The Benefits of Higher Blends of Biodiesel

With the transportation sector being the largest source of GHG emissions in the U.S.¹, an increasing number of both public- and private-sector entities with carbon reduction goals have set their sights on reducing engine emissions as an important step toward achieving their targets.

While several options are available, one with high potential to make a more immediate and widespread impact across nearly every mode of transportation is renewable fuels, which includes biodiesel and renewable diesel.

Chevron Renewable Energy Group recently held a workshop with a panel of industry experts to talk about the advantages of utilizing higher blends of biodiesel. 

The Panel of Experts

Grant Kimberley, Iowa Biodiesel Board

Grant Kimberley is executive director of the Iowa Biodiesel Board. He also serves as the Iowa Soybean Association director of market development.

Kimberley joined the ISA staff in 2000. In 2006, he took the reins of market development, overseeing the association’s domestic and international marketing programs that create demand for soybean and soybean products. He helped design and implement biodiesel education and marketing programs for ISA in cooperation with IBB and has been deeply involved with state and national biodiesel policy issues.

Kimberley graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture Business from Northwest Missouri State University and also has a Masters of Public Administration from Drake University. Prior to joining ISA in 2000, he worked for Monsanto. He began farming in 1995 and became the sixth generation of his family to farm in the U.S.  

Dave Slade, Chief Technologist, Chevron Renewable Energy Group

As Chief Technologist at Chevron Renewable Energy Group, Dave Slade focuses on technical topics throughout the Business Unit’s biofuel production and distribution network.

Slade leads the Technical Services team who works to uphold and continuously improve product quality and production efficiency at Chevron Renewable Energy Group biorefineries. He also leads research and development efforts exploring new feedstock pathways, improving co-product opportunities and developing technology advancements in biobased-diesel production and utilization.

Slade and his team provide technical expertise to petroleum companies, engine manufacturers, transportation fleets, city, state and federal agencies as they incorporate renewable options into their fuel programs.

Slade has a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Kansas and a master’s degree from the University of California, Davis. He started working for Renewable Energy Group in early 2007 and has enjoyed being in the world of fuels throughout the many changes its associated industries have experienced since then.

Mike Harrington, Bureau Chief, Weights and Measures Bureau, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship

Jennifer Weaver, OEM Market Development Manager for Clean Fuels Alliance America

Jennifer Weaver serves as the OEM Market Development Manager where she has worked for more than 20 years as a liaison between the biodiesel and renewable diesel industry and the major auto, engine and equipment manufacturers. Her core responsibilities include educating those companies - as well as their suppliers, dealers, fleets and other customers - on key technical advances in biodiesel and renewable diesel and guiding their efforts to support and promote the use of these lower carbon fuels in their diesel engines and future diesel vehicle programs.

Weaver has nearly 30 years’ experience in managing a wide variety of public relations, marketing, education and training programs for various clients in the automotive and alternative fuels industries,

Weaver earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Marketing and an MBA from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. She also received post-graduate education in advertising, Public Relations and Applied Communications at Michigan State University and holds a certificate in Social Media Marketing. Weaver now resides in “auto country” near Ann Arbor, Michigan and enjoys helping to foster the nation’s growing interest in alternative fuels.

Mark Larson, Energy Consultant at the Rasmussen Group based out of Des Moines.

Larson graduated from Iowa State University in 1967. Since 2012 he has worked at Rasmussen Group as an Energy Consultant assisting with the purchase of fuel, fuel storage dispensing equipment, as well as natural gas and solar projects.

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1.      https://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/fast-facts-transportation-greenhouse-gas-emissions