A Maine-based power plant is getting $556,520 in U.S. Department of Agriculture grants. This article from BDN Maine says Athens Energy is getting the money to build a new biomass-fueled power generator that runs on wood waste from logging and timberland thinning operations. The USDA said the proposed Athens biomass plant would produce enough electricity to power about 5,409 homes. …
Biodiesel Making Hawaii Even Greener
Hawaii is well known for its lush green countryside, but the Big Island is going to be even greener, environmentally, thanks to biodiesel. This article from the Hawaii Tribune-Herald says Hawaii County is half a year into a successful switch using B20, a 20 percent blend of the green fuel with conventional diesel. County deputy managing director Randy Kurohara said …
Get Set to Go to the Biodiesel Conference in Tampa!
It’s that time of year again! Time to register for the National Biodiesel Conference & Expo, going on Jan. 25-28, 2016, in Tampa, Florida. Organizers promise networking and educational opportunities that aren’t available anywhere else. This year, we are on the water in Tampa, and you’ll see some big differences to our format. First, we’ve expanded meeting and sitting space …
ABFA Opposes Biodiesel Tax Credit Restructure
A move that extends the federal biodiesel and renewable diesel tax credit for two years, but changes its structure, is finding opposition from at least one biofuels group. The Advanced Biofuels Producers Association opposes an amendment by Sens. Charles Grassley and Maria Cantwell, which would extend the $1-per-gallon federal credit, but would convert the credit from one for blenders (those …
RFA Wants Oregon to Treat All Fuels Fairly
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) wants the state of Oregon to treat all fuels fairly. This news release from the group says RFA submitted comments to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) in response to the agency’s September proposed rule for the state’s Clean Fuels Program (CFP). RFA wants the department to use standards that “support performance-based low carbon …
SG Preston to Build Renewable Diesel Plants
A Philadelphia-based bioenergy company has inked a deal to build renewable diesel plants. This news release from SG Preston says it and Houston-based engineering firm IHI E&C agreed to develop and construct a series of commercial volume, advanced biofuels manufacturing plants, initially in the U.S. Midwest and Canada. The plants will use proven, commercial scale technologies for the production of …
Young Scientists Can Apply for Biodiesel Scholarship
College science students are being invited to apply for scholarships to attend the National Biodiesel Conference & Expo, Jan. 25 – 28 in Tampa, Florida. The National Biodiesel Board, the United Soybean Board and the National Biodiesel Foundation are offering a $500 travel scholarship with the application deadline of Nov. 12. Next Generation Scientists for Biodiesel is an NBB program …
Pittsburgh Expands Optimus Tech’s Biodiesel Solution
The City of Pittsburgh is expanding its use of Optimus Technologies’ solution that will allow the city to use more biodiesel in the city’s vehicles. This news release from Optimus says its EPA‐approved technology will be put in 20 public works trucks, as well as deploying an Optimus-designed, 5,000-gallon storage/refilling station at the city’s main garage that supports over 100 trucks. Through Optimus’ solution, …
Biomass Powers Military Base to Self Reliance
A military installation in Upstate New York is now being powered by its own biomass power plant. This article from the Watertown Daily Times says Fort Drum is now officially connected to its on-post ReEnergy biomass plant. “We’re the only post in the Army that’s self-reliant for energy right now,” Maj. Gen. Jeffrey L. Bannister, the 10th Mountain Division’s commander, …
Scania Offers Biodiesel-Hybrid Truck
Swedish truck maker Scania is adding to its lineup of biodiesel-friendly options in its trucks. After giving the OK for a line of trucks to run on renewable diesel and having an Australian company declare it would brew its own biodiesel to use in its fleet of Scania trucks, the company has now announced a Scania-developed hybrid truck for urban …