Daily News—10/27
Michigan school district runs school buses 3Million miles on biodiesel
A school bus in Michigan has just hit 300,000 miles, and the bulk of those miles have come while running on biodiesel.
This National Biodiesel Board press release tells the tale of Bus #14 of the St. Johns, Michigan Public School system, which started burning a 20 percent blend five years ago:
“Since switching to biodiesel, it is much cleaner and smells much better,” the 20-year veteran of the St. Johns, Mich. Public Schools said. “When fueling, you don’t have the smell on your hands all day. Your clothes don’t smell like diesel all day. It is a much better work environment and much healthier for the kids and the community.”
If you need a successful example of why it is good to switch to biodiesel, here’s a real-life example of how it burns cleaner, and does less damage to the lungs of children riding on those buses.
Nebraska’s only commercial-size soybean biodiesel plant has closed
Photo from: http://www.ecofriend.org/entry/electricity-from-soy-bean-oil-newest-in-alternative-fuel/
LINCOLN — Nebraska’s only commercial-size soybean biodiesel plant has closed, and officials involved in the operation said federal or state incentives might be needed to help get it reopened.
Northeast Nebraska BioDiesel, which had the capacity to produce 5 million gallons of soy biodiesel a year, closed this month in Scribner.
Seven of its 10 employees were laid off, said Bret Brodersen, a Herman, Neb., farmer who was among seven investors in the more-than-$4-million facility.
High soybean prices and low prices for the fuel combined to make it unprofitable for the plant to stay open. Negative publicity for biodiesel, which Brodersen said was undeserved, also cut into sales.
As the article suggests, perhaps government grants are needed to prop up this biodiesel plant, but I doubt they will get it, independent lot that biodiesel people are. I believe in soy biodiesel, mainly because I am from the Midwest and I have seen the soybean fields. To see photos of the biodiesel plant in the story, go to: http://www.biodieselnebraska.com/jul07gallery/index.htm
Biodiesel producer Evolution Fuels plans to sell B20 biodiesel through truck stops
Photo from: http://www.evolution-fuels.com/pressitem.aspx?Id=26
DALLAS, Oct. 26, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Evolution Fuels, Inc. (Pink Sheets:EVFL) (the “Company”) today announced a strategy to integrate its biodiesel production plan with a plan to establish five of its own branded truck stops. The Company's management believes that maximum profitability of a biodiesel production facility may only be achieved by creating direct demand for the product through retail sales at the pump. The Company's ownership in the Willie's Place at Carl's Corner Truck Stop located near Hillsboro, TX has provided valuable experience and insight into how and where to create similar truck stop operations. In May of this year, the Company announced the formation of its subsidiary, “Legends Travel Centers LLC,” to hold its ownership in truck stop projects, and is actively pursuing existing truck stop operations in Texas and Oklahoma with the concept of establishing five “Legends Travel Centers”-branded facilities.
Now you are talking, why should a biodiesel company expect fair treatment from the petro-people? This biodiesel maker has the right idea, open your own distribution channels and sell it yourself.
Honeywell will automate biodiesel plant in Wisconsin
Fully Integrated System from Process to Building Controls Will Help Produce 18-Million Gallons of Green Diesel Annually from Wood Waste and Forest Residue
Honeywell today announced that Flambeau River Biofuels (FRB) has selected it to supply and integrate all automation equipment for the largest second-generation “green diesel” plant in the United States. The plant – located in Park Falls, Wis., and expected to be operational by 2012 – will produce energy, transportation fuels and chemicals from renewable biomass resources. Specifically, the plant will process 1,000 dry tons per day of woody biomass from bark, sawdust and residue typically burned after forest harvesting.
Serving as the integrated-main automation contractor (I-MAC), Honeywell will design all automation and control components to reduce risk, shorten the project schedule, and enable a smooth startup and reliable operation. Honeywell will also supply integrated solutions spanning the automation landscape from wireless instrumentation to building controls. This project includes the distributed control, safety technology, terminal automation, process technology, process simulation and optimization applications.
This is an interesting story about the biggest bio-mass biodiesel plant going up in Wisconsin, using forest waste to make a gas, then biodiesel. The article talks a little about the process.
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