An Idaho ethanol plant is producing distillers corn oil that could go in to biodiesel production. Pacific Ethanol Inc. announced that it is using ICM Inc.’s Advanced Oil Separation System™ to get the corn oil at its 60 million gallon a year Magic Valley, ID plant. Neil Koehler, the company’s president and CEO, stated: “Corn oil is a high value …
Study: EPA Lacks Transparency in Feedstock Approvals
A study from a pair of University of Illinois researchers says the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lacks “transparency and clarity” when it comes to approving new feedstocks for biofuels as new pathway determinations. In farmdocdaily.com, James McCubbins and Bryan Endres say that if it’s not biodiesel or corn ethanol, it seems to take a lot longer to get the agency’s …
Biomass-based Diesel Imports Jump in March
We’re seeing a big spike in the amount of biomass-based diesel imported into the U.S. Biodiesel Magazine reports the latest numbers from the U.S. Energy Information Administration show gross imports at 17.3 million gallons in March… a more than eight-fold increase above February’s 2.2 million gallons, and it marks the first biomass-based diesel from Argentina in about four years and …
Australian Co. Inks Deal, Will Re-Open Biodiesel Plant
Australia-based Lignol Energy Corporation announced it will re-open an approximately 35 million gallon a year biodiesel plant. The announcement comes as part of a deal that sees LEC agree to acquire an additional 2.67 million shares of Territory Biofuels Limited (“TBF”) for nearly $1 million (US) that makes LEC a majority shareholder in TBF: “We are excited to be working …
EPA’s 411 on RINs & RVOs
A recent “Today in Energy” brief published by the U.S. Energy and Information Administration takes a look at how the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) monitors Renewable Identification Numbers (RIN) and Renewable Volume Obligations (RVO) as part of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). RVOs are the targets for each refiner or importer of petroleum-based gasoline or diesel fuel, while RINS allow …
Students Win Clean Air & Biodiesel Poster Contest
The American Lung Association in Minnesota and the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council recognized three Minneapolis students for their entries in the Clean Air & Biodiesel Lesson & Poster Contest. This Biodiesel Magazine article says the contest, open to 5th and 6th graders, helped demonstrate how biodiesel helps to protect clean air and protects our health: The winners are …
Cold-Growing Algae Shows Biodiesel Promise
A new strain of algae found growing in the snowy Rocky Mountains could provide a promising feedstock for biodiesel. This story in Science Daily says heterococcus sp. DN1, a new variety of yellow-green algae, grows at near freezing temperatures and accumulates large amounts of lipids, working best at high light at the low temps: Algae that can grow in extreme …
Farmers, City Slickers Connect Through Soy Biodiesel
Farmers and folks from the city might not have a lot in common (although more than most people realize), but they’re united by their love of biodiesel. This week, the United Soybean Board (USB) and Empire Clean Cities are recognizing New Yorkers’ efforts to reduce dependence on foreign oil, while going green and creating American jobs. “America’s soybean growers are …
Alabama City Switches Heavy Equipment to Biodiesel
An Alabama city is going green … and saving some green at the same time. According to AL.com, Gadsden is converting all of its heavy equipment to run on biodiesel and will net about $100,000 a year in tax credits and fuel costs from the move: Gadsden began using propane for its city mowers about four years ago. Now the …
Hawaii Co. Uses High-Vacuum Distillation for Biodiesel
Making the cleanest, highest quality biodiesel is the goal of most refiners of the green fuel. A Hawaii company has completed testing on a high-vacuum distillation (HVD) unit at its new biodiesel facility, and this article from Biodiesel Magazine says the folks at Big Island Biodiesel, a part of Pacific Biodiesel Technologies and in partnership with Hawaii Renewable Energy Development …