Previously, I told you about how General Motors was soon to debut a new heavy-duty, diesel engine designed to burn B20 biodiesel (see my post from Aug. 11, 2009). Well it looks like Ford is going to give GM a run for its money in the green, heavy-hauling pickup engine race. This story from green.autoblog.com says Ford’s V8 diesel… code-named …
Missouri Facility Gets First Biomass Assistance Payment
A Missouri plant that turns agricultural waste products into fuel pellets is the first to receive a payment from the USDA’s Farm Service Agency’s new Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP). This USDA press release says the Show Me Energy Cooperative of Missouri conversion facility will get the funds aimed at paying producers for biomass materials for collection, harvest, storage and …
Energy Grants $1.6 Mil for Public Education Efforts
The U.S. Department of Energy has handed out $1.6 million to the Alternative Fuel Trade Alliance… a group made up of the Renewable Fuels Association, the National Biodiesel Foundation, the Propane Education & Research Council, the Clean Vehicle Education Foundation and ASG Renaissance… to boost efforts for a targeted educational plan aimed at Clean Cities Coordinators and related stakeholders. This …
Melons Could Be the Next Great Ethanol Feedstock
Watermelons… that tasty summertime treat… could be the next feedstock for the green fuel ethanol. We’ve told you previously about how the National Watermelon Association has been pushing the idea of the fruit being used for ethanol (see our posts from May 20, 2009 and January 7, 2008). Now, it looks like there’s some research to back up that idea. …
Algae-to-Energy Researchers Talk Future in St. Louis
St. Louis was the destination this week as more than 100 researchers and industry leaders from 10 states came together for the “Algae-to-Energy in the South” regional summit aimed at looking at algae’s potential as a renewable energy resource, particularly making it into biodiesel. This National Biodiesel Board press release says Dr. Richard Sayre, the Director of the Enterprise Rent-A-Car …
USDA Hands Out $4.2 Mil for Woody Biomass Projects
Federal officials have handed out $4.2 million in grants for projects that will reduce the fuel for forest fires, while creating a green fuel source. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says the grants to 17 small businesses and community groups will encourage development of woody biomass into fuel: “By harnessing the full potential of woody biomass, America’s forests can produce renewable …
Soy Biodiesel Powers Tractor Pull
The power of soybean-based biodiesel will be on display this Friday and Saturday nights in Jefferson City, Mo., as the Midwest Xtreme Truck and Tractor Pull, a National Tractor Pullers Association Grand National event, comes to town. The United Soybean Board (USB) and soybean checkoff sponsor the event at the Cole County Fairgrounds as a way to showcase the homegrown, …
Schrum: High Taxes Killing German Biodiesel Industry
In what should be a cautionary tale to American lawmakers who might want to raise revenues from biodiesel sales, a leader of Germany’s biofuels industry says high taxes on biodiesel in that country are killing the green fuel there. This article from Forexyard.com quotes Peter Schrum, president of biofuels industry association BBK, saying that Germany’s nearly 5 million tonnes annual …
$300 Mil in Stimulus Bucks Stimulates Alternative Fuels
Nearly $300 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act… aka the “Stimulus Bill”… funds are being handed out by the U.S. Department of Energy to replace or change more than 9,000 vehicles so they will burn alternative fuels and/or make them more fuel efficient, as well as establish nearly 550 alternative refueling stations across the U.S.. Energy Secretary Steven Chu …
Emerson is Choice for Dynamic Fuels Biodiesel Plant
A Louisiana biodiesel plant that needs intense heat to turn animal fats and waste materials into the green fuel has chosen a Texas company that specializes in the process control system that uses hydrogen to create the heat needed. Biodiesel Magazine reports that the 75-million-gallon-a-year Dynamic Fuels renewable diesel plant… a 50-50 joint venture between Tyson Foods Inc. and Syntroleum …