Daily News—09/28

N.California: Biodiesel plant approved in Petaluma

Terry Hankins / Argus-Courier File Photo

Paving truck driver Gary Sumner fills his truck with biodiesel fuel at Royal Petroleum in Petaluma.

A company that now sells biodiesel fuel at a south Petaluma gas station is planning an expansion of its operation to manufacture the product, as well.

Royal Petroleum received the county’s blessing earlier this year to add a 9,000-square-foot biodiesel plant at the former Rinehart’s truck stop and scales, near the Highway 101 off-ramp to Petaluma Boulevard South.

The company — the first in Petaluma to offer biodiesel fuel — says it wants to serve a growing market of farmers, ranchers and industry that use biodiesel-powered vehicles and equipment

“The biodiesel product will be consumed almost exclusively in Sonoma and Marin counties by the farm and commercial business communities,” Royal Petroleum said in its proposal to the county.

Very local biodiesel company will sell all of the fuel in their own neighborhood, adding local jobs and cleaner air to a beautiful area of CA. As always, I wish this new production facility the very best of good fortune.

Going even greener, Thailand begins testing of B10 biodiesel

Photo from: http://rajabiodiesel.com/

RAYONG : Local field tests will start soon on biodiesel B10, a blend of 10% methyl ester with 90% diesel fuel, according to an Energy Ministry official. PTT Plc and the ministry's Department of Energy Business are carrying out the tests, which are expected to finish next year. The goal is to widen the choice of fuels available to motorists and increase the share of alternative fuels in the country's overall energy use.

The ministry expects biodiesel B5 to replace all existing B2 in the domestic market by 2011, but B10 use is not expected to be universal until 2022.

The ministry introduced B5 in 2007 and manufacturers of diesel-engine cars last month agreed to accredit the fuel.

''We are preparing well in advance to have a guarantee for the public about the quality of B10 before mandatory use in 2022,'' said the official.

Thailand is a good example of a country moving forward with biodiesel, they intend to be running on B10 by 2022. Does the USA have any state with similar lofty ambitions? I doubt if we are looking that far ahead.

India: Virtual ban on biodiesel coincides with a huge demand?

Image from: http://www.biodieseltechnologiesindia.com/company.html

KOLKATA: Bio-diesel producers across the country are in a fix. While the circular issued by the petroleum ministry virtually bans sale of bio-diesel, the railways and The Brihan-Mumbai Electric Supply & Transport Undertaking have floated tenders for purchase of bio-diesel.
In fact, the circular issued by the ministry requesting state governments to ‘ensure that unauthorised sale and possession of bio-diesel in the market is checked and eliminated’ irked bio-diesel producers compelling some of them to contemplate downing shutters.

“With the ministry floating tenders for purchase of biodiesel, producers are not sure whether the government wants to promote use of biodiesel (also known as biofuel) or dissuade them from producing it. Absence of a biofuel policy has also left wide grey areas in the whole issue,” a top official of a leading biodiesel producer said on conditions of anonymity.

The government of India had better decide on their biodiesel position, because bright producers of biodiesel want to move ahead and make India a leader in the industry. It just shows how a delicate new industry needs the firm and steady support of the government in order to thrive. India is not exactly swimming in oil so why not go biodiesel? Seems like a win-win situation to me.

Biodiesel and ethanol industries submit comments to EPA

The comment period for the EPA’s proposed Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS2) has come and gone, and the leaders in the biodiesel and ethanol industries have turned in the comments they’ve collected from their members and interested parties.

The National Biodiesel Board’s main contention is that the proposal contains several significant flaws:

Before we criticize India for giving mixed signals to biofuel producers, we should look to our own backyard. If you are not interested in the politics of biodiesel, skip this article, otherwise, it will update you.

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