The Senate version of the farm bill includes $800 million in mandatory funding for energy programs while the House version contains zero – one of the relatively minor differences in the two bills that could get resolved quickly in conference. Several senators spoke in support of providing mandatory funding for the energy title during the first meeting of the House …
American Ethanol Storms Into the Lone Star State
American Ethanol is racing in the Lone Star State this week and team spokesman Austin Dillion is closing in on a championship. Ethanol supporters and NASCAR fans will be heading to Texas to cheer on their driver and interact with fans about ethanol. Dillon is known for his signature cowboy hat, but he wouldn’t mind trading in his hat for …
Bob Greco’s Greatest Hits
The fight over the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) was not in recess during the government shutdown and the accusations and arguing are ratcheting up in fervor this week as the introduction of new anti-RFS legislation is pending as well as a Dear Colleague letter being circulated by Representative Bob Goodlatte sent to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is causing a …
‘Cheap Corn Caucus’ Undermines American Biofuel Industry
A “Dear Colleague” letter is being circulated by Representative Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) with dozens of signatures calling for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Administrator Gina McCarthy to reduce the 2014 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) blending requirements. In the letter that energy.agwired.com obtained, Goodlatte writes: “Last month, EPA conceded that the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) will soon require more ethanol be blended …
Solar Helps to Lighten the Load
According to the Office of Naval Research (ONR) a recent field test that entailed Marines wearing a solar-powered system to extend the battery life of crucial electronic devices was successful. The exercise took place at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division. The Marine Austere Patrolling System (MAPS) combines solar power and an individual water purifier to help lighten the …
Biodiesel Import Ban Boosts Feedstocks to Europe
As the European Union (EU) blocks biodiesel imports to the continent, demand for biodiesel feedstocks are getting a boost. Bloomberg reports imports of of palm oil and rapeseed oil to Europe are going up, as is domestic production of the green fuel. Biodiesel production is climbing within the EU as the bloc implements duties on imports from Argentina and Indonesia, …
Methes Energies to See Best Biodiesel Quarter Ever
Several developments are prompting a biodiesel company to predict its best production quarter ever. Methes Energies International Ltd., a company with biodiesel production operations north of the border in the form of Methes Energies Canada Inc., says its $1.5 million facility has helped it really get its biodiesel operations moving. Over the last several weeks Methes Canada has made good …
Minnesota Welcomes E15 With Open Arms
Minnesota welcomed its first E15 station with open arms this week. The Penn Minnoco service station in Minneapolis now has four dispensers selling E15 to drivers of vehicle model year 2001 or newer. The Penn Minnoco service station is located at 6001 Penn Avenue South in Minneapolis. When asked by DomesticFuel why E15, station owner Rick Bohnen, who is also …
Legislation to Eliminate Corn Ethanol A “Killer”
Senator Feinstein (D-CA) and Senator Coburn (R-OK) are introducing legislation to eliminate conventional biofuels from the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). According to a story first published by Greenwire, the impending bill would leave the advanced biofuel targets in place, but would eliminate the corn-based ethanol target. “I think the mandate for ethanol, which is forcing a lot of additional use, …
Wind Farms in Northern Cape Move Forward
Three large-scale wind energy projects in the Northern Cape, South Africa with a total generation capacity of 300 megawatts is moving forward and on track to be fully operational in mid-2014. A consortium led by global wind and solar company Mainstream Renewable Power has been awarded Preferred Bidder by the Department of Energy in South Africa. The award was made …