I'd like to find out if anyone is interested in forming a biodiesel cooperative east of Lansing. The area I'm thinking about might cover Owosso to Howell. My thoughts are: we'd find a location, chip in for equipment, agree to work a certain number of hours (collecting waste oil, processing, etc.) and set a cooperative price. Yeah, I know this is sketchy, but gotta start somewhere. If enough people are interested, we can plan a get together to discuss it.

Well, I live a little far from Owosso, but what exactly are the technical requirements for a CoOp? Do you need to register with the EPA? The State? The city? How do road taxes factor in? Maybe a CoOp of CoOps?

im closer to detroit but count me in if this all comes together.

Hello everyone.... I am working on putting a business plan together for a Detroit Metro area biodiesel cooperative. I'd like the coop to make fuel, educate, and perhaps sell some commercailly purchase B100 if we can't make enough of our own. If you're interested in any way, could you visit www.biodieselmichigan.com and click on the email link to add your name to a list of potential users/members? No location has been considered yet, but somewhere central and convienient for the Metro area, in a commercial garage or light industrial space will be needed. Thanks !!!! Sincerely, Jim Leidel, Oakland University

I'm in the Royal Oak area, but I go through 50-150 gallons a week in my truck, so count me in.

Can't wait to get started on this with you Jim. Nice talking to you today on email. You think there is a possibility for a meet and greet next week before i head off to Kazakhstan? I basically pass OU on my way home from work (I work in Troy) every day. wes

I live in Davison(East of Flint), and would like to use it in my tractors here, but I also commute to OU as a student. So, I kinda like Mr. Leidel's plan. Sending you an email.

Hmm... just stumbled across this site today from a few other forums I'm on. I was thinking about the same type of thing, I've got a building we can use, and a forklift if it's necessary. Was hoping to find some like minded people on this forum that were interested in giving it a go, as I've yet to brew any of my own bio and 2 heads are always better then one. Feel free to contact me, I'd love to see this materialize! [:)]

Where are you located thunder? It looks like you are located over by Port Huron. I know that jeff leidel had "a place to do this" on his "to do" list.

Hi all.... sorry for not checking back here as regularly as I should. I've gotten about 10 replys to the coop concept in less than a week.... not to bad! Please pass the word. I'm sure the $3 fuel has a touch to do with the interest. (maybe??) No site has been selected yet, but I was thinking of somewhere "centeral west" of Detroit. Perhaps along telegraph? I live somewhat down-river, but travel to Oakland Univ. every day, so I am mobile. I'm working on the business model, and learning about waste grease collection. I think that I've got the technical stuff down, but we need to make any plant as user friendly to the novice homebrewer as possible. I've got some great ideas on a single tank reactor that does the oil pretreatment, acid-base reaction, wash, post treatment all in one unit. My biggest dilema is to use plastic, or not. Alot of forums suggest that hot oil and plastic don't mix, but I think a proper precautions with a polyethelyne tank sould be fine. I don't plan to go above 120 or 130F and the poly is rated at 140 F working temp. It's nice to be translucent to see the fluid levels, and I can get any size tank for under $1000, easily. I could talk technical stuff all nite, but I'll stop my self here. A few partners and I have applied for $6k from the State for seed money and educational assistance. In reality, this is NOT much money, and may only slow such a project down. I think 10+ members, with a plan and a good location, and we'd be in business in a matter of weeks or months. I could post the grant application if anyone is interested in what I'm shooting at here. Thoughts anyone??? I'll try to check back here more often, but I have my PhD oral exam on Thurs. and a Board mtg on Fri !! ouch. PS: I am a mechanical engineer with control system, energy engineering, and electric utility background in case anyone is interested. Jim

Oh... one more point. The overall goal of the State grant would be to put out a working plan to replicate a successful coop model all over God's green earth. So, ultimately, whatever help i get making this happen will provide a roadmap to let us put coops in closer to your home, where ever that may be. Let's get the first one off the ground, and get the bugs worked out!!! Jim L

Fun, Fun. #1 Technical talk is something that I can easily wrap myself around. #2 An all in one approach using a plastic vessel will make methanol recovery difficult - Even still, i'd like to see the plans that you have running through your head. wes

I don't care what anyone says, HDPE is no good. After seeing the photos of girlMark's misadventure with the fuelmeister, I am convinced that an electric water heater is a 1,000 times better and safer than an HDPE get-up. Translucency is not worth a safety risk. Of course, I say this with the plan of using two HDPE barrels to hold finished product...

I'm not entirely sure that was HDPE in the fuelmeister was it? In any case I agree. A sight glass can be made pretty easily and accomplish the same thing.

Yes... a professor at Oakland U bought a fuel meister to play with. It has no heat, and could be improved on... but it does work. It is made of HDPE. visit www.usplastics.com for pricing. I am on the edge regarding HDPE. I think a properly engineered system using controled hot water coils, and not electric heating elements can be very safe and economical. I will post the design in a few weeks when I get it down on paper. The process steps & instructions are as important as the equipment, so I need to work on that as well Jim

I have no doubt that it can be done safely. Key words are "properly engineered" of course. That means good gauges, fittings, hoses, etc. Where did you get your Passat?

I'm Green Oak, east of Howell about 6 miles near 96 and would be interested in checking things out. I plan on doing this as home. Unfortunetly I do not have the time to really spend alot of time working on a coop but I would like to see the process and how you guys are setting things up. I was thinking of a community one closer to home for those of us in the sub or immediate area, be good to see how others are putting things together. Thanks

Hi guys.... Drove to Cleveland for the Passat last fall. I think VW caught up a bit with their inventory this year, but as off today.... all bets are off. After the first few tanks, there has been some % of bio in the tank. I suppose that I should pull out the fuel filter for a check soon, perhaps the injectors as well. Eric: The hope is to have a detailed design & business model that can be copied ANYWHERE. and of course, hopefully, everywhere. Cheers.

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Originally posted by Dogma
Where are you located thunder? It looks like you are located over by Port Huron. I know that jeff leidel had "a place to do this" on his "to do" list.

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Hey Dogma.... I'm not quite to Port Huron, that's a bit further down I-94. Close though. I'm open to working with this from my location in any way that I can, I've got a larger building of my own, and a small (1000SQ) commercial building I rent as well. Obviously the buildings can't be moved if their not central enough, but who's to say we couldn't start with say two locations instead of one central. That may help get more involvement from some not looking or able to commit on heading towards Detroit from the north such as flint. Just an idea, being an agricultural community I could see it welcomed also...

Hi Guys... I live in Macomb County, between P.H. and Detroit. I'm not so sure about producing BioD in a Coop, but would at least be interested in having a group to buy large quantities from suppliers (i.e. Wacker Oil). Not that a Coop is a bad idea, I would just be really concerned about quality control and having the time to work it. I do really think we need to have something around here...at least until Meijers decides (hopefully) to install B20 at their pump at 23/Gratiot.