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renewable · sustainable · community-based
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Pacific Biodiesel Newsletter
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Aloha
 | Jenna Long,
Fuel Sales Manager
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Mahalo nui loa to everyone who's helped us get this far! Pacific Biodiesel has grown so much in the past couple of years and I'm looking forward to supplying new customers this year with the opening of the Big Island Biodiesel facility. Pacific Biodiesel is now set up to distribute our biodiesel commercially on the Big Island and we hope to have some retail outlets selling our biodiesel there soon. We also welcome Maui Disposal as our newest fleet client at our Maui Hobron Avenue station!
This year has seen several changes in the biodiesel industry. The Federal Excise Tax credit that has helped the industry expand so much in the past decade expired in December 2011. Congress has not renewed it yet, and it is unclear at this point whether they will restore the incentive at all. However, Pacific Biodiesel continues to price our biodiesel competitively with diesel fuel. We thank the EPA's Renewable Fuels Standard program as well as our efficient process technology for helping us reach that goal.
Again, thanks to all who have bought our biodiesel in the past or supported us in other ways! You have contributed much to the success of locally-produced biodiesel in Hawaii and have made my job as Fuel Sales Manager enjoyable and fulfilling!
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BioWillie™ Branding Marks Willie Nelson's 79th Birthday
| | Maui pump customers "on the road again" with BioWillie biodiesel
Beginning on April 30, Willie Nelson's birthday, the fuel at Pacific Biodiesel's retail pump on Maui is being sold as BioWillie™Biodiesel. The branding is the brainchild of superstar Willie Nelson, a Maui resident whose involvement in, and support of, community-based biodiesel production began in the islands when his wife Annie bought their first diesel car in 2003 and filled up at Pacific Biodiesel. The Maui biodiesel fuel pump, located at 40 Hobron Avenue in Kahului, is open 24 hours a day.
To celebrate Willie's birthday, on April 30th biodiesel customers received a free BioWillie™ bumper sticker and were entered in a drawing to win a Pacific Biodiesel cap autographed by Willie Nelson himself. Also, Willie's Maui fans were encouraged to stop by and record a birthday wish to the superstar that will be compiled and posted on YouTube.
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Donning trademark bandannas, staff from Pacific Biodiesel celebrate Willie Nelson's birthday.
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Although there had been a previous attempt to use the brand several years ago, a new agreement with Pacific Biodiesel focuses on the fuel quality as well as sustainability aspects. The BioWillie™ brand specifies that the fuel must meet or exceed standards for biodiesel established by the American Society of Testing and Materials, and feedstock sources are known and can be confirmed as meeting the best practices described by the Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance. In addition, BioWillie™ Biodiesel must be produced in America, from American feedstock, and used in America within a reasonable region.
Willie Nelson is a founding member of the Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance and his advocacy for locally produced biodiesel is documented in the film Revolution Green, narrated by actor Woody Harrelson, another Maui resident who drives on biodiesel. Willie's mainland tour buses run on biodiesel whenever possible, sourced by the SBA to make sure their feedstock origins are sustainable. In May Nelson will release Heroes, his first album for Legacy Recordings which will showcase new songs and deep country classics with guest artists including Merle Haggard, Snoop Dogg, Kris Kristofferson, Billy Joe Shaver, Sheryl Crow, Jamey Johnson, Lukas Nelson and Micah Nelson.
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Pacific Biodiesel Sponsors Sustainability Award
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Four Seasons Resort Maui recognized for "Excellence in Sustainability"
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Pacific Biodiesel's Rob Robinson and Kelly King present the Aipono award to Roger Stettler, Executive Chef of the Four Seasons Resort
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For the second consecutive year, Pacific Biodiesel has sponsored the "Excellence in Sustainability" award at the Aipono Awards, a benefit for the Maui Culinary Academy at University of Hawaii's Maui campus. The annual event recognizes the best of the Island's restaurants, hotels and resorts.
"This award goes to the core of who we are as a company," explained Kelly King, Vice President of Pacific Biodiesel. "The Four Seasons has made a conscious effort to preserve the environment by reducing waste and emissions, recycling and supporting renewable energy." The resort's initiatives include:
*The use of the Natura® Water System which allows glass bottles of still and sparkling water to be filtered and produced and distributed on property eliminating the waste of traditional bottles of water* Upgraded laundry facility which reduces water consumption by 20% and electrical heating by 15%* The first environmentally friendly trash compactor in the State of Hawaii that uses solar power for up to 100% of its power requirements and operates on biodegradable hydraulic fluid* Four Seasons employees and their families volunteered their time to help with the Ko'ie'ie Fishpond restoration project *Purchased a ec-H2O™ floor scrubber that makes highly oxygenated water from tap water, eliminating the need for cleaning chemicals and using 70% less water than the traditional method.
*Ensuring that the Resort's used cooking oil and trap grease are recycled locally into sustainable, community based biodiesel.
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Pacific Biodiesel Celebrates Earth Day
| | Participation at community events state-wide
Beginning with the "Build and Buy Green" conference in Honolulu on April 3rd, the Pacific Biodiesel team spread the message of "renewable, sustainable, community-based biodiesel" across the islands. "Education and outreach are mainstays of our mission," reports Beth Mathias, Director of Sales and Marketing. "People in the community want to understand how they can contribute to the sustainability of our islands. These community events allow us to share information in a relaxed but professional setting and to reach new audiences." Island events surrounding Earth Day 2012 also included: - April 7th - Maui Agricultural Fest
- April 10th - Aloha Aina Luncheon, Oahu
- April 20th - Hawaii Community College Earth Day, Hilo
- April 20th - Punahou Sustainabilty Fair, Oahu
- April 21st - Party for the Planet/Honolulu Zoo, Oahu
- April 21st - Earth Day Celebration/Whole Foods, Maui
- April 21st - Earth Day Expo/Marine Corps Base, Oahu
- April 22nd - Imiloa Earth Day 2012, Hilo
- April 22nd - Mr. K's Recycling Center,Hilo
 | Pacific Biodiesel representatives, Rob Robinson, Beth Mathias, Penny Levin and Kim Haueisen talked to
hundreds at the 2012 Ag Fest on Maui. |
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Big Island Biodiesel Update
| | Now Hiring!
Big Island Biodiesel's on-site job fair held March 24 drew over 200 attendees despite the rainy weather. There were almost 150 job applications submitted that day. As a 2012 recipient of the Best Places to Work in Hawaii award, BIB managing entity Pacific Biodiesel is proud to bring real green jobs to Hawaii Island. Special thanks to Hawaii Community College, EPA, Workforce Hawaii, Hawaii Pure Plant Oil and TerViva BioEnergy for their help in offering additional information to the community at the event.  | |
Enthusiastic job hunters tour the plant with Fuel Sales Manager Jenna Long.
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A celebration of a true Independence Day, the grand opening of the Big Island Biodiesel plant is scheduled for July 2, 2012 in Keaau, Hawaii Island. Please save the date and make plans to join us! The plant installation is progressing well and you can view the construction through our time-lapse camera on-line daily at www.biodiesel.com or click here.  | |
Grand opening for Big Island Biodiesel slated for July 2nd.
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New Customer Recognition Program Unveiled
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| Jeff Mikulina named PB's 1st Environmental Champion
Pacific Biodiesel customers are the best! In order to recognize our supporters for a longer period of time, the former Customer of the Month award on our website will now be a quarterly Environmental Champion Recognition. We are pleased to present the first ECR, Jeff Mikulina of the Blue Planet Foundation. When he's not riding his bike around Oahu, he drives on B100, made locally on island by Pacific Biodiesel! |
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New Faces at Pacific Biodiesel
| | Announcing new employees
. E komo mai (welcome) to new team members!
New Employees - Administration - Maui offices: Alisi Canon has joined the team as staff accountant.
- Administration - Maui offices: Fae Casayuran is providing accounting support.
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Headquartered in Kahului, Hawaii, Pacific Biodiesel was conceived in 1995 as a response to local concerns over unmanageable quantities of waste cooking oil being dumped at the Central Maui Landfill. Since opening and operating the very first retail biodiesel pump in America, Pacific Biodiesel has built a solid reputation as a leading pioneer in the rapidly expanding biodiesel industry. Its research and development division located in Salem, Oregon, has designed and built biodiesel plants from Hawaii to Maryland. PB is committed to the community-based biodiesel model and to our mission of promoting a clean, sustainable energy future through local production of renewable fuels. For more information, please visit our website or contact Beth Mathias at bmathias@biodiesel.com |
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