National Biodiesel Board Biodiesel Bulletin
National Biodiesel Board Biodiesel Bulletin
In This Issue September 1, 2006


Biodiesel Hotline Launched at Great American Trucking Show

As truckers increasingly demand homegrown biodiesel, a new toll-free number will help them find retail availability anywhere in the United States. The Biodiesel Hotline, 866-BIODIESEL, is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The Biodiesel Hotline staff has access to mapping software linked to a database kept up to date with retail outlets carrying biodiesel, including whether they are truck or passenger vehicle-only accessible.

Truck accessible biodiesel locations are currently searchable on www.BioTrucker.com, but often truckers do not have access to the Internet. The Biodiesel Hotline, announced at the Great American Trucking Show August 25, offers up locations by the means most convenient for truck – and passenger – drivers: cell phones. The National Biodiesel Board manages both BioTrucker.com and 866-BIODIESEL.

“Truckers are committed to using biodiesel and we get a lot of calls from truckers looking for biodiesel on the road,” said Bill Mack, The Satellite Cowboy on XM Radio. “We have been referring them to BioTrucker.com, but now we can give them a more convenient way to find biodiesel.” Mack was on hand at the hotline launch.

Petroleum Company Takes a Stand for Biodiesel Quality

A progressive Northeastern petroleum distributor has become the first petroleum company in the nation to earn the status of “certified marketer” for selling biodiesel. The achievement marks a significant occasion as the biodiesel industry goes into overdrive to ensure that consumers receive only the highest quality fuel in their tanks.

Sprague Energy, Inc., a New Hampshire-based energy wholesaler, earned the certified marketer designation under the voluntary biodiesel quality program, BQ-9000.

“This designation demonstrates Sprague’s commitment to supplying our customers with the highest quality biodiesel,” said Sprague President and CEO John McClellan. “It is our responsibility to prevent off-specification biodiesel from entering the marketplace and the BQ-9000 program ensures this. Put simply, if it doesn’t meet BQ-9000 quality standards, we won’t sell it.”

BQ-9000 is a quality assurance certification program that includes procedures for fuel storage, handling and management aimed at ensuring fuel quality throughout distribution. There are two categories: certified marketer and accredited producer. Although there are more than ten accredited producers, Sprague Energy is only the second company to become a certified marketer. The other is Peter Cremer, an Ohio-based biodiesel manufacturer.

Earlier this year, Sprague opened a rack-blended biodiesel terminal in Albany, New York. The terminal helps home heating and diesel fuel retailers throughout Upstate New York, Vermont and Western Massachusetts supply a precisely blended biofuel product to their customers. Sprague’s Albany terminal stores 40,000 gallons of pure biodiesel (also referred to as “neat” or B100).

Other newly-announced companies adhering to BQ-9000 standards are Huish Detergents, Salt Lake City, Utah; and Organic Fuels, Houston, Texas. They are both Accredited Producers.

Iowa Biodiesel Company Announces Historic Expansion

One of the industry’s pioneer biodiesel producers has announced a company makeover and the largest planned biodiesel expansion in the history of the industry. In August, Renewable Energy Group,® Inc. (REG) announced completion of a $100 million private equity financing and two new strategic partnerships. The company has said its overall biodiesel production will reach approximately 640 million gallons by 2009, including third-party plants.

Recently, Iowa-based West Central combined all of its biodiesel related products and services under REG, Inc. Although West Central still operates as a farmer-owned cooperative in Ralston, Iowa, as of August 1, all biodiesel-related activities at the company moved under the umbrella of REG, Inc.

REG is comprised of a network of wholly-owned and third-party managed biodiesel plants. It will use the new capital and strategic partnerships to expand this network. Its strategic partners, Bunge and E D & F Man Holdings, Ltd., will help handle the supply of raw materials, site locations and risk management and logistics expertise.

Conference Shows Biodiesel’s Big Presence in Texas

Texas has become the leading state for biodiesel capacity. The state’s plants report they could produce 96 million gallons of biodiesel should demand rise. The state’s biodiesel industry has garnered headlines for its growth, such as when Austin Biofuels and Triple S Petroleum opened 33 new B20 pumps. In the wake of this activity, the state will host its first Texas Biodiesel Conference and Expo.

The Biodiesel Coalition of Texas (BCOT) will hold the event September 27-29 in Austin. The conference will cover the latest regulatory, agricultural and technical developments in the Texas biodiesel industry. Joe Jobe, CEO of the National Biodiesel Board (NBB), as well as other industry experts, will address the conference. A trade show is included. Besides educational activity, networking opportunities will come by way of the Austin Renewable Energy Tour, receptions and even a Biodiesel Bash to enjoy Austin’s nightlife.

“It benefits the industry to congeal around common state issues and work together to solve them on behalf of the greater biodiesel industry and market,” said Jake Stewart, board member of BCOT and Vice President of Organic Fuels, an NBB member. “There’s strength in numbers battling issues in a new industry, or I guess Willie Nelson put it best when he said quite simply, ‘Don’t mess with Texas Biodiesel’.”

Space at the conference is limited but there are still openings available for attendees, exhibitors and sponsors. Check out www.biodieselevents.com to download a registration form and get more information on the conference.

Lung Associations Educate Health Leaders through Air Forum

Health leaders can receive a comprehensive update on biodiesel and other renewable fuels through a renewable transportation fuel and air quality event this month. The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) and American Lung Associations of Washington, D.C., the Upper Midwest and the Southwest will host their first ever Air Quality Forum on September 8 in Washington, D.C.

This unique invitation-only event will allow health/environment leaders - including representatives of lung associations, faith-based groups and school health organizations - to have a scientific examination of air quality and the impact of alternative transportation fuels, like biodiesel. Because these top officials who will be attending are from across the nation, the knowledge gained from this conference will be far reaching.

This workshop’s programs, case studies and panel discussions will address health effects of transportation pollution, the Clean Air Act, renewable fuels’ contributions to air quality, fuel production and distribution capacity, business case for producing and using these fuels, engine technology, and policy across the nation.

The event draws top-level speakers such as Dr. Jonathan M. Samet, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; Bill Wehrum, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s top clean air administrator; U.S. Department of Agriculture Sr. Economist Jim Duffield; Department of Energy Clean Cities Program Acting Director Dennis Smith and Department of Energy National Renewable Energy Laboratory Principal Engineer, Dr. Robert McCormick.

Iowa Zooms into Racing, Speeds up Fuel Availability

The Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) is in the fast lane promoting biodiesel in auto racing. ISA will sponsor the new Iowa Speedway’s inaugural race, the Soy Biodiesel 250, in Newton on September 15. The Iowa Speedway will host NASCAR United Speed Alliance Racing (USAR) events.

“Soy biodiesel represents a clean, renewable fuel source for the engines that move Iowa’s trucking, construction, farming industries, and river, train, public and private transportation,” said John Askew, president of the ISA board of directors. “The Iowa Speedway brings together a broad cross section of Iowans who are involved in these industries,” he said.

En route to the races, diesel-driving fans have more options of where to fill up on biodiesel. Prairie Land Co-op is offering B100 (pure biodiesel) at its cardtrol pumps in Ellsworth, Hubbard, and Ackley, and B50 at its pumps in Garden City. This is the first time B100 is available at the pump in Iowa. The Kum & Go Truck Stop located just off I-80 near Grinnell is now carrying B2 in all its diesel pumps. That location will host a racecar and professional driver from the Soy Biodiesel race, in a Sept. 8 promotion.

More race and Iowa pump information is at www.iasoybeans.com and at www.soybiodiesel.com.

The Spinx Co., South Carolina Become Leaders in Offering B20

One company has helped South Carolina become a major player in retailing biodiesel. The Spinx Company, based in South Carolina, has become a leader in offering biodiesel blends at the retail level. Spinx currently owns the most B20 (20% biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel) pumps of any petroleum retailer in the nation.

The Spinx Company’s 35 biodiesel locations make it a top promoter of biodiesel. In June 2005, The Spinx Company partnered with Willie Nelson Biodiesel to bring “BioWillie” to the Upstate. Of the Spinx locations, 11 are truck accessible; more locations are expected to open this fall.

Meanwhile, Stinker Stores convenience stations will soon bring the sweet smell of cleaner fuel to Boise, Idaho. Stinker is opening biodiesel pumps at 11 of its Treasure Valley area convenience stores this month. Stinker will offer the blend as its only diesel fuel option. Organic Fuels, Houston, a member of the National Biodiesel Board, currently provides biodiesel to the company.

Through state and federal grants, Stinker will also construct a biodiesel storage and blending facility adjacent to the fuel distribution terminal in Boise.

Gary Wheeler, NBB’s Newest Member: Director of Operations

Gary Wheeler has joined the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) team as Director of Operations. Wheeler’s background with the Missouri Corn Growers Association, Director of Market Development, and with the Missouri Department of Agriculture made him a good fit for the biodiesel industry.

As Director of Operations, Wheeler is responsible for membership management, contract management and BQ-9000 operations.

Wheeler replaces Donnell Rehagen in this position. Rehagen took on the role of NBB’s Chief Operating Officer.

“Tour De Fat”, Enviro-Friendly Tours Livin’ Large with Biodiesel

Boating and beer. This may sound like your upcoming Labor Day weekend, but it also refers to some unique tours running on biodiesel. The Earthrace boat is currently on a promotional tour in the U.S., as New Belgium Brewery continues on its annual “Tour De Fat” tomorrow.

The Earthrace boat from New Zealand is running on pure biodiesel and next year attempting to break the speed record for circumnavigating the globe. Earthrace is open to the public in the respective cities it visits. Its 18-month program includes 60 international cities, raising awareness about the sustainable use of resources and of course, going for the record. Earthrace would also meet the additional feat of breaking the circumnavigation record on biodiesel, the first time in history that a powerboat has attempted this using renewable fuel.

Visitors can see the boat and talk to the crew from 10am - 5pm on each day of the promotional tour leg. Today the boat is to be in Santa Cruz, Calif. Earthrace.net has been posting daily updates; check it for available city visits and dates.

Meanwhile, the “philanthropic cycling circus,” put on by the makers of Fat Tire beer, has been motorcycling its way across the western U.S. New Belgium Brewery’s fleet vehicles use biodiesel at its operations in Ft. Collins, Colo. This tour’s diesel vehicles run on pure biodiesel, as well. On Saturday, the band of bikers in the most elaborate costumes they can find, hits Missoula, Mt., where fundraising activities will take place, amid the excitement of a parade, bands performing and of course, beer.

Photo courtesy of www.oceanfilmboat.com.

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Contact Us

Amber Thurlo Pearson, Communications Specialist
apearson@biodiesel.org		 Bev Thessen, Information Coordinator
bthessen@biodiesel.org


This bulletin is also available in PDF format online at
http://www.biodiesel.org/news/bulletin/

2003 National Biodiesel Board - www.biodiesel.org