Researchers at Mississippi State University are looking at ways to turn the millions of pounds of shrimp parts not used for food into biodiesel. This story from Biodiesel Magazine says the project is being funded by the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium (MASGC), part of a federal/state partnership that matches National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration experts and resources with state academic …
Diesel Vehicles Gain Popularity, Good for Biodiesel
Diesel-powered vehicles are gaining in popularity, despite the higher price of diesel fuel compared to regular unleaded gasoline. And that rise in interest in those vehicles is good news for the biodiesel industry. Business Week reports sales are brisk with many makes getting into the business: Howard Cooper Volkswagen in Ann Arbor, Mich., for example, says that a buyer putting …
New Biodiesel Crop Becoming Cash Crop for Farmers
A new feedstock for the growing biodiesel industry could be a cash cow for the western states where it will be growing. Camelina is an oilseed that is growing in popularity in the more arid regions of the western United States. In fact, the profit potential is believed to be so great that the State of Colorado’s Agricultural Value-Added Development …
Ethanol Waiver Delay Gains Biodiesel Chief Praise
While the EPA delay of issuing a decision on Texas’ request for a waiver from the Renewable Fuel Standard (see Cindy’s story from earlier today) is seen as good news for the ethanol industry, it is also being praised by its biodiesel brethren. National Biodiesel Board Chief Executive Officer Joe Jobe issued this statement on the decision: “In considering the …
Federal Grant Helps Buy Cincy’s Biodiesel Buses
Cincinnati has received a federal grant to help the city’s mass transit system buy some biodiesel buses. This story from the Business Courier of Cincinnati quotes Ohio U.S. Sen. George Voinovich in announcing a $776,000 Clean Fuels Grant from the Federal Transit Administration through the U.S. Department of Transportation to the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA): Funds provided by …
Beef Tallow to Fuel Nebraska Biodiesel Plant
A beef producer that cranks out 22 million pounds of tallow a week will be turning that waste into another alternative to non-renewable petroleum. This story from the Sioux City (IA) Journal says Beef Products, Inc., better known as BPI, the world’s largest producer of lean boneless beef, has partnered with Natural Innovative Renewable Energy to build a 60-million-gallon-a-year biodiesel …
Who is OPEC Kidding?
Ethanol makers all over the world are asking the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), “Who do you think you’re kidding?” In a full page ad in the Financial Times, the biofuel industries of Brazil, Canada, Europe and the United States are challenging the oil cartel’s “outrageous, misleading, and unsubstantiated claims about the role of ethanol in world oil markets.” …
Dakota Wind Gathering Public Investment
Dakota Wind Energy has announced South Dakota’s first intrastate public offering, where shares in the community-based wind project are offered to residents of that state. This press release says Dakota Wind Energy wants to develop more than 750 megawatts of community-owned wind farms throughout South Dakota: “We want landowners participating in Dakota Wind Energy to have the opportunity to own …
Study: Hydrogen Could Replace All Oil in 50 Years
A new study shows that hydrogen-powered vehicles have the potential to eliminate the use of all petroleum from American transportation in the next 50 years. This story from TradingMarkets.com says the National Research Council study also recommends biofuels should be used in the meantime: In a press call with reporters, the Department of Energy’s Mike Ramage analyzed the findings of …
EPIC Steps Up to Take Charge of Ethanol
The Ethanol Promotion and Information Council is the organization that takes charge of educating consumers about ethanol. Just last month, the young non-profit held it’s first ever annual meeting, where new ideas were presented, new members were elected and new goals were set. EPIC executive Director Toni Nuernberg says EPIC has already achieved much success in its first two years, …