The co-op’s production and fuel making committee, the Brew Crew, has been consistently making biodiesel since August. We now have our processor setup with several adaptations and improvements and have developed a good workflow. Take a look at some of the beautiful golden biodiesel we made! Currently the brew crew is making only small batches of biodiesel and is gaining lots of experience and training with hopes of expanding the production model in the spring. On the horizon we still need to raise funds to get our BioBus up and running, in which would greatly increase efficiency of collecting fuel and making deliveries.

One of the biggest challenges for any biodiesel producer is what to do with the Glycerine byproduct. We have been exploring a handful of options for glycerine disposal and reuse including composting with a researcher at the Dept of Agriculture Research Center and biodigesters at the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission. However we also know that glycerine is very valuable as soap so we did some research and decided to make a stab at producing liquid hand soap. Our product, “Newtonia Industrial Soap” is named after the group house and community in Brookland where the soap was made. The soap is in fact industrial strength, yet without being harsh on your skin. Glycerine is actually a very powerful moisturizer and leaves your hands feeling soft. We added a lavender-mint scent using essential oils. We filmed our experiment on a home video camera and hope to put out a video soon.

Keep an eye out for this amazing soap on our website merchandise page soon!

WHEN: Saturday, October 24th from noon to 5pm

WHERE: Malcolm X/Meridian Hill Park, 16th and Euclid Streets NW followed by a march to Lafayette Park in front of the White House.

WHAT: We will gather for a rally in Malcolm X/Meridian Hill Park at 16th and Euclid Streets NW. Following speakers, music, exhibits, displays and cultural performers in the park, we will move to the White House and form a “circle of hope” across from it. Groups will march, bicycle, come in buses or take public transportation from all over the greater D.C. region and beyond to this day of action. We anticipate thousands of people taking part, a multi-racial, multi-generational mix.

Speakers and Performers:
Backyard Band
Mingus Murray
DJ Soyo
Wise Intelligent of Poor Righteous Teachers and the Intelligent Seedz
Gidon Bromberg, Director, Friends of the Earth Middle East
Alec Loorz, 2009 Brower Youth Award winner and Co-founder of Kids vs. Global Warming
Young Women’s Drumming Empowerment Project

WHO: Initiated by the Hip Hop Caucus and Chesapeake Climate Action Network. Other groups involved include: 350.org, 1Sky, Advocates for Environmental Human Rights, African American Environmental Alliance, AVAAZ Climate Action Factory, Campus Progress, Carbonfund.org, Code Pink, D.C. Metro Science for the People, Energy Action Coalition, Environmental Justice Climate Change Initiative, Friends of the Earth, Gray Panthers, Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light, Green DMV, Helping Inner City Kids Succeed, National Wildlife Federation, Organic Agriculture Recycling, Planet Restoration, Sierra Club Environmental Justice Program, Students for a Democratic Society, Sustain US, Ward 8 Environmental Council, and the Washington Peace Center.

CLICK HERE TO RSVP!

CONTACT: Ted Glick, ted@chesapeakeclimate.org, 240-396-2155.

Statement of Purpose
Working with people around the world, we have joined together to organize a major action on Saturday, October 24th in Washington, D.C. to address the related issues of global warming pollution and poverty.

It is our responsibility to speak up, organize and take action to demand that our government move now to make this happen. We need a clean, green economy that affirmatively improves the lives of all of humanity, especially those who have been negatively impacted by the fossil fuel economy–people of color and low-income people.

We will work to deeply root our actions leading up to and on October 24th in local D.C. communities. We will reach out to religious, health, community, labor, student and other groups, a broad cross-section. We support the call for a strong, science-based, just and equitable international climate treaty that gets us on the path toward reducing world carbon emissions to 350 parts per million (they’re now at 387 and climbing). This should come out of the United Nations Climate Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark in December. We support the passage of strong, science-based legislation by Congress and President Obama before that conference.

This early cold spell caught us by suprise and reminded us that we must be vigilant about cold weather precautions! Biodiesel can be used throughout the winter, but we must all be aware and knowledgeable about what we can do to make sure we prevent problems before they occur.

The problem:

Cold weather is an enemy to diesel engines, even petroleum based diesel you buy at the pump has anti-gel additives. The diesel engine relies on heat and compression to combust. Biodiesel is particularly to succeptable to cold weather because it has a lower gel point. Gelling is dependent on feedstock, for example animal fats have a higher soluble fats and will gel at 45-50 degrees whereas soy based biodiesel will begin to get at 30 degrees.

What you can do:

* Winterize the blend in your tank. By mixing with either low sulfur diesel or kerosene, you can significantly lower the gel point of your fuel and eliminate the problem. Most people recommend a B50 blend for the winter season.
* Anti-gel additives. Many regularly available additives only work on the petro-diesel half of your mix but still go a long way to lowering the gel point and preventing problems from arising. Some additives are specific for Biodiesel like Power Service brand, check labels.
* Change the fuel filter if serious gelling has already occured.
* An engine block heater can help with cold starts, if your car doesn’t have one there are aftermarket ones too.
* Other things you can do: check to make sure your batteries are strong, check your glow plugs are working properly, allow time for glow plugs to pre-heat, keep extra additive such as Power Service “Diesel 911” in your trunk for emergencies. For the serious biodiesel user, consider aftermarket fuel heating elements and mods.
* Let us know if you are experiencing problems with the coop fuel or if you have any expertise to share in the area of winter biodiesel use.

What we are doing:

* The B80 that we are distributing is commercially available, ASTM certified biodiesel. It has been blended with %20 petrol diesel as an anti-gel precaution and as the coldest months approach we will likely switch to a B50 blend.
* The coop recently formed a fuel committee to take greater control over the fuel purchasing and fuel quality control monitoring. The group is working on getting bulk discounts for purchasing anti-gel additives both for personal use as well as to pre-treat our main tanks. The fuel committee will also be researching best options for biodiesel feedstock and resupply so that we can negotiate better deals and ensure quality product.
* In the long term, the coop is looking at modifications to the fueling station that will allow us to heat and insulate our fuel storage so that we can guarantee a quality source throughout the cold months.

More Resources:

· http://alternativefuels.about.com/od/vehiclemaintenanceguide/a/bdwinterrx.htm

· http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_winter.html

· http://www.biodieselnow.com/forums/10.aspx

Glossary of Terms:

1. Cloud Point – the temperature at which dissolved solids are no longer completely soluble, precipitating as a second phase giving the fluid a cloudy appearance. Therefore, cloud point indicates the tendency of the oil to plug filters or small orifices at cold operating temperatures.

2. Gel Point –the temperature at which the fuel freezes solid and can no longer be pumped or poured. The fuel will become cloudier and thicker as the temperature is lowered, until the gel point is reached. Filter clogging becomes a problem between the cloud and gel points.

3. Pour Point – The pour point of a liquid is the lowest temperature at which it will pour or flow under prescribed conditions. It is a rough indication of the lowest temperature at which oil is readily pumpable.

4. Cold Filter Plug Point – Cold filter plugging point (CFPP) is the highest temperature at which a given volume of fuel fails to pass through a standardized filtration device. This test gives an estimate for the lowest temperature that a fuel will give trouble free flow in certain fuel systems.

With their AGC winnings in hand, the University of Maryland will be reinforcing their Engaged University program, a initiative that the Student Government Association has been fighting to maintain among budgetary constraints. Engaged University is a model community designed to influence the way UMD’s campus thinks about and engages in sustainable living and demonstrates the economic, social, and environmental benefits of long term sustainability.The EU facility houses a number of demonstrations including an urban organic garden that supplies food to low income families and schools and the DC/Metro area’s only Biodiesel Cooperative.

University of Maryland’s Joanna Calabrese was one of the first campus organizers, and proceeded to be the most pro-active participant out of more than 20,000 people involved with the contest. Joanna helped raise awareness in her school by leveraging the reach of the student government, campus media, and the environmental clubs on campus.

http://climateculture.com/americas_greenest_campus/

Join the Preserve Our Planet (POP) Corn Cooperative, the City of Mt Rainier and the Save Our Sky Home-Heating Cooperative to officially open the Mt Rainier Urban Grain Bin. The 20-foot tall, 9-foot wide structure holds about 20 tons of dry, shelled feed corn which will be used as heating fuel in pellets stoves to save money, reduce carbon emissions and support local farmers. Members of the coop get convenient access to an environmentally-friendly alternative to natural gas, oil or electric heating. Anyone can join!

DATE: Saturday, Oct 10, 2009

PROGRAM: Open House 9am – 12pm

Speakers and Grand Opening at 10am

Potluck Brunch to follow… (bring something if you can)

LOCATION: 3601 Bunkerhill Rd, Mt Rainier, MD

(Just off Rt 1/Rhode Island Ave at the rear of the county fire station, and directly behind the Mt Rainier Bike Coop/Tool Shed) http://tinyurl.com/PopcornCoop

PROGRAM DETAILS:

At the Open House, learn about corn stoves and the corn cooperatives, opportunity to become a member, and see tables from local eco-vendors and organizations (including Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Urban Solar Solutions, Mt Rainier Bike Coop, Mt Rainier Tool Shed, etc). Speakers will include representatives from local government and environmental advocacy organizations.

Wanna see some stoves in action? Save the Date for the Mt Rainier Corn Stove Tour – Coming Nov 21 – Details to be announced.

MORE ABOUT THE CORN COOP:

We currently have about 70 members of the Takoma Park coop, from Gaithersburg and Pooleville to DC and Hyattsville. We expect/hope for 10, 20, 30 new members of the Mt Rainier coop this year. Members who get their primary heating from corn spend between $500-1000 per season, usually saving several hundred dollars and paying for their stoves in about 5 years.

This year we are attempting a bulk purchase of corn/pellet stoves. If you’re interested in joining the purchase(s) and saving an additional $200-1000, plus getting a 30% up to $1,500 federal tax credit, please visit the website and contact us.

For photos and additional info, see: www.SaveOurSky.com

BIG THANK YOUS TO:

County Council member Will Campos and Brad Fromme, Neighborhood Design Center, City of Mt Rainier, Green Home, LLC, People’s Supply, Helicon Works, Prince Georges Fire and Rescue, Gateway Community Development Corporation, Save Our Sky Home-Heating Cooperative all past and present Mt. Rainier Council Members and everyone else who helped us reach our goal after three years!

If you haven’t seen it already, please take a look at this amazing informational poster about peak oil and scarcity.  This is why we do what we do.  In our lifetimes we will see the end of oil, the coop is one piece of the puzzle to build a new world with sustainable solutions to our energy problems.  Learn more or order your own poster for your classroom, home or office at http://www.oilposter.org.