The Division of Measure Standards (DMS) has completed a rulemaking process adopting fuel specifications and dispenser labeling requirements for biodiesel.
NBB reports that all dispensing equipment for biodiesel blends must be labeled for the specific blend content (B2, B20, B100), plus all blends over B5 (five percent biodiesel, 95 percent petroleum diesel) must be labeled with: “This fuel contains biodiesel. Check the owner’s manual or with your engine manufacturer before using.” Also, all blends of biodiesel must meet American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) D975, the petroleum diesel specification. Data has shown blends up to B20 meet the ASTM D975 parameters in a majority of cases, said NBB.
“The requirement for all finished blends to meet the diesel fuel specification is only a short-term measure,” said Scott Hughes, NBB California regulatory manager. “The B20 fill and go specification, when adopted by ASTM, will supercede this requirement automatically. When ASTM adopts a specification for B100, that will also be automatically incorporated by DMS.”
The California Energy Commission is beginning to take biodiesel seriously with the formation of a biodiesel workgroup that will identify barriers to biodiesel’s further expansion in the state, strategies for overcoming these barriers, and establish standards to measure the future success of bringing biodiesel further into California’s marketplace. According to NBB, the workgroup was established as part of the commission’s process to reduce the state’s dependence on petroleum and encourage the expanded use of non-petroleum fuels. NBB and its member organizations and stakeholders are a participating member of the workgroup.
Florida is Bananas Over Biodiesel
Florida is excited about biodiesel, according to Hart Moore, Griffin Industries. Over the past several years, the Kentucky-based renderer and biodiesel producer has provided the alternative fuel to Florida fleets of the U.S. Postal Service, Florida Department of Transportation, Broward County Transit/Water Taxi, Everglades National Park, Big Cypress National Preserve, and the city of Coconut Creek.
In an effort to further introduce Florida to biodiesel, Griffin Industries donated 1,000 gallons of the fuel for use at the 10th National Clean Cities Conference and Expo, which took place in early May in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. The city of Coconut Creek, FL, a long time supporter and user of biodiesel, donated the use of its biodiesel-powered buses to transport conference attendees. The city uses biodiesel in all of its diesel vehicles on a regular basis, including dump trucks, tractors, sewage trucks, and ambulances.
“We’re trying to get away from petroleum as a city, and biodiesel was a way to do that without making major changes to our vehicles or infrastructure,” Rich Cascio, the city’s property maintenance manger is quoted by the NBB. “The fuel has performed very well.”
According to NBB, Water Taxi, which operates Broward County Transit’s water buses, also used the donated biodiesel to provide transpor-tation for conference attendees. The company has used the fuel in its diesel generators and diesel powered boats to ferry passengers around the Ft. Lauderdale area since 2001.
Biodiesel is also taking off at the Miami International Airport, where researchers are examining the use of the bio-based fuel to power baggage handling and group support equipment at Florida’s busiest airport.
The U.S. Department of Energy and the Florida Energy Office, together with Gold Coast Clean Cities Coalition and the Miami Dade Aviation Department, will assess the feasibility of replacing diesel with biodiesel fuel in baggage transport equipment and fuel trucks. The $54,000 project will also assess the market potential for biodiesel, explore its compatibility with current systems, and test fuel quality, performance, and storage requirements.
Biodiesel Gets Fishy
Pacific Biodiesel, based in Maui, HI, has been successfully producing and selling biodiesel from recycled cooking oil for several years. Now the company is turning to a new oil source – fish.
Pacific Biodiesel is converting 5,000 pounds of Alaskan fish oil into biodiesel from the Alaska Energy Authority for a pilot project funded in part by the U.S. Department of Energy. The authority is trying to gain insight into how well raw fish oil works for biodiesel.
The fish oil-based biodiesel was successfully tested in the Pacific Biodiesel’s “Bio Beetle” for two days. Further testing of the fuel will be conducted at the University of Fairbanks’ Arctic Energy Technology Development Laboratory. The project is expected to be completed by July.
According to Peter Crimp, project manager with the Alaska Energy Authority, there is particular interest in using the fish oil-based biodiesel in diesel generators in remote communities. He also sees opportunities for its use in fishing boats and possibly land transportation, if suitable.
California Company New Distributor
RCAI, headquartered in Lake Forest, CA, has signed an exclusive distributorship agreement with Topia Energy, Inc., for the sale and distribution of biodiesel. Topia Energy is based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Under the terms of the agreement, RCAI will act as the exclusive sales agent for Topia Energy’s biodiesel fuel, additives, and other biodiesel related products in the commercial marine industry and other industries first identified by RCAI. There is no geographic limit on the company’s exclusivity. Accord-ing to RCAI, the U.S. marine diesel market is estimated at $2.5 billion.
RCAI is an industrial supply company specializing in the development, sales, and distribution of environmentally friendly industrial release agents, form oils, and biodiesel.
Nevada Firm to Produce Biodiesel
According to news reports, Bently Agrowdynamics, Minden, NV, plans to mass-produce biodiesel by the end of this year.
The company has had a natural program in agriculture-related endeavors in the Carson Valley for nearly 30 years, including 38,000 acres of land and reservoirs for the production of alfalfa, small grains, and cattle. Several years ago, the company began researching alternative fuels and is now producing biodiesel on-site for use in the company’s vehicles. Currently, Bentley Agrowdynamics is manufacturing about 100 gallons per week, with a goal of producing 300,000 gallons per year.
To make their biodiesel, the company is growing its own canola and gathering a cache of area restaurants to provide waste vegetable oil. Minden is located approximately 50 miles south of Reno, NV.
Biodiesel Bulletin - June 2004 Render