Feb 24, 2008 - London
A Virgin Atlantic jumbo jet flew from London to Amsterdam with one of its fuel tanks filled with a bio-jet blend including babassu oil and coconut oil. A Virgin Atlantic statement said the biofuel mix provided 25 per cent of the fuel for the test flight. The biofuels blend on the Virgin flight contained 20 per cent neat biofuel and 80 per cent conventional jet fuel. Virgin founder Richard Branson said tests had shown it was possible to fly with a 40 per cent blend. "Today marks a vital breakthrough for the whole airline industry," Mr. Branson told reporters in a hangar at Heathrow airport prior to the flight's departure.
December 2007 - Industry snapshot - Executive overview by Devin Castleton | * devin.castleton@frost.com | Frost & Sullivan | Consulting Analyst, Energy Group 7550 IH 10 West | Suite 400 | San Antonio, TX 78229 | 210.247.3890 | "Partnering with clients to create innovative growth strategies"
Recent Biodiesel related press stories:
12/06/07 EPA Warns Biofuel Producers EPA THREATENS BIODIESEL PRODUCERS WITH FINES FOR POOR QUALITY BLENDS The U.S. EPA issued a warning to biodiesel producers last week threatening to impose penalties for blends that fail to meet industry quality standards. In a guidance document sent to producers and blenders, the agency promised to step up enforcement to make sure that blenders are following ASTM D 6751 standard for blending. According to the guidance, any biodiesel blend found not to conform to ASTM D 6751 will be considered an “unregistered” fuel and subject to a civil penalty of up to $32,500 per day per violation. The EPA issued the guidance document after receiving complaints from truckers, along with some producers and blenders, that biodiesel blends have been found to be inconsistent, causing poor performance. Producers and blenders agree that quality control is vitally important to the nascent industry in order to build confidence in the product. Truckers want the EPA to aggressively enforce quality control of biodiesel blends to prevent engine and fuel line failure. The guidance document explained that improperly processed biodiesel contains high glycerin counts from un-reacted fats that cause the fuel to gel at higher temperatures than specification blends. As a result, fuel filters will clog and engines fail at moderately cold temperatures. Concerns over quality control issues such as these temporarily suspended the Minnesota biodiesel mandate in the winter of 2005 due to gelling. ASTM D 6751 standard limits glycerin content in biodiesel to 0.24 percent and sets flashpoint at 199.4 degrees Fahrenheit. According to the National Biodiesel Board, blends of up to 20 percent biodiesel
that adhere to the D 6751 will have no operability problems provided the fuel is
properly treated for cold weather in the same manner as straight diesel fuel.
ASTM D 6751 provides that any biodiesel blend over 20 percent be evaluated
for flashpoint and glycerin content on a case-by-case basis.
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Avoid this headache - Always use Phillips Brand ASTM spec biofuels
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Senate Committee Approves Farm Bill, Slated for full Senate
Consideration Week of Nov 5 The U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry
approved the Food and Energy Security Act, which is the committee's
version of the 2007 Farm Bill. In addition to continuing farm income
protection, conservation, nutrition and rural development issues, the
program makes ongoing investment in the future of renewable energy.
The Senate is scheduled to consider the bill the week of November 5.
The Energy Title of the Farm Bill includes the Bioenergy Program for
Advanced Biofuels, which generally continues the Commodity Credit Corporation
(CCC) Bioenergy Program. The Senate version of the program includes a
handful of limits that will make it difficult to use for biodiesel producers.
The program has been limited to $245 million for the duration of the Farm Bill.
Secondly, the program is limited to new production, which means current
production would likely not qualify. Finally, the program is being offset against
the "small agri-biodiesel production tax credit," which allows small agri-biodiesel
producers producing less than 60 million gallons to claim up to $1.5 million
dollars in income tax credit on each company's first 15 million gallons of
production each year.
As Congress continues to consider the Farm Bill, the NBB will continue working to
reauthorize the CCC Bioenergy Program and modify the program's structure so that
it provides maximum benefit to help biodiesel producers offset feedstock costs.
Additionally, the Energy Title continues the Biodiesel Education Program, which has
been funded at $2 million per year. The Biodiesel Education Program was originally
established as part of 2002 Farm Bill and provides educational funding to support
increased fuel quality measures.
When the full Senate considers the Farm Bill, it is anticipated that the tax bill crafted by the Senate Finance Committee for consideration in tandem with the Farm Bill, the Heartland, Habitat, Harvest and Horticulture (4-H) Act of 2007, will be incorporated into the Farm Bill. The 4-H Act contains a host of provisions that are of importance to the biodiesel industry, including an extension of the $1 per gallon biodiesel tax incentive through 2010.
NEWS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
Contact: Jenna Higgins/NBB
Mobile: (573) 694-5218
Office: 800-841-5849
Brendan Prebo/ASG Renaissance
(313) 683-1155 |
Feb. 6, 2007 |
Auto Manufacturers Present Latest Biodiesel-Fueled Products
DaimlerChrysler Announces Biodiesel Incentive Buying Program at National Biodiesel Conference SAN ANTONIO– He played J.R. Ewing, the famous oil baron on the television series Dallas, but in real life, actor Larry Hagman is a renewable energy proponent. Hagman kicked off the National Biodiesel Conference & Expo Ride-and-Drive on Monday driving a 2007 VW Touareg TDI. Like most conference attendees, Hagman was excited to test drive the latest vehicles from Volkswagen, DaimlerChrysler and General Motors running on biodiesel blends.
“I think biodiesel is the future of the U.S.,” said Hagman. “Biodiesel, ethanol, wind power, solar power – we’ve got to go to these alternative ways of making energy. We also have to conserve more of the energy we use.”
According to a new U.S. consumer survey, most Americans agree with him. In an online survey of 1,099 adults conducted in January by Moore Information, Inc., 61 percent of consumers would consider purchasing a diesel vehicle, because of the benefits of biodiesel. These benefits identified by survey respondents include reducing U.S. dependence on foreign oil, protecting human health, and environmental and economic benefits.
Along with the new Touareg, conference attendees had an opportunity to drive the 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD, 2007 Dodge Ram 2500, 2007 Chevy Silverado Heavy Duty, and 2007 Chevy Express Cargo Van.
At the conference on Monday, Feb. 5, General Motors Alternative Fuels Marketing Manager Mike McGarry announced that GM is offering a Special Equipment Option on the 6.6L Duramax for B20 capability. The Special Equipment Option is available to fleets on the GMC Savanna, Chevy Express Commercial Cutaway Van, Chevy Silverado Heavy Duty, and GM Sierra Heavy Duty One Ton. Production on the Special Equipment Option is limited to 200 vehicles in 2007. McGarry also stated that GM is working to expand B20 capability in 2008.
All of the manufacturer-supplied vehicles in the conference ride-and-drive were fueled with B5 – a blend of 5 percent biodiesel and 95 percent petroleum diesel – except the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Ram, which were fueled by B20. Biodiesel for the ride-and-drive was supplied by Organic Fuels Ltd. of Gelena Park, Texas. Organic Fuels is accredited under BQ-9000, an industry quality control program.
In a speech at the conference on Monday, Deb Morrissett, Vice President of Regulatory Affairs for the Chrysler Group, encouraged the biodiesel industry to continue the development of a national standard for B20. This comes as automobile manufacturers focus more resources on producing diesel vehicles capable of running on the fuel.
“To speed the adoption of biodiesel, and to help harness and direct the diverse research and investment efforts going into its development, we need to expedite setting a national fuel specification for B20, just as we have for other fuels,” said Morrissett. “I’m looking forward to the time when anyone can fuel up with B20.”
Morrissett also announced special pricing on biodiesel-blend capable products available to National Biodiesel Board (NBB) members and their employees.
DaimlerChrysler uses B5 as the factory fill for the Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD and Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500. Both vehicles are approved for B5. The 2007 Dodge Ram is also approved for B20 for commercial, government and military fleets which use military specification biodiesel fuel.
Volkswagen approves the use of B5 and is testing B20 in several fleet vehicles. Volkswagen was a major sponsor of the National Biodiesel Conference and was the presenting sponsor of the Merle Haggard concert at the Municipal Auditorium in San Antonio on Monday.
Most auto and engine manufacturers view the adoption of an ASTM International blended fuel specification as a key component for full, universal acceptance of B20. A significant roadblock to the national B20 standard was removed when ASTM approved a specification for oxidation stability for B100 using the induction period test method EN 14112 (commonly referred to as Rancimat). This change was incorporated into the ASTM specification for B100, ASTM D-6751, was approved Dec. 1, 2006 and published by ASTM in January.
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Additional information about biodiesel is available online at www.biodiesel.org. This material sponsored by the USDA Biodiesel Education Program. | Firm ponders biodiesel fuel plant for state
| By HOWARD WEISS-TISMAN, Reformer Staff |
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Tuesday, August 15 BRATTLEBORO -- A Canadian company wants to build the state's first commercial production plant that uses virgin oil to produce biodiesel fuel on a site in Franklin County. The Vermont Economic Development Authority has approved a loan for Biocardel, a Quebec company that is looking to build a biodiesel plant somewhere in the United States. Vermont is one of the states that the company is considering and the deal has not been finalized. Jo Bradley, executive director of the Vermont Economic Development Authority, confirmed Monday that the company has been offered a loan, though she would not say how much that loan is for. The company has 60 days to accept the state's offer. "We are very excited about this project, but a number of details need to be worked out," Bradley said. Fred Kenney, executive director of the Vermont Economic Progress Council, said he received an application from the company for tax credits. The council meets Sept. 7 and Kenney said a decision will be made at that meeting on whether or not the company will be offered a five-year break on a portion of its property taxes. "We hope that the tax incentives would be one thing that would make the company want to locate in Vermont," said Kenney. Biocardel wants to build a plant that would turn vegetable oil into biodiesel fuel, according to Tim Smith, executive director of the Franklin County Development Corp. The company would use virgin oil shipped down from Canada and provide the biodiesel fuel to the Vermont market. The company, at this time, is not planning to build a crushing plant that could turn raw canola seeds or soybeans into oil. Smith stressed that Vermont is only one of the possible sites and he said, though the state is trying to lure the company here, a final decision will not be made for few weeks. "The company hasn't accepted the money yet and all of the pieces of the puzzle are not in place," said Smith. "This would be the first plant to manufacture biofuel and blend it with diesel fuel for sale. It would be the first piece of infrastructure for Vermont farmers and consumers." Smith also said it was too early to talk about the size of the plant or the jobs that might be created. "There is a lot of interest in Vermont and we have created a market for biofuels here," said David Lane, the state's deputy secretary of agricultural development. "The market is there, but right now it is hard to find a good reliable source for 100 percent biodiesel." Farmers around the state are making biodiesel on their farms, mostly by converting used vegetable oil from restaurants. Some experiments are being conducted around the state on whether Vermont farmers can raise the crops to produce oil, but it is still unclear whether it is economically viable. Though the proposed plant would not be using vegetable oil from Vermont farmers, Lane said it would be a boost to the state's overall commitment to generating more energy from biomass. "If this happens, we would have a healthy mix of larger and smaller biofuel operations," Lane said. "There are a lot of projects happening and once we build the infrastructure, we will be creating more opportunity. We are not being left behind in Vermont." |
Pure Energy Corporation Forms Joint Venture with Green Star Products, Inc. and Bio-Clean Fuels, Inc. to Undertake Integrated Biofuels Production |
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Green Star International, Inc., a Joint venture between Pure Energy Corporation, Green Star Products, Inc., and Bio-Clean Fuels, Inc., to Build Multiple Biorefineries in the United States and Internationally for the Integrated Production of Biodiesel, Cellulosic Ethanol and Higher-Value Chemicals from Waste Renewable Resources. Paramus, NJ (PRWEB) July 6, 2006 -- Pure Energy Corporation announced today that it has entered into a Joint Venture with Green Star Products, Inc. (OTC:GSPI) (GreenStarUSA.com) and Bio-Clean Fuels, Inc. to undertake integrated ethanol and biodiesel production projects in the United States and certain select countries internationally. The JV Company, known as Green Star International, Inc., was formed pursuant to a Joint Venture Agreement executed by the parties in March of this year. The new entity, which is fifty-percent owned by Pure Energy, and twenty-five-percent owned by each of Green Star Products and Bio-Clean Fuels, marks Pure Energys first ever strategic partnership to integrate its cellulosic ethanol production technology with a modular methyl ester (biodiesel) processing platform in the United States.
"This partnership reflects many years of combined experience that the management of Pure Energy Corporation, Green Star Products, and Bio-Clean Fuels have gained by developing and delivering innovative biofuels manufacturing systems," said Irshad Ahmed, Pure Energys President and Chief Executive Officer. "If successful, Green Star International has the potential to reshape the biofuels industry by enabling the first ever Total Biofuels Biorefinery capable of producing ethanol, biodiesel, and other value-added chemicals and co-products in a single processing facility."
The concept of integrating Pure Energys biomass-to-ethanol two-stage dilute acid hydrolysis Biorefinery processing platform with Bio-Clean Fuels and Green Star Products continuous-flow transesterification technology for the production of biodiesel offers several key advantages; including energy savings and utilization of waste heat; product marketing and logistical synergies; sharing of laboratory and QC facilities; sharing of maintenance equipment and plant operating and management personnel; and significant improvements to the overall production economics versus stand-alone facilities.
Green Star Products President, Joseph P. LaStella, stated, "The Green Star International joint venture represents all of the various elements required to create successful world-class biorefinery manufacturing projects both economically and practically." Green Star Products has been a strategic alliance partner of Pure Energy Corporation for a number of years, having jointly undertaken the production and supply of shipments of biodiesel to major oil companies in India from the United States. "Integration of Green Star Products biodiesel engineering and production capabilities with Bio-Clean Fuels technical and procurement background, and Pure Energys patented cellulosic-ethanol technology and project implementation competence represents a well-rounded team capable of implementing multi-tiered biofuels projects efficiently and cost-effectively."
"Each of the JV partners brings extraordinarily well-matched technologies, relationships, and capabilities which complement each other very well; said LaStella "By combining our respective resources and personnel, Green Star International is well-positioned to compete in the rapidly expanding biofuels market."
The Joint Venture, as a project implementation entity, is presently developing several United States based biorefinery projects in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Florida, Idaho, Washington, and California, as well as a number of projects outside of the United States, each with a focus on integrating ethanol and biodiesel production under one roof.
Cellulose-derived Ethanol, an alcohol fuel produced from renewable waste biomass sources, such as corn cobs, switch grass, and saw dust, provides a high-quality, high-octane gasoline substitute for exceptional engine performance and reduced environmental emissions. Cellulose-derived ethanol represents the next generation of ethanol production technology that promises a number of environmental and economic benefits compared to corn-based ethanol. Biodiesel, a methyl ester fuel that can be produced from renewable organic oil sources, such as soybean, canola oils, or other virgin or waste vegetable oils and/or animal fat, is a non-toxic and fully biodegradable substitute for its petroleum-diesel counterpart. Both biofuels offer significant reductions in the amount of net greenhouse gases and harmful tailpipe emissions from gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles. The greater use of these biofuels will promote national security by reducing dependence on foreign oil, result in value-added income to American farmers by utilizing agricultural waste, and divert significant amount of municipal and industrial waste streams from fast-depleting landfills for useful utilization in biorefineries.
Pure Energy Corporation, a leader in engineered alternative fuel formulations, is credited for incorporating renewable fuel components, such as ethanol, into conventional fossil fuels, to create cleaner gasoline and diesel-based fuel blends for use in passenger cars and trucks. Pure Energy's patented Puranol and polymeric fuel additive systems for ethanol-diesel blends (E-Diesel) are at the core of several of the companys breakthrough alternative fuels, which have been demonstrated in over one million combined miles with the Chicago Transit Authority (TransitChicago.com), Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) (ADMWorld.com) and Waste Management Inc., (NYSE: WMI) (wm.com) and other industry partners in the United States and abroad. Operated non-stop between 1999 through 2001, the E-Diesel demonstration project with ADM Trucking utilized actual operational fleet trucks at Decatur, Illinois, and was considered as one of the longest alternative fuels demonstration projects in the country.
Pure Energys integrated biorefinery technology platform for producing ethanol and chemicals from agricultural and municipal waste biomass represents a significantly lower-cost ethanol production process as compared to conventional technologies based on corn or sugarcane. Pure Energy is also credited as the only privately held company in the United States with a successful designation of an Alternative Fuel, P-Series, under the Energy Policy Act of 1992 at the United States Department of Energy .
Green Star Products, Inc., a holding company with equity positions in various technology companies related to, among other things, fuels, biofuels, and fuel additives, is in the biodiesel production business, having successfully built and operated a commercial-scale biodiesel plant in Bakersfield, California for several years.
Bio-Clean Fuels, Inc. is a biodiesel technology and engineering company, possessing a modular, continuous-flow transesterification system for the production of high-quality biodiesel from three classes of feedstock, including used and recycled cooking oils, virgin tallow, and vegetable oils. The Bio-Clean Fuels technology is differentiated from conventional processing technologies through improved conversion efficiencies and a water-free manufacturing system.
Together, through Green Star International, Inc., the Joint Venture partners represent a Total Biofuels Solution for a cleaner, healthier environment and reduced dependence on foreign petroleum, while solving the burgeoning solid waste problem.
Statements made in this press release that state Pure Energy Corporations or its partners, or the managements intentions, hopes, beliefs, expectations, or predictions of the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking include but are not limited to statements regarding future product sales, future project development efforts, and statements regarding future research and development. Such statements involve certain risks and uncertainties. Pure Energys actual results could differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, among other things, the following: changes in public policy; general economic and business conditions; competition; unexpected changes in technologies and technological advances; ability to commercialize and manufacture products; dependence on third-party suppliers; results of laboratory studies; research and development activities; changes in, or failure to comply with, governmental regulations; and the ability to obtain adequate financing in the future.
For more information contact Pure Energy Corporation at 61 South Paramus Road, Paramus, New Jersey 07652, or visit the companys web site at: http://www.pure-energy.com.
Contact:
Pure Energy Corporation
Irshad Ahmed
201-843-8100
Green Star Products, Inc.
Joseph LaStella
619-864-4010
http://www.greenstarusa.com
### | # # # April 17, 2006 Biodiesel Support Prompts EPA to Honor Music Legend Willie Nelson JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 9 will honor biodiesel advocate and singer Willie Nelson on April 18 in recognition of Nelson’s support of the cleaner burning fuel. During the agency’s eighth annual Environmental Awards Ceremony in San Francisco, U.S. EPA Regional Administrator Wayne Nastri will recognize Nelson’s environmental efforts that promote biodiesel. Biodiesel, a diesel fuel substitute made from soybean oil and other natural fats and vegetable oils, works in any diesel vehicle. It can be blended with petroleum diesel at any level. The most common blend is B20, a mixture of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent diesel. In February, Willie Nelson Biodiesel, the company in which Nelson is a partner, and Pearson Ford Fuels in San Diego joined forces with distributor Plavan Petroleum to create California’s first full time “BioWillie” B20 retail outlet. BioWillie is the singer’s unique brand of fuel. Nelson first heard about biodiesel two years ago. He said that upon learning about it from his wife, Annie Nelson, it made perfect sense to him. “I said, ah ha, this is a light at the end of the tunnel, a way we can grow our way out of some of the problems we are in. I wanted to do something to help get the word out.” Nelson began promoting biodiesel on a national scale. As a founding member of Farm Aid, he has been a tireless advocate for farmers, while he also shares a kinship with America’s truckers. Willie Nelson Biodiesel is his approach to make biodiesel more available to truckers. Nelson premiered the business at Carl's Corner, a truck stop south of Dallas, in October 2004. Since then, he has opened public pumps at truck stops nationwide. His advocacy has dramatically increased public awareness of biodiesel, especially within the trucking industry. The EPA Region 9 Environmental Awards program acknowledges commitment and significant contributions to the environment in California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, Pacific Islands and tribal lands. EPA selected 39 groups and individuals from more than 160 nominees received this year from businesses, media, local, state and federal government officials, tribes, environmental organizations and citizen activists. “These groups and individuals have applied creativity, teamwork and leadership in addressing many of the West’s most pressing and complex environmental problems,” Nastri said. “Thanks to their efforts, our air, water and land will be cleaner and safer for generations to come. The winners set an example for all of us to follow.” The award is another example of EPA acknowledgment of biodiesel’s value to America. During a keynote address at the National Biodiesel Conference and Expo in San Diego last February, EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson recognized the important role biodiesel can play in helping to clean up the nation’s air and wean the U.S. from its dangerous addiction to foreign oil. “Our country is on the verge of a dramatic change for our power, our cars, our homes and our business. And innovation – including innovations in biodiesel – is the catalyst of this change,” Johnson said during the conference. Johnson added that he believes “Twenty-five years from now, we can make foreign sources of oil go the way of the typewriter and the Walkman.” Greenline Industries, a biodiesel facility designer and builder, nominated Nelson for the award and also won an EPA award of its own. Biodiesel reduces emissions while offering similar performance to petroleum diesel. Biodiesel has the highest energy balance of any liquid fuel. For every unit of energy used to make biodiesel, 3.2 units are gained. Biodiesel has become America’s fastest growing alternative fuel according to the Department of Energy. Production tripled in 2005, reaching 75 million gallons. More than 700 filling stations make biodiesel available to the public, and 1,500 petroleum distributors carry it nationwide. More than 600 fleets use biodiesel, including government fleets like the U.S. Department of Agriculture, as well as military, commercial and school bus fleets. # # #
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