An innovative off-grid water pumping system powered by a Northern Power NPS 100 wind turbine is now benefiting several farmers in North Kohola, Hawaii. This microgrid project, known as SkyGrid Energy, is an alternative to using diesel to generate power. According to Northern Power, the turbine is specifically designed to support microgrids with its sophisticated voltage controls and no inrush …
Solar Project on Federal Land Gets “Green Light
The Quartzsite Solar Energy Project located in La Paz County, Arizona has received approval from the U.S. Secretary of the Interior to proceed. The 100 megawatt project will be located on Bureau of Land (BLM) managed land. The Quartzsite Project will be utilizing SolarReserve’s concentrated solar power (CSP) technology with integrated storage which allows the facility to operate like a …
RFA Offers Communications Training Webinar
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) will host a free Communications Training webinar on Wednesday, June 19 at 1 p.m. CT. The training session is open to all RFA member companies and anyone interested in helping local ethanol plants promote the value of ethanol is encouraged to participate. The webinar will focus on different methods of community engagement: Website and Newsletter …
BMW Boasts Largest Hydrogen Fuel Cell Fleet
BMW Manufacturing has expanded its use of Plug Power hydrogen fuel cells at its Spartanburg, South facility to power all material handle trucks and forklifts. The company now has 272 units in its fleet, making it the largest such fleet in North America. In 2010, BMW installed a storage and distribution area for hydrogen supplied by Linde Industrial Gases near …
World Bank: Crude Oil Biggest Driver of Food Prices
According to a recent study by the World Bank, “Long-Term Drivers of Food Prices,” oil prices are the biggest driver of higher food prices. The study, using data from 1960-2012, applied an economic model to five internationally-traded food commodities (maize/corn, wheat, rice, soybeans and palm oil) and studied the impact of several food-price drivers. These included energy prices, exchange rates, …
DuPont, Chinese Company Ink Solar Energy Deal
DuPont and Chinese green power company Yingli Energy Company Limited have signed a one-year, $100 million solar energy deal. The strategic agreement includes the supply of advanced solar materials, the installation of a solar power plant and co-marketing initiatives and expands a previous $100 million supply agreement between the companies announced in February of last year. “Materials are critical to …
Groups Petition Cali to Evaluate Clean Energy Policy
Several organizations in California, including Californians Against Utilities Stopping Solar Energy (CAUSE), American Lung Association of California, California Environmental Justice Alliance (CEJA) and Presente.org are petitioning the California Energy Commission to quantify the air quality and economic benefits associated with the states “net energy metering” policy. According to CAUSE, net metering provides solar consumers with fair credit for the energy …
Price, Horsepower and Versatility
Before we get to our new Zimmpoll let’s look at the results of our latest one which asked the question, “What is MOST important when buying a tractor?” It looks like price, horsepower, and versatility win this battle. Our poll results: Twenty-two percent said Price and Horsepower, seventeen percent said versatility, fifteen percent said Customer Service, nine percent said Accessories, …
USTR Nominee Answers EU Ethanol Export Question
The issue of the European Union’s treatment of ethanol imports from the United States came up during a Senate Finance Committee nomination hearing Thursday for U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) nominee Michael Froman. Sen. John Thune (R-SD) noted that he and a number of other senators sent a letter in April to the Acting USTR asking for an investigation into the …
ICM Gen 1.5 Improves Ethanol Output, Oil Recovery
Kansas-based ICM Inc. announces a new process that promises to enhance yields and oil recovery for ethanol plant, while expecting to also produce the higher value Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) for the fuel that comes from those plants. In an interview with Joanna in advance of next week’s Fuel Ethanol Workshop in St. Louis, Mo., Kurt Dieker, ICM’s Director of …