GROWMARK, based in Bloomington, Illinois has a long history with selling renewable fuels. The company began marketing ethanol back in the late 1970s. Today, they are a major player in Illinois in selling high quality biodiesel. I had the chance to sit down with Mark Dehner, the company’s marketing manager of refined and renewable fuels during the National Biodiesel Board …
Biofuels Part of Bright Outlook for Farm Economy
The full House Agriculture Committee held a hearing today to hear from Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack about the outlook for the farm economy, which is being supported by strong demand for ethanol and biodiesel. Vilsack told the committee that the farm economy continues to remain strong with U.S. agricultural exports, farm cash receipts and net farm income projected at …
National Biodiesel Foundation Silent Auction Raises $50K
Biodiesel outreach, education, research and demonstration activities have gotten a big boost as the National Biodiesel Foundation‘s 3rd Annual Silent Auction netted nearly $50,000 during last week’s National Biodiesel Conference & Expo in Phoenix. The Foundation is also recognizing Cima Green Energy Services for a very generous $25,000 donation at the opening of the auction: Executive Director of the National …
CARB Tackling Crude Oil’s Carbon Intensity in LCFS
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is getting ready to move forward with determining the carbon intensity of crude oil. On February 17, they are holding a Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) Crude Oil Screening Workgroup Meeting. For those following the LCFS debate, you’ll note that still under fire is CARB’s final ruling on the carbon intensity levels given for …
Propel’s Iacoponi Appointed to LCFS Advisory Panel
Jim Iacoponi, Vice President of Operations for Propel Fuels has been appointed to the California Air Resources Board (CARB’s) Low Carbon Fuels Standard (LCFS) Advisory Panel. Alongside other qualified industry members of the panel, Iacoponi will provide guidance to CARB as they monitor and evaluate progress of the LCFS program. Propel, as California’s largest retail provider of alternative fuels such …
The “One-Stop” Shop Biodiesel Plant
With the explosive growth expected in the biodiesel industry this year, many investors are looking to update their technologies as they bring their biodiesel plants online. Those looking for a “one-stop shop” for an entire biodiesel plant should look at two seemingly unlikely partners: McGyan Biodiesel and Biodiesel Analytical Solutions (BAS). There is much talk in the biodiesel industry that …
Unconventional Reality of Press & Public Opinion
They say that imitation is the highest form of flattery and if this is true, than the biofuels industry should be flattered that their communication messages have been hijacked: biofuels are good for the country, good for our economy and good for the environment. But the industry having its messages hijacked by others – natural gas, coal, the petroleum industry, …
Canadian Biodiesel Industry Will Triple in Two Years
The Canadian biodiesel industry got a huge push last week when the federal government fulfilled its commitment to move forward with the Renewable Diesel Standard beginning July 1, 2011. According to Canadian Renewable Fuels Association President (CRFA) Gordon Quaiattini, the requirement to meet a 2 percent renewable diesel mandate in Canada will require nearly 600 million liters of biodiesel annually. …
Biodiesel Poised to Have an Explosive Year
The mood was optimistic during Advance: 2011 Biodiesel Conference & Expo last week. Why? Because all signs are pointing to the industry growing by leaps and bounds this year. I spoke with Donald Nelson, Director, National Sales with REG (Renewable Energy Group), the largest biodiesel company in the U.S. about RINS and how, if at all, they can signal positive …
Biodiesel Board Offers RFS2 Webinars
The new Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS2) will require at least 800 million gallons of biodiesel are used this year … and how petroleum refiners and importers and distillate distributors get to that number will be the subject of a series of free webinars offered by the National Biodiesel Board. NBB officials say the 90-minute webinars, entitled “RFS2 Ready: Biodiesel Producers …