The flux in high-tech jobs in the renewable energy field has prompted Illinois State University to look at offering a bachelor’s degree in the field. This article in the Matoon and Charleston, Illinois Journal Gazette Times-Courier says the degree would offer studies in biofuels, wind, and solar power: If approved by the Illinois Board of Higher Education, ISU will launch …
NASCAR Could Switch to Alternatives
NASCAR is looking at switching to some form of alternative fuel for its racers… but what kind is still up in the air. This article in the St. Petersburg (Florida) Times says NASCAR’s chief Brian France made the announcement during his annual midseason conference call: France said because there are “eight or nine different versions of what alternative fuels mean …
Oregon Gets Ethanol, Biodiesel Mandates
Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski has signed into law two mandates for biofuel blending in his state. This story in the Oregonian says the package also includes tax incentives for producers and consumers: Gasoline sold in Oregon must be 10 percent ethanol after the state’s production of ethanol reaches 40 million gallons a year. Diesel fuel sold in Oregon must be …
Texas A&M, Blue Diamond Team Up for Biodiesel
Texas A&M University and Blue Diamond Ventures, an agriculture, biofuels (including ethanol and biodiesel) and commercial development company with operations in Central America and the U.S. have joined together in a plan to make biodiesel in the Central American country of Belize. This company press release says the focus will be turning non-food sources into biofuels: “We are delighted that …
Making Biofuels Cheaper & Faster
Being able to make biofuels cheaper, faster, and without the help of government subsidies seems to be the theme of some recent work by American researchers. This story in the Des Moines Register highlights a couple of programs, in particular, one by an Iowa State professor who has teamed up with the private sector to find a way to make …
McDonald’s Driving on Own Cooking Oil
Fast-food giant McDonald’s will be fueling some of its delivery trucks in the United Kingdom on the leftover oil used to cook its french fries and chicken nuggets. This story in London’s Financial Times says 155 trucks could be running on the fuel made from the grease by the end of the year: The fast-food group, which to date has …
Meet the American Biofuels Council
There’s a new player on the block in the alternative energy group sector: The American Biofuels Council. Sean O’Hanlon is the executive director for the new group that he says has gotten a better-than-expected response in their first few months of existence. In an interview with energy.agwired.com, he explains that his council is different than other groups such as the …
Investors Still Want Alt Energy
Investors still seem to have quite an appetite for alternative energy… but their tastes might be changing a bit. This AP story posted on Forbes.com says energy sources such as solar and wind have made some gains, while ethanol investments became somewhat flat: According to IPOHome.com, 115 companies went public in the U.S. during the first half of the year. …
Dakota Skies Turn Dark
Just less than a year ago, the prospects for a biodiesel plant in Minot, North Dakota seemed pretty promising as the state’s governor, a U.S. Senator, and North Dakota’s ag commissioner attended the groundbreaking at the Dakota Skies Biodiesel plant. But a decision by the Minot Area Development Corporation, which donated the land for the plant in the first place, …
Soybean Acres Drop Despite Biodiesel Rise
In what might be considered a bit counter-intuitive, U.S. soybean acres planted have dropped to the lowest level in 12 years… despite increased interests in biodiesel… a product that often uses soy oil as its feedstock. This story posted on Forbes.com says the culprit is more farmers switching to corn to make the even more popular ethanol: The USDA reported …