The Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a new concentrating solar power (CSP) project let by the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD). The project will integrate utility-scale CSP technology with SMUD’s 500-megawatt(MW) natural gas-fired Cosumnes Power Plant. The project is supported by a $10 million DOE investment, and the funds will be used to help design, build and test cost-competitive …
American Ethanol Storms Into the Lone Star State
American Ethanol is racing in the Lone Star State this week and team spokesman Austin Dillion is closing in on a championship. Ethanol supporters and NASCAR fans will be heading to Texas to cheer on their driver and interact with fans about ethanol. Dillon is known for his signature cowboy hat, but he wouldn’t mind trading in his hat for …
Bob Greco’s Greatest Hits
The fight over the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) was not in recess during the government shutdown and the accusations and arguing are ratcheting up in fervor this week as the introduction of new anti-RFS legislation is pending as well as a Dear Colleague letter being circulated by Representative Bob Goodlatte sent to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is causing a …
‘Cheap Corn Caucus’ Undermines American Biofuel Industry
A “Dear Colleague” letter is being circulated by Representative Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) with dozens of signatures calling for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Administrator Gina McCarthy to reduce the 2014 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) blending requirements. In the letter that energy.agwired.com obtained, Goodlatte writes: “Last month, EPA conceded that the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) will soon require more ethanol be blended …
Solar Helps to Lighten the Load
According to the Office of Naval Research (ONR) a recent field test that entailed Marines wearing a solar-powered system to extend the battery life of crucial electronic devices was successful. The exercise took place at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division. The Marine Austere Patrolling System (MAPS) combines solar power and an individual water purifier to help lighten the …
Minnesota Welcomes E15 With Open Arms
Minnesota welcomed its first E15 station with open arms this week. The Penn Minnoco service station in Minneapolis now has four dispensers selling E15 to drivers of vehicle model year 2001 or newer. The Penn Minnoco service station is located at 6001 Penn Avenue South in Minneapolis. When asked by DomesticFuel why E15, station owner Rick Bohnen, who is also …
Legislation to Eliminate Corn Ethanol A “Killer”
Senator Feinstein (D-CA) and Senator Coburn (R-OK) are introducing legislation to eliminate conventional biofuels from the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). According to a story first published by Greenwire, the impending bill would leave the advanced biofuel targets in place, but would eliminate the corn-based ethanol target. “I think the mandate for ethanol, which is forcing a lot of additional use, …
Wind Farms in Northern Cape Move Forward
Three large-scale wind energy projects in the Northern Cape, South Africa with a total generation capacity of 300 megawatts is moving forward and on track to be fully operational in mid-2014. A consortium led by global wind and solar company Mainstream Renewable Power has been awarded Preferred Bidder by the Department of Energy in South Africa. The award was made …
BioEnergy Bytes
Amerex Energy Services has hired three new team members. Stuart King has been appointed Vice President of Northeast Energy Consulting, Will Matthews has been appointed Director of Portfolio Management, and Brett Zeitz is Amerex’s newest Energy Consultant. All will report to Jeff Shoaf, SVP of Amerex Energy Services. Mr. King will be based in Connecticut, while Mr. Matthews and Mr. …
Renewable Energy in Mining Industry to Reach $4B
According to a new report, “Renewable Energy in the Mining Industry” the worldwide market for renewable energy systems in the mining industry will grow from $210.5 million in 2013 to $3.9 billion in 2022. Today, less than 0.1 percent of power consumed by the mining industry is generated from renewable energy; yet, mining operations consume enormous amounts of power- as …