Following in the footsteps of Canada’s national biodiesel mandate (see my story and Joanna’s post from last month), Saskatchewan has called for a biodiesel producer incentive and mandate in its provincial budget. The news was welcomed by the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association: “Saskatchewan’s 2011 budget will be welcome news to farmers and biodiesel producers alike,” said Gordon Quaiattini, President of …
Lung Assoc. in MN Offers Free Biodiesel Workshops
The American Lung Association in Minnesota and Twin Cities Clean Cities Coalition will be offering a series of free workshops that highlight the growing role biodiesel is playing in the changes in diesel engines. The workshops will be held April 19th at the Holiday Inn in Alexandria, April 20th at the American Legion in Crookston, and April 21st at the …
Biodiesel Processor Maker to Locate in Nevada
A company that builds the machines to turn raw materials into the green fuel biodiesel will put in a factory in the Reno/Carson City region of Nevada. This press release posted on AltEnergyMag.com says Green Fuels America, known for its 5,000 gallon a day FuelMatic biodiesel processor, will help bring jobs to the state, according to Lieutenant Governor Brian Krolicki: …
Isuzu Debuts Biodiesel-Compatible Van
Japan-based auto maker Isuzu has debuted a utility van that will be more compatible with higher blends of biodiesel. This company press release says the new Reach will not only be green, but it will last a long time, too: Powering the Reach is Isuzu’s state-of-the-art, biodiesel fuel compatible 4JJ1-TC 3.0-liter turbocharged engine generating 150 horsepower, mated to a Aisin …
UConn Researchers Find Better Way to Brew Biodiesel
Researchers from the University of Connecticut have come up with a better way to brew up biodiesel. This article from PHYSORG.com says Professor Richard Parnas, who you might remember from my story last October also is finding a way to use hemp as a biodiesel feedstock, has developed a patented biodiesel reactor that uses gravity, heat, and natural chemical reactions …
Air Force Successfully Flies Raptor on Biofuels Blend
The 411th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards Air Force Base successfully flew an F-22 Raptor at supercruise on March 18 on a 50/50 blend of conventional petroleum-based JP-8 and biodiesel produced from camelina. The flight was the capstone in a series of ground and flight test events where ultimately the Air Force selected the F-22 weapon system to be the …
USDA to Measure Biodiesel, Ethanol Co-Product Usage
The USDA wants to know how livestock producers are using co-products from biodiesel and ethanol production. This story from Ethanol Producer Magazine says the National Agriculture Statistics Service will be taking comments until March 28, 2011 with plans to release the results by next January: NASS expects to contact 70,000 various livestock and poultry operations in early January to gain …
Happy National Biodiesel Day!
Since today is the anniversary of the the birth of the first proponent of biodiesel, it is also National Biodiesel Day. It was on March 18, 1858 Rudolf Diesel was born. As a proponent of using peanut oil in his diesel engine invention, Herr Diesel also became the first backer of biodiesel, thus today being recognized as National Biodiesel Day. …
Book Review – The Green Miracle
This week I read the book called “The Green Miracle,” by Clayton McNeff who is one of the creators of the Mcgyan Process. It’s the story of how in less than four years, with the inkling of an idea from a college student, a new multi-feedstock production technology was created to produce biodiesel. In 2006, McNeff was contacted by one …
Petroleum, Not Biodiesel to Blame in Heating Oil Issue
Some recent issues with biodiesel-blended heating oil in the Northeast U.S. might be because of a bad batch of petroleum, not the biodiesel mixed with it. This blog post from Biodiesel Magazine says that the issue came up at this week’s meeting of the Oilheat Council of New Hampshire, where some members of the group had issues with coking of …