Numbers from the U.S. government show biodiesel imports, including all biomass-based diesel like renewable diesel, dropped sharply in July. This story in Biodiesel Magazine says the Energy Information Administration (EIA) showed imports of biomass-based diesel at about 14.2 million gallons in July, less than half of June’s 28.6 million gallons. Indonesian biodiesel made up the majority of July’s imports, coming …
BDI Upgrading Biodiesel Plants in US & UK
A pair of biodiesel plants, one in the U.S. and the other in the UK are being upgraded. Biodiesel Magazine reports Austria-based BDI-BioEnergy International AG will upgrade and get back to running an unnamed plant in Atlanta (suspected to be Renewable Energy Group’s currently idled 15 MMgy Atlanta-based biodiesel facility) and beef up the British plant’s (also unnamed) purification capabilities. …
RFA, Growth Energy Call Out Big Oil’s Lies
While a new poll from Big Oil tries to paint biofuels and the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) in a bad light, the Renewable Fuels Association and Growth Energy are trying to shine a little truth on the subject. The poll from the American Petroleum Institute (API), aka “Big Oil,” tries to make it look like Americans don’t support the RFS …
Florida Tow Truck Driver Looks to Hook Up Biodiesel
In a sign of the growing trend for more entrepreneurs to go more green and save some green, I ran across this article about a tow truck driver in Florida who wants to run his fleet on biodiesel. This story from the Ft. Lauderdale Sun Sentinel tells the tale of Westway Towing owner Craig Goldstein, who also has a side …
New GM Trucks to Offer CNG, Biodiesel Options
General Motors is offering some pretty clean options in a couple of its 2015 pickup trucks. This story from NGTNews says the latest Chevy Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD pickup trucks will have compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel system options, as well as being able to run on B20 biodiesel. “Because HD customers tailor their trucks to their specific …
Minnesota Ready for B10 Biodiesel Mandate
Minnesota’s Department of Agriculture says the state is ready for the 10 percent biodiesel mandate for each gallon of diesel sold. This posting from Biodiesel Magazine says the news was welcomed by the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association. “Biodiesel has been shown to be great for the environment and the economy,” said George Goblish, MSGA president. “It’s common sense to keep …
Biodiesel Industry Biggest Victim of RIN Fraud
While taxpayers and investors are often talked about as the victims of the recent Renewable Identification Numbers (RIN) fraud cases, this opinion piece from Biodiesel Magazine writer Ron Kotrba makes the case that the biodiesel industry and those who play by the rules are the biggest victim of this crime. It is those fine people, you, who make up a …
Hong Kong Biodiesel Maker Soon to Come Online
A Hong Kong biodiesel maker looks to go online soon, and when it does, it will be the city’s biggest biodiesel refinery, turning waste oil into the green fuel. This story from the South China Morning Post says ASB Biodiesel will start up next month and turn out 100,000 tonnes of biodiesel a year. The plant will refine 600,000 tonnes …
Vermont Energy Company to Offer Biodiesel
A Vermont company with a history of offering bioheat – a blend of biodiesel and heating oil – will soon offer biodiesel at the pump for motor vehicles. Bourne’s Energy announced it is opening a Montpelier branch. “When a new Bourne’s Energy location opens up, it’s because we were asked to be there and the same is true for Montpelier,” …
Biodiesel Production Responsive to Profitability
An analysis shows what might seem obvious, but fills in the gaps of why, that biodiesel production responds positively to profitability. In another quality piece from Scott Irwin with the University of Illinois, he breaks down how staying in the black helps the green fuel. A more detailed view of production responsiveness is shown in Figure 3. Basically, production in …