It’s getting to be an all-too-familiar refrain: renewal of the federal $1-a-gallon biodiesel tax credit has hit another roadblock. This article from Reuters says the measure, contained in a $126 billion tax bill, failed a procedural vote today in the U.S. Senate. But the measure’s sponsor has introduced a new version: Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus was expected to offer …
Study Shows Biodiesel Value in Off-Road Operations
A new study shows that biodiesel performs well in some of the harshest off-road applications. A couple of weeks ago, I told you how Canadian forest products company FPInnovations had partnered with Natural Resources, Canada’s National Renewable Diesel Demonstration Initiative (NRDDI), to launch a $1.625 million field study to study the potential of biodiesel in off-road machinery in highway construction …
Survey Shows Wide Support for Alt Energy Tax Breaks
If Congress is wondering if there’s enough public support for the U.S. Senate to support the $1-a-gallon federal tax incentive (which, could come to a vote this week), a new survey shows Americans do favor these types of tax breaks. This National Biodiesel Board press release says a new Stanford University poll finds that 84 percent of respondents favor federal …
New Alliance to Promote Biodiesel Heating Oil
An alliance of heating oil marketers, biodiesel makers and soybean growers could help put more Bioheat … a mix of biodiesel and conventional home heating oil … in homes and could dramatically increase the amount of biodiesel used in this country, especially on the East Coast, while keeping homes in that area warm with green heat. During a press conference …
Oil Spill Reality Check
Earlier today, the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA) issued its top 10 list of offshore oils sites that they consider “at risk.” The list is an attempt to highlight the world’s choice between moving forward with the addition of more offshore oil rigs or building more sustainable biofuels plants. “The choice is clear,” said Global Renewable Fuels Alliance spokesperson, Bliss …
Connecticut Gov Signs Biodiesel Heating Oil Mandate
Connecticut Yankees (and any other immigrants to the Nutmeg State) will be able to stay warm … and green … in winters in the future, thanks to biodiesel. That state’s Governor Jodi Rell has signed into law a 2 percent biodiesel in heating oil mandate that kicks in next summer. However, Heatingoil.com reports it does have some conditions attached: Although …
Hawaiian Utility Gets Green Light on Green Biodiesel
The utility that provides almost all of the power for Hawaii has been given the go ahead to use biodiesel for some of that power production. The state’s Public Utilities Commission has cleared Hawaiian Electric Company to use between three and seven million gallons of the green fuel made from used cooking oil and waste animal fat, from Iowa-based Renewable …
New Class of Tractor Pullers to Use Biodiesel
Some tractor pullers will be running green … and I’m not just talking about the John Deere machines out there. This article from Wallaces Farmer says the National Tractor Pullers Association’s 2010 season will feature a new competition division, the Light Pro Stock class, and with sponsorship from the United Soybean Board (USB), those tractors will be running on soy …
Making the Case for Getting Rid of Biofuels Subsidies
As the biodiesel industry anxiously awaits Congress’ renewal of the federal $1-a-gallon biodiesel tax credit, an energy consulting company that specializes in biodiesel and ethanol operations is actually calling for elimination of these types of credits for all biofuels. This opinion piece in Biofuels Digest from Sklar & Associates makes the case that we don’t have to give the biofuels …
Senate Leaders Promise Enough Biodiesel Votes…Again
Senate leaders are promising again that there are enough votes to get the biodiesel tax incentive renewed. This article from The Hill says New York Democrat Sen. Charles Schumer believes his chamber will have the 60 votes needed to pass the federal $1-a-gallon biodiesel tax credit as part of a larger measure introduced by Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-Montana). …