From girlmark_list_email at localb100.com Thu Dec 4 10:45:55 2008 From: girlmark_list_email at localb100.com (girl Mark) Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2008 07:45:55 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Biodiesel Crash Course- Wilmington, NC Dec 6-7 Message-ID: <80581a6c79e0724490b27aa0fd043c1f.squirrel@www.webmail.localb100.com> Biodiesel Production Crash Course: Beyond the Minibatch hands-on class (new format!) with Maria 'girl Mark' Alovert December 6-7, 2008, 10-5 each day Wilmington, NC area: Cape Fear Community College North Nampus: 4500 Blue Clay Rd, Castle Hayne NC 28429 room NB-140 Directions at CFCC website: http://cfcc.edu/pio/directions.htm For more information and to register, please see www.girlmark.com/tour This is a fast-paced class designed to quickly teach the skills needed for safely making high quality biodiesel, using a unique and truly hands-on format. After learning basic theory, practicing titration, making mini-batches, and learning quality testing, students will spend a full day solidifying what they learned by making biodiesel in realistic "Processor Stations', practicing every step used in a full-size home biodiesel production system. Student teams will operate realistic, tabletop 5-gallon processor systems- a miniature version of the common Appleseed Processor/wash tank/dry tank found around the world- and the tabletop reactor will familiarize them with every valve, tank, pump, switch, and interconnect that would be found in a full-size system. The goal of the class format is to take the hands-on learning experience a big step beyond the '1-liter mini-batch' equipment used in most biodiesel classes. There will also be a full-size reactor system on a trailer at the class, including GL-1 and pot still-type methanol recovery systems. Background: In most biodiesel workshops (including my own Biodiesel Essentials), "hands-on time" usually means a few hours of lab work involving titration and shaking 1-liter soda bottle batches, or, at best, a demonstration by the instructor of some pre-arranged steps in a full-size reactor, performed once, with the students just watching. Neither of these is an ideal learning method for the complexity involved in using a 'real' biodiesel reactor on your own for the first time at home. People who are hands-on learners sometimes need more time on "realistic" equipment operation in addition to the 1-liter shaken soda bottle batch method. Operating your own processors in class would be more realistic than 1-liter glassware batches- but is very difficult to arrange as a class for 20 people. Operating a full system can also make it easier to understand equipment choices that face you as you design your own home system after the class, or help decide on one to purchase. Format: In the crash course, you will first learn the basic theory using a standard one-day mini-batch class, then spend the next day actually operating (with a team of 5-8) your own 'realistic' 5-gallon mini-reactor and processing system. You and your team will make decisions and mistakes, with constant personalized guidance to ensure that you understand why every step is done as well as when. Teams may choose from several variations on the basic process, and we will focus on quality control and equipment/process decisions needed to make high quality biodiesel, safe processing methods, and efficient system design. Equipment Building: We can also build some processors at the end of the class. Preparation and reading: To make the class run smoothly, please read the www.biodieselcommunity.org website before the class, so that you have some idea of the basic process. Copies of Biodiesel Homebrew Guide will also be available for sale fpr $15 at the class: www.localb100.com/book.html , and there will be a short handout with some basic formulas for later reference. About the instructor: Maria 'girl Mark' Alovert is a biodiesel production technology consultant based in North Carolina. She is the author of The Biodiesel Homebrew Guide, a manual on biodiesel production (http://localb100.com), the founder of the community-written biodiesel homebrewing tutorial site http://biodieselcommunity.org and is the inventor of the Appleseed Processor, an 'open source' design now used by thousands of people around the world to produce biodiesel on a 'homebrew' scale. She has been involved in home-scale biodiesel technology development since 2000. She frequently teaches beginning and advanced biodiesel production classes around the country and is a an active participant in biodiesel production discussion forums such as http://biodiesel.infopop.cc From taj at daylightmagazine.org Thu Dec 4 11:23:54 2008 From: taj at daylightmagazine.org (Taj Forer) Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2008 11:23:54 -0500 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] '02 Jetta TDI for sale In-Reply-To: <80581a6c79e0724490b27aa0fd043c1f.squirrel@www.webmail.localb100.com> References: <80581a6c79e0724490b27aa0fd043c1f.squirrel@www.webmail.localb100.com> Message-ID: <84BFB251-7365-444D-8EB6-0599A0DAB033@daylightmagazine.org> For Sale: 2002 VW Jetta TDI GLS. Automatic transmission, power locks, power sunroof, power windows, keyless entry, ABS, lots of airbags, premium sound system (amplifier in truck, premium speakers). Amazing car, amazing engine. Averages 42 MPG combined hwy / in-town. 132k miles. Car is in excellent condition with no problems. Timing belt has been replaced by VW dealership. Asking $10,500 obo. Please e-mail or call (919) 619-9943 with serious inquiries. -------------- next part -------------- From mattr at biofuels.coop Thu Dec 4 17:23:39 2008 From: mattr at biofuels.coop (Matthew Rudolf) Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2008 17:23:39 -0500 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] San Francisco Biodiesel Summit Message-ID: <57C028CE-1BE9-43B9-80B7-8DF6EA78430D@biofuels.coop> REGISTER NOW! 2009 Sustainable Biodiesel Summit: Localize It! Celebrating Community Scale Biodiesel. January 31st & February 1st 2009 Moscone Center, San Francisco, California We are really excited about this year?s Summit because it will be in one of the country's biodiesel hotspots! The 6th Annual Sustainable Biodiesel Summit is the place to be to learn why sustainability is critical for the industry, share technical experience and exchange best practices tailored specifically to sustainable biodiesel production and distribution. Conveniently preceding the National Biodiesel Board?s annual conference and located in the same convention center. "Localize it!" the 2009 Sustainable Biodiesel Summit, will feature: Experienced and inspirational speakers from across the sustainability community Case studies on sustainability within the biodiesel industry Practical sessions for producers, distributors and consumers ? Exceptional networking opportunities For the 6th year the Sustainable Biodiesel Summit (SBS) is meeting to further the work of sustainability in the biodiesel industry at large. The SBS is known for bringing fresh and important information to the biodiesel industry. We will focus on community scale, bioregionally appropriate biodiesel and the benefits to our urban centers and rural communities. Presentations and break-out sessions will cover principles for sustainability, on-farm biodiesel, feedstock production and procurement, and biodiesel processing and distribution. The Sustainable Biodiesel Summit precedes the National Biodiesel Board's annual conference. Both conferences will be located at the Moscone Center. Participants to this year's Summit will include biodiesel entrepreneurs, educators and researchers, the agricultural community, advocates and policy makers from the United States and abroad. Make plans now to join us and be part of building support for sustainable biofuel in your community. We are offering a special early bird registration rate of $100 only through Dec. 15. So if you want to get in on the goods, make your plan now! We also have secured hotel rooms for folks for $79/night + tax for double occupancy and $10 for each add'l person. The Good Hotel was recently renovated with a focus on recycled materials and sustainabilityhttp://jdvhotels.com/hotels/good Important - In order to get our rate you must mention the SBS - Sustainable Biodiesel Summit, or click here to reserve a room http://reservations.ihotelier.com/crs/g_reservation.cfm?groupID=269449&hotelID=14186 For more information and Registration: www.sustainable-biodiesel.org Talk with you all tomorrow Kimber Holmes Biofuel Station Laytonville, Ca 95454 707 984-6818 www.paxfuel.com From bonitz at cleanenergy.org Mon Dec 1 20:58:13 2008 From: bonitz at cleanenergy.org (John Bonitz) Date: Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:58:13 -0500 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] New Advanced Biorefinery Loan Guarantee Program Message-ID: Dear Friends, The 2008 Farm Bill contained many provisions that clearly show Congress' intent to move away from corn-ethanol, towards more sustainable feedstocks for biofuels. One such program is the Advanced Biorefinery Loan Guarantee Program. USDA Rural Development has announced funds available for its new Advanced Biorefinery Loan Guarantee Program. This program is designed to assist lenders in financing new biorefineries or retrofitting existing biorefineries that utilize non-corn or cornstarch feedstocks. These include but are not limited to cellulose, sugar, starch, crop residue, animal waste material, food waste, yard waste, biomass, vegetable oil, animal fat, biogas from landfill or sewage plant gas, and others. The NOFA announcement can be accessed at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-27201.htm Because the final rule has not yet been published, this NOFA announcement spells out the application requirements, deadlines and other requirements of the program. The "Request for Public Comment" regarding the development of the Final Rule can also be found in the Federal Register at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-27203.htm -- John Bonitz Farm Outreach & Policy Advocate Southern Alliance for Clean Energy P.O. Box 1833, Pittsboro, NC 27312 (O) 919.545.2920 (C) 919.360.2492 bonitz at cleanenergy.org http://www.cleanenergy.org From symon at nc.rr.com Thu Dec 11 13:28:12 2008 From: symon at nc.rr.com (symon at nc.rr.com) Date: Thu, 11 Dec 2008 13:28:12 -0500 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] any action? Message-ID: <20081211182812.AAT6H.197124.root@cdptpa-web08-z02> I recently resubscribed (digest) after a long absence. Figured I?d lay low and get a feel for current interests but that?s a little difficult if there?s no activity. Has the list gone moribund or is activity just slow these days or what? Sorry for the test post. How about if I materially contribute by stirring up old FAQ/archive stuff? We want to set the good example of sustainability. For our operation, energy we get out is greater than energy we put in. (We don't put the sunshine in. That's where the plus comes from.) We could run the whole operation (yes, and the equipment manufacture and all the rest) on the biofuel output of our operation and still have a trickle of biodiesel coming out of the pump. That pump nozzle is in Pittsboro. Ok, there's enough of a trickle that we can haul some up to Carrboro in a truck fueled from the trickle and have a smaller Carrboro trickle. At some point we use up the trickle just getting it out there. That's our sustainability radius (SR1), right? (Scandinavia is outside it, right?) What if instead we say the great worldwide fungible fuel ocean starts at the Pittsboro pump? We let a gallon of our trickle dribble into that ocean at the Pittsboro pump and someone burns a gallon of petrodiesel in Lower Slobbovia. It was effectively a sustainable gallon in Lower Slobbovia. Or maybe the Slobbovians want to feel more green by burning the actual biodiesel. If they were going to spend the same fuel to bring themselves petrodiesel anyway, it doesn't reduce the sustainability of our gallon of biodiesel when they burn it. Ok, they weren't. They would have spent a lot less fuel getting themselves a gallon of petroD. It was just their desire to feel green that induced them to use so much fuel to get the biodiesel there. Bad juju in that case but there is a valid notion here. If a gallon of biodiesel can be delivered to somewhere for no greater energy cost than delivering a gallon of petrodiesel, delivering it to that location does not reduce the sustainability value of the biodiesel. Our sustainability radius is redefined (SR2) and presumably made much larger by the reality of the unsustainable fuel ocean we live in. So what? We cart a gallon up to Richmond so some Jetta Jockey there can claim green stamps? No. Maybe we have a little problem here. We build a big biodiesel plant and suddenly have way more trickle than the SR1 market can absorb. Instead of throwing up our hands in despair and handing the keys of the plant to the fraudulent Slobbovians we scratch our heads and figure a way to spread our bounty throughout the SR2 market with no loss of sustainability. This is all hypothetical. I know nothing about the PB situation. Any resemblance to actual reality is purely coincidental. Symon From mattr at biofuels.coop Thu Dec 11 14:30:25 2008 From: mattr at biofuels.coop (Matthew Rudolf) Date: Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:30:25 -0500 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] 2009 Sustainable Biodiesel Summit Message-ID: <03CDD0D8-9439-4D34-B5FB-15633E10D65D@biofuels.coop> REGISTER NOW! 2009 Sustainable Biodiesel Summit: Localize It! Celebrating Community Scale Biodiesel. January 31st & February 1st 2009 Moscone Center, San Francisco, California We are really excited about this year?s Summit because it will be in one of the country's biodiesel hotspots! The 6th Annual Sustainable Biodiesel Summit is the place to be to learn why sustainability is critical for the industry, share technical experience and exchange best practices tailored specifically to sustainable biodiesel production and distribution. Conveniently preceding the National Biodiesel Board?s annual conference and located in the same convention center. "Localize it!" the 2009 Sustainable Biodiesel Summit, will feature: Experienced and inspirational speakers from across the sustainability community Case studies on sustainability within the biodiesel industry Practical sessions for producers, distributors and consumers ? Exceptional networking opportunities For the 6th year the Sustainable Biodiesel Summit (SBS) is meeting to further the work of sustainability in the biodiesel industry at large. The SBS is known for bringing fresh and important information to the biodiesel industry. We will focus on community scale, bioregionally appropriate biodiesel and the benefits to our urban centers and rural communities. Presentations and break-out sessions will cover principles for sustainability, on-farm biodiesel, feedstock production and procurement, and biodiesel processing and distribution. The Sustainable Biodiesel Summit precedes the National Biodiesel Board's annual conference. Both conferences will be located at the Moscone Center. Participants to this year's Summit will include biodiesel entrepreneurs, educators and researchers, the agricultural community, advocates and policy makers from the United States and abroad. Make plans now to join us and be part of building support for sustainable biofuel in your community. We are offering a special early bird registration rate of $100 only through Dec. 15. So if you want to get in on the goods, make your plan now! We also have secured hotel rooms for folks for $79/night + tax for double occupancy and $10 for each add'l person. The Good Hotel was recently renovated with a focus on recycled materials and sustainabilityhttp://jdvhotels.com/hotels/good Important - In order to get our rate you must mention the SBS - Sustainable Biodiesel Summit, or click here to reserve a room http://reservations.ihotelier.com/crs/g_reservation.cfm?groupID=269449&hotelID=14186 For more information and Registration: www.sustainable-biodiesel.org