A rainbow graces Pacific Biodiesel's refinery in Keaau, on Hawaii Island. |
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Biodiesel Production Continues Amid the Pandemic
Director of Operations Jenna Long Provides Update
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This summer, our Pacific Biodiesel team has been working hard to continue biodiesel production amid the pandemic. We feel very grateful that our high-volume customers, Hawaiian Electric and Hamakua Energy, have continued to purchase biodiesel at a steady pace through the year. This, plus our team's continued detailed maintenance and attention to process, have kept our biodiesel plant running at close to full capacity despite the challenges brought by COVID-19. |
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In This Issue
- Biodiesel Production Continues Amid the Pandemic
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DLNR Reports on Biodiesel Pilot Project
- Honoring the 25 Year Journey
- Pacific Biodiesel Team Collaborates on Scientific Publication
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We have watched with dismay the local restaurant industry's struggles and we have of course seen our used cooking oil collections fall dramatically with unprecedented restaurant closures. However, we have been able to keep our plant fed through waste oils and animal fats brought in from the mainland US. |
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We are glad that several projects that were started before the pandemic have come to fruition and helped us reduce our costs at this critical point. This year, our Oahu site has been recovering oil from the most concentrated portion of restaurant grease trap waste that was previously composted. We have continued to make enhancements in this system to reduce logistics costs and gain efficiency. Also, our biodiesel plant has begun shipping our glycerin byproduct to California to be used as an additive to improve wastewater processing at other facilities. |
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The fan press on Oahu solidifies the final waste from the grease trap material so it can be disposed of on island. The water separated during this process is further treated by a DAF unit before being discharged to the waste water treatment plant. |
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On Hawaii Island, Pacific Biodiesel R&D Lab Technician Johan Schmith, shows off a sample of our glycerin after conducting testing to ensure it meets the contract agreement specifications. |
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In July, as we commemorated the 8th anniversary of our Hawaii Island biodiesel facility, we reflected with gratitude on the overwhelming community support that has brought us to this point. With the continued support from our customers, employees and clean energy advocates, we look forward to producing clean, renewable fuel for many years for the entire state. |
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Jenna Long
Director of Operations
Pacific Biodiesel
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DLNR Reports on Biodiesel Pilot Project
Biodiesel FAQ page added to website
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The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources reports on the results of its Maui biodiesel trial on the state’s new Climate Change Portal website. The site provides information on the State of Hawaii’s response to the climate change crisis.
The first 8-month phase of a pilot program that concluded earlier this year took place on Maui. Fleet vehicles from the Division of Forestry and Wildlife fueled up at Pacific Biodiesel’s Hobron station, some with B-100 and some with a B-20 blend.
The encouraging results, featured on the website in the graphic below, showed that by switching to locally produced biodiesel, close to 22,000 pounds of CO2e were saved during the project period
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A new Biodiesel FAQ page is now available on the State website providing answers to common questions and links to additional informational sources.
DLNR continues to explore the use of biodiesel in its state-wide fleet through the deployment of a second phase of the pilot program.
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Honoring the 25 Year Journey |
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As Pacific Biodiesel celebrates our "Silver" 25th Anniversary this year, we are reminded of the impact that founders Bob and Kelly King had on the entire biodiesel industry. Recognized as a pioneer in biodiesel technology, Bob King built the first commercial biodiesel plant utilizing used cooking oil as feedstock and opened the first retail biodiesel pump in America – both on the island of Maui. |
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On Maui, Pacific Biodiesel founder Bob King fueled up at the first biodiesel pump in America. |
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With the early support of celebrities who embraced it, including Willie Nelson, Daryl Hannah, Jack Johnson and Woody Harrelson, biodiesel gained national attention that helped spur the growth of the industry in the United States and abroad. Revolution Green, the documentary about the founding of Pacific Biodiesel, also helped bring our locally produced renewable fuel to the national consciousness. The Kings were also co-founders of the Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance with a focus on local resources for community-based, sustainably produced biodiesel.
Improving the technology with each of the 13 biodiesel plants he opened in the US and Japan, today Bob King is not only recognized as a pioneer, but an expert in biodiesel production technology. To highlight that fact, Bob King was selected to give the keynote address at the upcoming 2020 Biodiesel Production Technology Summit, a 3-day virtual event that was originally scheduled to take place in Minneapolis, MN. In his presentation, King will recap the 25-year journey of Pacific Biodiesel to bring us where we are today – still the only commercial producer of liquid biofuel in Hawaii.
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Bob King looked on as Willie Nelson fueled his tour bus with biodiesel at one of Pacific Biodiesel's mainland facilities. (Circa 2009) |
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Early biodiesel supporters Daryl Hannah and Annie Nelson joined co-founder Kelly King at a National Biodiesel Conference. (Circa 2008) |
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Bob King is joined by his daughter, Pacific Biodiesel Director of Operations Jenna Long, at the company's Hawaii Island refinery.(Circa 2019) |
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Pacific Biodiesel Team Collaborates on Scientific Publication
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A recent study, “Effects of Temperature, Antioxidants and High-Vacuum Distillation on the Oxidation of Biodiesel Derived from Waste Vegetable Oil” was published in June in the Journal of the American Oil Chemists Society (JAOCS).
The study explored the Rapid Small‐Scale Oxidation Test (RSSOT) as a means to investigate how biodiesel oxidation is affected by antioxidant concentration and temperature.
The article was authored by Randy Maglinao of Montana State University-Northern, Torrey J. Wagner from the Air Force Institute of Technology, Rice-Patterson Airforce Base, and Keegan Duff from the Daniel K. Inouye U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center, Hilo. Programmatic support, cooperation, and the facilitation of sampling was provided by Pacific Biodiesel team members R&D Specialist Douglas Olds, Plant Engineer Scott Proskow and Director of Operations Jenna Long, all from our Hawaii Island team.
The Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society (JAOCS) is an international peer-reviewed journal that publishes significant original scientific research and technological advances on fats, oils, oilseed proteins, and related materials through original research articles, invited reviews, short communications, and letters to the editor.
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Demand for RFS integrity from Congress |
A bipartisan group from the House of Representatives demands the administration uphold the integrity of the Renewable Fuel Standard by denying recent requests to waive the 2020 RFS volumes. Click here for the Biodiesel Magazine report.
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"Next Generation of Scientists for Biodiesel" names new co-chairs |
Biodiesel Magazine highlights the four young co-chairs selected to lead the Next Generation of Scientists for Biodiesel. The program, managed by the National Biodiesel Board, is a free student professional organization to help foster collaboration, networking, and career development. Read the full article here.
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Study reports positive environmental impacts of biodiesel in Southeast Asia |
A Purdue University study confirms the benefits of biodiesel and refutes concerns that the US biofuels market is to blame for increased agricultural activity in Southeast Asia. The study showed that less than one percent of the land cleared in Indonesia and Malaysia can be tied to U.S. biofuel production. Find the full report here.
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B-100 project improves air quality in Chicago |
With biodiesel produced from locally sourced used cooking oil, the project reports unprecedented reductions in carbon emissions .The pilot B100 program cut carbon emissions from refuse vehicles by 84% . Read the Government Fleet article here.
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Oh, Oh Organic partners with Maiden Hawaii Naturals, LLC |
Sustainable beauty ingredient supplier Oh, Oh Organic announced their partnership with Kuleana® by Maiden Hawaii Naturals, LLC to offer full spectrum hemp extract and other natural ingredients from the company created by Pacific Biodiesel founders, Bob and Kelly King. Read the full article here as reported in Cosmetics Design USA.
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Around Town
Some of the other places we've been "virtually"
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Pacific Biodiesel Presents to UHMC Energy Class - April 29 |
Pacific Biodiesel’s Director of Operations Jenna Long and Marketing Director Joy Galatro presented an inter-island biodiesel primer for the Introduction to Sustainable Technology class at University of Hawaii Maui College. Long from Hawaii Island and Galatro from Maui joined the online class via video conference to give their presentations and answer student questions. Following the session, Professor Cliff Rutherford wrote, “I really want to express my gratitude to each of you for arranging to present to my class today. The class continued to discuss all of the presentations we had with various professionals in the field of sustainable energy this semester and by far Pacific Biodiesel's was one of the most insightful.” |
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#FoodSecurityHI Webinar series – Ongoing
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Pacific Biodiesel Co-founder and Maui County Councilmember Kelly King is hosting a monthly webinar series titled #FoodSecurityHI. Each episode presents a specific topic and guest experts in the area. Segments have included “Preserving Local Farm-Grown Food” featuring Dania Katz, publisher of edible Hawaiian Islands magazine, Executive Chef Jeff Scheer and the co-owners of Kupaʻa Farms Janet Simpson and Gerry Ross. The “Backyard Gardens” featured speakers from Maui Nui Food Alliance, Food Security Hawaii and Common Ground Collective. And most recently, “Access to Food” with special guests from the Maui Food Bank, Maui Hub, Pono Grown Farm Center and Lipoa Street Farmer’s Market. Viewers can watch future segments live via Zoom or the Councilmember’s Facebook page, where videos of past segments are posted for viewing.
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Natural Ingredients Webinar Series Features Bob and Kelly King – August 8 |
Bob and Kelly King, co-founders of Pacific Biodiesel and owners of Maiden Hawaii Naturals, LLC, were interviewed by natural ingredients supplier Gay Timmons, founder of Oh Oh Organic, for her “Full Coverage” webinar series. The interview, conducted live at the Kings’ farm in Central Maui on August 8 (National CBD Day), featured topics from the beginnings of Pacific Biodiesel in 1995 to the King’s current farming practices. Kimokeo Kapahulehua and his students shared Hawaii culture by performing chants including the opening oli and presenting information about the Hawaiian Moon calendar to explain how the farm incorporates the traditional timing of planting and harvesting. With the State’s COVID-19 mandate that limited gatherings to no more than 10 people, we were unable to invite guests to attend the event in person. Thanks to technology, the full video of the event is available to view here.
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Kelly and Bob King show off a sample of their hemp extract during the Full Coverage live stream webinar earlier this month. |
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Kimokeo Kapahuleha and Vene Chun explain to the live audience how the Hawaiian Moon calendar
guides local farming.
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Kelly King responds to a question from Oh,Oh Organic President Gay Timmons during the hour-long webinar. |
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Upcoming Events
Where you can find us in the coming months
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September 15-17
Biodiesel Production Technology Summit – Omaha, Nebraska,
On Wednesday, September 16, Pacific Biodiesel Founder and President Bob King will have the honor of giving the keynote speech at the 2020 Biodiesel Production Technology Summit. The theme of his presentation, “Our 25-Year Journey to a High-Efficiency, Zero Waste Plant Design,” will recap the company’s evolution as it celebrates its silver anniversary this year. The annual summit, which attracts the largest gathering of biofuels producers, will be conducted virtually this year via webcast.
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October 30 – Lā Ho‘oulu Pae Moku – ReTree Hawaii |
Employees of Pacific Biodiesel and Maiden Hawaii Naturals will be volunteering to plant trees at our founders’ central Maui farm to help reverse climate change by removing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. ReTree Hawaii is a campaign, spearheaded by Sierra Club Hawaii, to plant trees (and other plants) throughout Hawaii on October 30, 2020. According to the campaign’s press release, “The goal is to plant 100,000 trees, with 10,000 volunteers, on 1,000 sites in an effort to reduce the effects of climate change and beautify our islands.” Rob Weltman, President of the Maui Sierra Club, spearheaded the effort earlier this year stating, “planting trees is one of the most effective actions ordinary citizens can take to mitigate climate change and it will provide many additional benefits for Maui County.” Click here to learn more or to volunteer at sites around the state.
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November 7-8 – Made In Maui County Festival |
Maiden Hawaii Naturals will feature both premium culinary oils and our complete line of Kuleana® Beauty products at this “virtual” festival. The two-day online event will allow customers to “visit” each store and interact with company representatives to ask questions and purchase “Made in Maui County” products. |
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Founded in 1995, Pacific Biodiesel is the nation's longest operating and most experienced biodiesel producer, and the only commercial liquid biofuel producer in the state. A Maui-based company with nearly 100 employees statewide, we established the first retail biodiesel pump in America and for more than two decades we've been an innovative leader in the renewable energy industry. With a nameplate production capacity of 5.5 million gallons annually, our refinery on Hawaii Island utilizes advanced distillation technology to produce the highest-quality biodiesel in the country and in 2016 became the first facility in the world to be certified by the Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance. Our company has always focused on recycling with a zero waste philosophy that incorporates development of value-added co-products. Today, our collaborative, community-based "agriculture and energy" production model demonstrates a full-circle sustainability system designed to fight climate change and help Hawaii achieve a clean, sustainable energy future. |
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Our Mission: To promote a clean, sustainable energy future through the community-based production of renewable fuels
On Earth Day 2016, the Pacific Biodiesel plant on Hawaii Island became the first biodiesel facility in the United States to earn certification by the Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance for showcasing sustainable biodiesel production and distribution practices.
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Pacific Biodiesel
40 Hobron Avenue, Kahului Hi 96753
Editor: Joy Galatro, Marketing Director
Staff Writer & Layout: Beth Mathias, Marketing Associate
For more information visit our website
or contact Beth Mathias at
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