Already the nation’s leader in biodiesel production, production of the green fuel in Iowa hit record levels in 2015. This news release from the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) says despite policy uncertainty for nearly all of 2015, Iowa biodiesel production set a new annual record of 242 million gallons, topping 2013’s record of 230 million gallons. “It must be …
Arkema Addresses Corrosion in Biodiesel Process
One of the issues for biodiesel producers is corrosion of equipment by chemicals used in the production process. Pennsylvania-based chemical company Arkema has developed a low corrosion version of Methane Sulfonic Acid (MSA LC) that will turn free fatty acids into quality biodiesel without using the acids that damage the biodiesel production equipment. “MSA LC provides excellent corrosion control while …
Virent Biojet Fuel Confirmed to Reduce Emissions
Biojet fuel from Virent has passed emissions testing by the government and a major jet engine maker. This news release from the company says its jet fuels containing Virent’s BioForm® Synthesized Aromatic Kerosene (SAK) fuel blend produced a greater than 50 percent reduction in particulate matter emissions compared to conventional jet fuel, according to testing by Rolls-Royce and supported by …
Biodiesel RIN Defrauder Gets 20 Years in Prison
In a clear message that the integrity of the biodiesel incentive system will be upheld, the Justice Department has sentenced a man to 20 years in prison for his part in defrauding the government to the tune of $55 million. This article from The Hill says Joseph Furando participated in a process over several years to buy and resell biodiesel, …
Renewable Diesel Approved for Mack Trucks
Mack Trucks says renewable diesel is cleared for use in all Mack engines. This article from Today’s Trucking says the decision comes following “extensive truck and engine testing” by the company. “As the availability and customer requests for renewable diesel fuel increase, we worked to ensure its compatibility with our engines,” said Stu Russoli, Mack highway and powertrain products marketing …
Biodiesel Smart Enough to Take on a Harvard Winter
While we’re in the midst of winter’s icy grip, the folks at the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) remind us how the green fuel can take on the coldest, snowiest winters. They point to last winter in Boston, when the city received nearly 10 FEET of snow, and Harvard University’s biodiesel-powered fleet didn’t miss a beat. David E. Harris Jr., Harvard’s …
Biodiesel Board Hires Franco as General Counsel
Washington attorney Sandra Franco is the new general counsel at the National Biodiesel Board (NBB). This news release from the group says Franco comes to NBB from the the environmental group at the international law firm Morgan Lewis, where she specialized in the Clean Air Act and natural resources law, and has long worked with the renewable fuels industry, including …
Biodiesel Giant REG Says ‘No’ to Crude Oil at Port
Biodiesel giant Renewable Energy Group (REG) doesn’t want to ship crude oil through its new port and plant in Washington state. This article from the Seattle Times says the Iowa-based company is leaving crude oil out of its plans for the mammoth Grays Harbor biodiesel plant REG bought last summer from Imperium Renewables. The document was filed in late November, …
Tale of ’93 Bronco Shows How to Go Biodiesel
Most of the time, we talk about the big stories of biodiesel: government policies toward the green fuel, infrastructure improvements, a plant opening. But this piece from Car and Driver points out how important some of the little stories of biodiesel also are. Ezra Dyer recalls his quest to convert his 1993 Ford Bronco to run on biodiesel. Perhaps sustainability …
Kolmar Buys GreenFuels’ Biodiesel Plant
Kolmar Group AG has purchased a Connecticut biodiesel plant – Greenleaf Biofuels LLC – located in New Haven, Connecticut. The plant has been renamed American Greenfuels, LLC. With capacity of about 15 million gallons, it is relatively small for the 2-billion gallon U.S. biodiesel market but is the largest biodiesel plant in New England. According to Mr. Raf Aviner, President …