U.S. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota) will hold a wind energy roundtable this coming Monday, May 14th at 1:00 PM (CDT) at the Sheraton Hotel in Sioux Falls. From his press release: “South Dakota could and should be a national leader in producing electricity harnessed through our abundant wind supply, but until now, our state has lacked the necessary infrastructure …
UDOT Growing Own Biodiesel
Drivers along a stretch of Interstate 15 in Utah might be used to seeing biodiesel-powered vehicles, but the same stretch of road is becoming home to the raw materials used to make biodiesel. According to a story in the Salt Lake Tribune, the Utah Department of Transportation has partnered with Utah State University to plant safflower, camelina, canola and perennial …
Big Biodiesel Producer Adds Red Dye to Mix
Houston-based Gulf Hydrocarbon, Inc, the top provider of biodiesel for the petroleum industry, is adding red dye to some of its biodiesel at its terminal in Houston. So why the red dye? The dye red biodiesel is used off-road by construction companies, ranchers, farmers, and standby generators, marine and drilling industries because of its non-taxable incentive provided by the US …
Wind Powering Illinois Renewable Energy Standard
Lawmakers in the Illinois State House have passed what’s considered a pretty ambitious renewable energy standard calling for the state to buy up to 25% of its renewable energy sources by 2025. According to a press release posted on the Environmental Law and Policy Center web site, wind power is seen as the main source for clean power: “Developing wind …
NBB Wants Biodiesel Incentives in Farm Bill
The National Biodiesel Board today called on Congress to put pro-biodiesel provisions in the new Farm Bill, including a Biodiesel Incentive Program and Biodiesel Fuel Education Program. According to an NBB release, making the case for the board and the American Soybean Association in front of the Senate Agriculture Committee was Neil Rich, president and CEO of Riksch BioFuels of …
New Niche Selling Biodiesel Cars
As the demand for greener fuels grows, so has the demand for vehicles that burn the green fuels. And according to this story posted on C|Net.com, a niche for salesman offering biodiesel-powered cars has grown as well: “In 2003, I came out of the closet and became a full-blown car dealer,” said Steve Ahl, a former recycled-lumber salesman who is …
Thune Calls for Extension of Wind Power Incentive
Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota) is asking Congress to extend the Renewable Energy Production Tax Credit, which will expire next year, through 2012. The incentive is a two-cent-per-kWh tax credit for renewable electricity production. This story on the Black Hills Today web site, says the credit makes wind energy more competitive: “As our nation’s energy demands continue to grow at …
NBB Before Congress
Members of the National Biodiesel Board have testified before Congress about how biodiesel has benefitted America. According to an NBB press release, the board’s Chief Executive Officer Joe Jobe testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Small Business in a hearing entitled “The Impact of Renewable Energy Production in Rural America.” “If you take one thing away from …
Kansas Town Goes for Biodiesel Infrastructure Grant
Officials in Emporia, Kansas are applying for a $750,000 state grant to help them put in the infrastructure the town will need for a new biodiesel plant set to open in just more than a year. As I told you in an April 15th post, Iowa-based Renewable Energy Group has plans of opening a 60-million-gallon-a-year plant. The Emporia (KS) Gazette …
New England to Get Major Biodiesel Plant
It seems like the big cities on the East Coast have just about everything… except for a big source for biodiesel. Well, that could change soon as New York-based Berkshire Biodiesel builds New England’s biggest biodiesel plant. This story in the Hartford Courant says the 50-million-gallon-a-year plant is expected to open next year near Pittsfield, Mass. and will make biodiesel …