There’s been some recent talk about turning algae into biodiesel… enough to catch the attention of the magazine Popular Science. This article highlights an operation in Colorado with some great pictures, graphics, and even video of the process: Algae seems a strange contender for the mantle of World’s Next Great Fuel, but the green goop has several qualities in its …
Closing the “Splash and Dash” Loophole
Lawmakers on the U.S. Senate’s Finance Committee will take up a bill that’s supposed to close a loophole that has allowed importers to get millions of dollars in biodiesel subsidies designed to help U.S producers but for biodiesel that doesn’t end up helping American drivers. This article from TheHill.com has more: Known as “splash and dash,” the loophole allows 100 …
Mitigating Biofuels Effects on Food
AACC International (formerly known as the American Association of Cereal Chemists) is inviting senior food industry executives to a three-day symposium and workshop to discuss the impact the biofuels industry is having on the food market. The AACC web site has more information on the seminar, titled “Biofuels and Food, Mitigating the Impact of Biofuels Demand on Food Ingredients” scheduled …
Groundbreaking at Janesville Ethanol Plant
Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty was among the dignitaries who attended the groundbreaking for a new ethanol plant at Janesville, Minnesota last Friday. The 100-million-gallon-a-year plant is being built by US Bioenergy, one of the leading ethanol producers in the country. From a company press release: “The start of construction on our Janesville plant marks another important milestone in the growth …
Ethanol Plants Could Make Biodiesel
Ethanol refiners are looking at ways of getting more products out of the raw ingredients they are using, and one of those new products could be biodiesel. Normally, corn is used to make ethanol and soybeans are used in biodiesel. But this article on the Truth About Trade & Technology web site says many ethanol plants are looking at changing …
Freedom Fuels Making Freedom Fuel
Aptly named Freedom Fuels, LLC has opened a new biodiesel plant near Mason City, Iowa (see picture from the Freedom Fuels web site on the right). This story on Grainnet.com says Freedom Fuels will produce about 30 million gallons of biodiesel a year: “From the very first batch, the biodiesel exceeded specifications for quality,” said Brian Stork of Core Ventures …
Ethanol Making OPEC Re-think Business
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries… better known as OPEC… is starting to feel the heat of the increased use of biofuels. And the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition is asking you help keep them on the ropes. In a release sent to Domestic Fuel, the NEVC outlined what OPEC is saying and how the NEVC wants you to get …
RFA Praises Proposed Energy Bill
As I reported earlier, there’s a lot of contention over the current energy bill being debated in the U.S. Senate as different factions try to get federal dollars, incentives, and requirements that will help their renewable (and, of course, non-renewable) energy industries. But one group that is pleased is the Renewable Fuels Association. In a statement e-mailed to energy.agwired.com, the …
Contentious Energy Bill Stalls in U.S. Senate
The U.S. Senate has hit an impasse over a proposed energy bill that makes larger allowances for alternative energy, in particular, wind power, than previous energy bills. This AP story from Forbes.com says Democrats had hopes for an early vote on the measure, but Republicans were against many of the measures in the omnibus bill: The impasse over renewable fuels …
Palm Oil Biodiesel Considered for Hawaii
Blue Earth Biofuels, which is building a 40-million-gallon-a-year biodiesel refinery with capabilities to go to 120 million gallons, has gotten the green light from the Hawaiian legislature to move forward with the project. But, this article in BizJournals.com, says the company that will buy the biodiesel for electric production, Hawaiian Electric Co., will host a series of meetings with the …