The federal $1-a-gallon biodiesel blenders credit has cleared an important legislative hurdle, and the National Biodiesel Board is optimistic it will become law. Earlier today, the U.S. Senate voted to end debate (invoking cloture) on the package of tax credits, including the biodiesel incentive, by a bipartisan 83-15 margin. As the vote was going on, I talked to the NBB’s …
Biodiesel Industry Struggles, But RINS Are Strong
The biodiesel industry in the U.S. has been struggling lately, but the trading market for renewable identification numbers … the numbers the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will require to prove compliance with the new Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS2) … is pretty strong. Biodiesel Magazine reports that RIN prices seem to be filling the void the lapse of the federal $1 …
Navy Hybrid Ship Recognized for Energy Award
A good friend of mine from my Air Force days alerted me to a story about a U.S. Navy ship that was recently recognized for its hybrid technology during some recent energy awards. Chris Hatch, who now does Congressional and Public Affairs for the Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division in the Philadelphia, PA area, sent me this release explaining …
Ohioan Wants Ditches for Biodiesel Crops
Reflecting a trend that started in Utah and has been copied in several other states, an Ohio man wants to see the ditches and medians along the interstates used to grow oilseeds, such as safflower, dwarf sunflower and canola, to make into biodiesel. This article from the Columbus (OH) Dispatch says Mark Schaff, a member of Etna Township’s economic-development committee, …
Volvo Tests Biogas, Biodiesel in Airport Snow Sweepers
In what could end up being a great test of biodiesel in cold weather (and there’s still plenty of detractors who swear against the green fuel in cold climates) Swedish auto maker Volvo will be testing biogas, and eventually biodiesel, in an airport snow sweeper in the Scandanavian country. This company press release says that, in partnership with Schmidt and …
Why Do You Believe in Biodiesel?
Maybe it’s the renewable nature of the fuel. Maybe it’s the fact that the fumes from some of it smells likes french fries. Maybe, my personal favorite, it helps this country get off its foreign oil addiction. Well, whatever your reason for believing in biodiesel, the National Biodiesel Board is inviting you to put your thoughts onto video: The best …
AWEA Says “Don’t Forget About Wind Tax Credit”
As much of the talk on this blog has focused on the renewal of the biodiesel and ethanol tax credits (see Cindy’s post), the leading advocacy group for wind energy in this country is reminding Congress of the danger of not including its green energy in the package to renew tax credits. This press release from the American Wind Energy …
Biodiesel, Ethanol Priorities for New ASA President
The new American Soybean Association (ASA) president is making biodiesel and ethanol his priorities. And this article from Corn and Soybean Digest says that shouldn’t be too much of a surprise from Alan Kemper, a fifth generation corn, soybean and cattle farmer from Lafayette, Indiana and the first person to hold both the ASA presidency and that of the National …
GE to Supply Brazilian Wind Project
U.S.-based General Electric will provide more than 400 megawatts of wind turbines for a project in Brazil. This company press release says the GE commitments will include 258 of GE’s advanced 1.5 and 1.6-megawatt wind turbines: Customers making commitments to GE from Brazil’s 2010 Alternative Energy Auction are Renova Energia S.A, Dobreve Energia S.A. (DESA), Contour Global and Bioenergy. Projects …
Canadian Canola Could Lose Out on Biodiesel Mandate
Canadian canola could miss out on demand from Canada’s soon-to-be-implemented biodiesel mandate. This analysis from Reuters says the country’s second most-popular crop might be a much lower choice as a biodiesel feedstock because of some ambiguity in Canada’s requirement that could be started this coming April: Canada has finished selecting biodiesel plant proposals to receive funding from a C$1.5-billion ($1.5 …