Houston-based Gulf Hydrocarbon, Inc, the top provider of biodiesel for the petroleum industry, is adding red dye to some of its biodiesel at its terminal in Houston. So why the red dye? The dye red biodiesel is used off-road by construction companies, ranchers, farmers, and standby generators, marine and drilling industries because of its non-taxable incentive provided by the US …
NBB Wants Biodiesel Incentives in Farm Bill
The National Biodiesel Board today called on Congress to put pro-biodiesel provisions in the new Farm Bill, including a Biodiesel Incentive Program and Biodiesel Fuel Education Program. According to an NBB release, making the case for the board and the American Soybean Association in front of the Senate Agriculture Committee was Neil Rich, president and CEO of Riksch BioFuels of …
New Niche Selling Biodiesel Cars
As the demand for greener fuels grows, so has the demand for vehicles that burn the green fuels. And according to this story posted on C|Net.com, a niche for salesman offering biodiesel-powered cars has grown as well: “In 2003, I came out of the closet and became a full-blown car dealer,” said Steve Ahl, a former recycled-lumber salesman who is …
NBB Before Congress
Members of the National Biodiesel Board have testified before Congress about how biodiesel has benefitted America. According to an NBB press release, the board’s Chief Executive Officer Joe Jobe testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Small Business in a hearing entitled “The Impact of Renewable Energy Production in Rural America.” “If you take one thing away from …
Committee Passes Energy Bill
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee has approved energy legislation that calls for 36 billion gallons of renewable fuels use by 2022. The bill also provides the necessary incentives to spur the development of commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol production. The bill received bi-partisan support in the committee, with eight Republicans and 12 Democrats voting in favor of passage. Three Republicans …
Kansas Town Goes for Biodiesel Infrastructure Grant
Officials in Emporia, Kansas are applying for a $750,000 state grant to help them put in the infrastructure the town will need for a new biodiesel plant set to open in just more than a year. As I told you in an April 15th post, Iowa-based Renewable Energy Group has plans of opening a 60-million-gallon-a-year plant. The Emporia (KS) Gazette …
New England to Get Major Biodiesel Plant
It seems like the big cities on the East Coast have just about everything… except for a big source for biodiesel. Well, that could change soon as New York-based Berkshire Biodiesel builds New England’s biggest biodiesel plant. This story in the Hartford Courant says the 50-million-gallon-a-year plant is expected to open next year near Pittsfield, Mass. and will make biodiesel …
Web Site Promotes Oil from Algae
Put together oil and algae and what do you get? Oilgae! It’s not just a clever wordplay, some researchers are getting oil from algae. A new web site, Oilgae.com, is promoting those new technologies that could prove to be a very viable feedstock for biodiesel: While a number of bio-feedstock are currently being experimented for biodiesel production, algae have emerged …
Possible US-Europe Biodiesel Trade War Brewing
European biodiesel makers are crying foul over U.S. subsidies to biodiesel exporters. According to this story posted on WisconsinAgConnection.com, the folks from across the pond are talking about a World Trade Organization investigation and retaliatory tariffs being put on U.S. biodiesel sent to Europe. According to European media reports, the subsidy allows U.S. exporters to undercut European rivals by at …
Companies Bet on Biodiesel
American companies seem to be betting that biodiesel will continue its explosive growth it has seen in recent years. This story from Reuters says high oil prices along with the Bush Administration’s commitment to promoting the green fuel industry through monetary incentives seems to helping the industry along: There are 115 biodiesel plants in the United States with a combined …