A group advocating for the development and use of renewable energy, including biomass, biodiesel, ethanol, carbon and wind, wants a renewable fuels standard in North Dakota. This story from Biodiesel Magazine says the North Dakota Alliance for Renewable Energy (NDARE) has issued a proposal for how the state can be more renewable energy friendly: Regarding biofuels, NDARE recommended that the …
Hydrogen Could Power Big Rigs
While biodiesel might be grabbing the headlines as the ideal alternative fuel, especially for diesel-powered semi-trucks, hydrogen could also become a viable green source. This story from FleetOwner.com says a Los Angeles company specializing in providing hydrogen power systems for all automobiles says the big rigs could be running on hydrogen: According to Hydrogen Hybrid Corp., modifying a Class 8 …
EPA Approves GreenHunter Biodiesel
Texas-based GreenHunter Biofuels continues its road to recovery after Hurricane Ike nearly wiped its biodiesel operation last September. Back in November, I told you how the refinery went back on line. Now, according to this company press release, GreenHunter Biodiesel has been approved for the on-road market in the U.S. by the Environmental Protection Agency: Previously, as a part of …
Kiwis Make First Jatropha Biodiesel Flight
Over the last month, I’ve been telling you how some airlines have been racing to become the first to use biodiesel in a commercial flight… whether it was camelina-based biodiesel from Montana or algae-based biodiesel. Both of those flights are scheduled for January, but it looks like a jatropha-based biodiesel flight will beat them to the punch. This story from …
Toro Turns to Biodiesel
A company famous for its lawn tractors, mowers and snow blowers is offering more of its products to run on biodiesel. This article from the Minneapolis Star Tribune says Twin Cities-based Toro Co. is getting more requests for biodiesel-powered equipment… and it is responding: Toro Co. has experienced an increase in demand for biodiesel products in the past five years …
Iowa Agency Offers Energy Independence Plan
An Iowa agency designed to find the best ideas for energy efficiency and production in the state has released its 2008 Plan for Energy Independence. This story from the Environment News Service says the Office of Energy Independence has also issued about $6 million for half a dozen renewable energy projects across the state: Under the plan, Iowa’s Office of …
E. coli Helps Make Ethanol
Researchers in California are looking at turning a bacteria that is deadly for humans into biofuels… which are decidedly healthier for people and the planet. This story from Los Angeles’ CBS 2 says work at UCLA is looking at using E. coli to make ethanol: Scientists at UCLA have for the first time produced E. coli that can generate alcohol …
US Now Tops in Wind Energy
A record-setting year for American wind power keeps getting better as the United States has become the world’s top wind energy producer. This story from Environment News Service cites an American Wind Energy Association year-end report that says steady growth has helped the Americans surpass their German counterparts: AWEA says that this summer, the U.S. wind industry reached the 20,000-megawatt …
Algae-Biodiesel Maker Raises Funds for Commercial Plant
A Florida-based algae-biodiesel maker has raised funds for what it hopes will become its first commercial plant. This story from TheAutoChannel.com says PetroAlgae Inc. has raised $10 million in capital for the project: “The proceeds from this offering are expected to help finance the launch of PetroAlgae’s most significant milestone to-date, the commercialization of its first biodiesel product derived from …
Iowa Gets First Biodiesel Blender Pump
The folks who visit Ron’s Five Point Mart in Dubuque, Iowa will have a choice in the variety of biodiesel they put into their tanks… not just a choice of using biodiesel. The gas station has installed Iowa’s first biodiesel blender pump, which this article from the Dubuque (IA) Telegraph Herald says gives drivers a choice in what percentage of …