The Stanton Wind Energy facility in Martin County, TX is winding down construction and estimates its facility will be fully operationally by early 2008. Invenergy Wind LLC has announced the successful closing of construction and equity financing for its 120 MW Stanton Wind Energy Center (“Stanton”) in Martin County, Texas. The debt facility was underwritten by lead arranger Dexia Credit …
Biofuels Research at Arizona State
The Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University is launching a Renewable Biofuel Research Initiative. Science Foundation Arizona and energy company BP are funding the initiative meant to propel the development of a renewable source of biofuel. The research effort focuses on using a specially optimized photosynthetic bacterium to produce biodiesel, a sustainable high-energy fuel that can be used in conventional …
EPA Issues Biodiesel Guidance
The Environmental Protection Agency has issued its guidance to biodiesel producers. Biodiesel Magazine reports that the document, named “Guidance for Biodiesel Producers and Biodiesel Blenders/Users,” addresses biodiesel quality, harmonization of standards, and enforcement activities. “EPA also plans to increase enforcement efforts to ensure that biodiesel producers are complying with EPA’s standards, in particular ensuring that all biodiesel meets ASTM D6751,” …
Iowa Soybean Growers Call for Biodiesel Incentives-First Approach
The Iowa Soybean Association is calling on Iowa lawmakers to take an incentives-first approach to biodiesel policy in the upcoming legislative session. This story on Grainnet.com says they’re suggesting legislators consider some market-driven strategies: Highlights of this plan include: • an increase in the current retail tax credit program, • creation of a “bulk sales” incentive, • new infrastructure support …
Making Biodiesel from Sludge and Wood Chips
A Tennessee company will try to make biodiesel out of sludge from the Chattanooga public works and wood chips. This story posted on Chattanooga.com says the city council has given GSL Energy Solutions the green light on a six-month, test contract: Gerry Harstine, president, said the bio-diesel produced by the process has a higher BTU than ethanol. He said it …
Google Tops in Solar; Working on Other Renewables
Internet search giant Google is the largest corporate installer of solar power, and company officials say they want to use more renewables in the future. According to this article on C|Net.com, Robyn Beavers, the director of environmental programs at Google, says they intend to use renewable energy sources for 50 megawatts of electricity for its operations by 2012: Beavers spoke …
Duke Energy Seeks Multiple Energy Platforms for Indiana
The famed ‘Crossroads of America’ could become the ‘Crossroads for American Energy’ if Duke Energy Corp. gets what it wants for Indiana. Duke Energy Chairman, President and CEO Jim Rogers outlined a plan to equip Indiana with a combination of solar, wind, water and organic energy solutions to the Economic Club of Indiana earlier today in Indianapolis. To ensure a …
OG&E Aims to Expand Wind Power
OGE Energy Corp. is the latest company to outline a program to harness more wind power. OG&E President and CEO Pete Delaney says the company plans to quadruple its wind power production. He announced the company also plans to be a big player in ushering in development for more wind power projects in western Oklahoma. In a speech before the …
Having Your Fuel and Eating It, Too
There’s been a lot of debate over the use of some foods as feedstocks for biofuels. But a company in Canada might have the solution that allows those feedstocks to be made into biodiesel, while retaining the proteins that are needed for animal feeds. This article in Canada’s Globe and Mail says BioExx employs a “cold process” that not only …
Executive Director Leaves EPIC on Solid Ground
It seems ethanol is on the lips of just about every politician both nationwide and at the state level. The fuel has broken into two major motorsports arenas. Environmentalists are touting ethanol as a major player in the development of renewable fuels. Much of the credit for the industrial, political and consumer awareness of ethanol belongs to the Ethanol Promotion …