Iowa-based Renewable Energy Group has broken ground on what will be a 60-million-gallon-a-year biodiesel plant in Emporia, Kansas. This story is from the Emporia Gazette: Actual construction work will begin in about two weeks, according to Chief Executive Officer Jeff Stroburg. The company expects to have the $70 million plant up and running by September or October of 2008. Once …
First Algae-Biodiesel Plant to Open in Alabama
The world’s first biodiesel plant using algae as its feedstock is set to open within a year at a location in Alabama. This story on Checkbiotech.org says the CEO of energy company PetroSun, Inc. has been working for some time to build the plant fueled with pond scum: Gordon M. LeBlanc Jr., CEO of PetroSun Inc., believes America’s energy future …
Momentum Rolling in Texas
The first 50,000 gallons of biodiesel has rolled off the line at the new Momentum Biofuels, Inc. refinery at LaPorte, Texas. This story posted on Grainnet.com says it cost less than 25 cents/gallon to build the facility, not including the costs for the building and land: Management believes this CAPEX is significantly lower than what is typical in the industry …
Tyson Expands Biodiesel Partnerships
Meat-producing giant Tyson is making a bid to be a player in the burgeoning biodiesel market. This story posted on the Meatingplace.com says Tyson has announced a joint venture with Syntroleum Corp., a Tulsa-based synthetic fuels technology company: The move creates Dynamic Fuels LLC, which will produce synthetic fuels targeting the renewable diesel, jet and military fuel markets. Tyson, the …
Biodiesel Bill Moves in U.S. House
The U.S. House Ways and Means Committee has extended the federal biodiesel tax incentive. The passage came with several other measures seen as critical to the sustained growth of the biodiesel industry. The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) applauded the action in this press release: Specifically, the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Act of 2007 includes: * Extension of the biodiesel …
EarthFirst Building U.S.’s First Bio-refinery
EarthFirst Technologies, Incorporated will be building America’s first bio-refinery, capable of producing ASTM 6751 biodiesel from palm-based methyl esters. Similar projects have been built in Singapore and Malaysia. This story on the Power Online web site says the new bio-refinery will be in Channahon, Illinois: The key to the Company’s Bio-refinery is the use of palm oil based feedstock. The …
Two New on Better Biodiesel Board
Two veterans of the energy business from Houston, Texas have been named to the board of directors of Better Biodiesel, Inc…. a Utah-based company that uses a proprietary technology that eliminates the use of some caustic chemicals for the production of biodiesel (see my post from January 26th). Check out this story that appeared on Grainnet.com: Steven A Nordaker was …
Bahrain Poised for Major Alternative Energy Investment
Something is brewing with the oil-rich nation of Bahrain and alternative fuels. This story posted on Grainnet.com says the CEO of Chicago-based Consolidated Biofuels has been invited to a private reception at the Bahrain Embassy in Washington, DC tomorrow (June 20th). Daniel Honeycutt’s visit to the embassy comes after his late-May trip to the Middle Eastern kingdom: This invitation follows …
Doyle Calls for Biofuels Backing
Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle is calling on Republicans in his state’s legislature to back his plan to spend $30 million on renewable energy. TV station WKBT in La Crosse posted this AP story on its web site and said Doyle made the call in front of a biodiesel plant in De Forest: Doyle is still smarting from Republicans on the …
Biodiesel Better for Building
The smell of french fries fills the air. But this isn’t the back of some fast food restaurant… it’s a construction site where 100% biodiesel is fueling the heavy equipment. Destiny USA, a destination resort under construction in Syracuse, New York, is dedicated to reduce the amount of fossil fuels in its construction site… and eventually at Destiny USA when …