The National Biodiesel Board built a new green building for its new headquarters, according to an NBB news release. Excerpt below the fold:
The carpet comes from recycled materials. The paint is nontoxic. The parking lot lights are powered by the sun. But what really makes the new headquarters of the National Biodiesel Board so eco-conscious is the work that goes on inside.
Yesterday Governor Matt Blunt, U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof and Jefferson City Mayor John Landwehr joined the NBB in a ribbon-cutting and tree-planting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the organization's new headquarters at 605 Clark Avenue.
"We may be a national organization, but our roots have always been here in Missouri," said Joe Jobe, NBB CEO. "Our industry plays a critical role nationally in meeting our energy needs, creating thousands of green jobs and millions of gallons of clean-burning fuel. Our rapid industry growth was reflected in our staff growth, prompting the need for new headquarters." Biodiesel is a renewable fuel made from resources such as soybean oil, recycled restaurant grease and other plant oils and waste products. Last year, the industry produced 500 million gallons of biodiesel, up from 25 million gallons in 2004. The industry has consistently doubled or tripled production every year since then. Today there are 171 biodiesel plants nationwide, including seven in Missouri.
"We have made Missouri a national leader in alternative fuels and renewable energy," Gov. Blunt said. "The National Biodiesel Board's decision to strengthen their presence in our state underscores just how critical Missouri is to supplying our nation with clean, renewable energy." Biodiesel can be used in any diesel engine in a blend of up to 20 percent with no engine modifications. Its use reduces emissions, including lifecycle carbon dioxide, by 78 percent.
"I truly believe biodiesel is a sustainable fuel that is a vital part of our energy solution," Rep. Hulshof said. "Never underestimate the ingenuity of the American farmer, who can provide both food and fuel from right here in the heartland, while cleaning up the air we breathe."
Nine NBB governing board members joined the event from throughout the country, including Chairman Ed Hegland, a soybean farmer from Appleton, Minn. He pointed out that oil and gasoline prices would be about 15% higher if biofuel producers were not increasing their output, according to a U.S. Department of Energy estimate.
"Despite our higher petroleum costs, technological advances are allowing America's family farmers, like me, to produce much more efficient harvests," Hegland said. "Last year, the U.S. biodiesel industry displaced 20 million barrels of petroleum. Our annual contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions is now equal to removing 700,000 passenger vehicles from America's roadways."
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Jon Rynn Posted 4:00 am
12 Sep 2008
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Colin Wright Posted 4:50 am
12 Sep 2008
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jackstraw Posted 8:17 am
12 Sep 2008
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Biodiversivist Posted 3:02 am
13 Sep 2008
Critical role nationally? A significant portion of biodiesel produced here was shipped overseas as part of the splash and dash scam.
Meeting our energy needs? Two tenths of one percent of petroleum use, and it took how many acres and raised the price of cooking oil how much to do that?
Thousands of green jobs? Doing what? Working in biodiesel refineries?
Clean burning fuel? According to the EPA, everyone out there who opted to purchase a new Jetta to burn biodiesel instead of a new SLEV spews more pollution into the atmosphere, not to mention is exacerbating global warming by exacerbating the record destruction of the Amazon from soy farms.
Its use reduces emissions, including lifecycle carbon dioxide, by 78 percent.
78 percent is from the ancient study done by the USDA for soy. Crop displacement effects were not considered, and the whole goal was to increase the price of soy, which succeeded beyond their wildest dreams. Great if you are a soy farmer. Sucks for every other human on the planet.
I truly believe ....
As did the cowardly lion when he said, "I do believe in ghosts, I do believe in ghosts..."
oil and gasoline prices would be about 15% higher if biofuel producers were not increasing their output, according to a U.S. Department of Energy estimate.
How could an increase in supply of 2% drop prices 15%, especially when every gallon blended cost taxpayers a dollar for biodiesel and 51 cents for ethanol? I have never been able to find the calculations for that "estimate."
In the end, it all comes down to biodiversity. Poison Darts--Protecting the biodiversity of our world
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