Archive for October, 2008

In case you didn’t receive the EVITE, we are having our one year anniversary party at Roots Organic Brewery, which is located on SE 7th, just south of Hawthorne, at roughly 6:30p.   We’re looking forward to seeing everyone who has taken a role in the success of not only surviving the first year, but reaching into the unheard of black each month!  We knew we could do it, but it took great customers to get this sustainable shuttle launched and off the ground.

For those of you who don’t have the evite, feel free to email me at info [at] ecoshuttle.net to receive one.

Sneakin’ Out is playing for those who just love fun, rockin’, folky music!  See ya there!  Cheers to ‘Great Success’ this past year!

By Kris Bevill

Web exclusive posted Oct. 6, 2008 at 5:02 p.m. CST

Algae-to-biodiesel projects seem to be sprouting up almost as easily as the slimy, green stuff grows and the outcome of those projects will no doubt be as varied as the types of algae used in each project. One of the most recent algae-inspired projects is being undertaken by Washington-based Columbia Energy Partners LLC, which hopes to convert carbon dioxide from a coal-fired electricity plant into algal oil.

CEP is a renewable energy company that primarily focuses on wind and solar energy. However, the company’s vice president, Jon Norling, also owns a biodiesel company. Two years ago, Norling approached one of Oregon’s electric utilities, Portland General Electric, on behalf of CEP to pitch the idea of converting carbon dioxide from the utility’s coal-fired plant in Boardman, Ore., into algal oil for the production of biodiesel. Norling told Biodiesel Magazine that he elected to approach PGE for the project because it operates Oregon’s only coal-fired power plant and “they are a progressive company” that might be willing to participate. The Boardman plant also happens to be located in the eastern part of the state, which is conducive to algae growth, he said. This summer, PGE agreed to begin exploring the option.

Norling said CEP is currently conducting the first phase of what will potentially be a three-phase project. A feasibility study is underway at the 600 megawatt Boardman facility to determine if algae can feed on the carbon dioxide emitted from the plant and what amounts of carbon dioxide, and potentially other greenhouse gases, can be consumed by the algae. Seattle-based BioAlgene LLC is providing the algae strains for this portion of the project, according to Norling. The possibility of a larger build-out is also being researched at this time. He anticipates a full-scale operation to include 7,500 acres of open air algae ponds.

Results from the first phase should be available sometime in December, Norling said. At that point, if the results are positive, the company can move forward with engineering details and the construction of larger, in-ground algae tanks while continuing to research the process. Norling said PGE requested the project be conducted in “baby steps” and he expects a commercial-scale project to be three to five years away. “There are some major issues,” he said, noting the difficulties of keeping open-air algae ponds free from contamination and the actual process of squeezing oil from the algal as potential obstacles that need to be overcome.

CEP is financing the project. The company hopes to eventually sell the carbon credits it would gain from the process back to PGE or another buyer, as well as generate revenue from the algae oil and potential animal feed byproducts.

TICKETS LOWERED TO $30–>Ride sustainably to catch artists at work during Portland Open Studios

Portland Open Studios invites you to visit 98 individual artists’ studios throughout the Portland metro area. You will see a diverse group of artists working in their chosen media—painting, sculpting, blowing glass and much more.

(more…)

TriMet steps in to keep project going as Colorado Railcar stumbles

By Jennifer Clampet

The Times, Oct 1, 2008, Updated Oct 1, 2008

RUNNING LATE — TriMet crews continue to test the Westside Express Service commuter rail cars even though the schedule to begin operations has been pushed back until February 2009.

Jaime Valdez / The Times

TriMet announced on Wednesday that the WES commuter rail will not begin operations until Feb. 2, 2009.

The Westside Express Service has been brought to a screeching delay because of a financially stressed railcar company and the need for safety testing to avoid an occurrence like the commuter rail crash in Los Angeles.

TriMet has admitted that Colorado Railcar Manufacturing LLC, the company providing the three self-propelled Diesel Multiple Units for WES, has been in financial distress since January.

Since then TriMet has stepped in and spent about $3 million over the budgeted amount for the railcars in order to ensure that the cars would be completed.

According to TriMet spokeswoman Mary Fetsch, TriMet was going through CRM’s financial records in January when officials realized the railcar company was not paying its suppliers.

TriMet stepped in and began paying suppliers directly and then sent TriMet staff to the manufacturing plant in Fort Lupton, Colo., to ensure that the DMUs were being constructed.

The last of the three DMUs for WES were delivered in Wilsonville in September. But the DMU still needs parts – both software and hardware – before it can start undergoing safety testing, Fetsch said.

TriMet is paying for five engineers from CRM and an engineering consultant to oversee the final manufacturing of the DMU.

TriMet had budgeted $17.8 million for the DMUs – $4 million for each DMU, $3 million for a trailer to be pulled by one DMU and the cost to the cars operation with safety testing.

But according to Fetsch, estimates show that by stepping in to ensure that the cars would be completed, TriMet has spent about $3 million over budget for the DMUs.

The purchase of the railcars from CRM was based on two things: first CRM is the only U.S. firm that builds the DMUs that meet federal safety standards and second the purchase complied with the Buy America requirement. CRM is reportedly six months behind schedule and, according to Fetsch, another transportation agency – Alaska Railroad Corporation – has plans to follow TriMet’s lead in taking on supervision of the railcars to ensure a timely completion.

According to Fetsch, TriMet paid suppliers directly for railcar parts and took on overseeing the manufacturing to ensure that it would get the cars.

In July, TriMet officials said the start date for WES would be sometime in November. That came even as officials were expecting a delay in the delivery of the last two railcars from CRM. At the time, TriMet said CRM was having trouble recapitalizing after trouble with supplies that slowed the entire production process.

TriMet has also focused news of the WES delay on the need to test for safety of the new train cars and signal systems.

“TriMet stepped in to make sure we received the cars needed for service and now we are focusing on getting them fully tested and certified to ensure safe operations,” said TriMet General Manager Fred Hansen in Wednesday’s press release. “We are also working with P&W to reach a greater level of confidence in their operating these two modes safely together.”

WES was estimated to be a $117.3 million commuter rail project that has been in the making for 10 years. It will serve the cities of Beaverton, Tigard, Tualatin and Wilsonville operating on a 14.7-mile railroad track owned by Portland & Western Railroad.

TriMet purchased a state-of-the-art signal system for WES that is being fully integrated with P&W’s freight service. All 35 P&W freight locomotives that will operate in the corridor, as well as the WES vehicles, will include cab signals that are part of an overall signal system that will prevent train-to-train collisions similar to what occurred in Los Angeles in September.

According to TriMet, the new software system is being fine-tuned and staff are implementing an extensive training and testing program.

“We want to take time to ensure we have a solid system,” Fetsch said.

As word of the commuter rail delay began to trickle down to affected cities on Tuesday and Wednesday, most officials seemed understanding.

“Safety is a compelling reason to be patient,” said Beaverton Mayor Rob Drake.

Tualatin Mayor Lou Ogden reasoned that with the commuter rail being a first of its kind in Oregon, the need for more time for safety testing was something to be expected.

And in Tualatin, officials almost welcomed the news, which ultimately gives them more time to research how to handle the issue of train horn noise that could affect its neighborhoods.

Tigard mayor Craig Dirksen said that officials are disappointed by news of the delay, but added “the mayor of Wilsonville really said it best: ‘We’ve been waiting for this and anticipating this for 16 years, and a couple more months doesn’t matter that much.’”

presented by ecoShuttle and Roots Organic Brewing

Welcome to our Third Thirsty Thursday sign-up page.  You can also call 503-548-4480 or email your request for a seat on the eco-friendly booze bus.  $25 per ticket

About the Tour: On the Third Thursday of every month, our 25 passenger ecoShuttle departs Roots Organic Brewing on SE 7th and Hawthorne, destined for three of Portland’s breweries.  A $25 ticket gets you a seat on the beer-bus, samples at every brewery, growlers full of beer to enjoy along the way, and a look into what makes Portland so unique in the brewing world.  A beer writer will join us and/or a tour will be given to make your evening educational as well as a tad debaucherous.  This is a great chance to get out of your neighborhood and experience Beervana!  The bus returns to Roots at the end of the tour, 11:30 or so, and rides will be offered at an additional charge.  It may be wise to arrange for a ride home in advance!  PLEASE!! DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE!!

This Months Tour: Each month we’ll visit 3 different breweries, leaving from Roots each time.  This month we visit two brewing companies in SE Portland, close-in and one in the NorthWest.

**Please note, there is a puke fee of $300.

visit www.rootsorganicbrewing.com to find out more about our Third Thirsty Thursday partner, Roots Organic Brewing

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—>TICKET PRICE REDUCED TO $30<—Ride sustainably to catch artists at work during Portland Open Studios

Portland Open Studios invites you to visit 98 individual artists’ studios throughout the Portland metro area. You will see a diverse group of artists working in their chosen media—painting, sculpting, blowing glass and much more.

(more…)

—>TICKET PRICE REDUCED TO $30<—Ride sustainably to catch artists at work during Portland Open Studios

Portland Open Studios invites you to visit 98 individual artists’ studios throughout the Portland metro area. You will see a diverse group of artists working in their chosen media—painting, sculpting, blowing glass and much more.

(more…)

—>TICKET PRICE REDUCED TO $30<—Ride sustainably to catch artists at work during Portland Open Studios

Portland Open Studios invites you to visit 98 individual artists’ studios throughout the Portland metro area. You will see a diverse group of artists working in their chosen media—painting, sculpting, blowing glass and much more.

(more…)

—>TICKET PRICE REDUCED TO $30<—Ride sustainably to catch artists at work during Portland Open Studios

Portland Open Studios invites you to visit 98 individual artists’ studios throughout the Portland metro area. You will see a diverse group of artists working in their chosen media—painting, sculpting, blowing glass and much more.

(more…)