Talk about the best of both worlds – University of Washington students have designed and re-engineered a car to run on electricity AND biodiesel. This article from the Seattle Times says the team recently showed off the vehicle to a group of local elementary school students, who had lots of questions and seemed thoroughly impressed. How much could you sell …
Biodiesel Powers New Season of Cog Railway
A summer tradition in New England is getting a new, clean power source. This story from New Hampshire Public Radio says Mount Washington’s Cog Railway has a new biodiesel engine to power the unique railway up the highest peak in the Northeast. The popular tourist attraction is also rolling out a new biodiesel engine during the holiday weekend. The new …
Oil-Rich Texas is Nearly Renewable Energy Leader
Looks like Texas is taking an all-of-the-above approach when it comes to energy sources. The oil-rich state added nearly 800 clean energy jobs during the first three months of this year, and according to this story in renewablesbiz.com, that puts Texas second only to Idaho and California. But the article also warns those the 5,600 new clean energy and clean …
ACE Reminds Drivers that E15 is Fine for Most Cars
Summer driving season kicked off this past weekend, and the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) took the opportunity to remind drivers that most vehicles can be filling up with the higher 15 percent blend of ethanol, E15. ACE Senior Vice President Ron Lamberty says it could save them some money at the pump. “Once the federal government gave the approval …
Honor Troops with Renewable Energy
Today is a day when the nation pauses to remember those who have given their all to keep this country free. This opinion piece in the News & Observer from North Carolina features the words of Lt. Gen. Richard Zilmer, who retired from the U.S. Marine Corps after 36 years and says if we want to truly honor vets and …
Airline Industry Looks to Renewable Diesel
In an effort to become more green in the blue skies, the airline industry could turn to renewable diesel. This article in The Motley Fool says as the industry looks to lower its share of greenhouse gas emissions … about 2 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions currently comes from jet airliners … a more sustainable source of jet fuel …
Roads Could be Electrifying in Sweden
While the Swedish are known for some electrifying engines under the hoods of their reliable cars, the country’s most famous carmaker might be looking to electrify the roads, too… literally! This news release from the Volvo Group says the company, in cooperation with the Swedish Transport Administration, is studying the the potential for building electric roads that charge city buses …
Using Ethanol from Glycerol for Biodiesel
A new process that eliminates fossil fuels completely from the biodiesel equation could make the green fuel even more sustainable. Michigan State University reports Gemma Reguera, MSU microbiologist, has found a way that uses microbes to glean ethanol from glycerol and then use that green fuel to replace methanol to help brew the biodiesel. “With a saturated glycerol market, traditional …
Ethanol Stocks Down Despite Production Uptick
Stocks of ethanol in the U.S. are down, despite increased production of the green fuel. This story in Platts says ethanol stocks on May 16 were down 312,000 barrels to a four-week low of 16.99 million barrels. This unexpected drop comes as production actually rose by 3,000 b/d to 925,000 b/d, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration information. In immediate …
Researchers Look to Find Motivations Behind Solar
Researchers are trying to figure what motivates which consumers to buy solar equipment. This article from Sandia National Laboratories in California says they’re trying to better understand what persuades people to buy photovoltaic (PV) systems for their homes in hopes of increasing the amount of solar energy in the electricity market from its current share of less than .05 percent …