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Temperatures are typically pretty cold this time of year in Canada, so there’s no better place to put biodiesel through Canada’s most extensive cold-weather, on-road demonstration test of biodiesel.

The move is being applauded by the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association in this press release:

Over sixty trucks will be put to the test by Climate Change Central, an Alberta government public-private not-for-profit organization focusing on green house gas reductions and new environmental technologies. The demonstration, which will take place in the Alberta winter cold, will provide hands-on, cold-weather experience for fuel blenders, distributors, long-haul trucking fleets and drivers.

The Canadian and Alberta governments are investing $2.6 million into this project. Shell Canada is the demonstration’s fuel partner. Additional sponsors and supporters include the Canola Council of Canada, Canadian Petroleum Products Institute, Canadian Bioenergy, Neste Oil and Milligan BioTech.

ESPN’s Winter X Games 12 is set to begin on Wednesday, and organizers say, despite the mountains of snow, it will be greener than ever. It’s not global warming taking its toll… it’s green fuel.

This story on SupercrossKING.com says ESPN has made the competition one of the most environmentally-sound action sports events ever by featuring biodiesel for its fuel:

XGE (X Games Environmentality program) is also committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and will encourage fans to use biofuel-powered RFTA shuttle buses. Biodiesel, a renewable, nontoxic and biodegradable fuel, also powers snowcats and heavy equipment used at Buttermilk. Use of biodiesel produces fewer emissions than traditional gasoline, helping to combat climate change. Kitchen grease from the staff catering facilities will also be recycled into biodiesel.

You can catch all of the action January 24-27 at Buttermilk Mountain in Aspen, Colorado on ESPN. Click here for a complete schedule.

Dan Goodman is preaching, and his disciples are students who spread the word even further. But he’s not a minister at a pulpit. He has a non-profit venture called Biodiesel University that gives students hands-on experience producing the renewable fuel, while educating consumers on the benefits of biodiesel.

This feature story in the Washington Post says he works with college students to create the project, who in turn, spread the word to middle and high schoolers:

Many large corporations enlist student interns for help – it’s a symbiotic relationship – the interns gain experience in the “real world,” while the firm benefits from usually excellent work that is often free or low-cost. Although small businesses usually lack the infrastructure for an intern coordinator, if a program gets going it can save a firm significantly in cost and time.

“Although our title is Biodiesel University, the lessons in general should be about environmental stewardship and getting kids excited about the environment and technology. It’s unusual that a school would be able to afford or get to have a lot of industrial-grade cutting edge stuff at the school.”

The article goes on to talk about how the program is getting some old buses to help take the message to the field. The bus pictured is just one, but Goodman hopes to have 30 mobile labs up and running in the next five years.

Researchers at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia are looking at a new way of turning algae into biodiesel.

While the algae-into-biodiesel process is still relatively new, this article from the Virginian-Pilot says the latest twist is that the green fuel is made from sewage:

In this era of clean and renewable energy development, researchers at other universities are conducting similar experiments with algae and biofuels. But ODU is on a slightly different and potentially important path, using municipal sewage to generate its slimy fuel supply.

Add one other side benefit: a reduction in greenhouse gases. Algae love to eat carbon dioxide.

Officials believe the project could produce up to 200 gallons of biodiesel a day-a small quantity at this point, but if the project works, it could be expanded to make much more while getting rid of even larger amounts of sewage. Take that times all the sewage plants in the country, and you would have a significant chunk of renewable energy.