Students at Iowa State University will get to class a little smarter… and not just because of good study habits. The school and the university’s hometown of Ames, Iowa have inked a deal with Iowa-based Renewable Energy Group (REG) that will see CyRide, the transit agency serving the City of Ames and Iowa State University, to supply biodiesel blended fuel …
Carolina Biodiesel Producer to Expand Operations
Western North Carolina-based Blue Ridge Biofuels will expand its operations to turn oilseeds and used cooking oil into biodiesel. The company says this year’s expansion will take their capability from about 360,000 gallons of the green fuel a year to a million gallons this year and up to 3 million gallons in the coming years. Early in 2015, we’re setting …
Biodiesel Giant REG Adds Harding to Board
Biodiesel giant Renewable Energy Group has added an international business veteran to its board of directors. This company news release says Peter J. M. Harding was elected to the post. Harding has served in leadership roles for international businesses involved in commodities trading and asset management. Most recently, he was the Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board …
Researchers Turn Biodiesel By-Product into Lactic Acid
Researchers have found a way to turn a biodiesel by-product into a chemical important to the production of plastic. This article from Chemistry World says work in Switzerland has found a sustainable method to synthesise platform chemical lactic acid from waste glycerol. The increasing demand for biodiesel means an oversupply of glycerol and, currently, any excess glycerol must be disposed …
Proposed Pennsylvania Biodiesel Plant Closer to Reality
A proposed biodiesel plant for York, Pennsylvania, is closer to reality, as the city Redevelopment Authority (RDA) green-lighted a development agreement with two entrepreneurs who want to turn a long-vacant, RDA-owned industrial building into a biodiesel plant. This article from the York Daily Record says Britta Schwab and James Munene can buy the RDA-owned building for $1,000, if they also …
Iowa Lawmakers Honored for Support of Renewables
Three retiring state lawmakers in Iowa have been honored for “their unwavering support and leadership on renewable fuels.” The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) says the outgoing lawmakers were given the “Lifetime Champion of Renewable Fuels” award for their long, distinguished careers and steadfast support of renewable fuels. “It’s bittersweet to see these distinguished individuals leave the state legislature after …
Deck Stacked Against Ag and Biofuels in Report
The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) appears to be a bit partisan in a new report released this week on “Options for Reforming the Renewable Fuel Standard.” The report was produced after several meetings during the year with an advisory group that consisted of 23 members, seven of which were oil companies representatives. Only five members of the group represented agriculture …
Senate Passes Tax Extenders
Following the recent action by the U.S. House of Representatives, the Senate on Tuesday evening passed the package of tax incentives for 2014 that will expire once again in just two weeks. For the renewable energy industry, the legislation includes the second-generation biofuel production tax credit and the accelerated depreciation allowance for cellulosic biomass properties, as well as tax credits …
Wyoming Biodiesel, CNG, Electric Drivers Could Face Tax
Possibly trying to prove that no good deed goes unpunished, drivers of biodiesel-, compressed natural gas-, and electric-powered vehicles in Wyoming could face a new road tax. This article from the Jackson Hole News & Guide says a tax on alternative fuels is pending in the state’s legislature. Most Wyoming drivers pay 24 cents tax at the pump for gasoline; …
Performance Standards for Biodiesel Heating Oil Set
New performance standards are set for biodiesel heating oil, better known as Bioheat. This news release from the National Biodiesel Board says ASTM International, an organization which sets industry consensus standards for fuels and lubricants, has voted to approve performance specifications for blends of 6 to 20 percent biodiesel with traditional heating oil. The updated ASTM D396 Standard Specification for …