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Enterprise Holdings, owner of the Alamo Rent-A-Car, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and National Car Rental brand names, made a big announcement in support of biodiesel during day two at the National Biodiesel Conference & Expo in Grapevine, Texas.

Big Business Goes Green

The company announced its commitment to move its entire fleet of more than 600 shuttle buses to B20 within the next 5 years, beginning with incorporating at least B5 in all its buses this year.

Nine Enterprise Holdings markets will convert to using B20 in its shuttle buses immediately, said Lee Broughton, director of corporate identity and sustainability for Enterprise Holdings, and by the end of next year, 50 percent of Enterprise Holdings’ shuttle buses will be running on B20.

Broughton said the company will have reduced its petroleum consumption by 420,000 gallons in the first year alone.

Also announced was the appointment of Richard Sayre as director of the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Institute for Renewable Fuels at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis.

Sayre, former cellular plant and molecular biology professor at Ohio State University, and his team of 10 researchers will work to develop algae for biofuels, and will focus efforts in ways such as utilizing CO2 from coal-fired power plants to help grow algae, which would act as a carbon sink. Sayre said nutrients could be provided to the algae with water from sewage treatment facilities.

“We can use the contaminants as fertilizer,” he said. “Algae doubles it biomass in 24 hours, and it can be harvested daily,” he added—which captured the attention of the Department of Defense.

Sayre said algae’s energy balance today is only about 2:1, but theoretically this can increase four to six times with research and development.

Even though the federal government has not approved the biodiesel tax credit extension yet, some states have already been proactive in mandated biodiesel blend policy or state run tax credits. The states that have a mandated blend are: MN,WA,LA,MA,NM,OR & PA. Indiana and Iowa have their own state run tax incentives for biodiesel biofuel producers. Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, a ranking member on the Senate Finance Committee, has said he wants to make the federal credit a priority and thinks it could be passed in February or March. The question is just how long will the biodiesel industry have to wait?

What to do with my Glycerin after I make biodiesel was the question I got today from a home based biodiesel producer. My response was plenty! You can make soap, sell it to a cement or asphalt plant as a burner fuel, it has a high BTU rating and they will gladly take it. Asphalt and Cement plants usually burn a D4 or D5 diesel fuel oil for power generation to make their end products. I also suggested he put it on craigslist; you would be surprised at the response you can get. We have actually sold vegetable oil (UVO, WVO) that way. Last but not least of all glycerin is also a nutrient base for feedlot cattle, yep they are feeding it to cows. So do some research, but whatever you do, do not pour it down your drain! EPA problems you do not need.

Free E-Book On Biodiesel ->

A new program at the Advanced Research Projects Agency—Energy (Arpa-e) is looking to develop alternative liquid fuels using microorganisms. On Thursday, Technology Reviewreported that Arpa-e, a division of the U.S. Department of Energy, will begin funding research for biodiesel development.

Endeavors to create alternative fuels using microorganisms are hardly new. In July HeatingOil.com reported that biotechnology firms are working to develop biofuel using nonfood plant matter in order to avoid sacrificing food for fuel and contributing to rising food costs.

What is new about Arpa-e’s research is the goal of creating liquid fuels using organisms that do not require photosynthesis. According to Arpa-e director Arun Majumdar, photosynthesis is highly inefficient. Although not proven, the hope is that nonphotosynthetic microorganisms will allow for more efficient biofuel development.

Researchers also hope that the use of nonphotosynthetic microorganisms will allow for the creation of an alternative diesel fuel. Should Arpa-e researchers prove successful, the use of nonphotosynthetic microorganisms could potentially be used to create other alternative fuels that are chemically similar to diesel, such as heating oil.

FREE BIODIESEL EBOOK -

Nathonal Ethanol Conference is being held in Orlando 15-17 in Orlando. Promises to be packed full of information. Even though biodiesel has not reached the heights of success as Ethanol “YET” these type of events are always great to network and learn stuff you had no idea of. Heck it may also generate new business. Check out the link here for more detailed info http://www.nationalethanolconference.com/

Guidance for Biodiesel Producers and Biodiesel Blenders & Users
Purpose The purpose of this document is to explain and clarify EPA’s regulatory requirements for biodiesel producers and biodiesel blenders.