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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.