Sustainable Biodiesel Summit: San Antonio

The 2007 SBS is coming up on February 4th in San Antonio. The SBS provides a wealth of information for those interested in the biodiesel market both in how it’s distributed and how to produce it yourself.

“One of the goals of the SBS is to foster the environmental sustainability of the biodiesel industry. Initiatives include supporting smaller, local production using regional feedstocks, encouraging local ownership of production and distribution, increasing energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy in production, and diversifying feedstocks.”

Pre-paid tickets are going for $100 per person, which includes all the seminars and organic food you can handle.

BioWillie on PBS: Home Grown

The legendary Willie Nelson, widely known for his work as a musician, is now also becoming very widely known for his biodiesel production company, BioWillie. Willie displays not only his concern for the enviroment and renewable fuel sources, but also for the American farmers and their economic security. His interview with PBS is really just a small stepping stone considering the amount of national attention he’s recieving from not only farmers and enviromentalists, but also from the giant energy corporations.

“There’s other places in the world [that] have already made it happen, and you say, duh, why can’t we do it here?” Nelson tells NOW. “Anywhere things can be grown that you can turn into fuel, do it.”

[ Watch at PBS ]

North Dakota Energy Survey Press Release

The University of North Dakota and North Dakota Renewable Energy Partnership recently polled a large variety of North Dakota citizens in how they felt about renewable energy sources. More than 90% of the 600 person survey group felt that renewable energy legislation should be a priority, and around 80% marked some level of concern about the current fuel situtation.

Mike Clemens, Wimbledon, was elected at the NDREP’s recent annual meeting in Jamestown.

“The partnership’s immediate priority is preparing proposals for the upcoming legislative session,” Clemens said. “We will also be focusing on getting more producers involved in renewable energy.”

Terry Goerger, Mantador, was elected vice chairman, and Mike Williams, Fargo, was elected secretary-treasurer. Goerger is a farmer and a member of the National Biodiesel Board; Williams is director of auxiliary services for Greenfields Energy LLC., Cando.

The NDREP promotes ethanol, biodiesel, wind and biomass energy production in North Dakota through development and expansion of markets for renewable energy and through support of state and federal legislation enhancing the industry.

The coalition grew out of “A Vision for the Future” the state’s first-ever renewable energy summit. The 2003 conference was organized by the North Dakota Department of Agriculture (NDDA), the North Dakota Department of Commerce, the North Dakota Corn Utilization Council, the North Dakota Soybean Growers Association and the University of North Dakota Energy and Environmental Research Center.

[ http://www.ndrep.org/ ]