The U.S. is importing more biodiesel and renewable diesel than ever before. This report from the Energy Information Agency (EIA) says in 2013, the U.S. imported 525 million gallons of the green fuels, compared to just 61 million gallons in 2012. The strongest driver of the resurgence in U.S. biomass-based diesel demand was the increasing Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) target. …
Ag Subcommittee Hears Pros and Cons of RFS
The food versus fuel debate arose once again in front of Congress. At last week’s U.S. House Ag Subcommittee hearing in Washington, D.C., opponents and proponents of the Renewable Fuels Standard presented their arguments on the RFS and its impact on the livestock industry. One of the biggest opponents of the RFS is the poultry industry. Their members argued that …
2012 Ag Census Includes Renewable Energy
The 2012 Census of Agriculture shows a doubling of on-farm renewable energy production since 2007. According to the census data released by USDA today, there were 57,299 farms that produced on-farm renewable energy in 2012, more than double the 23,451 in 2007. By far the biggest was solar panels, used on over 36,000 farms. Geoexchange systems and wind turbines each …
Farmers Co-op Breaks Ground on Renewable Fuels Station
Farmers Cooperative Company has broken ground on the future site of its new Mount Ayr, Iowa renewable fuels retail location. The station will offer consumers higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel including ethanol blends E10, E15 as a registered fuel, E30 and E85, as well as biodiesel blends B10, B20 and B99 for jobbers and special use customers. “The price …
A Lighter Version of Biodiesel-Powered Land Cruiser
You might not be able to take it four-wheeling, but a lighter version of a biodiesel-powered Land Cruiser could help you get through a long day at your desk. Autoevolution reports Toyota is offering a paper model of its legendary vehicle, just right for killing time deep thinking sessions as you come up with big ideas for your boss. Toyota …
Checkoff Targets Big Yields for Biodiesel Feedstock
A farmers’ checkoff is targeting research to get bigger yields for this country’s primary feedstock for biodiesel. This story from Biodiesel Magazine says the United Soybean Board wants to increase average soybean yields by about 50 percent in the decade. “Yield research has been the center of checkoff research since the organization was established,” said Gregg Fujan, who leads the …
Argentina’s Beef with EU over Biodiesel Before WTO
Argentina has formally presented its case in the dispute with the European Union over EU antidumping duties imposed on Argentine biodiesel. This story from Biodiesel Magazine says the Europeans claim the South Americans’ green fuel, as well as biodiesel coming from Indonesia is unfairly priced, a point disputed by the Argentinians. In its complaint, Buenos Aires contends that Brussels incorrectly …
World’s Fastest Diesel Car Biodiesel Compliant
The world’s fastest diesel-powered car also happens to be biodiesel ready. This article from the Gas2 blog says British carmaker Trident’s has the kind of power you’d expect from a Brit muscle car. Powering all three models is a 6.6 liter turbodiesel V8 that in standard form dolls out 424 horsepower and a home-topping 950 ft-lbs of torque, while being …
DF Cast: Fuels America Fights Back with “Oil Rigged”
Backers of renewable fuels say when it comes to the fight against Big Oil, the fight is rigged… oil rigged. Recently, Fuels America held a pair of news conferences. The first was to announce the launch of its “Oil Rigged” television and digital ad campaign and OilRigged.com, designed to “expose the many ways the oil industry is rigging the system …
Biodiesel Board Fights Back On Corn Waste Article
The National Biodiesel Board is jumping on an article that seems to be more in the ballpark of its cellulosic ethanol cousins. In a letter to the editor of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, NBB Chief Executive Officer Joe Jobe takes issue with what he calls are “some dubious conclusions” of the Associated Press’ “Fuels from corn waste not better than …