Baltimore Biodiesel Strategic Planning Session
February 5th, 2008
5 to 7 PM at Biohabitats, Inc.
I. Introduction (5:00 - 5:15 PM)
• Introductions by attendees…state your name and why you are here.
• Overview of the Evening
II. Vision Statement (5:15 – 5:45 PM)
• Everyone create two bumper stickers that promote, or capture the “essence” of Baltimore Biodiesel (not just biodiesel). Group the bumper stickers according to common themes….Then let the group discuss this briefly to select appropriate themes and pass it off to volunteers who will draft the vision (later).
III. Setting Priorities and Creating Goals (5:45 – 6:45 PM)
• Or, write Goals on small pieces of paper and tape them up on a board. Organize and consolidate these into clusters that are similar or the same. Then discuss briefly and vote on these to identify top 5 goals in rank order. If there is time, consider one, three, and five year goals.
IV. Specific Strategies (6:45 – 7:15 PM)
• Break up into groups. Divide goals evenly between groups.
• Take 15 minutes to develop three strategies for each Goal.
• Discuss for 15 minutes to determine most appropriate strategies.
• Suggest actions for each strategy if time allows.
V. Wrap-up (7:15 – 7:45 PM)
• Discuss the Vision and Chosen Goals
• Determine Group Consent
• Approve Strategies
• Save Actions and Monitoring for another meeting? Have individual groups (marketing, technical, membership/volunteering, etc.) come up with action items?
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Advocacy, Education and Outreach
Goals for Advocacy, Education, Outreach Group
1. Attend 4-6 Events this year
Actions:
-marketing group to explore opportunities
-less preaching to the choir and more education to the laymen
2. Form Partnerships with political lobbying groups
Actions:
-explore the best groups to align with
3. Educate diesel owners and Biodiesel members
Actions:
-write article to a trade magazine
-conduct workshops on maintenance
4. Target Diesel Professionals
Actions:
-educate diesel truck drivers about the product
-align with willing diesel mechanics to promote the coop and educate other mechanics
5. Organize the other biodiesel groups/seller/home brewers of MD
Actions:
-share common interests and lessons learned
-act as clearinghouse for biodiesel information
6. Build membership and maintain current base
Other Goals not discussed:
Identifying local sources of fuel
1. Attend 4-6 Events this year
Actions:
-marketing group to explore opportunities
-less preaching to the choir and more education to the laymen
2. Form Partnerships with political lobbying groups
Actions:
-explore the best groups to align with
3. Educate diesel owners and Biodiesel members
Actions:
-write article to a trade magazine
-conduct workshops on maintenance
4. Target Diesel Professionals
Actions:
-educate diesel truck drivers about the product
-align with willing diesel mechanics to promote the coop and educate other mechanics
5. Organize the other biodiesel groups/seller/home brewers of MD
Actions:
-share common interests and lessons learned
-act as clearinghouse for biodiesel information
6. Build membership and maintain current base
Other Goals not discussed:
Identifying local sources of fuel
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Growth-outreach
We would like to identify government agencies that can use biodiesel.
For example, garbage trucks at the Sisson St. dump, next door to the coop, fuel up on petrodiesel onsite. Perhaps Baltimore Biodiesel Cooperative can help them mix their B20.
Agricultural diesel users (farmers and land owners) are another target for biodiesel marketing efforts as they tend to use diesel machinery for all manner of daily and weekly chores.
Fleets of 10 trucks or so would use up to 50,000 gallons per year. Identifying such a customer could increase biodiesel usage and coop growth significantly.
Shep and David will head the subcommittee to reach out to fleets.
For example, garbage trucks at the Sisson St. dump, next door to the coop, fuel up on petrodiesel onsite. Perhaps Baltimore Biodiesel Cooperative can help them mix their B20.
Agricultural diesel users (farmers and land owners) are another target for biodiesel marketing efforts as they tend to use diesel machinery for all manner of daily and weekly chores.
Fleets of 10 trucks or so would use up to 50,000 gallons per year. Identifying such a customer could increase biodiesel usage and coop growth significantly.
Shep and David will head the subcommittee to reach out to fleets.
Growth-distribution
The coop is considering buying a delivery truck.
The truck will allow mobile fueling capacity that can potentially be stored indoors in cold weather, a feature that will help keep winter fuel costs down. Delivery charges will be more than halved if we can go to the 'rack' and drive fuel to Mill Valley ourselves.
Painting the truck will give the coop mobile exposure, too.
Research has shown a truck would cost $400-$700 dollars per month for upkeep.
Membership renewals will generate about $300 per month and new signups will help defray the rest of the costs of operation.
Shep, Dave and Ted will head the finance Committee.
Their first order of business is to budget the truck for this first year.
The truck will allow mobile fueling capacity that can potentially be stored indoors in cold weather, a feature that will help keep winter fuel costs down. Delivery charges will be more than halved if we can go to the 'rack' and drive fuel to Mill Valley ourselves.
Painting the truck will give the coop mobile exposure, too.
Research has shown a truck would cost $400-$700 dollars per month for upkeep.
Membership renewals will generate about $300 per month and new signups will help defray the rest of the costs of operation.
Shep, Dave and Ted will head the finance Committee.
Their first order of business is to budget the truck for this first year.
Growth-locations
Growth of the coop was discussed in detail:
Last year membership grew to over 90 members. We purchased and sold about 100 gallons per member on average (10,000 gallons). Our bank balance grew to over $10,000.
Growth of the coop requires additional locations for sale of biodiesel. For our five year plan, 5 'locations' were enumerated-
1)Meriweather Post Pavilion
2)Boat Marinas
3)Truck fleets
4)Towson
5)Washington DC
The committee identified Meriweather Post Pavilion as a good target site for 2008. Touring musicians may be ideal customers- environmentall conscious, diesel driving folks. The key enabling technology for this expansion is the BBD9000, a credit card swipe machine that identifies members that have registered in the coop's online database. The basic box has been assembled and will be fit onto our existing tank cage by March. Projected fuel sales at Mill Valley are 20,000 gallons for 2008. For Meriweather Post, 10,000 gallons.
Boaters of all stripes recognize that petrodiesel is a risky proposition on the bay- Shep and Ilya formed an outreach committee to push biodiesel to fuel suppliers for boaters. Expect about 5,000 gallons to be sold at marinas in 2008.
Last year membership grew to over 90 members. We purchased and sold about 100 gallons per member on average (10,000 gallons). Our bank balance grew to over $10,000.
Growth of the coop requires additional locations for sale of biodiesel. For our five year plan, 5 'locations' were enumerated-
1)Meriweather Post Pavilion
2)Boat Marinas
3)Truck fleets
4)Towson
5)Washington DC
The committee identified Meriweather Post Pavilion as a good target site for 2008. Touring musicians may be ideal customers- environmentall conscious, diesel driving folks. The key enabling technology for this expansion is the BBD9000, a credit card swipe machine that identifies members that have registered in the coop's online database. The basic box has been assembled and will be fit onto our existing tank cage by March. Projected fuel sales at Mill Valley are 20,000 gallons for 2008. For Meriweather Post, 10,000 gallons.
Boaters of all stripes recognize that petrodiesel is a risky proposition on the bay- Shep and Ilya formed an outreach committee to push biodiesel to fuel suppliers for boaters. Expect about 5,000 gallons to be sold at marinas in 2008.
Goals for 2008.
Board Meeting at Biohabitats was hosted/facilitated by Paul, food provided gratis from Woodberry Kitchen, via Ted
12 folks in attendance.
Meeting commenced with introductions and personal reflection on the coop and biodiesel.
We 'visioned' for an hour and formed a subcommittee to formally craft a vision statement.
We discussed marketing strategy and physically growing the coop in 2008.
Finally we formed subcommittees, effective immediately. All members are invited to contact the chair of a subcommittee they would like to join. Some subcommittees require a volunteer chair.
Visioning Statement is being crafted by Mare and Carrie.
The group suggested we consider the following concepts: keeping it local, being part of the solution, maintaining fuel that is clean, green and sustainable. Two major goals for 2008: Find a reliable, local source of fuel. Community building
Next, we broke into two groups discussing Marketing and Distribution/Financial goals for the coming year.
Marketing notes will be posted soon. Briefly, three Subcommittees are necessary; Advocacy, Education and Outreach.
Subcommittee (chair)
Advocacy (Davis chair)
Education (Susan)
Outreach to potential members in the agricultural community( requires a volunteer subcommittee chair-your name here).
12 folks in attendance.
Meeting commenced with introductions and personal reflection on the coop and biodiesel.
We 'visioned' for an hour and formed a subcommittee to formally craft a vision statement.
We discussed marketing strategy and physically growing the coop in 2008.
Finally we formed subcommittees, effective immediately. All members are invited to contact the chair of a subcommittee they would like to join. Some subcommittees require a volunteer chair.
Visioning Statement is being crafted by Mare and Carrie.
The group suggested we consider the following concepts: keeping it local, being part of the solution, maintaining fuel that is clean, green and sustainable. Two major goals for 2008: Find a reliable, local source of fuel. Community building
Next, we broke into two groups discussing Marketing and Distribution/Financial goals for the coming year.
Marketing notes will be posted soon. Briefly, three Subcommittees are necessary; Advocacy, Education and Outreach.
Subcommittee (chair)
Advocacy (Davis chair)
Education (Susan)
Outreach to potential members in the agricultural community( requires a volunteer subcommittee chair-your name here).
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Pump Failures (information)
The following is information the Rich found on biofueloasis.com
full link here: http://www.biofueloasis.com/html/basics.html#ulsd
Possible Fuel Pump Failure in VW TDIs, post '99 Mercedes SDs, or any diesel with an injector pump lubricated with fuel - We've seen a sharp rise in injector pump failures, a previously rare occurrence, since California switched to Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) in October 2006. ULSD is causing problems in all types of diesel engines around the country because of its lack of lubricity and seal-shrinking properties. After surveying our customers and talking to diesel engineers and mechanics we've reached the following conclusions:
How could ULSD cause fuel pump failure?
Injector pump seals: The original formulation of petroleum diesel caused pump seals to swell, and biodiesel swells seals even more. ULSD causes the seals to shrink and harden. Too many changes can damage the seals and the pump will leak fuel and/or suck in air. Most of the failures due to damaged seals have occurred in cars that have run on all three types of fuel. Three or four fuel changes are simply too many. Injector pump seals that are only exposed to two types of fuel, biodiesel and ULSD, are apparently not failing. It is likely that injector pump seals that have never been exposed to the pre-'06 blend of diesel will be OK.
Mechanical wear: ULSD is very low in lubricity, which is not good for pumps lubricated with fuel.
Both biodiesel and ULSD attract water, and water causes rust, which is abrasive.
Recommendations:
Cars that have run on pre-'06 diesel:
* Avoid running ULSD after switching to biodiesel. If you cannot get biodiesel when you are on the road, add the ULSD when you've still got at least 1/4 tank of biodiesel so that you are running a blend and not making an abrupt switch.
* Use a diesel fuel conditioner, such as Stanadyne, when you do not have access to biodiesel. 3 oz. of conditioner per tank of ULSD will replace the lubricity properties of biodiesel.
* Consider a preemptive injector pump rebuild, especially before a road trip that will take you away from biodiesel sources. A planned repair is a lot less expensive and inconvenient than an unplanned one. The new seals that have never been exposed to pre '06 sulfured diesel will theoretically be less likely to fail
Cars that have not run on pre-'06 diesel, or had injector pump rebuilds after October 2006:
* Current evidence shows no problems with switching back and forth between biodiesel and ULSD, but be cautious anyway. Avoid abrupt switches in fuel types whenever possible; blend fuel types between changes. Biodiesel swells seals and ULSD shrinks them, so switching back and forth can theoretically strain seals. ULSD has only been around for a year - It may simply take more time for problems caused by fuel changes to surface.
* Use a fuel conditioner when running ULSD.
All diesels running either biodiesel or ULSD -- avoid rust:
* Keep your tank full overnight when the days are warm and the nights are cold. Less air in the tank means less water condensation.
* Use a fuel conditioner.
* Add a water separator to your fuel system .
Don't get ripped off If your injector pump does fail!
* First, try switching back to biodiesel. Several people have reported that running at least 30% biodiesel re-swells the injector pump seals and stops the leaking. Let the injector pump absorb the biodiesel for 24 hours or more before giving up.
* Avoid the dealer unless you can get the repair done under warranty. VW dealers typically charge $3k to replace your injector pump and fuel injectors and purge your entire fuel system. The same repair done at an independent garage typically costs half or less of what VW charges. Dealers are also notorious for diagnosing all fuel system problems in cars with biodiesel stickers as injector pump failures, and have recommended $3k repairs when they simply failed to bleed the air out of a new fuel filter.
* If something doesn't feel right always get a second opinion before agreeing to an expensive repair.
full link here: http://www.biofueloasis.com/html/basics.html#ulsd
Possible Fuel Pump Failure in VW TDIs, post '99 Mercedes SDs, or any diesel with an injector pump lubricated with fuel - We've seen a sharp rise in injector pump failures, a previously rare occurrence, since California switched to Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) in October 2006. ULSD is causing problems in all types of diesel engines around the country because of its lack of lubricity and seal-shrinking properties. After surveying our customers and talking to diesel engineers and mechanics we've reached the following conclusions:
How could ULSD cause fuel pump failure?
Injector pump seals: The original formulation of petroleum diesel caused pump seals to swell, and biodiesel swells seals even more. ULSD causes the seals to shrink and harden. Too many changes can damage the seals and the pump will leak fuel and/or suck in air. Most of the failures due to damaged seals have occurred in cars that have run on all three types of fuel. Three or four fuel changes are simply too many. Injector pump seals that are only exposed to two types of fuel, biodiesel and ULSD, are apparently not failing. It is likely that injector pump seals that have never been exposed to the pre-'06 blend of diesel will be OK.
Mechanical wear: ULSD is very low in lubricity, which is not good for pumps lubricated with fuel.
Both biodiesel and ULSD attract water, and water causes rust, which is abrasive.
Recommendations:
Cars that have run on pre-'06 diesel:
* Avoid running ULSD after switching to biodiesel. If you cannot get biodiesel when you are on the road, add the ULSD when you've still got at least 1/4 tank of biodiesel so that you are running a blend and not making an abrupt switch.
* Use a diesel fuel conditioner, such as Stanadyne, when you do not have access to biodiesel. 3 oz. of conditioner per tank of ULSD will replace the lubricity properties of biodiesel.
* Consider a preemptive injector pump rebuild, especially before a road trip that will take you away from biodiesel sources. A planned repair is a lot less expensive and inconvenient than an unplanned one. The new seals that have never been exposed to pre '06 sulfured diesel will theoretically be less likely to fail
Cars that have not run on pre-'06 diesel, or had injector pump rebuilds after October 2006:
* Current evidence shows no problems with switching back and forth between biodiesel and ULSD, but be cautious anyway. Avoid abrupt switches in fuel types whenever possible; blend fuel types between changes. Biodiesel swells seals and ULSD shrinks them, so switching back and forth can theoretically strain seals. ULSD has only been around for a year - It may simply take more time for problems caused by fuel changes to surface.
* Use a fuel conditioner when running ULSD.
All diesels running either biodiesel or ULSD -- avoid rust:
* Keep your tank full overnight when the days are warm and the nights are cold. Less air in the tank means less water condensation.
* Use a fuel conditioner.
* Add a water separator to your fuel system .
Don't get ripped off If your injector pump does fail!
* First, try switching back to biodiesel. Several people have reported that running at least 30% biodiesel re-swells the injector pump seals and stops the leaking. Let the injector pump absorb the biodiesel for 24 hours or more before giving up.
* Avoid the dealer unless you can get the repair done under warranty. VW dealers typically charge $3k to replace your injector pump and fuel injectors and purge your entire fuel system. The same repair done at an independent garage typically costs half or less of what VW charges. Dealers are also notorious for diagnosing all fuel system problems in cars with biodiesel stickers as injector pump failures, and have recommended $3k repairs when they simply failed to bleed the air out of a new fuel filter.
* If something doesn't feel right always get a second opinion before agreeing to an expensive repair.
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