Ben Caire, vice president of engineering for United Biofuel, Inc. in Manchester Township , referred to algae-derived biodiesel fuel as the holy grail for bio-fuel producers during a panel discussion tonight at Martin Library.

Could the answer be in a place we didn't think to look...Algae is the original oil producer on planet earth... Algae can double it's mass every few hours...The process compresses a 150 million year process into 3 days, states this video from the algae-derived biodiesel fuel company Solazyme

Successful powering a factory-standard automobile for long distances under typical driving conditions has been completed. The car and fuel will make their public debuts at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival.

More information.
prnewswire.com

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Two studies published this week suggest that almost all bio-fuels cause more greenhouse gas emissions than conventional fuels if the full emissions costs of production are taken into account.

By planting bio-fuel crops, proponents hope to harvest the benefits of the carbon soaked up as the plants grow to offset the carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted when the resulting fuel is burned. According to both studies that depends on what was planted before the bio-crop was planted.

Both rain forests destroyed to produce bio-crops and grassland in the United States do a better job of scrubbing carbon than the crops they replace. Furthermore, the displacement of food crops results in more land being tilled to make up for lost food production pulling natural land out of the loop. If arid land is used that normally doesn't support plant life there is a plus.

One study -- written by a group of researchers from Princeton University, Woods Hole Research Center and Iowa State University along with an agriculture consultant -- concluded that over 30 years, use of traditional corn-based ethanol would produce twice as much greenhouse gas emissions as regular gasoline.

Another analysis, written by a Nature Conservancy scientist along with University of Minnesota researchers, found that converting rainforests, peatlands, savannas or grasslands in Southeast Asia and Latin America to produce biofuels will increase global warming pollution for decades, if not centuries. washingtonpost.com

Nature Conservancy study

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Martin Library will host an environmental panel discussion on February 21 featuring:

I was interviewed, via keybord of course, since I will be one of the moderators. Below is the text of the interview:

5. In your opinion, how does the level of environmental awareness in York County compare to that of other similar-sized communities?

York is a land of plenty. We have enjoyed low population congestion and are blessed with resources. California is tuned into air pollution because congestion and climate patterns demanded action. The desert southwest is tuned into water supply because of the lack of it. Other than the Codorus Creek, a stray landfill and an occasional bad ozone day, York County generally has not been confronted in the face with major environmental issues. High oil prices, wars and global cries that we need to act have brought these concerns home to York.

6. What do you believe the typical Yorker can do to improve the environment?

Use less to do more. Nothing will lower pollution, lower oil prices, and stretch resources more than choosing to use less through product choice and lifestyle. This concept runs contrary to our financial model that, up until now, has promoted and thrived on people using more energy.

7. As editor of Greenmesh.com, what do you see as the most promising alternative to oil-based energy?

Experimenting with many alternatives is the best was to transition away from an oil based economy. It takes time to understand the repercussions of any form of energy production. Solar collection is the lowest impacting source of alternative energy, but in places like Pennsylvania, solar isn’t practical most of the time. We have already experienced the implications of diving head first into corn-based ethanol by higher food and feed prices.

All methods of energy production have environmental implications and placing all our eggs in one basket gives power to a new monopoly and will accentuate any negative effects of pushing a single solution of energy production....

Posted in All posts from the start Biodiesel Electric Environment Ethanol Human Power Hybrid Hydrogen Innovation Motorcycles Oil Machine/politics Public Transportation Solar Water Power Wind Power

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The car was on a clean technology tour sponsored by the Diesel Technology Forum.

Honda expects to bring the clean-diesel car to the U.S. by 2010. It gets 62.8 miles a gallon on the highway, but otherwise looks and feels like a regular Accord. At that mileage level, the car is about as "clean" as a new Toyota Prius. But if you run it on biodiesel, a form of diesel made from vegetable oil or animal fat, it would be even cleaner than a Prius (Priuses get 60 in the city) 4/07. [actually the new EPA sticker shows 48 mpg City/45 mpg Highway]cnet

The passing of the recent energy bill, with fuel efficiency requirements, will push clean diesel into the spotlight, particularly with heavier vehicle applications.

Diesel is an energy-dense fuel compared to gasoline – delivering both more miles per gallon (20-40 percent more) and lower emissions of greenhouse gases (10-20 percent less). Automotive forecasters at JD Power & Associates and the U.S. Department of Energy predict that clean diesel cars could account for 10-15 percent of all new vehicle sales by 2015, up from just over 3 percent today. dieselforum

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Unlike the evolution of the Humvee to Hummer, the civilian diesel motorcycle products from HDT will offer the consumer with a way to squeeze fuel.

The U.S. military wanted to streamline their fuel needs. Instead of multiple fuels for different vehicles they wanted to economize the distribution process with one fuel.

The problem is that a diesel Humvee and a motorcycle had to run on the same fuel and no domestic manufacturer wanted to produce a diesel motorcycle. A group of small manufactures bid on the project and Hayes Diversified Technologies of Hesperia, CA won.

The 4-Stroke, IDI, single cylinder, liquid cooled diesel motorcycle is rated at 96 mpg. Two models have been slated for civilian production but military demand has been so great that the civilian models have been postponed.

The civilian D650A1 Bulldog has a projected dry weight of less than 400 pounds and the motorcycle is expected to have more than 600 miles of range on a tank of diesel, achieving in excess of 100 mpg.

Biofuel Diesel Motorcycle Wins At Bonneville Speed Trials (11/01/07)

Unlike any other machine at Bonneville, HDT’s diesel bike is capable of fording a 24-in. stream, and climbing or descending a 60 percent grade while operating on any version of diesel, kerosene or jet fuel. The HDT diesel bikes operated on B20 biodiesel (20 percent soybean, vegetable oil and other agricultural components; 80 percent petroleum diesel).

Ironically, consumers will have to wait for military action to wind down in the Middle East before that can conserve oil with a 100 mpg motorcycle.

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The energy bill fell flat in the Senate Friday after the house passed it. The White House issued a statement saying,

"“Their proposal would raise taxes and increase energy prices for Americans. That is a misguided approach and if it made it to the president’s desk, he would veto it.” nyt.com

The bill is more of a panic reaction by a few well intentioned to a dire situation than a solution.

Well true, the bill would have increased the price of energy for Americans because a majority of the taxes were on oil companies that would have passed the cost along to consumers; before the money taken away from consumers could catch up by creating competition with alternative energy. Also people affected by feed prices like cattleman lined up not liking it because the huge ethanol mandate would push the price of feed up squeezing them against consumers.

The love for corn based ethanol is mind boggling requiring production of ethanol and other bio fuels, from about 5 billion gallons a year of bad science and impact of the food supply today to 36 billion gallons of the same and yet to be discovered methods of production by 2022.

Old school oil wants to clutch it's money as long as possible and government is here to empower status quo economic highways. Meanwhile, no one with power is enough of a hero to see the big picture and force change. The planet continues to die.

Nothing is going to get done here until consumers start using some things, stop using others and conserving what we must use but don't want. The great part about capitalism is that there has to be a market for something to gain power. Ultimately, an educated consumer holds all the power.

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I am fascinated with the Royal-Enfield Bullet diesel. The 100+ mpg one cylinder diesel motorcycle, from a 50 year old design, is still manufactured in India and is probably the sole transportation for some families there.

The Diesel Bullet reminds me of just what North American workers compete with in a global economy and just how lean the competition operates.

The Diesel Bullet is a lean machine that some in more economically evolved nations are using as a platform to innovate and satisfy their own desire for energy independence.

Riding on Salad Oil - A guy in Germany, where over 50% of the new cars registered are efficient clean diesel technology, has retrofitted an old stripped Enfield with a Yanmar L100 diesel engine (Chinese clone) engine. He runs diesel, makes biodiesel and even uses salad oil getting a (diesel/price) equivalent of 500 mpg.

Harold Benich of Albion, Pa., put his Harley-Davidson Fat Boy motorcycle on a diet by retrofitting it with a diesel and burning soy bean oil, getting over 100 mpg. americanprofile.com

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Energy independence is about innovation and vision rather than technology and confusion.

Jay’s garage is going green. Like most of us, Jay Leno has been taking a hard look at his footprint on the planet. So in a long-term project with Popular Mechanics, Jay will be upgrading his nearly 20,000-sq.-ft. garage with the latest environmentally friendly shop equipment and products.

Over the next year, we’ll work with Jay and expert consultants in a variety of fields to analyze the garage’s energy usage and come up with some alternative energy systems. Jay not only wants to reduce his energy needs but maybe even help the garage become a self-sufficient power station. popularmechanics.com/greengarage

Some of the articles:

Converting a 19th century, single-cylinder steam engine from Pennsylvania to natural gas to make electricity.
Jay Leno Goes Green with Time-Tested Steam

A three-wheeled car built by a Minnesota 17 year-old in the 1930's using an Indian motorcycle engine that's been running for 70 years. Bob Shotwell's father told him that if you want a car than you have to build one. He did and drove "Philbert the Puddle Jumper" 6000-plus-mile jaunt around the country. Reminds me of my grandfather, Alfred.
Jay Remembers the Three-Wheeled Car

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I followed a Google ad off of greenmesh for Diesel Secret Energy fuel (DSE). The product boasts that it is better than bio-diesel, doesn't utilize the dangerous chemicals during manufacture involving a catalyst and an alcohol (usually Methanol) which could blow up the garage of a home brewer.

The website says that it uses technology of the original technology of the Germans who invented the diesel claiming DSE product is not a biodiesel, and that it is a "true biodiesel." The process basically involves using used restaurant oil, DSE additive, and a mixer and costs 46 cents a gallon to produce.

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Turning to food based biofuel sources like corn and soy as a replacement for fossil fuel is already resulting in higher prices of those commodities greenmesh 3/29/07.

Although the ability for us to turn surplus food into gas should be part of an overall energy evolution, historically individuals in our market will seize on any idea that appears to make quick profit and ignore the long term effects for the rest of us.

The United States is no longer a major exporter of goods. We have U.S. corporations that do business on a global scale, but the advantage of using foreign labor and the demand for products in those countries (as simple countries become more complex) is a far more lucrative market than the U.S. Imports of oil (to feed our heavily developed, complex lifestyle) and goods (because our labor has gotten so expensive because of our lifestyle) exceeds our exports.

Food is our national security wild card.

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