Hundreds of electric vehicle drivers in more than 20 cities from coast to coast will promote the benefits of plug-in vehicles on the first National Plug In Day on Sunday, October 16. The event, sponsored by Plug In America, the Sierra Club, and the Electric Auto Association, will take place at simultaneous venues from Honolulu to New York. EV owners …
International Groups Urge Ending Fossil Fuel Subsidies
Two international organizations are recommending reform of fossil-fuel subsidies to improve the economy and the environment. An analysis by the International Energy Agency (IED) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) found that governments and taxpayers spent about half a trillion dollars last year supporting the production and consumption of fossil fuels and that removing such subsidies would …
Proposed Farm Bill Includes Advanced Biofuels
Senator Dick Lugar (R-IN) and Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R, IN-3rd) have introduced a farm bill that they say would save $40 billion and includes provisions that support the development of advanced biofuels. “We offer our bill as a thoughtful option for consideration by the House and Senate Agriculture Committees, as well as the Congressional Deficit Reduction ‘Super’ Committee charged with …
Next Generation Scientists for Biodiesel Hosts Fall Webinar
The National Biodiesel Board is offering students and others interested in the future of advanced biofuels the opportunity to take their renewable fuels education up a notch with the Next Generation Scientists for Biodiesel (NGSB) Fall Webinar on Oct. 18. The webinar will feature the very latest on biodiesel research from two university students who will present their biodiesel research, …
BioSolar Supplying Asian Manufacturers
A company that makes bio-based materials for solar panels is getting more interest from Asian solar companies. California-based BioSolar, which develops materials from renewable plant sources that reduce the cost of photovoltaic (PV) solar modules, reports that a number of Asian solar manufacturers are actively evaluating the company’s BioBacksheet for use in solar panels. BioSolar previously reported that it entered …
NRC Report More Positive for Biodiesel
While traditional and next generation ethanol came out negative in the National Research Council report out this week, the biodiesel industry was pleased with the findings. Anne Steckel, vice president of federal affairs for the National Biodiesel Board, said the report reaffirms that biodiesel is an advanced biofuel that can meet the biomass-based diesel targets under the EPA’s Renewable Fuel …
Navy Exchange Offers E85 to Pensacola Drivers
The Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) has partnered with Protec Fuel to provide more 85 percent ethanol fuel to flex fuel vehicle (FFV) drivers in Pensacola, Florida. NEXCOM opened its sixth E85 station on a U.S. Navy base at Naval Air Station Pensacola this week. This facility will provide access to E85 fuel for the Navy’s fleet of FFVs as …
Dow and Argonne Working on New Battery Materials
The Dow Chemical Company and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory have signed a multi-year research collaboration to jointly develop the next generation of materials for advanced battery technologies. Dow and Argonne will be collaborating on several new materials with the intent to improve the performance, cost competitiveness and adoption of these advanced materials in the energy storage …
Farm and Ethanol Groups Warn Against RFS Changes
A coalition of seven agricultural and biofuels organizations sent a letter this week to two members of Congress who have introduced legislation to modify the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS2), warning that it is unnecessary and could lead to higher prices at the pump. The organizations were reacting to a bill introduced by Representatives Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and Jim Costa (D-CA) …
RFA Announces 2012 Leadership
All officers of the Renewable Fuels Association were re-elected to serve another term at the ethanol organization’s annual membership meeting held this week in Washington DC. Chuck Woodside of KAAPA Ethanol in Minden, Nebraska was re-elected as Chairman of the Board. Also re-elected were Vice Chairman Neill McKinstray, Ethanol Division Vice President and General Manager, The Andersons, Inc.; Treasurer Randall …