Texas-based Darling International Inc. has closed the deal to buy a Canadian company dealing with rendering and biodiesel. This company news release says Darling bought Rothsay, the rendering and biodiesel division of Maple Leaf Foods Inc., for about $618 million. Darling International Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Randall Stuewe said, “We are excited to add the Rothsay assets and employees …
EPA Response to Calls for Lowering RFS
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued a statement regarding the AAA call to lower the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), stressing that no decision has yet been made on for 2014. The Obama Administration remains firmly committed to furthering the development of all biofuels – including corn-based ethanol, cellulosic biofuel, and advanced biofuel – as part of the President’s commitment …
Dinneen: Lowering RFS Would be Mistake
Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) president and CEO Bob Dinneen fears “the Obama Administration is about to make a huge mistake” in lowering the volume requirements for ethanol under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). In an interview for “The Ethanol Report,” Dinneen says it does appear that the Environmental Protection Agency is planning on changing the Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) for …
REG Opens Mason City Biodiesel Plant
Renewable Energy Group today formally opened the company’s recently acquired biodiesel refinery in Mason City, Iowa. The biodiesel company also announced the start of a $20 million project to upgrade the plant to a multi-feedstock facility. REG completed the acquisition of the former Soy Energy, LLC refinery on July 31, 2013. REG immediately began efforts to repair and re-start the …
Ethanol Industry Refutes AAA Claims
The American Automobile Association (AAA) is calling on the Environmental Protection Agency to “lower the amount of ethanol required to be blended into gasoline for 2014” in order to “protect drivers by preventing a possible surge in gas prices or the increased use of potentially damaging E15 gasoline.” The ethanol industry wasted no time in responding. “The Energy Department and …
ShockWave Reactor Helps Biodiesel Efficiency
A new video demonstration is showing how the new ShockWave Power Biodiesel Reactor (SPR) is making production of the green fuel more efficient. Hydro Dynamics, Inc. (HDI) posted the video to show how its product will make the transesterification process go better. Although not a complete replacement for seeing the technology in person, video is becoming commonplace on the web …
Pentti Itkonen Chosen as Energy Ambassador
EnergyVaasa, the largest energy cluster in the Nordic countries, recently chose 25 year old engineering student Pentti Itkonen as their Energy Ambassador. In a press conference held at Citec’s premises at Navi Mumbai, India, it was announced that Itkonen will embark on a global tour, beginning in Kittilä in Northern Finland to Norway, USA, Ecuador, Brazil, Spain, Thailand and India. …
Argonne National Lab Releases Updated GREET Model
The Argonne National laboratory has announced the release of the updated GREET fuel cycle model. The GREET model was first released in 1996 and since its release, Argonne has continued to update and improve the model. GREET (Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Transportation) is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable …
BioEnergy Bytes
Natural Power has announced that consent has been granted for Fred. Olsen Renewables’ 20.7 MW Mid Hill II Wind Farm. The wind farm will comprise up to nine 2.3 MW Siemens turbines, and is sited next to the 25-turbine Mid Hill Wind Farm, which is currently under construction in Fetteresso Forest, near Stonehaven in Aberdeenshire, giving both developments a combined …
Energy Entrepreneurs Present Ideas in Africa
West African entrepreneurs and companies presented 10 clean energy projects totaling over USD $80 million to invest in Accra during the West Africa Forum for Clean Energy Financing (WAFCEF). The projects ranged from biofuels to solar, to biomass and hydropower. More than 100 financiers, clean energy experts and representatives of financial institutions from Africa and around the world took place …