Canadians seem to be willing to use ethanol and biodiesel… if they can get the green fuels. This story in the Vancouver Sun says there are only TWO E85 ethanol pumps in the country, and biodiesel seems to be available mostly just for farmers and large fleets. But some groups are trying to change that: The Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers Association …
Virgin Flies Green
UK-based Virgin Atlantic airlines has flown the world’s first flight of a commercial airlines running on biofuel today. This story from Fox News says the flight from England to The Netherlands ran on a fuel made from coconut and babassu oils: “This breakthrough will help Virgin Atlantic to fly its planes using clean fuel sooner than expected,” Sir Richard Branson, …
Ethanol Fires Up LPP Gas Turbines
LPP Combustion has successfully created a way to operate gas turbines using ethanol. The company says their operation offers another alternative for clean, renewable energy. LPP Combustion, LLC, using its patented LPP Combustion System, has recently demonstrated natural gas-level emissions from bio-derived ethanol (ASTM D-4806) during gas turbine combustor testing. Emissions of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and particulate …
The Persian Gulf of Solar Energy
Arizona is being touted as becoming the “Persian Gulf of solar energy,” as a Spanish company unveils plans to build a three-square-mile sized solar power plant in the desert. This story on CNN says when it is done, it will be one of the largest solar plants in the world: Abengoa Solar, which has plants in Spain, northern Africa and …
“Golden” Energy for the ‘Golden State’
BT is getting a new solar power system for its Americas’ Headquarters in California. The new system will utilize a sun tracking system that’s meant to maximize the production of renewable energy. BT has announced it has entered into an agreement to begin construction next month (March) of an approximately 500 kW-AC solar photovoltaic system for its North American corporate …
Conventional Wind
Can you imagine the day when wind power is nothing special, just your average source for heating and lighting your homes? General Compression and Mechanology can. Both companies are teaming up with Ricardo, the Eco-Innovation Technology Company, to engineer and develop the technology and expertise to make wind power as reliable as conventional power. Of the potentially large-scale renewable energy …
NFU Gets Behind Renewable Energy Bill
The National Farmers Union is pledging its support to an energy bill seen as friendly to biofuels, while praising Democrat leaders who back the bill. This story on CattleNetwork.com says National Farmers Union President Tom Buis lauded Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charlie Rangel for backing the bill designed to spark wind and …
Governors to Discuss Energy Future
A clean energy future will be the main topic of discussion when nearly 50 governors from across the nation and several U.S. territories meet this weekend in Washington, D.C for the 2008 National Governors Association (NGA) Winter Meeting. According to a press release on the group’s web site, biofuels will be a big part of the discussion titled “Securing a …
Alternatives Could Be Winners from $100 Oil
With oil prices more than $100 a barrel, the big winners (besides the oil companies) from the price spike could be alternative energies… as people look for something other than pricey petroleum to meet their energy needs. This story on CNBC.com features hedge fund and private equity consultant John D’Agostino’s thoughts on the issue: The next wave of oil wealth …
Ethanol Pipeline to East Coast in the Works
What you see above could be the biggest boost to ethanol in this country: a pipeline that will move ethanol to the East Coast of the U.S. at a transportation cost on par to what petroleum now enjoys. Magellan Midstream Partners and Buckeye Partners, both in the fuel transport business, put out this press release saying they are looking into …