Biodiesel Blog

New Bay Area Station: San Mateo's Autopia

2008-05-05T08:51:00.000-07:00

Via a post on the SF Biofuels Yahoo Group, comes news of a new Bay Area biodiesel filling station in San Mateo, Autopia Biofuels. Info:

Location: 1025 S. Railroad Ave, San Mateo, CA (north of 92, near Delaware & 9th Ave)
Price: $4.74/gallon (as of 2008/05/05)
Type: B99, ASTM-certified
Source: local, recycled oil

Some coverage from the San Mateo County Times:

"The simple, airy warehouse on South Railroad Avenue welcomes visitors with bright yellow floor and ample parking just off the Caltrain tracks, next to a row of car-related businesses. Autopia will eventually offer concessions for sale, mostly organic goodies from local vendors."

Biodiesel Price Increases

2008-04-19T20:18:00.000-07:00

Here's a note LC Biofuels sent to its customers about the recent biodiesel price increases; some quick highlights:

virgin soybean oil's price has tripled in the past year
lots of biodiesel plants have ceased production until prices fall

Alas.

Dear LC Biofuels BUG Members,

Thanks for all the emails and phone calls voicing your concerns over the ever increasing price of biodiesel. The price increase is as frustrating for us as it is all of you, if not more. Though it seems the price of biodiesel is tied to petroleum diesel there are many other factors that drive the price up more significantly. Feedstock prices, production costs, transportation, and the weakening of the dollar all contribute to the high price of biodiesel.

The primary culprit is the high price of feedstock used to make the fuel. Our prices are dictated mostly by the CBOT (Chicago Board of Trade) and what soybean oil, tallow, rendered products and all the other feedstocks used in biodiesel production are being traded for. Over the past year we have seen the price of soybean oil triple. Two weeks ago, it reached a high of $0.70 per lb, or $5.25 per gallon to the producer. Add another dollar to that for production and shipping and you realize what virgin soy biodiesel would go for. The reason soy prices have increased the way they have is the U.S. is exporting the oil to other countries at a premium. With the low cost of the dollar, countries like China, who produce thousands of products that require soy oil in the ingredients, are happy to pay a premium for the oil since the dollar is so cheap. The traders are happy to drive the price up to pad their pockets as well.

This price increase has caused many biodiesel plants to cease production until prices come back down. With plants going off line every month, we have seen prices go up and up to the distributor. We tried to hold off on raising our prices by thinking the price increase was short term, but we now realize it is not. As soon as our costs begin to decrease you will certainly see it at the pump.

To help ease the pain of increasing costs we are offering $.05 off the posted price at the pump for prepayments of $200.00 or more payable by check or money order to LC Biofuels, LLC.

We value our customers and are striving to make biodiesel a mainstream product. We appreciate all feedback and support. Please give us a call with any other questions or concerns. Thanks again.

Pollution FUD

2008-04-19T20:10:00.000-07:00

A NYTimes article sent by a friend, about companies illegally dumping biodiesel processing waste:

"After residents of the Riverbend Farms subdivision noticed that an oily, fetid substance had begun fouling the Black Warrior River, which runs through their backyards, Mark Storey, a retired petroleum plant worker, hopped into his boat to follow it upstream to its source.

It turned out to be an old chemical factory that had been converted into Alabama’s first biodiesel plant, a refinery that intended to turn soybean oil into earth-friendly fuel..."

It's unfortunate that some of these biodiesel producers aren't taking more precautions with their sanitation and waste runoff. It's pretty embarrassing, given that biofuels are supposed to be better for the environment and all.

LC Biofuels response to the FUD

2008-03-06T12:36:00.000-08:00

Lance from LC Biofuels (where I've been filling up on b20 in South Lake Tahoe this winter) sent out the following email to LC's customers, in response to the recent FUD about biofuel sustainability:

Due to the recent concern over the sustainability of biofuels, we would like to address our Biodiesel User Group Members about LC Biofuels position on sustainable biodiesel.

Our premium quality biodiesel is made in the US from a blend of 80% American grown soy bean oil and 20% recycled oils. This blend yields the highest quality biodiesel available with recycled feedstock without sacrificing low cold flow properties. We pledge to never source foreign grown feedstock's such as palm oil and South American soy that is unsustainable and environmentally destructive. We also pledge to use the most sustainable and locally produced biodiesel as it becomes available. The biodiesel industry is still in its infancy, however there are many alternative feedstock's and production companies that will be available to us in the near future.

LC Biofuels, LLC position on Sustainable Biodiesel reflects that of the National Biodiesel Board, of which we have been a Member since 2005.

1. LC Biofuels only sources biodiesel from a blend of 80% U.S. grown Soy and 20% recycled oils.

2. We oppose the use of non-sustainable agriculture practices worldwide in biodiesel production.

3. We support efforts to ensure that biodiesel produced and sold in the U.S. comes from sustainable resources.

4. In the United States , more than 80% of estimated 2007 biodiesel production came from soybean oil. The rest was divided among other feedstock's such as recycled cooking oil, fats, and vegetable oils from other oilseed crops.

5. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports that U.S. acreage for crop production has not increased since 1959. Major land use changes are not expected due to Biofuels.

6. The U.S. is the largest exporter of soybeans in the world, making the importation of soybeans from countries with non-sustainable agricultural practices less likely. Other nations have already been increasing soybean production for decades.

7. According to a USDA/DOE life cycle study, soy-based biodiesel has a 78% carbon dioxide reduction. This takes into account the planting and harvesting of the soybeans, producing the fuel and delivering it to the pump. A 2007 update to the study found that for every unit of fossil energy it takes to make biodiesel, 3.5 units of energy are gained.

8. According to U.S. Census data, the country currently has the equivalent of more than 400 million gallons of soybean oil sitting in inventory. The 2009 RFS goal is the use of 500 million gallons of biomass-based diesel, which includes biodiesel. Soybean oil only represents half of the available domestic raw materials for biodiesel available in the U.S.

Additionally, the NBB has feedstock development programs in place to further increase the efficiency and diversity of the raw materials that are used for biodiesel production. These initiatives have the potential to recycle commercial and agricultural wastes, bring sustainable agriculture to non-productive lands, increase crop yields, and further lower pesticide and fertilizer applications. Arid variety crops, algae, waste greases, and other feedstock's on the horizon have great potential to expand available material for biodiesel in a sustainable manner.

For more information please contact LC Biofuels, LLC at 510-232-0416 or visit www.lcbiofuels.com or www.biodiesel.org

And More FUD

2008-02-18T09:59:00.000-08:00

A NYTimes piece with more FUD about biofuels and greenhouse gas pollution:

"Almost all biofuels used today cause more greenhouse gas emissions than conventional fuels if the full emissions costs of producing these “green” fuels are taken into account, two studies being published Thursday have concluded..."

“When you take this into account, most of the biofuel that people are using or planning to use would probably increase greenhouse gasses substantially,” said Timothy Searchinger, lead author of one of the studies and a researcher in environment and economics at Princeton University. “Previously there’s been an accounting error: land use change has been left out of prior analysis.”

There's also been some discussion about the issue in the comments of another post here on the biodiesel blog.

Virgin Air Biofuel

2008-02-18T09:57:00.001-08:00

Here's a Chronicle piece about Virgin Atlantic testing biofuel in a London/Amsterdam flight sometime in February.

Film: Fields of Fuel

2008-02-16T11:25:00.000-08:00

Fields of Fuel looks really good. Here's the trailer:

American Freedom Biodiesel

2008-02-14T13:11:00.000-08:00

On a recent roadtrip through the northwest USA, I filled up on biodiesel in a bunch of places. Here's the brochure from American Freedom Biodiesel in Salt Lake City, UT:

Forbes on 2008+ Diesels

2008-02-10T21:17:00.000-08:00

Forbes.com has an article about some diesels reaching all 50 US states in 2008 and beyond, including:

Free San Francisco Grease Recycling

2007-11-20T09:09:00.000-08:00

Great news from San Francisco earlier this week, in the Chronicle:

SFGreasecycle announced, a free program where the city will pick up used cooking oil from restaurants/hotels/etc., to be converted to biodiesel for the city's 1500-diesel vehicle fleet
is partially in response to illegal grease/sewer dumping, which costs the city ~$3.5M to clean each year
is part of the city's mandate that all its diesel vehicles use B20 by end of 2007; this'll reduce CO2 emissions by 15% and diesel soot by 20%
SFGreasecycle is the first stage; later they'll look into building their own production plant
Program website: http://www.sfgreasecycle.org/

WVO in San Francisco

2007-04-22T10:44:00.000-07:00

As an SF resident, I was glad to see this, from the Examiner:

"Leftover grease from San Francisco’s restaurants will be recycled into fuel for The City’s diesel buses, under a $1.3 million program in the works by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission."
...

"At least 1 million gallons of biodiesel fuel could be manufactured from the oil collected from The City’s 2,600-plus restaurants, said SFPUC official Lewis Harrison, who added that is “more than enough” to contribute the required 20 percent to power the entire fleet."

India Biodiesel Update

2007-02-17T09:19:00.000-08:00

Via an email from my Dad, here's an MIT Tech Review article about India and Biodiesel:

"Biodiesel could be an important renewable substitute for fossil fuels. And, in certain parts of the world, governments and some corporations consider the jatropha plant, common in hot climates, one of the most promising sources of biodiesel. The plant can grow in wastelands, and it yields more than four times as much fuel per hectare as soybean, and more than ten times that of corn. But the commercial-scale cultivation of jatropha, which has not previously been grown as a crop, raises several significant challenges."

...

"So far, the project has signed up 5,000 farmers representing 1,000 hectares of land. The goal is to have 8,000 hectares under cultivation by March 2008, and Adholeya says that the success of the first crops has drawn interest from many more farmers. By the end of 2008, TERI plans to have a production facility producing biodiesel from jatropha. Eventually, it aims to produce 90 million liters of biodiesel annually."

Texas FUD

2007-01-04T07:15:00.000-08:00

This is unfortunate, but at least they're extending the study to learn more about the issue:

"The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality says that blending 20 percent (B20) or more of biodiesel with diesel fuel could increase the amount of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions above levels permitted by the state, as per a law passed in 2005."

Diesel Vehicles

2006-12-28T17:34:00.000-08:00

From a San Francisco/biodiesel mailing list comes a few interesting articles

More FUD

2006-12-28T17:16:00.000-08:00

A friend recently sent a link to this AlterNet piece about biofuels, "Biofuels are an Environmental Dead End"

New Biodiesel Blog

2006-12-12T19:46:00.000-08:00

My friend Rob just launched a new weblog about biodiesel, Awake at the Wheel, and it appears to be getting a lot more attention than this one. ;)

In other news, my friends Ryanne and Jay recently interviewed me about biodiesel on their videoblog:

(.mov link)

Nevada Biodiesel Plant

2006-10-29T18:18:00.000-08:00

The folks at Infinifuel just announced their Nevada biodiesel plant, which is unique in that it incorporates geothermal energy into the production process:

"The facility is home to the first geothermal power plant in Nevada. There are two production geothermal wells and seven power production units providing over 5 MW of electrical energy. In addition, the 220 degree steam will be used in the production of biodiesel on site."

Here's the location on Google Maps.

Radio piece: Biodiesel for truckers

2006-10-29T17:01:00.000-08:00

Here's a Living on Earth audio spot (including a transcript) about truckers and biodiesel; snippet:

"I didn't know a whole lot about it as far as biodiesel but the truckers say you get better mileage, the exhaust is not hurting your eyes or anything else. It's beautiful stuff. And so the truckers convinced me and, you know, that's who's gonna put it on the map anyway."
...

"Many truckers feel a tie to farmers because they transport agricultural products. And so far, biodiesel is not allowed to travel by pipeline. Instead, it's hauled by rail or tanker truck, so it's a source of work for truckers, too. The National Biodiesel Board ranks trucker outreach as one of its top priorities."

[via the SF Biofuel Y! Group]

NPR on Biodiesel

2006-10-29T16:19:00.000-08:00

There's a great NPR/Kitchen Sisters piece from a few months back about biodiesel - they chat with the folks behind BioWillie, and about Carl's Corner TX, where it was first sold:

"Carl's Corner, Texas, is a truck stop between Dallas and Waco, Texas, where a little revolution has begun. Where truckers fill up on American fuel made from farm crops. BioWillie, they call it, because Willie Nelson is the driving force behind this biodiesel vision. His tour bus runs on it, (so do Bonnie Raitt's and Neil Young's) and a brigade of 18-wheelers barreling down the nation's highways; a growing fleet of semis whose exhaust smells like French fries."
With its dancing frogs on top of the truck-stop sign, Carl's is a well-known landmark for motorists who travel Interstate 35 outside of Dallas. Owner Carl Cornelius bought the land in 1979 and incorporated the town in 1986 so he could sell alcohol in an otherwise dry part of Hill County. He's been mayor ever since."

Philippines: BioActiv

2006-09-26T08:27:00.000-07:00

Bioactiv appears to be a biodiesel-related fuel additive sold in the Philippines, interestingly promoted as a 1-5% blending agent:

First time Engine System Clean-up (20% blend or 4:1 ratio): A higher blend ratio will quickly dissolve gum and carbon deposits in the combustion chamber and in declogging fuel injection nozzles. A 20% blend will act like a liquid overhaul.
Quarterly Engine Maintenance (5% blend or 20:1 ratio): Quarterly treatment of the engine with a 5% blend to declog and lubricate the fuel system for proper engine care and maintenance.
Regular Operational Use (1%-2% Blend or 100:1/50:1 ratio): A 1%-2% blend in diesel fuel will minimize smoke emission, generate more mileage, and reduce maintenance cost.

Ohio Biodiesel

2006-09-24T21:11:00.000-07:00

Looks like there's finally some consumer/commercially-available biodiesel for sale in Ohio (my home state)!

"The proximity to Interstate 71 at exit 151 just east of Mount Gilead Ohio makes it an ideal stop for many who find the other renewable fuel filling stations inconvenient. I personally appreciated the pay at the pump credit card option as it makes the stop quick … besides, it is just a few yards west of the interstate exit — truly a no-hassle ‘pit stop.’ If you have a flex-fuel vehicle, or drive a diesel, be sure to support Ohio farmers growing clean fuel made in America."

Gaiam Biodiesel Processors

2006-09-24T20:39:00.000-07:00

This weekend I've been getting caught up on some biodieselblog-related emails, and came across one mentioning Gaiam's Biofuel section:

Business 2.0 on biodiesel

2006-09-23T13:22:00.000-07:00

Saw an article in a recent issue of Business 2.0 about soy-based biodiesel in Argentina, here's a snippet:

"The first significant player in this market just emerged: Imperium Renewables, a Seattle startup, will soon begin building a biodiesel refinery in Argentina that CEO Martin Tobias says will produce 100 million gallons of fuel per year. That, for comparison's sake, is more than the entire U.S. output in 2005."
"While the VC-backed plant will cost about $50 million to build and takes 50 people to operate, clean-tech experts consider the Argentine biodiesel market wide open to smaller players. In fact, newer off-the-shelf technology that's currently being commercialized will lower plant construction costs to about $3 million, a far more digestible sum for angel investors."

There is a diesel/electric hybrid

2006-09-20T16:40:00.000-07:00

Just saw a Tech Talk at work about diesels and plugin-hybrids by UC Davis' Reed Benet. One factoid I learned is that there is, apparently, a diesel/electric hybrid in the works after all:

I'd rather buy a VW TDI/hybrid though...