Jam the Stands

Joanna Schroeder

The “Jam the Stands” racing series continues on Sunday, July 28, 2013 at the Granite City Speedway in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota. During the event, fans will enjoy a free evening of high octane stock car racing and learn about biofuels. Gates open at 2:00 pm and racing begins at 5:30 pm. The Biofuel Mobile Education Center will be at the …

biofuels, E85, Education, Racing

AlsoEnergy Launches New Solar PV Tools

Joanna Schroeder

AlsoEnergy, a company focused on renewable energy monitoring and portfolio management software, unveiled two new offerings at last week’s Intersolar North America 2013. The two new products are PowerOperations, an operations management workflow module and PowerRes, a residential pacakge, are both designed and tailored for the financial community and developers of residential lease programs for the solar market. According to …

Energy, energy efficiency, Renewable Energy, Solar

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) has chosen Jules Kortenhorst to be the organization’s new CEO. As the founding CEO of the European Climate Foundation, Kortenhorst brings significant experience and understanding of the global energy issues RMI works to solve. As CEO, Kortenhorst will report to RMI’s Board and will be primarily responsible for further developing the organization’s strategic vision, the overall …

Bioenergy Bytes

Genscape Issues Cautionary Alert to Corn Buyers

Joanna Schroeder

Genscape has recreated the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) corn yield projections for the 2013 season and is issuing a cautionary alert to corn buyers, traders and other market participants. Genscape tapped into its LandViewer model that uses a methodological tripod of high resolution satellite imagery, extensive on-the-ground surveillance, and proprietary algorithms to pinpoint corn yields at the farmland …

biofuels, corn

Caterpillar Finances Waste-to-Energy Project

Joanna Schroeder

Blue Sphere Corp., a company in the Cleantech sector as a waste-to-energy and clean energy project integrator, has announced that its Charlotte, North Carolina project, a 5.2 MW organics-to-energy anaerobic digester, has received a signed commitment letter from Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation, the financial arm of Caterpillar Inc., to provide $17.785 million in debt financing. Blue Sphere has accepted the …

Alternative energy, Waste-to-Energy

RFS Hill Briefing Sparks Hot Biofuels Debate

Joanna Schroeder

The Advanced Biofuels Association held an event, “A Policy Briefing on the Future of the Renewable Fuel Standard,” (#RFSFuture) in Washington, D.C. to debate the merits of the RFS and discuss the future of the RFS. The event comes on the heels of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Power’s plans for a two-day hearing next week …

advanced biofuels, Ethanol, RFS

RSC Hearing One-Sided

Joanna Schroeder

The Republican Study Committee’s Energy Task Force held an informational hearing discussing the impact of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) on July 17, 2013. Speakers included representatives from the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers, National Council of Chain Restaurants, the Turkey Federation, and the National Marine Manufacturers Association. The event happened to occur two days after the American Petroleum Institute …

biofuels, E15, Ethanol, RFA, RFS

The Real Reason Government’s Plug EV’s

Joanna Schroeder

According to a new study by researchers at the Indiana University Bloomington School of Public and Environmental Affairs and the University of Kansas, contrary to common belief, many country’s promote the manufacture and sale of electric vehicles (EVs) for reasons of economic development, notably job creation, not because of their environmental benefits. The study looked at policies related to EVs …

Alternative Vehicles, Electric Vehicles, Environment, Research

AAA Sets Record Straight on E15

Joanna Schroeder

This week the American Petroleum Institute (API) kicked off an new anti-ethanol and anti-biofuels TV and print campaign and in a commercial being aired in South Dakota, criticized the increased use of ethanol and E15 as a motor fuel. The 30-second commercials mention Triple A (AAA) and the organization has come out publicly and said the ads misrepresent their position …

ACE, biofuels, E15, Ethanol, RFS

Iowa Grants Help Expand Biodiesel

Joanna Schroeder

Since 2006, 158 new biodiesel retail pumps and 48 terminal locations have opened around the state. The growth has been helped along by state grants managed through the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Board. Iowa has several progressive biodiesel policies on the books, including this investment in the infrastructure needed for statewide distribution of cleaner burning biofuels. “Iowa produces the most …

advanced biofuels, Biodiesel