The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded a $2.1 million contract to Solectria Renewables as part of its SunShot Initiative, to develop integrated smart-grid ready photovoltaic (PV) inverters with utility communications. The project will be completed in partnership with Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), Detroit Edison, National Grid, and Xcel Energy. The DOE program is aimed at bringing cost-competitive …
Book Review – The Powers That Be
I felt like an academic when I read this week’s book, “The Powers That Be Global Energy For The Twenty-First Century And Beyond,” although author Scott L. Montgomery wanted the book to be “fun.” I sported my black geek glasses and curled up in a chair at a local coffee shop and attempted to give off the personae that I’m …
This School Year, Transport Your Kids In Cleaner Buses
School is in session. Millions of children across the country have already started or will head back to class after Labor Day weekend. It’s a good time to ask the question, How clean is the air your children are breathing on the bus? With nearly 450,000 school buses transporting more than 24 million students each day and covering more than …
DOE Announces Another $12M in Funding
The Department of Energy closed out August with the announcement of an additional $12 million to fund three small-scale projects in Illinois, Wisconsin and North Carolina. Announced by U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu, the technologies selected were chosen to help accelerate the development of advanced drop-in fuels and biochemicals. Drop-in fuels have received much attention from both investors and the …
Two Dot Wind Farm Moving Forward
The Two Dot community wind farm located about 90 miles Northwest of Billings, Montana has taken another step forward in the development of its wind energy project. NorthWestern Energy and OwnEnergy, a developer of community wind projects, announced the signing of a 25-year Qualifying Facility Agreement for the 9.7 megawatt Two Dot Wind Farm. OwnEnergy will sell the wind energy …
POET To Sell Antibiotic-Free DDGS
POET had announced that they are now selling antibiotic-free dried distillers grains (DDGS) with solubles. Today, they sell more than 4 million tons of Dakota Gold DDGS to a variety of feed markets. On occasion, fermentation can be disrupted due to things such as a bacterial infections, and an antimicrobial agent can be used to control the contamination. Over the …
REG Adds Bioheat & Biodiesel Sales Manager
Paul Predaris has joined Renewable Energy Group (REG) as the company’s new Biodiesel Sales Manager. In his role, he will oversee the company’s Bioheat development of the biodiesel market in the Northeastern United States. This part of the country is rapidly adopting Bioheat for home heating and Predaris will closely work with home heating oil and petroleum distributors as well …
New E85 Station Opens in St. Paul, Nebraska
It’s no coincidence that we’re seeing a few new E85 stations opening this week. We’re heading into Labor Day weekend and many us will be driving to visit friends and family. For those flex-fuel vehicle drivers, you have a new E85 station that just may be on your travel route. Aurora Cooperative at 614 2nd Street in St. Paul, Nebraska …
E85 Sales Hit New Record in Iowa
Second quarter E85 (85 percent ethanol, 15 percent gasoline) sales in Iowa have hit an all-time record increasing 40 percent during the second quarter. According to the Iowa Department of Revenue, sales of E85 by Iowa retailers reached 3,697,199 gallons from April to June of this year, setting a new record. “Iowans continue to have more E85 fueling options – …
UOP Breaks Ground on Hawaii Cellulose Plant
UOP, a honeywell company, has broken ground on a biofuels demonstration plant in Hawaii that will convert forest waste, algae and other cellulosic biomass to fuel. The project is being helped along by a $25 million U.S. Department of Energy grant. The project will help meet federal biofuel mandates as well as help Hawaii reach its clean energy goals of …