In a move to fight a proposed change that would basically shut out soy-based biodiesel… the bulk of the nation’s biodiesel production… from the Renewable Fuels Standard, the National Biodiesel Board has launched a Web site to give people the tools to make comments on the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposal. The RFS2 Action Center gives those who want to stop …
Solar, Biofuels Lead March Back Into Green Investment
Investors are getting back into green investing in a big way, and venture capital into solar and biofuels are two of the big drivers. An excerpt from a Greentech Media report posted on MarketWatch.com says that investors put $1.2 billion into 85 deals during the past quarter… compared to just $836 million in 59 deals during the first quarter of …
SRS to Build Alberta Biodiesel Plant
Biodiesel plant-building company SRS Engineering Corporation will put up a 10 million-gallon-a-year biodiesel plant in Alberta, Canada for ReNvision Biofuels Inc. This article from RenewableEnergyWorld.com says it will use a variety of local feedstocks, including animal fats, canola and camelina. In addition, the refinery will come just as Canada implements a biodiesel mandate: The federal government of Canada recently mandated …
AT&T Launches 8,000 Vehicle CNG Fleet
Following up on its promise of putting 15,000 alternative-fuel vehicles on the road in the next decade (see my post from March 16, 2009), communications mega-giant AT&T has announced today that it is converting 8,000 vehicles in the company’s fleet to compressed natural gas over the next five years. This story from the Dallas Business Journal says the move is …
First Commercial Biodiesel Shipment Through a Pipeline
After a successful test earlier this year (see my post from February 4, 2009), Kinder Morgan today made the first commercial shipment of biodiesel through a pipeline in the U.S. through the Southeastern United States’ Plantation duct. This Reuters story has details: Kinder sent a 15,000-barrel batch of B5 — fuel that was 5 percent biodiesel and 95 percent diesel …
Wind Energy Refines Oil
A story about one of the world’s biggest oil refiners turning to wind power to run some of its petroleum operations might seem like a bit of a contradiction, IF you don’t subscribe to the idea that we need to tap into ALL energy resources. But I think Valero gets it, and this article from the 24/7 Wall St. Web …
Pilot Project to Get Hydrogen, Nanofibers from Landfills
A new process is working on turning landfill gas into hydrogen AND nanofibers. Catalyx Nanotech, Inc., says the pilot project has started at a closed southern California landfill. “Our advantage is that we are able to produce nanofibers at greater than 99% purity, as well as 100% green hydrogen in a one-step process,” says Yinan Jin, Catalyx Nanotech Chief Research …
Climate Bill Gives Biodiesel RFS Break
A couple of issues might be coming to a head with one bill. As I told you back on May 22, biodiesel producers are none too pleased about an EPA proposal that would, in effect, exempt soy-based biodiesel from the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS)… putting biodiesel in danger of not being able to meet that standard, possibly undermining confidence in …
DF Cast: Charting the Future of Ethanol
Attendees of the recent Fuel Ethanol Workshop and Expo in Denver, Colorado heard something they most likely already knew: the past year was a rough one for the ethanol industry. While some folks such as Mike Bryan, CEO of BBI International point out that much of the green fuel’s woes were a concerted effort by those outside of the industry …
Feds Issue First Offshore Wind Energy Leases
For the first time, the federal government has issued offshore wind leases to explore the potential of the energy source. The New York Times reports the five leases will be for areas 6 to 18 miles off the New Jersey and Delaware coasts: Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, who has made offshore wind energy a priority, acknowledged that the United States …