Tara Chandra with Growth Energy spends much of her time working in the organization’s public policy sector. She helps with their social media efforts and other educational efforts as well as helps their member’s with their policy and communication efforts. Chandra was at the 2013 Commodity Classic that took place in Kissimmee, Florida talking to growers from across the country …
Duckweed for Biofuels?
Duckweed may be a viable material for biofuel production according to a new report in ACS’ journal Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research. Duckweed is a fast growing floating plant that turns ponds and lakes green. Christodoulos A. Floudas, a professor at Princeton and Xin Xiao with Langfang Engineering and Technology Centre, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, along with …
Algal Based Biofuel Retail Pilot Successful
Propel Fuels and Solazyme have announced the results of their pilot retail program and over the 30 days consumers were given a choice to purchase biofuels produced from algae, they chose the algal-based biofuel. In a survey of users, consumers said they prefer its environmental benefits compared to conventional fuels; would purchase more of it if it was widely available …
BioEnergy Bytes
Stem and the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) have announced a pilot project to study the impact of high penetration solar photovoltaics (PV) on the grid. The two-year research project will utilize Stem’s unique high-resolution data collection, cloud-based power system analytics and intelligent energy storage capabilities to reduce electricity costs for customers. Advanced energy CEOs believe that California’s energy policies …
How to Ensure Biofuel Crops Don’t Become Weeds
A Virginia Tech researcher, along with several others, have offered a way to ensure that plants grown for biofuels do not become an invasive weed. According to Jacob Barney, an assistance professor of plant pathology, physiology and weed science in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, careful introduction of new species for production of more energy per acre is …
Biofuels Beltway Fly-in Getting Ready for Take Off
The plane is starting to fill up for the American Coalition for Ethanol’s (ACE) Biofuels Beltway Fly-In in Washington, D.C. but there is still room! The event takes place on March 13-14, 2013 and the goal is to meet with dozens of key leaders and Congressional members to tell them personal stories about the benefits of ethanol. “ACE has more …
NW-REI Offers Wind Turbine Training
Northwest Renewable Energy Institute (NW-REI) is offering a Wind Turbine Technician program and is hosting three free informational sessions on the program this month: Tuesday, March 5th at 7:00 pm; Saturday, March 9th at 10:30 am; and Saturday, March 23rd at 10:30 am. According to the U.S. Department of Energy energy map of installed wind capacity, Oregon and Washington are …
Love’s Expanding CNG Network
Love’s Travel Stops is expanding its fast-fill compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling stations to service Class 8 trucks. The corridor between Dallas, Houston and San Antonio, Texas will soon include eight new CNG pumps and should be operational by the fourth quarter of this year. Love’s will add fast-fill CNG to the following locations in Texas: Ft. Worth – I-35 …
Fat Worms Play Role in Algal Biofuels
Fat worms confirm are playing a role in improved biofuel and animal feed production. Researchers from Michigan State University (MSU) have successfully engineered a plant with oily leaves, a feat that could improve biofuel production. The research was led by Christoph Benning, MSU professor of biochemistry and molecular biology along with a team from the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center. The …
More Ethanol Education Needed in Tennessee
There is definitely a need for more ethanol education in Tennessee. I was recently traveling in the state and heard several radio commercials boasting about selling gas with no ethanol. Interestingly, all the reasons not to use ethanol, according to the radio ads, are exactly the reasons why drivers can use ethanol. Here is a picture of a gas station, …