The Little Engine That Could… on Biodiesel!

John Davis

For nearly 140 years, the Mount Washington Cog Railway has chugged its way to the top of the highest peak in the Northeastern United States… belching out tons of thick, black smoke as it used a unique cog system to make the incredible climb up the treacherous incline. But now, thanks to biodiesel, that smoke will be a bit cleaner. …

Biodiesel

Fed Grant Gives Biodiesel Plant Second Life

John Davis

A year ago, the owner of a recycling plant in Talmo, Georgia could only watch as a pond of waste grease behind his facility burned for a day and a half. But this story from the Athens (GA) Banner-Herald says Agri-Cycle owner Richard Harville has received a $500 thousand check from the US Department of Agriculture to start a new …

Biodiesel

Biodiesel Fueling Fast Ride Around SF Bay

John Davis

Rocketboat… the “Blast on the Bay” as it is dubbed by its owners… promises to give riders an exciting 30-minute around San Francisco Bay, and they’ll enjoy that trip on clean-burning biodiesel. This press release from Blue & Gold Fleet, Rocketboat’s parent company, posted on MarketWatch.com says the biodiesel-powered vessel will “zoom past the sea lions to the Bay Bridge, …

Biodiesel

Nebraska to Celebrate Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

To celebrate ethanol and all renewable fuels, Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman will declare September Renewable Fuels Month at Husker Harvest Days on Wednesday, September 10. Todd Sneller, administrator of the Nebraska Ethanol Board, says the economic impact of ethanol on rural communities in Nebraska and many other areas of the nation has been significant. “Ethanol has brought thousands of jobs …

Ethanol, News

Alliance Targets Lawmakers for Education Efforts

Cindy Zimmerman

The Alliance for Abundant Food and Energy is out to inform the nation’s policy makers that American agriculture is fully capable of producing both food and fuel with no trade off. The alliance was formed in July and includes Archer Daniels Midland, DuPont, John Deere, Monsanto, and the Renewable Fuels Association. ADM Vice President for Government Relations Greg Webb says …

Agribusiness, Ethanol, politics

Farm Bill Renewable Energy Provisions Open for Comment

Cindy Zimmerman

Consumers, farmers and agribusiness people are all offering up suggestions on ways to create renewable energy as part of the 2008 Farm Bill. USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development Thomas Dorr, who held a public meeting last week to work on implementing renewable energy programs authorized under the farm bill, says the rapid commercialization of renewable energy is a high …

Energy, Government

VeraSun Opens 14th Ethanol Plant

Cindy Zimmerman

VeraSun Energy has announced the start up of its 110 million gallon per year ethanol biorefinery located near Dyersville, Iowa. The Dyersville production facility marks the 14th VeraSun biorefinery in operation and the fifth in Iowa, increasing the company’s annual production capacity to more than 1.4 billion gallons. “We are pleased to bring another large-scale, environmentally friendly ethanol production facility …

Ethanol, Facilities, News

Ethanol Tailgate Party

Cindy Zimmerman

Edgar the E-Man will be partying with Albert and Sebastian this weekend in Gainesville, Florida when the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council kicks off its sponsorship with the Fox Tailgate Tour at the Florida vs. Miami football game. Visitors at the tailgate tour will have the chance to compete in the Ultimate Ethanol Challenge, where competitors face off to test …

EPIC, Ethanol, News, Promotion

Process Could Improve Ethanol Efficiency

Cindy Zimmerman

A process used in breweries and wastewater treatment facilities could make corn ethanol more energy efficient. Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis are exploring the use of oxygen-less vats of microorganisms that naturally feed on organic waste produced from the ethanol fermentation process. According to a university release, a WUSTL team has tested anaerobic digestion on waste from ethanol …

Ethanol, News, Research