2011 Sustainable Biodiesel Summit – March 5, Pittsboro, North Carolina
The 2011 Summit was held at Central Carolina Community College in Pittsboro, North Carolina on March 5th.
Registration – $125
Student Registration – $50
Students, please choose the discount price from drop down menu on the buy button and email wow@theabundancefoundation with your name and the name of the school you are attending.
No one turned away for lack of funds.
Fee includes lunch and a ticket to Pittsboro’s Mardi Gras Carnival on the night of March 5th.
Registration closed – SBS 2011 was a hit!
What is the Sustainable Biodiesel Summit?
The Sustainable Biodiesel Summit is an annual conference to raise awareness of sustainability and to facilitate the adoption of sustainable practices in the biodiesel industry. Industry professionals meet to exchange best practices, brainstorm ideas, and support each others efforts to conduct successful businesses in an environmentally sustainable and socially just manner. The Summit focuses not on biodiesel for its own sake, but rather as a means to realize greater environmental stewardship, shared economic development (particularly through smaller, community-scale businesses), and a stable, secure, self-reliant energy future. The Summit schedule and location correspond to the National Biodiesel Annual Conference so that attendees may conveniently attend both.
2011 Sustainable Biodiesel Summit Schedule
March 5, 2011
9:00 Opening Remarks, Lyle Estill, Welcome
9:15 Four Great Projects: Matt Steiman on the Dickinson College Plant, Eric Henry on Burlington Biodiesel Cooperative, Randall von Wedel on his project in Florida and Kumar Plocher on Yokayo Biofuels.
10:45 Fifteen minute break
11:00 Sustainability Standards and Initiatives: Matt Rudolf, Roundtable for Sustainable Biofuels, Don Scott of National Biodiesel Board and Jeff Plowman with Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance (15 minutes for each presentation plus 15 minutes Q&A)
12:00 Lunch. Local food that is guaranteed to satiate all comers. From vegans to meat lovers this meal alone will be worth the price of admission. “Taste of Local” catered by two uber local food super stars, Angelina and Jeff.
1:00 State of the Industry: Frankie Abralind provides a survey on some of the more successful biodiesel projects he has encountered.
1:30 The Piedmont Story: From A Canoe Paddle in a 55 Gallon Drum to Enzymatic Production: Lyle Estill
2:00 Future Opportunities for Biodiesel; Jon Van Gerpen.
2:45 Fifteen minute break
3:00 – 4:30 B100 Community Conversation: Facilitated by Bob Armantrout. Exploring our needs, our dilemmas, our obstacles, our successes, and getting feedback from our peers.
3:30 (Optional) Piedmont Biofuels Annual Meeting. Board Elections held. Non-members welcome to stay, members welcome to vote.
4:30 Wrap up.
5:30 Tour of Piedmont Biofuels plant in Pittsboro with Lyle Estill. Summiteers can prepare for the Mardi Gras Carnival.
6:30 Pre-Mardi party! Outdoor pizza oven tapas and beer – get your sparkles on and prepare to head on over to Mardi Gras
7:00 Mardi Gras at Chatham Mills, downtown Pittsboro
Travel, Accommodatins, Dining & Weather
Please visit the Pittsboro Visitor’s Bureau for information about Pittsboro and surrounding towns.
Airport: Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) is 25 miles from the classroom.
Shuttle and/or Taxi: Chatham Transit
Rental Cars: For a list of rental car agencies at Raleigh-Durham Airport, please click: Raleigh-Durham Airport Rental Car Agencies and Directions
Bus: There is a Greyhound Station at 820 W Morgan Street, Durham, NC, which is approximately 25 miles from the classroom.
Train: There is also an Amtrak Station at 400 W Chapel Hill Street, Durham, NC, which is approximately 25 miles from the classroom.
Lodging: We highly recommend Rosemary House Bed and Breakfast. There is a new B&B, 458 West Bed & Breakfast, which looks darling too! Pittsboro and nearby surrounding towns offer a wide range of other lodging options, including bed and breakfasts, inns, hotels, and camping. Please see the Pittsboro Convention and Visitor’s Bureau website for more information about lodging options.
Dining: There is a good selection of local restaurants within five minutes of the college. Check out Chatham Marketplace, Pittsboro’s cooperatively owned grocery store and deli, The General Store Cafe, located at the town circle on Hwy 64W, or Angelina’s for local food with a Greek twist. If you’re in the mood for Italian food, check out Bella Donna’s or Elizabeth’s Pizzeria and Italian Restaurant. And for some great local beer, try out The Carolina Brewery.
Weather: March Temperatures in Pittsboro average in the mid to high 50s during the day with overnight lows around freezing. For a more detailed look at the weather, please visit weather.com.
What to pack:
- Pen and pencil
- Cool to cold weather clothes
- Dancing shoes and a costume for Mardi Gras Carnival
