Farmers, City Slickers Connect Through Soy Biodiesel

John Davis

Farmers and folks from the city might not have a lot in common (although more than most people realize), but they’re united by their love of biodiesel. This week, the United Soybean Board (USB) and Empire Clean Cities are recognizing New Yorkers’ efforts to reduce dependence on foreign oil, while going green and creating American jobs. “America’s soybean growers are …

Biodiesel, Soybeans, USB

Alabama City Switches Heavy Equipment to Biodiesel

John Davis

An Alabama city is going green … and saving some green at the same time. According to AL.com, Gadsden is converting all of its heavy equipment to run on biodiesel and will net about $100,000 a year in tax credits and fuel costs from the move: Gadsden began using propane for its city mowers about four years ago. Now the …

Biodiesel

Hawaii Co. Uses High-Vacuum Distillation for Biodiesel

John Davis

Making the cleanest, highest quality biodiesel is the goal of most refiners of the green fuel. A Hawaii company has completed testing on a high-vacuum distillation (HVD) unit at its new biodiesel facility, and this article from Biodiesel Magazine says the folks at Big Island Biodiesel, a part of Pacific Biodiesel Technologies and in partnership with Hawaii Renewable Energy Development …

Biodiesel

Biofuels, Farm Groups Applaud Pentagon’s Move

John Davis

Groups representing biofuels and farm interests are praising the Pentagon’s action to develop cheaper, drop-in biofuels. Michael McAdams, president of the Advanced Biofuels Association, says the $16 million awarded under the Defense Production Act is a significant step in supporting efforts to build commercial drop in fuels facilities: “Biofuels offer outstanding performance and environmental sustainability, while also providing a diversity …

advanced biofuels, aviation biofuels, biofuels, Government

EU Hits Argentine, Indonesian Biodiesel with Duties

John Davis

After several weeks of threatening, the European Union has pulled the trigger and hit biodiesel from Argentina and Indonesia with anti-dumping duties on biodiesel from the two countries. NASDAQ reports the new taxes on the imported biodiesel come after the European Biodiesel Board filed a complaint nearly a year ago: EU biodiesel makers have long complained that subsidies and incentives …

Biodiesel, International

New DoD Contract Looks to Crack $4/gal Biofuels

John Davis

The Pentagon has handed out a series of contracts for aviation biofuels totaling $16 million. Bloomberg reports the three refineries in Illinois, Nebraska and California that won the Department of Defense awards hope to make the green fuels for less than $4 per gallon: The contracts will be matched by more than $17 million in investments by the contractors, Sharon …

biofuels, Government, Waste-to-Energy

Turning Used Cooking Oil into Biodiesel Feedstock

John Davis

We’ve talked a lot here about turning used cooking oil into biodiesel. But the process is a bit more involved than using virgin oils, such as soybean oil. This story from the Roanoke, Virginia Times tells how two brothers, Tony and Daryl Hubbard who have set up shop filtering and processing the used cooking oil into something that can be …

Biodiesel

New Algae-to-Biofuels Photobioreactor Designed

John Davis

Researchers at a university in Spain believe they have a new photobioreactor that will make it easier to turn algae into biofuels. The University of Alicante announced a patent on the new device: The Research Group in Polymer Processing and Pyrolysis at the University of Alicante is the team that has designed and developed this device, consisting of a photobioreactor, …

algae, biofuels, International

Biodiesel Investor Donates $1 Mil to OK Tornado Relief

John Davis

An investor in a biodiesel operation in Nebraska is donating $1 million to Oklahoma tornado relief. Koch Industries, Inc. made the donation to support relief efforts for the devastated the cities of Moore and Shawnee, and other affected areas of the state: Half of that amount will be given to the OK Strong Disaster Relief Fund established by Governor Mary …

Biodiesel

Group to Take Over Nebraska Biodiesel Plant

John Davis

A Nebraska biodiesel plant is being taken over by a group that includes a Japanese investor. Benefuel Inc., with shares held by Tokyo-based conglomerate ITOCHU Corp., and Flint Hills Resources Renewables, LLC, owned by Koch Industries, have inked an agreement to develop biodiesel refineries in using Benefuel’s patented ENSEL® refining technology: The joint venture, named Duonix, LLC, is actively developing …

Biodiesel, International