Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines has agreed to buy 15 million gallons of biodiesel this year… and another 18 million gallons a year for the next four years… to run some of its cruise ships from Seattle-based biodiesel giant Imperium Renewables.
This story in the Seattle Times says Royal Caribbean has four ships based out of the Pacific Northwest port:
“We believe this is the single-largest long-term biodiesel sales contract to an end user in the U.S.,” the company said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Imperium also said it had reached an agreement to purchase Royal Caribbean Cruises’ 7 percent stake in the Grays Harbor facility.
As you might remember, Imperium is set to open a 100-million-gallon-a-year biodiesel plant soon at Grays Harbor, Washington… the largest of its kind in the country.
Indiana Clean Energy, LLC is getting ready to break ground on a $90 million, 80-million-gallon-per-year biodiesel plant in the next couple of months (see the artist’s rendering).
The 20th annual 
After proven success in several communities, CityHome™ is focusing efforts on Chicago and the more than 2,000 buses that Chicago Public Schools rely on every day. Success in Chicago means great news for the ethanol industry because every bus will use about eight percent ethanol. This significantly reduces hazardous emissions and creates a better environment for children-and all members of the community. This cleaner burning fuel is even compatible with other clean air technologies and equipment.
Usually, when you see the big wheel at the fairgrounds, it’s carrying people to dizzying heights with bright colored lights. But this year, the Iowa State Fair has another big wheel… this time, powering all those rides.
“The State Fair is traditionally a place where Iowans have come to see and learn about something for the first time,” says Allan Urlis, spokesman for MidAmerican. “Wind power is an important technology to the future of Iowa.” A temporary education center will stand next to the turbine during the 2007 fair. A more permanent structure is planned in the future.
Canadian Bioenergy becomes the first company in Canada to become BQ-9000 qualified… a voluntary fuel quality assurance program, adopted by the National Biodiesel Board and the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association.
Leland Tong, chairman of the National Biodiesel Accreditation Commission (NBAC) that oversees BQ-9000, echoes those sentiments. “We’re constantly hearing that more and more consumers in both the U.S. and Canada are making it a priority to seek out biodiesel from BQ-9000-accredited companies,” he said. “By completing this process, Canadian Bioenergy sets the mark for other companies in Canada. We anticipate that it will be one of many Canadian companies to come.”
Expect some long lines at the pump Wednesday morning at the Kroger Store in Irving, Texas.
The $300 million project, which will be partly funded by a $72 million Department of Energy grant awarded 
When Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns spoke at the National Press Club on July 27, the inevitable question about ethanol was asked.
Electronics retailer Rex Stores Corp. has invested the final $10 million in an Iowa ethanol maker. The investment completes the retailer’s $20 million investment stake in Big River Resources, LLC.
This article on BizJournals.com says last October, Rex invested the first $5 million in the company:
Big River Resources is a holding company for several entities including Big River Resources West Burlington LLC, which runs an ethanol plant in West Burlington, Iowa. The ethanol plant starting operating in April 2004 as a 40 million gallon per year plant and expanded to a 52 million gallon plant in August last year. It plans to eventually ramp that production up to 80 million gallons per year.