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As if I didn’t need another reason to stay glued to my couch watching the Discovery Channel (Dirty Jobs, Survivorman, Mythbusters… what more could a guy want?), now Pennsylvania’s first large-scale biodiesel producer will be featured on the popular cable channel.

This story from eMediaWire.com says Lake Erie Biofuels, LLC will have its national primetime debut sometime next year:

“Shades of Green,” a new television documentary on The Discovery Channel, will showcase the cutting edge technology and on-site laboratories that Lake Erie Biofuels, LLC utilizes in its state-of-the-art facility. While emphasizing the importance of biodiesel in today’s global economy, “Shades of Green” will provide an inside look into the production of biodiesel and the incredible impact it could have on our planet’s future.

The show’s main focus is to highlight the very latest topics and trends impacting the world by providing its viewers with information on alternative energy and sustainable living. Each feature segment of “Shades of Green” will focus on a specific renewable energy source, such as wind, fuel and solar power. Lake Erie Biofuels, LLC was chosen by The Discovery Channel to represent the biofuel industry because of its unique facilities that produce 45 million gallons of biodiesel annually.

They’re shooting “Shades of Green” this week at the Pennsylvania biodiesel refiner with plans of airing the show next February.

Now, if they can just coordinate this with a history of biodiesel I once saw on the History Channel, I may never make it off my couch.

Officials with Houston, Texas-based Nova Biosource Fuels, Inc., say that testing of their variety of biodiesel shows they will be ready when the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) for biodiesel usage is increased to 500 million gallons in 2009.

This company press release says Nova’s biodiesel has passed the Cold Soak Filtration Test for more than a year. Biodiesel under ASTM D6751-08 must pass the test as a qualitative evaluation meant to replicate performance of the biodiesel in cold climates:

“Nova’s patented process has always focused on producing high quality biodiesel,” said Kenneth Hern, Chairman and CEO of Nova. “The new ASTM Cold Soak Filtration Test is a hurdle for some companies, but Nova’s biodiesel meets this requirement regardless of feedstock input used in our proprietary process.”

The Company continues to operate efficiently and conserve working capital while maintaining sustained rates of approximately 50 percent to 60 percent nameplate capacity at the Seneca refinery. During the month of October, three million gallons of biodiesel were produced at Seneca, bringing the cumulative total to over 14 million gallons produced to date.

Nova says it will be well-positioned to help supply the biodiesel needed for the increased standard.

A $740,000 grant has been given to Ames, Iowa-based Renewable Energy Group Inc. to fund staff for a new state-of-the-art biodiesel research and feedstock commercialization lab at the company’s headquarters.

This story in Biodiesel Magazine says the announcement of the Iowa Power Fund money was made by Iowa Gov. Chet Culver and Iowa’s Office of Energy Independence Executive Director Roya Stanley:

The grant awarded to REG’s lab will help Iowa move closer to energy independence through partnerships with business and industry, community leaders, government and public agencies, and other stakeholders. “As governor, I have long been committed to building on Iowa’s strengths in renewable energy,” Culver said. “These Power Fund grants will help keep Iowa on the forefront of the green energy revolution.”

“REG has been at the forefront of the biodiesel industry’s quality and feedstock research for more than a decade,” said REG’s Chief Operating Officer Daniel Oh. “This grant will further help REG research how to better understand and utilize alternative feedstocks, challenges in fuel handling due to biodiesel’s emission-reducing moisture levels, and the need for continued advancement in fuel purity.”

Construction on the new lab, which will employ staff from up to 15 companies in Iowa, is expected to be completed next spring.

Don’t know what to do with the used cooking oil leftover from frying your turkey for Thanksgiving? The folks in Fort Collins, Colorado will be able to turn their used oil into clean-burning biodiesel.

This story in The Coloradoan has details:

The city of Fort Collins and Rocky Mountain Sustainable Enterprises, or RMSE, are having its second annual Holiday recycOil event to help residents recycle waste fryer oil after Thanksgiving. This will divert hundreds of gallons of waste vegetable oil from municipal sewer systems and landfills. So take that leftover vegetable oil to our one-day collection event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 29 at the city’s Rivendell Recycling Facility, 1702 Riverside Drive. The oil will be used to manufacture biodiesel.

Bring your used vegetable oil in a sealable container, such as the original oil jug, a coffee can, etc. At the collection site, you’ll be asked to pour the oil into the recycOil barrel and take your container back home to be reused. Last year, 375 gallons were collected from city residents at the event.

More information is available at fcgov.com/recycling/.

Members of the National Biodiesel Board, the industry’s coordinating and research association, has elected some new members and re-elected some of their previous leaders to make the group a true representation of the diversity of the group.

This press release from the NBB says Doug Smith of Baker Commodities, and David Lyons of Louis Dreyfus Commodities, are new to the board:

“I feel honored to serve on the governing board representing the rendering industry,” Smith said. “I bring the perspective of using animal fats and recycled greases as feedstocks as the board increasingly focuses on diversification. Baker can also help bridge any gaps between the two industries, and share their policy development resources.” Based in Los Angeles, Baker Commodities is an international company that sells fats and oils into biodiesel production streams, or for other uses.

“Louis Dreyfus is committed to the production of biodiesel,” said Lyons of Louis Dreyfus, who represents the company in Washington, D.C. “In ways, it’s a challenging time for the industry and we feel we can help the industry move forward through bringing forth the concerns of a production facility.” Louis Dreyfus is a worldwide merchant of agricultural and energy commodities. Its biodiesel plant in Indiana combines soybean crushing and biodiesel production facilities.

Appleton, Minnesota soybean farmer Ed Hegland was re-elected to chair the board, serving his second term after first being elected to the NBB in 2005.

“The diverse makeup of the governing board is a show of unity as the biodiesel industry continues to demonstrate that it is a sustainable, viable part of meeting the nation’s energy needs,” Hegland said.

Gary Haer, of Renewable Energy Group, Inc., in Ames, Iowa was re-elected vice-chair; Jim Conway from Griffin Industries in Cold Spring, Ky. was tapped for another term as secretary; and Ed Ulch with the Iowa Soybean Association was re-elected treasurer during the elections held this week at the NBB fall board meeting in St. Louis, Mo.