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  #1  
Old 10-10-2004, 03:13 PM
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Virgin Bio-D : 2B or Not 2B?

Hello BioDieselers,

I'm curious about current legislative lobbying by the National Bio-Diesel Board and the American Soybean Association for legalization of bio-diesel as a "fuel source." I understand that there is a bit of strife as to whether the legislation will include lines about the necessity for bio-d to be virgin or whether it could also include more sustainable, recycled/reused sources of fuel, like used frier oil, etc.

My curiosity is where can I go for current current information as to the status of such legislation or to get more information on this issue?

Is there any transparency as to the funding sources of such legislative lobbying (ie. is there strong funding from the Monsanto Corp. to either or both of these organizations?)?

I've been looking around the NBB website, but I wonder if there are any alternative, independent media sources for information on this particular subject?

Thanks ahead of time for any information you can offer!


Jamie Yosha (goingbiod)
El Cerrito, CA

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Old 10-10-2004, 03:33 PM
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I think that ADM has a much bigger interest in Soy production than Monsanto. Earlier this year ADM signed a joint R&D agreement with VW to pursue some aspect of renewable bio-diesel production, but I don't know what ever came of it.

Fundamentally the growers of oil producing crops have no motive to encourage the reuse of WVO, they only get paid for the crop once. If the true goal was to maximise oil production for fuel use, we wouldn't be talking about Soy in any event, it is towards the bottom in terms of yield per hectare . You'll find that site has quite a bit of reading on the subject of bio-fuels.

Unfortunately I think you will find that oil production from crops is just as filled with cynical politics and profit motive as is the extraction and processing of dino fuel - but I still prefer the end result

Kevin
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Old 10-10-2004, 09:14 PM
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I recently posed this question in a round-about way on this Forum but couldn't get a straight answer. So, currently, is it illegal to use bio-diesel as motor fuel?

Happy Motoring, Mark
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Old 10-10-2004, 10:31 PM
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I don't see how it can be illegal to use BioD as a fuel. The city of Tacoma WA is running it's garbage trucks on B20, Minnesota has passed legislation requiring all pump diesel to be B2, many marinas are selling it in WA to boaters, and Jeep is prefilling diesel Liberty models with B5. Doesn't sound like anything illegal.

I wonder if the push is really to have BioD listed officially as an "alternative fuel" so that users are eligable for tax credits when using it?

Kevin
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  #5  
Old 10-10-2004, 10:47 PM
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bio

Evidently there is a marina in the East Bay of San Francisco that sells bio diesel. So, it is legal. It just costs more per gallon than dino.
Although I have not researched lately, dino goes for $2.60 to $2.30 per gal in S.F.

Just like trash recycling, it will have to go through a period of help and no profit until it can be 'institutionalized' and become a profit maker.
Thats the way it goes along with the leeches. The world over is the same, not just in our great country!

Happy Fleet Week !!!

Many Thanks to our troops.

Denis
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  #6  
Old 10-10-2004, 11:12 PM
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My concern is that fuels used on road vehicles (unlike boats) are subject to highway taxes and using any alternative fuels without paying these taxes is/may be illegal. I've heard stories of severe penalties against violators using offroad/farm diesel or heating oil in road vehicles. It seems likely, as bio-diesel and any other alternative fuel becomes popular, those users may be in for similar treatment.
I'm sure local government users probably have made arrangements to pay any required road taxes. Perhaps my concerns would apply more to individuals recycling their own stockpiles of waste deep-frier oil for use in their diesel road vehicles.

Happy Motoring, Mark
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Last edited by Mark DiSilvestro; 10-10-2004 at 11:26 PM.
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Old 10-10-2004, 11:25 PM
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There's a Chevron station near where I work that sells it from a 300 gallon tote tank, and Dr Dan's Alternative Fuelwerks in Seattle that has been selling it for years from a retail outlet - and he's been featured in the Seattle Times newspaper a number of times. I really don't think there is any tax/legality issue here.

Kevin
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Old 10-10-2004, 11:36 PM
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Probably Chevron and 'Dr Dan' are already paying some kind of road tax. But I've heard plans on this Forum from individuals who want to collect waste veg-oil from fast-food places to make their own personal stockpiles of bio-diesel. Will the tax men start coming after them? ( Much as they used to go after moonshiners)

Happy Motoring, Mark
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Old 10-10-2004, 11:43 PM
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In the case of home made fuel I have no idea what the law states. In the UK 2 men were arrested last year because they were running their cars on home brew on which no road tax had been paid, but I don't know what the law says here in the US.

It is sad to think that one would have to pay tax on something one had made for oneself.

Kevin
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Old 10-11-2004, 12:04 AM
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As Denis said,
"Thats the way it goes along with the leeches."

I'm afraid the US road-fuel tax laws may be very similar to those in the UK.

Happy Motoring, Mark
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  #11  
Old 10-11-2004, 07:38 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark DiSilvestro
Will the tax men start coming after them? ( Much as they used to go after moonshiners)
It is legal to make your own alcohol, just as long as it's for personal use and not sold. As for WVO I couldn't really say, but if anyone is ever prosecuted because of it, they need to make a big stink to all their local media outlets as it would make a good story (and may help their/our cause).
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Old 10-11-2004, 09:00 PM
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It is my understanding that the federal government is using large quantities of biodiesel locally on military installations. If local governments are trying to block the production of biodiesel, there must be dollars behind it somehow. With diesel screaming to over $2/gal.+ there must be increased interest in alternative, and competitive sources. Hopefully, free enterprise wins!

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