A renewal of the ethanol blenders tax credit, reinstatement of biodiesel incentives and help for wind and solar companies have all reportedly made it into the Senate compromise that extends both unemployment benefits and expiring tax cuts. According to the Renewable Fuels Association, the compromise legislation would extend the current Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC) just through 2011 at …
Ohioan Wants Ditches for Biodiesel Crops
Reflecting a trend that started in Utah and has been copied in several other states, an Ohio man wants to see the ditches and medians along the interstates used to grow oilseeds, such as safflower, dwarf sunflower and canola, to make into biodiesel. This article from the Columbus (OH) Dispatch says Mark Schaff, a member of Etna Township’s economic-development committee, …
Volvo Tests Biogas, Biodiesel in Airport Snow Sweepers
In what could end up being a great test of biodiesel in cold weather (and there’s still plenty of detractors who swear against the green fuel in cold climates) Swedish auto maker Volvo will be testing biogas, and eventually biodiesel, in an airport snow sweeper in the Scandanavian country. This company press release says that, in partnership with Schmidt and …
Why Do You Believe in Biodiesel?
Maybe it’s the renewable nature of the fuel. Maybe it’s the fact that the fumes from some of it smells likes french fries. Maybe, my personal favorite, it helps this country get off its foreign oil addiction. Well, whatever your reason for believing in biodiesel, the National Biodiesel Board is inviting you to put your thoughts onto video: The best …
Biodiesel, Ethanol Priorities for New ASA President
The new American Soybean Association (ASA) president is making biodiesel and ethanol his priorities. And this article from Corn and Soybean Digest says that shouldn’t be too much of a surprise from Alan Kemper, a fifth generation corn, soybean and cattle farmer from Lafayette, Indiana and the first person to hold both the ASA presidency and that of the National …
Deal May Include Ethanol and Biodiesel Tax Breaks
Nobody seems to be happy about the tax breaks/unemployment benefits deal announced by President Obama yesterday and no one is sure what all it ultimately will include, but Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) says that ethanol blenders tax credit and associated tariff, as well as the biodiesel tax credit may be in it. During his regular weekly conference call with reporters …
Camelina-Based Biojet Fuel On Course For Success
According to a recent peer-reviewed paper published in the journal of Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy, camelina-based biojet fuel reduces CO2 emissions by 75 percent compared to traditional petroleum-based jet fuel. The study also found that “green diesel” made through the same process reduces CO2 emissions by 80 percent. “This peer-reviewed analysis proves what we’ve known for a long time …
2010 Green Fuels Awards Announced
The 2010 Green Fuels Award recipients have been announced by the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association during the 7th Annual Canadian Renewable Fuels Summit in Ottawa-Gatineau. The awards honor pioneers in the development and commercialization of low carbon renewable fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel in Canada. The Fuel Change Award 2010 was presented to Husky Energy Inc. for their promotion …
Canadian Canola Could Lose Out on Biodiesel Mandate
Canadian canola could miss out on demand from Canada’s soon-to-be-implemented biodiesel mandate. This analysis from Reuters says the country’s second most-popular crop might be a much lower choice as a biodiesel feedstock because of some ambiguity in Canada’s requirement that could be started this coming April: Canada has finished selecting biodiesel plant proposals to receive funding from a C$1.5-billion ($1.5 …
Congress May Make Deal on Tax Cuts
After defeating a compromise measure proposed by Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) to extend the Bush tax cuts only for the middle class, the talk on Capitol Hill is now turning to a deal that would keep all of the tax cuts in exchange for extending unemployment benefits. Baucus had proposed a compromise amendment late Thursday that would have continued unemployment …