Biodiesel Industry Update

Joanna Schroeder

There are some changes taking place in the biodiesel industry. Enervation Advisors has purchased its third biodiesel plant, this one located in Adrian, Michigan. The company has purchased the closed NextDiesel plant and its first step is to update the technology and put the plant back online. When this occurs, the plant will operate as LVA Adrian Biofuel LLC. This …

Biodiesel, biofuels

The Search For Used Cooking Oil

Joanna Schroeder

Used cooking oil is in high demand. Cream City Grecycling, a division of Fushion Renewables, is in search of used cooking grease from local Milwaukee, Wisconsin restaurants. After collecting the used cooking oil, the company will then turn it into biodiesel. The company has a goal of collecting at least 30,000 gallons a month by the end of the year …

Biodiesel, biofuels

Biodiesel Board Announces New Capitol Hill VP

Cindy Zimmerman

The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) has announced a new vice president of federal affairs to serve the industry on Capitol Hill. Anne Steckel, who will lead NBB’s Washington office, brings nearly 15 years of Washington experience to the job. Currently chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson of California, she has overseen legislative issues for several members of Congress, …

Biodiesel, NBB

NBB Offers Diesel Technicians Biodiesel Training

Joanna Schroeder

Diesel technicians are getting up-to-date, accurate information about biodiesel compliments of a National Biodiesel Board (NBB) training program. The program is a partnership between NBB and Universal Technical Institute, a provider of entry-level technicians to the transportation industry. So far, more than 300 instructors have been taught about biodiesel through the program. “I’ve found that students are very curious about …

Biodiesel, Education, NBB

How Do Coffee & Biodiesel Mix? Besspresso.

Joanna Schroeder

Raise your mug if you love coffee. For you coffee lovers in Iowa, you can now get your fix from Dave Bess and Anna Erickson’s mobile coffee shop that is fueled by biodiesel. The Iowa City couple has been traveling around the country to public events this summer including the world famous Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) sponsored by …

Biodiesel, biofuels, Solar

Propel Offers San Francisco Drivers B20

Joanna Schroeder

As diesel vehicles become more popular in the U.S., especially in states such as California, Propel Fuels has been offering biodiesel blends to fuel drivers’ commutes. Today, Propel began selling B20 (20 percent biodiesel, 80 percent low-sulfur diesel) at three of its stations located in the Bay Area (San Francisco). The company plans to add B20 blends to several stations …

Biodiesel, biofuels, E85

Big Green Bus Rolls Across the U.S.

Joanna Schroeder

The Big Green Bus rolled into Dallas last week and subliminally, the people in its wake couldn’t help but think about french fries. Okay, so I’m exaggerating a bit but 13 students from Darmouth College converted a Greyhound bus that runs on biodiesel and vegetable oil derived from used cooking grease. According to an article in the Dallas Morning News, …

Biodiesel, biofuels

Chevy to Sell Diesel Vehicles in US

Joanna Schroeder

Chevrolet is planning on introducing a diesel version of the Chevrolet Cruze to be sold in the United States beginning in 2013. Diesel versions of the Cruz are already being sold in Europe. The advantage of offering a diesel version in the U.S. is that consumers will be able to fuel the vehicle with biodiesel blends. Allen Schaeffer, executive director …

Biodiesel, Car Makers

New Study Shows Energy Efficiency of Soy Biodiesel

Cindy Zimmerman

A new study shows that biodiesel offers an amazing 5-to-1 return over fossil energy sources. The study by the University of Idaho and U.S. Department of Agriculture concludes that for every unit of fossil energy needed to produce biodiesel, the return is 5.54 units of renewable energy. This energy-in, energy-out ratio is called “energy balance” or “fossil energy ratio.” “This …

Biodiesel

First Biodiesel School Bus Retires

Cindy Zimmerman

What is believed to be the nation’s first school bus to run on a biodiesel blend was put out to pasture at the end of the 2010-11 school year, according to the National Biodiesel Board. When Medford, New Jersey’s 1998 International school bus retired at the end of June, it reached a milestone in the process. The bus was the …

Biodiesel, NBB