A California company that converts light-, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles to run on CNG, LNG, and LPG systems is expanding to the Midwest. A-1 Alternative Fuel Systems announced the opening of its new Elkhart, Indiana facility, meeting the needs of several area bus manufacturers. “We are in a strong position to apply our depth of experience in California to markets …
19 Up-and-Comers to Be Part of Solar Show
Nineteen up-and-coming companies have been picked to participate in a program to showcase sun power at next month’s Solar Power International. The Start-Up Alley Challenge held on Wednesday, October 23 during SPI ’13 in Chicago, is the culmination of the show’s new Start-Up Alley, a new, featured show floor area at the solar meeting. Start-Up Alley Semi-Finalists: Mike Dershowitz, President …
ICM, Lincolnway Ink Deal on Selective Milling Tech
ICM, Inc. and Lincolnway Energy, LLC have signed a deal that will see Lincolnway purchase ICM’s patent-pending Selective Milling Technology™ (SMT™) that increases ethanol yield and increases oil recovery for its customers. ICM President Chris Mitchell stated, “We are thrilled to announce the purchase of our Selective Milling Technology™ by Lincolnway Energy. We appreciate the opportunity to have designed Lincolnway …
KiOR Looks to Double Capacity at Cellulosic Facility
Commercial scale cellulosic gasoline and diesel producer KiOR has announced plans to double the capacity of its Columbus, Mississippi facility. Officials expect the project, dubbed Columbus II, will cost approximately $225 million, will break ground within 90 days of raising the money needed and be finished building 18 months later. Once completed with its latest technology improvements, KiOR expects that …
Biodiesel Production Responsive to Profitability
An analysis shows what might seem obvious, but fills in the gaps of why, that biodiesel production responds positively to profitability. In another quality piece from Scott Irwin with the University of Illinois, he breaks down how staying in the black helps the green fuel. A more detailed view of production responsiveness is shown in Figure 3. Basically, production in …
Project LIBERTY Cellulosic Ethanol Plant Update
A 25 million-gallon-per-year cellulosic ethanol plant is on track to start cranking out the advanced biofuel early next year. Officials with POET-DSM Advanced Biofuel’s Project LIBERTY updated progress on the refinery in Northwest Iowa during the Platts Biofuels and Chemicals conference. “We had a great summer for construction and have been able to stay on track to start producing cellulosic …
Ethanol to Save World 100 Mil Tons of GHGs in 2013
The expected 20 billion gallons (85 billion liters) of ethanol production this year will keep 100 million tonnes of green house gas (GHG) emissions out of the environment. That’s the forecast from the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA). “This years forecast shows that even in the face of a difficult global economy, demand for biofuels is growing. This is excellent …
Rural Areas to REAP Benefits of Energy Projects
Farmers, ranchers and small businesses in rural areas of 22 states will benefit from projects designed to use renewable energy, as well as conserve power. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the latest round of grants and loans being made available through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). “REAP continues to help farmers and rural businesses reduce their …
New Biodiesel Plant Boon for Canadian Soybeans
Soybean farmers north of the border are getting a great boon in the construction of what will be Canada’s largest biodiesel plant producing about 40 million gallons of biodiesel each year. Grain Farmers of Ontario welcomed Great Lakes Biodiesel’s start in Welland, Ontario that uses soybeans as a feedstock. “This locally produced, renewable, and sustainable fuel is a win for …
Congressman Makes Case to Colleagues for RFS
A congressman from Iowa makes the case that the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) is working and encourages his fellow lawmakers to support it. In an open letter titled “Dear Colleague: Why the last two months show the RFS is working,” Rep. Dave Loebsack points out that the recent flexibility in the RFS, the government looking into renewable fuel distribution barriers, …