North Central Montana Launch and Appreciation Day

North Central Montana Transit begins service

August 24, Monday

The North Central Montana Transit is a free public transportation system designed to serve the Hi-Line communities of Hill and Blaine Counties and surrounding communities as well as to provide coordinated services with Fort Belknap and Rocky Boy’s Transit systems.

NCM Transit is operated by Opportunity Link, Inc. and was established in partnership with North Central Montana area organizations including local and tribal government agencies, public service organizations and educational institutions. NCM Transit will provide scheduled services: (1) Havre to Fort Belknap and back with stops at Chinook, Harlem Mondays to Fridays; (2) Havre to Box Elder and back stopping at Laredo Mondays to Fridays; and (3) a twice a week trip from Fort Belknap to Great Falls and back every Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Environment-friendly aluminum water bottles will be distributed to the first riders of the day courtesy of Opportunity Link.

For more information on the transit’s services, contact Transit Director Jim Lyons at (406) 265-3699 or (877) 332-3699 or via e-mail at [email protected] or visit the website at http://www.ncmtransit.org.

2.

North Central Montana Transit Launch and Appreciation Day

August 24, Monday

12:00noon to 1:30pm

MSU Northern SUB parking lot

11th Street West, Havre, MT

An appreciation day will be held together with the official launch of the North Central Montana Transit on Monday, August 24 from 12-1:30pm at the MSU Northern SUB parking lot in Havre. Everyone is invited to join the celebration and to take the time to thank all stakeholders and community groups that helped support the North Central Montana Transit.

Music, food and drinks will be available for everyone in the celebration!

For more information, please contact Opportunity Link Program Officer Rebecca Farr at (406) 265-3699 or via e-mail at [email protected] or visit the website at http://www.ncmtransit.org.

3.

Series of Free Training Courses on Biodiesel Processing

September 4 to October 23

Bio-Energy Innovation and Testing Center

Montana State University Northern

Havre, Montana

The BioEnergy Center is hosting a series of biofuel workshops, designed to give participants hands on experience with the fundamentals of biofuels. The BioEnergy Center is hosting a series of biofuel workshops, designed to give participants hands on experience with the fundamentals of biofuels.

For more information, contact:

Jessica Windy Boy, 265-4199, [email protected]

Jon Soriano, 265-3717, [email protected]

Day

Course

September 4-5

The ABCs of Biodiesel

September 11-12

Pressing Oils & Feedstock Analysis

September 24-26

Process Engineering

October 2-3

Quality Control & Testing

October 15-17

Fuel Performance

October 23

Safety & Hazmat Training

I. The ABCs of Biodiesel
(2 days, September 4-5)
A ground-level introduction to the fundamentals of biodiesel; everything you want to know about biofuels, but were afraid to ask! Basic chemistry involved in biodiesel production will be discussed including reaction, catalysis, and purification techniques. Participants will prepare biodiesel from different oil seeds in the laboratory and will be introduced to basic technique of chromatographic detection of biodiesel by TLC.

* Introduction to biodiesel
* Chemistry of biodiesel production
* Lab scale biodiesel production
* Biodiesel demonstration

II. Pressing Oils & Feedstock Analysis
(2 days September 11-12)
An introduction to various technologies for obtaining oils from seeds and other biomass, their benefits and drawbacks. Discussion of types of feedstocks used for biodiesel production. This session will include a short demonstration of MSU-Northern’s oil press.

* Oilseed crop for energy production
* Feedstock for biodiesel production
* Feedstock quality and testing
* Pre-treatment

III. Process Engineering
(3 days September 24-26)
An introduction to industrial scale biodiesel production technology, including the principles and purpose of all operations involved. Various engineering designs of producing biodiesel, including conventional and non-conventional technologies, will be discussed as well. There will be a a short discussion of the MSUN biodiesel processor, then participants will have three days to process a 50 gal. batch of biodiesel.

* Basic unit operations in biodiesel production
* Engineering designs
* Experience in actual biodiesel production
* Biodiesel demonstration

IV. Quality Control & Testing
(2 days October 2-3)
Participants will be introduced to biodiesel quality and testing, and how it relates to performance. Basic operations and protocols for biodiesel testing using different equipment will be demonstrated. The principles behind each equipment’s operation will also be discussed. Participants will gain hands-on experience analyzing and testing the biodiesel they produced in accordance to ASTM methodologies.

* Specifications for B100 & biodiesel blends
* Performance as it relates to quality
* Hands-on experience in Northern’s Fuel Chemistry Lab
* Biodiesel quality control

V. Fuel Performance
(3 days October 15-17)
This session includes a lecture and discussion on the fundamentals of diesel engines, a discussion on engine design technologies in relation to federal and state regulations, with an emphasis on exhaust emissions, and a discussion on EPA regulated and non-regulated gases, including their environmental and human health impacts. The lecture sessions will be followed by a tour of The MSU-Northern Engine Performance Facilities, and an overview of performance test protocols. With the assistance of MSU-Northern Staff, participants will conduct actual testing of biodiesel, biodiesel blend and diesel fuel using Northern’s Small Engine Test Cell, and exhaust emission monitoring using Northern’s SESAM FT-IR Analyzer. Participants will be introduced to the use of basic statistics as a tool in data analysis and interpretation, as well data presentation.

* Diesel fuel vs biodiesel performance
* Testing using a dynamometer
* Diesel fuel and biodiesel emissions
* EPA and non-EPA regulated gases
* Fuel measurements
* Data treatment and reporting

VI. Safety and Hazmat Training
(1 day October 23)
An introduction to hazardous materials handling for oil and fuels.

* Biodiesel storage & handling
* Methanol storage and handling
* Waste water
* Fire regulations
* Emergencty hazmat response

The Bio-Energy Innovation and Testing Center at Montana State University-Northern (Northern) located in Havre, Montana is positioning itself to be a leader in the developing bio-energy industry. Northern is one of the premier universities in the nation that offers Bachelors of Science Degrees in automotive and diesel technology. Northern houses a state of the art applied technology center and business incubation center.

The Bio-Energy Innovation and Testing Center provides several services to the bio-energy industry including independent fuel, performance and emission testing for all bio-fuels, additives and bio-lubricants in both automotive and diesel engine applications. The business incubation center provides start-up businesses a variety of services, including market research, financial advising, partnership building and business plan development. The Bio-Energy Innovation and Testing Center strives to make bio-energy technology a part of everyday life for all Americans.

Day Soriano

OPPORTUNITY LINK, INC

P.O. Box 80, Havre, MT 59501

Tel: 406-265-3699; 877-332-3699 (toll-free)

Fax: 406-265-2075

http://www.opportunitylinkmt.org

Uniting people. Linking resources. Fighting poverty.