From bonitz at cleanenergy.org Fri Jun 6 10:16:46 2008 From: bonitz at cleanenergy.org (John Bonitz) Date: Fri, 06 Jun 2008 10:16:46 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Biofuels, Sustainability and Food Crisis Concerns Message-ID: EESI Testifies on Biofuels, Sustainability and Food Crisis Concerns 6/5/08 A senior policy associate of the at the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI), a 25x'25 partner, has urged the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe to support increased research, demonstration, deployment and commercialization of new sustainable biomass technologies. In recent testimony before the commission, Jetta Wong, an analyst with EESI's Sustainable Biomass and Energy Program, also asked the commission to support a national biomass assessment to determine the U.S. resource base. Wong also suggested that the United States assess how international trade and foreign policy influence food and fuel security, and recommended that the government consider a return to a supply management program or strategic grain reserve, much like the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Wong's testimony before the panel, also known as the U.S. Helsinki Commission, examined the complexity involved in the rise in world food prices and the relationship with current biofuel production. Wong pointed out that although it is clear that the price of food is influenced by a number of factors, the fundamental cause is largely higher energy costs. "Because biofuels development has created a global market and brought a laser beam of attention to the relationship between energy, land use, and climate change, much of the media has jumped to point fingers at biofuels without doing due diligence on the issue," Wong said. She pointed out that the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization has stressed that "there is no single factor that can be identified as being the main one responsible...Nor is it possible to make a quantitative assessment of the contributions of the factors that have been influential on the increase in the price of food." Wong explained that a number of demand and supply factors are currently influencing world food prices, including production shortfalls due to weather-related events, diminishing commodity stock levels, soaring energy costs, changing demand due to new consumption patterns, speculation in financial markets, as well as the production of biofuels from agricultural commodities. According to an April 2008 study by Texas A&M University cited by Wong, "the underlying force driving changes in the agriculture industry, along with the economy as a whole, is overall higher energy costs." She also emphasized that biofuels are just one part of a larger strategy, in which long-term policies such as increased fuel efficiency, "smart-growth" practices, conservation and a variety of other technologies will play a critical role. In the meantime, sustainable biofuels offer the only viable substitute to petroleum, as well as the only means to protect the nation's energy supply in the face of uncertain politics and rising oil prices. For the full testimony, go to: http://www.eesi.org/publications/Fact%20Sheets/eesi_food_biomass_test_050508 .pdf -- 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 fgregg at googlemail.com Tue Jun 10 15:19:40 2008 From: fgregg at googlemail.com (Forest Gregg) Date: Tue, 10 Jun 2008 15:19:40 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] SVO Book release event, June 22nd in Asheville Message-ID: <1dc3c92f0806101219u375d97a9r6d745c8ebdee16c6@mail.gmail.com> Hey y'all, My book about SVO/WVO is finally coming out this month. I'll be having a book release event at Malaprops in Asheville on June 22nd at 3pm, where I'll give a brief presentation about SVO geared towards an uniniated audience, followed by a Q&A session. More info about the book: http://www.newsociety.com/bookid/4000 -Forest Gregg -- 931.210.3610 35 Ocala St. Asheville, NC 28801 Key ID: 0x71B7982A From ncminuteman at gmail.com Tue Jun 10 17:44:12 2008 From: ncminuteman at gmail.com (Denton) Date: Tue, 10 Jun 2008 17:44:12 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Raytheon Company Awards Contract to Cyclone Power Technologies Message-ID: <484EF5AC.40300@gmail.com> Raytheon Company Awards Contract to Cyclone Power Technologies - "eco-friendly engine that can run on a multitude of fuels and is scalable to almost any size..." http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release.do?id=867008&sourceType=3 "The Cyclone Engine is capable of running on any liquid or gaseous fuel, including ethanol, bio-diesel and propane, and is lubricated with de-ionized water instead of motor oil." From ncminuteman at gmail.com Tue Jun 10 18:30:15 2008 From: ncminuteman at gmail.com (Denton) Date: Tue, 10 Jun 2008 18:30:15 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] The Cyclone Engine Empowers the Biofuels Revolution: Part 1 Message-ID: <484F0077.4010203@gmail.com> The Cyclone Engine Empowers the Biofuels Revolution: Part 1 http://www.cyclonepower.com/PDF/biofuels_revolution.pdf From girlmark_list_email at localb100.com Tue Jun 10 20:24:13 2008 From: girlmark_list_email at localb100.com (girl Mark) Date: Tue, 10 Jun 2008 17:24:13 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] someone looking for Wake Tech workshop needs help Message-ID: <3193.208.97.187.133.1213143853.squirrel@mail.localb100.com> Someone know what this guy is looking for- it's not my workshop, and I don't know anything about the one he's asking about. I assume he's called the place already but if the instructor is reading this, please email your lost student. mark -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Biodiesel Workshop Date: Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:21:02 -0400 From: Bertsch, Fred To: CC: Mark- Confirming that the workshop is still on for June 24-25 at Wake Community College Main Campus, 9101 Fayetteville Road Raleigh, NC. I am driving in from Michigan and I don't want any surprises. I did receive your Homebrew Guide- thanks. I have not received any info as such, so please provide the following: - Start/stop times - Bldg name/class room # - Cell or other phone # should something come up at last minute - Dress code (jeans? shorts? Detroit Red Wing Stanley Cup Champion T-Shirt?) Thanks. Fred Bertsch Lead Instructor, GM Academy Milford Proving Ground 3300 General Motors Road Milford, MI 48380 Wk: 248.676.7218 Cell: 734.765.5943 From stant at nc.rr.com Wed Jun 11 11:41:43 2008 From: stant at nc.rr.com (Stan Toporek) Date: Wed, 11 Jun 2008 11:41:43 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] The Cyclone Engine Empowers the Biofuels Revolution: Part 1 In-Reply-To: <484F0077.4010203@gmail.com> References: <484F0077.4010203@gmail.com> Message-ID: <484FF237.7090708@nc.rr.com> Denton wrote: > The Cyclone Engine Empowers the Biofuels Revolution: Part 1 > > http://www.cyclonepower.com/PDF/biofuels_revolution.pdf > > _______________________________________________ > Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list > Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net > http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group > Is it real or just business hype? Diesel engines were designed to burn peanut oil directly by Mr. Diesel. Diesels will burn almost any liquid veggie oil or biodiesel without problems (ok, dissolving rubber hoses, etc is problem) I took a look at the website it is a Sterling engine or a steam engine. How can someone get a patent for something that already exists? He just added a heater to a Sterling heat engine or steam engine. U.S. patent office shame on you!!! If he uses the steam it makes is just an advanced steam engine with a new heater design. No talk about power output vs. fuel burned. Need a chart or something that says kW (fuel energy potential) vs. kW out (work done by engine). May have some uses but I am not sure if it is just hype for a shady business. We should be using Sterling engines to make use of waste heat from burning waste maybe this would be useful if it works. Stan From zapatavive at suddenlink.net Wed Jun 11 14:08:05 2008 From: zapatavive at suddenlink.net (Zapata Vive) Date: Wed, 11 Jun 2008 14:08:05 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] The Cyclone Engine Empowers the Biofuels Revolution: Part 1 References: <484F0077.4010203@gmail.com> <484FF237.7090708@nc.rr.com> Message-ID: <00b601c8cbee$1902fba0$3102a8c0@heather> Seems like another in a long list of people to talk about sterling engines, get a military contract, the next step is to never sell them to the public. Patent for the engine design here: http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7080512.html While we're on the subject, does anybody know of a place selling starlings? I can't seem to find any decent sized ones or new ones, only small used, really expensive ones.... ?Tierra y Libertad! ----- Original Message ----- From: "Stan Toporek" To: "Biofuels Class" Sent: Wednesday, June 11, 2008 11:41 AM Subject: Re: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] The Cyclone Engine Empowers the Biofuels Revolution: Part 1 > Denton wrote: >> The Cyclone Engine Empowers the Biofuels Revolution: Part 1 >> >> http://www.cyclonepower.com/PDF/biofuels_revolution.pdf >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list >> Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net >> http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group >> > Is it real or just business hype? Diesel engines were designed to burn > peanut oil directly by Mr. Diesel. Diesels will burn almost any liquid > veggie oil or biodiesel without problems (ok, dissolving rubber hoses, > etc is problem) > I took a look at the website it is a Sterling engine or a steam engine. > How can someone get a patent for something that already exists? He just > added a heater to a Sterling heat engine or steam engine. U.S. patent > office shame on you!!! If he uses the steam it makes is just an advanced > steam engine with a new heater design. No talk about power output vs. > fuel burned. Need a chart or something that says kW (fuel energy > potential) vs. kW out (work done by engine). May have some uses but I am > not sure if it is just hype for a shady business. We should be using > Sterling engines to make use of waste heat from burning waste maybe this > would be useful if it works. > > Stan > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > _______________________________________________ > Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list > Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net > http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group From stant at nc.rr.com Wed Jun 11 21:52:53 2008 From: stant at nc.rr.com (Stan Toporek) Date: Wed, 11 Jun 2008 21:52:53 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Make ethanol at home for only $10,000 Message-ID: <48508175.4050902@nc.rr.com> Biofuel Buddies, http://www.efuel100.com Wow, make ethanol at home, great idea. But the price tag is really high $10,000 for the unit. Myself ,being a chemist, is experimenting with making ethanol using distiller's yeast and sugar. My setup cost about $30 including yeast. A 5 gal plastic brewing bucket with airlock, hygrometer, yeast, some chemicals to make the yeast grow better, buffer, and water. I am working on building a small still but I think with will cost less then $9,870. The only thing is this setup is "set it and forget it" add sugar, yeast, hook up water line, waste drain, and it a couple of days poof 35 gals ethanol. Is it worth $10,000? Comments? Stan From kevingregg at comcast.net Thu Jun 12 08:28:53 2008 From: kevingregg at comcast.net (Kevin Gregg) Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2008 08:28:53 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Solazyme produces first 100% algae based diesel to meet ASTM standards Message-ID: <21e6060a0806120528i3fae018al50de41043c3f9a4@mail.gmail.com> Solazyme announced today that they have produced the first 100% algae-based renewable diesel to meet the strict American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D-975 specifications. Called Soladiesel(RD)?, it is the world's first 100% algal diesel blend to meet these standards. more.... http://gas2.org/2008/06/11/solazyme-makes-first-algae-diesel-to-meet-strict-us-standard/#more-576 -- Kevin kevingregg at comcast.net http://home.comcast.net/~kevingregg/kev.htm From marc at carolinabiofuels.org Thu Jun 12 11:20:31 2008 From: marc at carolinabiofuels.org (Marc Dreyfors) Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2008 11:20:31 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Make ethanol at home for only $10, 000 In-Reply-To: <48508175.4050902@nc.rr.com> References: <48508175.4050902@nc.rr.com> Message-ID: <48513EBF.5070506@carolinabiofuels.org> Hi Stan, 35gal. x$4/gal.= $140 x 52weeks.=$7280 How much sugar is needed? yeast? cost for materials +time Pay back in 2 years roughly. Warranty? We would take one for the novelty. We have some 300 gal stainless reactor vessels from a brewery if you are looking. Marc Stan Toporek wrote: > Biofuel Buddies, > > http://www.efuel100.com > > Wow, make ethanol at home, great idea. But the price tag is really > high $10,000 for the unit. Myself ,being a chemist, is experimenting > with making ethanol using distiller's yeast and sugar. My setup cost > about $30 including yeast. A 5 gal plastic brewing bucket with > airlock, hygrometer, yeast, some chemicals to make the yeast grow > better, buffer, and water. I am working on building a small still but > I think with will cost less then $9,870. The only thing is this setup > is "set it and forget it" add sugar, yeast, hook up water line, waste > drain, and it a couple of days poof 35 gals ethanol. Is it worth $10,000? > > Comments? > > Stan > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > 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 Thu Jun 12 11:39:03 2008 From: biodiesel at yovo.info (Jurgen Henn) Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2008 11:39:03 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Make ethanol at home for only $10, 000 In-Reply-To: <48513EBF.5070506@carolinabiofuels.org> References: <48508175.4050902@nc.rr.com> <48513EBF.5070506@carolinabiofuels.org> Message-ID: <48514317.3020709@yovo.info> See below ... Marc Dreyfors wrote: > Hi Stan, > > 35gal. x$4/gal.= $140 x 52weeks.=$7280 > > How much sugar is needed? yeast? cost for materials +time > You need 10 pounds of sugar for ONE gallon (sugar price $1/pound for refined sugar) Max capacity 5 gallons/day Strictly economically, this looks bogus. AND you have to post $2,500 bond to pay fuel tax. http://www.efuel100.com/t-technology.aspx > Pay back in 2 years roughly. Warranty? > > We would take one for the novelty. > Novelty? Hell, yeah. Add an icemaker and some shot glasses and you have a party! > We have some 300 gal stainless reactor vessels from a brewery if you are > looking. > > Marc > > From info at theforestfoundation.org Thu Jun 12 12:06:49 2008 From: info at theforestfoundation.org (Info -TFF) Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2008 12:06:49 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Make ethanol at home for only $10, 000 In-Reply-To: <48514317.3020709@yovo.info> References: <48508175.4050902@nc.rr.com> <48513EBF.5070506@carolinabiofuels.org> <48514317.3020709@yovo.info> Message-ID: <48514999.3050208@theforestfoundation.org> I thought the NC Legislature did away with bond for homebrewers, and allow up to 5K gal. production? Jurgen Henn wrote: > See below ... > > Marc Dreyfors wrote: > >> Hi Stan, >> >> 35gal. x$4/gal.= $140 x 52weeks.=$7280 >> >> How much sugar is needed? yeast? cost for materials +time >> >> > You need 10 pounds of sugar for ONE gallon (sugar price $1/pound for > refined sugar) > Max capacity 5 gallons/day > Strictly economically, this looks bogus. > > AND you have to post $2,500 bond to pay fuel tax. > > http://www.efuel100.com/t-technology.aspx > >> Pay back in 2 years roughly. Warranty? >> >> We would take one for the novelty. >> >> > > Novelty? > Hell, yeah. Add an icemaker and some shot glasses and you have a party! > >> We have some 300 gal stainless reactor vessels from a brewery if you are >> looking. >> >> Marc >> >> >> > _______________________________________________ > Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list > Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net > http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group > > > From Patrick.Long at colfaxcorp.com Thu Jun 12 12:16:30 2008 From: Patrick.Long at colfaxcorp.com (Long, Patrick) Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2008 12:16:30 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Make ethanol at home for only $10, 000 In-Reply-To: <48514317.3020709@yovo.info> Message-ID: Actually you can buy 50lbs of Dixie Crystals at Sam's Club for $17.87 ($.357/lb), so that's $3.57 a gallon. But, then that's neglecting all of your process energy input costs and the yeast, water, etc. Patrick -----Original Message----- From: biofuels_interest_group-bounces at lists.emji.net [mailto:biofuels_interest_group-bounces at lists.emji.net] On Behalf Of Jurgen Henn Sent: Thursday, June 12, 2008 11:39 AM To: BIG Subject: Re: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Make ethanol at home for only $10, 000 See below ... Marc Dreyfors wrote: > Hi Stan, > > 35gal. x$4/gal.= $140 x 52weeks.=$7280 > > How much sugar is needed? yeast? cost for materials +time > You need 10 pounds of sugar for ONE gallon (sugar price $1/pound for refined sugar) Max capacity 5 gallons/day Strictly economically, this looks bogus. AND you have to post $2,500 bond to pay fuel tax. http://www.efuel100.com/t-technology.aspx > Pay back in 2 years roughly. Warranty? > > We would take one for the novelty. > Novelty? Hell, yeah. Add an icemaker and some shot glasses and you have a party! > We have some 300 gal stainless reactor vessels from a brewery if you are > looking. > > Marc > > _______________________________________________ Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group ----------------------------------------- CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify the sender by e-mail at the address shown. This e-mail transmission may contain confidential information. This information is intended only for the use of the individual(s) or entity to whom it is intended even if addressed incorrectly. Please delete it from your files if you are not the intended recipient. Thank you for your compliance. From biodiesel at yovo.info Thu Jun 12 12:18:31 2008 From: biodiesel at yovo.info (Jurgen Henn) Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2008 12:18:31 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Make ethanol at home for only $10, 000 In-Reply-To: <48514999.3050208@theforestfoundation.org> References: <48508175.4050902@nc.rr.com> <48513EBF.5070506@carolinabiofuels.org> <48514317.3020709@yovo.info> <48514999.3050208@theforestfoundation.org> Message-ID: <48514C57.6000501@yovo.info> Correct - but only for homebrewers of biodiesel, not ethanol. http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2007/Bills/Senate/HTML/S1272v6.html In fact, "homebrewing" of ethanol may run into other legal issues in NC ... Jurgen Info -TFF wrote: > I thought the NC Legislature did away with bond for homebrewers, and > allow up to 5K gal. production? >> From jdorff at gmail.com Thu Jun 12 13:52:18 2008 From: jdorff at gmail.com (Jimmy Dorff) Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2008 13:52:18 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Make ethanol at home for only $10, 000 In-Reply-To: <48508175.4050902@nc.rr.com> References: <48508175.4050902@nc.rr.com> Message-ID: <48516252.804@gmail.com> Stan Toporek wrote: > Comments? Fuel grade is harder to do than just moonshine. It needs to be anhydrous to blend with gasoline. There are a number of good resources on the web for this. As with any biofuel, the most important consideration is access to cheap / waste feedstock. Cool info here: http://gillesenergies.webs.com/feedstocks.htm There is a Yahoo "alcoholfuel" group which has some interesting discussions and info as well. It's also worth noting that cellulosic ethanol is progressing along. A number of facilities are under construction and one is in production. KL Process Design is turning wood (ponderosa pine trimmings to be exact) into ethanol using enzymes from Novozymes. Their plant is listed as 1.5 million gallons per year, with the output supplying the American LeMans racing series. -Jimmy 4cyl, 5spd TDI - varying blends of B20 - B100 4cyl, 5spd flex-fuel - E85 only From rudolfdiesel at netzero.net Thu Jun 12 15:27:41 2008 From: rudolfdiesel at netzero.net (rudolfdiesel at netzero.net) Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2008 19:27:41 GMT Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Make ethanol at home for only $10, 000 Message-ID: <20080612.152741.24073.0@webmail17.dca.untd.com> I just did a quick glance through this web site, but didn't see any mention of applicability and blend quantity. If you are using in a conventional gas powered vehicle you can't blend above 15% ethanol without having issues with both materials interaction (Ethanol attacks fuel system components) and air/fuel ration problems. If you use in a flex fuel vehicle, you will need to keep the blend pretty close to 85% ethanol, and water could be a problem is not processed out of the fuel. (in other words, it needs to be anhydrous, but then so does everything else we use as motor fuel) It does not look like it would work economically, at least not at this point. Also, what does the waste water consist of and what are the disposal issues that might arise? Can you put it in your sanitary sewer system? Would the effluent overload the digester at the sewage plant thus causing you to get your name in the N&O? Regards; Rich Cregar ____________________________________________________________ Sweepstakes!!! Enter for your chance to WIN one of hundreds of daily prizes. http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL2241/fc/JKFkuJkEQB61oqMoP0ZD9rODOjNd1WOl9SP1T9IOgM1luMY5Z2O3HU/ From stant at nc.rr.com Thu Jun 12 19:02:51 2008 From: stant at nc.rr.com (Stan Toporek) Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2008 19:02:51 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Make ethanol at home for only $10, 000 In-Reply-To: <48513EBF.5070506@carolinabiofuels.org> References: <48508175.4050902@nc.rr.com> <48513EBF.5070506@carolinabiofuels.org> Message-ID: <4851AB1B.60807@nc.rr.com> Marc and all, The website says 50 lbs of sugar gets 35 gals of E100 (that is 200 proof ethanol or 100% they seem to be using a selective membrane to remove the 5% water after the distillation). The yeast costs $16 for 64 packs. I need to get my distiller's textbook and calculate how much sugar you need to get 35 gallons of ethanol using distiller's yeast which can produce 20% ethanol. Now they might be pulling off ethanol during the reaction to get better yield. I am not selling this unit. I just saw it on News 14 and thought it might be interesting to hear from the biofuels group. This setup is end user or point system with little or no thought needed. Not sure how much water is used. I would guess 250 gal per batch. No composting of the dead yeast residue, just into the sewer. Kind of wasting biomass. It did get people talking. I did not know that you could have problems making ethanol in NC. I thought fuel ethanol was allowed for personal use, but I guess the state wants the road taxes. The only sure things in life are death and taxes, Stan Marc Dreyfors wrote: > Hi Stan, > > 35gal. x$4/gal.= $140 x 52weeks.=$7280 > > How much sugar is needed? yeast? cost for materials +time > > Pay back in 2 years roughly. Warranty? > > We would take one for the novelty. > > We have some 300 gal stainless reactor vessels from a brewery if you > are looking. > > Marc > > Stan Toporek wrote: >> Biofuel Buddies, >> >> http://www.efuel100.com >> >> Wow, make ethanol at home, great idea. But the price tag is really >> high $10,000 for the unit. Myself ,being a chemist, is experimenting >> with making ethanol using distiller's yeast and sugar. My setup cost >> about $30 including yeast. A 5 gal plastic brewing bucket with >> airlock, hygrometer, yeast, some chemicals to make the yeast grow >> better, buffer, and water. I am working on building a small still but >> I think with will cost less then $9,870. The only thing is this setup >> is "set it and forget it" add sugar, yeast, hook up water line, waste >> drain, and it a couple of days poof 35 gals ethanol. Is it worth >> $10,000? >> >> Comments? >> >> Stan >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 Fri Jun 13 07:56:45 2008 From: biodiesel at yovo.info (Jurgen Henn) Date: Fri, 13 Jun 2008 07:56:45 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Make ethanol at home for only $10, 000 In-Reply-To: <4851AB1B.60807@nc.rr.com> References: <48508175.4050902@nc.rr.com> <48513EBF.5070506@carolinabiofuels.org> <4851AB1B.60807@nc.rr.com> Message-ID: <4852607D.90301@yovo.info> It is my understanding that one can make biodiesel out of ethanol, but I don't know if a simple appleseed setup can do that. Homebrewing ethanol to use in small-scale biodiesel production - I could see that as a great application for this device. It would get you around the road tax issue. Cheers ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ J?rgen Henn 2002 Jetta TDI 1991 Mercedes 300D >>> PRAISE THE LARD <<< http://words.yovo.info/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From rudolfdiesel at netzero.net Fri Jun 13 10:20:03 2008 From: rudolfdiesel at netzero.net (rudolfdiesel at netzero.net) Date: Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:20:03 GMT Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Make ethanol at home for only $10, 000 Message-ID: <20080613.102003.4418.1@webmail05.dca.untd.com> Ethanol can be used instead of Methanol, in fact it produces a superior grade of BioDiesel with a higher energy content. The reason it is not often done is solely due to the cost comparison. Methanol has always been cheaper. Rich Cregar ____________________________________________________________ Hit it out of the park with a new bat. Click now! http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL2241/fc/Ioyw6i4u0wilF0YYVvCm3yIs5MnC2pSB8O2vuxjwxMGW28zih1NpeC/ From zapatavive at suddenlink.net Fri Jun 13 12:43:57 2008 From: zapatavive at suddenlink.net (Zapata Vive) Date: Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:43:57 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Make ethanol at home for only $10, 000 References: <20080613.102003.4418.1@webmail05.dca.untd.com> Message-ID: <005b01c8cd74$ad2e6b20$4c02a8c0@heather> It's not just an issue of the road taxes. Don't forget that running a still without a permit is illegal. Really illegal. Think of all the old moonshiners who ended up in the pokey. And yes, they still arrest people for it. Luckily in the last few years it has gotten a lot easier to get the permit for fuel alcohol, but it is absolutely necessary to get. If caught distilling without one, you are looking at felony charges, not payment of back taxes or fees. That being said, 35 gallons of E100 from 50 pounds of sugar is a pipe dream. Somebody misplaced a decimal somewhere. 3.3 gallons is more like it! >From homedistiller.org: How much alcohol can you expect to make, knowing how much sugar you put in ? Easy. The theoretical yield is 51.1%, but you will get less than this, around 48% because you lose some of the sugars to forming the small amounts of other alcohols, esters, etc (eg 480 g (610 mL) of ethanol for every 1 kg sugar). All going well, you should be able to capture approx 90% of this, ie 550 mL pure (100%) ethanol per kg of sugar. So ... for say 5 kg of sugar, you should be able to get 0.55 x 5 = 2.75 L of pure ethanol. ----- Original Message ----- From: To: Cc: Sent: Friday, June 13, 2008 10:20 AM Subject: Re: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Make ethanol at home for only $10, 000 > Ethanol can be used instead of Methanol, in fact it produces a superior > grade of BioDiesel with a higher energy content. The reason it is not > often done is solely due to the cost comparison. Methanol has always been > cheaper. > > Rich Cregar > > ____________________________________________________________ > Hit it out of the park with a new bat. Click now! > http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL2241/fc/Ioyw6i4u0wilF0YYVvCm3yIs5MnC2pSB8O2vuxjwxMGW28zih1NpeC/ > _______________________________________________ > Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list > Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net > http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group > From stant at nc.rr.com Fri Jun 13 14:25:46 2008 From: stant at nc.rr.com (Stan Toporek) Date: Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:25:46 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Make ethanol at home for only $10, 000 In-Reply-To: <005b01c8cd74$ad2e6b20$4c02a8c0@heather> References: <20080613.102003.4418.1@webmail05.dca.untd.com> <005b01c8cd74$ad2e6b20$4c02a8c0@heather> Message-ID: <4852BBAA.400@nc.rr.com> I just looked at the Federal website on alcohol: http://www.ttb.gov/industrial/small_alcohol_fuel_plant_packet.shtml A student cannot make a science fair experiment to make ethanol without filing a permit. You cannot distill at your home, yard, shed, etc. You must have a separate plant. You have to start a business and rent or own another non-residence property. The law states you need this for distilling less than 10,000 gals. These laws are nuts. You cannot even have that little E100 system without it being illegal. No distillation of alcohol is allowed by the federal government. Now I am not sure about if it is legal to make it and denature it with methanol. The law exempts labs, research, hospitals, etc. I am not a lawyer please read the website I am not giving any legal advice just trying to make sense of these crazy laws. Anyone know what the NC law is for making ethanol for personal use or fuel use. Is it illegal? Most states allow the production of ethanol for personal use. Is NC one of them? The laws about denatured alcohol are not easy to understand for a simple chemist. I have been distilling ethanol in the research lab for years (Ok, I know that is exempt). I had no idea that distilling for personal use was illegal. I just thought selling it was illegal without permits. George Washington, the founder of our great country, made his own whiskey. He was a distiller. What the heck! How can home brewers do it? Help, Stan Zapata Vive wrote: > It's not just an issue of the road taxes. Don't forget that running a still > without a permit is illegal. Really illegal. Think of all the old > moonshiners who ended up in the pokey. And yes, they still arrest people > for it. Luckily in the last few years it has gotten a lot easier to get the > permit for fuel alcohol, but it is absolutely necessary to get. If caught > distilling without one, you are looking at felony charges, not payment of > back taxes or fees. > > That being said, 35 gallons of E100 from 50 pounds of sugar is a pipe dream. > Somebody misplaced a decimal somewhere. 3.3 gallons is more like it! > >From homedistiller.org: > How much alcohol can you expect to make, knowing how much sugar you put in ? > Easy. The theoretical yield is 51.1%, but you will get less than this, > around 48% because you lose some of the sugars to forming the small amounts > of other alcohols, esters, etc (eg 480 g (610 mL) of ethanol for every 1 kg > sugar). All going well, you should be able to capture approx 90% of this, ie > 550 mL pure (100%) ethanol per kg of sugar. So ... for say 5 kg of sugar, > you should be able to get 0.55 x 5 = 2.75 L of pure ethanol. > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: > To: > Cc: > Sent: Friday, June 13, 2008 10:20 AM > Subject: Re: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Make ethanol at home for only $10, > 000 > > > >> Ethanol can be used instead of Methanol, in fact it produces a superior >> grade of BioDiesel with a higher energy content. The reason it is not >> often done is solely due to the cost comparison. Methanol has always been >> cheaper. >> >> Rich Cregar >> >> ____________________________________________________________ >> Hit it out of the park with a new bat. Click now! >> http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL2241/fc/Ioyw6i4u0wilF0YYVvCm3yIs5MnC2pSB8O2vuxjwxMGW28zih1NpeC/ >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 zapatavive at suddenlink.net Fri Jun 13 16:17:24 2008 From: zapatavive at suddenlink.net (Zapata Vive) Date: Fri, 13 Jun 2008 16:17:24 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Make ethanol at home for only $10, 000 References: <20080613.102003.4418.1@webmail05.dca.untd.com><005b01c8cd74$ad2e6b20$4c02a8c0@heather> <4852BBAA.400@nc.rr.com> Message-ID: <00c901c8cd92$81de54d0$4c02a8c0@heather> Permits aren't that hard to get, I know a few people who have been through the process. They use the stills in the sheds / barns / outbuildings whatever. But without the permit, it is illegal, state and federal. Even if you denature it. Even if you, well anything... And if you own your own company and use your own ethanol in your company vehicle, then you get tax write offs. ?Tierra y Libertad! ----- Original Message ----- From: "Stan Toporek" To: "Zapata Vive" Cc: ; Sent: Friday, June 13, 2008 2:25 PM Subject: Re: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Make ethanol at home for only $10, 000 >I just looked at the Federal website on alcohol: > > http://www.ttb.gov/industrial/small_alcohol_fuel_plant_packet.shtml > > A student cannot make a science fair experiment to make ethanol without > filing a permit. You cannot distill at your home, yard, shed, etc. You > must have a separate plant. You have to start a business and rent or own > another non-residence property. The law states you need this for > distilling less than 10,000 gals. These laws are nuts. You cannot even > have that little E100 system without it being illegal. No distillation > of alcohol is allowed by the federal government. Now I am not sure about > if it is legal to make it and denature it with methanol. The law exempts > labs, research, hospitals, etc. I am not a lawyer please read the > website I am not giving any legal advice just trying to make sense of > these crazy laws. Anyone know what the NC law is for making ethanol for > personal use or fuel use. Is it illegal? Most states allow the > production of ethanol for personal use. Is NC one of them? The laws > about denatured alcohol are not easy to understand for a simple chemist. > > I have been distilling ethanol in the research lab for years (Ok, I know > that is exempt). I had no idea that distilling for personal use was > illegal. I just thought selling it was illegal without permits. George > Washington, the founder of our great country, made his own whiskey. He > was a distiller. What the heck! > > How can home brewers do it? > > Help, > > Stan > > > Zapata Vive wrote: >> It's not just an issue of the road taxes. Don't forget that running a >> still >> without a permit is illegal. Really illegal. Think of all the old >> moonshiners who ended up in the pokey. And yes, they still arrest people >> for it. Luckily in the last few years it has gotten a lot easier to get >> the >> permit for fuel alcohol, but it is absolutely necessary to get. If >> caught >> distilling without one, you are looking at felony charges, not payment of >> back taxes or fees. >> >> That being said, 35 gallons of E100 from 50 pounds of sugar is a pipe >> dream. >> Somebody misplaced a decimal somewhere. 3.3 gallons is more like it! >> >From homedistiller.org: >> How much alcohol can you expect to make, knowing how much sugar you put >> in ? >> Easy. The theoretical yield is 51.1%, but you will get less than this, >> around 48% because you lose some of the sugars to forming the small >> amounts >> of other alcohols, esters, etc (eg 480 g (610 mL) of ethanol for every 1 >> kg >> sugar). All going well, you should be able to capture approx 90% of this, >> ie >> 550 mL pure (100%) ethanol per kg of sugar. So ... for say 5 kg of sugar, >> you should be able to get 0.55 x 5 = 2.75 L of pure ethanol. >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: >> To: >> Cc: >> Sent: Friday, June 13, 2008 10:20 AM >> Subject: Re: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Make ethanol at home for only $10, >> 000 >> >> >> >>> Ethanol can be used instead of Methanol, in fact it produces a superior >>> grade of BioDiesel with a higher energy content. The reason it is not >>> often done is solely due to the cost comparison. Methanol has always >>> been >>> cheaper. >>> >>> Rich Cregar >>> >>> ____________________________________________________________ >>> Hit it out of the park with a new bat. Click now! >>> http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL2241/fc/Ioyw6i4u0wilF0YYVvCm3yIs5MnC2pSB8O2vuxjwxMGW28zih1NpeC/ >>> _______________________________________________ >>> 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 ncminuteman at gmail.com Mon Jun 16 13:51:52 2008 From: ncminuteman at gmail.com (Denton) Date: Mon, 16 Jun 2008 13:51:52 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Scientists find bugs that eat waste and excrete petrol Message-ID: <4856A838.1070501@gmail.com> Scientists find bugs that eat waste and excrete petrol http://icantseeyou.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/06/scientists-find-bugs-that-eat-waste-and-excrete-petrol.html Can this be considered biofuel??? -- From tavanas at gmail.com Mon Jun 16 15:05:43 2008 From: tavanas at gmail.com (t avanas) Date: Mon, 16 Jun 2008 15:05:43 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] b100 compatible fuel lines Message-ID: <4856B987.4040809@gmail.com> all, i have been using b100 for the past 2 years in my cars, track and tractors. various fuel lines are failing now so i am looking for a local source of b100 compatible lines. i have heard clear flexible tubing sold at hardware store is b100 compatible, true? thanks From ebarclayjackson at yahoo.com Mon Jun 16 15:18:57 2008 From: ebarclayjackson at yahoo.com (Barclay Jackson) Date: Mon, 16 Jun 2008 12:18:57 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] petrol is petrol In-Reply-To: <4856A838.1070501@gmail.com> Message-ID: <596874.19579.qm@web31501.mail.mud.yahoo.com> A little googling gets an answer to the question as to whether bugpetrol is a biofuel. The answer of course is yes and no. Bugpetrol is made not made from fossils but it seems it emits the same green house gases. This is what I found. "While LS9?s Designer Biofuel emits the same amount of greenhouse gas as regular crude oil and petroleum products in a combustible engine, the company purports that ultimately that they will have a much smaller impact since they don?t have to drill for the feedstock. Their product also produces twice the energy of regular petroleum products; so, it requires half of the amount of feedstock to yield the same amount of energy." Barclay Jackson 36 Marston Ave. Portsmouth, NH 03801 603-431-1120 --- On Mon, 6/16/08, Denton wrote: > From: Denton > Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Scientists find bugs that eat waste and excrete petrol > To: "Biofuels Class" > Date: Monday, June 16, 2008, 1:51 PM > Scientists find bugs that eat waste and excrete petrol > > > http://icantseeyou.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/06/scientists-find-bugs-that-eat-waste-and-excrete-petrol.html > > Can this be considered biofuel??? > -- > _______________________________________________ > Biofuels_Interest_Group mailing list > Biofuels_Interest_Group at lists.emji.net > http://lists.emji.net/mailman/listinfo/biofuels_interest_group From wmackin at elon.edu Mon Jun 16 16:47:41 2008 From: wmackin at elon.edu (Will Mackin) Date: Mon, 16 Jun 2008 16:47:41 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] petrol is petrol References: <596874.19579.qm@web31501.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <7D49DDEA5C85D74DB7983AAC7DC05E9F047E9181@EV02.elon.edu> Looks like a perfectly good biofuel with no qualification to me. It emits carbon dioxide that was recently in the atmosphere. -----Original Message----- From: biofuels_interest_group-bounces at lists.emji.net on behalf of Barclay Jackson Sent: Mon 6/16/2008 3:18 PM To: Biofuels Class; Denton Subject: Re: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] petrol is petrol A little googling gets an answer to the question as to whether bugpetrol is a biofuel. The answer of course is yes and no. Bugpetrol is made not made from fossils but it seems it emits the same green house gases. This is what I found. "While LS9's Designer Biofuel emits the same amount of greenhouse gas as regular crude oil and petroleum products in a combustible engine, the company purports that ultimately that they will have a much smaller impact since they don't have to drill for the feedstock. Their product also produces twice the energy of regular petroleum products; so, it requires half of the amount of feedstock to yield the same amount of energy." Barclay Jackson 36 Marston Ave. Portsmouth, NH 03801 603-431-1120 --- On Mon, 6/16/08, Denton wrote: > From: Denton > Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Scientists find bugs that eat waste and excrete petrol > To: "Biofuels Class" > Date: Monday, June 16, 2008, 1:51 PM > Scientists find bugs that eat waste and excrete petrol > > > http://icantseeyou.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/06/scientists-find-bugs-that-eat-waste-and-excrete-petrol.html > > Can this be considered biofuel??? > -- > _______________________________________________ > 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 kalib at energyevolutions.ws Mon Jun 16 17:33:00 2008 From: kalib at energyevolutions.ws (kalib at energyevolutions.ws) Date: Mon, 16 Jun 2008 21:33:00 +0000 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] petrol is petrol In-Reply-To: <7D49DDEA5C85D74DB7983AAC7DC05E9F047E9181@EV02.elon.edu> References: <596874.19579.qm@web31501.mail.mud.yahoo.com><7D49DDEA5C85D74DB7983AAC7DC05E9F047E9181@EV02.elon.edu> Message-ID: <1140458460-1213652079-cardhu_decombobulator_blackberry.rim.net-407418734-@bxe147.bisx.prod.on.blackberry> I think it's pretty clearly a biofuel. Kalib Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile -----Original Message----- From: "Will Mackin" Date: Mon, 16 Jun 2008 16:47:41 To:,"Biofuels Class" ,"Denton" Subject: Re: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] petrol is petrol Looks like a perfectly good biofuel with no qualification to me. It emits carbon dioxide that was recently in the atmosphere. -----Original Message----- From: biofuels_interest_group-bounces at lists.emji.net on behalf of Barclay Jackson Sent: Mon 6/16/2008 3:18 PM To: Biofuels Class; Denton Subject: Re: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] petrol is petrol A little googling gets an answer to the question as to whether bugpetrol is a biofuel. The answer of course is yes and no. Bugpetrol is made not made from fossils but it seems it emits the same green house gases. This is what I found. "While LS9's Designer Biofuel emits the same amount of greenhouse gas as regular crude oil and petroleum products in a combustible engine, the company purports that ultimately that they will have a much smaller impact since they don't have to drill for the feedstock. Their product also produces twice the energy of regular petroleum products; so, it requires half of the amount of feedstock to yield the same amount of energy." Barclay Jackson 36 Marston Ave. Portsmouth, NH 03801 603-431-1120 --- On Mon, 6/16/08, Denton wrote: > From: Denton > Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Scientists find bugs that eat waste and excrete petrol > To: "Biofuels Class" > Date: Monday, June 16, 2008, 1:51 PM > Scientists find bugs that eat waste and excrete petrol > > > http://icantseeyou.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/06/scientists-find-bugs-that-eat-waste-and-excrete-petrol.html > > Can this be considered biofuel??? > -- > _______________________________________________ > 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 john.bonitz at gmail.com Tue Jun 17 14:48:52 2008 From: john.bonitz at gmail.com (John Bonitz) Date: Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:48:52 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] New Report Identifies Gains in Ethanol Production Efficiency Message-ID: <84a57a420806171148l65888fe1r6d8edd539838c232@mail.gmail.com> New Report Identifies Gains in Ethanol Production Efficiency In a report released by the Argonne National Laboratory to the Renewable Fuels Association on March 27, American ethanol facilities are using less energy and water for producing ethanol than five years ago. Ethanol industry data from 2001-2006 shows an increase in production of 247 percent. However, at the same time water consumption is down over 25 percent in dry mills, electricity use is down more than 15 percent in dry mills, and total energy use is down over 20 percent in wet mills. ?The dramatic improvements in dry mill ethanol production demonstrate this industry?s commitment to developing and utilizing the most efficient technologies available,? said Renewable Fuels Association President Bob Dinneen. ?In the past five years, America?s ethanol industry has shown its ability to increasingly meet the fuel needs of the nation while addressing the climate change concerns of the planet.? This analysis was completed using data from surveys conducted by the Renewable Fuels Association. The analysis noted two main trends leading to the rise in energy efficiency: 25 percent of ethanol producers are sequestering carbon dioxide emission for dry ice production and carbonated beverages and 37 percent of the distillers grain produced for livestock feed is being sold in its wet form which reduces the energy need for drying and transportation. Other reasons for the rise in efficiency include the use of natural gas as an energy source in dry mills instead of coal. Sources: http://www.ethanolrfa.org/objects/documents/1652/2007_analysis_of_the_efficiency_of_the_us_ethanol_industry.pdf (.pdf format) http://campaign-archive.com/archive.phtml?cid=UzgdHyV864 -- John Bonitz Silk Hope, NC ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From bonitz at cleanenergy.org Wed Jun 18 12:50:42 2008 From: bonitz at cleanenergy.org (John Bonitz) Date: Wed, 18 Jun 2008 12:50:42 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] FW: DOE fact sheet on gas prices and biofuels In-Reply-To: <20080618075806370.00000000580@solar15> Message-ID: Thanks to Anne Tazewell for sharing this information. JB ------ Forwarded Message From: Anne Tazewell Date: Wed, 18 Jun 2008 07:58:06 -0400 To: "ncmobilecare at lists.ncsu.edu" Subject: [ncmobilecare] DOE fact sheet on gas prices and biofuels Fact Sheet: Gas Prices and Oil Consumption Would Increase Without Biofuels Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman and Secretary of Agriculture Edward T. Schafer sent a letter on June 11, 2008 to Senator Jeff Bingaman addressing a number of questions related to biofuels, food, and gasoline and diesel prices. Read the letter . Without Biofuels, Gas Prices Would Increase $.20 to $.35 per Gallon. * The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) estimates that gasoline prices would be between 20 cents to 35 cents per gallon higher without ethanol1 , a first-generation biofuel. * For a typical household, that means saving about $150 to $300 per year. * For the U.S. overall, this saves gas expenditures of $28 billion to $49 billion based on annual gasoline consumption of roughly 140 billion gallons. * Ethanol use has exceeded the requirements of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), established in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, demonstrating that refiners and gasoline marketers have an economic advantage to use more ethanol than is required by law. Biofuels are Reducing America?s Dependence on Oil. * Without biofuels, DOE estimates that the United States would have to use 7.2 billion more gallons of gasoline in 2008 in order to maintain current levels of travel (a 5 percent increase). This increased demand for gasoline would drive up the price Americans pay at the pump due to basic supply and demand. Biofuels are Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions. * DOE scientists found that corn ethanol from the U.S. reduced greenhouse gas emission 19 percent compared with gasoline, when the full ?life cycle? of the fuel is considered ? from growing it to producing the fuel and burning it. * DOE scientists estimate that 13 million tons of greenhouse gases were avoided in 2007 due to biofuels production and use. * The next generation of biofuels?cellulosic?made from switchgrass, corn stover, wood chips and other non-food sources promises even more significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions than corn-based ethanol ? reductions of more than 86 percent compared with gasoline. Today?s Biofuels Account for Only a Small Percentage of the Increase in Global Food Prices. * Other factors are responsible for the majority of the increase in global food prices: > * Higher oil and gas prices leading to increased costs of fertilizer, harvest, > and transportation; > * Increased demand as developing countries grow and people improve their > diets; > * Two years of bad weather and drought leading to poor harvests in parts of > the world; > * Export restrictions imposed by some countries. Future Biofuels Will Alleviate Much of the Concern about Competition Between Food and Fuel. * Cellulosic biofuel feedstocks can be produced on land not suitable for crops or it can be collected from forest residues. > * The Administration has announced more than $1 billion for the research, > development, and demonstration of new biofuels technology, with a special > focus on cellulosic biofuels. Funding supports: > * Bioenergy Research Centers where scientists work together to make the > conversion of plant fiber to fuel more cost-effective and efficient. > * Commercial-scale and small-scale biorefineries, to chart the course toward > commercialization of these technologies and test breakthroughs and novel > processes. [1] This estimate relies on data on the current price difference between ethanol and gasoline and the elasticity of supply for petroleum. Consequently, a range is presented. ------ End of Forwarded Message From wrenchwench at blast.com Thu Jun 19 16:59:22 2008 From: wrenchwench at blast.com (Rachel Burton) Date: Thu, 19 Jun 2008 16:59:22 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Fwd: building an electric truck update References: <239194.16017.qm@web63408.mail.re1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <1319F66B-5325-46C4-A151-4084F1EC236A@blast.com> Begin forwarded message: > From: andrew kubik > Date: June 19, 2008 9:40:38 AM EDT > To: biofuels_interest_group-owner at lists.emji.net > Subject: Please post to the biofuels group: building an electric > truck update > Reply-To: burningh2 at yahoo.com > > There has been a good bit of interest about the truck that I am > converting to electric so I wanted to update the list on my > progress and thank everyone for their input so far. The goal was > to build an electric vehicle with an extended/unlimited rang. The > most efficient generator I could find turns out to be large enough > to power the truck with out battery back up. The generator will > consist of a 4 cylinder diesel Kubota engine driving a 30 KW 3 > phase generator. The drive train will be an ac motor controller > with a 20 HP motor wired for 40HP. I will not be using the > transmission, transfer case, or rear wheel drive, only front. > Estimated fuel consumption is between 48-120 mpg at 60 mph. I'll > post back with results in a few months. > > Has any one used bio-D or SVO in a Kubota engine before? Any words > of wisdom? I will of course be moving in that direction once it is > up and running. > > Andrew > burningh2 at yahoo.com > > From rudolfdiesel at netzero.net Fri Jun 20 09:52:24 2008 From: rudolfdiesel at netzero.net (rudolfdiesel at netzero.net) Date: Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:52:24 GMT Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Fwd: building an electric truck update Message-ID: <20080620.095224.19945.1@webmail20.dca.untd.com> Please consider a battery pack as this would give you regenerative capability. The addition of regenerative current storage should improve efficiency well over 20%. Also please avoid SVO. You will impair the performance and lifetime of whatever Diesel engine you use if you run SVO. Lots of Kubota's are running good Bio. Suggest ASTM B-100 or Home Brew Fueling the Farm, July 10-11, 2008 Goldsboro, NC The Center for Environmental Farming Systems in collaboration with the National Center for Appropriate Technology will be hosting two back-to-back full day workshops on on-farm energy conservation and use. The first (July 10) will explore on farm energy use and conservation, renewable energy options, enhancing energy efficiency on the farm, and potential funding sources for on-farm energy projects. Larry Shirley (Director of the State Energy Office) will provide a keynote. Dr. Lydia Olander (Nicholas Institute, Duke University) will present a plenary session on carbon credits. Workshop participants will have two tracks including the opportunity to construct a solar heating system to supplement the propane heat used in greenhouses. The second workshop (July 11) will be a hands-on workshop led by Matt Rudolf of Piedmont Biofuels teaching on-farm production of biofuels from seed crushing to end-product. Major funding is provided by the USDA Risk Management Agency. For more details and registration information, go to our website at: http://www.cefs.ncsu.edu Steve Moore Center For Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) NC State University 201 Stevens Mill Road Goldsboro NC 27530 steve_moore at ncsu.edu Cell 919 218 4642 Office 919 731 3440 Fax 919 731 3273 From bonitz at cleanenergy.org Fri Jun 20 15:53:21 2008 From: bonitz at cleanenergy.org (John Bonitz) Date: Fri, 20 Jun 2008 15:53:21 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] FW: ASTM Approves New Biodiesel Blend Specifications In-Reply-To: <20461155.1213976702375.JavaMail.atg@xeon1> Message-ID: ------ Forwarded Message From: National Biodiesel Board Date: Fri, 20 Jun 2008 08:45:02 -0700 (PDT) To: John Bonitz Subject: ASTM Approves New Biodiesel Blend Specifications Big Win for Biodiesel: ASTM Approves New Biodiesel Blend Specifications ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dear Biodiesel Supporter: The biodiesel industry is celebrating today following last night?s final vote by the ASTM International D02 Main Committee to approve a trio of long-awaited ASTM specifications for biodiesel blends. After more than five years of extensive research and subsequent balloting by the ASTM fuel experts in the blended fuel balloting process, ASTM has finally voted to approve three key sets of biodiesel specifications that should significantly bolster automaker support and consumer demand for biodiesel. Read the complete press release at http://nbb.grassroots.com/08Releases/ASTM_final/. From cameron at raceconover.com Sun Jun 22 15:02:09 2008 From: cameron at raceconover.com (Cameron Conover) Date: Sun, 22 Jun 2008 15:02:09 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] 504 Wagon Message-ID: <4c758e6d0806221202k26cdd65apaa07e02187767a41@mail.gmail.com> Friends, I am selling my Peugeot Diesel Wagon, too many cars around here. I thought Y'all might like to know about it in case anyone needs a vehicle to run with Biodiesel. Thank you all. http://raleigh.craigslist.org/car/728653365.html -- Cameron Conover www.raceconover.com 336-340-7826 KJ4BEE From john.bonitz at gmail.com Mon Jun 23 13:00:44 2008 From: john.bonitz at gmail.com (John Bonitz) Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:00:44 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] OFF-TOPIC: "That is an energy policy so unworthy of our Independence Day." Message-ID: <84a57a420806231000t603040cdmd2ef84bda2d1011@mail.gmail.com> I warned you, it's off-topic: If you read it and you like it, you've no one but yourself to thank. -- John Bonitz Silk Hope, NC ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mr. Bush, Lead or Leave By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN Published: June 22, 2008 Two years ago, President Bush declared that America was "addicted to oil," and, by gosh, he was going to do something about it. Well, now he has. Now we have the new Bush energy plan: "Get more addicted to oil." Actually, it's more sophisticated than that: Get Saudi Arabia, our chief oil pusher, to up our dosage for a little while and bring down the oil price just enough so the renewable energy alternatives can't totally take off. Then try to strong arm Congress into lifting the ban on drilling offshore and in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. It's as if our addict-in-chief is saying to us: "C'mon guys, you know you want a little more of the good stuff. One more hit, baby. Just one more toke on the ole oil pipe. I promise, next year, we'll all go straight. I'll even put a wind turbine on my presidential library. But for now, give me one more pop from that drill, please, baby. Just one more transfusion of that sweet offshore crude." It is hard for me to find the words to express what a massive, fraudulent, pathetic excuse for an energy policy this is. But it gets better. The president actually had the gall to set a deadline for this drug deal: "I know the Democratic leaders have opposed some of these policies in the past," Mr. Bush said. "Now that their opposition has helped drive gas prices to record levels, I ask them to reconsider their positions. If Congressional leaders leave for the Fourth of July recess without taking action, they will need to explain why $4-a-gallon gasoline is not enough incentive for them to act." This from a president who for six years resisted any pressure on Detroit to seriously improve mileage standards on its gas guzzlers; this from a president who's done nothing to encourage conservation; this from a president who has so neutered the Environmental Protection Agency that the head of the E.P.A. today seems to be in a witness-protection program. I bet there aren't 12 readers of this newspaper who could tell you his name or identify him in a police lineup. But, most of all, this deadline is from a president who hasn't lifted a finger to broker passage of legislation that has been stuck in Congress for a year, which could actually impact America's energy profile right now - unlike offshore oil that would take years to flow - and create good tech jobs to boot. That bill is H.R. 6049 - "The Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008," which extends for another eight years the investment tax credit for installing solar energy and extends for one year the production tax credit for producing wind power and for three years the credits for geothermal, wave energy and other renewables. These critical tax credits for renewables are set to expire at the end of this fiscal year and, if they do, it will mean thousands of jobs lost and billions of dollars of investments not made. "Already clean energy projects in the U.S. are being put on hold," said Rhone Resch, president of the Solar Energy Industries Association. People forget, wind and solar power are here, they work, they can go on your roof tomorrow. What they need now is a big U.S. market where lots of manufacturers have an incentive to install solar panels and wind turbines - because the more they do, the more these technologies would move down the learning curve, become cheaper and be able to compete directly with coal, oil and nuclear, without subsidies. That seems to be exactly what the Republican Party is trying to block, since the Senate Republicans - sorry to say, with the help of John McCain - have now managed to defeat the renewal of these tax credits six different times. Of course, we're going to need oil for years to come. That being the case, I'd prefer - for geopolitical reasons - that we get as much as possible from domestic wells. But our future is not in oil, and a real president wouldn't be hectoring Congress about offshore drilling today. He'd be telling the country a much larger truth: "Oil is poisoning our climate and our geopolitics, and here is how we're going to break our addiction: We're going to set a floor price of $4.50 a gallon for gasoline and $100 a barrel for oil. And that floor price is going to trigger massive investments in renewable energy - particularly wind, solar panels and solar thermal. And we're also going to go on a crash program to dramatically increase energy efficiency, to drive conservation to a whole new level and to build more nuclear power. And I want every Democrat and every Republican to join me in this endeavor." That's what a real president would do. He'd give us a big strategic plan to end our addiction to oil and build a bipartisan coalition to deliver it. He certainly wouldn't be using his last days in office to threaten Congressional Democrats that if they don't approve offshore drilling by the Fourth of July recess, they will be blamed for $4-a-gallon gas. That is so lame. That is an energy policy so unworthy of our Independence Day. From sjhr2000 at mailcan.com Tue Jun 24 13:56:10 2008 From: sjhr2000 at mailcan.com (Steve Rankin) Date: Tue, 24 Jun 2008 13:56:10 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] energy article Message-ID: <1214330170.9483.1260155203@webmail.messagingengine.com> http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11565685&CFID=10477985&CFTOKEN=15784069 -- Steve J. Rankin sjhr2000 at mailcan.com From emilysmith at myway.com Wed Jun 25 19:26:51 2008 From: emilysmith at myway.com (emilysmith) Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2008 19:26:51 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] International school bus Message-ID: <20080625232651.564956765E@mprdmxin.myway.com> A friend of mine is considering buying an '86 International school bus. Does anyone have any experience with one, in general and with biodiesel specifically? It may be parked the majority of its time, serving more as a living area, with occasional long trips. Any suggestions or things to watch for? Thanks, Emily _______________________________________________ No banners. No pop-ups. No kidding. Make My Way your home on the Web - http://www.myway.com From mattr at biofuels.coop Thu Jun 26 19:31:55 2008 From: mattr at biofuels.coop (Matthew Rudolf) Date: Thu, 26 Jun 2008 19:31:55 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Girl Mark Class this Weekend Message-ID: <11A14605-DE4E-4FEB-B5BD-A52C1853EBBB@biofuels.coop> Folks: We would like to remind EXPERIENCED biodiesel producers that this weekend we are hosting a girl Mark "System Tips and Tricks" Class. This is an awesome opportunity for the homebrewers in our local area to come out and network and learn how to tweak their homebrew plants and improve their production technique. The class will be held at Piedmont Biofuels Cooperative, at the workshop behind the Yellow House next to the coop. Class starts at 10am, so get there by 9:45am to register. Remember, this class is only for biodiesel producers with experience. Beginners need to take an introductory class first. Directions to the coop are available at: http://biofuels.coop/coop-directions/ The class description follows: Biodiesel Production System Tricks Pittsboro, NC Building a reactor is only the beginning of setting up an efficient system, and how you set it up within the rest of the system can make all the difference in whether biodiesel homebrewing is a timeconsuming hassle or a fun hobby. This is a class in a 'live' homebrew system setting, in which we will make full size batches of biodiesel in an Appleseed reactor, discuss what the experienced students in the class already do and what challenges come up for us, and show different efficiency or safety 'tricks' in live action. We will discuss other homebrew alternatives to the Appleseed (Graham Laming's Eco-System Processor, and larger processors) and illustrate several variations on the 'standard' process from the perspective of alternative equipment that may make these variations easier or to ensure higher quality biodiesel. This class also covers methanol recovery and alternatives to water-washing. This class is geared to people who already know how to make biodiesel, either in a lab-scale, or for those who already homebrew but would like to compare notes with me on how I manage my system. You may take this class after attending a regular homebrewing class taught by someone else as well as if you have learned how to make biodiesel on your own. We don't go into a lot of detail on titration and chemistry here so that?s the info you should have ?down? already on your own prior to taking this ?system tricks? class. This class will overlap SLIGHTLY with the Advanced Topics class but you may be interested in attending both regardless- the overlap isn't much. The Pittsboro takes place using my mobile processor trailer and the Pittsboro class also involves a tour of Piedmont Biofuels Coop's system. See this blog post for details: http://www.girlmark.com/blog/ index.php?p=179 For this class, you should have already made biodiesel either in a 'test' scale or in full-size equipment. You can take this class if you've attended a prior class of mine or are an experienced Tuesday night fuel maker at Piedmont Biofuels. From rudolfdiesel at netzero.net Sun Jun 29 23:54:34 2008 From: rudolfdiesel at netzero.net (rudolfdiesel at netzero.net) Date: Mon, 30 Jun 2008 03:54:34 GMT Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] 85 300 DT available Message-ID: <20080629.235434.27831.1@webmail19.dca.untd.com> I have known this car for several years, seen it through two owners, both friends. It spent a year in West Virginia where it acquired a little rust at the bottom of the left rear quarter, and spent the last year or so going back and forth from Clayton to Morrisville every day with out a breakdown. In WV it ran on B-100, but the last owner just ran straight petro. It is white, tan interior and is one of the best running 300D's around. I went through the transmission about two years ago, shifts nicely. Vacuum door locks are incredible, holds vacuum for weeks! Does not use or drip oil. I would not hesitate to drive this car anywhere. That said, it needs a paint job (faded white), the A/C is out (Needs compressor) cruise is inoperative and the interior is a little rough, especially front seats. But the sunroof & windows work! Odometer stopped at 315,150. Don't know just when that was. It needs air cleaner mounts, a good service, and the items I have described. The good news, $1800 buys it. In fact, if someone steps up this week I'll throw in the air cleaner mounts and an oil/filter change. Otherwise it goes on E-Bay. I have pictures, e-mail me if interested. Rich Cregar ____________________________________________________________ Daily Instant Win Prizes! Enter for your chance to WIN one of hundreds of daily prizes. http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL2241/fc/JKFkuJkEQiSaEXpVQguUbUsL7LdaNWsjl65i1ulpqSffAkGwcy606G/