Today the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) signed a joint final rule that establishes greenhouse gas emission standards and corporate fuel economy standards for light duty vehicles for model years 2012-2016. This National Fuel Efficiency Policy requires passenger cars and light trucks to get an overall average of 35.5 miles per gallon (mpg) by 2016 …
High School Students Win Eco-Marathon With Ethanol
Several high school students from Durand High School in Wisconsin, took first place in the national Shell Eco-Marathon, with their ethanol entry. The challenge was to build a car with the best fuel economy and the Wisconsin team was the only team to enter a vehicle fueled by ethanol. After a snafu with another vehicle that ran into their car, …
Sugarcane Harvest Begins in Brazil
Brazil’s 2010/2011 harvest officially begins today, and it is predicted that there will be a 10 percent increase in sugarcane production this year, as compared to last year. This according to the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA) who is estimating that the sugarcane harvest should reach 595.89 million tons, compared to 541.50 million tons last season. Final 2009/10 production numbers …
METRO Biofuels To Promote Bioheat
Heating oil is common on the East Coast and so many companies are looking for ways to replace heating oil with alternative sources. Today, METRO Biofuels, based in Brooklyn New York, announced that it is supporting a neighborhood coalition to promote cleaner air quality by using “bioheat” to heat buildings. METRO is the largest independent marketer of bioheat for the …
Constellation Energy Completes Solar & Wind Project
While President Obama only gave a cursory comment about the role of solar and wind in our energy future in his remarks this morning, these industries continue to move forward with completion of renewable electricity projects. Today, Constellation Energy announced that its subsidiary, Constellation Energy’s Projects & Services Group, has completed the installation of a 1.2 megawatt solar and wind …
New Energy Plan – Offshore Drilling
President Obama gave a speech this morning from a hanger at Andrews Air Force Base reiterating our country’s need for energy independence. This will be done, he says, through energy initiatives and the government will “lead by example.” In the background, a Navy Green Hornet jet that will fly on a mix of 50 percent biomass on earth day next …
Free RFS2 Workshop Announced
For those who are interested in learning more about how RFS2 will be affecting your biofuels business, there is an RFS2 Workshop being held in Des Moines, Iowa at the Sheraton West Des Moines Hotel on April 6th. The workshop is being hosted by the Renewable Fuels Association, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy and the National Biodiesel Board. …
Green Activists Continue Ethanol Smear Campaign
Another anti-biofuels report has been released, this time from the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) who is arguing that an immediate benefit would ensue if current biofuels policies were repealed and replaced with policies that would take the world’s most productive cropland out of production. Maybe more alarming is that while the report attempts to discredit the most promising biofuels technologies, …
SolarCity Creates $90 Million Fund for Solar Projects
A new fund has been created for commercial and residential solar projects that will begin in 2010. SolarCity, a company that not only offers solar power system design and installation, but financing as well, has created a new $90 million fund in partnership with U.S. Bancorp Community Development Corporation (USBCDC) to finance new projects in the U.S. SolarCity will use …
Auburn, CA Wastewater Treatment Plant Goes Solar
Pacific Power Management (PPM) and the city of Auburn, California recently announced that the city’s wastewater treatment plant is going to be 100 percent powered by solar energy. A 680 kilowatt solar photovoltaic (PV) system will supply all of the plant’s electrical needs by this summer when the project is slated to be completed. The photovoltaic system will consist of …