Ohio Utility Seeks Biodiesel for Power Production

John Davis

An Ohio utility is looking to buy biodiesel to help it produce power and meet that state’s alternative energy requirement. This story from Biodiesel Magazine says American Electric Power Co. has opened up bids to supply biodiesel for one or more of its coal-fired plants in the state: According to AEP spokeswoman Melissa McHenry, the company is investigating the use …

Biodiesel

Advanced Biofuel Payments to Foreign Owners, Non-Rural Plants

John Davis

It might be green and renewable, but it won’t necessarily be DOMESTIC fuel. This article from Biofuels Digest says the Obama Administration will allow advanced biofuels plants owned by foreign companies and those plants in non-rural areas Advanced Biofuels Payments: In Washington, the (USDA’s) Rural Business-Cooperative Service Agency announced that it is amending the rules for the Advanced Biofuel Payment …

biofuels, Government

Future Scientists Support Biodiesel

John Davis

A group of college students who will be the next generation of scientists have joined together to support biodiesel. This press release from the National Biodiesel Board, which is leading the effort with support from the United Soybean Board and soybean checkoff, says 28 students scientists from across the country have signed on to the new Next Generation Scientists for …

Biodiesel, NBB

Energy Use Down But Wind, Solar Power Production Up

John Davis

The U.S. is using less energy, but more of it is coming from renewable sources, such as wind and solar. CNN Money reports a new report from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) says the 5 percent drop in American energy usage during 2009 is the largest annual drop on record. But wind energy production alone rose more than one-third …

Solar, Wind

Farm Progress Show to Feature Biodiesel

John Davis

It seems only fitting that the nation’s greatest agricultural showcase will be featuring the world’s greenest fuel. Renewable Energy Group says this year’s Farm Progress Show, slated for August 31 – September 2 in Boone, Iowa, will be demonstrating a B20 blend of biodiesel in all demonstration vehicles and agriculture equipment: The B20 blend is provided through STAR Energy, the …

Biodiesel

SynDiesel Biodiesel Looks to Set Mileage Record

John Davis

A Volkswagen Beetle burning a 5 percent blend of biodiesel and SynDiesel, often referred to as synthetic or GTL diesel, looks to set a mileage record at Hot Rod Magazine’s Drag Week in September. The company says the SynDiesel Project X Volkswagen Beetle is the favorite to capture the mileage record for the five day event that has competitors race …

Biodiesel

DF Cast: Getting Infrastructure for Electric Vehicles

John Davis

With the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf being rolled out this fall across the country … and the more pricey Tesla Roadster already making its electric vehicle debut … the next concern is where to charge these electric vehicles. While most folks will have or will be getting the capability to do it at home, the lack of infrastructure for …

Audio, Domestic Fuel Cast, Electric Vehicles

Soybean Board-sponsored Tractor Pull Set for this Weekend

John Davis

The United Soybean Board (USB) and the National Tractor Pullers Association (NTPA) have teamed up for a tractor pull this Friday and Saturday, Aug. 27 & 28, at the Jaycee’s Cole County Fairgrounds. Some of the tractors involved in the pull will be using biodiesel, as will much of the support equipment. The video below is from last year’s event …

Biodiesel, Soybeans

Biodiesel Company Lands California Energy Grant

John Davis

A California-based biodiesel company has won a nearly $900 thousand grant from that state’s Energy Commission. Biodiesel Industries “ARIES© Bioenergy Project” is a multi-year project using algae to produce biodiesel in an integrated energy system monitored by the ARIES platform. ARIES, which stands for Automated Real-time, Remote, Integrated Energy System, was developed with Aerojet to incorporate advanced automation control capabilities: …

Biodiesel, Government

Biofuel, Biotech Companies Sequence Jatropha Genome

John Davis

A company that breeds better seeds for biofuels has teamed up with a biotech company to sequence the jatropha genome … a plant touted as the possible future of biofuels feedstocks. Officials at SG Biofuels have announced that they and Life Technologies Corporation have completed sequencing the Jatropha curcas genome to 100x coverage, using the SOLiD™ 4.0 System by Life …

biofuels, Biotech