A new analysis done by Advanced Biofuels USA finds that the Open Fuel Standard (OFS) is “bad for advanced biofuels and will add to environmental damage if passed and implemented.” The Open Fuel Standard Act was introduced recently in the House and a similar bill in the Senate. The bills mandate that specific percentages of vehicles be built to operate …
Bill Would Require Origin Labeling for Fuel
Congressman Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) this week introduced legislation that would require all gasoline sold in the U.S. to carry country-of-origin labeling (COOL). “I am introducing legislation in the House that would require a label that clearly states the nation of origin for the fuel you’re pumping,” Braley said in a Huffington Post op-ed yesterday, penned with retired General Wesley Clark …
Bi-Fuel Ethanol-Diesel Vehicle Debuts in Brazil
Typically flex fuel vehicles are a combination of ethanol and gasoline or diesel and biodiesel. But inroads have been made to create flex fuel vehicles that use a combination of ethanol and diesel fuels. Iveco, FPT Industrial and Bosch officially debuted the Iveco Trakker Bi-Fuel Ethanol-Diesel vehicle at Agrishow last week in Ribeirão Preto, the country’s largest agricultural show. The …
June 15 is World Wind Day
Global Wind Day is around the corner on June 15, 2011. Organized by the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) and the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), the groups hope to use the day to educate people about the benefits of wind energy through fun activities. Last year there were 220 events in 29 countries that took place from Austria to …
House Spending Bill Cuts Renewable Energy Programs
Two renewable energy programs designed to help make America more energy independent were slashed in the spending bill passed Tuesday night by the House Appropriations Committee. The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) which provides grants and loan guarantees to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to help purchase renewable energy systems, including ethanol blender pumps, was cut from the …
New Oxfam Report: Growing a Better Future
A new report, “Growing a Better Future,” has the ethanol industry up in arms over its accusation that U.S. biofuel policy is leading to world hunger. The report kicked off a new worldwide GROW campaign spearheaded by the organization. The report covers the symptoms of today’s broken food system: growing hunger, flat-lining yields, a scramble for fertile land and water, …
Ethanol Industry Supports Veterans
Memorial Day may be over but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t think about our veterans for another year. This past holiday, Clean Fuels Development Coalition (CFDC) and the FlexFuel Vehicle Awareness Campaign partnered with the Volunteers of Underage Military Service (VUMS) with a procession of ethanol and hybrid electric vehicles in a Memorial Day parade in Washington, D.C. The purpose …
Principal Solar Acquires Capstone Solar
Principal Solar, Inc. (PSI) has announced its acquisition of Capstone Solar, a news and networking site geared to solar professionals. Terms were not disclosed but Principal Solar said the deal fits within their unique company solar strategy. Capstone Co-Founder Dan Bedell said it is great to find a group of people so committed to the advancement of solar power as …
Biomass Harvest Still Allows Soil Conservation
New data shows that responsible harvesting of biomass for ethanol can be part of good soil management efforts for farmland. Iowa State University has completed analysis on data from the third year of an ongoing study for POET’s “Project LIBERTY” near Emmetsburg, Iowa to monitor how soil health is affected when crop residue is removed. The planned 25 million-gallon-per-year cellulosic …
Free BioGen Workshop Announced
Sprague Energy Corp and BIODICO are hosting a FREE workshop designed to encourage the use of biodiesel in diesel powered generators and power units. The use of biodiesel blends significantly reduces air pollution and can also help cut energy costs. The workshop will take place on June 9, 2011 from 8:30 am – 12:00 pm at Bronx Community College at …