Today consumers who support electric vehicles (EV) are pushing for plug-in electric vehicles (PHEVs). But in the not too distant future, EV owners will be able to charge their cars wirelessly. Utah State University Research Foundation’s Energy Dynamics Laboratory, located in North Logan, Utah, has successfully operated the first high-power, high-efficiency wireless power transfer system. This system is able to …
Duke Acquires Kansas Wind Farm Project
Two hundred miles west of Wichita will be the home of the newest wind farm in Kansas. Duke Energy Renewables has announced they have purchased the 131-megawatt Cimarron II Windpower Project in Gray County. Construction will begin this fall and the project is expected to be generating wind power by June of 2012. The wind farm will be cited on …
Iowans Have Saved $50M in Fuel Costs in 2011
Looking to save some cash on fuel costs? For those who can’t reduce your driving should consider filling up with ethanol or E10 to be exact. Drivers in Iowa who have fueled up with E10 in 2011 have saved $50 million during the first five months of the year according to the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA). Ethanol sales in …
Country’s First B20 Biodiesel Bus Retired
Medford, New Jersey’s, and possibly the country’s, first bus to run on a 20 percent blend of biodiesel (B20) has been retired. The 1998 International bus consumed more than 28,000 gallons of biodiesel during its lifetime and allowed children to ride to and from school and other events surrounded by cleaner air. The bus was first fueled with B20 on …
Biofuels Arrive in Tarrant, Alabama
Biofuels have arrived in Tarrant, Alabama. Pacific Pride Services, a subsidiary of Wright Express Corporation, has announced that in partnership with Quality Petroleum of Alabama the opening of the first Commercial Fuel Center offering both biodiesel for fleet customers as well as ethanol. The new location is Quality Petroleum’s eighth Pacific Pride Fuel Center in Alabama and joins more than …
Hot Springs Microbe May Hold Key to Biofuel Production
Researchers from the University of California Berkeley and the University of Maryland School of Medicine have discovered a microbe in a Nevada hot spring that enjoys eating cellulose (aka plant material) at temperatures above the boiling point of water, 109 degrees Celsius or 228 degrees Fahrenheit. This microbe could hold a key in developing technologies to improve the breakdown of …
ExxonMobil to Offer Biodiesel at Four Texas Terminals
ExxonMobil will soon offer ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) blended with biodiesel for the first time at four rack terminals in Texas. ExxonMobil will offer ULSD with up to a 5 percent biodiesel blend in Irving, Texas and North Houston beginning this summer. They will also also the fuel via third party terminals located in Tyler, Texas and Pasadena, Texas. According …
Renewable Energy Production Surpasses Nuclear
Renewable energy production has surpassed nuclear energy production in the U.S. according to the latest issue of Monthly Energy Review published by the Energy Information Administration. Production of alternative energy is also beginning to close in on domestic oil production. During the first three months of 2011, energy produced from renewable energy sources (biomass/biofuels, geothermal, solar, hydro, wind) generated 2.245 …
Trident Inceni Sports Car Fueled With B100
In the market for a sexy sports car? Than look no further than the new British-born Trident Inceni, a biodiesel powered “supercar”. The car will be officially unveiled during the Cholmondeley Pageant of Power in Cheshire, England being held July 15-17, 2011. The event is a showcase of performance and power that includes car racing, power boat racing, aerobatics, and …
Maryland Home to Two New Solar Systems
Maryland is the home of two new commercial solar projects. The systems are located in Talbot and Frederick Counties. One system is comprised of a 550kW ground mount solar array for the Talbot County Community Center in Easton, MD. The other system is a 499kW rooftop system for Oakdale High School in ljamsville, MD. The two systems were developed and …