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The Biodiesel Council of California www.biodieselcouncil.org led by Gretchen and Carl. The Council was conceived at the California Biodiesel Consumers Conference, 1/31 & 2/1 2004.
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The Biodiesel Council of Californiawww.biodieselcouncil.orgled by Gretchen and Carl • The Council was conceived at the California Biodiesel Consumers Conference, 1/31 & 2/1 2004 Two intensive days of education, brainstorming, and groundwork around issues facing California passenger-car biodiesel consumers, and a vision for sustainable and homegrown biodiesel businesses to serve those consumers.
The Biodiesel Council of Californiawww.biodieselcouncil.org • Need for a unified voice for biodiesel consumers and businesses in dealing with government and bureaucracies. BCC Mission: • The Biodiesel Council of California's mission is to inspire socially, economically, and ecologically sustainable development of the biodiesel industry in California by educating and organizing the public, by lobbying for governmental acceptance of neat biodiesel, and by developing and protecting the public biodiesel supply.
The Biodiesel Council of California: CARB, Environmental Groups • California Air Resource Board (CARB) * Diesel autos can’t pass higher air quality standards implemented in 2004 * Diesel autos could pass new CARB regulations with emissions equipment that doesn’t function with the sulfured diesel currently sold in the state. • New diesel autos will be available in CA when sulfured diesel is banned. It is important that this ban goes into effect in 2006 as planned. Be vigilant against oi l company attempts to extend the 2006 sulfured diesel ban. • Biodiesel not accepted by Environmental Groups as an Alternative Fuel Sierra Club, NRDC, Union of Concerned Scientists… * Promote Natural Gas as alternative fuel * Wary of Biodiesel because of NOx issue • Education and outreach needed
The Biodiesel Council of California: EPA, Fuel Quality • Small Producers, the EPA & The National Biodiesel Board * NBB is the only organization that’s paid for testing required by EPA* NBB owns rights to this information (for next 6 years?). * Currently only NBB members comply with EPA requirement.* NBB membership too expensive for small producers. • Is there a way to pressure NBB to change fee structure to make more affordable for small producers? Are there other ways to meet EPA qualification? • Bay Area Biodiesel Pump History * Fuel quality problems and pump closures • Need for quality standards – self regulate the industry
The Biodiesel Council of California: DMS • California Department of Food & Agriculture Division of Measurement Standards (DMS) * * The only existing *ASTM standard that defines biodiesel on a technical level is D6751, a blendstock standard. * * DMS was considering accepting D6751 as a fuel standard until they were confronted by the Petroleum and the Engine Manufacturers Associations * * All fuel for diesel engines must meet now meet ASTM D975, which only allows diesel fuel to contain less than 5% biodiesel. • Biodiesel retailers may qualify for a variance by keeping records of the number of customers, their vehicle types and any problems reported. This could qualify customers as members of a fleet that is permitted to use the “blendstock”. Long-term goal is a more appropriate ASTM classification for biodiesel.