New York City is going to get a little cleaner thanks to a clean-running garbage truck. Mack Trucks delivered its diesel-electric hybrid MACK® TerraPro™ Low Entry model refuse truck to the Big Apple. This company press release says it is the first production intent parallel diesel-electric hybrid truck in the U.S. designed specifically for Class 8 heavy-duty applications and meeting …
Obama Tours Nellis AFB Solar Array
President Obama was talking about the power of the sun today at the nation’s largest solar array. This story from Wired.com says the president visited Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada to highlight the base’s king-sized solar array as part of the military’s green efforts, which has included biodiesel generators in Baghdad, thousands of electric vehicles and wind farms at …
DOE Rep to Speak at Upcoming Algae Assoc. Workshop
Our friends at the National Algae Association’s Mid-South Chapter has snagged some impressive speakers for their upcoming workshop, “Algae: The Race for New Oil,” on June 12, in Orlando, Florida. Among those speaking will be Ronald Pate of Sandia National Laboratories, who will talk about the U.S. Department of Energy’s take on the OBP’s Recovery Act Funding Opportunities: The recent …
Biodiesel Board Posts Fire Safety Tips
A spectacular fire over the weekend at the Minnesota Soybean Processors (MnSP) biodiesel plant in Brewster, Minnesota (no, that’s not a picture of the fire on the left… that’s from a NBB training video) has prompted the National Biodiesel Board to offer those in the industry and local fire officials of some tips on how to handle the rare fires …
Farm Foundation Seeks Solutions For Food, Fiber & Fuel
Our friends at Farm Foundation are always looking for answers to the challenges facing farmers around the world. And part of that search includes bringing in diverse points of view to make sure that real solutions are found. That’s why the Foundation has issued its 30-Year Challenge Competition. Farm Foundation officials are handing out $20,000 in cash prizes for the …
PetroAlgae Opens DC Office
President Obama has put the emphasis on renewable energy, and the buzz in the nation’s capitol… and the country… has been about turning algae into biodiesel. To that end, PetroAlgae is opening a Washington, DC office and has sent three of its best folks there to work closer with the Obama Administration, Congress, non-profit groups, and the business community: The …
Vancouver to Host Hydrogen/Fuel Cell Event
Some believe the future of renewable energy is with hydrogen. If that’s true, the future… and the world… will be coming to Vancouver next week for Hydrogen + Fuel Cells 2009… billed as Canada’s premier international hydrogen and fuel cell event. Organizers say the event, which runs from May 31 – June 3, will “showcase Canada’s leadership in commercialization of …
Florida Biodiesel Plant Set to Go On Line
The first biodiesel plant in Southwest Florida could soon go on line… although some of its first fuel will be sold a loss. The Fort Meyers News-Press reports that a site for FL BioFuels LLC’s three-million-gallon-a-year plant should be picked in the next couple of weeks, and one of its first customers will get a substantial discount on the fuel …
No Serious Injuries in Minnesota Biodiesel Plant Fire
People in the Southwest Minnesota town of Brewster are back in their homes after a spectacular weekend fire at a nearby biodiesel forced their evacuation. This story from KSFY-TV in nearby Sioux Falls, SD has more details about the Minnesota Soybean Processors Plant fire (and some pretty cool video if you click on the picture to the left): The fire …
Warm Spring Puts Oregon Biodiesel Plant Back On Line
The SeQuential Pacific Biodiesel plant… the largest biodiesel plant in Oregon… is opening back up for business a month after it had laid off some of its workforce. This story in the Salem (OR) Statesman Journal says warmer weather is helping move more biodiesel in the state: SeQuential Pacific Biodiesel in Salem was built to produce 5.8 million gallons of …