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  <title>Green Options &#187; B100</title>
  <link>http://greenoptions.com/tag/b100</link>
  <description>Posts tagged 'B100'</description>
  <pubDate>Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:44:36 +0000</pubDate>
  <generator>http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1</generator>
  <language>en</language>
  <item>
    <title>First B100 Biodiesel Station Opens in San Francisco</title>
    <link>http://gas2.org/2008/12/12/first-b100-biodiesel-station-opens-in-san-francisco/</link>
    <comments>http://gas2.org/2008/12/12/first-b100-biodiesel-station-opens-in-san-francisco/#comments</comments>
    <pubDate>Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:44:36 +0000</pubDate>
    <dc:creator>Keith Rockmael</dc:creator>
    
		<category><![CDATA[Biodiesel]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Biofuels]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Biofuels business]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Cars]]></category>

    <guid isPermaLink="false">http://gas2.org/2008/12/12/first-b100-biodiesel-station-opens-in-san-francisco/</guid>
    <description><![CDATA[<p><a title="dogpatch-biolfuels.jpg" href="http://www.greenorati.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/dogpatch-biolfuels.jpg"><img class="alignleft" style="float: left" src="http://www.greenorati.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/dogpatch-biolfuels.jpg" alt="dogpatch-biolfuels.jpg" /></a>In a supposed progressive green city, it won’t be until today that San Francisco finally gets its own <a href="http://gas2.org/2008/04/10/biodiesel-mythbuster-20-twenty-two-biodiesel-myths-dispelled/">biodiesel</a> station – <a href="http://dogpatchbiofuels.com/">Dogpatch Biofuels</a>. It’s been a long time in the making with permits, and inspections and the like. Hasn’t San Francisco seen biodiesel before? You’d think that they were dispensing nitroglycerin the way the approval process worked like molasses.</p>
<p>We’re not counting the <a href="http://www.epa.gov/region09//waste/biodiesel/ca/sf-first-station.html">Olympic Station</a> that sells B20 to mostly fleet vehicles and trucks or the op-op that used to operate in SoMa. Here, we have an honest to goodness <a href="http://gas2.org/2008/04/10/biodiesel-mythbuster-20-twenty-two-biodiesel-myths-dispelled/">B100</a> (or rather B99.99999) biodiesel station for autos. All the Mercedes and converted vehicle owners can rejoice at not having to drive to the East Bay or San Mateo to fill up their tanks. Even better, we can all rejoice at the fact that the station owners get their fuel not from GMO corn or switchgrass or any food but rather from San Francisco’s own waste grease program, so we can all be proud when consuming those greasy fries.</p>
<p><a href="http://gas2.org/2008/12/12/first-b100-biodiesel-station-opens-in-san-francisco/" class="more-link">Read more of this story &#187;</a></p>
]]></description>
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  </item>
  <item>
    <title>Biodiesel Alliance Requests Your Input on the Future of Biofuel Sustainability</title>
    <link>http://gas2.org/2008/08/20/biodiesel-alliance-requests-input-on-future-sustainability/</link>
    <comments>http://gas2.org/2008/08/20/biodiesel-alliance-requests-input-on-future-sustainability/#comments</comments>
    <pubDate>Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:48:34 +0000</pubDate>
    <dc:creator>Nick Chambers</dc:creator>
    
		<category><![CDATA[Biodiesel]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Food vs. fuel]]></category>

    <guid isPermaLink="false">http://gas2.org/2008/08/20/biodiesel-alliance-requests-input-on-future-sustainability/</guid>
    <description><![CDATA[<p><img class="size-full wp-image-830" style="vertical-align: text-top" src="http://go635254.s3.amazonaws.com/gas2/files/2008/08/sba-logo.png" alt="" width="255" height="247" />The <a href="http://www.sustainablebiodieselalliance.com/" target="_blank">Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance</a> (SBA) is a non-profit organization created to promote cradle-to-grave <a href="http://gas2.org/2008/04/10/biodiesel-mythbuster-20-twenty-two-biodiesel-myths-dispelled/">biodiesel</a> practices for verifying that all points in the production and distribution chain are sustainable.</p>
<p>And now they <a href="http://www.sustainablebiodieselalliance.com/cgi/yabb2/YaBB.pl?action=login" target="_blank">want your input on what those sustainable practices and standards should be</a> — they&#8217;ve released the first draft of their &#8220;<a href="http://www.sustainablebiodieselalliance.com/BPSDRAFT.pdf" target="_blank">Principles and Baseline Practices for Sustainability</a>&#8221; (PDF) to the public under a 45-day comment and review period.</p>
<p>So, if you&#8217;ve ever questioned the <a href="http://gas2.org/category/biofuels/food-vs-fuel/" target="_blank">wisdom of growing our own fuel</a>, or you&#8217;ve wondered how biofuels can be considered sustainable at all given other <a href="http://cleantechnica.com/" target="_blank">seemingly cleaner options like solar, wind and geothermal</a>, now&#8217;s your time to speak up.</p>
<p><a href="http://gas2.org/2008/08/20/biodiesel-alliance-requests-input-on-future-sustainability/" class="more-link">Read more of this story &#187;</a></p>
]]></description>
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  </item>
  <item>
    <title>Biodiesel Boom Spurs Theft of Nasty, Used Fry-O-Lator Grease</title>
    <link>http://gas2.org/2008/08/08/biodiesel-boom-starts-new-trend-nasty-used-grease-theft/</link>
    <comments>http://gas2.org/2008/08/08/biodiesel-boom-starts-new-trend-nasty-used-grease-theft/#comments</comments>
    <pubDate>Fri, 08 Aug 2008 17:49:34 +0000</pubDate>
    <dc:creator>Nick Chambers</dc:creator>
    
		<category><![CDATA[Biodiesel]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Do-it-yourself (DIY)]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Offbeat]]></category>

    <guid isPermaLink="false">http://gas2.org/2008/08/08/biodiesel-boom-starts-new-trend-nasty-used-grease-theft/</guid>
    <description><![CDATA[<h3>Rotting, leftover fryer grease has turned into gold in the race to our energy future — and thieves have taken notice.</h3>
<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-790" style="vertical-align: text-top" src="http://go635254.s3.amazonaws.com/gas2/files/2008/08/fryer_grease.jpg" alt="Yellow grease biodiesel" width="500" height="237" /></p>
<p>It&#8217;s early in the pre-dawn dark hours of the morning. A group of Northern California pseudohippies just finished a game of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zonk" target="_blank">Zonk</a> — or rather, the game just stopped because somebody quoted a line from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_&#38;_Kumar_Go_to_White_Castle" target="_blank">Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle</a> and everybody forgot what they were doing.</p>
<p>Yet, by a stroke of luck, the conversation about Harold and Kumar reminds the group of their real reason for staying up so late. They pack into a truck and head down to the local fast food joint looking to load up — but it&#8217;s not the food they&#8217;re loading up on, it&#8217;s the nasty, half-rotted, leftover fryer grease.</p>
<p><a href="http://gas2.org/2008/08/08/biodiesel-boom-starts-new-trend-nasty-used-grease-theft/" class="more-link">Read more of this story &#187;</a></p>
]]></description>
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  </item>
  <item>
    <title>Samsung to Invest $1.63 Billion in Indonesian Biodiesel Project</title>
    <link>http://gas2.org/2008/07/23/samsung-to-invest-163-billion-in-indonesian-biodiesel-project/</link>
    <comments>http://gas2.org/2008/07/23/samsung-to-invest-163-billion-in-indonesian-biodiesel-project/#comments</comments>
    <pubDate>Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:39:19 +0000</pubDate>
    <dc:creator>Nick Chambers</dc:creator>
    
		<category><![CDATA[Biodiesel]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Carbon Emissions]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Ethanol]]></category>

    <guid isPermaLink="false">http://gas2.org/2008/07/23/samsung-to-invest-163-billion-in-indonesian-biodiesel-project/</guid>
    <description><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-718" style="vertical-align: top" src="http://go635254.s3.amazonaws.com/gas2/files/2008/07/palm_oil.jpg" alt="Oil Palm Plantation" width="500" height="262" /></p>
<p>According to an <a title="Jakarta Post article on Samsung palm oil investment " href="http://old.thejakartapost.com/detailbusiness.asp?fileid=20080722.L02&#38;irec=1" target="_blank">article in the Jakarta Post</a>, an official from the <a title="Wikipedia entry for Politics of Indonesia" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Indonesia" target="_blank">Indonesian government</a> has spilled the beans on Samsung&#8217;s plans to invest up to $1.63 billion dollars in what&#8217;s sure to be a controversial acquisition of land for growing oil palms and construction of a <a title="Biodiesel Mythbuster" href="http://gas2.org/2008/04/10/biodiesel-mythbuster-20-twenty-two-biodiesel-myths-dispelled/" target="_blank">biodiesel</a> plant in Indonesia.</p>
<p><a href="http://gas2.org/2008/07/23/samsung-to-invest-163-billion-in-indonesian-biodiesel-project/" class="more-link">Read more of this story &#187;</a></p>
]]></description>
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  </item>
  <item>
    <title>Opinion: Biofuels, Food Prices and Global Warming Roundup</title>
    <link>http://gas2.org/2008/07/17/opinion-biofuels-food-prices-and-global-warming-roundup/</link>
    <comments>http://gas2.org/2008/07/17/opinion-biofuels-food-prices-and-global-warming-roundup/#comments</comments>
    <pubDate>Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:58:50 +0000</pubDate>
    <dc:creator>Nick Chambers</dc:creator>
    
		<category><![CDATA[Carbon Emissions]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Food vs. fuel]]></category>

    <guid isPermaLink="false">http://gas2.org/2008/07/17/opinion-biofuels-food-prices-and-global-warming-roundup/</guid>
    <description><![CDATA[<h3>The current rate at which biofuels are falling out of favor is largely founded on biased ideologies, which have been shaped by widespread political and corporate agenda-pushing from all sides of the fence.<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-700" style="vertical-align: text-top" src="http://go635254.s3.amazonaws.com/gas2/files/2008/07/biofuel_food_mashup.jpg" alt="Biofuels food and climate change" width="500" height="183" /></h3>
<p>But first, a digression.</p>
<p><strong>Part 1: When an egg was just an egg<br />
</strong></p>
<p>I remember a time when an egg was just an egg. Nobody argued about that. It was a blissful time. Yet, for all its strengths, it was a fragile time held together by unsupported conclusions and limited knowledge.</p>
<p><a href="http://gas2.org/2008/07/17/opinion-biofuels-food-prices-and-global-warming-roundup/" class="more-link">Read more of this story &#187;</a></p>
]]></description>
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  </item>
  <item>
    <title>Biodiesel&#8217;s New Approval Rating Could Ease Warranty Concerns</title>
    <link>http://gas2.org/2008/06/28/biodiesels-new-approval-rating-could-ease-warranty-concerns/</link>
    <comments>http://gas2.org/2008/06/28/biodiesels-new-approval-rating-could-ease-warranty-concerns/#comments</comments>
    <pubDate>Sat, 28 Jun 2008 12:30:39 +0000</pubDate>
    <dc:creator>Clayton B. Cornell</dc:creator>
    
		<category><![CDATA[Biodiesel]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Diesels]]></category>

    <guid isPermaLink="false">http://gas2.org/2008/06/28/biodiesels-new-approval-rating-could-ease-warranty-concerns/</guid>
    <description><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://gas2.org/files/2008/06/dodge_truck_biodiesel.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-653" style="vertical-align: top" src="http://go635254.s3.amazonaws.com/gas2/files/2008/06/dodge_truck_biodiesel.jpg" alt="Dodge Biodiesel Ram Truck" width="500" height="375" /></a></p>
<h3>Lack of warranty support for <a title="Biodiesel Mythbuster" href="http://gas2.org/2008/04/10/biodiesel-mythbuster-20-twenty-two-biodiesel-myths-dispelled/" target="_blank">biodiesel </a>has been a major stumbling block for new diesel owners who want to start using the fuel. But three long-awaited ASTM specifications could help change that.</h3>
<blockquote><p>Automakers and engine manufacturers have been requesting a finished blend specification for B20 <a href="http://gas2.org/2008/04/10/biodiesel-mythbuster-20-twenty-two-biodiesel-myths-dispelled/">biodiesel</a> blends for several years, with some citing the need for that spec as the single greatest hurdle preventing their full-scale acceptance of B20 use in their diesel vehicles.</p></blockquote>
<p>On June 19th, after more than five years of research and discussion, the <a title="ASTM" href="http://www.astm.org/" target="_blank">American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)</a> finally approved the following specifications for biodiesel fuel:</p>
<ul>
<li>Changes to the existing B100 biodiesel blend stock specification (ASTM D6751)</li>
<li>Finished specifications to include up to 5% biodiesel (B5) in the conventional petrodiesel specification (ASTM D975)</li>
<li>A new specification for blends of between 6 percent biodiesel (B6) to 20 percent biodiesel (B20) for on and off road diesel.</li>
</ul>
<h4><strong>If that&#8217;s gibberish to you, here&#8217;s the take home message: the new specification for B6-B20 biodiesel blends could prompt more automakers to fully support B20 in their new cars and trucks.</strong>
<p><a href="http://gas2.org/2008/06/28/biodiesels-new-approval-rating-could-ease-warranty-concerns/" class="more-link">Read more of this story &#187;</a></p>
]]></description>
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  </item>
  <item>
    <title>Biodiesel Station in San Francisco Coming Soon</title>
    <link>http://gas2.org/2008/05/23/biodiesel-station-in-san-francisco-coming-soon/</link>
    <comments>http://gas2.org/2008/05/23/biodiesel-station-in-san-francisco-coming-soon/#comments</comments>
    <pubDate>Fri, 23 May 2008 15:37:47 +0000</pubDate>
    <dc:creator>Keith Rockmael</dc:creator>
    
		<category><![CDATA[Biodiesel]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Biofuels business]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Ethanol]]></category>

    <guid isPermaLink="false">http://gas2.org/2008/05/23/biodiesel-station-in-san-francisco-coming-soon/</guid>
    <description><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://gas2.org/files/2008/05/dogpatchbiofules.jpg" title="dogpatchbiofules.jpg"><img src="http://go635254.s3.amazonaws.com/gas2/files/2008/05/dogpatchbiofules.jpg" alt="dogpatchbiofules.jpg" align="top" /></a></p>
<p>It’s hard to believe that one of America’s greenest cities lacks a true <a href="http://gas2.org/2008/04/10/biodiesel-mythbuster-20-twenty-two-biodiesel-myths-dispelled/" title="Biodiesel Mythbuster">biodiesel </a>station. Yes, San Francisco has an Olympic station on Third Street however is only supplies commercially licensed diesel vehicles with &#8220;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiesel">B20</a>&#8221; which even in the controversial <a href="http://gas2.org/2008/04/10/biodiesel-mythbuster-20-twenty-two-biodiesel-myths-dispelled/">biodiesel</a> world isn’t that green. If the building and fire departments sign off, then <a href="http://dogpatchbiofuels.com/">Dogpatch Biofuels</a> will open in the near future. Yes, we can wait to smell all the great restaurant cooking oil waste from SF’s top level eateries filled into the hungry car engines.
<p><a href="http://gas2.org/2008/05/23/biodiesel-station-in-san-francisco-coming-soon/" class="more-link">Read more of this story &#187;</a></p>
]]></description>
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  </item>
  <item>
    <title>Biodiesel Mythbuster 2.0: Twenty-Two Biodiesel Myths Dispelled</title>
    <link>http://gas2.org/2008/04/10/biodiesel-mythbuster-20-twenty-two-biodiesel-myths-dispelled/</link>
    <comments>http://gas2.org/2008/04/10/biodiesel-mythbuster-20-twenty-two-biodiesel-myths-dispelled/#comments</comments>
    <pubDate>Thu, 10 Apr 2008 16:11:27 +0000</pubDate>
    <dc:creator>Clayton B. Cornell</dc:creator>
    
		<category><![CDATA[Biodiesel]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Biodiesel Guide]]></category>

    <guid isPermaLink="false">http://gas2.org/2008/04/10/biodiesel-mythbuster-20-twenty-two-biodiesel-myths-dispelled/</guid>
    <description><![CDATA[<h3 style="text-align: center"><img class="aligncenter" src="http://go635254.s3.amazonaws.com/gas2/files/2008/04/biomercedes.jpg" alt="mercedes, biodiesel, biofuel, ethanol, alternative fuel, diesel, biopower" align="top" /></h3>
<h4> Most of us are at least vaguely familiar with <a href="http://gas2.org/2008/04/10/biodiesel-mythbuster-20-twenty-two-biodiesel-myths-dispelled/">biodiesel</a>, but <strong>how much do we really know?</strong></h4>
<h4>While biodiesel is easily the most popular alternative fuel available, it&#8217;s commonly misunderstood or misrepresented by inaccurate information. Since the most frequent question I get is, &#8220;So what exactly <em>is</em> biodiesel, <em>anyway?</em>&#8220;, I decided to write a tome covering all the basics—<strong>a one stop shop for all your biodiesel- related questions.</strong></h4>
<p>It&#8217;s been exactly one year since I published <a title="GreenOptions Archives" href="http://claytonbodiecornell.greenoptions.com/2007/04/05/green-myth-busting-biodiesel/">the first Biodiesel Mythbuster</a> on <a title="GreenOptions" href="http://greenoptions.com">GreenOptions.com</a>, and its popularity made a sequel inevitable. By way of a short introduction, here&#8217;s what I wrote last year:
<p><a href="http://gas2.org/2008/04/10/biodiesel-mythbuster-20-twenty-two-biodiesel-myths-dispelled/" class="more-link">Read more of this story &#187;</a></p>
]]></description>
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  </item>
  <item>
    <title>Gas 2.0 Monthly Recap: March 2008</title>
    <link>http://gas2.org/2008/03/31/gas-20-monthly-recap-march-2008/</link>
    <comments>http://gas2.org/2008/03/31/gas-20-monthly-recap-march-2008/#comments</comments>
    <pubDate>Mon, 31 Mar 2008 17:12:34 +0000</pubDate>
    <dc:creator>Clayton B. Cornell</dc:creator>
    
		<category><![CDATA[Admin]]></category>

    <guid isPermaLink="false">http://gas2.org/2008/03/31/gas-20-monthly-recap-march-2008/</guid>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>This has been a great month for Gas 2.0, and in no small way due to the incredible stories we&#8217;re hearing every day about <a href="http://gas2.org/category/cars/" title="Gas 2.0: Cars">new green-car tech</a>, <a href="http://gas2.org/2008/03/29/first-algae-biodiesel-plant-goes-online-april-1-2008/" title="Algae Biodiesel">non-food based biofuels</a>, and big <a href="http://gas2.org/2008/03/19/how-biodiesel-fuel-cells-could-power-the-future-and-your-car/" title="Biodiesel Fuel Cells">scientific breakthroughs</a>.</p>
<p>Besides getting back into the swing of things after some down-time in February, we were lucky to add <a href="http://gas2.org/about/" title="About Gas 2.0">Benjamin F.T. Jones</a> to our writing team. Ben&#8217;s covered some of the most popular stories here this month, including the <a href="http://gas2.org/2008/03/05/subaru-sti-is-diesel-the-intersection-of-power-and-fuel-economy/" title="Gas 2.0">Subaru&#8217;s STI diesel</a>,  the all-electric <a href="http://gas2.org/2008/03/08/the-sporty-future-of-electrics-cars-the-lightning-gt/" title="Gas 2.0">Lightning GT</a>, and a Japanese man&#8217;s attempt to sail across the Pacific in a <a href="http://gas2.org/2008/03/27/japanese-man-to-hang-10-in-pacific-journey-with-wave-powered-boat/" title="Gas 2.0">wave-powered boat.</a> See all of Ben&#8217;s posts <a href="http://greenoptions.com/author/svoboy" title="Ben's Archive">here.</a></p>
<p>If you don&#8217;t want to miss the news next month, you can subscribe to Gas 2.0&#8217;s RSS feed <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/gas2/org/" title="Gas 2.0 Feed">here</a>.</p>
<p>To recap, these are some of the top stories from March 2008:</p>
<h2>
<p><a href="http://gas2.org/2008/03/31/gas-20-monthly-recap-march-2008/" class="more-link">Read more of this story &#187;</a></p>
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  <item>
    <title>Top 15 Unexpected Uses For Biodiesel</title>
    <link>http://gas2.org/2008/03/26/top-15-unexpected-uses-for-biodiesel/</link>
    <comments>http://gas2.org/2008/03/26/top-15-unexpected-uses-for-biodiesel/#comments</comments>
    <pubDate>Wed, 26 Mar 2008 23:57:54 +0000</pubDate>
    <dc:creator>Clayton B. Cornell</dc:creator>
    
		<category><![CDATA[Biodiesel]]></category>

    <guid isPermaLink="false">http://gas2.org/2008/03/26/top-15-unexpected-uses-for-biodiesel/</guid>
    <description><![CDATA[<p><img src="http://go635254.s3.amazonaws.com/gas2/files/2008/03/biodiesel.jpg" alt="biodiesel, alternative fuels, biofuel, pump, station, green" align="top" /></p>
<h3></h3>
<h3> While virtually everyone is familiar with the use of <a href="http://gas2.org/2008/04/10/biodiesel-mythbuster-20-twenty-two-biodiesel-myths-dispelled/" title="Biodiesel Mythbuster">biodiesel </a>as a substitute for diesel fuel, there are a few novel uses that may not have crossed your radar. <a href="http://gas2.org/2008/04/10/biodiesel-mythbuster-20-twenty-two-biodiesel-myths-dispelled/">Biodiesel</a> can produce hydrogen, clean up oil spills, degrease your tools, heat your home, and more.</h3>
<h3>Here&#8217;s My Top 15 Unexpected Uses for <a href="http://gas2.org/2008/04/10/biodiesel-mythbuster-20-twenty-two-biodiesel-myths-dispelled/" title="Biodiesel Mythbuster">Biodiesel</a>:</h3>
<h2>1. Producing Hydrogen for Fuel-Cell Vehicles</h2>
<p>This was the <a href="http://gas2.org/2008/03/19/how-biodiesel-fuel-cells-could-power-the-future-and-your-car/" title="Gas 2.0: Biodiesel Fuel Cells">big story</a> of the month: Researchers at <a href="http://www.tekkie.com/index.asp" title="InnovaTek">InnovaTek </a><a href="http://gas2.org/2008/03/19/how-biodiesel-fuel-cells-could-power-the-future-and-your-car/" title="Gas 2.0: Biodiesel Fuel Cells">have developed</a> hand-sized microreactors that can turn biodiesel (or any other liquid fuel) into a hydrogen stream for use in an adjoining fuel-cell. Chevron has already invested $500,000 to develop hydrogen refueling stations for fuel-cell powered cars. InnovaTek hopes to eventually install the microreactors in vehicles, which would allow cars to fill up on biodiesel but be powered by a much more efficient and even cleaner-burning electric drivetrain. See the full story <a href="http://gas2.org/2008/03/19/how-biodiesel-fuel-cells-could-power-the-future-and-your-car/" title="Gas 2.0: Biodiesel Fuel Cells">here</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://gas2.org/2008/03/26/top-15-unexpected-uses-for-biodiesel/" class="more-link">Read more of this story &#187;</a></p>
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    <title>Learn How To Make Biodiesel On YouTube</title>
    <link>http://gas2.org/2008/03/04/learn-how-to-make-biodiesel-on-youtube/</link>
    <comments>http://gas2.org/2008/03/04/learn-how-to-make-biodiesel-on-youtube/#comments</comments>
    <pubDate>Tue, 04 Mar 2008 22:43:59 +0000</pubDate>
    <dc:creator>Clayton B. Cornell</dc:creator>
    
		<category><![CDATA[Biodiesel]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Biodiesel Guide]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Video]]></category>

    <guid isPermaLink="false">http://gas2.org/2008/03/04/learn-how-to-make-biodiesel-on-youtube/</guid>
    <description><![CDATA[<p><img src="http://go635254.s3.amazonaws.com/gas2/files/2008/03/450px-biodiesel.JPG" alt="biodiesel jar" align="left" />Trying to learn how to make <a href="http://gas2.org/2008/04/10/biodiesel-mythbuster-20-twenty-two-biodiesel-myths-dispelled/" title="Biodiesel Mythbuster">biodiesel</a>, or interested in seeing how it&#8217;s done? It always helps to get a visual, and you may not be aware that there are currently enough <a href="http://gas2.org/2008/04/10/biodiesel-mythbuster-20-twenty-two-biodiesel-myths-dispelled/">biodiesel</a> videos on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/" title="Youtube">YouTube </a>to develop an entire college course on the subject. I&#8217;ve thrown out a representative sample, just to give you an idea of what&#8217;s available.</p>
<p>While this is a good general introduction to homebrewing biodiesel, I have to repeat the disclaimer I made earlier (see  <a href="http://gas2.org/2008/02/26/6-ways-to-find-and-use-biodiesel-anywhere-part-ii/" title="6 Ways to Find and Use Biodiesel Anywhere">6 Ways To Find And Use Biodiesel Anywhere - Part II</a>): before attempting this on your own it&#8217;s important to do your homework. Don&#8217;t trust it just because you&#8217;ve seen someone do it. Most of these videos don&#8217;t discuss the specifics of making biodiesel, and for that I would recommend a solid resource (also see the link just above): <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0973323337?ie=UTF8&#38;tag=gas20-20&#38;linkCode=as2&#38;camp=1789&#38;creative=9325&#38;creativeASIN=0973323337"><em>Biodiesel, Basics And Beyond: A Comprehensive Guide to Production And Use for the Home And Farm</em></a>.</em></p>
<p>You&#8217;ll notice a lot of these videos utilize a homemade biodiesel reactor called the &#8220;appleseed&#8221; reactor. This is the simplest and cheapest way to build a biodiesel processing facility in your garage. The plans for it can be found <a href="http://www.biodieselcommunity.org/appleseedprocessor/" title="BiodieselCommunity.org">here</a>.</p>
<h3><strong>Number 1: Guy Makes <a href="http://gas2.org/2008/04/10/biodiesel-mythbuster-20-twenty-two-biodiesel-myths-dispelled/" title="Biodiesel Mythbuster">Biodiesel </a>In His Kitchen</strong></h3>
<p>I can&#8217;t believe his mother lets him do this in the kitchen, and where are his gloves?! (I have a particular affiliation for the video, though, since I had the same old truck.)</p>
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
<blockquote><p><code>This story contains additional media. <a href="http://gas2.org/2008/03/04/learn-how-to-make-biodiesel-on-youtube/">Click here to view the media</a>.</code></p></blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="http://gas2.org/2008/03/04/learn-how-to-make-biodiesel-on-youtube/" class="more-link">Read more of this story &#187;</a></p>
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    <title>Biodiesel Guide: 7 Steps to Buying a Diesel</title>
    <link>http://gas2.org/2008/01/09/biodiesel-guide-7-steps-to-buying-a-diesel/</link>
    <comments>http://gas2.org/2008/01/09/biodiesel-guide-7-steps-to-buying-a-diesel/#comments</comments>
    <pubDate>Wed, 09 Jan 2008 21:22:45 +0000</pubDate>
    <dc:creator>Clayton B. Cornell</dc:creator>
    
		<category><![CDATA[Biodiesel]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Biodiesel Guide]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Diesels]]></category>

    <guid isPermaLink="false">http://gas2.org/2008/01/09/biodiesel-guide-7-steps-to-buying-a-diesel/</guid>
    <description><![CDATA[<p><img src="http://go635254.s3.amazonaws.com/gas2/files/2008/01/oldcar240.jpg" alt="biodieselcar" align="left" />Thinking about &#8216;converting&#8217; to <a href="http://gas2.org/2008/04/10/biodiesel-mythbuster-20-twenty-two-biodiesel-myths-dispelled/" title="Biodiesel Mythbuster 2.0: 22 Biodiesel Myths Dispelled">biodiesel</a>?<br />
It&#8217;s not as hard as you think.</p>
<p>This series of posts is intended for readers looking to start using <a href="http://gas2.org/2008/04/10/biodiesel-mythbuster-20-twenty-two-biodiesel-myths-dispelled/">biodiesel</a> by finding an older diesel vehicle, &#8216;converting it&#8217;, and then finding a local fuel source.</p>
<p>Before embarking on a biodiesel adventure, it may be a good idea to determine whether biodiesel is available in your area (it probably is), and most importantly, whether or not it&#8217;s conveniently located. While some of us are willing to go to great lengths to find and use alternatives to petroleum-based fuels, this isn&#8217;t practical for everyone.</p>
<p>For information on how to find biodiesel, see <a href="http://gas2.org/2008/02/25/6-ways-to-find-and-use-biodiesel-anywhere-part-i/" title="Find Biodiesel">6 Ways To Find And Use Biodiesel Anywhere</a>, and for more background you may want to get started with the<a href="http://gas2.org/2008/04/10/biodiesel-mythbuster-20-twenty-two-biodiesel-myths-dispelled/" title="Biodiesel Mythbuster 2.0: 22 Biodiesel Myths Dispelled"> Biodiesel Mythbuster</a>. This post is primarily focused on buying a used diesel, but it should be helpful to anyone interested in using biodiesel.</p>
<h3><u>Finding Your First Biodiesel Car (or Truck)</u></h3>
<p>It&#8217;s important to understand that any diesel engine can run on any blend of biodiesel with no major conversion. In older vehicles, it&#8217;s not a bad idea to change out fuel lines (biodiesel eats rubber over time), but don&#8217;t let anyone convince you that this is difficult or expensive (more on this later). First, let&#8217;s find your first biodiesel vehicle:</p>
<h3>Step 1: Determine Your Needs</h3>
<p><a href="http://gas2.org/2008/01/09/biodiesel-guide-7-steps-to-buying-a-diesel/" class="more-link">Read more of this story &#187;</a></p>
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  <item>
    <title>Largest Green Fleet in the Country</title>
    <link>http://greenbuildingelements.com/2007/12/28/largest-green-fleet-in-the-country/</link>
    <comments>http://greenbuildingelements.com/2007/12/28/largest-green-fleet-in-the-country/#comments</comments>
    <pubDate>Fri, 28 Dec 2007 17:05:12 +0000</pubDate>
    <dc:creator>Keith Rockmael</dc:creator>
    
		<category><![CDATA[Pacific Coast]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Transportation]]></category>

    <guid isPermaLink="false">http://greenbuildingelements.com/2007/12/28/largest-green-fleet-in-the-country/</guid>
    <description><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://greenbuildingelements.com/files/2007/12/hybridbus_sanfrancisco_600.jpg" title="Direct link to file"><img src="http://go635254.s3.amazonaws.com/greenbuildingelements/files/2007/12/hybridbus_sanfrancisco_600.thumbnail.jpg" alt="hybridbus_sanfrancisco_600.jpg" height="114" width="171" /></a>San Franciscans utter a lot about our lovely municipal transit system otherwise known as <a href="http://www.sfmta.com/cms/mhome/home50.htm">MUNI</a> but now they have even more reason to spout off about it. Normally when we hear MUNI coming out of someone’s mouth it usually follows on the heels of “Damn.” Now we can change that utterance to “Green Muni”. Sure, the 71 bus might not come on time but when it does arrive at least it will be running on <a href="http://gas2.org/2008/04/10/biodiesel-mythbuster-20-twenty-two-biodiesel-myths-dispelled/">biodiesel</a>. In fact, San Fran now claims to have the largest green fleet in the nation.Of course, the fleet includes not just MUNI but ambulances and street sweepers as well. The fleet runs on virgin soy oil bought from producers in the Midwest. Sure, we’d like the fuel purchased from somewhere local but hopefully that will come in time.</p>
<p>The environmentally friendlier fuel will hopefully sharply reduce toxic diesel exhaust linked to a higher risk of asthma and premature death. Just last month, Mayor Newsom announced a new project called <a href="http://sfgreasecycle.org/">SFGreasecycle</a>, a program to collect fats and cooking oils from restaurants, at no charge.All of the city&#8217;s 1,500 diesel vehicles power up using the fuel known as B20, a mix of 20 percent soy-based biofuel and 80 percent petroleum diesel fuel, which reduces toxic emissions of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and other pollutants that lead to global warming.</p>
<p>Although B20 marks an improvement, it’s still 80 percent petroleum diesel. We’re looking for <a href="http://www.b100fuel.com/">B100</a>. And we have word of a B100 station opening soon.</p>
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    <title>B100 Biodiesel Approved by Agricultural Giants Case IH, John Deere</title>
    <link>http://gas2.org/2007/12/18/b100-biodiesel-approved-by-agricultural-giant/</link>
    <comments>http://gas2.org/2007/12/18/b100-biodiesel-approved-by-agricultural-giant/#comments</comments>
    <pubDate>Tue, 18 Dec 2007 17:18:32 +0000</pubDate>
    <dc:creator>Clayton B. Cornell</dc:creator>
    
		<category><![CDATA[Agriculture]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Biodiesel]]></category>

    <guid isPermaLink="false">http://gas2.org/2007/12/18/b100-biodiesel-approved-by-agricultural-giant/</guid>
    <description><![CDATA[<p><img src="http://go635254.s3.amazonaws.com/gas2/files/2007/12/johndeere_240.jpg" alt="johndeere_240" align="left" /> If <a title="Biodiesel Mythbuster" href="http://gas2.org/2008/04/10/biodiesel-mythbuster-20-twenty-two-biodiesel-myths-dispelled/">biodiesel </a>suits any demographic best, it&#8217;s farmers. <a href="http://gas2.org/2008/04/10/biodiesel-mythbuster-20-twenty-two-biodiesel-myths-dispelled/">Biodiesel</a> was designed as an emergency fuel, intended to keep farm equipment humming when military conflict cut off oil supplies. That being said, it&#8217;s taken a while for major engine manufacturers to endorse biodiesel blends higher than 20%.  This month <a title="Case IH" href="http://www.caseih.com/home.aspx?RL=ENNA">Case IH</a>, a global leader in heavy-duty agricultural equipment, has broadened its support of biodiesel to include <a title="Biodiesel Mythbuster" href="http://claytonbodiecornell.greenoptions.com/2007/04/05/green-myth-busting-biodiesel/">B100</a>:</p>
<blockquote><p>Farmers now can use B100 on nearly all Case IH medium- to high-horsepower tractors, combines, windrowers, and most self-propelled sprayers and cotton pickers &#8212; so long as proper protocols are followed for engine operation and maintenance.</p>
<p>&#8220;With record prices for crude oil, Case IH committed to exploring better ways to use environmentally-friendly biofuels made from renewable raw materials. We have conducted rigorous laboratory and in-field tests to evaluate how our engines perform with various biodiesel blends,&#8221; says Don Rieser, Case IH director of tractor product management. &#8220;As always, our ultimate goal is greater productivity for our customers. That&#8217;s why we also are committed to educating our dealers and customers on how to get the best results with biodiesel fuels &#8212; especially when using higher-level blends.&#8221;</p></blockquote>
<p><a href="http://gas2.org/2007/12/18/b100-biodiesel-approved-by-agricultural-giant/" class="more-link">Read more of this story &#187;</a></p>
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  <item>
    <title>Green Myth-Busting: Biodiesel</title>
    <link>http://claytonbodiecornell.greenoptions.com/2007/04/05/green-myth-busting-biodiesel/</link>
    <comments>http://claytonbodiecornell.greenoptions.com/2007/04/05/green-myth-busting-biodiesel/#comments</comments>
    <pubDate>Thu, 05 Apr 2007 16:03:55 +0000</pubDate>
    <dc:creator>Clayton B. Cornell</dc:creator>
    
		<category><![CDATA[Biodiesel]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[cleantechnica]]></category>

    <guid isPermaLink="false">http://claytonbodiecornell.greenoptions.com/2007/04/05/green-myth-busting-biodiesel/</guid>
    <description><![CDATA[<p><img src="/files/32/DatsunRear240.jpg" alt="" width="238" height="130" align="right" /></p>
<h3><strong>THIS POST IS OUT OF DATE! See the new version of the </strong><a href="http://gas2.org/2008/04/10/biodiesel-mythbuster-20-twenty-two-biodiesel-myths-dispelled/" target="_blank"><strong>Biodiesel Mythbuster</strong></a><strong> at Gas 2.0!!</strong></h3>
<p><em>Editor&#8217;s note: Our first installment of <a href="/blog/2007/03/29/new_feature_green_myth_busting">Green Myth-Busting</a> comes from GO&#8217;s resident biofuels expert <a href="/blog/clayton_bodie_cornell">Clayton Bodie Cornell</a>.  As I&#8217;ve come to expect from Clayton, he&#8217;s covered the subject very thoroughly!</em></p>
<p>The poster-child for biofuels, <a href="http://gas2.org/2008/04/10/biodiesel-mythbuster-20-twenty-two-biodiesel-myths-dispelled/">biodiesel</a>, is easily the most popular alternative fuel available.  Despite the best efforts of biodiesel enthusiasts, the fuel is still engulfed in a morass of misinformation.  This Myth-Buster is intended to dispel some of the most common myths associated with using biodiesel - the myths that may keep you from using the fuel.</p>
<p>In case you&#8217;re new to the topic, <a title="Biodiesel Wiki Entry" href="/wiki/biodiesel">biodiesel</a> is a renewable fuel made from plant oils and occasionally animal fat.  It can be made from both used and unused sources of oil, such as freshly-pressed soybean oil, or oil left-over from the deep fryer at your local burger joint.  Biodiesel can only be used in diesel engines - no gasoline engines allowed.  Biodiesel can be blended into regular diesel in any amount, such as 20% biodiesel/80% diesel (B20), or used pure 100% (B100, aka &#8216;neat&#8217;). As a disclaimer, this post does not address homemade biodiesel (aka homebrew), which usually does not meet the quality standards of ASTM-certified biodiesel.</p>
<p><strong>MYTH:</strong> <strong>Biodiesel is ethanol (or vice versa).</strong><br />
<strong>FACT:</strong> <a title="Ethanol Wiki Entry" href="/wiki/ethanol">Ethanol</a> and Biodiesel are completely different.  Ethanol is a fermentation product, primarily made from corn grain and sugarcane.  Biodiesel is chemically-converted fat or oil.  Ethanol is blended into gasoline.  Biodiesel is blended into diesel fuel.</p>
<p><strong>MYTH:</strong> <strong>Ethanol is better than biodiesel.</strong><br />
<strong>FACT: </strong>We shouldn&#8217;t bicker over this - biodiesel has clear environmental, energetic, and sustainability advantages over corn-grain ethanol.  Read on.<!--break--></p>
<p><strong>MYTH:</strong> <strong>You must convert your vehicle to run biodiesel.</strong><br />
<strong>FACT:</strong> Let me describe the conversion process:  Drive to the nearest biodiesel pump, put the spout in the side of the car, and pump the biodiesel into your fuel tank (provided it&#8217;s diesel).  That&#8217;s it.  You can use biodiesel in any diesel engine without modification.  In fact, if you own a diesel vehicle you can fill it up today with 100% biodiesel (B100) and should experience no problems whatsoever.  Let me repeat this:  you can use ANY amount of biodiesel, from B2 to B100, in a diesel engine with NO modification to the engine.  This myth is commonly perpetuated by the hypothetical possibility that biodiesel will clean out diesel sludge that has accumulated in older fuel lines.  If you drive an old diesel vehicle, this hypothetically could happen and your fuel filter could subsequently clog.  I&#8217;ve never actually heard of this happening and can easily be avoided by switching out the fuel filter after a few tanks of biodiesel (take it to your local Jiffy Lube). My 25 year old Datsun pickup truck did just fine when I switched to B100.</p>
<p><strong>MYTH:</strong> <strong>You have to be a diesel mechanic to use biodiesel.</strong><br />
<strong>FACT:</strong> No, all you have to do fill up with a different fuel, just like switching between regular and premium.</p>
<p><strong>MYTH:  Biodiesel will wreck your engine.<br />
FACT: </strong>Nope. This is completely false.  There have been reports of biodiesel damaging gasoline engines, and that&#8217;s why some mechanics rail against using the fuel - they&#8217;ve had to deal with these hapless folks, but we already covered that.  Engine manufacturers are especially cautious about new fuels, but some of biggest names in the diesel world (<a title="Cummings Approves B20" href="http://www.greencarcongress.com/2007/03/cummins_approve.html">like Cummings</a>) have cleared B20 from doing any harm. Biodiesel and diesel fuel are similar in chemical structure and have similar properties, so they burn similarly in diesel engines.  But biodiesel has some specific advantages. Biodiesel adds significant lubricity to the fuel (something that sulfur formally did in diesel fuel, but has since been reduced, hence low-sulfur diesel), reducing engine wear and reportedly extending engine life.  Biodiesel has a higher cetane number (higher ignitability) and combusts more completely.  Biodiesel is also a good solvent and will clean out diesel fuel residue left in the fuel tank and lines.  Over time, because it&#8217;s such a good solvent, biodiesel can degrade rubber fuel lines and gaskets. Most post-1990 vehicles don&#8217;t have rubber lines and gaskets, but some older vehicles do.  I have driven for a year now on B100 and B50 with no visible deterioration of my rubber fuel lines.</p>
<p><strong>MYTH:  Biodiesel will cause a noticeable power decrease.</strong><br />
<strong>FACT:</strong> Biodiesel contains about 8% less energy per gallon than petroleum diesel.  For someone using B20, this means a 1-2% loss in power, torque, and fuel efficiency. To put things into perspective, that&#8217;s about a 2 mph difference on the freeway at 55.  Millions of miles of onroad tests (aka trucking) have shown that B20 and diesel are practically indistinguishable.   B100 users may notice a slight drop in fuel mileage, but torque and power are usually comparable.  I have noticed a 1-3 mpg drop in fuel efficiency running B100.  As an FYI, biodiesel has the highest BTU (energy) content of any alternative fuel (falling somewhere between diesel #1 and #2).<br />
<strong><br />
MYTH:  Biodiesel use will void your warranty.</strong><br />
<strong>FACT:</strong> Some manufacturers have approached biodiesel cautiously, but now almost everyone recognizes B20 as a viable fuel, and it should not void warranties.  According to the National Biodiesel Board (<a title="National Biodiesel Board" href="http://www.biodiesel.org/">NBB</a>), &#8220;The use of biodiesel in existing diesel engines does not void parts and materials workmanship warranties of any major US engine manufacturer.&#8221; Apparently, Federal law prohibits the voiding of a warranty just because biodiesel was used - it must be the cause of the damage. Warranties generally don&#8217;t cover problems caused by external sources, i.e. bad fuel, but can&#8217;t be voided if the problem was unrelated (see NREL&#8217;s Biodiesel Handling and Use Guidelines p. 53). Most manufacturers support B5 or B20, but that doesn&#8217;t mean they prohibit higher blends.  Double-check with your manufacturer. I know some manufacturers haveexplicitly stated they won&#8217;t support higher biodiesel blends.<br />
<strong><br />
MYTH:  Biodiesel doesn&#8217;t work in cold weather.</strong><br />
<strong>FACT: </strong>Ok, so maybe you read my personal experience with biodiesel in cold weather [<a title="A Personal Experience with Frozon Biodiesel" href="/blog/2007/01/17/cold_flow_a_firsthand_experience_with_frozen_biodiesel">post</a>] - let me reiterate that operator error led to the breakdown.  It&#8217;s true that biodiesel clouds up (starts to freeze) at higher temperatures when compared to regular diesel, and therefore it&#8217;s important to use a lower blend of biodiesel in the winter.  B100 can be used down to about 40 degrees F, B50 between 20-40 degrees F, and B20 below that.  Remember that the cold-flow properties (as they&#8217;re called) vary depending on what the biodiesel is made from (feedstocks with more saturated fat, like coconut oil or animal fat tend to freeze earlier).  Local producers should be able to give you more information about this, though most biodiesel you will find is going to be good ol&#8217; soy biodiesel.  I typically use B100 between March and November, then switch to B50 for the winter, unless I plan on hitting much colder temperatures (I mean anything approaching 0 F).</p>
<p><strong>MYTH:  Biodiesel is hard to find.</strong><br />
<strong>FACT:</strong> Biodiesel is likely to be readily available in your area.  The first thing is to check is if there&#8217;s a retail pumping station nearby.  Try the National Biodiesel Board&#8217;s Station <a href="http://www.biodiesel.org/buyingbiodiesel/retailfuelingsites/default.shtm">locator map</a>, or search by city on the National Renewable Energy Laboratory&#8217;s <a href="http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/infrastructure/locator.html">website</a>.  If you can&#8217;t find a station, there may be a <a href="http://www.biodieselamerica.org/where_buy_biodiesel">biodiesel cooperative</a> in the area that resells wholesale fuel.  Biodiesel is the most widely available renewable fuel and can be found in most major metropolitan areas.</p>
<p><strong>MYTH:  Biodiesel is too expensive.</strong><br />
<strong>FACT:</strong> Biodiesel generally costs around $2.80 to $3.30/gallon.   Last time I checked, regular gasoline in some parts of California was $3.70/gallon!  Biodiesel is nearly price competitive with premium gasoline, and certainly won&#8217;t seem that expensive in the middle of summer.</p>
<p><strong>MYTH:  Biodiesel requires more energy to produce than is provided by the fuel.</strong><br />
<strong>FACT: </strong>The vast majority of literature out there shows a positive energy balance, meaning that more energy is produced in the fuel than is used to grow the crop, press the seeds, process the oil into biodiesel, and distribute the product.  The most common numbers I&#8217;ve seen say about 2-3x more energy is produced, or 1 unit of energy in equals 2-3 units of energy out.  [don't leave it to me, see for yourself: (<a title="Minnesota Study" href="http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/abstract/0604600103v1">1</a>), (<a title="Biodiesel Bus" href="http://www.nrel.gov/docs/legosti/fy98/24089.pdf">2</a>)]. Compare this to corn-grain ethanol, which optimistically produces 25% more energy than is put into it (1 unit in equals 1.25 units out).<br />
<strong><br />
MYTH:  Biodiesel&#8217;s increases net emissions when the entire production process is taken into account (farming, distribution, etc).</strong><br />
FACT:  According to the University of Minnesota in 2006 (<a href="http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/abstract/0604600103v1">1</a>), the production and use of soybean biodiesel decreases life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 41% over regular diesel, and also decreases other pollutants like Carbon monoxide, PM10, and SOx.  To compare, the life-cycle of corn-grain ethanol reduces GHG emissions by 12% and actually increases emissions of five major pollutants.</p>
<p><strong>MYTH:  Biodiesel causes deforestation of the rain forest.</strong><br />
<strong>FACT:</strong> You may have read my posts on biodiesel destroying the Brazilian and Malaysian rain forests.  What&#8217;s true there is not true in the United States.  The US already produces a great deal of biodiesel from domestically-grown soybeans.  But don&#8217;t forget that biodiesel can be made from many other feedstocks, like rapeseed (Canola) and waste-vegetable oil (WVO).  In some areas, WVO is the primary source for making biodiesel.  Like any other crops, these can be grown sustainably or unsustainably.</p>
<p><strong>MYTH:</strong> <strong>Biodiesel exhaust smells bad.</strong><br />
<strong>FACT:</strong> Well, this one is personal preference.  I have had people tell me that they think the smell is disgusting (as if they would prefer diesel exhaust).  I think B100 exhaust smells great.  Sort of like french fries but somehow&#8230;cleaner, and not as potentially nauseating.  One thing is certain:  once you know what it smells like you&#8217;ll grin from ear to ear whenever you catch a whiff.</p>
<p><strong>MYTH:</strong> <strong>Biodiesel exhaust produces more harmful emissions than diesel.</strong><br />
<strong>FACT:</strong> Biodiesel is the only alternative fuel that has completed all the testing requirements of the Clean Air Act.  Biodiesel contains oxygen and burns more completely than diesel fuel, hence reduced emissions.  All major pollutants are reduced dramatically in biodiesel exhaust (most of them at least 50% for B100), except one (NOx), and that&#8217;s only for blends over B20 (see my post on the subject).  B20 reduces air toxics (the most damaging pollutants for human health) by 20-40%, while B100 reduces them by as much as 90%.  Sulfur oxides and sulfates (major contributors to acid rain) are almost completely eliminated.  The only caveat is that nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions can increase up to 10% with B100.  If you would like to evaluate this for yourself, see the National Biodiesel Board&#8217;s <a title="NBB Emission Fact Sheet" href="http://www.biodiesel.org/pdf_files/fuelfactsheets/emissions.pdf">emissions fact sheet</a>.  New diesel technology has the potential to <a href="http://www.greencarcongress.com/2006/12/new_ace_diesel_.html">eliminate this problem</a>.</p>
<p><strong>MYTH:</strong> <strong>Diesel engines are more polluting than gasoline engines, so selling my car and buying a diesel is a bad idea.</strong><br />
<strong>FACT:</strong> It&#8217;s true that traditional diesel engines are 10-100x more polluting than their gasoline counterparts.  New model diesel engines, however, are more efficient and have advanced catalytic converters allowing them to approach the emissions ofcomparable gasoline models. When combined with biodiesel newer engines should offer significant emissions reductions.  Additionally, older diesels are currently in use and will continue to be used (due to long engine life).  Switching these vehicles to biodiesel still provides tangible benefits.  While local air pollution is an important consideration, so are greenhouse gas emissions. Biodiesel offers a significant reduction in CO2 emissions.</p>
<p><strong>MYTH:</strong> <strong>Biodiesel is only used by crazy hippies and <a title="BioWillie" href="http://www.biowillieusa.com/">Willie Nelson</a>.</strong><br />
<strong>FACT:</strong> Tell that to the Military, Department of Defense, Postal Service, National Park Service, city governments and school districts across the country, and a whole lot of truckers and farmers who all use and promote biodiesel.<br />
That should be enough information to get you started.  The first time you use biodiesel can be a thrilling experience, and I highly recommend it.  Clearly, I can&#8217;t cover every issue in this post, but don&#8217;t stop here. Take a look at the following resources for more information:</p>
<p><a href="http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_link.html">Journey To Forever&#8217;s Biodiesel resources page</a> (most comprehensive)<br />
<a href="http://www.biodiesel.org/">National Biodiesel Board</a> (The main industry group)<br />
<a href="http://www.nrel.gov/vehiclesandfuels/npbf/">National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) - Non-petroleum Based Fuels</a><br />
<a href="http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/biodiesel.html">National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service</a> - Biodiesel-A Primer</p>
<p><strong>Studies:</strong></p>
<p>(1)   		 		 		Environmental, economic, and energetic costs and benefits of biodiesel and ethanol biofuels<br />
Jason Hill, Erik Nelson, David Tilman, Stephen Polasky, and Douglas Tiffany. PNAS published July 12, 2006, 10.1073/pnas.0604600103</p>
<p>(2)   Sheehan et al. May 1998. A Life Cycle Inventory of Biodiesel and Petroleum Diesel for Use in an Urban Bus. NREL/SR-580-24089.</p>
<p>Did I forget something?  Let me know and I might be able to expand this list.</p>
<p><em><strong>Know of a green myth that needs dispelling?  Heard something about green living that doesn&#8217;t seem quite right? <a href="mailto:jeff@greenoptions.com">Pass it along</a>, and we may feature it on Green Myth-Busting.</strong></em></p>
<p><em>Photo Credit:  Clayton B. Cornell (That&#8217;s his truck.)</em></p>
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