UC Riverside’s Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT) is launching its new Transportation Fuels Research Center of Excellence. The Center was created with a $1.2 million grant from the California Energy Commission and the goal of the research and education facility will be to work on characterizing the emissions and performance of new alternative fuels. In addition, the center …
Tokai Challenger Wins South African Solar Challenge
The “Tokai Challenger” has won the 2010 South African Solar Challenge, for the second year. The Tokai University team first won this race in 2008, but also won the Global Green Challenge in 2009. The Global Green Challenge is the world’s largest solar race and last year was held in Australia. The grueling South African Solar Challenge took place over …
Giant Sweet Potato May Be Viable Ethanol Feedstock
David Letterman is no stranger to ethanol. For several years, Team Ethanol competed on the Rahal Letterman Racing team. However, Letterman may not be well-versed in some of the more unique possible feedstocks that are being researched for ethanol, until this week. On Monday, Letterman was doing a special featuring giant vegetables and North Charleston native and horticulturalist, Janice Ryan-Bohac, …
Cruise Car Rolls Out Solar Electric Car
Have an inkling to cruise around town in a fuel efficient car? Then check out the new ‘All American’ line of 15 solar electric Low Speed Vehicles (LSV) developed by Cruise Car, Inc. The cars are manufactured in the U.S. and use up to 50 percent recycled or certified re-manufactured parts and materials. The LSV line cars are constructed with …
NASA’s Space Center Goes Solar
The space center is going solar. This week, NASA’s John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC), located on the East coast of Florida, has begun the installation of a 79 kilowatt solar array on their new Propellants North Facility. The solar panels selected were developed and manufactured by Sharp. Once completed, the solar array will generate enough energy to power the …
US Fuel Convoys Under Attack, Amplifies Call for Renewable Energy
The beginning of October has brought at least 10 Pakistani attacks on oil tankers carrying fuel for NATO vehicles in Afghanistan. The NY Times reported today that fuel convoys are “sitting ducks” and as a result, have come under increasing attack. In response, U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords came out in support of bipartisan leaders of the House Armed Services Committee …
BlueFire Finalizes Contract for Cellulosic Plant
BlueFire Renewables (formerly BlueFire Ethanol) has announced that it has finalized and signed an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract to build a cellulosic ethanol facility in Fulton, MS. The $296 million biorefinery, which includes a $100 million biomass power plant as part of the facility, will be constructed by Wanzek Construction, a subsidiary of MasTec, Inc. This was an …
New Algae Incubator Program Launches
The National Algae Association is launching a new Algae Production Incubator Program for qualified algaepreneurs. The program begins on October 1, 2010 and is considered the first Algae Production Incubator starting in the U.S. More specifically, it will be a new algae farming cooperative. For people and companies who are interested in developing algae for various markets including jet fuel, …
Ethanol Summit on Health, Environment & Safety
The Nebraska Ethanol Board is hosting a summit on October 7, 2010 called the 2010 Ethanol Summit on Health, Safety and Environment. The Summit is being held in Grand Island, Nebraska and is targeted to ethanol producers and related industries and will focus on environment and safety regulatory issues within the biofuels industry. Sessions topics include: Recent Risk Management Plan …
Book Review – Off The Grid
“Where is the debate about the smart grid? Are we just going to believe what GE and EEI tell us? Who can actually prove that the smart grid is going to be all that smart, or that it is even going to work?”And who has thought through all the implications?” These are a few of the questions that author Nick …