Some University of Kansas* engineering students are working on a car they hope will get 500 miles per gallon… and ethanol and biodiesel look to figure in as some of the fuels it would run on. This story from the KU* School of Engineering web site says the students are working on a 1974 Volkswagen Super Beetle to turn it …
Dems Ready to Introduce Biofuels Bills
For the first time in 16 years, Democrats control the U.S. House, Senate and the White House. And for some of the Democratic leaders in the Senate, they see this as the best opportunity to get some of their pet biofuels legislation passed and signed. This story from CBS News says Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), chairwoman of the Senate Environment …
Grants Boosting CT’s Biodiesel Industry
Seven Connecticut biodiesel distribution firms have received a total of $350,000 in grants. This press release from Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell says the money was handed out under the state’s Distribution Facilities Grant Program to companies that undertake projects to develop biodiesel distribution equipment and facilities: “Support for biodiesel production is not only an economic development issue but also …
WA Supreme Court Green Lights Wind Farm
Washington’s State Supreme Court has cleared the way for a wind farm that had been in limbo during a dispute between local residents and the governor. The Seattle Times reports that the unanimous decision confirmed that Gov. Chris Gregoire had authority to approve a Kittitas County wind farm over the objections of local officials: The project, from developers Horizon Wind …
Minnesota Offers Biodiesel Blending Grants
The State of Minnesota is offering $300,000 in grants to help its biodiesel industry. This story from the Alexandria (MN) Echo Press says the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is accepting proposals for grants for owners of facilities that supply petroleum products to customers who sell, use, or transport fuel in the state of Minnesota: The facilities should be located …
Sustainability Forum for Biodiesel
The National Biodiesel Board, the foremost advocate for the biodiesel industry in the U.S., has brought together some of the nation’s leaders to work on sustainable solutions for this country’s energy challenges. A symposium in St. Louis this week featured the NBB’s Sustainability Task Force, a group put together last February at the National Biodiesel Conference & Expo in Orlando, …
Wind to Power Texas Wal-Marts
In one of the largest investments of wind energy by a U.S. retailer, mega-seller Wal-Mart has announced it will buy 226 kilowatt-hours of wind power from Duke Energy for about 360 stores and distribution centers in Texas… around 15 percent of the electricity those places use. The Washington Post reports that the the four-year agreement will take out of the …
PA Biodiesel Refiner to Star on Discovery
As if I didn’t need another reason to stay glued to my couch watching the Discovery Channel (Dirty Jobs, Survivorman, Mythbusters… what more could a guy want?), now Pennsylvania’s first large-scale biodiesel producer will be featured on the popular cable channel. This story from eMediaWire.com says Lake Erie Biofuels, LLC will have its national primetime debut sometime next year: “Shades …
Nova: Testing Shows Our Readiness for RFS’ Biodiesel Portion
Officials with Houston, Texas-based Nova Biosource Fuels, Inc., say that testing of their variety of biodiesel shows they will be ready when the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) for biodiesel usage is increased to 500 million gallons in 2009. This company press release says Nova’s biodiesel has passed the Cold Soak Filtration Test for more than a year. Biodiesel under ASTM …
Iowa Gives Grant for Biodiesel Lab
A $740,000 grant has been given to Ames, Iowa-based Renewable Energy Group Inc. to fund staff for a new state-of-the-art biodiesel research and feedstock commercialization lab at the company’s headquarters. This story in Biodiesel Magazine says the announcement of the Iowa Power Fund money was made by Iowa Gov. Chet Culver and Iowa’s Office of Energy Independence Executive Director Roya …