The USDA is looking into turning a common weed into biodiesel. Researchers with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) have found that field pennycress, better known in some circles as stinkweed, puts out a large amount of oilseeds good for making the green fuel: Field pennycress belongs to the Brassicaceae family, along with canola, camelina and mustard-other prolific producers of oil-rich …
Advance to the 2011 Biodiesel Conference
It is time to start thinking about the next National Biodiesel Conference, coming up February 6-9 in Phoenix. Registration is now open with special early bird discounts until available until November 19. The theme of the 2011 conference is “Advance” – reflecting the fact that biodiesel is classified as an advanced biofuel by EPA under the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS2). …
More Cellulosic Ethanol Investment Needed
The Energy Information Administration (EIA) has lowered its projection for cellulosic ethanol production in 2011, which means investment in next generation biofuels is more important than ever. In a recent letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator Lisa Jackson, EIA administrator Richard Newell noted that they are now projecting cellulosic ethanol production will be just 3.94 million gallons next year, …
ADM to Construct Biodiesel Plant in Brazil
Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) is increasing its biodiesel presence in Brazil with its announcement that it will be constructing a second biodiesel plant in Joaçaba, Santa Catarina. The new plant will be adjacent to the existing ADM soybean crushing and refining facilities and will more than double ADM’s biodiesel production in the country. Construction is set to begin in …
Cobalt Partners With U.S. Navy On Biobutanol Project
Cobalt Technologies announced today that it has created a partnership with the U.S. Navy to develop performance jet and diesel fuels from biobutanol. The Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) established a program that will convert n-butanol produced by Cobalt into biodiesel fuels using technology developed at the U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD) in China Lake, Cali. …
Software Helps Biodiesel Producer Run Better, Cheaper
A Washington state biodiesel maker has used some sophisticated computer software to help it streamline its process and complete a plant upgrade for a lot less money than what it previously would have cost. General Biodiesel, which turns used cooking oil into biodiesel, has used Autodesk, Inc.’s Digital Prototyping and piping and instrumentation diagramming (P&ID) to upgrade its main production …
New Global Biofuels Alliance Announced
Five biodiesel companies have come together to launch an new biodiesel lobbying organization called the Global Biofuels Alliance, Inc. The effort was led by HERO BX, one of the country’s largest biodiesel producers. The first goal of the organization is to focus on reinstating the Biodiesel Blenders Tax Credit, which expired on December 31, 2009. According to Mike Noble, co-founder …
Army Highlights Biodiesel Use at Ft. Bragg
Ft. Bragg might be the home of the U.S. Army’s Airborne soldiers (by the way, as a former Air Force guy, we land those planes … you don’t have to jump out!), but the North Carolina post soon could be known as the home to clean air, born of biodiesel! The Fayetteville (NC) Observer reports that the Army recently highlighted …
White House Highlights Federal Energy Successes
Many of you remember the solar panels that were installed on the White House during the 70s when our country was focused on reducing its dependence on foreign oil. Many of you will also remember when President Reagan removed the solar panels and moved our government’s focus away from energy independence. The White House announced that it is moving forward …
Soladiesel Successful in Navy Riverine Command Boat
In an update to a story from last week, the U.S. Navy successful tested an algae biodiesel blend in its pilot Navy Riverine Command Boat at the Naval Base in Norfolk, Virginia. The renewable fuel was provided by Solazyme, who has a contract with the U.S. Navy to provide them with 150,000 gallons of advanced biofuels made from algae. All …