FYI, FWIW:
In This Issue July 2, 2003
<#1>Indiana Opens First Terminal Offering Biodiesel
<#2>Berkeley Becomes Largest City in Country to Use B100
<#3>National Biodiesel Conference & Expo to Take Place Feb. 1 - 4
<#4>Lollapalooza 2003 Powers Tour with B100
<#5>Illinois Governor Signs Biodiesel Tax Incentive Bill
<#6>Texas Passes Biodiesel Production Incentive
<#7>Washington Update ö Senate to Debate Energy Bill
<#8>Public Biodiesel Pumps Open in North Carolina
<#9>NBB Member News
Indiana Opens First Terminal Offering Biodiesel
Countrymark Co-op has opened the first soy biodiesel metered
blending system in the nation at its terminal in Jolietville,
Indiana, just outside Indianapolis.
ãWe believe this marks the beginning of a pattern of terminals around
the nation offering biodiesel,ä said Joe Jobe, executive director of
the National Biodiesel Board. ãIt is quite significant because it
closes a gap in the efficiency of biodiesel distribution. ãThe beauty
of biodiesel is that you donât have to reinvent the nationâs fuel
infrastructure to use it. This is the first big step in realizing
that integration into the national petroleum infrastructure.ä
Hundreds of petroleum distributors already carry the product
(<http://www.biodiesel.org/buyingbiodiesel/distributors/default.shtm>w
ww.biodiesel.org/buyingbiodiesel/distributors/default.shtm), but
having it at the terminal will streamline the process. Ultimately,
having biodiesel available at these large, regional petroleum
distribution points will bring transportation costs down for
biodiesel, thus lowering the end price for consumers.
ãCountrymark plans on expanding this to other terminals if it is
successful,ä said Ron Hill, Countrymark Vice President, Supply and
Marketing. ãThere are so many good reasons to support renewable
resources and buy soy biodiesel. It helps reduce emission levels,
reduces dependence on foreign oil, stretches our fossil fuel reserves
and establishes a meaningful market for local soybean growers.ä
Countrymark praised the Indiana Soybean Board (ISB) for supporting
the companyâs commitment to soy biodiesel. ISB provided grants to
Countrymark for feasibility studies and infrastructure improvements.
Soybean checkoff programs have funded a significant portion of the
development of the biodiesel industry in the US.
<#top>back to top
Berkeley Becomes Largest City in Country to Use B100
The City of Berkeley celebrated a milestone in June as officials
announced the city has transitioned to 100 percent biodiesel (B100)
in its diesel vehicles. Berkeley is the first city of its size in the
US to switch to pure biodiesel.
The City held a ceremony and exhibit to celebrate the occasion. The
exhibit featured a variety of diesel vehicles from the Departments of
Public Works, Parks, Fire, Police and Health and Human Services.
ãThe City of Berkeley has a long history of innovation and as a
leader in public policy,ä said City Manager Weldon Rucker. ãThe use
of biodiesel fuel is yet another example.ä
Berkley now uses B100 in more than 180 of the Cityâs diesel vehicles,
representing 90 percent of its fleet of 200 diesel vehicles. The
remaining 10 percent are fire department vehicles that will run on
B100 when accommodations are made for delivering the fuel to the more
remote fire stations throughout the city.
ãLargely due to our towering success with B100 in the recycling
trucks, the Berkeley City Council and six citizen advisory
commissions strongly supported the cityâs switch,ä
said Dave Williamson, operations manager for the Ecology Center in
Berkeley. ãWith biodiesel Iâm able to switch to something that is not
only an alternative fuel but is completely sustainable. For the first
time in my 13 year career in recycling, Iâve had people leave their
homes to thank me for using biodiesel. It has resonated loudly with
the public.ä
<#top>back to top
National Biodiesel Conference & Expo to Take Place Feb. 1 - 4
Mark your calendar for the 2004 National Biodiesel Conference & Expo,
to take place February 1 ö 4 in Palm Springs, Calif. This is the
first of many more annual biodiesel conferences to come, according to
Joe Jobe, executive director of the National Biodiesel Board (NBB).
ãThis conference has evolved out of the annual Biodiesel
Brainstorming Workshop, a technical meeting that last year attracted
200 attendees,ä Jobe said. ãAs a result of such strong interest, we
have expanded into a full-fledged national conference addressing all
aspects of the biodiesel industry. The demand for such a conference
is a sign of how much this industry has progressed.ä
Bulletin subscribers will receive more information about the
conference and it will be posted at
<http://www.biodiesel.org>www.biodiesel.org soon. The agenda is still
under development, but sessions will cover a comprehensive set of
topics in the technical, regulatory and marketing areas.
The technical Brainstorming Workshop will be held in conjunction with
the conference. The winter National Biodiesel Board meeting will take
place immediately following the conference on Feb. 5.
<#top>back to top
Lollapalooza 2003 Powers Tour with B100
Lollapalooza 2003
(<http://www.lollapalooza.com>www.lollapalooza.com), the legendary
modern rock music festival, will use B100 in generators this summer
in an effort to protect the health of concert goers while minimizing
its harmful impact on the environment. At each venue, pure biodiesel
will fuel the second stage, which is generator-powered. In
Indianapolis and Denver, B100 will fuel all generators, including
those used to power the tent exhibits.
ãThere will be thousands of people at concerts this summer breathing
in diesel exhaust, and Lollapalooza tour organizers know that's not a
healthy thing,ä said Gary Haer of West Central Soy
(<http://www.westcentralsoy.com>www.westcentralsoy.com), the company
supplying the festival with biodiesel. Haer is also vice president of
the National Biodiesel Board. ãBy using biodiesel, theyâre doing the
right thing for their participants and for the environment. Since
biodiesel is domestically produced, the festival is also doing its
part for national energy security.ä
The tour kicks off July 5 in Indianapolis and wraps up in Portland,
Ore. on Aug. 24.
Founded in 1991 by Perry Farrell, lead singer of the band Janeâs
Addiction, Lollapalooza has exposed millions of people to scores of
new musical artists and cultural trends, leading Spin magazine to
rate it the ã#1 Tour that Changed the World.ä
ãThis summer at Lollapalooza, we are excited to be powering our
second stage on biodiesel,ä said Ferrell, who is also executive
producer of the festival. ãSwitching to biodiesel, we have learned,
can make a tremendous difference to the environment. The idea is
simple and we believe it is one of the fashionable energies of the
future.ä
Musicians like Bonnie Raitt and Indigo Girls have used biodiesel on
tour in the past, but Lollapalooza is the largest tour to use
biodiesel to date.
<#top>back to top
Illinois Governor Signs Biodiesel Tax Incentive Bill
Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich signed two bills in June which
create a tax incentive for biodiesel as well as grants for
construction or improvements of renewable fuels production facilities
in the state. The Illinois Soybean Association estimates the
legislation will add five cents per bushel to the price of Illinois
soybeans. Given Illinoisâ annual production of 450 million bushels of
soybeans, the legislation could boost the stateâs economy by more
than $22.5 million.
The bills include SB 46 that provides a partial sales tax exemption
of 20 percent on biodiesel blends containing from 1 percent to 10
percent biodiesel (B1 to B10). Biodiesel fuel blends above 10 percent
(such as B20) receive a total exemption from state sales tax, which
is 6.25 percent. Blagojevich also signed HB 46 to establish the
ãIllinois Renewable Fuels Development Programä that offers grants of
up to $15 million annually for constructing, modifying, altering or
retrofitting a renewable fuels plant with a minimum production
capacity of 30 million gallons.
ãIllinoisâ legislation is a model for how states can stimulate their
economies by opening doors for greater biodiesel use and production,ä
said National Biodiesel Board Executive Director Joe Jobe. ãBiodiesel
is an American-made fuel that offers significant health and
environmental benefits. States that support biodiesel are helping
clean their air supply while they create jobs and boost their stateâs
economy.ä
Jobe commended the Illinois Soybean Association and Illinois farmers
for their outstanding leadership and hard work to achieve this
groundbreaking legislation. He also stressed that pending federal
legislation, particularly a tax incentive for biodiesel, is still key
to growth of the biodiesel industry.
<#top>back to top
Texas Passes Biodiesel Production Incentive
The Texas Legislature passed biodiesel incentive legislation in June
that offers a net grant of 16.8 cents per gallon of biodiesel
produced. The bill establishes two funds, one each for biodiesel and
ethanol.
Plants register with the state, and must show that they are capable
of production, have a substantial investment, and that the plant is a
permanent fixture. Producers report monthly the gallons produced,
imported or blended, and pay a 3.2 cents per gallon (cpg) tax on
production into a fund. The state matches by a multiplier of 5.25
cpg. No less often than quarterly, the state issues grants of 20 cpg
back to the plants. The net grant would equal 16.8 cpg. The producer
is entitled to receive the 20 cents for 10 years after the beginning
of production. Biodiesel must meet ASTM specifications and the law is
feedstock neutral. Grants are limited to 18 million gallons per year
per producer per registered plant ($3.6m). Grants may be lowered if
the fund is insufficient for that fiscal year. The program is run
through the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office.
<#top>back to top
Washington Update ö Senate to Debate Energy Bill
The Senate is expected to resume consideration of energy legislation
at the end of July. Senate Energy Committee Chairman Pete Domenici
(R-NM) has pledged to finish the bill by the beginning of the August
recess. The plans are to schedule 7-8 days of debate before the
recess period and force a finish before Congress leaves for the
month-long break. The schedule could coincide with the National
Biodiesel Board's (NBB) Washington meeting. NBB will be in Washington
July 28-30, for its regular summer meeting.
<#top>back to top
Public Biodiesel Pumps Open in North Carolina
A one-of-a-kind BMW 324 racecar was first in line at the June
opening of North Carolinaâs first retail pump dispensing soy
biodiesel for highway use. Pit and Pump on Park Drive in Washington,
NC now sells B5 to the public.
The BMW 324 BDR is owned and driven by Al Taylor of Al Taylorâs
Sports Cars in Whitakers, NC. Taylor has dedicated his racing efforts
this year to promoting the use of soy biodiesel by creating public
awareness and demand.
ãThis is important to me because soy biodiesel is a much more
environmentally friendly alternative in terms of both production and
pollution,ä Taylor said. ãSecond, I want to help farmers in eastern
North Carolina, who will profit from the increase in demand and
prices if a soy biodiesel plant uses the soybeans they grow. Finally,
I think itâs important to drastically reduce our dependence on
foreign oil.ä
A Pit and Pump in Jacksonville, NC also opened a B5 pump in June.
July 1, the stateâs first B20 pump opened at a BP station in Garner,
NC. Progress Energy, one of the largest utilities in North Carolina,
will use the station to fuel their vehicles with B20, according to
Grain Growers Cooperative
(<http://www.graingrowersinc.com>www.graingrowersinc.com), a
biodiesel provider based in Rocky Mount, NC. Grain Growers
Cooperative provides biodiesel to the BP station and plans on opening
a plant in North Carolina.
For a national map of retail pumps offering biodiesel to the public,
visit
<http://www.biodiesel.org/buyingbiodiesel/retailfuelingsites/default.s
htm>www.biodiesel.org/buyingbiodiesel/retailfuelingsites/default.shtm.
<#top>back to top
NBB Member News
World Energy (<http://www.worldenergy.net>www.worldenergy.net), a
biodiesel provider based in Chelsea, Mass., has announced some
personnel changes. Graham Noyes has been promoted to Vice President
of Sales. Nathan Tennant has been brought on as Director of Marketing
and Director of Sales East. The company has hired Melissa Lohnes to
head up the companyâs public relations division.
Biodiesel manufacturer West Central Soy
(<http://www.westcentralsoy.net>www.westcentralsoy.net) and Todd &
Sargent have teamed up to form a biodiesel technology company called
Renewable Energy Group (REG) in Ralston, Iowa. REG
(<http://www.renewable-energy-group.com>www.renewable-energy-group.com
) combines turn-key biodiesel facility design and plant construction
into one package. The planning, process design and engineering of a
plant for customers includes construction and installation of a plant
utilizing a continuous flow process. REG also offers customers the
option of input procurement, as well as the option of marketing the
finished biodiesel product.
<#top>back to top
Upcoming Events
2004 National Biodiesel Conference & Expo, Feb. 1 ö 4, Palm Springs, Calif.
NBB Board Meeting, Washington DC, July 28-30
<#top>back to top
Contact Us
Jenna Higgins, Director of Communications
<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>[EMAIL PROTECTED] Bev Thessen,
Information Coordinator
<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>[EMAIL PROTECTED]
This bulletin is also available in PDF format online at
<http://www.biodiesel.org/news/bulletin/>http://www.biodiesel.org/news
/bulletin/
<#top>back to top
2003 National Biodiesel Board - <http://www.biodiesel.org>www.biodiesel.org
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