As Iowa Governor Chet Culver wants to make the Hawkeye State the renewable energy capitol of the world, one legislator says he will propose legislation to achieve that goal. This story on WHO-TV (Des Moines) says Senator Jack Hatch says he will propose a 20 percent renewable energy standard for the state when legislature comes back together during the next …
Biodiesel Blender Holds Open House in Iowa
U.S. Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA) was among those attending a a grand opening and open house this week at Magellan Midstream Partners’ biodiesel blending facility in Mason City, Iowa. This article in the Mason City Globe Gazette says the new facility is the first biodiesel blending system located inside a petroleum terminal in Iowa: “This is a perfect example of …
Pepco Whips Up Renewable Wind Energy for D.C. Hotel
Gusts of energy from Pepco Energy Services are securing an environmentally-conscious energy commitment for Willard Intercontinental Hotel in Washington D.C. The Willard has awarded Pepco a contract to provide the hotel with 100% wind renewable energy credits. The one-year contract which began in June calls for Pepco Energy Services to provide the 332-room Willard InterContinental Washington nearly 7.1 million kilowatt …
Technology Management Develops World’s First Soybean-Powered Fuel Cell
Ohio has a lot of it, and now, one company has a breakthrough way of using it. Technology Management Inc., based in Cleveland, Ohio, says it’s committed to “creating clean technology solutions for the emerging energy shortfalls of the 21st century.” That commitment has paid off as TMI offers a first in fuel cell systems technology worldwide, using Ohio’s largest …
Benefuel Unveils New Fats-to-Biodiesel Plant Plans
Chicago-based biodiesel refinery builder Benefuel, Inc. will build the world’s first industrial-scale biodiesel refinery that uses a novel solid catalyst to convert low-grade fats and vegetable oils into biodiesel. The 10-million-gallon plant is to be built in Seymour, Indiana in conjunction with Seymour Biofuels. This company press release says the plant will eliminate the need for water in the refining …
Consulting Firm Added to National Wind
Minneapolis-based National Wind has acquired Romuld Wind Consulting… a wind resource assessment and energy analysis firm from Grand Forks, North Dakota. The new division, called National Wind Assessments, will help the company work with customers and and current development projects. This company press release has more: “The addition of Romuld Wind Consulting is a great opportunity to further build our …
PA Opens 45 MGPY Biodiesel Plant
Pennsylvania has opened a 45-million-gallon-a-year biodiesel plant on the shores of Lake Erie… hence the company name Lake Erie Biofuels. This press release from the State of Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection says the plant will help the state shed its $30-billion-a-year foreign energy dependence while putting more people to work: “The opening of this facility also shows that companies …
Part of Diesel Pool to be Saved for Biodiesel
A bi-partisan piece of legislation has been introduced that will dedicate some of the nation’s diesel supply to biodiesel. The Biodiesel Promotion and Quality Assurance Act of 2007, sponsored by U.S. Representatives Baron Hill (D-IN), John Shimkus (R-IL), Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), Kenny Hulshof (R-MO), Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin (D-SD) and Sam Graves (R-MO), puts aside some of the 60 billion gallons of …
Biofuel Capital of Missouri
While I was on my way to do some field work this weekend I passed this sign driving into Audrain County, MO. Since all you’re going to see is fields of corn and soybeans (mostly now harvested) it’s easy to see why they can make this claim. The county is also the home to a multiple biofuels production facilities.
Blender Pumps for Minnesota
Border States Cooperative has opened Minnesota’s first ethanol “blender pumps” in Ortonville, near the South Dakota border. The blender pumps allow motorists to choose several different blends of ethanol from the legally mandated 10 percent up to 85 percent. Border States Cooperative officials say they put the blender pumps in last year for E85 but were unable to use them …