New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has made it official, signing a bill that will require all diesel heating oil in the city contain at least 2 percent biodiesel: “The final bill before me today is Introductory Number 194-A … [which] will significantly reduce pollution, promote the use of alternative fuels, create new ‘green’ jobs and vastly improve air quality …
Big Apple Could Use Big Breezes to Power City
Besides being home to some politicians who are blow-hards at times, New York City could be in line to have some giant wind turbines to feed the area’s energy needs (much better use of windiness). This New York Times article says that the long-term plan has been to put up huge wind turbines in the Atlantic Ocean off Long Island. …
Investments Spark Speculation on Algal-Biodiesel
Recent multi-million dollar investments in algae-biofuel companies ($200 million IPO for PetroAlgae and $52 million to help commercialize Solazyme) is fueling some speculation of its own on how soon algae-based biofuels, in particular, biodiesel, might be available for consumers and when it would be commercially competitive. This article from Biofuel Digest breaks down the “bears” and “bulls” views of these …
First Load of Illinois Plant’s REG Biodiesel Rolls Out
Iowa-based Renewable Energy Group (REG) has held a grand re-opening of its Seneca, Illinois biodiesel plant after taking over the 60 million-gallon-a-year biodiesel and glycerin facility from Nova Biosource Fuels. REG celebrated the occasion with a ribbon cutting ceremony and by selling the first load of REG-9000 biodiesel from the refinery to Meier Oil of Ashkum Illinois last Thursday. The …
USDA Proposes Blending Solar and Wind Power
A USDA scientist believes wind and solar power generating systems could be set up to complement each other. A study by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) agricultural engineer Brian Vick at the agency’s Renewable Energy and Manure Management Research Unit in Bushland, Texas says that by using solar power during doldrum days and wind at night could help offset the two …
Investors Fuel Algae-Biofuel Maker Solazyme with $52M
Algae-biofuel maker Solazyme has garnered $52 million in venture capitol from the likes of Morgan Stanley and Chevron. This article from the New York Times says the San Francisco-based company is using the money to commercialize its green fuel: Solazyme is one of the most successful companies working on algae, along with generously-funded Sapphire Energy. While most of its competitors …
Am. Lung Assoc. in MN to Hold Biodiesel Workshops
Just about everything in this country moves by a truck, train or barge running on diesel. The folks up in Minnesota, with their first-in-the-nation biodiesel mandate, are holding some workshops to show just how important the green version of diesel … biodiesel … is: To help people better understand recent changes in diesel fuels and engines, and the growing role …
REG to Re-Open Seneca, Illinois Biodiesel Plant
Iowa-based Renewable Energy Group (REG) will hold a grand re-opening of its Seneca, Illinois biodiesel plant. The biodiesel maker and marketer became the operator of the 60 million-gallon-a-year biodiesel and glycerin facility, taking over from Nova Biosource Fuels. REG will have Congresswoman Deborah Halvorson on hand to make remarks on the start-up of the plant and to “[c]elebrate the start …
Green Fuel Biodiesel Finds Green Party Opposition
A political party that claims to back environmentally friendly causes has inexplicably come out against biodiesel, even though the feedstock for the green fuel would actually remove waste from a landfill. The SF Weekly blog says San Francisco’s Green Party has come out against a proposal to make biodfiesel in the city: The Examiner reported this morning that a facility …
Kerry Proposes New Biodiesel Tax Break Renewal Route
The renewal of the $1-a-gallon biodiesel tax credit seems to have been left in the doldrums as the U.S. Senate went to August recess without agreement on the number of amendments to the Small Business Bill, which contained a renewal of the incentive. But Biodiesel Magazine reports that a whole new bill, “The Clean Energy Technology Leadership Act of 2010,” …