BIODIESEL PRODUCTS: |
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Biodiesel Solutions Biodiesel Solutions is home to the “Fuelmeister,” a machine that looks like an overgrown Mr. Coffee Maker – but used instead for making biodiesel. The device, which retails for just under $3,000, makes biodiesel fuel out of new or used vegetable oil in the comfort and relative safety of your own garage. Biodiesel Solutions also offers an array of biodiesel making-related products such as tank heaters, fuel pumps, and, of course, bigger Fuelmeisters. |
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Real Goods Real Goods began as a company selling solar power components in the 1970s to northern California’s back-to-the-landers. Today, the company offers “products for an ecologically sustainable future” which include its trusty solar power systems as well as a growing array of energy efficient lights, air and water purification devices, and emergency preparedness gadgets. Our favorite Real Goods product? The Solar Mosquito Guard. Seriously, it works. |
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BIODIESEL WORKSHOPS & EDUCATION: |
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The Solar Living Institute Founded in 1992, The Solar Living Institute offers courses in renewable energy (including biodiesel courses), maintains a 12 acre sustainable demonstration center in Hopland, CA (about 2.5 hours north of San Francisco), hosts the annual SolFest celebration and offers a year-round intern program. Of particular interest is their SolFest celebration, which draws thousands of people from around the world and speakers such as Ben & Jerry’s Founder Ben Cohen, Daryl Hannah and, (surprise) Josh Tickell. |
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Biodiesel Education at Iowa State University While the sound of “Moscow, Idaho” doesn’t exactly inspire images of sandy beaches and sunshine, the Biomass Energy Conversion Center (BECON) located there is the nations leading biodiesel demonstration and educational tool. If you’re serious about getting into the business of biodiesel, Iowa State University’s biodiesel course is a must. This course is taught by a group of researchers headed by Dr. Jon Van Gerpen, one of the leading biodiesel scientists. You can see Van Gerpen and get a taste of his course in an informative video (located at the bottom of the homepage of the site). |
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Piedmont Biofuels If you live in or around the Research Triangle of North Carolina and you are currently, or might have ever been, addicted to biodiesel, then join Piedmont Biofuels. They offer a 12-step “biodiesel addiction recovery course.” Just kidding, but only just. This is arguably one of the most dedicated, organized biodiesel co-ops in the nation. Largely guided by entrepreneur and author Lyle Estill, mechanic Rachel Burton (a.k.a. “The Wrench Wench”), and engineer Leif Forer, this group has pioneered the construction of a full-scale biodiesel production facility, biodiesel consulting, mobile filling trucks and a workable model for other biodiesel co-ops. They also offer biodiesel education and workshops. |
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Solar Energy International (SEI) If you dream of living away from the hubbub of the city but you’re not into chopping firewood or trapping mink, SEI might be the place for you. They teach year-round workshops on the installation of photovoltaic (PV) solar power systems, wind power systems, strawbale construction, solar home design, and alternative fuels (including biodiesel). They offer programs for energy in the developing world, programs exclusively for women, and programs for solar in schools. They even offer an annual renewable energy youth camp for Native American and disadvantaged youth. And their location – Carbondale, Colorado, is a little slice of heaven. |
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BIODIESEL COMPATIBLE VEHICLES: |
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BioFuel Oasis BioFuel Oasis is perhaps the first “women/worker-owned and operated” biodiesel fuel co-operative in the world. It is a unique blend of a gas station and a local activist center. Owned and operated by five women and partially owned by some of its customers, the BioFuel Oasis store is adorned with a couch, recycled footwear for sale and a copy of the Declaration of Independence (right next to Willie Nelson’s magic-markered signature). They also offer workshops on how to care for your biodiesel-powered car. If you’re in the Bay Area, stop by and get the divas of biodiesel to fill ‘er up, but be sure to check their hours of operation before hand. |
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Fred’s TDI Club OK Volkswagen fans, strap on your VW hats, don those cool VW shirts and get ready for, you’ve got it – a fan club for owners of VW TDI vehicles! (the new-ish breed of VW diesels). Here you’ll find a wealth of people who are obsessed, err, correction, very enthusiastic about every part of their VW TDI. The site includes a well-maintained discussion forum and even has a series of free on-line how-to videos. TDI engine tune up, anyone? |
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BIODIESEL RESOURCES: |
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The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) The NBB serves as the biodiesel industry’s regulatory group, which means that it represents biodiesel to the automakers, the fuel industry and at times, the government. All biodiesel producers in the United States become members of the National Biodiesel Board, which offers a fuel quality accreditation program. Their web site has the most comprehensive library of reports on biodiesel (most of which are available for download in Adobe Acrobat format). The NBB also hosts the ever important Biodiesel Conference and Expo http://www.biodieselconference.org |
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Biodiesel Magazine Fashion aficionados have Vogue. News junkies have Time. Geeks have Wired. And now, those poor souls bitten by the biodiesel bug can finally immerse themselves in the glossy pages of, you guessed it, Biodiesel Magazine. While primarily aimed at the biodiesel industry (let’s face it, they have to sell ads to someone), the magazine covers a variety of topics from biodiesel in other countries to documentary filmmakers who have run up their credit cards to make films on biodiesel (seriously folks, the biodiesel documentary film is almost done). |
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The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Based in Golden, CO, NREL is the primary research facility of the Department of Energy (DOE) Office for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Created during America’s brief flirtation with energy independence in the wake of the 1970s oil shocks, NREL tests and researches solar, wind, alternative fuels (including biodiesel), geothermal, energy efficiency and efficient buildings. As an office of the DOE, much of the research that makes up the backbone of official knowledge on renewable energy comes from NREL. |
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BiodieselNow.com Admit it. You want it and you don’t want to wait. Finally, you too can join the ranks of folks who want biodiesel – now. BidoieselNow.com is run by Michael Briggs of the University of New Hampshire – one of the leading proponents of algae as a potential biodiesel feedstock. It contains a large on-line discussion forum, a very long list of links and some nifty bio-gear (a.k.a. “bio-bling”). One of the site’s best features is its area specific forum where you can find out if there is anyone else in Tuba City, Arizona interested in biodiesel. |
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FARMING BIODIESEL: |
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Willie Nelson’s Biodiesel Somebody recently asked Willie Nelson when he was going to retire. He responded, “Retire from what? All I do is sing and play golf.” But the beloved country music singer certainly isn’t resting on his laurels. He recently started a biodiesel company that, in partnership with Carl’s Corner, a truck stop in Texas that is incorporated as a town, sells his own brand of the eco fuel. “BioWillie,” is now being used by truckers who come from all corners of the country to fill up – the fuel is part of a larger partnership with farmers. To see their customers’ dedication, click on the ‘customers’ tab and check out the paint job on the Ford Pickup, adorned with stickers warning: “Don’t Touch My Willie.” (Apparently things are different in Texas). |
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BE Bio-Energy Sandwiched between the aptly named Big Desert and Little Desert of Australia’s Victorian Outback is the Wimmera. It’s a place where men are men and sheep are highly valued for their … wool. (Wool comes from sheep, right?) Anyway, it’s beautiful and desolate. And it’s home to some of the toughest farmers in the world among them, Steven Hobbs. Battling the disintegration of rural Australia as well as the Australian government, Hobbs has re-created his traditional wheat, barley and livestock farm into an experiment in energy sustainability through the use of (literally) home-grown biodiesel. Read Steve’s inspirational personal story and his cool news articles. He also sells a gnarly oilseed press for farmers who wish to follow suit. |
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ORGANIZATIONS & RELATED GROUPS: |
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Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) NRDC leverages its scientists, attorneys and over one million members across the United States to create environmental laws that mandate the protection of animals, plants, and humans. Its work ranges from studying the effects of coalmines on local ecosystems to creating guidelines that mandate lower mercury levels for market fish. The NRDC has been instrumental in cataloging the ill effects of diesel exhaust on human health. It is especially critical of the use of diesel fuel in America’s school buses, where it cites coloration between the inhalation of diesel exhaust and asthma. |
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Post Carbon Institute If you’re like most people, you enjoy the freedom to drive, you have a house that relies on electricity and heat from natural gas and most of the food you eat comes from far away. But according to the top geophysicists on the planet, all of that will soon come to a screeching halt because of something called “Peak Oil.” In the face of such a bleak prediction from the folks who used to find black gold for ExxonMobil shines a glimmer of hope: right now, in a solar-powered house somewhere near you, people are planning for the transition from oil to other forms of energy. Founded by author Julian Darley, the Post Carbon Institute connects people who would prefer not to take a dig-hole-in-sand-insert-head approach to energy planning with news, current events and each other. Who knows, maybe the 800,000 people who visited the Post Carbon Institute’s media site last year can convince congress to pass a real energy bill? |
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Apollo Alliance Borrowing from the focused fervor created by President John F. Kennedy’s challenge to the nation to put a man on the moon within a decade, the Apollo Alliance for Good Jobs and Clean Energy aspires to a similarly ambitious, but necessary goal: “Three Million New Jobs. Freedom From Foreign Oil.” Backed by a diverse range of groups and individuals, the Alliance focuses on real world change through local and federal action. It has a ten-point plan that leverages the power of efficiency, job creation and renewable energy. Apart from devoting an entire point of the plan to building a hydrogen economy (Hey Arnold – what’s up with that $100 million we spent on California’s hydrogen highway?), it is very well structured. We give the Apollo Alliance 9 out of 10 stars. |
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Set America Free What do the former director of the CIA, a former Colonel, the former U.S. Secretary of Energy and a handful of Middle East policy experts have in common? A) They’re co-writers on the Fox cartoon “American Dad,” B) They’ve all visited the secret alien power station located underneath Dubai or C) They all want to cut dependence on foreign oil and secure America. Answer: C. This combination of former military brass, high level think-tankers and former White House movers and shakers has written one of the most poignant, powerful documents on freeing our country from foreign oil. It’s called “Open Letter to the American People,” and should be required reading for every sixth grader (and congressperson). |
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The Virtual March to Stop Global Warming Let’s face it: marching isn’t what it used to be. Sore feet, water cannons and poor media coverage have dampened an otherwise effective way of getting the attention of our national leaders. Enter the “Virtual March,” a 21st century means of activating people around an issue. Founded by Laurie David, wife of comedian Larry David, this site has amassed about a quarter of a million “marchers” as well as numerous politicians. Think they’re a bunch of liberals? Think again. Some of the most prominent marchers are our Christian leaders. God bless stopglobalwarming.org and may he help them accomplish their mission! |
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