, there is no debate about the energetics of hydrogen. Made from fossil fuels, hydrogen is a net energy loser. While we're on the net energy issue, a few words about the ubiquitous David Pimentel. No article about ethanol is complete without a negative comment from Pimentel. David is a distinguished professor who believes corn ethanol uses more fossil fuels in its production than it displaces. It's certainly fair to quote him. He is a highly credible source. But in 2005, a scientific journal published a new study by Pimentel and his collaborator, Tad Patzek. The study concluded that while corn-derived ethanol was a slight net energy loser, the energetics of biodiesel and ethanol made from cellulose were far worse. The conversation about net energy went on as if nothing new had been added. The enemy was still corn. Pimentel and Patzek's conclusion that other crops were much worse than corn as sources of transportation fuels, was filtered out. My old psychology professor called this process cognitive dissonance. We screen out what doesn't gibe with preconceived notions. We hate corn. We don't hate soybeans or grasses. Therefore the negative things Pimentel and Patzek said about corn we consider authoritative. Their negative comments about soybeans and grasses we ignore. I hope in the future we might engage in a more productive conversation and balanced discussion about the role of plants in a future industrial economy. To that end, I offer six propositions. I look forward to a debate on all or any one of these. 1. Sustainability requires molecules. Wind and sunlight are excellent energy sources, but they cannot provide the molecular building blocks that make physical products. For that we must choose minerals or vegetables (I'm lumping animals with vegetables for obvious reasons). Minerals will always be an important source of molecules, in part because hundreds of billions of tons are already in existing products and these products have a very high recycleability potential. But ultimately we must increasingly rely on biological resources for our industrial needs if we are to achieve sustainability. 2. Wind and sunlight can only be harnessed for some form of energy (thermal, mechanical, electrical). Plants, on the other hand, can be used for many purposes: human nutrition, animal feed, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, clothing, building materials, fuels. The challenge for public policy is to design rules that encourage the highest and best use of our finite land area (and sea and lake areas). Few would argue that human nutrition is the highest use of plants, followed by medicinal uses and possibly clothing. After that we might differ. My organization has argued that we should first use biomass to substitute for industrial products that use fossil fuels rather than for the fuels themselves. We make this argument in part because while there is insufficient biomass to displace a majority of fuels, there is a sufficient quantity to displace up to 100 percent of our petroleum and natural gas-derived chemicals and products. And these are much higher value products. Thus vegetable oils should be used to make nonmineral motor oils and lubricants as a higher priority than being used to displace diesel. Plant sugars should be used to make plastics and other biochemicals as a higher priority than being used to displace gasoline. If we offered the $1 per gallon biodiesel incentive to biolubricants, would it significantly expand that market? If we offered the 51-cents-per-gallon ethanol incentive to bioplastics, would it significantly expand that market? 3. Corn is a transitional energy feedstock, but it has played a crucial role in creating the infrastructure for a carbohydrate economy. We are moving beyond corn, to more abundant feedstocks like cellulose. But a carbohydrate economy, where plants have an industrial role, would have been delayed by 20-30 years if not for corn. As the nation's largest agricultural industry, with politically powerful corporate players like ADM, the corn industry had the clout to play with the big boys(e.g. coal, oil, natural gas) when federal incentives were liberally distributed in 1978 and 1980. Federal incentives made ethanol blends competitive with gasoline at the gas pump. That was a necessary but wildly insufficient step toward getting biofuels into the gas pump. To accomplish that the embryonic biofuels industry had to persuade its competitor, the oil industry, to use ethanol instead of its own product. As the same time the ethanol industry had to convince car companies, which had designed their engines hand in glove with the oil companies for 60 years, to allow ethanol into their gas tanks. For the first decade after the federal ethanol incentive was passed, a majority of ethanol was distribution through cooperatively owned and independently owned gas stations in the Midwest. Only in the late 1980s did car company manuals stop advising owners not to use ethanol blends. Today a national biofuel distribution network exists. Some 30 percent of all cars use ethanol blends. The corn-derived ethanol industry has lowered per-gallon in-plant energy use by 75 percent since the early 1980s. And enzymatic research has been the foundation for new developments in bioplastics and other bioproducts. We are nearing the end of the corn-to-ethanol era. Ethanol production has doubled since 2005 and promises to double again by 2010. It is unlikely any new corn to ethanol plants will be built beyond those currently in the construction pipeline. Even the National Corn Growers Association expects ethanol demand to exceed the capacity of the corn crop when all the new ethanol plants come online. All congressional bills that would increase the biofuels mandate also cap the amount of corn-derived ethanol at 15 billion gallons. After 2012, all additional ethanol capacity must be based on noncorn crops. Cellulosic materials will be the prime feedstock. Some, like Vinod Khosla, a major proponent and investor in cellulosic ethanol plants, argues that his first plants, to be online by 2010, will produce ethanol competitively with $4 a bushel corn. 4. Electricity, not biofuels, will be the primary energy source for an oil-free and sustainable transportation system. But biofuels can play an important role in this future as energy sources for backup engines that can significantly reduce battery costs and extend driving range. Even when we move from corn to cellulose, we likely lack sufficient arable land to cultivate enough biomass to displace more than about 25 percent of our transportation fuels (diesel plus gasoline). This is not an unimportant amount, but we need to accept that biofuels will not play the primary role in eliminating our dependence on oil. That role, as I've discussed in my 2003 report, A Better Way to Get From Here to There, will be played by electricity. Miles traveled on electricity are oil-free miles because we use very little oil to generate electricity. Traveling on electricity means getting over 100 miles per gallon equivalent, triple the increased fuel efficiency standard under debate in the U.S. Senate. Traveling on electricity generates no tailpipe pollution and costs 1-2 cents per mile compared to 10-15 cents per mile for traveling on gasoline or biofuels. The electricity would initially come from a grid system almost 50 percent powered by coal, but given the renewable portfolio standards in place, an increasing percentage of our electricity would come from renewable resources like wind or sunlight. The Achilles' heel of all-electric cars is the cost and weight of batteries and the need for recharging every 100 miles or so. A backup engine overcomes that shortcoming. If the backup engine powers the car 25 percent of the time, we will have enough biomass to displace 100 percent of the petroleum used in the engine. Coupled with oil-free electricity, this can lead us to reduce by 80-100 percent our reliance on oil for transportation. 5. Approach biofuels as an agricultural issue with energy security implications, not as an energy security issue with agricultural implications. Design policies to maximize the benefit to rural areas of using plant matter for industrial and energy uses. The key is local ownership of biorefineries. A 25 percent displacement of transportation fuels by biofuels will have an important, but not a determining or primary impact on energy security. But it could have a determining impact on the future of agriculture and rural communities. That's where we should focus our attention. A 25 percent displacement of diesel and gasoline would require the cultivation and harvesting of more, perhaps far more, additional plant matter than is currently harvested for all purposes -- food, feed, chemicals, textiles, energy, paper, construction. That prospect affords us the opportunity to devise farm policies that dramatically restructure agriculture both here, and perhaps even more importantly, globally, where agriculture and rural villages still account for anywhere from 25 percent to 50 percent of the population. The two key problems with agriculture are: (1) millions of farmers compete to sell their raw material into increasingly concentrated markets and (2) farmers sell raw materials and buy back finished goods, falling further and further behind. For almost two centuries, governments have devised programs to deal with this. The United States has two core farm strategies. One is called supply management. Quotas keep domestic prices high. This is the way the sugar program works. The other more prevalent strategy involves farm payments when prices fall below a target level. The farmer sells his or her crop at prices below the cost of production. The government, via the general taxpayer makes up the difference. The price of food is lower. It is unclear, if and when we shift to cellulosic biofuels, that farmers will avoid the core problems currently confronting grain farmers. This year's farm bill likely will offer money to farmers to cultivate cellulosic crops like grasses. Quite likely this initial payment program will evolve into a target price program similar to that now used for commodity crops. In 2015, cellulosic farmers may be selling their crops to biorefineries at prices below the cost of production and receive government payments to make up the difference. Fuel costs will be modestly lower, just as food costs today are modestly lower because of government programs. However, we can devise policies that enable a different future, one in which farmers, and other rural residents, own the value added biorefinery. Agricultural materials, by their nature, are bulky and costly to transport long distances. Thus processing tends to be local and regional. Biorefineries, unlike petroleum refineries, can be small in scale and thus enable local ownership. Local ownership benefits farmers in a number of ways. It allows them to hedge against crop price declines. If their crop price goes down, the input costs of the biorefinery also decline and all things being equal, profits will be higher and they will receive a higher dividend check at the end of the year. Studies by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance and other organizations have found that farmers can earn up to five times more per bushel by co-owning a biorefinery rather than simply selling to it. Local ownership benefits rural areas, as many studies have documented, because a much greater portion of the dollar generated by the biorefinery stays within the community. Local ownership benefits state economies because it generates more taxable income. Local ownership and the scale of biorefineries have never been a consideration of the environmental movement. That may be changing. Until recently, the organic agriculture movement, for example, focused on the biological health of the soil, not the economic health and security of the farmers and rural communities. Now in several states, organic certification takes into account ownership and place. A new slogan is "Local is the new organic." A priority on rootedness and local ownership should be included in initiatives proposed by the environmental community regarding biofuels. They should not only lobby for sustainable crops but also sustainable rural communities and a sustainable income for cultivators. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Minnesota led to the way in devising policies to encourage modest scaled biorefineries and farmer and local ownership. The movement caught on. Whereas in 1988 ADM accounted for 75 percent of ethanol output, in 2002 it accounted for about 35 percent. In that year, farmer owned biorefineries produced almost as much ethanol, collectively as did ADM's giant plants. Eighty percent of all new ethanol plants built or proposed that year were majority farmer or locally owned. The current ethanol boom has changed the structure of the industry. Today, over 90 percent of all new ethanol plants are absentee-owned. The typical new plant has a capacity of 100 million gallons or more, almost triple the average size plant built in 2002 and making it very difficult to have majority local ownership. In the 2005 Energy Act, Congress did direct the Department of Energy to give a priority to farmer ownership and rural development when it disbursed funds to accelerate cellulosic ethanol. DOE ignored the congressional directive. Congress made no fuss. All the attention is on getting more cellulosic ethanol, not getting better cellulosic ethanol, at least in its impact on farmers and rural communities. Nothing in the current farm bill or current energy bills under consideration addresses the ownership and scale issue. 6. Support performance, not prescriptive standards. Performance standards specify outcomes. They specify an end result, but not how that result is achieved. They focus on ends and leave the design of means to entrepreneurs. Performance standards foster competition and innovation. Renewable electricity portfolio standards, now in place in two dozen states, are performance standards. A variety of renewable fuels qualify -- wind, solar, biomass, hydro, geothermal, landfill gas, ocean or tidal power. Prescriptive standards are like a recipe. They prescribe exactly how to achieve a specific result. The 2005 federal renewable fuel standard for transportation fuels and the new standard under debate in the U.S. Senate are prescriptive standards. They mandate the use of a single renewable fuel: ethanol. Congress should transform the renewable transportation fuel standard into a performance standard, not only for internal consistency, but also because of the coming convergence of electricity and transportation. California is developing a performance standard. Theirs is based on carbon emissions. Under that standard, natural gas derived hydrogen would probably not qualify as better than gasoline. Nor would corn ethanol produced in coal fired biorefineries. Cellulosic ethanol would rate higher than corn ethanol. Wind electricity likely would rate higher than cellulosic ethanol but perhaps lower than sugar cane derived ethanol where the cane cellulosic byproduct is used to power the processing plant. For the next 5-15 years, the difference in the on-the-ground impact of a renewable transportation fuels standard rather than a biofuels mandate would be small in the same way as the on-the-ground impact of a renewable electricity standard versus a wind energy mandate has been small. Wind energy accounts for 80 percent to 95 percent of the renewable electricity generated under the renewable portfolio standards. Because of their head start, national delivery systems and drop in capability to existing engines, ethanol and biodiesel would comprise at least as high a proportion of a renewable transportation fuel performance standard in the near future. But in the longer term, a performance standard is superior public policy. It mandates ends, not means. It encourages diversity and flexibility and innovation, and provides a level playing field for entrepreneurs. From maxisaacs at earthlink.net Tue Jun 19 17:57:44 2007 From: maxisaacs at earthlink.net (Max Isaacs) Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2007 17:57:44 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Greasel SVO Truck Conversion For Sale Message-ID: <410-220076219215744812@earthlink.net> Hello. I have a 100 gallon Greasel (now golden fuel systems) SVO/WVO conversion kit from a 1999 Ford F-250 for sale. The kit is in good shape and all of the parts are there. I know that it will work on a 7.3 liter ford and i'm pretty sure that it will work on other big trucks as well. It sells new for $2457 and i'm asking $1700 for it. Email me if you are interested. To see all of the features and all that check out http://www.goldenfuelsystems.com/products_systems_ford.php Thanks, Ma From bobteixeira at mindspring.com Wed Jun 20 04:22:21 2007 From: bobteixeira at mindspring.com (Robert Teixeira) Date: Wed, 20 Jun 2007 04:22:21 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] road tax issues Message-ID: <7DF36E6B-C7CB-4116-B78F-60A8AFCEB9FC@mindspring.com> Hello all, In case you are interested, with the onslaught of publicity over my issue with the DOR, I agreed to do one more interview. NPR,s Marketplace will do a story that includes comments from Senator Bingham. I am looking forward to hearing Bingham's comments and perhaps there will be an update about the addendum to this legislative session. It will air on Wednesday. In our area the show airs at 6:30PM, not sure about other time zones. all the best, Bob . From jhmidler at nc.rr.com Wed Jun 20 11:11:52 2007 From: jhmidler at nc.rr.com (Jon Herz-Midler) Date: Wed, 20 Jun 2007 11:11:52 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Got a good Chapel Hill/Pittsboro area VW diesel mechanic? Message-ID: <467943B8.2000903@nc.rr.com> We have had our old Mercedes worked on at a Better Wrench in Chapel Hill. But now we have a used Jetta TDI as well. Does anyone have any recommendations for a good VW diesel mechanic in the area, preferably one who is biodiesel friendly? Thanks, guys! Jon From CConnor at luckstone.com Wed Jun 20 11:17:43 2007 From: CConnor at luckstone.com (Chris . Connor) Date: Wed, 20 Jun 2007 11:17:43 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Got a good Chapel Hill/Pittsboro area VWdiesel mechanic? In-Reply-To: <467943B8.2000903@nc.rr.com> Message-ID: <251B95786C295C48BD9C2E0D678D84B50EDDD880@5825-ml.luck.net> I've heard raves about Tioga Honigman at Automotive Solutions, although I have not had the opportunity to use his services personally. c2 Automotive Solutions 2809 White Cross Road Chapel Hill, NC 919-933-3884 -----Original Message----- From: biofuels_interest_group-bounces at lists.emji.net [mailto:biofuels_interest_group-bounces at lists.emji.net] On Behalf Of Jon Herz-Midler Sent: Wednesday, June 20, 2007 11:12 AM To: Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Got a good Chapel Hill/Pittsboro area VWdiesel mechanic? We have had our old Mercedes worked on at a Better Wrench in Chapel Hill. But now we have a used Jetta TDI as well. Does anyone have any recommendations for a good VW diesel mechanic in the area, preferably one who is biodiesel friendly? Thanks, guys! Jon _______________________________________________ Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group ______________________________________________________________________ This e-mail has been scanned by MCI Managed Email Content Service, using Skeptic(tm) technology powered by MessageLabs. For more information on MCI's Managed Email Content Service, visit http://www.mci.com. ______________________________________________________________________ From rachlh at yahoo.com Wed Jun 20 12:31:07 2007 From: rachlh at yahoo.com (Rachel Hoff) Date: Wed, 20 Jun 2007 09:31:07 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Got a good Chapel Hill/Pittsboro area VWdiesel mechanic? In-Reply-To: <251B95786C295C48BD9C2E0D678D84B50EDDD880@5825-ml.luck.net> Message-ID: <24626.79065.qm@web52009.mail.re2.yahoo.com> For basic stuff I take both of my vw's to F+F Auto near weaver st., right next to Phydouex (sp?). Mr Fogelman is a fantastic, detailed oriented, affordable mechanic. For the big jobs I take them to Tioga, Automotive Solutions he is fantastic but the bus does not go there. Have a great day. Rachel --- "Chris . Connor" wrote: > I've heard raves about Tioga Honigman at Automotive > Solutions, although > I have not had the opportunity to use his services > personally. > c2 > > Automotive Solutions > 2809 White Cross Road > Chapel Hill, NC > 919-933-3884 > > -----Original Message----- > From: biofuels_interest_group-bounces at lists.emji.net > [mailto:biofuels_interest_group-bounces at lists.emji.net] > On Behalf Of Jon > Herz-Midler > Sent: Wednesday, June 20, 2007 11:12 AM > To: Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net > Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Got a good Chapel > Hill/Pittsboro area > VWdiesel mechanic? > > We have had our old Mercedes worked on at a Better > Wrench in Chapel > Hill. But now we have a used Jetta TDI as well. Does > anyone have any > recommendations for a good VW diesel mechanic in the > area, preferably > one who is biodiesel friendly? > > Thanks, guys! > > Jon > > _______________________________________________ > Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list > Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net > http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group > > ______________________________________________________________________ > This e-mail has been scanned by MCI Managed Email > Content Service, using > Skeptic(tm) technology powered by MessageLabs. For > more information on > MCI's Managed Email Content Service, visit > http://www.mci.com. > ______________________________________________________________________ > _______________________________________________ > Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list > Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net > http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group > ____________________________________________________________________________________ Moody friends. Drama queens. Your life? Nope! - their life, your story. Play Sims Stories at Yahoo! Games. http://sims.yahoo.com/ From info at theforestfoundation.org Wed Jun 20 14:26:31 2007 From: info at theforestfoundation.org (Info-TFF) Date: Wed, 20 Jun 2007 14:26:31 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Whoa, we thought gas was expensive! Message-ID: <46797157.9080809@theforestfoundation.org> * ** Think a gallon of gas is expensive? ** This makes one think, and also puts things in perspective. ** Diet Snapple 16 oz $1.29 ... $10.32 per gallon ** Lipton Ice Tea 16 oz $1.19 ..........$9.52 per gallon *! *Gatorade 20 oz $1.59 .... $10.17 per gallon ** Ocean Spray 16 oz $1.25 ......... $10.00 per gallon ** Brake Fluid 12 oz $3.15 ......... $33.60 per gallon ** Vick 's Nyq uil 6 oz $8.35 ... $178.13 per gallon ** Pepto Bismol 4 oz $3.85 .. $123.20 per gallon ** Whiteout 7 oz $1.39 ....... . $25.42 per gallon ** Scope 1.5 oz $0.99 .....$84.48 per gallon And this is t! he REAL KICKER... ** Evian water 9 oz $1.49..........$21.19 per gallon! $21.19 for WATER and the buyers don't even know the source. (Evian spelled backwards is Naive.) Ever wonder why printers are so cheap? So they have you hooked for the ink. Someone calculated the cost of the ink at................ you won't believe it................... but it is true........................ $5,200 a gal. (five thousand two hundred dollars) So, the next time you're at the pump, be glad your car doesn't run on water, Scope, or Whiteout, Pepto Bismol, Nyquil or God forbid, Printer Ink!!!!! ** Just a little humor to help ease the< FONT c olor=blue> pain of your next trip to the pump... And - If you don't pass this along to at least one person, your muffler will fall off!! * *Here some cool websites:* * http://www.commutesolutions.org/calc.htm http://priceofoil.org/thepriceofoil http://www.evworld.com/news.cfm?newsid=11520 http://www.globalexchange.org/war_peace_democracy/oil/1180.html http://ndcf.homeip.net/ndcf/energy/NDCF_Hidden_Costs_of_Imported_Oil.pdf ** * From englander at hotmail.com Wed Jun 20 15:51:56 2007 From: englander at hotmail.com (Mark Englander) Date: Wed, 20 Jun 2007 19:51:56 +0000 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] News from BOB TEIXEIRA Message-ID: The show will air on Marketplace today at 6:30 PM. Senator Bingham is on it as well. Hope all is well. Bob _________________________________________________________________ Need a break? Find your escape route with Live Search Maps. http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?ss=Restaurants~Hotels~Amusement%20Park&cp=33.832922~-117.915659&style=r&lvl=13&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=1118863&encType=1&FORM=MGAC01 From wrenchwench at blast.com Wed Jun 20 16:51:58 2007 From: wrenchwench at blast.com (Rachel Burton) Date: Wed, 20 Jun 2007 16:51:58 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Fwd: automoblie on east coasdt References: Message-ID: Anyone have a diesel van for these folks? If so, please contact Gillian direct at gvickers at ucsc.edu Begin forwarded message: > From: "Gillian Rose Vickers" > Date: June 20, 2007 1:58:00 PM EDT > To: rachel at biofuels.coop, lief at biofuels.coop > Subject: automoblie on east coasdt > > hi, my name is gillian > i work witht he santa cruz biofuels coop, out here in calif. > i am going on a cross country roadtrip this summer with some firends, > begiining in august. we leave from ny and are driving across the > country to buring man > excpet, we need an automobile! > we are looking for a van, but anything cheap and diesel works for us > any suggestions on were were might find a car? > thanks a lot > peacethrugrease > ~gillie From bonitz at cleanenergy.org Thu Jun 21 10:03:36 2007 From: bonitz at cleanenergy.org (John Bonitz) Date: Thu, 21 Jun 2007 10:03:36 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Stunning Production Breakthrough For Both Biodiesel and Ethanol In-Reply-To: <004101c7b390$873ef0a0$680aa8c0@GSMcCoy> Message-ID: Friends, The following article and commentary were shared with me yesterday. Describes a process using E.coli to convert glycerin into ethanol. If this microbial process becomes commercialized, the biodiesel business will greatly improve. Enjoy the article! John ~ ~ ~ John Bonitz, Farm Outreach & Policy Advocate Southern Alliance for Clean Energy PO Box 1833, Pittsboro, NC 27312 Phone: 919-545-2920 Mobile: 919-360-2492 bonitz at cleanenergy.org ***************ENCLOSURE*************** Wednesday, June 20, 2007 Stunning Ethanol Production Breakthrough With U.S. biodiesel production at an all-time high and a record number of new biodiesel plants under construction, the industry is facing an impending crisis over waste glycerin, the major byproduct of biodiesel production. New findings from Rice University suggest a possible answer in the form of a bacterium that ferments glycerin and produces ethanol, another popular biofuel. "We identified the metabolic processes and conditions that allow a known strain of E. coli to convert glycerin into ethanol," said Ramon Gonzalez, the William Akers Assistant Professor in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. "It's also very efficient. We estimate the operational costs to be about 40 percent less that those of producing ethanol from corn." Gonzalez said the biodiesel industry's rapid growth has created a glycerin glut. The glut has forced glycerin producers like Dow Chemical (DOW) and Procter & Gamble (PG) to shutter plants, and Gonzalez said some biodiesel producers are already unable to sell glycerin and instead must pay to dispose of it. "One pound of glycerin is produced for every 10 pounds of biodiesel," Gonzalez said. "The biodiesel business has tight margins, and until recently, glycerin was a valuable commodity, one that producers counted on selling to ensure profitability." Researchers across the globe are racing to find ways to turn waste glycerin into profit. While some are looking at traditional chemical processing -- finding a way to catalyze reactions that break glycerin into other chemicals -- others, including Gonzalez, are focused on biological conversion. In biological conversion, researchers engineer a microorganism that can eat a specific chemical feedstock and excrete something useful. Many drugs are made this way, and the chemical processing industry is increasingly finding bioprocessing to be a "greener," and sometimes cheaper, alternative to chemical processing. In a review article in the June issue of Current Opinion in Biotechnology, Gonzalez points out that very few microorganisms are capable of digesting glycerin in an oxygen-free environment. This oxygen-free process -- known as anaerobic fermentation -- is the most economical and widely used process for biological conversion. "We are confident that our findings will enable the use of E. coli to anaerobically produce ethanol and other products from glycerin with higher yields and lower cost than can be obtained using common sugar-based feedstocks like glucose and xylose," Gonzalez said. Find article here: Commentary: We all had to know it was coming, right? Perhaps both OPEC and the US oil companies caught wind of this and that was the genesis of their saber rattling lately? Annual consumption of glycerin in the United States has ranged between 400 million and 450 million pounds for the past three years (2003-2006). Domestic production figures show that approximately 400 million pounds per year was produced heading into the turn of the century. The U.S. biodiesel industry is expected to produce an estimated 1.4 billion pounds of glycerin valued at $289 million between 2006 and 2015, according to an economic study by John Urbanchuk, director of LECG Inc. According to projections gleaned from NBB estimates, the industry could produce as much as 200 million pounds this year alone. Crude glycerin that once fetched between 20 and 25 cents per pound is now edging closer to 5 cents and lower. This is down from the high of $1.08 in 1996. The glut and pricing pressure have led Dow to close it's 150 million pound per year facility in Freeport, Texas. Ethanol giants like Archer Daniel's (ADM) had previously put glycerin facility plans on hold at the turn of the century as prices collapsed. ADM will produce an estimated 250 mmgpy of biodiesel in the US by the end of 2007 which equates to 25 mmgpy of glycerin. As ethanol production costs of 40% less than corn, anyone want to bet the glycerin facilities plans that are on hold will be jump started? From wrenchwench at blast.com Fri Jun 22 16:04:46 2007 From: wrenchwench at blast.com (Rachel Burton) Date: Fri, 22 Jun 2007 16:04:46 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] What a Way To Go World Premiere! References: <869103746.1182541064045.JavaMail.nobody@james0> Message-ID: <508C8DF8-7689-4DCB-A81E-7F04AD578AE6@blast.com> Begin forwarded message: > > When: Sunday, July 8, 2007, 7:00 PM > Where: Galaxy Theater > Cary , NC 27511 > > NC Powerdown is a sponsor for this event, and Tim and Sally are > longtime NC Powerdown members. Please help support this event by > attending and passing on the word! > > You are invited to this special screening and dialogue with the > filmmakers! > What a Way to Go: Life at the End of Empire > a 123 minute independent documentary by local filmmakers > Tim Bennett and Sally Erickson, will premiere at : > The Galaxy Theater, Cary > July 8th at 7:00 pm. > $10 suggested donation > > MARK YOUR CALENDAR NOW! > > This is the kick-off event of the What a Way To Go summer screening > tour! > > This is what reviewers are saying: > > "Nothing less than a 123-minute cat scan of the planet and its > twenty-first century human and non-human condition. ~ Carolyn Baker > CarolynBaker.org > > "perhaps the most important media message of our time? ~Jan > Lundberg at CultureChange.org > > "Hundreds of my readers have told me that my novel Ishmael should > be read in every high school classroom in the world. Naturally I?d > be delighted to see this happen, but I really think it would be > more to the point to have What a Way to Go: Life at the End of > Empire seen in every high school classroom in the world! The two > hours of this documentary are two hours that bring hope for the > future of humanity by awakening and informing in the most profound > yet lucid way imaginable.? ~Daniel Quinn, author of Ishmael > > What a Way to Go features interviews with Derrick Jensen, Daniel > Quinn, William Catton, Richard Manning, Paul Roberts, Chellis > Glendinning, Jerry Mander, Ran Prieur, William Scheslinger, Richard > Heinberg, and Thomas Berry. > > For more info see: www.whatawaytogomovie.com or email > producerwhatawaytogomovie.com. > > Event fee: > USD10.00 per person > > From taterpatch at gmail.com Mon Jun 25 11:53:26 2007 From: taterpatch at gmail.com (Randall Hayes) Date: Mon, 25 Jun 2007 11:53:26 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] sorghum Message-ID: <63311b250706250853h6fc37237l695145890608a445@mail.gmail.com> another possibilility for food PLUS fuel http://www.scidev.net/News/index.cfm?fuseaction=readNews&itemid=3694&language=1 -rh From wrenchwench at blast.com Mon Jun 25 15:16:29 2007 From: wrenchwench at blast.com (Rachel Burton) Date: Mon, 25 Jun 2007 15:16:29 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Fwd: A Global Discussion on the SCIENCE of Biodiesel References: <1101707221262.1011217832212.26969.6.181345DB@scheduler> Message-ID: <5E7EF042-6E5B-453D-8F32-379035499EC3@blast.com> Begin forwarded message: > From: "Michael J. Haas, Congress General Chair" > Date: June 25, 2007 1:45:34 PM EDT > To: rachel at biofuels.coop > Subject: A Global Discussion on the SCIENCE of Biodiesel > Reply-To: marketingmm at aocs.org > > > Join the global discussion on the SCIENCE of biodiesel! > > International Congress on Biodiesel: The Science and The Technologies > 5-7 November 2007, Vienna, Austria > Co-sponsored by the AOCS, the Agricultural Research Service of the > USDA, and the Malaysian Palm Oil Board. > > Register online before 20 July 2007 > to receive the special web discount. > > This congress is a unique opportunity for you to learn about > current research and to network with leading international > scientists. The opening session will include presentations by > regional experts on Asian, European, and North American > perspectives, with the closing session featuring regional experts > from India and South America. Concurrent sessions will discuss: > Engine performance and emissions > Glycerol > New feedstock supply > Government policy and tax situations worldwide > Fuel properties > Life cycle and sustainability analysis > New production technologies > Quality assurance specifications > Nearly 100 posters from 28 countries, a full exhibition, and the > technology showcase will complete the congress program. > > > Are you also looking for some practical knowledge on biodiesel? > Then attend the 8th AOCS Practical Biodiesel Short Course: > Processing, Chemistry, and Production, scheduled for 4-5 November > at the Hilton Vienna. Organized by Sefa Koseoglu, Filtration and > Membrane World LLC, the short course program of industry speakers > will provide detailed information about individual unit operations > involved in biodiesel production, basics of diesel engines, fuel > properties and analysis, and biodiesel plant design. This > practical short course is targeted for both experienced and entry- > level staff, including entrepreneurs, marketing staff, plant > operators, engineers, chemists, and technicians. > > > Don't miss this global discussion on the science of Biodiesel! > > > > www.aocs.org/meetings/biodiesel > > Forward this announcement to a colleague > > This email was sent to rachel at biofuels.coop, by meetings at aocs.org > Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with > SafeUnsubscribe? | Privacy Policy. > Email Marketing by > > AOCS | 2710 S. Boulder Dr. | Urbana | IL | 61802-6996 From bonitz at cleanenergy.org Mon Jun 25 18:12:24 2007 From: bonitz at cleanenergy.org (John Bonitz) Date: Mon, 25 Jun 2007 18:12:24 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Creating a green index of biofuels In-Reply-To: <009301c7b756$7d75a180$0201000a@WilsonAsus> Message-ID: Dear Friends, Those of us who make and consume biodiesel know very well that there is good fuel and bad fuel. Not only are feedstocks and production systems crucial, but the ways those feedstocks are grown also have impacts on energy and environment. It was perhaps a year or two ago that we first discussed the threat of deforestation for palm-plantations to feed biodiesel production. I predicted that one of the better environmental groups would come up with a "seal of approval" or some other means of differentiating the good from the bad. Then today a colleague passed this along to me, a step in the right direction: http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/ngreene/creating_a_green_index_for_bio.htm l It describes a report that "does a great job of explaining why production practices can make such a difference" on environmental impacts of biofuels. The report is called "Creating Markets for Green Biofuels." You can find the report here: http://docs.nrdc.org/air/air_07041601A.pdf ...and a press release from NRDC here: http://www.nrdc.org/media/2007/070417.asp Cheers! John ~ ~ ~ John Bonitz, Farm Outreach & Policy Advocate Southern Alliance for Clean Energy PO Box 1833, Pittsboro, NC 27312 Phone: 919-545-2920 Mobile: 919-360-2492 bonitz at cleanenergy.org Southern Alliance for Clean Energy promotes responsible energy choices that create global warming solutions and ensure clean, safe, and healthy communities throughout the Southeast. Learn more at http://www.cleanenergy.org. ------ End of Forwarded Message From aaron at trinitydesignbuild.com Wed Jun 27 08:14:57 2007 From: aaron at trinitydesignbuild.com (Aaron Lubeck) Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2007 08:14:57 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Green Building Restoration Contractor Hiring Skilled Carpenter/ LeadMan Message-ID: <20070627120254.2B280D39D9@mail2.blast.com> Trinity Design/Build is hiring a skilled carpenter / lead man for historic restoration projects. We're a local design and build contractor specializing in retrofitting green technology in historic homes. Nearly all work is around downtown Durham. Green building knowledge and preservation experience a plus, but not required. For the right person, this is a long-term career opportunity. Please email resume to aaron at trinitydesignbuild.com . From bob.barraza at earthlink.net Wed Jun 27 09:05:36 2007 From: bob.barraza at earthlink.net (bob.barraza at earthlink.net) Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2007 09:05:36 -0400 (GMT-04:00) Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Ford 6.0L Diesel and Bio-Diesel? Message-ID: <20206799.1182949537161.JavaMail.root@elwamui-little.atl.sa.earthlink.net> I recently purchased a 2004 F-250 with the 6.0L engine. I have started with B20 and naturally seen no problems, but I was wondering if there are any warnings or issues with this vehicle that I should be concerned about if I were to run B100? I am aware of the solvent/wax effects and the need to change the fuel filters, although with 15,000 miles on the vehicle, I wonder if this will be much of an issue. Also, I would appreciate recommendations for mechanics. I live in the NE section of Chatham County, so anywhere in the Triangle would be OK. Thanks for your input and to all that post. This is a fantastic site for learning about sustainable living. Bob From bonitz at cleanenergy.org Wed Jun 27 11:08:46 2007 From: bonitz at cleanenergy.org (John Bonitz) Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2007 11:08:46 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Southern utilities led effort to squash Senate RPS proposal In-Reply-To: Message-ID: Friends, Biopower being closely related to biofuels, I expect some of you will find this of interest. John ~ ~ ~ John Bonitz, Farm Outreach & Policy Advocate Southern Alliance for Clean Energy PO Box 1833, Pittsboro, NC 27312 Phone: 919-545-2920 Mobile: 919-360-2492 bonitz at cleanenergy.org Southern utilities led effort to squash Senate RPS proposal http://www.earthportal.org/news/?p=237 ATLANTA -- Southern utilities played key roles in the effort to undermine plans in the Senate last week to require power companies to generate at least 15 percent of their electricity from renewable energy. The fingerprints of the Tennessee Valley Authority and those of the Tennessee Valley Power Providers Association, whose members distribute TVA power to nearly 9 million customers in the South, were all over the successful effort to keep the so-called renewable portfolio standard (RPS) out of the sweeping Senate energy bill. So too were those of other major Southeastern utilities, including Southern Co. here and Duke Energy Corp. of Charlotte, N.C., both of whom pressed the message to lawmakers that a nationwide renewables mandate would undermine the South's stable electricity market by forcing utilities to draw more power from wind, biomass, geothermal and other forms of energy. Their message became a mantra for mostly Republican senators from the South. "Forcing Tennesseans to either build 40-story wind turbines on our pristine mountaintops or to pay billions in penalty taxes to the federal government amounts to a judge giving a defendant the choice to be hanged or shot," warned Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.). Tennessee's junior senator, Republican Bob Corker, labeled the RPS proposal as a "transfer of wealth" from the Southeast to other regions of the country where wind and solar power are more viable. Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions (R), in a June 14 floor speech, said it would not be feasible for utilities in the South to generate enough power from solar, wind or other renewable power sources to meet the RPS goal. He made his case using data provided by TVA, its power distributors in north Alabama, and the state's other dominant utility, Southern Co. [This is especially a shame because Sessions is a big cellulosic biofuels fan, thanks to prairie grass research at Auburn University: He hasn?t made the connection with biopower. ] 'Didn't seem fair for us' Proponents of the RPS proposal say the region's lawmakers missed a prime opportunity to expand the South's renewable energy base, which they say has far more potential than the utilities and their allies suggest. "We think that's very unfortunate," said Stephen Smith of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, a Knoxville-based advocacy group. "And we are going to let the customers in TVA's service area know that their energy providers were actively working against clean energy." . . . Read the entire article at http://www.earthportal.org/news/?p=237 From info at theforestfoundation.org Wed Jun 27 11:26:04 2007 From: info at theforestfoundation.org (info at theforestfoundation.org) Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2007 09:26:04 -0600 (MDT) Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Creating a green index of biofuels In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <1476.24.98.171.106.1182957964.squirrel@mail.npsis.com> Hey John, I forwarded the idea around to various players a while back including Ford Foundation and WRI, seeing if someone would create a certification system, like Smartwood, FSC, Transfair, Fair Trade, etc. labels. Ford has funded certification label systems, but never got a response. Glad to see something is moving forward. As we know real green, sustainable fuel, won't make a dent in demand, so we need to keep raising the bar, increase efficiency and get out of our cars. Peace, Marc > Dear Friends, > > Those of us who make and consume biodiesel know very well that there is > good > fuel and bad fuel. Not only are feedstocks and production systems > crucial, > but the ways those feedstocks are grown also have impacts on energy and > environment. > > It was perhaps a year or two ago that we first discussed the threat of > deforestation for palm-plantations to feed biodiesel production. I > predicted that one of the better environmental groups would come up with a > "seal of approval" or some other means of differentiating the good from > the > bad. > > Then today a colleague passed this along to me, a step in the right > direction: > http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/ngreene/creating_a_green_index_for_bio.htm > l > > It describes a report that "does a great job of explaining why production > practices can make such a difference" on environmental impacts of > biofuels. > The report is called "Creating Markets for Green Biofuels." You can find > the report here: http://docs.nrdc.org/air/air_07041601A.pdf > ...and a press release from NRDC here: > http://www.nrdc.org/media/2007/070417.asp > > Cheers! > John > > ~ ~ ~ > > John Bonitz, > Farm Outreach & Policy Advocate > Southern Alliance for Clean Energy > PO Box 1833, Pittsboro, NC 27312 > Phone: 919-545-2920 > Mobile: 919-360-2492 > bonitz at cleanenergy.org > > > Southern Alliance for Clean Energy promotes responsible energy choices > that > create global warming solutions and ensure clean, safe, and healthy > communities throughout the Southeast. Learn more at > http://www.cleanenergy.org. > > > > ------ End of Forwarded Message > > > _______________________________________________ > Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list > Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net > http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group > From evan at biofuels.coop Wed Jun 27 11:49:21 2007 From: evan at biofuels.coop (Evan Ashworth) Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2007 11:49:21 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Creating a green index of biofuels In-Reply-To: <1476.24.98.171.106.1182957964.squirrel@mail.npsis.com> References: <1476.24.98.171.106.1182957964.squirrel@mail.npsis.com> Message-ID: <38644.66.45.100.11.1182959361.squirrel@isp.emji.net> The link to the document doesn't work, but if you throw an "l" on the end of the .htm, it brings up the target page. Cheers, -e. > Hey John, > > I forwarded the idea around to various players a while back including Ford > Foundation and WRI, seeing if someone would create a certification system, > like Smartwood, FSC, Transfair, Fair Trade, etc. labels. Ford has funded > certification label systems, but never got a response. Glad to see > something is moving forward. As we know real green, sustainable fuel, > won't make a dent in demand, so we need to keep raising the bar, increase > efficiency and get out of our cars. > > Peace, > > Marc > >> Dear Friends, >> >> Those of us who make and consume biodiesel know very well that there is >> good >> fuel and bad fuel. Not only are feedstocks and production systems >> crucial, >> but the ways those feedstocks are grown also have impacts on energy and >> environment. >> >> It was perhaps a year or two ago that we first discussed the threat of >> deforestation for palm-plantations to feed biodiesel production. I >> predicted that one of the better environmental groups would come up with >> a >> "seal of approval" or some other means of differentiating the good from >> the >> bad. >> >> Then today a colleague passed this along to me, a step in the right >> direction: >> http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/ngreene/creating_a_green_index_for_bio.htm >> l >> >> It describes a report that "does a great job of explaining why >> production >> practices can make such a difference" on environmental impacts of >> biofuels. >> The report is called "Creating Markets for Green Biofuels." You can >> find >> the report here: http://docs.nrdc.org/air/air_07041601A.pdf >> ...and a press release from NRDC here: >> http://www.nrdc.org/media/2007/070417.asp >> >> Cheers! >> John >> >> ~ ~ ~ >> >> John Bonitz, >> Farm Outreach & Policy Advocate >> Southern Alliance for Clean Energy >> PO Box 1833, Pittsboro, NC 27312 >> Phone: 919-545-2920 >> Mobile: 919-360-2492 >> bonitz at cleanenergy.org >> >> >> Southern Alliance for Clean Energy promotes responsible energy choices >> that >> create global warming solutions and ensure clean, safe, and healthy >> communities throughout the Southeast. Learn more at >> http://www.cleanenergy.org. >> >> >> >> ------ End of Forwarded Message >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list >> Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net >> http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group >> > > > _______________________________________________ > Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list > Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net > http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group > From markj.ambrose at gmail.com Wed Jun 27 12:18:32 2007 From: markj.ambrose at gmail.com (Mark J. Ambrose) Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2007 12:18:32 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Southern utilities led effort to squash Senate RPS proposal In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <46828DD8.9030701@gmail.com> I know that southern utility companies have been opposing the renewable portfolio standard, but it seems really strange that the TVA would oppose it. The TVA does operate a number of fossil fuel and nuclear plants, but it also operates a large number of hydro-electric plants. I would think that its hydro-electric output is well over 15% of is total, so that a 15% renewable requirement for member utilities would be no burden at all. -- Mark John Bonitz wrote: > Friends, > Biopower being closely related to biofuels, I expect some of you will find > this of interest. > John > > ~ ~ ~ > > John Bonitz, > Farm Outreach & Policy Advocate > Southern Alliance for Clean Energy > PO Box 1833, Pittsboro, NC 27312 > Phone: 919-545-2920 > Mobile: 919-360-2492 > bonitz at cleanenergy.org > > > > > Southern utilities led effort to squash Senate RPS proposal > http://www.earthportal.org/news/?p=237 > > ATLANTA -- Southern utilities played key roles in the effort to undermine > plans in the Senate last week to require power companies to generate at > least 15 percent of their electricity from renewable energy. > > The fingerprints of the Tennessee Valley Authority and those of the > Tennessee Valley Power Providers Association, whose members distribute TVA > power to nearly 9 million customers in the South, were all over the > successful effort to keep the so-called renewable portfolio standard (RPS) > out of the sweeping Senate energy bill. > > So too were those of other major Southeastern utilities, including Southern > Co. here and Duke Energy Corp. of Charlotte, N.C., both of whom pressed the > message to lawmakers that a nationwide renewables mandate would undermine > the South's stable electricity market by forcing utilities to draw more > power from wind, biomass, geothermal and other forms of energy. > > Their message became a mantra for mostly Republican senators from the South. > "Forcing Tennesseans to either build 40-story wind turbines on our pristine > mountaintops or to pay billions in penalty taxes to the federal government > amounts to a judge giving a defendant the choice to be hanged or shot," > warned Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.). > > Tennessee's junior senator, Republican Bob Corker, labeled the RPS proposal > as a "transfer of wealth" from the Southeast to other regions of the country > where wind and solar power are more viable. > > Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions (R), in a June 14 floor speech, said it would not > be feasible for utilities in the South to generate enough power from solar, > wind or other renewable power sources to meet the RPS goal. He made his case > using data provided by TVA, its power distributors in north Alabama, and the > state's other dominant utility, Southern Co. > > [This is especially a shame because Sessions is a big cellulosic biofuels > fan, thanks to prairie grass research at Auburn University: He hasn?t made > the connection with biopower. ] > > 'Didn't seem fair for us' > Proponents of the RPS proposal say the region's lawmakers missed a prime > opportunity to expand the South's renewable energy base, which they say has > far more potential than the utilities and their allies suggest. > > "We think that's very unfortunate," said Stephen Smith of the Southern > Alliance for Clean Energy, a Knoxville-based advocacy group. "And we are > going to let the customers in TVA's service area know that their energy > providers were actively working against clean energy." > > . . . > > Read the entire article at http://www.earthportal.org/news/?p=237 > > > > _______________________________________________ > Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list > Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net > http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group > > From markj.ambrose at gmail.com Wed Jun 27 13:59:54 2007 From: markj.ambrose at gmail.com (Mark J. Ambrose) Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2007 13:59:54 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Southern utilities led effort to squash Senate RPS proposal] Message-ID: <4682A59A.5070003@unity.ncsu.edu> I know that southern utility companies have been opposing the renewable portfolio standard, but it seems really strange that the TVA would oppose it. The TVA does operate a number of fossil fuel and nuclear plants, but it also operates a large number of hydro-electric plants. I would think that its hydro-electric output is well over 15% of is total, so that a 15% renewable requirement for member utilities would be no burden at all. -- Mark John Bonitz wrote: > Friends, > Biopower being closely related to biofuels, I expect some of you will find > this of interest. > John > > ~ ~ ~ > > John Bonitz, > Farm Outreach & Policy Advocate > Southern Alliance for Clean Energy > PO Box 1833, Pittsboro, NC 27312 > Phone: 919-545-2920 > Mobile: 919-360-2492 > bonitz at cleanenergy.org > > > > > Southern utilities led effort to squash Senate RPS proposal > http://www.earthportal.org/news/?p=237 > > ATLANTA -- Southern utilities played key roles in the effort to undermine > plans in the Senate last week to require power companies to generate at > least 15 percent of their electricity from renewable energy. > > The fingerprints of the Tennessee Valley Authority and those of the > Tennessee Valley Power Providers Association, whose members distribute TVA > power to nearly 9 million customers in the South, were all over the > successful effort to keep the so-called renewable portfolio standard (RPS) > out of the sweeping Senate energy bill. > > So too were those of other major Southeastern utilities, including Southern > Co. here and Duke Energy Corp. of Charlotte, N.C., both of whom pressed the > message to lawmakers that a nationwide renewables mandate would undermine > the South's stable electricity market by forcing utilities to draw more > power from wind, biomass, geothermal and other forms of energy. > > Their message became a mantra for mostly Republican senators from the South. > "Forcing Tennesseans to either build 40-story wind turbines on our pristine > mountaintops or to pay billions in penalty taxes to the federal government > amounts to a judge giving a defendant the choice to be hanged or shot," > warned Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.). > > Tennessee's junior senator, Republican Bob Corker, labeled the RPS proposal > as a "transfer of wealth" from the Southeast to other regions of the country > where wind and solar power are more viable. > > Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions (R), in a June 14 floor speech, said it would not > be feasible for utilities in the South to generate enough power from solar, > wind or other renewable power sources to meet the RPS goal. He made his case > using data provided by TVA, its power distributors in north Alabama, and the > state's other dominant utility, Southern Co. > > [This is especially a shame because Sessions is a big cellulosic biofuels > fan, thanks to prairie grass research at Auburn University: He hasn?t made > the connection with biopower. ] > > 'Didn't seem fair for us' > Proponents of the RPS proposal say the region's lawmakers missed a prime > opportunity to expand the South's renewable energy base, which they say has > far more potential than the utilities and their allies suggest. > > "We think that's very unfortunate," said Stephen Smith of the Southern > Alliance for Clean Energy, a Knoxville-based advocacy group. "And we are > going to let the customers in TVA's service area know that their energy > providers were actively working against clean energy." > > . . . > > Read the entire article at http://www.earthportal.org/news/?p=237 > > > > _______________________________________________ > Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list > Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net > http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group > > From gena5 at bellsouth.net Wed Jun 27 17:47:49 2007 From: gena5 at bellsouth.net (Gena) Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2007 17:47:49 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] two new beetle tdi Message-ID: i was speaking to flow volkswagen today looking for a car for a friend, and i thought i'd pass on these two cars they have, the milage on the '01 is remarkable. both tdi: 2000 new beetle automatic, white, gray interior, 53K mi 12,995 2001 new beetle automatic, silver, gray leather, 29K mi 13,500 more info from: don smith 336-669-6616 flow volkswagen gena From shiftlink at gmail.com Wed Jun 27 20:19:38 2007 From: shiftlink at gmail.com (Cameron Conover) Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2007 20:19:38 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Turn tires back into oil? Message-ID: <4c758e6d0706271719m69e2d081xdfc114a56c037a92@mail.gmail.com> http://environment.newscientist.com/article/dn12141-giant-microwave-turns-plastic-back-to-oil.html Pretty neat stuff. A US company is taking plastics recycling to another level ? turning them back into the oil they were made from, and gas. All that is needed, claims Global Resource Corporation (GRC), is a finely tuned microwave and ? hey presto! ? a mix of materials that were made from oil can be reduced back to oil and combustible gas (and a few leftovers). Key to GRC's process is a machine that uses 1200 different frequencies within the microwave range, which act on specific hydrocarbon materials. As the material is zapped at the appropriate wavelength, part of the hydrocarbons that make up the plastic and rubber in the material are broken down into diesel oil and combustible gas. GRC's machine is called the Hawk-10. Its smaller incarnations look just like an industrial microwave with bits of machinery attached to it. Larger versions resemble a concrete mixer. "Anything that has a hydrocarbon base will be affected by our process," says Jerry Meddick, director of business development at GRC, based in New Jersey. "We release those hydrocarbon molecules from the material and it then becomes gas and oil." Whatever does not have a hydrocarbon base is left behind, minus any water it contained as this gets evaporated in the microwave. Simplified recycling "Take a piece of copper wiring," says Meddick. "It is encased in plastic ? a kind of hydrocarbon material. We release all the hydrocarbons, which strips the casing off the wire." Not only does the process produce fuel in the form of oil and gas, it also makes it easier to extract the copper wire for recycling. Similarly, running 9.1 kilograms of ground-up tyres through the Hawk-10 produces 4.54 litres of diesel oil, 1.42 cubic metres of combustible gas, 1 kg of steel and 3.40 kg of carbon black, Meddick says. Watch a video of tyre powder being reduced by the Hawk-10. Less landfill Gershow Recycling, a scrap metal company based in New York, US, has just said it will be the first to buy a Hawk-10. Gershow collects metal products, shreds them and turns them into usable pure metals. Most of its scrap comes from old cars, but for every ton of steel that the company recovers, between 226 kg and 318 kg of "autofluff" is produced. Autofluff is the stuff that is left over after a car has been shredded and the steel extracted. It contains plastics, rubber, wood, paper, fabrics, glass, sand, dirt, and various bits of metal. GRC says its Hawk-10 can extract enough oil and gas from the left-over fluff to run the Hawk-10 itself and a number of other machines used by Gershow. Because it makes extracting reusable metal more efficient and evaporates water from autofluff, the Hawk-10 should also reduce the amount of end material that needs to be deposited in landfill sites. From wooster at coastalnet.com Thu Jun 28 22:02:37 2007 From: wooster at coastalnet.com (BENJAMIN F BARNES) Date: Thu, 28 Jun 2007 22:02:37 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Turn tires back into oil? Message-ID: <410-2200765292237843@coastalnet.com> I would be curious to know how much energy this takes Ben > [Original Message] > From: Cameron Conover > To: BIG > Date: 6/27/2007 8:20:12 PM > Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Turn tires back into oil? > > http://environment.newscientist.com/article/dn12141-giant-microwave-turns-pl astic-back-to-oil.html > > Pretty neat stuff. > A US company is taking plastics recycling to another level ? turning > them back into the oil they were made from, and gas. > > All that is needed, claims Global Resource Corporation (GRC), is a > finely tuned microwave and ? hey presto! ? a mix of materials that > were made from oil can be reduced back to oil and combustible gas (and > a few leftovers). > > Key to GRC's process is a machine that uses 1200 different frequencies > within the microwave range, which act on specific hydrocarbon > materials. As the material is zapped at the appropriate wavelength, > part of the hydrocarbons that make up the plastic and rubber in the > material are broken down into diesel oil and combustible gas. > > GRC's machine is called the Hawk-10. Its smaller incarnations look > just like an industrial microwave with bits of machinery attached to > it. Larger versions resemble a concrete mixer. > > "Anything that has a hydrocarbon base will be affected by our > process," says Jerry Meddick, director of business development at GRC, > based in New Jersey. "We release those hydrocarbon molecules from the > material and it then becomes gas and oil." > > Whatever does not have a hydrocarbon base is left behind, minus any > water it contained as this gets evaporated in the microwave. > Simplified recycling > > "Take a piece of copper wiring," says Meddick. "It is encased in > plastic ? a kind of hydrocarbon material. We release all the > hydrocarbons, which strips the casing off the wire." Not only does the > process produce fuel in the form of oil and gas, it also makes it > easier to extract the copper wire for recycling. > > Similarly, running 9.1 kilograms of ground-up tyres through the > Hawk-10 produces 4.54 litres of diesel oil, 1.42 cubic metres of > combustible gas, 1 kg of steel and 3.40 kg of carbon black, Meddick > says. > > Watch a video of tyre powder being reduced by the Hawk-10. > Less landfill > > Gershow Recycling, a scrap metal company based in New York, US, has > just said it will be the first to buy a Hawk-10. Gershow collects > metal products, shreds them and turns them into usable pure metals. > Most of its scrap comes from old cars, but for every ton of steel that > the company recovers, between 226 kg and 318 kg of "autofluff" is > produced. > > Autofluff is the stuff that is left over after a car has been shredded > and the steel extracted. It contains plastics, rubber, wood, paper, > fabrics, glass, sand, dirt, and various bits of metal. GRC says its > Hawk-10 can extract enough oil and gas from the left-over fluff to run > the Hawk-10 itself and a number of other machines used by Gershow. > > Because it makes extracting reusable metal more efficient and > evaporates water from autofluff, the Hawk-10 should also reduce the > amount of end material that needs to be deposited in landfill sites. > _______________________________________________ > Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list > Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net > http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group From dhoneycut at earthlink.net Fri Jun 29 06:52:28 2007 From: dhoneycut at earthlink.net (Daniel ) Date: Fri, 29 Jun 2007 06:52:28 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Biodiesel Workshop to be held in Salisbury, NC In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <000001c7ba3b$96f5b3b0$6401a8c0@honeycut435fz8> BioDiesel Workshop - July 10, 6:30-8:30 p.m., RCCC North Campus, Building 100, Room 100, Salisbury, NC http://www.rowancabarrus.edu/news/press_releases/2007/06-19-07.html From tavanas at gmail.com Fri Jun 29 08:03:05 2007 From: tavanas at gmail.com (t avanas) Date: Fri, 29 Jun 2007 08:03:05 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] WAG-COM References: <000001c7ba3b$96f5b3b0$6401a8c0@honeycut435fz8> Message-ID: <005c01c7ba45$743b6db0$120d530a@amer.cisco.com> does anyone on this list have access to a WAG-COM? i have changed the timing belt on my '99 tdi and need to check/set timing and clear check engine light. thanks saeed near apex, nc From gena5 at bellsouth.net Sat Jun 30 14:44:09 2007 From: gena5 at bellsouth.net (Gena) Date: Sat, 30 Jun 2007 14:44:09 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] question about sprinter van Message-ID: from my research, i see that the 07 sprinter has been redesigned and has a new engine. well, i can clearly see the differences in the aesthetics, but can someone give me a clue as to the advantages/disadvantages of the new engine vs. the old engine? thanks in advance, gena