Spring 2009 Goals

We finally have what appears to be sufficient funds to begin building a processor! So, this semester will be very busy. That means that it was a good idea to make "specific" goals for the coming months:

• Meet SEI Grant by end of January
• Submit SGA grant by early February
• Create an advising committee to help oversee construction: Partially assembled by or before construction is underway and after we meet with grant committee.

• Controls Engineer---EE dept., Dr. Zondlo, or Amanda may be capable of doing this quite well (she is a computer guru).
• Secure area for operation: By end of January (we have an area to build a skid; however, we need a permanent spot).
• Clement Solomon-follow-up to meet with West Virginia University's sustainability coordinator by February 15th.
• Equipment ordered: End of February
• Construction: Through March
• Basic process built and operable: MAY '09
• Testing procedures for sampling: May '09
• SOPs (standard operating procedures) in place by summer of 09'
• Controls for system by fall of 09'

Woah! How is that for progress?

-Patty Sefton

November: An Exciting Time...

The past two months have encompassed some of this organization's most prolific achievements. Among them:

• A likely space to build our processor has been located at the National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium (NAFTC) in Morgantown.
• The Project recently placed third out of 90 entries in the WV Student Business Plan Competition. We will compete in the second round of the competition in Charleston, WV, on Nov. 12 for $1,000, a personal business adviser, and a chance to compete in the final round for $10,000.
  
• The Project is establishing a corporate identity by printing business cards, stickers, calendars, posters, among others, in order to advance ourselves as a professional entity at WVU and in the business world.
• Visit our New Google Group to find Meeting Minutes, current discussions, and up-to-date info on what we are doing. We are continuing to update the group with the latest information on our progress.
• The Project met with Clement Solomon, WVU Sustainability Director, to discuss the university's support for the implementation of biodiesel across campus with the Project's help.

As has been the case in the past, the Project has run into obstacles involving a space for our processor, funding, and organizational development. Currently, we have made significant progress in overcoming these obstacles and envision a bright, sustainable, clean future for Morgantown and our organization. A quote passed on by Lucas Ellis, the Project's founder, sums up the organization's dedication to our cause:

 "Never under estimate the ability of a small group of committed individuals to change the world.  Indeed, they are the only ones who ever have." - Margaret Mead

 -WVU Biodiesel Project
  wvubiodieselproject[at]gmail[dot]com

WVU Biodiesel Project Makes Several Newspaper appearances...

The WVU Biodiesel Project has recently appeared on the front page of West Virginia University's school newspaper, the Daily Athenaeum. The WVU Biodiesel Project would like to thank the DA's photo editor, Kendal Montgomery, for aiding the project in our quest for publicity.

The WVU Biodiesel Project was also featured recently in an article by the Dominion Post highlighting the Project's recent third place status in the West Virginia Student Business Plan Competition, a statewide competition aimed to promote economic development in the Mountain State. More on this competition is to follow in a subsequent post.

-Adam Johnson

WVU Biodiesel Project Publicist

http://wvubiodieselproject.blogspot.com/

wvubiodieselproject[at]gmail[dot]com

Back in Session with Enthusiasm!

Meetings:

The WVU Biodiesel Project is currently having meetings every Wednesday @ 5pm in the Engineering Science Building (ESB), Room 425 (also known as the Wen Library).

Current Happenings:

• Calendars have been printed and will be distributed to WVU officials by early October.
• The Project is currently redesigning our skid (layout) for our processor due to hardware additions from Mattew Shaffer.
• The official WVU Biodiesel Project Website should be up and running by October 22nd, if not earlier. More info later.
• Coordinating with Clement Solomon, WVU's sustainability coordinator, to propose our project to higher-up WVU officials and get a space and processor.
• Visit our New Google Group to find Meeting Minutes, current discussions, and up-to-date info on what we are doing.
• The Project will enter our business plan to the WVU Business Plan competition to try for $10,000
• More to come. Stay tuned right here for more...

-Adam Johnson
WVU Biodiesel Project Publicist

Summer!

Welcome to the WVU Biodiesel Project's blog. We are currently out for the summer; however, we will reconvene at the start of the 2008-2009 academic year.

One of the most common questions that people have asked this summer to members is:

Where does the Project stand?

Answer:

At the end of the Spring 2008 semester, we presented a proposal letter to former President Mike Garrison and Dean Cilento (Engineering) that voiced our need for a space to house our production facility. With our design plans still in review, the Project's biggest challenge at this point in time is finding a space to house the production facility that will produce 120 gallons of biodiesel per week from the Waste Vegetable Oil collected at the dining halls across WVU's campus.



In summary, the WVU Biodiesel Project awaits the new academic year with great anticipation and enthusiasm for the future.



Until then, have a wonderful rest of the summer!



-Adam Johnson

WVU Biodiesel Project Publicist



PS- The photo above is the official 2009 WVU Biodiesel Project spiral bound calendar that we had printed with the help from the SGA and Mimi Moore, a supporter of alternative energy sources. Interested in one? Contact wvubiodieselproject [at] gmail [dot] com for more info.

Veggie Van

Hello, everyone!

On Wednesday, April 2, the International Wilderness Leadership School will be visiting via bus running on pure vegetable oil! Stop and visit at the mountainlair between 10AM and 4PM.

Meetings: The Down-low

I know what you are saying, "I know yall exist, but where do you come together and how can I get involved?" Alex Stanton presents on biodiesel.

This post is here to answer that question. We meet WEEKLY in the Engineering Science Building on the fourth floor in room 425.


Where is the Engineering Science Building?
This is the Engineering Science Building on the Evansdale campus at WVU

Enter this building and proceed up to the fourth floor. Then, look for room 425, which is also known as the Wen Library.

Alex Stanton, our organizations Technical Media Manager, prepares for the meeting.

But when do you all meet?

We meet every Wednesday during the Spring and Fall semesters at 5pm.

Patty Sefton, Project Manager, and Avram Siegel, Chair of the Project, are captivated by Alex's biodiesel presentation.