Photo from http://vcbiodiesel.org/
At least that is what Lynne Okun of Ventura is hoping. Lynne is organizing a daylong workshop, Learn to Convert from Dino-Diesel to Veggie Oil, to give participants hands-on experience on how to convert a diesel car engine to cooking oil.
You can collect and filter your own waste vegetable oil obtained from local restaurants or online sellers at low or no cost. The Good Grease Web site, at http://www.goodgrease.com, provides a waste veggie oil marketplace, conversion advice and help forums.
For more information, visit the Ventura County Biodiesel Cooperative site at http://vcbiodiesel.org, the Los Angeles co-op at http://www.biodiesel-Coop.org or the Southern California Biodiesel Users Group at http://www.socalbug.org.
Interesting article on both conversion to vegetable oil and the use of standard biodiesel fuel, several great informational links are given in the story.
AS the founder and CEO of Imperium Renewables, which runs one of the nation's largest biodiesel production facilities, I was disturbed by aspects of a recent Washington General Administration document on the status of biodiesel adoption in the state.
The state will miss by a year it's goal of having biofuels comprise at least 20 percent of its fuel use in state vehicles and ferries — the deadline was June 1. Further, the report recommends the state postpone use of biofuels for another year.
It is nice to read a totally pro-biodiesel view, even if it is from a key player/writer in the industry. Washington state now has a chance to go towards biodiesel, and I have not heard a good reason why they should not.
Photo from: http://www.soya.be/biodiesel-production.php
Iowa State University Biofuels Economist Dr. Robert Wisner warns that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board are moving too fast in relying on unproven indirect land use emissions impacts for biofuels policy. Wisner believes more research is needed on possible conversion of pastures and forests to crops in other countries to accurately measure indirect land use impacts.
Here’s an expert who says we are judging land use too harshly, forgetting about the larger yields as a field matures. Also, we are going to run out of petroleum some day—when?
Illustration from: http://www.transpoonline.com.br/index2.php?xid=exibirnoticia.php&idnotic=209
Proposed U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations tieing U.S. biofuel production to world crop production is being criticized by U.S. Sen. Mike Johanns, R-Neb. According to Johanns, the proposed regulation is “neither scientific nor substantiated.” In a letter to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, Johanns requested that the public comment period regarding implementation of the renewable fuels standard (RFS) be extended by 120 days. He said EPA is currently taking public comments on regulations outlining how to implement changes to the RFS that were enacted in 2007.
Another great article which stresses the folly of linking our biofuels use with world crop statistics. We need to do what is right for this country, then we can better help the world.