California to Blend More Ethanol

John Davis

In an effort to cut down on global warming, California regulators have stepped up the amount of ethanol to be blended in the state’s fuel supply. Currently, the state puts ethanol in gasoline at a six percent rate. That goes up to 10 percent in 2010. This article from the San Francisco Chronicle points out the problem with that: not …

Ethanol, News

Canadian Company Joins Biodiesel Quality Assurance Program

John Davis

Canadian Bioenergy becomes the first company in Canada to become BQ-9000 qualified… a voluntary fuel quality assurance program, adopted by the National Biodiesel Board and the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association. This release from the National Biodiesel Board praises the Western Canada biodiesel distributor’s achievement: “Quality is everything — it’s always been our top priority and the BQ-9000 process was a …

Biodiesel

Rex Invests in Ethanol

John Davis

Electronics retailer Rex Stores Corp. has invested the final $10 million in an Iowa ethanol maker. The investment completes the retailer’s $20 million investment stake in Big River Resources, LLC. This article on BizJournals.com says last October, Rex invested the first $5 million in the company: Big River Resources is a holding company for several entities including Big River Resources …

Ethanol, News

Ethanol-diesel Car

John Davis

Australia-based Terra Fuel Technologies has come up with what I think is truly a revolutionary device. It’s a box that you add to a diesel engine that allows it to run on ethanol as well. This story on C|NetNews.com says the box allows ethanol to be fuel-injected into the motor: Who in their right mind would want this? Adding ethanol …

Ethanol, News

Udall Bus Tour Wrapping Up

John Davis

The Udall Legacy Biodiesel Bus Tour is wrapping up its 54-day, 8,606-mile, 26-cities, six-national-parks, six-Native-American-communities, cross-country tour. As you might remember from my posts in June, the biodiesel-fueled journey promotes environmental and Native American issues. This story in the Tuscon (Arizona) Citizen says the trip wraps up Saturday in Southern Arizona, the home of the congressman for which the tour …

Biodiesel

Black Cabs Turn Green

John Davis

Some of London’s famous black cabs will be going green. About 3,000 of the Radio Taxis Limited cabs will be running on a 30 percent blend of biodiesel. This story on Biofuel Review says the biodiesel will reduce CO2 by 7 percent, significantly reduce oxides of nitrogen and carbon monoxide, and drop particulates by 4.7 percent. It does all this …

Biodiesel

Wind Farms Bigger in Texas

John Davis

A wind farm four times bigger than what’s currently in operation is slated for construction in Texas. According to this article on TechnologyNewsDaily.com, Shell WindEnergy and Luminant have announced they will build a 3,000 megawatt facility in the Texas Panhandle: The proposed wind facility would be located in Briscoe County to take advantage of excellent wind resources and a relatively …

Wind

Green Korn

John Davis

The heavy metal band Korn will be running its tour on biodiesel this summer. Members Jonathan Davis, bassist Reginald “Fieldy” Arvizu, and guitarist James “Munky” Shaffer made the announcement that the band’s eight buses and eight cargo trucks will run on biodiesel during a press conference today covered by MTV in New York’s Times Square: Surrounded by a crush of …

Biodiesel

Government Incentives Key to Ethanol Expansion

John Davis

Right now, 98 percent of the ethanol produced in the U.S. is made from corn. But in order to meet the 2005 federal mandate of 7.5 billion gallons of ethanol a year by 2012… and then President Bush’s lofty goal of a 20 percent reduction in gasoline usage by 2017… and possibly now the U.S. Senate’s latest proposal of 36 …

Ethanol, News

Peanuts for Biodiesel

John Davis

No, it’s not cheap biodiesel… although it certainly could end up being biodiesel for just peanuts. What I’m talking about is scientists at the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service looking at using peanuts as the feedstock for biodiesel… maybe even cheaper than soybeans. This article from the ARS web site says it could push the goober into the forefront of biodiesel …

Biodiesel