In a move that is already generating plenty of controversy (and I’m sure plenty of comments on this blog), the California State Senate has voted to require utilities in the state to get one-third of their energy from wind, solar and other renewables by the year 2020. The Los Angeles Times reports the measure moves up the requirement from 20 …
DOE National Labs Debut Hydrogen-Powered Buses
Officials at Lawrence Livermore and Sandia California national laboratories have debuted a pair of hydrogen-powered shuttle buses. This article from Patch.com says the Ford E-450, nine-passenger vans will be tested as they shuttle people around the two campuses: The demonstration will test how well the hydrogen-powered vans and their fueling stations stand up to the normal wear and tear. They …
UPS Uses Natural Gas to Make Brown Trucks Green
In an effort to make its brown trucks run green, shipping giant UPS has added 48 heavy tractor trucks that use Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). This company press release says the new semis will be used in the western United States starting later this year and will produce 25 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions: “This is an important step not …
Clinton Strikes Nerve with Ethanol Comment
Former President Bill Clinton struck a raw nerve with ethanol supporters with his comments at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s annual Outlook Forum today. “We have to become energy independent but we don’t want to do it at the expense of food riots,” Clinton said, calling for a periodic reassessment of the industry “with 3-5 year time horizons based on …
GM Test Drive at Ethanol Conference
GM featured test drives in new Flex Fuel 2011 Buick Regal Turbos and GMC Terrains at the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) 2011 National Ethanol Conference and dozens of attendees took advantage of the opportunity. Pictured is RFA board member Ray Defenbaugh of Big River Resources West Burlington preparing to take a spin in a Regal Turbo. I took a drive …
Offshore Wind Energy Cost Competitive by 2020
Deepwater wind energy turbines off the coast of Maine could be producing electricity that is cost competitive with conventional generation techniques within the next 10 years. The Portland (ME) Press Herald reports that a study from the University of Maine shows that floating giant wind turbines 10 miles off the coast could be producing electricity for just 8-10 cents a …
National Ethanol Conference Wrap Up
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) celebrated 30 years of advocating for ethanol this week during the 16th annual National Ethanol Conference in Phoenix. This edition of “The Ethanol Report” podcast features an interview with RFA president and CEO Bob Dinneen on the conference, the state of the ethanol industry, the new Advanced Ethanol Council and recent developments in Congress regarding …
Pellet Maker Gets New Deep Water Port
An American maker of wood pellets has acquired a deep water port, and that should help the company receive, store and load more than 3 million tons of woody biomass for export each year. Biomass Magazine reports that Enviva LP will expand its shipping capacity with the deep water port terminal in Chesapeake, Virginia: The location is one of a …
National Ethanol Scholarship Winners
For the second year, the Renewable Fuels Association and the Renewable Fuels Foundation sponsored the National Ethanol Conference Scholarship program to help students pursuing advanced education in ethanol related careers to attend the conference. This year’s five winners hailed from all over the country and are interested in a variety of areas related to the ethanol industry. From left to …
USDA: Wind, Solar & Methane Hits on the Farm
Solar panels, wind turbines and methane digesters are big hits on American farms and ranches, that according to a new survey from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The 2009 On-Farm Renewable Energy Production Survey, the first-ever nationwide survey that looked at renewable energy practices on America’s farms and ranches, shows that these types of energy sources have increased significantly over …