Workers stand outside of the Irving Oil refinery in Saint John. The company has withdrawn plans to build a biodiesel refinery next to its existing oil refinery. (CBC)
Weeks after mothballing a tidal energy research project, Irving Oil Ltd. has withdrawn its application for environmental approval to build a biodiesel refinery in Saint John.
A Department of Environment spokesperson said in an emailed statement that Irving Oil's biodiesel refinery plan has been withdrawn and will be immediately removed from the department's list of projects under environmental review.
Irving Oil did not respond to requests for an interview on Tuesday to discuss the decision to scuttle the proposed project.
This article indicates to me that the oil spill in the Gulf is not helping to build the market for biodiesel, since so much of distribution is still controlled by petroleum interests.
Photo from this location
Using biodiesel has never made more sense, considering the thirst for petroleum that has caused disasters like the ongoing BP gulf oil spill and the economic impact of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. It is critical that we reduce that demand and diversify our energy use so that the environmental and socio-economic impact of our dependence on oil is lessened. In light of the Monday article on biofuels (“Biofuel venture hasn’t paid off for Snohomish County”), it is obvious that it takes more than environmental and patriotic sentiment to sell biofuels to government and individuals. Biodiesel is a clear winner, however, for the responsible thinker. Here are the up-sides: Diesel cars and trucks have more torque than their gasoline counterparts. Diesel cars, especially small four-cylinder ones, are both fast and efficient, boasting fuel efficiency between 35 and 55 miles per gallon! Diesel trucks are more efficient, too. Manufacturers of diesel motors have been building them for a biodiesel blend for several years, so no modification should be necessary for as much as B5 (5 percent biodiesel), and some even up to B100. Biodiesel has better lubricity and leaves fewer deposits in injectors as it burns cleaner than petro-diesel, and emits less harmful by-products. Biodiesel is grown and processed locally, in this state, benefitting our farmers and our workers, not some foreign entity. If all those reasons won’t sway you, consider that biodiesel can be purchased at or below petro-diesel prices right now. (My last tank of B20 was $3.14 per gallon). Make the all-around smart choice. Switch to a blend and help keep our state and country strong.
Photo from: http://www.todaysalternativeenergy.net/processingplants.html
Todays Alternative Energy Corporation /quotes/comstock/11k!bsom (BSOM 0.07, 0.00, 0.00%) (FRANKFURT: B10206) today announced plans to open a production facility that will manufacture a new line of industrial strength, environmentally friendly biodegradable cleaning products for consumers. TAEC has chosen to locate the production facility in San Antonio, Texas to take advantage of its business friendly low operating cost environment, its prime location for distributing TAEC's cleaning products to retailers nationwide and its proximity to a highly skilled workforce. TAEC is currently reviewing and negotiating production facility proposals submitted by the final candidates and expects to reach an agreement and start building out the facility in July.
TAEC will manufacture cleaning products in the production facility using the Company's own scientific formulas that combine only natural ingredients and contain no ammonia, phosphates, dyes, artificial scents or toxins. The products are formulated to safely and naturally remove oil and grease. TAEC will launch the new line by offering a suite of household cleaners and has plans to extend the line by introducing new products for the commercial and industrial cleaning supplies markets.
Carlos filtering oil in Mexico next to El Chaski. Image courtesy of Maria José and Carlos.
Chilean duo Carlos Herrera –Co-Executive Director of Education Without Borders International– and Maria Jose Calderon –an award-winning documentary filmmaker and journalist– embarked on a 6-month road trip from California to Chile in El Chaski, ”a ’95 Chevy Suburban 6.5L Turbo Diesel 4×4 that has been modified to run on Waste Vegetable Oil (WVO), Straight Vegetable Oil (SVO) and biodiesel as well as regular diesel.”
Please read the entire article, a great vehicle that can run on just about any diesel-like fuel, this must be the ultimate test of biodiesel. Very interesting, a real biodiesel saga with photos.