Life cycle analyst Don O’Connor presented some of his assessments of indirect land use and how it could impact the biodiesel industry during Tuesday’s general session at the National Biodiesel Conference. O’Conner says that life cycle assessment is a very challenging and complicated process. “The first thing that is important is that life cycle analysis needs to be relative,” O’Connor … Read More

This time last year, Emily Bockian Landsburg with Philadelphia Fry-o-Diesel was just appointed as chairman of the newly-approved Sustainability Task Force for the biodiesel industry. There were no other members and just a vague idea of what they hoped to accomplish. This year, Emily stood before the conference to provide an update on what the task force has accomplished in … Read More

Actress and activist Daryl Hannah has been a fixture at the National Biodiesel Conference since the very beginning and one of her major areas of interest when it comes to renewable fuels and the environmental is sustainability, so she was thrilled with the sustainable theme during today’s general session at the conference. “I’ve been bringing that up every year and … Read More

This fast and fancy concept car belongs to Tonight show host Jay Leno and it runs on 100 percent biodiesel. Steve Hofmann with Jay Leno’s Garage in Burbank is here at the National Biodiesel Conference with the Eco-Jet – showing it off to expo attendees and explaining just why it exists. “Jay has a keen interest in technology,” Steve told … Read More

A new initiative was announced at the opening general session of the National Biodiesel Conference Monday – Scientists for Biodiesel. Founder of the Thomas Jefferson Agricultural Institute Dr. Rob Myers made the announcement as co-chair of the campaign with Donald Danforth Plant Science Center President Roger Beachy. “Scientists sometimes have differences of opinion, but this declaration is intended to show … Read More

National Biodiesel Board CEO Joe Jobe called on the industry to “leverage diversity to overcome adversity.” “I’m talking about the true spirit of diversity – inclusiveness, respect and most of all unity,” Jobe told the opening general session at the National Biodiesel Conference in San Francisco on Monday morning. Jobe noted that the food versus fuel issue has not gone … Read More

One of the first companies to realize the potential of biodiesel for both farmers and farm machinery was our good friend Gene Hemphill with New Holland, pictured here with NBB CEO Joe Jobe. Two years ago, Hemphill received the Biodiesel Innovation Award at this conference for his foresight and support of the industry, which he says goes back over 20 … Read More

Everyone was taking a little time Sunday night to socialize and relax before the real work begins this week, including the chairman and the CEO of the National Biodiesel Board. Pictured here are National Biodiesel Board Chairman Ed Hegland of Minnesota and his wife Dawn with NBB CEO Joe Jobe and his wife Lisa. I did a very brief interview … Read More

Just a couple of days away from the start of the 2009 National Biodiesel Conference & Expo, and earlier this afternoon, I caught up with Donnell Rehagen, the Chief Operating Officer for the National Biodiesel Board as he was finishing up preparations before flying out Thursday morning for the conference site in San Francisco. Donnell is really excited about the … Read More

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. Read the press … Read More

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 … Read More

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 … Read More

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, … Read More

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, … Read More

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 … Read More

Country music singer Michael Peterson likes to look at things just a little differently and in today’s general session he entertained the crowd with a sweet song about life “From the Grave to the Cradle.” Michael is a great advocate for biodiesel and he is a wonderful entertainer and all around nice guy. He is preparing for a new tour … Read More

National Biodiesel Board Vice Chairman Gary Haer says he is amazed at the turnout for this year’s National Biodiesel Conference and Expo in Orlando, Florida. He says the thousands of attendees at the event seemed to be determined to take on the challenges that are ahead. Haer, who is also a VP of Sales and Marketing for Iowa-based Renewable Energy … Read More