Piedmont Biofuels
   
Membership Newsletter
Bananas at the Plant
Tales from the Plant
August 2010

Greetings!Filling up Jack Johnson

August is gone?  It seems like we just launched our newsletter endeavor, but apparently this our 7th Edition.

This summer has seen record B100 sales on the trail, along with the launch of our Partners in Sustainability program with our restaurant partners.

August found us filling up Jack Johnson's tour, acquiring a 55 gallon drum of Deniece's degreaser made from our glycerin co-product, shipping a research plant to Clemson University and delivering a tank to the Shakori Grassroots Festival of Music and Dance.

August was also the month that the Department of Energy announced they would be investing an additional million dollars into our enzymatic biodiesel research.

We've continued to "scrub the database" and our membership has continued to grow.  Thanks to all those who have renewed, re-joined, and kept their membership current with us.

Finally, five of our banana trees have set fruit this year.  It appears we will be harvesting about thirty pounds of bananas. At Piedmont we don't think arguing about climate change is a good use of our time.  Instead, we simply enjoy our locally grown bananas...

Sustainably yours,
Piedmont Biofuels
Member Benefits Just Got Bigger and Better!




Shakori Hills' Fall Festival is just 37 days away!  We are all looking forward to 4 days of music, art, dance, music workshops, education and community gathering.
 
This year Shakori has generously offered Piedmont Biofuels members $5 off the price of a ticket!  For more information on the festival, please visit the Shakori Hills Music and Dance Festival website.


The Late Shift presents The Naked Gods, live at Piedmont!

september late shift 2010Our summer music series got off to a nice start with a beautiful show in August featuring Birds and Arrows on a Sunday evening.  A full moon rose, and the audience enjoyed some excellent wood-fired pizza from our baker extraordinaire Lynette Driver.

This September 25th we are hosting Boone, NC's Naked Gods with a special opening set by local classic country master's Jack Maverick and His Wild Rebels.

The Naked Gods play a roots type of rock and roll something like Crazy Horse recording at Big Pink on some drunken visit to Woodstock in '68.
They visited us back in 2007 for the early days of the Late Shift, and if there had been a roof out on the lawn, they would've blown it off, we may have even gotten a visit from the police asking us to turn it down.  We're excited to have these boys back in town, and hoping that you can join us.

Tickets are $5 in advance and $7 at the door.  Check us out at www.biofuels.coop/thelateshift for more info!  

New Wheels in Clemson, South Carolina!

David at Clemson

Crushing, Reacting, Washing, Centrifuging, Distilling, Purifying!!! They do it all now thanks to one of our mobile pilot scale biodiesel processers. Clemson will be using their new mobile facility to perform research on alternative feedstock such as algae and fungus, as well as crushing conventional oilseeds, distilling solvents from feedstock and biodiesel, purifying reclaimed solvents, all while producing fuel for the Clemson fleet.

This co-generation combined heat and power facility combusts biodiesel made on the processor in a biodiesel generator to supply all heat and power for this system. How's that for a closed loop!? Oh... and I forgot to mention that the first 30 gallon batch of fuel was made from a combination of sunflower and ALGAE oil!!!



Meet the Staff featuring:
Jeremy Rushlow

Jeremy Picture

For almost a year and a half, Jeremy Rushlow has been our Production Manager here at Piedmont Biofuels.  Originally from Highland, Michigan, Jeremy moved to NC to further his quest in getting people off the petroleum grid. 

Currently he is attending CCCC with intentions of transferring to Appalachian State University to study in one of the country's best Appropriate Technology programs.  Jeremy is living at Oilseed Community, a successful cooperative housing project in Moncure.  When he isn't working or studying, you can find him on a disc golf course. 

With lots of help and support from Jeremy, we send out close to 20,000 gallons of B100 a month.  His expertise, strong work ethic, and love for the cause makes him invaluable to our project.

Mark your Calendar
3rd Annual Pepper Fest - Sunday, October 3rd
Pepper Poster

Join us at the Plant for a celebration of local peppers prepared by more than a dozen chefs in the area.  You can taste habanero infused beer, listen to some tunes by Holy Ghost Tent Revival, and witness the first crowning of the Pepper Fest King and Queen!

For more information contact McCayne Miller at [email protected]


Member Referral


Piedmont Biofuels is gearing up for a Membership Drive that will continue throughout the rest of 2010!

We will be focusing on a few areas:
  • Residents in and around Saxapahaw
  • Current members friends and family
  • Folks or small businesses that are interested in having a private tank 
Please take a moment to send us some names and numbers of the above listed groups that you think would be a good match for Piedmont.  We couldn't do it without our members and are hoping to continue to increase the amount of fuel we are putting out into the world.

You can contact McCayne Miller, Membership Coordinator with any questions or ideas.

919-321-8260
[email protected]

Seedpressing Workshop at Piedmont

Saturday September 18th join us for a hands-on workshop with Dirk Skuras of IBG Monforts seedpress makers.
We will discuss the operation of oil seed presses, working with a Komet DD85 seedpress.  There is great potential in cold-pressed oils for food and fuel.  Come and learn more about it.
The workshop will be from 11am to 3pm Saturday.
For more info, check out our webpage.
DD85 in Sunflower Field
Grease Goddess Update

Moya, the Grease Goddess, in all her glory.

Moya, our Grease Goddess, and her team of oil collectors procure used cooking from restaurants, country clubs, universities and schools around the Triad and Triangle.


She is working hard to expand Piedmont's Oil Collection business and would love to take any and all of your waste vegetable oil. Already on board? Spread the word.

Moya can be reached at greasegoddess[at]biofuels.coop

Quick Links

Piedmont Partners
When deciding where to enjoy your lunch or dinner, check the front entrance for the Piedmont Biofuels Partner logo.

Look for the latest location for Grease Appreciation in an upcoming email.

Upcoming Events
Eco-Industrial Park Tours Every Sunday at 1pm and the first Friday of every month!

220 Lorax Lane
Pittsboro, North Carolina 27312

 Thank you For Your Membership

Together we continue to bring clean,renewable fuels throughout the Piedmont of North Carolina. Don't forget to renew your membership today for 2010.


Contact Information

Membership Services
McCayne Miller
919-321-8260