New numbers from the EPA show that biodiesel production in the U.S. hit 110 million gallons in April … staying on pace to hit more than a billion gallons for this year. The National Biodiesel Board hopes the green fuel can exceed targets set under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for a third consecutive year: The numbers show a total …
AFAI Completes Jatropha-to-Biodiesel Research
A Florida-based biodiesel company says it has completed its research into using jatropha as a feedstock at its Central American operation. In a news release published in the Sacramento Bee, Alternative Fuels Americas, Inc. (AFAI) says it successfully completed research trials and is moving to establish above ground oil fields as a staged entry into a market forecasted to exceed …
REAP Deadline Extends, Creates More Biogas Opps
The U.S. Department of Agriculture extends the deadline on a program that could see more farmers, especially those in the dairy industry, turning livestock waste into energy. The deadline to submit for funds under the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) and Dairy Industry Memorandum of Understanding has been extended to to May 31, 2013. During a teleconference moderated by …
Canada to Fund Algae-to-Biodiesel Project
A joint project between the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and industry partners could result in technology to grow algae to be made into several items, including biodiesel, in the heart of the Canadian petroleum industry: oil sands facilities. The Algal Carbon Conversion Pilot Project, a partnership among the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), Canadian Natural Resources Limited …
Rebuffed in EU, Argentina Aims for US Biodiesel Market
Shut out of selling biodiesel the the European Union, Argentina is now trying its hand at getting into the U.S. biodiesel market. Reuters reports the Argentinians believe it will be easier to meet U.S. environmental laws than overcome Europe’s block “We’re going through the process of getting EPA approval, which takes some time,” Luis Zubizarreta, president of the Argentine Biofuels …
New Colorado Biodiesel Plant to Run on Cooking Oil
A new Colorado biodiesel plant will be supplied with used cooking oil as its feedstock. Bio Plant Technologies LLC (operating as ClearEcos) and GHP Biodiesel USA Inc. are joining forces to set up an 11.5 million gallon refinery in conjunction with ClearEcos’ Boulder, Colorado used cooking oil (UCO) collection business. Kurt Lange, CEO of Bio Plant Technologies states: “Together with …
DF Cast: Creating, Not Extracting, Sugars for Biofuels
One of the big issues that continues to dog the biofuels business, especially ethanol production, is the use of food crops as fuel sources. While many have made the case that the crops can provide both food AND fuel (consider the dried distillers grains from ethanol production, for example), a New Jersey-based company thinks it has a way to remove …
Canadian Biodiesel Plant Plans to Ship to Germany
A Canadian biodiesel plant plans to crank out 7 million gallons of the green fuel a year, but none of it is intended for use north or south of the border. Biodiesel Magazine reports Biofuel Weiss Inc.’s Halifax, Nova Scotia, multifeedstock biodiesel refinery product will go to Germany: “We are different than the other [biodiesel facilities] in Canada because our …
Advanced Biofuels Payments Go Out to Producers
Biofuels producers in 38 states recently received payments from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Acting Under Secretary for Rural Development Doug O’Brien made the announcement, pointing out these payments of nearly $14 million to 162 producers are still going out, even with the current budget cuts: “These payments represent the Obama administration’s commitment to support an ‘all of the above’ …
Researcher Explores Using Tobacco for Biodiesel
You can’t smoke it … well, you SHOULDN’T smoke it … but you might be able to burn it. A researcher from the University of California is working on getting more oils out of tobacco plants so it can serve as a feedstock for biodiesel, providing a green fuel source while finding a market for tobacco growers without it harming …