Biodiesel is making it where the old saying goes, “Will it play in Peoria?” That certainly is the case for the Illinois town’s transit system, CityLink. This story from the Peoria Journal Star says the city has been so pleased with the past performance of lower biodiesel blends, they decided to become the first fleet in the state to go …
Thermex HeatProbe Keeps Biodiesel Flowing at -40
Forty degrees below zero can be pretty common across the northern tier of states in the U.S. and Canada, especially this past winter. Those extremes can wreak havoc on biodiesel, and, for that matter, any diesel product. But this article from Biodiesel Magazine says Thermex Engineered Systems Inc. has come up with a way to heat biodiesel during transit that …
Biofuels Alliance Disputes Virginia Research
A recent study by some University of Virginia researchers who say that algae might not be as environmentally friendly as some regular row crops when it comes to making biodiesel is coming under fire by algae and algal-biofuel organizations. As you might remember from my post back on January 22, 2010, a study headed by Andres Clarens said that “algae’s …
REG Becomes North America’s Largest Biodiesel Maker
It’s come a long ways since its early days as part of West Central CO-OP’s Ralston, Iowa (right next to this author’s hometown of Glidden, Iowa) operation, and now Renewable Energy Group has become North America’s largest wholly-owned biodiesel manufacturing and marketing source. This company press release says REG gained that status after recently acquiring biodiesel plants in Iowa and …
Fargo to Host Free Biodiesel Workshop
Breathing easier is what the American Lung Association is all about, and that’s why the group’s North Dakota chapter has teamed up with the North Dakota Soybean Council, North Dakota Office of Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency, Red River Valley Clean Cities Coalition, and the North Dakota Department of Commerce to offer a free workshop on clean-burning biodiesel, Friday, March …
Algae Assoc. to Hold Seminar on Using Wastewater
Our friends at the Mid-South Chapter of the National Algae Association are holding another seminar. This time the talk will be “Algae: Mining Wastewater for Nutrients, Fuel, and Fertilizer” at the Holiday Inn Research Center in Huntsville, Alabama on March 26, 2010. I caught up with the chapter’s president, Tamra Fakhoorian, to talk about this information-packed workshop that will explore …
Imperium Re-Opens Washington State Biodiesel Plant
They’re back up and running at Imperium Renewables’ Grays Harbor, Washington biodiesel plant. This company press release says Imperium re-opened the facility after a glycerin tank rupture idled operations last December: “We are thrilled to be producing again,” said John Plaza, founder and CEO of Imperium Renewables. “We have replaced the damaged equipment and re-designed the glycerin neutralization system to …
Biodiesel Credit Clears Senate, On to House
As expected, the federal $1-a-gallon biodiesel tax incentive has cleared the U.S. Senate on the back of the current jobs bill. The 62-36 vote now moves the measure into a reconciliation phase with the House’s version of the bill. I caught up with Michael Frohlich, the director of federal communications for the National Biodiesel Board’s office in Washington, D.C. earlier …
Biodiesel Clears Senate Hurdle on the Back of Jobs Bill
It looks like the $1-a-gallon federal biodiesel tax incentive could be close to renewal, as the jobs bill to which it was attached has cleared a key vote in the U.S. Senate. The vote came Tuesday as eight Republicans sided with 58 Democrats to end debate on the $150 billion measure. The cloture vote clears the way for final passage …
Shipping Giant Maersk to Test Biodiesel
Dutch shipping giant Maersk Line is joining with Lloyd’s Register to test biodiesel in its marine engines for the next two years. This story from the Journal of Commerce says the feasibility study on the container ship Maersk Kalmar will be funded in part by the Dutch government: Using fatty acid methyl esters – a biodiesel product known as FAME …