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 …
New Biodiesel Plant Boon for Canadian Soybeans
Soybean farmers north of the border are getting a great boon in the construction of what will be Canada’s largest biodiesel plant producing about 40 million gallons of biodiesel each year. Grain Farmers of Ontario welcomed Great Lakes Biodiesel’s start in Welland, Ontario that uses soybeans as a feedstock. “This locally produced, renewable, and sustainable fuel is a win for …
Oil Cos. Ordered to Up Biodiesel Blend in Indonesia
Two major foreign oil companies operating in Indonesia are being told to comply with that country’s law and increase the amount of biodiesel in the mix at their filling stations. Biofuels International reports PT Shell Indonesia and PT Total Oil Indonesia must increase to at least a 10 percent biodiesel mix in all diesel sold by this coming January or …
EPA Report Recommends Better Monitoring of RFS
A new internal report recommends the Environmental Protection Agency improve its monitoring of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program. This article in Biodiesel Magazine reports the EPA’s own Inspector General conducted the audit and made the recommendation in response to the generation of millions of dollars of fraudulent renewable identification numbers (RINs). According to the report, the EPA did not …
EPA Expands Heating Oil Definition to Allow RINs
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expanding the definition of heating oil as part of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program. This means that renewable heating oil, such as bioheat, a mixture of biodiesel and heating oil, could fall under the category to allow for Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs). The expanded definition of heating oil will encourage the growth …