Just less than a year ago, the prospects for a biodiesel plant in Minot, North Dakota seemed pretty promising as the state’s governor, a U.S. Senator, and North Dakota’s ag commissioner attended the groundbreaking at the Dakota Skies Biodiesel plant. But a decision by the Minot Area Development Corporation, which donated the land for the plant in the first place, …
Soybean Acres Drop Despite Biodiesel Rise
In what might be considered a bit counter-intuitive, U.S. soybean acres planted have dropped to the lowest level in 12 years… despite increased interests in biodiesel… a product that often uses soy oil as its feedstock. This story posted on Forbes.com says the culprit is more farmers switching to corn to make the even more popular ethanol: The USDA reported …
E85 Amendment Passes Committee
A congressional committee has added an amendment to the Energy Bill that would require U.S. Government gas pumps to offer E85 ethanol. This release from the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition says Michigan Democrat Representative Bart Stupak’s measure would direct federal agencies to install pumps for renewable fuels like E85 at their fleet fueling centers: “I was pleased the Committee accepted …
Speaker Declares “Energy Independence Day”
Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives have rolled out an energy plan during what they tout as America’s “Energy Independence Day.” The Houston Chronicle reports Speaker Nancy Pelosi outlined a broad array of “green energy” proposals her party hopes to get through Congress before leaving for the August recess: “When it comes to energy, we must think big,” Pelosi …
Plan for First Ethanol Plant on Great Lakes a Go
The Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority in Ohio has given the green light to the proposed construction of an ethanol plant… the first with direct access to the Great Lakes. This story from the Toledo (OH) Free Press reports the plant is to be built on a site on the Maumee River: “We are very pleased that the Port Authority feels …
Nation’s First Closed-loop Ethanol Facility Plant Opens
The nation’s first closed-loop ethanol facility has opened near Mead, Nebraska. Closed-loop means it has a cattle feedlot attached with an ethanol plant. The E3 BioFuels Genesis Plant uses the manure from feedlot’s 28,000 cattle manure and some cellulosic biomass to make a biogas in an anaerobic digester. That biogas powers the ethanol plant, and the ethanol by-product, distillers grain, …
Making Biofuels More Accessible in Tennessee
Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen wants drivers to be able to find ethanol and biodiesel to fill their tanks. This story on the WKRN-TV web site says stickers at the gas pumps pushing the state’s new BioTenn plan, promoting E85 ethanol and biodiesel, should be popping up in about a month or so: “What I’m trying to do is get Tennessee …
Tuscaloosa Latest to Make Biodiesel Switch
Tuscaloosa, Alabama is the latest city to switch its diesel powered fleet to biodiesel. This story on the WVUA-TV web site says the city is switching nearly 300 vehicles to run on a 20% biodiesel blend: The fuel comes from a plant in West Alabama called Alabama Biodiesel, located in Moundville. According to the company’s website, they began producing biodiesel …
Familiar Face to Lead Renewable Energy Market
For a long time, Texas was known to be a leader in the non-renewable energy fields… in particular, the petroleum market. But it looks like the Lone Star State is now poised to dominate the green fuel picture as well. This story in the Houston Chronicle says Texas will lead the nation in renewable energy production by 2025, and could …
Ethanol Stocks Enjoying a Rise
Buoyed by developments in the U.S. House of Representatives working on an energy bill that calls for more alternative fuel use, stocks in ethanol producers are rising. This AP story, appearing on the financial web site Forbes.com, says the U.S. Senate has already approved an alternative-fuel rich version last week: Friedman Billings Ramsey analyst Kevin Book expects the full bill …