Alternative energy technolgies, including biodiesel and ethanol, natural gas, smart grids, solar, and hydro power, will share in $300 million in capital from a new joint venture involving General Electric Co., ConocoPhilips and NRG Energy Inc. This article from Bloomberg says the investment company, Energy Technology Ventures, will be backing about 30 startups over the next four years: Collaborating with …
Acciona Building Second Oklahoma Wind Farm
Spanish wind energy company Acciona Energy is building its second wind farm in Oklahoma. This story from Eco Friend News.com says the Dempsey Ridge Wind Farm located in Roger Mills County, Oklahoma will produce 132 megawatts and will take about a year to build: The Dempsey Ridge Wind Farm is located just 15 miles west of ACCIONA Energy’s 123-MW Red …
OriginOil Moves Forward in Algae-to-Biodiesel Test
Last month, I told you about how algae-to-biodiesel developer OriginOil, Inc. had decided to go to Australia to test its algae oil extraction process with partner MBD Energy. Today, I received an update from OriginOil that it has received the first commercial order to deploy its algae oil extraction system in an industrial setting: MBD Energy (MBD) recently committed to …
Clark to Coordinate NE Corn Board Ethanol Program
There’s a new face on the Nebraska Corn Board staff, and she’ll serve as the board’s ag program manager coordinating ethanol programming. Kimberly Clark will direct the board’s efforts to increase in-state demand for ethanol, improve and expand the infrastructure of blender pumps and ethanol movement within and outside Nebraska, as well as maintaining a working relationship with ethanol development …
Canola Biodiesel-Powered Jet Car Heading to Vegas
A jet car that runs on biodiesel made from canola is expected to be featured in one of the premier car shows later this year. Western Canada’s PortageOnline.com reports the Prairie Gold, owned by Kevin and Gwen Therres of Prairieland Motorsports, produces 7,500 horsepower and can make it up to 254 miles per hour in a quarter mile (see some …
Biodiesel, Ethanol on Sidelines in State of the Union
Just like a year ago, proponents of biodiesel and ethanol must be wondering if their green fuels were part of President Barack Obama’s “clean energy” comments in this year’s State of the Union address. Meanwhile, solar, nuclear and electric vehicle advocates have to be feeling pretty good about themselves as they received specific shout-outs during the hour-long speech. Appearing before …
Demand for Glycerin to Keep Pace with Supply
As the production of biodiesel is expected to grow with (finally!) the renewal of the federal $1-a-gallon tax credit and the new Renewable Fuels Standard requiring 800 million gallons of biomass-based diesel to be blended this year is implemented, the amount of glycerin is expected to also climb, possibly flooding the market. But this article from Biodiesel Magazine says many …
Biodiesel Brewed Up for Future Chefs
Students at California’s Culinary Institute of America are learning their ways around the kitchen. And if they’re paying attention to the biodiesel being used in their rides to school, they’re also getting a lesson in sustainability. Biodiesel Magazine reports the school’s Greystone campus in the Napa Valley is using waste vegetable oil from the kitchens to turn into biodiesel (produced …
Endicott Biofuels to Build Texas Biodiesel Plant
Houston, Texas-based Endicott Biofuels has inked a deal with KMTEX Ltd. to build a 30-million gallon-per-year biodiesel plant in Port Arthur, Texas. This Endicott press release says the refinery will use the company’s proprietary technology, and construction is to begin later this month: “Our extensive specialty chemical processing capabilities in Port Arthur are well-suited to complement Endicott’s unique production of …
Bacteria Turns Biodiesel By-product Into Butanol
Researchers at the University of Alabama in Huntsville have found a strain of bacteria that could turn glycerol, a by-product of biodiesel production, into another alternative fuel … butanol. This story from the school’s news website says the research is being done by a graduate student with funding from the National Science Foundation: Disposing of glycerol has been a problem …