Marines in Southern California are going a bit greener, as initiatives at one base are converting much of the vehicles used to run on ethanol, biodiesel and other alternative fuels. This article from DVIDS says Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, California, is trying to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by four percent in the next two years, to 15 percent in …
New San Francisco Buses to Run on Biodiesel
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) has bought 61 new biodiesel-electric hybrid buses, part of a total buy of 121 alternative fuel transports by SFMTA. The introduction of the new low-floor biodiesel hybrid and electric trolley busses coincides with this year’s celebration of Earth Day. The new hybrids will run on B20: a blend of diesel and biodiesel, which …
Researchers Turn Food Waste into Biodiesel
Waste not, want not. That’s the attitude of University of Cincinnati researchers who are turning food waste into biodiesel. This news release from the school says Timothy C. Keener, PhD, and Drew C. McAvoy, PhD—along with fellow faculty members Pablo Campo-Moreno, PhD, San-Mou Jeng, PhD, and George Sorial, PhD—proposed an innovative Smart Cities Project titled “A Pilot Study to Produce …
France’s Total to Convert Refinery to Biodiesel
France’s Total is converting its petroleum processor in La Mède to make biodiesel. This news release says the $216 million conversion will make the facility France’s first biorefinery and will stop refinering petroleum by the end of 2016. “There are three possible responses to the crisis in the European refining industry. The first is to throw in the towel. The …
Biodiesel Use on the Rise in Iowa
Biodiesel continues to be a pretty popular fuel in Iowa. This news release from the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) says the state’s revenue department data shows pure biodiesel (B100) sales in 2014 increased by more than 15 percent over 2013 to an all-time-high of 33.3 million gallons and now accounts for 4.6 percent of Iowa’s total diesel supply, up …
Oakland Biodiesel Plant Gets $3.4 Million State Grant
A California biodiesel maker is getting a $3.4 million grant to build and operate a refinery in Oakland. Viridis Fuels, LLC, is the benefactor of the California Energy Commission grant that will help the company turn fats, oils and greases into 20 million gallons of biodiesel each year. The Viridis website says the company will use state-of-the-art technology that delivers …
Wilks Equipment Backs New Biodiesel Blend Method
Measuring the amount of biodiesel have been limited to Methods D7371 and EN 14078 which required FTIR spectrometers, putting expensive equipment in precarious positions either on a loading dock or in a truck. That’s why maker of analytical equipment, including biodiesel analyzers, Wilks is now backing the move to the ASTM D7861 biodiesel blend method and has the hardware that …
EPA Sets Timeline for RFS Volume Requirements
Under a court settlement with the oil industry, the Environmental Protection Agency today announced they will propose the 2015 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) renewable volume obligations by June 1, 2015, and issue the final 2014 and 2015 RFS blending targets by November 30, 2015. In addition, EPA will also release the proposed 2016 RFS RVOs by June 1 and the …
Aemetis to Sell Biodiesel to India Tourism Buses
California-based Aemetis, Inc. will start selling biodiesel to travel bus operators in India’s tourism industry. This company news release says a move by India government that allows biodiesel manufacturers such as Aemetis to sell to customers directly helped make the deal possible. According to a study carried out by Nielsen Research for the Department of Petroleum Planning and Analysis, Ministry …
Iowa Lawmakers Ride-and-Drive on Biodiesel
Lawmakers in Iowa got the chance to experience the power of biodiesel for themselves. The Iowa Biodiesel Board (IBB) held its its first ever Ride-and-Drive event at the capitol in Des Moines as part of the group’s annual “Biodiesel Day on the Hill” event, whose riders included Governor Terry Branstad and Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds. “As a nation, we should …