All of the posted audio from the 2008 National Biodiesel Conference is now available in podcast form for subscriber downloading by going to the sidebar link or clicking here. There are a total of 30 audio podcast files this year including interviews, presentations and press conferences.
There are over 200 photos in the Flicker Photo album and we did a total of 33 posts so far from the conference and might still have a couple more to do yet. Hope you enjoyed the coverage this year.
Besides absolutely perfect weather and a fantastic location right in the middle of some of the biggest attractions in the world (including Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and Cape Kennedy just down the road a little ways… just to name a few), Orlando was a great location for this year’s National Biodiesel Conference and Expo because of the good example the area shows in the use of biodiesel.
Earlier, we told you about Universal Studio’s use and expansion of the use of biodiesel at its theme park. Universal is using biodiesel for all of its mobile diesel engines, including the JAWS ride.
A couple of other local Orlando-area entities recognized at the “Eye on Biodiesel” awards ceremony for their use of biodiesel include Florida Power and Light (which won the NBB’s Initiative Award) and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (winner of the Pioneer Award).
Director of Florida Power and Light’s Fleet Services George Survant, talked about his company’s use of biodiesel during a press conference following the awards program. The utility converted its entire diesel fleet of almost 2500 vehicles to B20.
“There are so many reasons this is the right thing to do at the right time,” Survant said. “We’re pleased to be a leader in this.”
He says the fuel comes from North Florida and the soybeans are locally grown.
Listen to Survant’s comments from the press conference here:
Bruce Chesson with NASA Transportation picked up the Pioneer Award for his agency, as NASA was recognized for switching to B20 in 2003 in its fleet of 144 diesel-powered vehicles.
“It was pretty much the easiest of switchover any alternative fuel that we could go ahead and operate,” Chesson said. He also hinted that NASA is looking at some type of renewable fuel for its rockets… but couldn’t give any details just yet.
Listen to Chesson’s comments here:
Biofuels industry experts discussed new feedstocks today in the final general session of the 2008 National Biodiesel Conference and Expo in Orlando, Fla.
Alan Weber, economic consultant to National Biodiesel Board, led a forum with Dr. Jack Brown from the University of Idaho (who is Scottish so he brings a European perspective to the biodiesel feedstock business), Keith Bruinsma, Vice President of Corporate Development for ethanol producer VersaSun (which is not far from biodiesel as you’ll hear in the clip), John Sheehan, Vice President of Strategy and Sustainability for Live Fuels (which is developing algae-based biodiesel), and John Soper, Senior Research Director for Soybean Product Development for Pioneer International (bringing the seed developer’s perspective to the conversation).
It was a fascinating discussion with one of the most interesting aspects being how all of the panelists, although having varied perspectives and interests that would seem to be contrary to each other, really came together in their evaluation of the need for additional feedstocks. Some had the perspective that non-traditional feedstocks such as rapeseed should be used. Some looked to algae with its potential to produce thousands of gallons of oil per acre. Others saw the development of higher-oil-yielding, new strains of soybeans and corn to meet the demand. What struck me was how each panelist saw the worth in developing ALL of these ideas… not just one magic bullet to face the feedstock issue.
Listen to Weber facilitate the discussion with a question about the different feedstocks and roadblocks to their development:
See 2008 National Biodiesel Conference Flicker Photo album here.
The energy balance for biodiesel is better than ever.
At a press conference this morning in Orlando, a new analysis was unveiled that shows the energy balance of biodiesel is a positive ratio of 3.5-to-1. That’s an increase from 3.2 to 1 determined by the Department of Energy National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) and USDA in 1998.
The new research conducted at the University of Idaho in cooperation with USDA.
“The bottom line is that the energy balance of biodiesel has definitely improved in the last decade,” says University of Idaho Department Head of Biological and Agricultural Engineering Jon Van Gerpen, who credits Assistant Professor Dev Shrestha and graduate student Anup Pradhan for their work on the study. “The increase in soybean yields and a decrease in herbicide use greatly contributed to the increased energy balance. Meanwhile, energy used for crushing soybeans is significantly lower than what was reported in the NREL study.”
You can listen to an interview with Van Gerpen here:
One of the most popular sessions at the conference was on the whole “food versus fuel” issue. Speakers at the session included Chris Schroeder with Centrec Consulting, Jim Duffield with USDA and John Urbanchuk of LECG, LLC.
Duffield, pictured here at the podium, spoke to the conference last year and noted that at the time he said corn and soybean prices were high. Today they are at all time highs and he says, “of course, they’re not going to go up forever, but at least in the short run, the next year or so, I don’t think we’re going to see these prices drop back.”
You can listen to an interview with Duffield here:
All speakers made the point that biofuels may be getting the blame for higher prices, but energy costs in general are a much bigger factor. Urbanchuk says raw commodity prices play a very small role in food prices. “In fact, the work that we’ve done indicates that energy prices have roughly twice the impact that any individual commodity such as corn and soybeans do in determining retail food prices.”
He says that food items where corn and soybeans play a major role only account about 25 percent of the food basket.
The panel also drove home the point that additional feedstocks will help alleviate the food versus fuel debate and that it is important for the industry to educate the media and consumers about the real reasons behind higher food prices.
You can listen to an interview with Urbanchuk here:
Sustainability is the key to the future of biodiesel and to that end the National Biodiesel Board announced a new Sustainability Task Force at the conference this week. Heading the task force is Emily Bockian Landsburg of Philadelphia FryoDiesel.
Emily says it’s critical for NBB to address this issue head-on and the time is now. “I’m thrilled to be able to share some of the work that we’ve been doing at the Sustainable Biodiesel Summit with a larger audience,” Emily told the opening general session.
She says the job will be challenging but she is looking forward to it.
You can listen to an interview with Emily here:
There’s a few times in your life when you get to see a true living legend in person. This morning was one of those occasions as I watched Astronaut Jim Lovell talk to a captivated audience of biodiesel industry folks at the morning general session of the 2008 National Biodiesel Conference and Expo.
Talk about an inspirational speech! The man, who defied all odds and led his crew from a sure icy death in the vacuum of space when the Apollo 13 mission to the moon had a massive equipment failure, held the audience spellbound for more than 50 minutes as he told the story of how they overcame great adversity to make it back safely to the Earth.
“Always Expect the Unexpected”
Lovell talked about how his team on the spacecraft moved quickly to preserve their dwindling resources so at least they would have a shot at making it home. But they were not alone. There was help back at Mission Control.
Listen to Lovell’s account and how he relates it to the biodiesel industry overcoming unforeseen circumstances:
“I Shouldn’t Be Here.”
Lovell told this morning’s gathering that he should not be there except for the teamwork, dedication and ingenuity of those involved. And he reminded the audience that they could choose to be one of three types of people: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who wonder what happened.
Listen to Lovell’s inspirational closing here:
In just a few hours, we should start getting the results of the Super Tuesday primaries and caucuses, as voters in 24 states go to the polls to decide who will be the Democratic and Republican standard bearers for the November 2008 general election.
This morning at the opening session of the 2008 National Biodiesel Conference and Expo in Orlando, Fla., Gene Gebolys, the chairman of the NBB’s Regulatory Committee opened that meeting reminding the audience how important the day is to the future of the biodiesel industry.
“The direction that this country will take depends on what happens today. Our industry is at a crossroads. We need to be successful now more than any other time in our industry’s history,” Gebolys told the crowd.
Hear Gebolys’ comments here:
He was joined on stage by Manning Feraci, the NBB’s director of governmental affairs, and Lisa Ryan with the NBB’s political action committee.
Feraci said it is the “big three” in Washington that will determine biodiesel’s future in this country: the renewal of the federal tax incentive that keeps biodiesel competitive with petroleum, the CCC Bioenergy program, and the new Renewable Fuels Standard that will target biodiesel production at 500 million gallons a year in 2009 and a billion gallons a year by 2012.
Listen to Feraci and Gebolys discuss the big three:
Ryan stressed the importance of going all out to be successful politically this year. “We cannot have a half-baked effort going forward if we really want this to be successful.”
Listen to Ryan’s comments here:
All three stressed the importance of working as a team to get Washington to give the biodiesel industry what it needs to be viable.
A new study from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) shows the quality of biodiesel has made significant gains from just a couple of years ago.
During a session completed just moments ago at the 2008 National Biodiesel Conference and expo here in Orlando, Fla., Teresa Alleman, a senior chemist with NREL says 90 percent of the biodiesel her lab tested met national fuel quality standards.
“We hit some of the most important (specifications) for engine operability, and we were able to sample about 70 percent of the producers in the market. The high success rate of meeting the specifications is good news for the industry,” Alleman said.
She says they tested specifications such as flash point, free and total glycerines, metals, water and sentiment levels, and oxidation stability… just to name a few. Alleman says a previous test in 2005 showed a 15 percent failure to meet specifations and 59 percent off specifications in 2006… although she points out the 2006 number was from jobbers and terminals, not at the producer level.
She hopes this new report will give consumers more confidence in biodiesel.
“I happen to drive a diesel Jeep, and this tells me that when my husband fills up (with biodiesel) before he picks me up from the airport to get home, I will get home!”
Listen to the whole interview with Alleman here:
Now here is a real biodiesel champion.
Last night, the NBB honored staff member Lola Helming, with the Dedicated Service Award. Helming has been the office coordinator for 15 years and was NBB’s first official employee. Most who have contacted the NBB headquarters have received Helming’s warm greeting, and she has helped to keep the office running smoothly from biodiesel’s research days to the half-billion gallon industry it has become.
Congrats to Miss Lola!
