Food vs. Fuel
Does biodiesel production and use REALLY affect our food supply? What concerns are valid, and what lobbies are exploiting this subject? Were the high commodity prices in 2008 due to their use in biofuel production, or speculators manipulating the market? Soy is grown for cattle feed, and the oil is a byproduct. So isn’t using it for biodiesel environmentally sound?
Biodiesel Use in Aviation
Boeing is doing research and performing tests of biodiesel use in aviation. The Department of Defense is also doing research and performing tests in aviation use of biodiesel. What is the status and when can we expect to have our flight to New York fueled with biodiesel?
Biodiesel 101/Homebrewing
Want to brew your own biodiesel at home? Is it safe? What do you need? What about byproducts of the process? Where can I learn how to do it? Where do I get waste vegetable oil? What are the basics of biodiesel?
State of Biodiesel in the Northwest
What has changed in the past year in the Northwest biodiesel industry? What big changes are on the horizon? Learn the inside scoop on challenges, opportunities, and where biodiesel is headed in our region. Get some insights on the biodiesel political landscape, too. Karl Unterschuetz, Director of the Northwest Biofuels Association (http://www.nwbiofuels.org/home) gives us an update and answers your questions.
Sustainable Biodiesel
Many biodiesel foes rail about the food vs. fuel. Biodiesel can and is being made sustainably. Many focus on biodiesel made from soy and canola oil. They fail to understand that the crops are grown as animal feed so people can enjoy their steaks and pork chops. The oil is a byproduct of this primary purpose of the crop.
Feedstocks that avoid this controversy completely are waste vegetable oil/tallow, biomass and algae.
