True rock and roll fans will recognize the name Chuck Leavell as keyboardist for the Rolling Stones – in addition to many other well-known rock legends such as The Allman Brothers and Eric Clapton. He is also a Georgia tree farmer and an environmentalist who actively supports the development of ethanol production from woody biomass. “I think it’s one of …
Mass. Gov Signs Ethanol, Biodiesel Measure
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has signed into law a measure that is hoped to make his state a leader in biofuels by exempting cellulosic biofuels (ethanol) from state taxes and creating a mandate for biodiesel in home heating oil. The Boston Globe was there when Patrick signed the bill: “It’s law,” he said, seated at a table at the Allston …
USDA: Food and Fuel Crops Not Hurting As Much As Feared
Last month’s floods in the Midwest might not have put the corn and soybean crops, which are vital to ethanol and biodiesel production, in as much peril as originally feared. In a news conference in Washington, DC today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s chief said that the Midwest corn and soybean crops have not been hurt as badly as first …
Poll: Public Not Buying Knock on Biodiesel
A nationwide survey from the United Soybean Board shows that a vast majority of the people in the United States believe American farmers and biodiesel are the solution… not the problem… in the issues of high fuel and food prices. This story from CattleNetwork.com says that the National Agriculture Image Survey says more than 80 percent of consumers see foreign …
Minnesota to Study Cold Flow Biodiesel Issue
As Minnesota gets set to implement the nation’s biggest biodiesel mandate (as we reported back in May), that by the year 2015 could see 20 percent of all diesel sold in the state come from biodiesel, officials are tackling an issue that literally gums up the works: the flow of biodiesel in the cold. This article from Biodiesel Magazine says …
U.S. & China Become Wind Power Leaders
The world’s superpowers… the current reigning one and the up-and-comer… are also super when it comes to wind power. This story from CNN says the U.S. and China are leading the world in wind energy development. And as we’ve reported before, the American charge is being led in Texas, which produces more wind energy than any other state: Several Texan …
Dynamic Fuels Refinery on Track
A planned biodiesel refinery in Louisiana that will make the green fuel from low-grade, inedible fats and greases is on schedule to open at the end of next year. This press release from WebWire.com says Dynamic Fuels, a joint venture of Tyson Foods and Syntroleum Corporation, has gotten final approval from its parent companies to build its first renewable synthetic …