It’s not a brand new idea, but the concept of co-locating ethanol and biodiesel plants has been catching on more and more lately. This article from Biodiesel Magazine talks about how ethanol refiners are looking to take their by-product, distillers corn oil (DCO), and turn it into biodiesel to add value to those ethanol plants already on the ground, while …
Iowa Gov Says Biofuels Cure for Climate Change
As members of a federal task force visit Iowa and say that “climate change is here and now,” that state’s governor says biofuels, which are also here and now, are at least one way to fight the changes in climate. This article in the Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier says this is the third meeting of the White House task force …
Another Day, Another Oil Spill
An oil pipeline ruptured in Los Angeles on LA Street yesterday and in response Americans United For Change said, “Like oil spills? You’ll love what happens after dismantling the Renewable Fuel Standard. 50,000 gallons of crude oil spilled out onto the streets and in some areas the crude oil was knee-high. Jeremy Funk, spokesperson for pro renewable energy and pro …
Glycerolysis Considered for Biodiesel Pretreatment
Using low-grade, waste feed oils for biodiesel production might look appealing on the surface, but those feedstocks contain high levels of free fatty acids (FFA), which can cause soap formation. This article in Biodiesel Magazine gives a good, in-depth look at using glycerolysis as a cost-saving alternative to traditional methods of biodiesel production. [G]lycerolysis reduces the amount of FFA in …
New Technology Supports Renewable Diesel Plant
New technology is supporting the Nation’s largest renewable diesel refinery, which, in fact, is the largest advanced biofuel facility in the country. This news release from Honeywell subsidiary UOP LLC says its UOP/Eni Ecofining™ process technology powers the 130-million-gallon-per-year Diamond Green Diesel facility in Norco, La., converting inedible oils and other waste feedstocks to produce high-quality renewable diesel, also known …
Biodiesel Producers, Farmers Take to The Hill
Biodiesel producers and farmers who raise the feedstocks for the biodiesel industry took to Capitol Hill this week, joining a group of U.S. Senate Democrats in their calls to end policy uncertainty that is hurting their industry. “The uncertainty caused by these policy setbacks in Washington, with this proposed retreat on biodiesel volumes under the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) and …
Biofuels Industry Urges VP Biden to Stand RFS Strong
The Iowa biofuels industry is asking United State Vice President Joe Biden to stand “RFS Strong”. A recent Reuters article claimed that Vice President Biden played a major role in attempting to get the Obama administration to gut the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The article detailed an exchange between Vice President Biden and Philadelphia Congressman Robert Brady, who contacted Biden …
Biodiesel By-product Expected to be $2.1 Bil Industry
A new report says a by-product of biodiesel production will be a $2.1 billion industry by 2018. This Digital Journal article says the Transparency Market Research report, “Glycerol Market By Source (Biodiesel, Fatty Acids & Fatty Alcohols), By Applications (Personal Care, Alkyd Resins, Polyether Polyols, Others), Downstream Opportunities (Propylene Glycol, Epichlorohydrin, 1, 3 Propanediol And Others) – Global Industry Analysis, …
Senate Dems Against Obama on Biodiesel Proposal
Normally, they would be considered pretty staunch allies of President Obama. But a group of Democratic U.S. Senators have taken the Administration to task for its handling of the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposal to drastically reduce the amount of biodiesel required to be blended into the Nation’s fuel supply. “The EPA’s preliminary November rule will be disastrous,” said Illinois Senator …
Biodiesel Producers Cutting Back Due to Uncertainty
Nearly 80 percent of biodiesel producers nationwide have cut back or idled production this year, due to uncertainty in policy coming out of Washington, D.C. A new survey from the National Biodiesel Board shows that a weak Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) proposal from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Congress’ failure to extend the biodiesel tax incentive is also behind …