Biodiesel Conference Blog

This will conclude our coverage of the 2009 National Biodiesel Conference in San Francisco.

All of the posted audio from the conference is now available in podcast form for subscriber downloading by clicking here. There are a total of 17 audio podcast files this year including interviews, presentations and press conferences.

There are over 450 photos in the Flicker Photo album and over 30 posts so far from the conference, as well as a few videos.

Hope you enjoyed the coverage this year. Join us next year from Grapevine, Texas for the 2010 National Biodiesel Conference.

Wednesday’s reception was billed as an Evening With Emily Richards but the crowd got more than their money’s worth as they were entertained by many talented musicians. Emily is just incredible by herself, with amazing pipes and keyboard skills, and she has been appearing at the National Biodiesel Conference since 2004.

She was accompanied once again this year by guitarist and vocalist Jason Brock. Together they joined Rolling Stones keyboardist Chuck Leavell during his set for a rendition of “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” which I unfortunately did not commit to video.

However, I did get a recording of Emily and Joe Jobe (Piano Lady and Harmonica Man) doing Billy Joel’s “Piano Man” to rave reviews from the crowd. Joe is a man of many talents.

Watch them perform here:

Later in the evening, NBB chairman Ed Hegland grabbed a guitar and revealed his musical talent as well. He sang a very funny tune called “All Right Guy” which also unfortunately missed being preserved for posterity’s sake to YouTube.

Both Ed and Joe teamed up for a few impromptu numbers before letting Emily and Jason have the spotlight back. All in all, it was a very enjoyable evening with Emily and Company.

No word yet on when Joe and Ed will be leaving their day jobs and going on tour!

2009 National Biodiesel Conference Photo Album

The patron saint of the city by the bay must be proud of its incredible environmental achievements. That would be St. Francis of Assisi, of course, who is the patron saint of all things environmental.

The last award to be presented at the National Biodiesel Conference was the Initiative award, given to San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. In this largest known city in the world to use B20 fleet-wide, the mayor has had a lot to do with that. In 2006, he issued an Executive Directive designed to increase the pace of municipal use of biodiesel. Today, virtually all of the City’s 1,500 diesel vehicles run on B20.

To top it off, as the conference wrapped up on Wednesday, the National Biodiesel Board celebrated SFGreasecycle, the City of San Francisco’s program to turn waste oil into biodiesel. The innovative program was awarded $1.2 million to break ground for brown-grease-to-biodiesel fuel production, and to build a toolkit that will serve as a blueprint for cities nationwide interested in replicating the program.

St. Francis is smiling down on his city!

2009 National Biodiesel Conference Photo Album

One of the pre-conference highlights for the National Biodiesel Conference in San Francisco was “Racecar Driver for a Day.”

NBB Chairman Ed Hegland was among those who suited up at the Infineon Raceway in Sonoma to fly around the track in a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Racing Series vehicle and he absolutely loved the experience. “I got to do a couple of laps around the track and it was a real thrilling ride,” Ed said. “In fact, I got in line again after everyone else was done and did it again - I couldn’t get enough.”

B5 will be the official fuel of the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Racing Series and Ed says they are fortunate to be able to be working with a company like Volkswagen. Ed also got to drive one of the VW Jetta wagons up to the speedway. “That was an awful lot of fun, it really had a lot of get-up-and-go,” Ed says. “As the younger generation is wanting to be more green and environmentally friendly, it just seems like a perfect match.”

2009 National Biodiesel Conference Photo Album

The future for biodiesel is brighter than some might think right now in this economy, according to officials with Renewable Energy Group (REG).

Jon Scharingson with REG gave an overview about the potential for biodiesel during the National Biodiesel Conference this week. “We’re pretty optimistic about the development of the biodiesel market in the US for 2009,” Jon says. “We think about 300 million gallons were consumed in the U.S. in 2008 and we expect that to double in 2009.”

He says a couple of factors will drive that growth, including the Renewable Fuels Standard and the Obama administration.

Listen to an interview with Jon here:

2009 National Biodiesel Conference Photo Album

Members of the National Biodiesel Board governing board were recognized during the final session of the biodiesel conference in San Francisco Wednesday for their support and leadership of the organization and the industry.

They include - from left to right - Chairman Ed Hegland, Vice-Chairman Gary Haer, Ed Ulch, Greg Anderson, Darryl Brinkmann, Greg Hopkins, Kris Kappenman, Denny Mauser, Doug Smith, Robert Stobaugh, Jeffrey Trucksess, and David Womack. Hopefully, I got them all right, but please correct me if I didn’t!

I had a chance to interview both the Chairman and Vice Chairman about their thoughts on the conference, the state of the industry and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for biodiesel.

I talked with Chairman Ed Hegland, who is a soybean grower from Minnesota who serves on his state’s Soybean Research and Promotion Council, during our Red and White cruise on the bay and we discussed a number of issues. Among them - the announcement at the conference about Volkswagen using biodiesel in 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Racing Series, how San Francisco is a leader in biodiesel use, and how the stars who support biodiesel use help the industry.

Listen to my interview with Ed Hegland here:

Vice Chairman Gary Haer with Renewable Energy Group (REG) sees lots of opportunities for biodiesel in the future, especially in the area of feedstock development and increasing oil content from soybeans. He also talked about support for biodiesel in the new administration and what the biodiesel board is doing in terms of prioritizing programs for the future.

Listen to my interview with Gary Haer here:

2009 National Biodiesel Conference Photo Album

I have lots more interviews to post, but right now I have to head out to catch a plane back to the frigid Midwest - leaving my heart in beautiful San Francisco!

Until I can get more posts up, please enjoy the 455 photos in the album - that has been updated through the final general session.

Stay tuned - more to come from the 2009 National Biodiesel Conference!

2009 National Biodiesel Conference Photo Album

Two of the last awards to be presented at the National Biodiesel Conference Wednesday were given for Inspiration and industry Pioneer.

As the Inspiration award winners, Bryan Peterson and Pete Bethune shared their inspiring stories with the conference this morning. Fourteen years ago Bryan Peterson made his way around the world in a small boat powered by a little-known fuel at the time – biodiesel. He completed the 35,000 mile, 2 year trip in a boat called Sunrider. Peterson’s successful adventure generated some of the earliest news on biodiesel, and it paved the way for a world record last year. New Zealander Pete Bethune made headlines for breaking the world speed record for circumnavigating the globe in his Earthrace expedition in 60 days. Both men’s biodiesel message circumnavigated the globe with them.

Listen to an interview with Bryan and Pete here:

In addition, the NBB presented the Pioneer Award - a special honor to an individual or group who has served the industry – to Kenlon Johannes, the first Executive Director of the National SoyDiesel Development Board, which later would become the NBB. Johannes, a soybean farmer when he represented the board, continues to promote biodiesel through the Kansas Soybean Commission.

Listen to an interview with Kenlon here:

2009 National Biodiesel Conference Photo Album

A highlight of the last evening of the National Biodiesel Conference was an appearance by Rolling Stones keyboardist Chuck Leavell, sponsored by New Holland.

Chuck is not just an awesome keyboard player, he is also an avid environmentalist, a tree farmer and a proponent of biofuels. He also recently started the Mother Nature Network, which just launched last month and features environmental news and information “that makes sense.”

Chuck says it was a great pleasure to engage with people who are excited about the changes coming in energy usage. “I’m here to tip my hat to the biodiesel industry,” Chuck said.

Listen to an interview with Chuck here:

2009 National Biodiesel Conference Photo Album

Founded in 1892, the historic Red and White Fleet is legendary for its premiere San Francisco Cruises. Family owned, the Red and White Fleet is committed to environmental sustainability and community education - and to that end the cruises run on B20.

The fleet sponsored a trip for biodiesel board members and the media to tell how and why they chose to run their boats on biodiesel. Joe Burgard is vice president of operations for the Red and White Fleet. In this interview, he talks about why it is so important to them to make a difference by using this environmentally-friendly fuel.

Listen to Joe’s interview here:

2009 National Biodiesel Conference Photo Album