The Renewable Fuels Association is spreading the news that ethanol is helping to keep gas prices lower than they could be. The new advertising campaign quotes a recent study that found ethanol reduced gas prices by 89 cents in 2010 and if ethanol were to disappear, gas prices could rise by as much as 92%. In the past month, the …
DuPont Expands Into Solar Market
DuPont has expanded it’s solar market portfolio with the acquisition of Innovalight, Inc., a company that develops silicon inks and process technologies that increase the efficiency of crystalline silicon solar cells. According to DuPont, Innovalight will broaden and more integrate its efforts in the photovoltaic market. In 2010, DuPont exceeded revenues of $1 billion from sales into the photovoltaic market …
Chevy to Sell Diesel Vehicles in US
Chevrolet is planning on introducing a diesel version of the Chevrolet Cruze to be sold in the United States beginning in 2013. Diesel versions of the Cruz are already being sold in Europe. The advantage of offering a diesel version in the U.S. is that consumers will be able to fuel the vehicle with biodiesel blends. Allen Schaeffer, executive director …
Rollins Wind Project Completed
First Wind has completed a 60 megawatt (MW) wind farm in Penobscot County, Maine. The Rollins Wind project is comprised of 200 wind turbines that are estimated to power nearly 23,000 average sized homes each year. The power is being delivered to Maine homes and businesses and is cost-competitive due to two long-term electricity supply contracts with Bango Hydro and …
New Study Shows Energy Efficiency of Soy Biodiesel
A new study shows that biodiesel offers an amazing 5-to-1 return over fossil energy sources. The study by the University of Idaho and U.S. Department of Agriculture concludes that for every unit of fossil energy needed to produce biodiesel, the return is 5.54 units of renewable energy. This energy-in, energy-out ratio is called “energy balance” or “fossil energy ratio.” “This …
First Biodiesel School Bus Retires
What is believed to be the nation’s first school bus to run on a biodiesel blend was put out to pasture at the end of the 2010-11 school year, according to the National Biodiesel Board. When Medford, New Jersey’s 1998 International school bus retired at the end of June, it reached a milestone in the process. The bus was the …
Effort to Block 15% Ethanol Waiver in the House
An effort that would prevent the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from implementing its approved waiver for E15 ethanol blends in America’s fuel supply is being led by Reps. John Sullivan (R-OK) and Gary Peters (D-MI). Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis says they intend to fight against an amendment to the FY 2012 Department of the Interior and EPA funding bills …
Canadian Waste Oil Biodiesel Facility to Open
A commercial-scale biodiesel processing facility is opening this week in the Cowichan Valley of Vancouver Island, Canada For the past six years, the Cowichan Bio-Diesel Co-operative has been supplying its members with 100% biodiesel processed elsewhere from recycled cooking oil. With the introduction of this new community biodiesel processor, the co-op will now be taking waste cooking oil from area …
DOE Biomass Conference This Week
Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will keynote the Department of Energy 4th annual Biomass Conference on Tuesday. This year’s conference, Biomass 2011, will focus on topics surrounding the use of biomass as a replacement for petroleum to supply the energy, products, and power markets. The Biomass 2011 theme will explore the new horizons of bioenergy technologies …
Elsevier Biofuel Launched to Guide Innovation
A new tool is now available for biofuel managers and research development professionals to help solve innovation challenges. Elsevier Biofuels is an unique online search and discovery tool that gives companies access to the highest level of scientific, industrial and commercial information that can be utilized by companies to assist them in solving problems or make key decisions. “BioEnergy RD&D …