West-Central Missouri is about to become home to an algae-biodeisel refinery… the first of its kind in this nation. This story from the Marshall (MO) Democrat-News says commissioners of Saline County, Missouri have signed a resolution and intend to issue $141 million in bonds to help Green Star Products Inc.’s EcoAlgae USA build a commercial algae production facility in conjunction …
Biodiesel, Wind Lose in Tiff over Energy Policy
The fight between Democrats and Republicans in Washington, DC has hurt the biodiesel and wind energy programs in this country. The Des Moines (IA) Register reports that Congress, deadlocked and heading for its August break, failed to renew tax credits for wind power and biodiesel that are due to expire at the end of the year: Republicans have successfully blocked …
CNN’s Biodiesel-Fueled Trip Hits Hoover Dam
CNN’s trip across the country (as we first reported this past Monday) in a 1978 International Scout running on biodiesel has made it to Hoover Dam, (with acknowledgments to Chevy Chase’s “Vegas Vacation”) where they shot some dam video, filed some dam reports, and did some dam blogging!!! (Where can I get some dam bait?). Seriously, though, CNN.com producer Cody …
Ethanol Reality Versus Fantasy
Renewable Fuels Association president Bob Dinneen called on representatives of Florida’s growing biofuels industry to join him and the rest of the industry nationwide in setting the record straight on ethanol and other alternative fuels. At the Florida Farm to Fuel Summit on Thursday, Dinneen told the group that opponents of ethanol have created a “fantasy world that rivals anything …
Ag Secretary Addresses Florida Farm to Fuel Summit
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer traveled to Florida to address the third annual Florida Farm to Fuel Summit in Orlando. “This is the theme park capitol of the world, it is a city of dreams and the power of imagination,” Schafer told the group. “As we sit here in the land of imagination and dreams, it’s up to all …
Florida Governor Promotes Alternative Fuels
Florida Governor Charlie Crist spoke to a group of over 450 gathered for the third annual Florida Farm to Fuel summit in Orlando Thursday, following an address by US Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer. “You know that Florida is a top agricultural state already,” Crist told the group. “The development of ethanol and other biofuels is incredibly important to Florida’s …
Central Florida Buses Go Biodiesel
The Central Florida Regional Transit Authority LYNX system will become the nation’s first transit agency to build its own biodiesel blending facility at Rosen Shingle Creek in southeast Orange County. Florida Gov. Charlie Crist joined LYNX CEO Linda S. Watson, Orange County Mayor Richard T. Crotty, State Senator Lee Constantine and Jeremy Susac, executive director of the Florida Energy & …
Florida Farm to Fuel Summit Underway
This morning the Florida Farm to Fuel Summit got underway. I think this is the third one. We missed our old friend Charlie Bronson, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture, although he’ll be here later this afternoon. We did see him on video though. Right now our U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Ed Schafer, is speaking. I’ll add a link to some audio …
New QC System for U.S.’s Largest Biodiesel Refinery
The nation’s biggest biodiesel refinery has installed a quality control system that promises to cut testing times from hours to minutes. This press release from Cognis Corporations’ QTA (Quality Trait Analysis) says GreenHunter BioFuels in Houston, Texas, which produces 105 million gallons of biodiesel a year, has put in QTA’s new biodiesel testing system: “Biodiesel quality testing traditionally requires gas …
Soybean Growers Help Dispel Ethanol, Biodiesel Myths
Battling the myths and misinformation that swirl around both ethanol and biodiesel seems to be a fulltime job these days. While some groups, such as the American Soybean Association and the Renewable Fuels Association, fight these battles daily, they could use a little help from the novices and those interested in the success of biofuels. That’s why the ASA is …