Imperium Renewables has announced it has achieved a BQ-9000 certification for its Seattle-based refineries. According to a company press release, the certification is a measure of fuel quality requiring companies to have approved quality management systems, including storage, sampling, testing, blending, shipping, distribution, and fuel management practices:
“From day one our pledge was to produce biodiesel from vegetable oil that would meet or exceed the quality and performance of petroleum diesel,” said John Plaza, Founder and President of Imperium Renewables. “BQ-9000 builds on the work we do to provide ASTM specified products to validate to our customers and distributors that our fuel meets the same quality standards as petroleum diesel. Unlike petroleum diesel, however, our fuel is made 100 percent from renewable energy resources, such as soy and canola oil, and emits up to 78 percent less carbon dioxide. Same quality, just better for our planet.”
Imperium has been grabbing some recent headlines, at least on this web site, over the past month or so. Previously we told you how Imperium had set a possible record for investment with $214 million. Its biodiesel has also made its way into the gas pumps at Safeway stores, and the company is about to open a 100-million-gallon-a-year refinery in Washington state… the largest in the country.
To anyone concerned about high grain prices, the impact of biofuels on the livestock industry, or whether we will have enough corn to meet all needs, Dean Kleckner has just one message: “Let the market sort it out.”
According to 
The Renewable Fuels Association and the Energy Information Administration announced today that production of ethanol in 2006 reached 4.86 billion gallons… up 24.3% percent from 2005. Likewise, demand for ethanol is up by a third during the same time period.
“America’s ethanol industry is clearly stepping up to fulfill increased ethanol demand and help address the need to reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil,” said RFA President Bob Dinneen. “The nearly 25 percent increase in ethanol production over last year is consistent with the type of growth our industry has experienced in recent years and this growth will continue. The bottom line is America’s ethanol industry is up to the challenges that lie before us.”
Woertz started off by saying that ADM intends to use a “holistic” approach to meet food and energy needs. “Our approach is to see these global needs–for food, heat, light, mobility, security and a healthy environment holistically. To see them all as fundamental human needs, that are—in fact— interconnected.”
School administrators might want to mark Tuesday, March 13th on their calendars as the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Institute holds the AFV School Bus Connection webcast from 10:30 a.m.-noon PST.
The New Mexico House has passed a measure that would require all diesel vehicles to use at least 5% biodiesel. Under Rep. John Heaton’s bill, all state agencies and public schools would be required to buy the 5% blend starting after in about three years. All diesel vehicles, public and private, would have the requirement after July 1st, 2012.