We had 9 people attend the general assembly meeting yesterday and had plenty of lively discussion.
1)Treasurer's report
2)Expansion Plans
3)Future of Fuel purchase and Sales
4)Clean Fuel Fund
5)A walkthrough to observe fuel transfer process
Treasurer Report:
Current balance in the coop's account is $10k
$5k has been earmarked for the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) grant expenditures for the Clean Fuel Fund.
Spent $3370 on 1000 gallons of B99.
We are currently spending $30 per month on BGE services (mainly electricity delivery charge) and $50 per month on rent. These costs are covered by the markup we charge on fuel sold to members.
Inventory (Assets)
3 BBD9000 automated fuel kiosks
2 are fitted with solar panels and batteries, ready to place in the field.
We also have parts for others that can be assembled.
Expansion Plans.
2 new locations are being settled with tank, cage and BBD9000 kiosk.
Merriweather Post Pavilion (MP, passenger cars and tour buses)
Tidewater point (TP, passenger cars and boats)
'Aerotank' company has made a doublewall, 1000 gallon tank for us to place at MP.
TP has a 2000 gallon doublewall tank in place on the dock already.
Several separate action items must be executed to setup MP:
Site preparation near the concert pavilion (level area for the tank and cage).
Delivery of Tank from Aerotank company, to MP site.
Delivery of cage from Ron Thomas (Jewel Welding) to MP site.
Assembly and plumbing of BBD9000MP, cage, tank and solar panels.
Voted for a July 4, 2010 deadline to have MP up and running. Passed 8-0.
Once we have a technical drawing of the tank, Ilya and Paul will try to prefab the pipes for the plumbing job.
For TP, setup will also require a steam cleaning of the 2000 gallon tank that is mounted there (it is currently storing waste oil).
Cage is being assembled by Ron Thomas (Jewel Welding).
Assembly and plumbing of BBD9000TP, cage, tank and solar panels.
Bob Brandon and Paul will talk about options for tank cleaning company.
Future fuel sales.
distribution and purchase.
McComas is our fuel distributor. They have a new operations manager, Bob McComas. Bob will only purchase fuel available in Baltimore. We are attempting to purchase fuel manufactured by Clean Green Fuel, LLC, out of Nottingham, MD (White Marsh area).
We voted 8-0, to sell B20 at MP and TP sites until we determine demand.
We voted 7-1 to run a poll on the BBD9000 to determine demand for other blends.
We voted 8-0 to have a formal update on the Molly Pitcher tank truck purchased in 2008, at the July meeting.
We are in discussion with Clean Green Fuel to trade kiosks for a truck. we still need a driver of said truck however.
Clean Fuel Fund (CFF).
Promoting biodiesel use in schools to improve air quality for schoolkids. We are promoting biodiesel use by fundraising to offset the price difference between D2 and B20. Paying for fuel upgrades for school buses, in other words.
We may form a CFF 501(c)3 to do the fundraising and followup to the marketing.
Cafeteria is being contracted to design a website. We will also ask Drexler for a counter-proposal.
Discussion led to request for widgets that will follow fund-raising efforts in real time, allow coop members to donate by rounding up their purchases. We voted to have an internal meeting to further discuss the marketing approach, passed 8-0.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Fall Board Meeting Agenda
10am, August 16, 2009, Mill Valley Center
1. Status of MD state grants
2. BBD 9000 sales/lease options
3. Legal / entity status update
4. Discussion of Mill Valley space
5. Planning for winterization
6. Recruiting additional board members
1. Status of MD state grants
2. BBD 9000 sales/lease options
3. Legal / entity status update
4. Discussion of Mill Valley space
5. Planning for winterization
6. Recruiting additional board members
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Spring 2009 Board Meeting
May 3, 2009
Gellene, Bookhart, Goldberg, Eckley, Rouse and Shepley in attendance.
Treasurer's Report-Income generating activities.
Focused on activity of 2009. Projected losses, up to $300 per month on average.
Breakouts demonstrated that coop spent more than average on fuel to allow research on cold weather behavior and proper treatment.
More than average expenditures combined with less than average sales resulted in projected losses.
Some unexpected expenditures prompted a vote on legal action:
Motion to require board approval by majority vote before any legal firm retained, or employed for coop purposes.
Motion carried 6-0.
Membership has flatlined over the last 8 months. In that time, the Membership committee has lost two of three members.
Motion to offer an executive vice presidency on the board, to a membership recruitment specialist. The new position will be open to candidates from within current membership and from the general public. Candidates will be interviewed by the board in a formal process.
Motion carried 5-0, board member had left during motion.
Corporate sponsorship by CSBA would be met with free member initiation for all current CSBA staff. This offer will be made by Ted Rouse to a representative of CSBA, Keith Losoya.
Motion to allow $600 budget for discussion with legal professionals, to be named later, about entity status (attaining 501(c)12 status) and tax filing.
Motion carried 6-0.
Grant Proposals were funded. State of Maryland will reimburse ~$11,000 for a Carbon Offset Program and ~$13,000 for Distribution System Development.
A retroactive donation of $0.01 per gallon of fuel sold by the cooperative, since the funding of the COP grant, will be realized in an account to be established by the treasurer.
We will institute a function on the BBD9000 to allow members to round up the amount of purchase to the nearest dollar, nearest five dollars or another amount, as a choice for every purchase, to the fund. Obviously rounding up will not be required by any member. Participants will be ranked in a list of largest contributors to the Carbon Offset Fund.
The fund will allow school buses to run on biodiesel by offsetting the premium for biodiesel fuel, compared to ULSD.
BBD9000-2 and BBD9000-3 are being assembled by Ilya Goldberg. 2 will be placed at Merriweather Post Pavilion. 3 is slated for Tidewater Yacht Services and marina, located adjacent to the Domino sugar plant in the Inner Harbor.
Extensive site work needs to be accomplished before the BBD9000's can be placed in service.
Merriweather requires a tank and security cage be purchased an/or assembled.
Tidewater requires a security cage be built- a contact person from the coop is yet to be named.
Solar panels for each BBD9000 will collect charge and deposit it in attached batteries, allowing up to 3 days' operation in cloudy conditions. We are considering using the thin film option to allow charge accumulation in grey sky conditions.
Fuel supplier during warmer months may be McComas. They have begun purchasing B99.9 from United Biofuels, who is using multifeedstock, non-animal sources. Waste vegetable oil biodiesel has a cloud point between 1C and 3C.
320 gallons have been purchased and are 'settling' during algicide treatment.
All fuel sold from the Mill Valley location will be treated and doubly filtered before delivery to members' fuel tanks.
Gellene, Bookhart, Goldberg, Eckley, Rouse and Shepley in attendance.
Treasurer's Report-Income generating activities.
Focused on activity of 2009. Projected losses, up to $300 per month on average.
Breakouts demonstrated that coop spent more than average on fuel to allow research on cold weather behavior and proper treatment.
More than average expenditures combined with less than average sales resulted in projected losses.
Some unexpected expenditures prompted a vote on legal action:
Motion to require board approval by majority vote before any legal firm retained, or employed for coop purposes.
Motion carried 6-0.
Membership has flatlined over the last 8 months. In that time, the Membership committee has lost two of three members.
Motion to offer an executive vice presidency on the board, to a membership recruitment specialist. The new position will be open to candidates from within current membership and from the general public. Candidates will be interviewed by the board in a formal process.
Motion carried 5-0, board member had left during motion.
Corporate sponsorship by CSBA would be met with free member initiation for all current CSBA staff. This offer will be made by Ted Rouse to a representative of CSBA, Keith Losoya.
Motion to allow $600 budget for discussion with legal professionals, to be named later, about entity status (attaining 501(c)12 status) and tax filing.
Motion carried 6-0.
Grant Proposals were funded. State of Maryland will reimburse ~$11,000 for a Carbon Offset Program and ~$13,000 for Distribution System Development.
A retroactive donation of $0.01 per gallon of fuel sold by the cooperative, since the funding of the COP grant, will be realized in an account to be established by the treasurer.
We will institute a function on the BBD9000 to allow members to round up the amount of purchase to the nearest dollar, nearest five dollars or another amount, as a choice for every purchase, to the fund. Obviously rounding up will not be required by any member. Participants will be ranked in a list of largest contributors to the Carbon Offset Fund.
The fund will allow school buses to run on biodiesel by offsetting the premium for biodiesel fuel, compared to ULSD.
BBD9000-2 and BBD9000-3 are being assembled by Ilya Goldberg. 2 will be placed at Merriweather Post Pavilion. 3 is slated for Tidewater Yacht Services and marina, located adjacent to the Domino sugar plant in the Inner Harbor.
Extensive site work needs to be accomplished before the BBD9000's can be placed in service.
Merriweather requires a tank and security cage be purchased an/or assembled.
Tidewater requires a security cage be built- a contact person from the coop is yet to be named.
Solar panels for each BBD9000 will collect charge and deposit it in attached batteries, allowing up to 3 days' operation in cloudy conditions. We are considering using the thin film option to allow charge accumulation in grey sky conditions.
Fuel supplier during warmer months may be McComas. They have begun purchasing B99.9 from United Biofuels, who is using multifeedstock, non-animal sources. Waste vegetable oil biodiesel has a cloud point between 1C and 3C.
320 gallons have been purchased and are 'settling' during algicide treatment.
All fuel sold from the Mill Valley location will be treated and doubly filtered before delivery to members' fuel tanks.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Spring is here. So is B100.
Hi *everyone*.
Nice to see, hear and be all of you.
As you know, the cooperative will transition into selling B100 during April.
The price when we reach B100. April First: we have ~250 gallons of B50.
Should be sold by April 15, according to latest sales trends.
Cloud point is 1C.
B100 is ASTM6751 spec, made from waste vegetable oil. Waste vegetable oil is a highly sustainable feedstock, already used for food preparation, and this type of recycling keeps tons of grease out of landfills.
Treasure the Chesapeake!
bye for now,
Fuel Czar
Nice to see, hear and be all of you.
As you know, the cooperative will transition into selling B100 during April.
The price when we reach B100. April First: we have ~250 gallons of B50.
Should be sold by April 15, according to latest sales trends.
Cloud point is 1C.
B100 is ASTM6751 spec, made from waste vegetable oil. Waste vegetable oil is a highly sustainable feedstock, already used for food preparation, and this type of recycling keeps tons of grease out of landfills.
Treasure the Chesapeake!
bye for now,
Fuel Czar
Sunday, February 22, 2009
New Fuel Filter 2/22/2009
We have 475 gallons of B50 treated for albae growth and filtered to 30 microns.
I replaced the old filter on the outdoor tank.
We have 375 gallons of winterized biodiesel in reserve, so it is time to arrange a trip to United Biodiesel or Keystone to purchase B100.
I replaced the old filter on the outdoor tank.
We have 375 gallons of winterized biodiesel in reserve, so it is time to arrange a trip to United Biodiesel or Keystone to purchase B100.
Monday, February 9, 2009
2009 winter blend
Hey everyone (Andrew. Rich. if there is *anyone* else reading this, please, leave a comment)
Our winter blend, B50, is selling at $3.37 per gallon to help pay for several things necessary for the operation of the coop:
Totes for transport of the fuel.
Truck rental.
Algicide treatment.
Fuel filters.
We are currently renting space inside of Mill Valley Center for storage of the biodiesel fuel. We have over 1000 gallons of B50 at the present time, all treated for algae growth.
The 450 gallons we have sold since mid-January was filtered upon transfer from inside the building to the outdoor tank. Algicide was introduced into the fuel, to keep the tank clean and the filters unplugged.
The outdoor tank was refilled and retreated this weekend, 2/7/2009, to combat any algae growth. With nighttime temps in the 20's and daytime temps pushing 60 condensation was a real possibility. I believe that filling the tank to the top decreased the amount of condensation.
We'll be keeping up with the fuel supply in this manner from here on out.
Our winter blend, B50, is selling at $3.37 per gallon to help pay for several things necessary for the operation of the coop:
Totes for transport of the fuel.
Truck rental.
Algicide treatment.
Fuel filters.
We are currently renting space inside of Mill Valley Center for storage of the biodiesel fuel. We have over 1000 gallons of B50 at the present time, all treated for algae growth.
The 450 gallons we have sold since mid-January was filtered upon transfer from inside the building to the outdoor tank. Algicide was introduced into the fuel, to keep the tank clean and the filters unplugged.
The outdoor tank was refilled and retreated this weekend, 2/7/2009, to combat any algae growth. With nighttime temps in the 20's and daytime temps pushing 60 condensation was a real possibility. I believe that filling the tank to the top decreased the amount of condensation.
We'll be keeping up with the fuel supply in this manner from here on out.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
B100 Pricing for the coop, for members
A local supplier has provided these prices for B99.9 or blended, Biodiesel. the fuel is made from poultry, choice white fat.
22April $3.30
09May $3.32
13May $3.55
21May same
28May $3.80
02June $3.65
12June same
18June $3.75
Road taxes must be paid to Maryland and Federal authorities, adding $0.49 per gallon to the above prices.
Our fuel transporter charges us $0.45 per gallon for service, as well.
We charge $0.35 per gallon to pay for development and growth of the coop:
t-shirts
bumper stickers
new truck ( which should save us $0.25 per gallon once we're using it)
BBD9000 systems
Therefore our price of $4.94 per gallon will be changing to $5.04 per gallon by weekend of 6/27.
Please note that we offset the preposterous jump in price from May 21 to May 28 by selling B100 that was purchased late in 2007.
22April $3.30
09May $3.32
13May $3.55
21May same
28May $3.80
02June $3.65
12June same
18June $3.75
Road taxes must be paid to Maryland and Federal authorities, adding $0.49 per gallon to the above prices.
Our fuel transporter charges us $0.45 per gallon for service, as well.
We charge $0.35 per gallon to pay for development and growth of the coop:
t-shirts
bumper stickers
new truck ( which should save us $0.25 per gallon once we're using it)
BBD9000 systems
Therefore our price of $4.94 per gallon will be changing to $5.04 per gallon by weekend of 6/27.
Please note that we offset the preposterous jump in price from May 21 to May 28 by selling B100 that was purchased late in 2007.
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