A Green Built, Solar Powered, Biofuels Station

Peak Moment 104: From an early start producing biodiesel from used cooking oil in his garage, Ian Hill, was instrumental in creating a market for biofuels in the state of Oregon. Now Managing Partner of SeQuential Biofuels in Eugene, he has gone on to build the first retail biofuels station in the state -- and it's not an ordinary fueling station: A solar panel canopy provides 50% of the needed electricity. The convenience store is a passive solar design to help with heating and cooling, and stocks as much locally produced food as possible. Its "living roof", of mostly native plants, helps cool the building in summer, and slow and filter stormwater runoff. This optimistic enteprenuer says he has found greater happiness in learning to consuming less. [www.sqbiofuels.com]

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Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• biofuels
• ethanol
• biodiesel
• green
• building
• solar

[vudumojo]

This was interesting.

It would be great if you produced a how to video on how to make it though.

[peakmoment]

Great idea. I'll add it to my wish list. We plan to travel and tape programs on the west coast, perhaps also east coast, this summer-fall 2008. Any of our viewers or friends producing biodiesel on a small scale--especially with used vegie oil -- that we can tape demonstrating how to do it?

[2bsirius]

While making the biofuel from USED cooking oil is a great idea, I have misgivings about the efficacy of using CLEAN oil for this purpose. Why are we growing food crops to feed our cars? The global drive for a new green fuel to power cars, trucks and even planes is worsening world food shortages. We need to use walking and biking and public transport. Converting large areas of land to crops for biofuel reduces food production just when the world needs it most. Am I mistaken in this?

[peakmoment]

I agree with you. When we taped this in summer 2006, biofuels were just getting going. I don't see a way for biofuels to replace petroleum at the magnitude we consume--they're far too inefficient. They're already using farmland better used for food production. On a local, small-scale basis, as a stop-gap fuel until we devise more efficient energy sources, perhaps yes.

[takotheoktopus]

Since this interview is from 2006, I would love to hear about any updates to SeQuential Biofuel's success and whether or not they will be expanding to Canada.

[peakmoment]

You'll find updates on their website (listed at the end of the "About this Video" description at the top of this page). Be sure to click more...

[peebeebaynut]

Subsidize the petroleum industry with 0.1% in B99? Hello? When the crops are grown with tractors and combines powered and lubricated with petroleum and the pesticides are derived from petroleum too? The loop is not closed--we do not grow crops used to make biodeisel using only biodeisel.

[lilbeanez1517]

y dont people just walk and stop complaining about fuel prices and that may help with Americas obesity problem 2.

[lilbluehonda24]

I love all your videos! Keep up the fantastic work!!

[vudumojo]

That sounds great.

[ArtistIreland]

Good work people :)