City of Seattle stopping use of virgin soy biodiesel

Not sure the City realizes that the soybeans are mostly being grown as cattle feed, and the oil is a byproduct. (See next post containing more info and a sample letter to the EPA). But I am encouraged that they are looking into using waste oil based biodiesel. Maybe they could scale up the Dirty Hands Coop's bring-your-own-oil style structure. We just celebrated our 2nd anniversary of continuous operation. I think we're the most consistent producer of sustainable biodiesel in the area!

Making biodiesel with 7th graders

I had fun presenting about biodiesel to 7th graders at Hamilton Middle School in Seattle.  Kids really get the need to do something about global warming.  They love the peanut burning demo, which shows the potential of biofuels.  The kids worked in groups to make pop bottle batches of bio from a variety of waste oils.

EPA rally

It's been a while since I've posted.. Last week, I went to the EPA rally for global warming.  It was good to see all the support for progress on this issue- nothing earthshaking in the speeches, but left me feeling hopeful- finally things are moving in the right direction.  The rally coincided with an EPA meeting in Seattle to discuss these issues, at which Gov Gregoire spoke amongst many others.  The meeting was one of only two held nationally. I especially enjoyed the polar bear with the nice eyelashes! .. see video:

Peugot's 4WD Diesel Electric Hybrid!

Check it out... hopefully 68 mpg will be the low end of such cars pretty soon.

www.biolyle.com

How to change your TDI's fuel filter- great short video

Here's an excellent video to help you change your own filter... those special curved pliers really help!  You don't need the "mighty vac"... just fill the new filter with some clean fuel, and re-attach the lines, and it should start right up.   

I always carry a spare filter in my car just in case..  

www.biolyle.com

Tax Credit for Biodiesel Equipment Increased to 50%!

The new stimulus bill passed in Feb '09 has increased the Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Tax Credit to 50% of the cost of equipment (such as BioPro processors!) used to refuel vehicles for a business and $2000 for individuals.  More detailed info in this pdf document; also see IRS Form 8911 for details- this is the form you'd need to file to get the credit.  Read about other new incentives for Biodiesel in this article from Biodiesel Magazine.  

www.biolyle.com

VW, others drop the ball on bio- Write them a letter!

You've probably already heard the stories, but it's looking like VW isn't making a biodiesel-compatible car anymore (only B5- they're not even supporting B20 !).  It has to do with the pollution control devices they're using, which is supposed to burn soot off the diesel particulate filter, but with the higher flash point of biodiesel is causing a lot of bio to get into the crankcase oil and stay there.  Read the detailed explanation here by Neurot.   This was reported also in the NY Times blog recently.

Neurot is Jason Burroughs, owner of a biodiesel company in Austin, Texas, has been testing his 2009 Jetta TDI, and experiencing problems significant enough that's he's going to "unload this petroleum-sucking turd and buy something that I can safely fuel with domestically-produced biodiesel made from waste vegetable oil," as he so eloquently puts it.  You can read his posting about his experience here.  

Write a letter to VW and other car manufacturers to let them know you want cars that can run high amounts of biodiesel!!  BiodieselSMARTER magazine is promoting this "Save-a-Diesel" letter writing campaign, and you can get talking points and who to write to here. 

www.biolyle.com

Biodiesel that can go to 60 below zero!!!

Check out this article showing how researchers at Purdue have figured out how to make biodiesel that can withstand extreme cold... This could open up the possibility of using it as jet fuel.  Hear the Alternative Fuel podcast story here.

www.biolyle.com

Sustainable Biodiesel Summit 2009

This conference (which precedes the industry's national conference in the same place) is kind of like the conscience of the biodiesel industry, bringing folks together to talk about how biodiesel can be produced in the most sustainable way possible. The title of this years conference is "Localize It: Celebrating Community Scale Biodiesel." The conference is Jan 31 - Feb 1, 2009. For more info, go to: http://www.sustainable-biodiesel.org

www.biolyle.com

New Research- Biofuels C footprint not so bad!

Biofuel carbon footprint not as big as feared, Michigan State University research says

Published Jan. 19, 2009

"Publications ranging from the journal Science to Time magazine have blasted biofuels for significantly contributing to greenhouse gas emissions, calling into question the environmental benefits of making fuel from plant material. But a new analysis by Michigan State University scientists says these dire predictions are based on a set of assumptions that may not be correct..."

Read entire article on the Michigan State U study from Science Daily.

www.biolyle.com

Meeting for Biofuel Growers & Potential Growers

Biofuels farmers networking opportunity:
Meeting is Tues Jan 27, 2009 at 7 pm at 800 Second St in Snohomish, WA
Info: Ryan Hembree 425-388-7112 or ryan.hembree@snoco.org
Sponsored by Washington State University and Snohomish County

'09 Jetta - TDI Indigestion

A story in the latest BiodieselSMARTER magazine, indicates that the latest VW TDI's may not be so bio-friendly- read the account by Jason Burroughs (of Diesel Green Fuels in Austin TX) : http://biodieselsmarter.com/
I found the story incomplete, since it didn't tell what eventually happened. You might ask him by posting a comment at biodiesel@yahoogroups.com (you'll need to join the group first here).

www.biolyle.com

One Man's Reasons - Why Biodiesel instead of Petrodiesel

Here's a post that has been resurfacing from JohnO- pretty compelling, especially when you consider all the deaths there've been since this was written a couple years ago:

"Based on December '04 to May '05 casualty figures (437 US deaths, 2431 Iraqi deaths, using the lowest published numbers), and Iraq's oil production that the US bought for the same period (3,304,000 barrels), and production efficiency of 50% converting raw oil into gas and diesel:

For those who only care about US deaths, that's 158,774 gallons of fuel per US citizen casualty in Iraq.

For those who care about Iraqi deaths, that's 28,542 gallons of fuel per Iraqi citizen killed in fighting in Iraq.

My wife and I use about 600 gallons of fuel each year. If we used fuel from Iraqi sources, we could drive 48 years before we're responsible for one Iraqi death, or 264 years before we're responsible for one US death in Iraq. Those prices are too high for me.

OK, "my" petroleum supply is from Canada or Montana, so why should I worry about Iraqi fuel? Because SOMEONE is using that fuel in the US. If I can use locally grown fuel sources (Canola grows very nicely here, and there's still abundant used cooking oil), that someone could be using the Canadian fuel, instead of Iraqi fuel.

I'd rather have a farmer's sweat on my hands than someone's blood.

That's my fuel philosophy in a nutshell.

Regards,

JohnO"

Harvesting Clean Energy and Montana Oilseed & Biodiesel Workshop

These are two separate but great conferences back to back at MSU in Billings Montana. I went to the oilseed & bio conference last year and learned a ton about how to go from seed to bio, including a visit to a local farm oilseed crushing operation. See my blog entry from Jan 14, '08.. The Harvesting Clean Energy conference includes wind and solar..
www.biolyle.com

Big Oil poised to take over biofuels?

They've already got the pipelines...

www.biolyle.com

Biodiesel in School Buses

Even in these hard times, some forward-thinking school districts like this one in S. Carolina are realizing that it's a great investment to recycle their cafeteria oil into clean-burning biodiesel. A few years ago, I helped start the Breathable Bus Coalition, which aimed to do that very thing. We no longer meet, but our website is still up and has info that may be helpful to anyone interested in this effort. Diesel exhaust contains at least 15 known carcinogens, and it's been shown that some of that exhaust gets into the cabin of the bus where the kids breathe it in. Every drop of diesel that is replaced with biodiesel is going to be an improvement for kids' health.
www.biolyle.com

Additional Fall '08 Homebrew Biodiesel Class- Nov 23

I've added the following class, which will include tour of my homebrewing setup afterwards- please forward to anyone you think might be interested... Thanks, Lyle

Brew Your Own Biodiesel!
Sunday November 23, 2008 from 1 PM - 5 PM
Learn all the tricks to making high quality biodiesel- See class description below.
Includes visit to BioLyle's workshop after class
Fee: $50
Location: Lakewood Seward Park Community Club, 4916 S. Angeline, Seattle 98118
Class size limited! Please register in advance if possible.
Register at: http://biolyle.com/workshops
or by calling: 206-354-6802
More info: classes@biolyle.com or biolyle@gmail.com

A hands-on workshop to learn all the basics to make your own high quality fuel for about $1 per gallon. In this workshop you will do titrations, make small batches of biodiesel with different oils, and learn the tricks to make quality biodiesel every time. We will also operate a small-scale "Appleseed" reactor during class. This system will be compared with the automated BioPro system which the instructor uses to facilitate fuel-making for a Bring-Your-Own-Oil type coop. The class will also cover topics, such as chemistry of the reaction, quality control, vehicle compatibility, cold weather issues, methanol recovery, disposal of wastes, and how to run a successful coop. Whether you just want to learn more so you can decide whether or not to use biodiesel, or you want to make your own brew, this class will help you get underway.

Natural diesel from fungus!

Check out this article about a fungus that produces compounds very similar to diesel..
www.biolyle.com

Kuma Shasta Biodiesel Stove

Close up view of the Shasta model, which heats our 1700 sq ft house quite nicely. For more info, go to: www.biolyle.com/kuma

New Eastside Biodiesel group meeting Oct 6

Regular educational and discussion meetings starting in North Bend

Open to the general public…free!

Kick-Off Meeting will be held Monday, 6 October 2008, 7:00pm – 9:00pm at the North Bend Railroad Depot, located in downtown North Bend at 205 McClellan Street.

Then after, free regular meetings will be held 7:00pm-9:00pm on the second Wednesday of every month at the same location.

For more information including driving directions- contact Stephen Kangas at 425-503-9876 or stephen@kangas.com

http://biolyle.com