Midtown Supply Site Accepting New Members!

UPDATE 6/11/09: NOW FULL - NOT ACCEPTING NEW MEMBERS. Contact Steve Bash at steve@theinfoexchange.org or 916-966-2375 about biodiesel availability.

SBN welcomes the newest Supply Site on C St in midtown Sacramento to offer biodiesel B99.9 to registered members.

Contact Kevin at ... to sign up as a member and begin fueling your vehicle with biodiesel.

[Technorati tags: biodiesel, Sacramento]

What is the Price for Biodiesel?

Whenever petroleum prices go into a noticeable or serious increase, our biodiesel buyers network, SBN, gets far more inquiries from price motivated people hoping to save money by buying biodiesel. Here are some common questions and answers regarding price:

What is the price for biodiesel?
"About the same or more than petro diesel" is the short answer, so buying commercially produced biodiesel through the open market supply and demand influences will not likely save a diesel driver any money over petro diesel.

Why would I buy biodiesel if it won't save me money?
There are many benefits to using biodiesel over petro diesel and, other than running a diesel engine, the two fuels have little in common so comparing them could be irrelevant. Biodiesel is an easy, inexpensive first step toward making energy solutions real now before petroleum reaches peak to avoid panic. Biodiesel supports local businesses and economy. Biodiesel is made from crops that are renewable for an ongoing but seasonally limited supply. Biodiesel emissions are non toxic. Biodiesel has a higher lubricity which helps the engine run smoother and longer. It is not necessary to invade countries or kill anyone to gain access to biodiesel. Biodiesel is primarily carbon neutral. Biodiesel smells good. Running on biodiesel is just plain fun!

Why is the price for biodiesel about the same or more than petro diesel?
As shoppers compare prices between the two fuels on the open market, some predictable principles of supply and demand prevail as long as buyers keep wanting the lowest price and sellers keep wanting the greatest profit. Unless there is some kind of intervening policy or behavior introduced, the price for biodiesel sold in these open market conditions cannot go below petro diesel prices without the biodiesel supply diminishing as buyers buy it up when the price is lower. A diminished biodiesel supply makes the value and price go up for any remaining feedstock oil (what biodiesel is made from) in turn causing the biodiesel price to go up until it is equal to or greater than petro diesel prices causing the buying frenzy to taper off. Whenever the petro prices have risen above the biodiesel prices, the entire biodiesel supply gets purchased quickly by price shoppers leading to shortage related market and pricing phenomenon taking hold throughout the supply and manufacturing process. This phenomenon is even leading to bidding wars for the waste restaurant cooking oil in many areas.

How can I save money with biodiesel?
Making biodiesel ourselves is one way of being in control of our costs, either individually or collectively, by getting out of the open market supply and demand influences. This still leaves the feedstock and methanol costs to deal with unless we grow and make those ourselves too. It is also possible to organize individuals and groups to purchase biodiesel collaboratively, as we do through Sac Biofuels Network, which makes buying and delivery more efficient to help bring the cost down.

SBN assists people to both make biodiesel and buy it collaboratively and more efficiently. Contact Steve Bash at steve@theinfoexchange.org or 916-966-2375 if either of these options interests you.


[Technorati tags: biodiesel, Sacramento]

New Biodiesel Supply Site in Sacramento! -Now full

Sacramento Biofuels Network now has another biodiesel supply site (now at membership capacity) contact Steve Bash at steve@theinfoexchange.org or 916-966-2375 for info on how to purchase biodiesel.

If you are ready to start using biodiesel and this new location is convenient for you, I suggest you sign up soon to become a member before this Buyers Group too, reaches their membership capacity. (especially since their fillup hours are the most convenient so far)

24th St Sacramento/dsb Biodiesel Coop

Member Registration/Membership Coordinator: David s Baker
Phone: Now at member capacity
Email:

SBN Biodiesel Supply Site Location:
24th St near Broadway Sacramento, CA 95818
Mon-Fri 9:00 am – 6:00 pm


SBN now has five Buyers Group Supply Sites at membership capacity serving biodiesel users all over the greater Sacramento area, plus this new one filling up fast. SBN also serves a growing number of Independent Supply Sites, throughout the Sacramento valley and foothills areas, who purchase biodiesel through SBN in bulk for their personal, agricultural or business fleet use.

If you are interested in purchasing biodiesel individually by the tank full or in bulk independently or as a Buyers Group Host or learning more about what is required to set up a biodiesel Supply Site in general, contact Steve Bash at steve@theinfoexchange.org or 916-966-2375.


[Technorati tags: biodiesel, Sacramento]

What is Sacramento Biofuels Network? (Update)

Here is an update describing what SBN is all about these days.

Sacramento Biofuels Network, SBN, was formed to assist people in implementing energy options beyond dependency on nonrenewable petroleum starting with establishing local access to commercial quality biodiesel in the Sacramento area.

SBN services include biodiesel consumer education, organizing Buyers Groups and coordinating bulk biodiesel delivery for a variety of network members. The network is currently made up of biodiesel bulk purchasers, called Supply Sites, who purchase pure commercial quality biodiesel (B100) in bulk through SBN utilizing suitable above ground bulk containers, usually 250 to 2000 gallon, to store and dispense the fuel.

The two basic types of SBN Supply Sites are:

Independent Supply Sites, who purchase biodiesel in bulk for their own in-house or personal needs including agricultural, commercial and institutional organizations and fleets.

Buyers Group Supply Sites, where a Site Host provides space for storing and dispensing a bulk quantity of biodiesel to share with friends or other individual buyers who become members of that Supply Site. All Buyers Group members must read and sign a site specific version of a Biodiesel Buyers Agreement (sample provided by SBN) to be a member and purchase the biodiesel from that site cooperatively.

The Buyers Group Supply Sites are organized like the Community Supported Agriculture model which we call Community Supported Energy, CSE. This CSE distribution model is an effective way to bring individual consumers together to exchange information, develop mutual interests and to utilize their collective purchasing power for choices in fuel access, bulk pricing and related cooperative consumer benefits.

SBN assists members in gaining access to biodiesel, setting up Supply Sites, meeting legal requirements and understanding basic biodiesel use and handling guidelines. Once set up, a Supply Site can make a bulk biodiesel purchase through the SBN coordinator who aggregates the order quantities and organizes them for efficient delivery, to make minimum delivery requirements and to achieve collective bulk quantity price breaks. The biodiesel is delivered to each Supply Site by refilling their containers from the selected distributor’s commercial tanker truck. The manufacturers and distributors who supply SBN Supply Sites are selected by a list of buying priorities starting with their ability to verify fuel quality according to national standards as the number one priority.

SBN Coordinator: Steve Bash, 916-966-2375, steve@theinfoexchange.org


[Technorati tags: biodiesel, Sacramento]

SBN Biodiesel Buying Priorities

When SBN orders biodiesel for the supply sites, the following are the priorities used.

SBN Biodiesel Buying Priorities (in order of priority)

1. Quality verification- All suppliers must show astm certification or better to verify fuel quality from the manufacturer.

2. Locally produced and/or grown- Form relationships with growers, manufacturers, and distributors as local as possible.

3. Support practices of sustainability - Form relationships with growers, manufacturers, and distributors that support practices of ecological sustainability such as: utilizing waste oil feedstock before virgin oil, sustainably grown feedstock that is non GMO, no pesticides, no chemical fertilizers, organically grown whenever possible and deliver the biodiesel in trucks that run on biodiesel.

4. Support cooperative business models- Form relationships with growers, manufacturers, and distributors that support models of business that are equitable, transparent and cooperative and encourage consumer empowerment.

5. Price/value considerations- Price is always an important consideration but only after the previous priorities have been considered.

6. Consistency of supply- Although biodiesel is a renewable fuel, the capacity of supply is limited by the biological nature of its source. Adapting our energy use and expectations in balance with ecological systems and natural resource interdependency is essential for healthy coexistence and sustenance of life. Consistency of supply is only relevant in SBN buying practices as the ecological sustainability of the sources indicate. As the global petroleum reserves reach peak of production, a new awareness regarding consistency of supply will be upon us, if it isn't already.

[Technorati tags: biodiesel, Sacramento]

Considerations for Using Biodiesel Wisely

Here are the 4 primary considerations SBN advises all new users for using biodiesel safely and responsibly (taken from the generic membership agreement):

1. Material Compatibility - I understand that biodiesel can accelerate the break down of rubber fuel hoses and gaskets causing them to leak. Vehicles made before 1994 probably have rubber fuel hoses and gaskets and will need to be replaced either before or upon failure with biodiesel compatible hoses and gaskets such as Viton. Check with the vehicle manufacturer.

2. Cold Flow - I understand that biodiesel may need to be “winterized” in colder temperatures by mixing a sufficient percentage of petro diesel (5% or more), kerosene and/or anti gel additives with the biodiesel, depending on the temperatures the car is in, to keep the fuel flowing properly. Depending on the source and quality, biodiesel can begin to first cloud, and then gel between 25F- 45F. It is advisable to test your current fuel to know the temperature it begins to cloud.

3. Cleaning Effect - I understand that the solvent characteristics of biodiesel will loosen and “clean out” the petroleum based diesel sediments that stick and accumulate in the fuel system over time. This dislodged diesel sediment can clog the fuel filter and require monitoring and possibly changing the fuel filter within the first few tankfuls of biodiesel. A clogged filter may cause the car to stall and fail to start. It is advisable to have a new fuel filter on hand and be ready to replace it if the symptoms arise.

4. Warranty - I understand that the use of pure biodiesel (B100) or blends above B20 may void my vehicle warranty. Check with vehicle manufacturer about what percentage of biodiesel is currently accepted by them.

[Technorati tags: biodiesel, Sacramento]

Biodiesel Homebrew Classes Back By Request

Learn how to make biodiesel by private or group classes, now arranged by appointment. Classes are taught by Steve Bash, who has been making biodiesel for 9 years and has been active on many levels within the industry, both commercial and grassroots.

Participants in the homebrew class will learn all the basics to turn waste vegetable oil into a clean fuel for any diesel engine. For more information, see our announcement of a previous class here.

To make an appointment for a session or for more info, call Steve at (916) 966-2375 or email him at steve@theinfoexchange.org.

[Technorati tags: biodiesel, Sacramento]

Homebrew biodiesel workshop on June 15, 2007

Now is a good time to free yourself from petroleum dependency! Grassroots biodiesel maker Steve Bash will host a workshop on making your own biodiesel this Friday, June 15, from 1 to 5 p.m. at his home in Fair Oaks, CA.

Attendees at the classroom-style workshop will:

--Witness first-hand the process of making a 40-gallon batch from start to finish.
--Learn where & how to get all supplies needed.
--Learn about collecting used cooking oil from restaurants.
--Learn the process for testing the used oil for quality - titration
--Learn water washing and fuel quality verification
--Many insights and tricks to save you time and money
--Books and videos will be available for sale, and much more.

Attendees will be guided on how to make this vegetable-oil based fuel, which will run in any diesel engine. For several years Steve has made biodiesel in his garage from free used restaurant cooking oil to demonstrate that sustainable fuel options exist and can be implemented now.

Steve says biodiesel is "grease for peace!"

The cost of the class is $75, enrollment limited to 5 people. Please call Steve at (916) 966-2375 or email him at steve@theinfoexchange.org for more info or to register and receive directions. Payment may be made by cash, Visa or Mastercard, or a check to: The Information Exchange, PO Box 1528, Fair Oaks, CA 95628. (Credit card or check not processed until the day of the event.)

Feel free to pass this on to others who may be interested!

[Technorati tags: biodiesel, Sacramento]