Today, Virent Energy Systems announced that it has closed its third round of funding totaling $46.4 million. Two of the company’s largest investors, Cargill and Shell, increased their financial commitments as part of this funding round as did all other current investors. The money will be used to advance the company’s efforts to bring to market its BioForming process, a …
Emulsified Biodiesel to be Used at Port of LA
The Port of Los Angeles could soon be using a cleaner blend of biodiesel that actually uses some water. This post on the BrighterEnergy.org website says Alternative Petroleum Technologies has completed the commissioning of an emulsified biodiesel blending unit near Sacramento, California: The company, which has its US headquarters in Reno, Nevada, said the new facility has a capacity to …
Biodiesel Catalyst Nominated for R&D Award
A catalyst for biodiesel production has been nominated for an award that represents the most technologically significant products introduced into the marketplace over the past year. FavStocks.com reports that Idaho National Laboratory’s supercritical/solid catalyst that turns waste fats, oils and greases into biodiesel production is up for one of R&D Magazine’s 100 Awards: The Supercritical/Solid Catalyst (SSC) can handle waste …
“Wrong” to Candidate’s Ethanol, Biodiesel Bashing
A candidate for the U.S. Senate from Iowa has responded to one of his rivals statements calling ethanol and biodiesel subsidies “bologna, bologna” by calling the statement “wrong, wrong!” During the recent debate on Iowa Public TV for the Democratic nomination to face presumptive Republican nominee Sen. Charles Grassley, former state Sen. Tom Fiegen bashed the support for ethanol and …
Canada Launching $1.6 Million Biodiesel Study
Canadian forest products company FPInnovations has partnered with Natural Resources, Canada’s National Renewable Diesel Demonstration Initiative, to launch a $1.625 million field study to study the potential of biodiesel in off-road machinery in highway construction and forest operations. The Journal of Commerce reports that FPInnovations and Natural Resources are splitting the costs to find the best way to overcome some …
Devil Dogs Testing Biodiesel in Hawaii
From the halls of Montezuma… to the shores of Tripoli… they have vowed to fight our country’s battles… in the air, on land and sea. So it seems only fitting on this Memorial Day, we talk about how Marines in Hawaii could soon be fighting those battles using biodiesel. Marine Corps Base Hawaii has launched a two-vehicle demonstration project to …
Ethanol & Biodiesel Add $2B to Canadian Economy
“The grand total of the annual positive economic impact of renewable fuels is $2.013 billion.” This according to a new biofuels economic report, “Total Economic Impact Assessment of Biofuels Plants in Canada,” released today. The report was commissioned by the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association (CRFA) and conducted by econometric firm Doyletech Corporation. The report studied 28 ethanol and biodiesel plants …
House Passes Biodiesel Tax Credit Extension
In a voting frenzy today prior to the Memorial Day recess, the U.S. House of Representatives has extended the $1-a-gallon biodiesel tax credit that expired Dec. 31, despite indications even late yesterday that the vote would be delayed until June. The extension, which was part of a package that includes continued unemployment benefits and other tax breaks, would keep the …
Biodiesel, Ethanol Vehicles Win EcoCAR Challenge
Two biodiesel-powered and one ethanol vehicle took top honors in the latest EcoCAR competition. This press release says a biodiesel extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) from Mississippi State University won first place in the General Motors and Department of Energy-sponsored EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge finals in San Diego, with Virginia Tech earning second place with an ethanol-powered EREV design and Penn …
Biodiesel Tax Credit Vote Unlikely Until After Memorial Day
While it was partly an arbitrary date, it looks like Congress will miss the Memorial Day deadline that many hoped would see renewal of the $1-a-gallon biodiesel tax incentive. The measure is attached to a larger bill that would extend unemployment benefits, but Hoosier Ag Today reports that it won’t happen until after the holiday recess: Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, …