jjsmith's blog

Recently while walking the streets of downtown Raleigh and seeing the large numbers of homeless calling places like Moore Square home, I was reminded of a Christmas tradition my family had started...

This right here is one of the funniest and scariest letters I have ever seen in my life. Who the hell are these people.<!--break-->

It's China. It now appears that immigration opponents are no longer focusing their energies on Manuel, Jesus, etc. as the face of immigration. Now the biggest threat according to them are the Chinese. <!--break-->

As a party, we are about to divide ourselves in the upcoming primary for Governor. Why can't someone stand up and speak some common sense? Why kill each other? Why not be pragmatists about this and have one of our fine leaders run and trounce Liddy?<!--break-->

I have been getting some questions about how to make biodiesel at home. I found this very informative video on youtube and I think it highlights the process extremely well. Happy viewing. Video after the jump<!--break-->

Let me first say, I know this won't be a popular blog post knowing the allegiances on this site. But that said, I believe Heath Shuler has everything necessary to beat Elizabeth Dole in a State Wide election.

cross posted from Draft Shuler

North Carolina has a Chance to get a Real North Carolinian Elected to the Senate: <!--break-->

I have heard from a very reliable source, that Sen. John Snow will be interviewed for Marketplace on NPR. I have no idea when this program will air, but it looks promising for the biofuels industry in this State. During this interview, Sen. Snow will be discussing Biodiesel and North Carolina. It appears that the recent article in the Charlotte Observer (A Price to Pay for Alternative Fuels) has pull farther away than just North Carolina. OPEN THREAD<!--break-->

It is past time to get Special Interests out of Energy Policy. Currently, we are reaping the works of the Cheney Energy Policy Taskforce, in which, the energy Policy of the United States was developed by special interests, Big Oil.<!--break-->

Senator Hoyle (Gaston County) has produced a biodiesel bill, which can only be classified as: "Rubbish." Senate Bill 1149 would do nothing but hinder the biofuels industry in North Carolina. The bill attempts to remove one of the largest buyers of diesel from the Biofuels market, schools. If his plan were to go through, $5 million would be appropriated to schools in North Carolina to begin the production of their own biodiesel. What type of insanity is this? <!--break-->

Please contact Senator R.C. Soles and urge him to put Senate Bill 1451 on the schedule for today's Commerce, Small Business, and Entrepreneurship meeting.<!--break-->

Tomorrow at 12pm, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Small Business, and Entrepreneurship will be hearing Senate Bill, 1452. It is important that we contact the members of this committee and urge them to support this bill. I understand with the lack of notice, that individuals who prefer snail mail will be left out of the loop again, but that shouldn’t stop the rest of us from contacting the Senate.
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Crossposted from NC Consumers for BioFuels.

Senate Bill 1272 has passed third reading.

Senate Bill 1277 has passed its second and third reading and is heading to the House.

Things are starting to pick-up.<!--break-->

by Sam Gray
Director of Operations
Smoky Mountain Biofuels

To say the condition of North Carolina's biodiesel producers is "critical" would be an understatement. There are four main producers of biodiesel in our state: Smoky Mountain Biofuels, Foothills Bio-Energies, Piedmont Biofuels, and Blue Ridge Biofuels.<!--break-->

Both of these bills have been reported favorably out of Committee. Bill 1452 was withdrawn in order to make the wording more favorable to biodiesel production in North Carolina.

Developing