While garbage trucks clean up our trash, too many times the trucks themselves have been polluting the environment through their emissions. According to this Reuters story, a growing number of cities, including New York and San Francisco, are switching their garbage trucks to the greener fuel fleets to cut soot and greenhouse gases… without any extra costs: “The greening of …
County on Long Island Going to Biodiesel
Suffolk County, New York is switching all of its 439 public works trucks to run on biodiesel. The move comes as neighboring Nassau, switched its 270 trucks to the biofuel as of the first of this year. According to this story in Newsday, officials unanimously approved the move for the end of next year. The switch comes after both counties …
Biodiesel Promotion and Quality Assurance Act Introduced
U.S. Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) is the sponsor of a new measure designed to ensure that a portion of America’s future diesel fuel supply is renewable. In a release from the National Biodiesel Board (of course, the NBB heartily endorses this bill), the Biodiesel Promotion and Quality Assurance Act would up the amount of biodiesel and “bio-based replacement diesel” that …
Biofuel Locator Maps Unmet Demands
NearBio, the innovator of technology that sends to your computer, cell phone, or mobile device info on where the nearest alternative fuel station is, has established a new web site: NeedBio.COM, a free registry that links local consumer demand for biodiesel with suppliers serving their area. Check out this from a company press release: “By giving biodiesel consumers a voice, …
Udall Bus Running on Biodiesel
A B20 blend of biodiesel will be what fuels the Morris K. Udall Foundation’s bus tour this year. The tour that highlights public service, environmental, and Native American issues launched today in Washington, D.C. According to this National Biodiesel Board news release, members of Congress and federal government agency leaders kicked off the coast-to-coast Udall Legacy Bus Tour near the …
Soybean Prices Spike Biodiesel Growth
The latest monthly crop report from the USDA says the rapid rise in soybean prices, brought on by the rapid rise in the biodiesel industry, is keeping biodiesel from being as profitable as it could be. This story on Forbes.com says the price for the biodiesel feedstock just rose above the profitability level: Industry experts say biodiesel plants make a …
Biodiesel, Solar for the Big Apple
Being green isn’t just for areas surrounded by green farm fields. The grey, concrete jungle of New York City will start using solar power and biodiesel to heat city buildings. An AP story posted on MSN’s money web site says the announcement comes as part of Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s environmental plans. He wants the city to reduce the city’s carbon …
Energy, Ag Departments Announce $18 mill in Biofuels Grants
Eighteen million dollars in government grants are up for grabs as the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Energy announce solicitations for biomass research and development. This press release from USDA’s web site says the money will go to researching and developing biomass-based products, biofuels, bioenergy and related processes: “Making these funds available represents this Administration’s ongoing commitment to promoting clean …
GAO Says Energy Department Lacks Biofuels Plan
Congress’ financial watchdog, the Government Accountability Office, says the U.S. Department of Energy lacks a plan for how to match up increased biofuels production with infrastructure and vehicles to use the green fuels. This highlight report on the GAO web site says that America’s reliance on oil poses significant economic and environmental risks. But ethanol and biodiesel could replace oil …
EcoJet Talk With Bernard Juchli
While I was attending last week’s CMA Music Festival Jay Leno’s EcoJet showed up on display. Traveling along to appear in the Michael Peterson/New Holland Celebrity Tractor Race was Jay Leno’s Garage manager, Bernard Juchli. Thanks to John Herath, producer of the nationally syndicated agricultural talk radio show, AgriTalk, for videotaping me doing the interview. John also edited it together …