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Each year the National Biodiesel Board bestows the “Eye on Biodiesel” awards, designed to recognize individuals and groups who have advanced the board’s mission of public education and industry growth. The awards were presented by NBB Chairman Darryl Brinkmann (left) and NBB CEO Joe Jobe (right). Michael Peterson is pictured in the hat. Award for:

Innovation – Gene Hemphill/New Holland Co., Manager North American Industry Affairs.
New Holland in 2006 approved the use of 20 percent biodiesel (B20) in all of its equipment using New Holland engines. It is the first Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) to announce full support of B20 in all of the diesel engines that it produces. Hemphill is a big reason for New Holland’s support; he was advocating its use in their equipment almost a decade ago. Also, in 2003, New Holland was the first large farm equipment company to join the Biodiesel Alliance that connects the widespread support base for biodiesel. New Holland also awarded use of its tractors to the nation’s two top recruiters of the Biodiesel Alliance.

Listen to the presentation with Gene here: Gene Hemphill Presentation (4 min MP3)

Domestic Fuel coverage of the
National Biodiesel Conference sponsored by

Each year the National Biodiesel Board bestows the “Eye on Biodiesel” awards, designed to recognize individuals and groups who have advanced the board’s mission of public education and industry growth. The awards were presented by NBB Chairman Darryl Brinkmann (left) and NBB CEO Joe Jobe (right). Award for:

Influencer – Bill and Cindy Mack.
Bill and Cindy Mack, known and admired by U.S. truckers, have significantly increased the awareness of biodiesel in that large market. Bill Mack, XM Radio’s “Satellite Cowboy,” not only recently helped kick off the Biodiesel Hotline, 866-BIODIESEL, but he and Cindy have spoken about biodiesel on “Open Road” the past few years. “Truckers are committed to using biodiesel and we get a lot of calls from truckers looking for biodiesel on the road,” said Bill. “We want to do whatever we can to help them find biodiesel. We believe it is the right thing for America.” They often send listeners to NBB’s Web site, biodiesel.org, as well as to NBB’s “Biotrucker” information; and they have regularly spent entire shows discussing only biodiesel, often with guest Willie Nelson.

Listen to the presentation with Cindy & Bill here: Cindy & Bill Mack Presentation (4 min MP3)

Domestic Fuel coverage of the
National Biodiesel Conference is sponsored by

Each year the National Biodiesel Board bestows the “Eye on Biodiesel” awards, designed to recognize individuals and groups who have advanced the board’s mission of public education and industry growth. The awards were presented by NBB Chairman Darryl Brinkmann (left) and NBB CEO Joe Jobe (right). Award for:

Industry Partnership – Rod Lawrence/Magellan Midstream Partners LP, Manager of Quality and Analytical Services.
Under Rod Lawrence’s direction, Magellan Analytical Laboratories has been closely involved in biodiesel testing and analytical method development for more than 15 years. Lawrence’s Magellan lab, then Williams Pipeline, was the first host of the biodiesel industry’s Technical Brainstorming Workshop a decade ago. Lawrence has played a leadership role in developing the industry’s BQ-9000 program, as well as the ASTM specifications. Lawrence and Magellan have given of their own resources, working with other petroleum and biodiesel companies to understand and help prevent quality control issues. Biodiesel blends are now available at nine Magellan terminals which handle over 600 million gallons of diesel fuel annually.

Listen to the presentation with Rod here: Rod Lawrence Award Presentation (3 min MP3)

Domestic Fuel coverage of the
National Biodiesel Conference is sponsored by

I want to thank our sponsor for my coverage of this year’s National Biodiesel Conference, John Deere, represented here by Don Borgman. The conference is winding down with the NBB Board meeting and a few workshops still taking place. I’m headed home but have a number of posts that I’ll add within the next day, including all the Eye on Biodiesel award winners.

Before Don took off I sat down with him for another interview to get his perspective on what he’s seen and heard here at the Conference. The word “quality” seems to have been a real big focus and Don applauds the the National Biodiesel Board for working even harder on this issue after a few concerns surfaced last year. Don says that in the sessions he participated in there were questions about equipment warranties and the issue of feed stocks since we’ll need to find resources in addition to soybeans to meet demand in the future.

Listen to my interview with Don here: Don Borgman Interview (6 min MP3)

Domestic Fuel coverage of the
National Biodiesel Conference is sponsored by

At our general session this morning here at the National Biodiesel Conference we got the political perspective from both sides of the aisle. On hand were Mary Matalin and James Carville.

The couple have figured out how to get along even though they look at life through very different political eyes. After their presentation they conducted a short question and answer session with the press and attendees who wanted to sit in.

I’ve got the recorded audio of the press conference for you here. The questions aren’t on microphone but the answers are very clear. The first question to kick it off is whether they think biodiesel as part of an energy solution is on the radar screen inside the beltway in Washington, DC.

Listen to their press conference here: James Carville & Mary Matalin Press Conference (15 min MP3)

Domestic Fuel coverage of the
National Biodiesel Conference sponsored by