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Renewable Energy Group and East Fork Biodiesel held a ribbon-cutting ceremony today for their 60-million-gallon-a-year biodiesel plant in Algona, Iowa with the plant fully operational on Tuesday.

This REG press release says the ceremony was attended by lawmakers and industry representatives, such as Iowa Senators Jack Kibbie (D-Emmetsburg) and David Johnson (R-Ocheyedan) and Iowa Representative Delores Mertz (DOttosen) as well as Randy Olson, Executive Director of the Iowa Biodiesel Board; and Monte Shaw, Executive Director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association… in addition to the companies’ officials:

“Demand is growing nationally for biodiesel. With that demand has come tremendous opportunity and growth for Iowans,” said Nile Ramsbottom, President, Renewable Energy Group, Inc. “We are exceptionally proud to work with our partners at East Fork Biodiesel, LLC. to have helped play a role in creating such a strong economic boost in Kossuth County.”

“Renewable fuels are the future,” said Ken Clark, chairman of the board, East Fork Biodiesel, LLC. “This facility in Algona will help strengthen Iowa’s place as a national leader in the industry while producing clean burning, renewable biodiesel.”

The soybean oil biodiesel plant will push Iowa’s biodiesel capacity above 250 million gallons annually… with 222 million of that coming from REG.

A lawyer who deals in international biodiesel law has an article in December’s Biodiesel Magazine that outlines some of the pitfalls that U.S. companies that are trying to sell biodiesel plants and equipment to locations overseas.

Rich Weiner’s article says there is great potential in the foreign markets, if you’re able to get around the legal risks and challenges around the proposition:

Many factors affect overseas business ventures. The first is foreign government approvals. Unlike the United States, foreign governments often regulate the sale of biodiesel plants in their countries. In some countries, the project’s customer must be a government agency or an entity affiliated with the government. In others, the customer must be examined and approved by that country’s government before it may purchase a biodiesel plant or biodiesel equipment. Some countries even require that the contract between the U.S. company and its foreign customer be reviewed and approved by the appropriate ministry of the foreign government before the contract may become effective. Still others require that the biodiesel plant or equipment be approved by the foreign government before equipment importation or plant construction begins.

Weiner also points out that U.S. laws prevent giving gifts to foreign officials in exchange for contracts… and that applies to any subcontractors or suppliers who do it even without the U.S. company’s knowledge. Duties and tariffs, intellectual property rights, foreign construction laws, and what to do if there’s a dispute between a U.S. company and a foreign company or government.

Lots of good information for those involved in the biodiesel business looking to branch out overseas. Give it a read by clicking here.

San Francisco has become the largest city in the country to convert its entire fleet of diesel vehicles to biodiesel, hitting the green goal a month ahead of schedule.

This press release from Mayor Gavin Newsom’s office says it will cover more than 1,500 vehicles including MUNI buses, several fire engines, ambulances and street sweepers, among others:

“Every city bears responsibility for taking local action to address our global climate crisis,” said Mayor Newsom. “When it comes to the use of alternative fuels, renewable energy sources and greening our City fleet, San Francisco is demonstrating leadership and commitment on every front.”

The conversion from traditional diesel fuel to biodiesel is made possible by the use of B20, a mix of 20% biofuel and 80% petroleum diesel fuel. The conversion to biodiesel translates to roughly displacing 1.2 million gallons of diesel fuel each year.

The move comes on the heels of the city’s SFGreasecycle program that collects used cooking oil and grease from San Francisco’s many restaurants and turn it into biodiesel (see my November 21st post).