The American Soybean Association is asking Congress to raise soybean subsidies and provide an incentive payment to encourage development of biodiesel. From the ASA web site: Marketing loan rates should be set at a minimum of 95 percent, and target prices at a minimum of 130 percent, of this price average. For soybeans, these percentages would establish a $5.01/bushel loan …
Arkansas Legislature Moves Forward on $20 Mil Alt Fuels Bill
The Arkansas State Legislature’s House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development has unanimously approved a bill that would provide $20 million in tax dollars for the development of alternative fuels. The bill is sponsored by House Speaker Benny Petrus (D-Stuttgart). This from the Associated Press story in the Houston (TX) Chronicle: “This is the only platform I’ve had as …
NC Company Steps up Productions of Tiny Fuel Cells
Raleigh-based Microcell has announced in a press release on its web site that it has bought an 80-thousand square foot facility in Eastern North Carolina to ramp up production of its microcell… the world’s smallest fuel cell (not just a clever title). This fuel cell is expected to help power cars in the future. “Microcell is moving beyond research and …
Colorado’s Biodiesel Pickle
Southeast Colorado is getting its first biodiesel plant as a group of investors has bought an old pickle factory with the intention of re-opening the vacant plant as a 10-million gallon/year refinery. The project is expected to be up and running in June. From this story in the Pueblo (CO) Chieftain: Wayne Snider, director of economic development in La Junta, …
Biodiesel to Help Connect Unconnected in India
This story on the BBC’s web site says GSMA, a fund to help people in developing countries gain access to wireless phone service, will be using locally-produced biodiesel to fuel mobile base stations in India. The project is expected to help the vast majority of India’s 1.2 billion people living in areas with, at best, fragmented coverage get phone service. …
Making Hydrogen More Mainstream
A deal between two companies could make the mass production of hydrogen-fueled vehicles more feasible. In a press release on their web site, Dynetek officials say they will make seven million Canadian dollars (nearly US $ 6 mil) worth of compressed hydrogen storage systems for Magna Steyr connected to DaimlerChrysler’s fuel cell program. Dynetek officials say the deal will ultimately …
Michigan Gov Calls for $100 M for Alt Fuels
As predicted in the Detroit Free Press and reported here yesterday, Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm has called for $100 million dollars in public and private money to be put into alternative energy investments. From the speech posted on her website: This new industry, so critical to our economy, our national security, and our environment is already setting up shop …
Sea Breezes Could Fuel East Coast
A study by the University of Delaware and Stanford University says there is enough energy in the breezes that blow off the Mid-Atlantic Coast to power much of the Eastern Seaboard… and then some. In this UD article, the study is the first empirical analysis in the country of a large-scale region’s potential offshore wind-energy supply: Willett Kempton, Richard Garvine …
Missouri’s Half Billion Dollar Biofuels Industry
Missouri’s State Department of Economic Development says Missouri will see $542 million each year for the next several years from the biofuels industry in the state. From a press release on Governor Matt Blunt’s web site: “The production of renewable fuels is one of Missouri agriculture’s greatest success stories,” Blunt said. “In the same way that Missouri’s family farmers rose …
Michigan Gov to Call for Massive Alt Fuels Initiative
The Detroit Free Press is reporting today that in tonight’s State of the State address Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm will call for $100 million in state spending over the next three years on alternative energy in Michigan. Here’s some of the anticipated highlights: • Investing about $50 million over three years in public and private sector money to pay …