Texas biodiesel maker uses beef tallow

Although most biodiesel in the U.S. starts out as soybeans, that’s not the case with biodiesel coming from the Direct Fuels plant just outside of Dallas in Euless, Texas. Biodiesel Operations Director Mark Farrer explains that beef tallow, a plentiful commodity in Texas cattle country, is the preferred feed stock here. Allowed to come to room temperature, tallow firms up, so it’s better suited to the normally warmer climate of north Texas. Farrer concedes that the plant doesn’t make a big dent in the Texas tallow supply, but when it’s running at capacity, it’s capable of producing ten million gallons of biodiesel annually.

AUDIO: Mark Farrer (2 min. MP3)

Biodiesel has fans at the American Lung Association

As a renewable fuel, biodiesel counts among its friends environmentalists, farmers and people who get a kick out of the U.S. producing a fuel that displaces imported oil. Adding to the kind words is John DeRosa with the American Lung Association. He’s all for increasing blend rates and usage of biodiesel because of the demonstrated reduction in emissions. He says fine particulate matter, which is more plentiful in fossil fuels, can aggravate lung ailments including asthma in kids. The more biodiesel used, the better, according to John DeRosa.

AUDIO: John DeRosa (2 min. MP3)

Biodiesel is energy and job security

National Biodiesel Board Vice Chairman Gary Haer has been a believer in the renewable fuel since the first time he ever heard of it in 1993. The reasons he’s a fan have not changed all that much. First of all, Haer says it’s part of the answer for energy security. It’s domestically produced and means that much less petroleum has to be imported. Secondly, it provides “green collar” jobs that are more important today than they ever were. The fact that GM and Ford are now standing behind a 20 percent blend of biodiesel to fuel their trucks Haer interprets as an affirmation of biodiesel becoming a “main stream” fuel.

AUDIO: Gary Haer (3 min. MP3)

Ford’s 6.7 liter diesel fine with B20

The gleaming blue Ford truck parked by a biodiesel pump sports a shiny bold emblem on the left door stating plainly that the machine takes any biodiesel blend up to 20 percent. That particular truck is so new, Brien Fulton, a diesel drive train expert for Ford, couldn’t let anyone drive or even ride in the truck as per orders from higher-ups at Ford. But he’s more than happy to talk about it. “It’s a huge step for Ford Motor Company,” he told Brownfield, “now with this new engine, we have a fully-approved engine that can operate on B20.”

AUDIO: Brien Fulton (3 min. MP3)

GM announces B20-capable equipment

The National Biodiesel Conference began with an announcement from General Motors that the company will begin in June producing 2011 trucks capable of running on B20, the 20 percent biodiesel, 80 percent petroleum diesel blend. In making the announcement, GM Regional Communications Manager Craig Eppling told Brownfield the company already has 4 million E-85 ethanol-capable vehicles on the road and their commitment to biofuels made production of the B20 capable pick-ups a natural progression. The trucks are already capable of burning a five percent biodiesel blend and B20, “is where the industry’s heading,” said Eppling, behind the wheel of one the GM trucks.

AUDIO: Craig Eppling (3 min. MP3)

Irving, Texas big on biodiesel

Ramiro Lopez did such a good job of promoting biodiesel usage in Dallas, that when retired, the nearby city of Irving put him to work doing the same for them. In charge of fleet and fuels for Irving, Texas, Lopez speaks with pride aboard a bus that burns a mixture of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent petroleum diesel fuel. After implementing a program in 2002 to get Dallas running on renewable biodiesel, Lopez did the same two years ago for Irving, “because I’m a strong believer in being able to be sustainable,” he tells Brownfield. “Biodiesel will help the whole country.”

AUDIO: Ramiro Lopez (3 min. MP3)

Robinson: conservation still at historic high

The President of the National Association of Conservation Districts says members will make do with the federal funds available.

As conservation district staff and volunteers gathered in Orlando this week, President Obama proposed sweeping budget changes, including reducing what Congress has authorized for federal conservation programs.

NACD President Steve Robinson says the organization will keep the option open of going back to Congress to try to restore the numbers, but so far, any concerns that he has stop short of sounding like complaining. Read more

Becoming the powerhouse in conservation

For Jeff Eisenberg, the first day on the job as CEO of the NACD was Monday, February 1, which was also the first day of the association’s annual meeting in Orlando, Florida. But already Eisenberg says he’s been impressed, in fact Eisenberg tells Brownfield he believes NACD can be the powerhouse conservation organization in the country.

AUDIO: Jeff Eisenberg, NACD, CEO (5:00 MP3)

All sectors need to address nutrient issues

His message to conservationists in Orlando for the NACD annual meeting, “all sectors need to address nutrient issues.” For more, Brownfield’s Dave Russell talked with Tom Porta, President of the Association of State and Interstate Water Pollution Control Administrators.

AUDIO: Tom Porta, Pres. ASIWPCA (3:15 MP3)

Continuing to restore the Chesapeake Bay

Jeff Lape, Chesapeake Bay Program Director told those attending the NACD annual meeting in Orlando that work continues to restore and protect the Chesapeake Bay and the role that conservation districts can play in their efforts.

AUDIO: Jeff Lape, Chesapeake Bay Program Director (5:00 MP3)

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