Blog
Nov 02, 2011
Dan Browne takes a break from hauling 55 gallon barrels into the truck and breaks the skin of a plum that was hidden in his hoodie. "Do these look legit enough?" He asks as he gobbles the stone fruit in one gnash. It's hot out; steam rises from the paved driveway. I'm surprised he didn't swallow the pit.
He was referring to the forest green barrels, which from what we can tell, were formally used to house much harsher chemicals than anything we were going to use them for. These barrels were going to be our oil collection terminals. Precious waste-oil from the University of Portland's food service kitchens (managed by the impeccable Kirk Mustain of Bon Appetit) would be transferred into these once-orphaned barrels to complete the first stage of our on-campus biodiesel production project.
This project, borne by the backs of alumni before us, was finally coming into its own and through the complicated dance of administration approval finally had a toehold of a chance to flourish because of the university's recently enacted Climate Action Plan. The biodiesel project falls under the actions stated on Pages 10 and 11 of the Plan and according to all the hard work our team had put into the last year, our Solutions-in-Action were absolutely 'legit'. But he had a point, were we 'legit' enough?
Since first completing our Action Plan in April 2011, to institutionalize biodiesel production at the University of Portland for the use of groundskeeper and service vehicles, Dan and I had set to practice our biodiesel production skills during the summer so we could put together a feasible work plan for the upcoming academic year. He, the Innovator, was much more advanced than I, the Politico (not having touched a chemistry set since grade five), and already familiar with the biodiesel reactant process. The summer flew by and our team had garnered a working knowledge on the chemicals used to formulate fresh B100 (100% biodiesel). We were ready to roll out batches; all we needed was a couple of Jane and John Hancock's.
Dancing; it's been a passion of mine since I learned to stand and from what I've decided, I'm pretty good at it. Dancing in and out of meetings looking for project approval was a little harder. A green light for our green project meant we needed to set up a club, find a Campus Advisor (CA), look into a paid student work position (preferably funded as Federal Work Study), and scare up funding for material costs and club member incentives. There was lots of groundwork to put in, but finally in September we secured a CA (noted biodiesel enthusiast and original champion of the project, Kevin "Dr. C" Cantrell, PhD, from the Chemistry department), and Dan put in an application for an official student organization, making the project eligible for funding.
Much progress has been made throughout the semester, Dan and his executive board had successful club member recruitment meetings, showing students from multiple disciplines the path waste-oil takes to become biodiesel. The barrels were set up behind the main dining hall; 40 gallons of waste-oil a week are transferred from the kitchen to the reactor by crews of students. Updates of the project were communicated twice monthly to Dr. C, the university's service-learning center and the Presidential Advisory Committee on Sustainability to create transparent and inclusive partnerships between students and administration. Since graduating in May, I now work behind the scenes at FTN as a Leadership Development Fellow in hopes to support Dan and Co.’s biodiesel efforts in a new role in this Phase 3 project. The only hitch in the works was hold-up from the committee that approves new student clubs due to an unforeseen, prolonged committee recess.
Currently, the project is in need of an executive document stating project goals and the means to achieve them; basically it would be an expanded version of our original Action Plan. The document would be used to prove cause for a student paid work position to handle the day-to-day maintenance of the reactor and development of the community outreach phase of the project (doesn’t that sound more fun than sweeping leaves as a student job on campus?). Dan and I have some lofty goals for the biodiesel project. In our vision, the university will one day use the project as a landmark example of successful and sustainable cross-pollination between university departments and administration-student relations.
In the video you’ll see a sped-up version of part of the biodiesel process, specifically titration. Titration is part of a volumetric analysis where a substance is discovered in a solution (triglycerides) and then reacted with another solution (in this case Potassium Hydroxide--KOH). Used in biodiesel, titration separates the glycerin from the oil and replaces it with methanol to activate it’s potential as a fuel.
Here is what I learned from working hands-on with such an advantageous alternative fuel: while the biodiesel reactant process is mostly closed-loop, glycerol is a by-product from batch washing (a necessary step to producing the fuel) and can be used for other purposes; such uses include, but are not limited to, sweetener additive, thickening agent, personal care items (soap) and pharmaceutical agents. While producing biodiesel is our primary objective to the project, we could also determine a use for the glycerol we happen upon for free; this is where the business part of my brain switches on.
Our long-term goal for the project is to include the surrounding neighborhoods surrounding the campus; our first step in community outreach would be to quantify the need for either waste-oil capture or biodiesel use. In exchange for waste-oil and to incentivize broader alternative fuel use we would like to offer the community possible course credit on campus in an effort to engage continuing education, and foster a more intimate relationship between the campus and local neighbors. Alumni, like me, could find ways to either capture waste-oil or use UP-produced (think of all the awesome logo ideas!) biodiesel and continue what we learned during our tenure at the university by expanding the closed-loop, local energy-sourced lifestyle; what I believe would fall under the UP mission tenet of “Service and Leadership.” Legitimacy is in the wings or too legit to quit? Let us know below in the comments.
Nov 02, 2011
California adopted the nation’s first cap-and-trade program to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and meet the state’s climate change goals. The cap-and-trade program comes out of California’s AB 32, a landmark bill on emissions passed in 2006. Although industry representatives and unions questioned its impact on jobs, and environmental justice groups said the program allowed polluting in low-income neighborhoods to continue, the California Air Resources Board voted unanimously to adopt the program. Read more about this landmark cap-and-trade program.
The first phase of the program will apply to major industry, like oil refineries and electric utilities, starting in 2013. In 2015 the program will be extended to natural gas and transportation fuel industries. California chose the cap and trade program to meet its greenhouse gas reduction goals; the state aims to be at 1990 GHG levels by 2020.
There are various approaches to curbing carbon emissions, both regulatory and through the market, with each system raising its own set of advantages and disadvantages. The EPA offers a basic explanation of cap and trade systems.
Will other states follow suit? The verdict is still out. With the economy and jobs being a current hot button issue, decision makers will have an eye out for how the program effects the economy. But while industry reps expressed concern about decreasing jobs, California’s bold move continues to showcase the state as a leader in clean energy. While the program will likely face obstacles around implementation and execution (as any groundbreaking policy does, particularly one that is the first of its kind in the nation), the Golden State’s program demonstrates a commitment and promise to the clean tech industries. Such a loud and clear signal continues to position California as a welcoming home for clean tech businesses, and with it the jobs of a green economy.
Nov 09, 2011
While I was cruising around Facebook the other day I came across an awesome post by one of our rockstar INNOVATORS in Illinois who attending our ReCharge! Retreat this summer. As a Chemistry major, Alicia is super interested in the technical and political aspects of the Solar Industry and has been doing research on an emerging form of solar cells, organic photovoltaic cells (OPVs), for the past two quarters with the Tobin Marks Group at Northwestern University:
Here's a link to the Illinois Smart Grid Initiative that Alicia mentions: http://www.ilsmartgrid.org/
Nov 11, 2011
On this Veteran’s Day, we’d like to take a moment to honor those who have served in the armed forces. Focus the Nation recognizes the role veterans play in telling our nation’s history, and the invaluable perspective they bring as we plan our country’s future. To bring this voice to the table, FTN works in partnership with Operation Free, a project of the Truman National Security Project. Operation Free is a nationwide coalition of veterans who recognize that climate change is a major threat, and support fast, bold action to secure America with clean energy.
Thank you, veterans!
Nov 14, 2011
Australia became the second major economy to tax carbon on Tuesday. Because of its heavy reliance on coal, Australia is one of the largest emitters of carbon per capita. Starting in July 2012, the country’s 500 biggest polluters will pay A$23 (US$23.7) per ton of carbon, and will switch to a carbon trading market by 2015. The country will also simultaneously invest more than A$13 billion on renewable and clean energy projects. The plan aims to cut the country’s emissions by five percent, down to 2000 levels, by 2020. Read more from Environmental Leader.
Nov 14, 2011
Former President Bill Clinton has been an active advocate for renewable energy development through his Clinton Global Initiative, and shared the importance of investing in clean energy with The Daily Show’s John Stewart. (You can skip to 3:40 to get straight to the energy talk.)
Nov 14, 2011
On Thursday the US State Department ordered a new review of Keystone XL pipeline route, pushing back a final determination until after the first quarter of 2013. The decision for additional review comes after questioned conflicts of interest in the previous environmental impact assessment and concerns about the proposed route’s impact in Nebraska.
Is the decision a political move as we head into the 2012 elections? Or does this decision effectively kill the pipeline? Regardless, one thing is for certain: the White House is paying attention and responding to the 1254 people who got arrested out front of its gates and the thousands of others along the proposed route who have joined forces to protest the pipeline:
Nebraska’s concern about the pipeline’s route over the Ogallala Aquifer, which serves 1.5 million people, was acknowledged by the administration in the decision to review. Local issues often receive more attention and action by communities, as opposed to further-removed, more globally-focused issues. While in this instance the action prevented fossil fuel development, the local concern around development still applies to renewable technologies. Again, Time Magazine’s Bryan Walsh quotes Michael Levi from the Council on Foreign Relations:
Focus Coordinators Maria Rosales of University of Tennessee Knoxville and Amy Plovnick and Adam Hasz of Washington State University in St.Louis have been voicing their opinions about the Keystone XL issue in their home states and in Washington DC.
It’s important for us to remember too that oil pipelines are hardly the only pieces of contentious energy infrastructure that will require government approval in coming years. This is particularly true if the United States wants to build a new clean-energy economy, as Michael Levi points out. The Keystone protests showed that unlikely groups of ranchers, democrats, indigenous groups, labor unions, environmentalists and republicans could get together to fight something. The real test will now be if these same unlikely groups of people can get together in every corner of America to actually build the infrastructure our new energy economy is demanding of us.
Nov 14, 2011
Lohas. No, it isn’t slang for “aloha,” but refers to a market segment called Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability, an upper class, highly educated demographic who values sustainable living. One in five American adults are classified as Lohas. And while some of the most lauded, sustainable cities have been driven by Lohas, what happens to the other 80% of adults and the communities they live in? Andrew Ross, NYU professor and author of Bird on Fire: Lessons From the World’s Least Sustainable City, tackled this question in the November 7th New York Times Op-Ed. How will struggling cities make the transition to sustainable living? Check out Professor Ross’ thoughts, and share yours below!
Nov 14, 2011
We are happy to hear that the Alliance for Climate Eduaction (ACE) has reached over 1 million high school students nationwide with their assemblies on climate science and solutions. Our very own 2011 ReCharge! Delegate and Focus Coordinator at UC Berkeley Merideth Jacobson was inspired by ACE as a high school student and was a recipient of the 2010 ACE Scholarship Award!
We are excited to see more of these inspired high school students continue on the path to Clean Energy Solutions by launching Forums-to-Action teams when they get to college!
Great work ACE for educating and inspiring our youth in such an awesome way!
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