Josh Tickell is one of the nation's leading experts on alternative fuels. He grew up in Louisiana where members of his family suffered from diseases linked to pollution from oil refineries. He began to look for alternatives to petroleum in college, when he discovered biodiesel while working on a farm in the former East Germany .

Fascinated, Tickell started to conduct his own research. He translated documents written by the inventor of the diesel engine, Rudolf Diesel, and found that the first diesel engine had been designed to run on vegetable oil, not petroleum.

After the publication of his first book, Tickell enrolled in Florida State University's School of Motion Picture Television and Recording Arts where he earned his MFA in film. His goal: to direct and produce a major theatrical documentary motion picture that both chronicles and is a catalyst in the biodiesel and green energy movement. He had begun shooting footage for the documentary in 1997 during his first Veggie Van trip. (Soon after graduating, Tickell compiled this original footage into the short film titled The Veggie Van Voyage, now available on DVD).

In 2003, Tickell began working full time on the production of the documentary film tentatively titled 'Fields of Fuel.' The feature length High Definition film is scheduled to be released sometime in early 2008. The film features appearances by Woody Harrelson, Larry Hagman, Neil Young and Willie Nelson among other notable celebrities and cultural icons.

As a precursor to his movie, Tickell release a controversial new book "Biodiesel America - How to Achieve Energy Security, Free America From Middle-East Oil Dependence and Make Money Growing Fuel." The book challenges the status quo of the oil industry, the automakers and the government and offers a complete energy roadmap to wean the US from fossil fuels.

Tickell is widely recognized as the most engaging and inspirational public speaker in his field. He has consulted for companies and organizations such as National Biodiesel Board, Arizona State House of Representatives, Solar Energy International, Quicksilver and Clif Bar. He has spoken at numerous colleges and universities including MIT, Ohio University , Bard College , Vassar College and Colorado College and has presented in including Cuba , Argentina , Burma and Australia . His presentations and books have been attributed with starting multiple biodiesel businesses and laying the foundation for the Australian, Polish and South Pacific biodiesel industries.

His first book inspired one man to convert an entire South Sea island to using only biodiesel fuel for its energy and transportation needs.

Tickell founded the Biodiesel America Organization . In 2005, it was selected by President Bill Clinton to be part of his Global Initiative on Climate Change. Tickell mounted a biodiesel relief effort to aid victims of the hurricanes in Louisiana and Mississippi . His biodiesel-fueled relief ships delivered 20,000 meals, clothing and medical supplies to the hardest-hit areas of the disaster zone.

Tickell has appeared on The Today Show, Dateline NBC, CNN News, The National Geographic Channel and the Discovery Channel, NPR , the Jeff Rense and Jim Hightower radio shows and has been featured in the Los Angeles Times , The Independent (UK), The Smithsonian Magazine, Maxim Magazine and Mother Earth News.

Tickell uses his expert knowledge and powerful communication skills to offer solutions to rising gas prices, global climate change, pollution-related health issues and national energy security.

Blog Entries by Josh Tickell

The Veggie Van Tour Rolls into Washington

Posted September 16, 2009 | 05:19 PM (EST)


When we set out from San Francisco last week, there were many questions. We were full of excitement, looking at that ribbon of American highway...

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Go Green Expo Screening with Peter Fonda and Mariel Hemmingway - Jan 23

Posted January 15, 2009 | 03:47 PM (EST)


Special Go Green Expo Fuel Screening with Peter Fonda and Mariel Hemmingway

Friday, January 23 at the Go Green Expo, Los Angeles Convention Center

Screening begins at 5:00PM

After Panel with Peter Fonda and Mariel Hemmingway at 7:00PM

Oscar contender Fuel is an insightful portrait of America's addiction to oil...

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Economic Stimulus: Biodiesels as Giveaways Could Build Community, Consumer Awareness

Posted December 23, 2008 | 12:28 PM (EST)


Big 3 Buyout - Eat your heart out, America, our government is back in control. How many biodiesels could we put on the road with the $15-30 billion the Big 3 Auto Monsters are going to receive? Let's tell Congress how many! We need statistics: how much do average algae-diesel/bio-diesel...

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Special LA & NY Fuel Screenings

Posted December 23, 2008 | 12:26 PM (EST)


"Dynamic and persuasive. It's a must-see, and not just for environmentalists."
- Tom Keogh, Seattle Times

"Offers hope and vision for a future without oil"
- Rachel Purcell, The Source Weekly

"Watch the film, learn from it, and make it happen."
- Damian Vaca, MTV Movies

Fuel...

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Fuel in San Antonio, TX; Bend, OR; Yelm & Seattle, WA This Weekend

Posted December 16, 2008 | 04:52 PM (EST)


Fuel is playing in San Antonio, TX, Seattle & Yelm WA and Bend, OR.

Fuel Review -- Bend Source Weekly

Written by Rachel Purcell -- the Source Weekly

Wednesday, 03 December 2008

Winner of the Sundance Audience Choice Award and now being considered for an Academy Award nomination, Fuel is...

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Amsterdam Screenings a Hit: New Cities Open this Week

Posted December 3, 2008 | 02:20 PM (EST)


Fuel is the opening film at the Santa Fe Film Festival on Wed Dec. 3rd at 7pm followed by a Q&A with Josh Tickell and Rebecca Harrell.

Here's a recap of the Fuel Amsterdam adventure: We were all curious to see how Fuel would play to a continental European audience,...

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Texas Publication Slams Fuel - Austin Viewers Fight Back

Posted December 2, 2008 | 04:55 PM (EST)


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On November 21 Josh Rosenblatt made a mistake. The moonlighting movie critic for Austin's weekly "hip" newspaper decided to write about Fuel as if he had just cashed a big fat check from a major oil company and was now doing the dirty work...

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What's Better than Turkey?

Posted November 26, 2008 | 01:13 PM (EST)


Fuel opened in Seattle and Austin this weekend to sold out audiences on Friday and Saturday nights. In Seattle, hundreds of people waited in the rain lined up around the block to get a seat for FUEL's opening night.

In Austin, happy crowds, including many from the Sierra Club and...

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Opening Night in Portland a Success! Only 9 More Screenings This Weekend!

Posted November 20, 2008 | 01:10 PM (EST)


The Portland Mercury called Fuel "astounding."

Comment from last night:

"It is our civic responsibility to see this film and spread the word!!"
Submitted by Chris on Sat, 11/15/2008 - 1:10pm

"It is our civic responsibility to see this film and spread the word!! Fuel will inspire and motivate...

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A Big Day For The Fuel Film

Posted November 19, 2008 | 06:20 PM (EST)


Today was a big day for the Fuel film. We found out that the movie played so well in Portland that it is being held over for a week -- which means if you're in Portland and you missed Fuel, there's still time to see it in the theater! In...

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Congratulations Josh And Rebecca On Making The Short List For The Academy!

Posted November 19, 2008 | 06:16 PM (EST)


Announced Today!

Here is the complete list of short-listed films below:
At the Death House Door
The Betrayal" (Nerakhoon)
Blessed Is the Match: The Life and Death of Hannah Senesh
Encounters at the End of the World
Fuel
The Garden
Glass: A Portrait...

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The Fuel Revolution Has Begun

Posted October 1, 2008 | 02:30 PM (EST)


United States financial institutions are crumbling. U.S. troops are being reassigned to our streets to do crowd control(For what?).

Anyone looking at the news feeds this morning might think we are living inside a dark Tim Burton parallel universe movie.

Whatever is going on, one thing is for sure...

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Turns Out That Our Government is Literally in Bed with Big Oil

Posted September 30, 2008 | 05:06 PM (EST)


"Recently, a scandal broke over illicit activities in the division of the Department of the Interior responsible for, among other things, royalties to oil companies. Executives were exchanging sexual favors, drugs and lavish gifts in what officials say was 'a culture of substance abuse and promiscuity.' Turns out that our...

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Where's My Orangutan? Why Biofuels Don't Kill Apes

Posted July 21, 2008 | 06:39 PM (EST)


2008-07-21-scaredorangutan.jpg

At 35,000 feet, going 400 miles per hour, things can get cold. Really cold. For years skeptics argued that a biofuel could never withstand the subzero temperatures and requirements of modern aviation. In February, however, Sir Richard Branson flew his...

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Who Ate My Tortillas? -- The Truth About Food vs. Fuel

Posted July 6, 2008 | 10:55 AM (EST)


The following blog is based on my upcoming documentary film, Fields of Fuel, (www.fieldsoffuel.com) which premieres in theaters this September.

For many families in Mexico, the poverty line is an all too familiar tightrope. It's easy to fall off.

Both because of its low cost and regional...

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"Food vs. Fuel," A False Debate

Posted June 20, 2008 | 01:47 PM (EST)


Gas prices have doubled. High food prices have pushed over a hundred million people into starvation. It's snowing in the northwest United States -- in the middle of summer. And a United States president, known for his allegiance to the dark world of oil and for his suspect behavior around...

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