VIASPACE has signed a joint development agreement with Grain Hill / AGRICORP to establish, develop, build, own and operate a 2,100 acre Giant King Grass plantation and a co-located 12 MW biomass power plant. The two companies will be equal shareholders. Green Plains Renewable Energy has qualified for recognition under the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) program, based on …
April Biodiesel Production Hits 110 Million Gallons
New numbers from the EPA show that biodiesel production in the U.S. hit 110 million gallons in April … staying on pace to hit more than a billion gallons for this year. The National Biodiesel Board hopes the green fuel can exceed targets set under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for a third consecutive year: The numbers show a total …
Tesla Repayment Testiment to DOE Loans
Electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla Automotive has repaid its entire $465 million DOE loan guarantee the company received from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) nine years earlier than originally required. New Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said of the feat, “When you’re talking about cutting-edge clean energy technologies, not every investment will succeed — but today’s repayment is the latest indication …
Bioenergy Bytes
The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) has joined the ASTM (Formerly American Society for Testing and Materials) Technical Committee D02 on Petroleum Products and Lubricants, represented by ACE Senior Vice President Ron Lamberty. Solar garden developer Clean Energy Collective (CEC) is working to build the first community-owned solar garden in Putney, Vermont. Reservations are available for the Putney Community Solar …
EMCORE Wins NASA Solar Contract
EMCORE Corporation has been awarded a contract by ATK to design and manufacture solar panels for NASA’s Green Propellant Infusion Mission (GPIM) planned for launch in 2015. The solar panels include EMCORE’s most advanced XTJ triple-junction solar cells, and will power a satellite that will carry the GPIM payload. ATK will integrate the EMCORE’s solar panels into its heritage-designed solar …
AFAI Completes Jatropha-to-Biodiesel Research
A Florida-based biodiesel company says it has completed its research into using jatropha as a feedstock at its Central American operation. In a news release published in the Sacramento Bee, Alternative Fuels Americas, Inc. (AFAI) says it successfully completed research trials and is moving to establish above ground oil fields as a staged entry into a market forecasted to exceed …
REAP Deadline Extends, Creates More Biogas Opps
The U.S. Department of Agriculture extends the deadline on a program that could see more farmers, especially those in the dairy industry, turning livestock waste into energy. The deadline to submit for funds under the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) and Dairy Industry Memorandum of Understanding has been extended to to May 31, 2013. During a teleconference moderated by …
Is Ag Marketing Itself Well or Not?
With all the farm bill activity in Congress this past week, our latest ZimmPoll asked “What’s your opinion of committee farm bill?” From the results, most think it’s better than nothing. Our poll results: 18% said Better Than Nothing and Other, 14% said Hits Nutrition Too Hard and Bad For Everyone, nine percent said Senate Better Than House, Bad For …
Absolute Energy Offers Drivers Relief at the Pump
As Memorial Day approaches marking the beginning of summer driving season, gas prices have spiked. Last week, gas prices went up .19 cents per gallon in Iowa with ending average prices at $3.70 per gallon. Spikes were even higher in Minnesota/St. Paul with prices averaging $4.21 across the state while the national average is around $3.60 per gallon. In response …
Ag Processing Shuts Its Doors
Ag Processing Inc a cooperative (AGP) announced it has permanently shut down operations of its corn processing plant at Hastings, Nebraska. The plant had been on an extended shutdown since February 1, 2013 amid challenging economic conditions. At that time, the company said it would continue to evaluate the future of the plant. This week the decision to permanently close …