From bonitz at cleanenergy.org Thu May 13 09:05:05 2010 From: bonitz at cleanenergy.org (John Bonitz) Date: Thu, 13 May 2010 09:05:05 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] FW: $10k Prize - Clean Energy Gulf Challenge Announced In-Reply-To: <9491D6CC-885A-47B8-902B-C4FAEF4042F2@cleanenergy.org> Message-ID: Friends of biofuels, The horrors unfolding in the Gulf of Mexico, preceded by the horrible entanglements in the Persian Gulf, have moved my organization to announce a $10,000 challenge. Details follow. ~ ~ ~ John Bonitz, Farm Outreach & Policy Advocate Southern Alliance for Clean Energy PO Box 1833, Pittsboro, NC 27312 Phone: 919-360-2492 Email: bonitz at cleanenergy.org Web: http://www.cleanenergy.org ------ Forwarded Message The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 13, 2010 Contact: Andr?e Duggan, Media Director (865) 235-1448, andree at cleanenergy.org Clean Energy Gulf Challenge Announced SACE Launches Contest for Roadmap to End America?s Dangerous Addiction to Oil Jacksonville, Fla. (May 13) ? Today, the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy is issuing a Clean Energy Gulf Challenge to solicit and award a cash prize for the best plan that demonstrates how the United States can end both offshore oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico and imports of Persian Gulf oil. The unfolding oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico has sharpened the debate between foreign oil imports and risky offshore domestic production. The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy believes that there is a way, not only to end our dependence on oil imports from potentially unstable government regimes in the Persian Gulf, but to also phase out the environmentally risky practice of offshore oil and gas drilling. ?It?s a false tradeoff to say that we must undertake dangerous offshore drilling activities or see an increase in oil imports from potentially hostile regimes,? said Dr. Stephen Smith, executive director of SACE. ?People want to see a future that eliminates U.S. oil extraction from both locations, and we are seeking the brightest minds to map out a bridge to that future.? The Clean Energy Gulf Challenge will accept plans from individuals, companies, academic institutions and ?think tanks? over the next few weeks (contest deadline is Monday, June 14th) that lay out the details of how to get the U.S. to end domestic offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico and Persian Gulf oil imports. Experts in the energy field will review the plans. The top three selections will be presented to the public during the week of Independence Day as a tribute to America?s movement towards energy independence. The public will then have an opportunity to cast their votes, and the $10,000 prizewinner will be announced on Tuesday, July 13th. ?Increasing efficiency standards on cars and trucks, using sustainable biofuels, electrifying a portion of vehicle fleets and a host of other measures will reduce America?s oil consumption. I believe that reducing our oil and gas consumption one-fifth [or 20 percent] by 2020 could get our nation out of both the Gulf of Mexico and the Persian Gulf,? Dr. Smith stated. ?Many alternatives are available now, and we are looking for the best and the brightest to help the American people understand that yes, we can do this. The Clean Energy Gulf Challenge will spotlight the path forward and give people hope that we are not hostage to two very bad situations.? Related Links: The Clean Energy Gulf Challenge Entry Information http://www.cleanenergy.org/gulfchallenge/GulfChallengeEntry.pdf SACE blog entries on the Gulf Spill http://blog.cleanenergy.org/ SACE Clean Energy Challenge Donation Page https://app.etapestry.com/hosted/SouthernAllianceforCleanEn/OnlineDonation.h tml # # # Southern Alliance for Clean Energy is a nonprofit organization that promotes responsible energy choices that create global warming solutions and ensure clean, safe and healthy communities throughout the Southeast. For more information, visit: http://www.cleanenergy.org From marc at theforestfoundation.org Mon May 17 11:22:47 2010 From: marc at theforestfoundation.org (The Forest Foundation) Date: Mon, 17 May 2010 11:22:47 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] Biodiesel Tax Credit is bad economics Message-ID: <4BF15F47.7070201@theforestfoundation.org> Hi Jeff: I am a firm supporter of your NBBs. work. However, the tax credit (or subsidy) is bad economics, artificially lowering the price of biodiesel, when in fact we need to raise energy prices to promote efficiency, research, investment and switching to alternative fuels and transportation systems. Your plea appears as another self-interested effort by mostly big business and corporate America to get a deal from the tax payers and government. If you want to really broaden your campaign, you should also be promoting in your campaign: 1) removal of tax credits and subsidies to the petroleum and fossil fuel industry; 2) a carbon tax and rebate; 3) and comprehensive energy reform along the millions of others, joining this larger coalition. If the playing field isn't leveled in a long-term effective manner, we will be "tacking when we need to be running with the wind." Times up for bandaids. We need to fight like hell for our very survival, as the planet is going down hard and fast. Show some hut spa! Marc Dreyfors(MEM '90) Manager, Carolina Biodiesel, LLC Manager, Greenway Transit, LLC Manager, Forests of the World, LLC President, The Forest Foundation, Inc.-- a 501(c)(3) promoting Sustainable Livelihoods 1410 Cross St. Durham, NC 27701 (919)957-1500,1505 fax: (919)957-1502 marc at theforestfoundation.org www.theforestfoundation.org From gator95x at hotmail.com Mon May 31 02:47:19 2010 From: gator95x at hotmail.com (C M) Date: Mon, 31 May 2010 02:47:19 -0400 Subject: [Biofuels_Interest_Group] London Taxi with Elsbett for sale In-Reply-To: <693373.77767.qm@web55307.mail.re4.yahoo.com> References: <693373.77767.qm@web55307.mail.re4.yahoo.com> Message-ID: I have a London Taxi with an Elsbett kit for sale. I'll email photos upon request. The kit was installed thru Piedmont Biofuels in 2007. The taxi is a 1987 model that needs some TLC but generally is good to go. Asking $6000 obo. It is located near Fort Lauderdale and will require transport or tow. I could get it working fine in a few hours but I've moved on to other things. This is a truly unique vehicle running on SVO/WVO. None other like it anywhere. I'm happy to answer any questions you might have. Here is a link to a photo: http://www.biofuels.coop/taxi/ And here is a ton of details (copied from my post on CL): 1987 FX4S Plus - (titled as 1979 FX4D) Veggie Taxi! Red w/black top. Newer diesel engine installed is Nissan 2.7 diesel common in Fairways and Nissan Terrano, installed before 2003 but after 1991 as that was the first year of that style of engine. The mileage listed represents the total mileage of the vehicle for the original and new engine. New radiator, battery, air filter, oil filter, and Elsbett kit installed in 2007. This taxi runs on diesel, biodiesel, or vegetable oil at 28 MPG. Typical extensive rust, dings, and scratches. Wheelchair ramp and spare included, UK registration E789LUC. Photos available. Minor electrical quirks. Some extra parts like air and oil filters, US radio adapter, and new Lucas horn/turn signal arm will be included. I'll also include some veggie oil filtering materials. Original UK taxi meter included. This is the ONLY London Taxi in the US (or anywhere for that matter) with this Elsbett vegetable oil modification. Asking $6000 OBO. Please feel free to ask me questions. This is a very special vehicle and the more you know, the better. It is a London Taxi Cab, classified as an Austin but actually manufactured by London Taxi International (LTI). It is titled as a 1979 FX4D, but my research, and the wheelchair ramp, identify the taxi as a 1987 FX4S Plus. The title is clear and it has been titled in New York and Florida. It believe it was imported into the US between 2003-2006. I found a grocery receipt stuck in the seat dated December 2002. I purchased the taxi in early 2007 to convert to run on vegetable oil. It was being used in New York City for TV and movies I installed an Elsbett kit so it now runs on diesel, biodiesel, waste vegetable oil WVO, and straight vegetable oil SVO. You can mix any of these fuels in any combination in the single tank system. I have been collecting waste oil from Mexican and Chinese restaurants, filtering it, and using it as fuel. I rarely have to take it to the gas station. So if you hate rising fuel prices, you'll love the taxi. I love this taxi, it gets great looks out on the road. The steering wheel is British style on the right side. I am selling it because I am moving onto other projects and I live in hot Florida and it doesn't have AC. These taxis don't come with AC but a kit can be installed. But it has a great heater! Tires are in good condition, spare included with jack. The taxi starts and runs, but at this time it needs a new micro pump ($25 at your local auto parts store) and could use a new battery. As such, you should expect to transport or tow the vehicle, not drive it away. It drives comfortably at 55 but doesn't want to go more than 65 as it was designed for city use, not the open road. It has a truly amazing turning radius of 25 feet, turns on a dime like no other vehicle. This is part of the design so that it can make a U-turn on a small London street. It has power locks for the back doors behind the partition which is controlled from the front. The rear windows and driver's window are manually operated. The front passenger side window is a power window operated from the driver's position. Parts for the engine are mostly Nissan so replacements aren't tough to get in the US. Other parts are easily obtained from the UK as these taxis are still widely in use abroad. It is an older classic kind of car so please look at the photos to see the imperfections, dents, dings, rust, and scratches. It does need body work for the rust and dents. I'll try to list all the things that are quirky on it that have not been perfected. One rear passenger door does not fully open because of a dent. The black top is weathered and degrading with age. The radio/cassette deck is aftermarket for US frequencies, but you'll want to replace the radio and speakers. I have been using a radio boom box along with my satellite radio service (not included) which has worked great for me. With a proper charge on the battery, and the micro pump I mentioned above, it will start easily. There are some quirks with the electrical system which causes the turning signals a headlights to work when they want to and sometimes causes a slow drain when the car is turned off. I have installed a kill switch on the battery which has solved the drain issue, but the lights are still quirky. I have been simply using the fuse box as an on/off switch for the headlamps. I bought this vehicle in 2007 in New York City and drove it down to North Carolina where the Elsbett kit was installed and replaced the radiator. I then drove it to South Florida running entirely on vegetable oil. Everyone waves hello when they see the taxi coming and going. More about the veggie oil modification: The Elsbett kit is designed specifically for each vehicle, with parts of the proper size and type for each vehicle. This German company was able to deliver a kit specifically designed for use with my taxi. I paid around $2000 US. For those of you who are into the SVO WVO thing, you'll appreciate that this is a single tank system, no need for starting on one tank and switching to the other. Vegetable oil is thicker than regular diesel, so fuel intake line from the tank to the front of the car was replaced with a thicker line. A small pump was installed at the base of this line to push the fuel forward (that's the micro pump that needs to be replaced). The glow plugs were replaced with longer, hotter glow plugs. The WVO must be heated and there are two new items in my taxi that do this. We added a second fuel filter (standard Volkswagen filter) with a heating element, while keeping the original filer intact. The heating element heats the oil that has been sitting in the filter when car starts. After the engine warms, a heat exchanger hooked to the radiator coolant takes over the job of heating the veggie oil and a sensor stops the heating element on the second fuel filter. I have included a photo that details these modifications. I have over $7000 in this vehicle. YES, this taxi needs lots of cosmetic work. YES, this taxi will need minor mechanical work. YES, you should plan to tow or transport this vehicle from my driveway and budget accordingly. YES, you will enjoy this vehicle once you've given it some tender loving care. About the registration: The title is clear. I have it registered in Florida, and before that it was registered in New York. It is listed as a 1979 FX4D, but all of my research indicates that this is a newer vehicle, an 1987 FX4S Plus with the wheelchair modification. It also has a much newer Fairway taxi engine (by Nissan). It has been insured with Hagerty Insurance as they specialize in older collectible cars. I know you have questions, so feel free to ask. I am happy to answer whatever might be on your mind about this unique vehicle. Mileage: 176,863 miles Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida Vehicle Information Warranty: Vehicle does NOT have an existing warranty Title: Clear Condition: Used For sale by: Private seller Engine: 4 - Cyl. Cylinder Exterior color: Red Interior color: Gray Transmission: Automatic Fuel type: Diesel, Biodiesel, WVO, SVO, Vegetable Oil Disability equipped: Yes