BioFuel Oasis Cooperative: Lessons in Starting a Biodiesel Station By Jennifer Radtke, Co-Founder By Jennifer Radtke, Co-Founder

Original BioFuel Oasis 4th & Dwight, Berkeley, California Dec April 2009  Retail biodiesel (B99.9) at the pump to individual customers in the San Francisco Bay Area

BioFuel Oasis: Moved May 2009  1930s old gas station site on high traffic corner  Accessibility: 4 nozzles, 7am - midnight availability  8K Gallon Aboveground Tank  Urban Farm Store  1930s old gas station site on high traffic corner  Accessibility: 4 nozzles, 7am - midnight availability  8K Gallon Aboveground Tank  Urban Farm Store

Most Sustainable Station in the Nation!  Recycled Biodiesel made within 200 mile radius  Powered by Solar  Native & Edible Landscaping  Waste Veg Oil Collection  Beyond Individual Car Use  Recycled Biodiesel made within 200 mile radius  Powered by Solar  Native & Edible Landscaping  Waste Veg Oil Collection  Beyond Individual Car Use

 Women, Worker-Owned Cooperative  All drive cars on biodiesel (B99)  Newest members have been here 5 yrs  Women, Worker-Owned Cooperative  All drive cars on biodiesel (B99)  Newest members have been here 5 yrs BioFuel Oasis: Who We Are

Fuel Market  When is most fuel sold?  Petro prices go up every spring  How Petro prices affect Biodiesel  Spring Fuel Shortages

Customers: Who They Are  Typical customer: 30s, drives a VW TDI  Businesses: Solar PV installers, Green Builders, Landscapers  Affected by price of petroleum diesel

Biodiesel Education: A Success  10 minute talk to first-time customers  Call us before your mechanic  Appearance of biodiesel cannot be described over the phone.  Communicate: regarding price and blends

Biodiesel: The Revolution  Personal Connection  Gives People Power - Changes people’s lives  Getting Along

Location, Location, Location!  On major corner in Berkeley  1 mile from Interstate 80 on Freeway exit

Permitting  Charm and educate.  Don’t argue. Ask permitting people what they need.  Be a nerd.  Be Patient (Triple whatever timeframes they give you).  Get elected officials and economic development on your side.

Funding the Original Station $5000SaraHope $5000Jennifer $5000Business Profits $5000$50 Founding Member Donations $20,000TOTAL Length of time: 9 months

Funding new station $100K City Loan $60K Private Loan $37K Business Sponsors $35K Business Reinvestment $30K $100 Donations $32K Prepaid Fuel $7K Events $301K TOTAL RAISED

Financial Planning  Business plan  Monthly Projections & Analysis  Don’t run at a deficit.  Spend money you’ve already earned

Make Allies  Create an industry, not just a business  Create long-term relationships with natural allies.  Cooperation not competition

 Chicken, Rabbit and Goat Feed  Beekeeping Supplies  Urban Homesteading Classes in Winter  Chicken, Rabbit and Goat Feed  Beekeeping Supplies  Urban Homesteading Classes in Winter Diversify income Urban Farm Store

Working with Biodiesel  Change the Fuel Filter Mantra  No spill policy  Big Spill Preparedness  Fuel quality testing - how it looks

Vision & Set Goals  Vision meeting yearly  Check in on goals quarterly.  Set clear goals with dates and who is responsible.