A new biodiesel plant in Northern Iowa is closer to cranking out the green fuel. The 3-million-gallon-a-year Growth Design Corp. refinery planned for near Forest City, Iowa, as we told you about last month, could break ground next month, according to this story from KIMT-TV and would the first-of-its-kind facility in Iowa: It will use what’s called “the MCGYAN process,” …
Navy Gets Advanced Biodiesel Production System
On the heels of the U.S. Navy announcing closer cooperation with the USDA in the use of biofuels, an advanced biodiesel production system has been delivered to a Navy installation in California. This press release from Biodiesel Industries says Naval Base Ventura County has received the first ARIES biodiesel production system … a joint effort by the Navy, Biodiesel Industries …
USDA Watching and Waiting on Biodiesel Incentive
Federal ag department officials seem to be rooting for renewal of the $1-a-gallon biodiesel tax incentive to finally pass Congress … but no one from USDA is pressuring lawmakers to get the deal done. During yesterday’s event in Hawaii, where the U.S. Navy and USDA pledged to work together to produce more biofuels for the service’s renewable energy goals, reporters …
Heartland Develops Biodiesel Purification Column System
An Iowa-based maker of biodiesel production equipment has come up with a purification method that makes the handling and removal of purification media easier, safer and more efficient for biodiesel plant operators. This article from Biodiesel Magazine says Heartland Biodiesel Supply’s patent-pending design got its inspiration from the water treatment industry where ion exchange resin is widely used: The same …
Researchers Turn Fungus into Biodiesel
New research has shown that biomass can be directly transformed into biodiesel that suits many quality standards, including ASTM D6751 and EN14213 and 14214. This post from GreenCarCongress.com says Spanish researchers Gemma Vicente and colleagues made the discovery that could open up many more feedstocks for biodiesel … but admit the process needs some work: Oils from oleaginous microorganisms, such …
BIO to Congress: Fund $25M for Cellulosic Production
Today, the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) released a letter to House and Senate appropriators asking them to fund the Section 942 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 labeled as Production Incentives for Cellulosic Biofuels to the tune of $25 million for 2011. Known as a reverse auction program, BIO is encouraging this action as a way to assist pioneer …
Lack of Biodiesel Tax Cut Cuts REG Iowa Workforce, REG Launches Facebook Page
Iowa-based Renewable Energy Group has had to lay off 45 percent of its workforce in the company’s home state, due to the failure of Congress to renew the $1-a-gallon federal biodiesel tax credit. REG is expected to meet with two key members of Congress, Senator Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) and Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa), at REG facilities in each of the …
Biodiesel Focus of GM, DOE Study
General Motors has announced a five-year partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy to study using jatropha plants for biodiesel. UPI reports that the test sites in India will look at whether jatropha can produce enough oil for the green fuel: Farms with more than 200 acres of the drought-resistant, non-edible plant will host life-cycle studies near GM plants in …
METRO Biofuels To Promote Bioheat
Heating oil is common on the East Coast and so many companies are looking for ways to replace heating oil with alternative sources. Today, METRO Biofuels, based in Brooklyn New York, announced that it is supporting a neighborhood coalition to promote cleaner air quality by using “bioheat” to heat buildings. METRO is the largest independent marketer of bioheat for the …
New Energy Plan – Offshore Drilling
President Obama gave a speech this morning from a hanger at Andrews Air Force Base reiterating our country’s need for energy independence. This will be done, he says, through energy initiatives and the government will “lead by example.” In the background, a Navy Green Hornet jet that will fly on a mix of 50 percent biomass on earth day next …