Biodiesel: Myths and Current Realities
The first cars ever built were made to function on biofuels, rather than fossil fuels; and on August 10th, 1893, Rudolf Diesel produced a compression ignition engine which ran on peanut oil. Although, the chemistry behind the process has been known for many years, the production of biodiesel is truly an industry in its infancy within the United States.
While a number of negative myths have been perpetuated, biodiesel is one of a small handful of petroleum alternatives that can simultaneously provide enhanced national security, environmental improvements and opportunities for broad based economic growth. A look at the facts dispel the myths and substantiate the viability, environmental and societal benefits of biodiesel use.
Engineering advances in recent years can deliver plants that yield the highest quality biodiesel from the most challenging feedstocks through an environmentally responsible production process. Viridis Fuels is developing a state-of-the-art biodiesel processing plant in West Oakland that will use waste material as a feedstock, supply port truckers, benefit West Oakland air quality, create new jobs for employment-challenged populations and serve as a positive model for a marriage between private business and environmental responsibility.
The Speaker:
Kathy Neal has over 35 years of business management experience, more than 25 years of public sector involvement and 15 years in significant statewide and local government regulatory and policy-making positions. Kathy is the CEO of Viridis Fuels, developing a biodiesel processing plant with an annual production capacity of 20 million gallons of biodiesel and 4 million gallons of refined glycerin per year.
Kathy is also the founder and President of Kneal Resource System, delivering multi-faceted project management and public affairs services to a wide array of private and public sector clients. She previously owned both a radio station and a clothing manufacturing company. Further, Kathy served as a Legislative Analyst and Committee Consultant for Los Angeles City Council; the State Assembly's representative on both the California Integrated Waste Management Board and State Bar Board of Governors; and a gubernatorial appointee to the California Community Colleges Board of Governors. Additionally, she was an Oakland Port Commissioner and President Bill Clinton appointed Kathy Neal as a delegate to the 1995 White House Conference on Small Business.
Ms. Neal was a co-author of a published study, “Comparing Investor Owned and Publicly Owned Water Utilities”, and had an article, “There’s Gold in Them Thar Hills of Trash”, published in Waste Age Magazine. She has been formally honored by the California Senate and Assembly, California League of Cities, Los Angeles City Council, and many other local and community organizations.
Kathy Neal holds a Bachelors Degree in Political Science from the California State University at Los Angeles; a Master of Public Administration Degree from the University of San Francisco; and two Business Management Certificates from Dartmouth College’s Tuck School of Business.
In her spare time Kathy enjoys gardening and art, serves on the boards of several non-profit organizations and dabbles in local politics.