The world’s self-proclaimed leader in natural and organic grocery sales has earned special recognition form the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA has awarded Whole Foods Market its Green Power Partner of the Year award for the second consecutive year, recognizing the grocer’s leadership in accelerating the development of new renewable energy capacity nationwide. This is the fourth consecutive year Whole …
Coal: A Tried and True But Viable Energy Option?
Coal-based electricity is emerging as a qualified energy source for one concerned group as the nation heightens its energy awareness. The Americans for Balanced Energy Choices have taken it upon themselves to promote a not-so-new energy option, saying sometimes the old way is the better way. With energy security issues weighing heavily on the minds of Americans by foreign oil …
Soybean Growers Concerned About Biodiesel Support Funding
The American Soybean Association (ASA) is raising concerns about the level of government funding to alternative energy sources, particularly biodiesel, in the Senate’s version of the Farm Bill. This article from Grainnet.com says provisions in the energy portion of the bill are among the group’s concerns: In the Energy Title, ASA is very concerned with the level of funding provided …
Rockers, Biofuel Makers Appeal to Congress
The U.S. House Select Committee on Energy Independence will hear from biofuel producers, environmentalists, and even some music stars when it holds a hearing entitled “The Grass is Greener: The Future of Biofuels,” tomorrow morning (Wednesday, October 24th) at 9:30 EDT in Washington, D.C. Among those testifying before Rep. Edward J. Markey’s (D-Massachusetts) committee, musician Adam Gardner (left) of the …
Missouri to Open Seventh Biodiesel Plant; More on the Way
A group of farmers and businessmen in Northern Missouri has announced they will open a five-million-gallon-a-year biodiesel lant near the town of Moberly. When opened, that will give the Show-Me State seven biodiesel plants with at least five more in the works. This story in the Columbia Daily Tribune says the Producers’ Choice Soy Energy’s soybean-based refinery is just in …
GE, Third Planet Windpower Ink $350 Million Deal
GE Energy will provide Third Planet Windpower with 167 1.5 megawatt wind generators for wind farm projects in Texas, New Mexico, Nebraska and Wyoming that will be ready for turbines in 2009. This press release from Third Planet Windpower says when they are up and running, they’ll produce power for 60,000 to 75,000 typical U.S. households: Wind turbine suppliers today …
Palm Beach County Buses Going Green
Palm Beach County in Florida is the latest municipality to switch its bus fleet to cleaner-burning biodiesel. Palm Tran, with its 9-10 million riders a year, will switch its 115 buses to biodiesel in a few months. This story in the Palm Beach Daily News says it will be green in two ways: for the environment and for the county’s …
Oregon Setting Standards for Ethanol Production
Do you know what is one of the best things about blog-style news sites? It gives the editors the freedom to not only spark feedback from readers, but to share that feedback with the rest of the site’s subscribers. One subscriber, Tim, pointed out the how ethanol is moving forward in Oregon. I thought that both what he found and …
100 MPG BioBike Racing Across Australia
The BioBike – a 100-mile-per-gallon, biodiesel-powered motorcycle – is racing 3,000 km (1,800 miles) across Australia. The BioBike, designed by a group of seven Mechanical Engineering students from the University of Adelaide in South Australia, is in the race from Darwin to Adelaide in the Greenfleet Technology Class for environmentally-friendly engines. This story on the gizmag.com web site says the …
Ethanol Becomes Bigger Priority for Novozymes Inc.
An article from The Sacramento Business Journal has spotlighted a company that’s shifting some gears and making more room for research in ethanol production. Celia Lamb reports that Novozymes Inc., part of Davis biotechnology company – a company that focuses on industrial enzyme research – is investing in additional space and personnel to boost it’s resources for ethanol exploration. Here’s …