Over the next five years, Tuscon, Arizona will be buying more biodiesel buses for the city’s public transportation system. This story from the Arizona Daily Star says Sun Tran, Tuscon’s bus system, is increasing the number of biodiesel buses… even as the green fuel already goes into a majority of the buses: The transit system has a contract to expand …
New EPIC Board Member Man of Many Hats
One of the newest board members of the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council is a man of many hats. Ray Defenbaugh is the CEO of Big River Resources, a company that’s based in Southeast Iowa. The company already operates a one 100 million gallon ethanol plant and another is under construction. But, Ray doesn’t just know ethanol production. He’s also …
World Ethanol, Biodiesel Production Doubling by 2030
The amount of biofuels being produced in the world will double between 2010 and 2030… and that represents a significant increase from previous U.S. government estimates of how much ethanol and biodiesel will be produced in the future. This story from Reuters says a report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration says biofuels will be “an increasingly important source” of …
Students Build Hydrogen Car, Win Competition
A group of junior high students from Boise, Idaho has won first place in the National Fuel Cell Competition at the 2008 National Middle School Science Bowl in Golden, Colo. This story from KBCI-TV in Boise says it was a good chance for the students to learn… and the sponsoring U.S. Department of Energy to get some new ideas: “Each …
Biodiesel Rebuilding Iowa Town
On May 25th, 2008, an F5 tornado ripped through the town of Parkersburg, Iowa… killing six people and practically wiping out the small town in Northeast Iowa. Now, with some help from biodiesel, the town is rebuilding. This story from Biodiesel Magazine says the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association and the Ames, Iowa-based Renewable Energy Group Inc. have announced a $10,000 …
EPIC’s Year of Opportunity
The Ethanol Promotion and Information Council has places to go if you ask the organization’s newly elected board president. Greg Kissek with Prairie Horizon Agri Energy says EPIC has come a long way, but there’s still much to accomplish. Greg says he’s “looking forward to this year of opportunity” with EPIC. Chuck spoke with Greg at EPIC’s first annual meeting. …
Biodiesel Powers Power Company
Electric utility giant Consolidated Edison… Con Ed as it is affectionately known… announced today it will run more biodiesel in its vehicles. This company press release from the utility giant serving more than three million customers in the New York City area has more: Con Edison’s fleet of approximately 1,700 diesel trucks is using cleaner-burning B-20 biodiesel fuel, 20 percent …
USB: Soy-Biodiesel Unfairly Blamed
Soybean growers say their crop is being unfairly maligned in the Food-versus-Fuel debate. Members of the United Soybean Board gathered in Indianapolis, Indiana this week, and part of what they are discussing is how to counter arguments supporting that viewpoint. Gary Truitt’s Hoosier Ag Today has more details from the meeting: During the discussion, there was considerable debate on how …
Mandatory Biodiesel Survey Proposed
The government wants to know more about the biodiesel production operations in this country. This story from Biodiesel Magazine says the U.S. Energy Information Administration wants a mandatory biodiesel survey. The information would be gathered in compliance with the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which directed collection of information on biofuels: The survey would collect data on biodiesel and coproduct …
Former EPIC President Gives Fond Farewell
Just two years in and the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council has created a brand identity that’s sweeping across borders… both domestic and international. Tom Branhan, Glacial Lakes Energy, was the main man behind the “e,” serving as Board President for two years. Now, Tom has stepped down from his leading role, saying he’s confident about where the organization is …