Researchers at the University of Houston have discovered a polymer made from biomass that could end up being a key ingredient in a new organic material battery. This article from the school says the discovery promises a low-cost, environmentally friendly energy source. The discovery relies upon a “conjugated redox polymer” design with a naphthalene-bithiophene polymer, which has traditionally been used …
Tenaska Buys Iowa Biodiesel Plant
Nebraska-based renewable energy company Tenaska has bought an Iowa biodiesel refinery. This article from the Omaha World Herald says the company acquired the Clinton County Bio Energy refinery in Clinton, Iowa, from a local group of investors, although Tenaska officials are being tight-lipped about the deal. Terms weren’t disclosed. The centerpiece of the deal is the biodiesel plant on the …
Group Tells Iowa Campaigners to Stop Picking Oil
A group backing biofuels is telling 2016 candidates coming to Iowa to quit picking oil as the winner in energy policy. America’s Renewable Future (ARF) has taken out radio advertisements and full-page ad in the Des Moines Register, Dubuque Telegraph Herald, and Sioux City Journal warning candidates that oil in U.S. energy policy is a government-subsidized stranglehold supporting foreign oil. …
Farm Bureau Offers Ag-Based Energy Info Online
The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture is offering free, online educational materials on ag-based energy to middle- and high-school educators and volunteers. This news release from the group says the curriculum shows the unique connections between agricultural literacy and alternative energy and align with the Next Generation Science Standards. The middle-school unit introduces students to energy generation, energy input …
Farmers Union Concerned Over RFS Omission
The National Farmers Union (NFU) is concerned that Pres. Obama has left the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) out of his plan to cut greenhouse gases. This news release from the group says NFU President Roger Johnson isn’t pleased about the omission in the president’s formal submission of a plan to the United Nations that would cut the United States’ greenhouse …
Mobile Grease-to-Biodiesel Company Raises $1 Mil
A company that uses a mobile truck to go on location and turn waste grease into biodiesel has raised nearly $1 million in funding. This article from the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal says Revolution Fuels, a startup that mounts equipment for converting grease to biofuel on trucks, rounded up the money through the sale of equity and securities. Revolution plans …
Methes Biodiesel Maker to Refine Corn OIl
A Canadian company has bought a Methes Energies International Ltd. biodiesel processor and will make the gaining plant the first facility in the world to use Methes’ pre-treatment system to process corn oil from a local ethanol plant. This Methes news release says the Denami 600 biodiesel processor and a PP-MEC pre-treatment system will be installed in Havelock, Ontario, Canada, …
Growth Energy Applauds E15 Bill
Growth Energy is applauding new legislation seen as favorable for E15 ethanol. This news release from the group says the Fuel Choice and Deregulation Act sponsored by Senators Rand Paul (R-KY) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) contains a provision to extend the Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) volatility waiver to E15, a moved welcomed by Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy: “We …
Texas Researchers Develop New Yeast for Biodiesel
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have developed a new strain of yeast that will make biodiesel production more efficient. This news release from the school says the scientists used a combination of metabolic engineering and directed evolution to develop the yeast which will help make the biofuel more economically competitive with conventional fuels. Hal Alper, associate professor …
Country Star Launches College Tour on Biodiesel
Country music star Lee Brice is launching an environmentally friendly tour of college campuses, fueled by biodiesel. This article from The Boot says the tour is in partnership with REVERB, a non-profit organization that unites artists and colleges to bring about environmental and social change. As an avid outdoorsman, the singer-songwriter hopes to focus his attention on outdoor preservation and …