Another indicator of the viability of ethanol and biodiesel might be the increasing numbers of investors in the alternative fuels. In Missouri, for example, the Secretary of State’s office reports the number of the number of biofuels investments filed with the state increased from just five in 2005 to 15 last year. In this Associated Press story, government requirements are …
Louisville Schools Switch to Biodiesel
Another major city is using greener burning biodiesel… this time for the school district’s buses. The Louisville (Kentucky) Courier-Journal reports that the Jefferson County Public School District has switched its entire 1000+ bus fleet to biodiesel. Jefferson County uses a blend containing just 2 percent biodiesel but will consider increasing that to a 20 percent mix, which can reduce particulate …
Biodiesel Continues March Out of Midwest
It used to be the image of a modern oilman was a Middle Eastern sheik. But more and more, it’s an American Mid-WESTERNER. Case in point, this article from the Bangor (Maine) Daily News. The town of Bucksport, Maine could become the home of one of the largest biodiesel plants in the Northeastern United States. Dirigo Biofuels, an Iowa-based company …
Minnesota Professor Looks at Economic Viability of Using Animal Fat for Biodiesel
Recently, both Cindy and I have been telling you about using the leftovers from meat processing (chicken fat, in particular) to help make biodiesel. Now, I’ve talked with Vernon Eidman, Professor Emeritus in Applied Economics with the University of Minnesota about the economic viability of using these alternative feedstocks in alternative fuels. Check it out! Professor Eidman (5 min MP3)
Bill Would Increase Biofuels Infrastructure
Senator John Thune (R-SD) and Senator Ken Salazar (D-CO) this week introduced bi-partisan legislation designed to increase the availability of alternative fuels at the pump. According to Sen. Thune’s press office, the Alternative Energy Refueling Systems Act would provide for increased energy security for Americans by providing incentives for gas station owners across the country to install alternative fuel tanks, …
Interview with Jerry Bagley, Chicken Fat Oilman
Back on January 4th, we told you about a plant near Dexter in Southeast Missouri that is using chicken fat to make biodiesel. Read the original AP story here. Today, I talked with Jerry Bagley, one of the co-owners with Global Fuels, LLC. He told me that he thinks they are just on the edge of the potential for this …
Upcoming Biomass Conference
Mark your calendars for Biomass and Biorefinery Deals 2007 March 26th-28th in Washington, D.C. Industry leaders along with government officials, and equity and venture financiers will get together at D.C.’s AED Conference Center to discuss the financial end of biomass operations. They will address federal incentives and programs for the development of new biomass energy projects, as well as the …
CBOT Official Says Biodiesel Contracts Still in the Future
Following up on Cindy’s post about the Reuter’s Global Biofuels Summit, I ran across this bit of news about the future of biodiesel futures from Reuters. The chief economist at the Chicago Board of Trade, Dave Lehman, told attendees at the summit that the biodiesel market is still not big enough to be a hedging tool. The biodiesel market is …
Pocatello Next on Biodiesel Bandwagon
A couple of days ago, I told you about how Cincinnati, Ohio had changed its bus fleet to biodiesel and saved the city nearly half-a-million dollars last year. Now, officials in Pocatello, Idaho are making the change to the cleaner form of fuel. They expect to change the city’s entire fleet… cars, buses, snowplows… over to a 20% blend of …
Biofuels Buoy Cargill’s Second Quarter Earnings
Cargill reported that its second quarter earnings for last year jumped 34 percent over the same time a year ago… due in part to the increased demand for ethanol and biodiesel. Earnings went from about $500 million in the same quarter in in fiscal year 2006 to more than $660 million dollars for the quarter ending November 30th. In addition, …