A car maker that plans to build the world’s first police car designed from the ground up specifically for law enforcement officers and that will happen run on biodiesel has narrowed its choices to three states for its factory. This press release from Carbon Motors Corporation, a new homeland security company, says Georgia, Indiana and South Carolina are finalists for …
Biodiesel Racing Series Featured in Car & Driver
Neat article I just read in Car and Driver about the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup series, which features young drivers (16 to 26 years old) driving practically identical VWs running on a 5 percent biodiesel blend. Writer Mark Gillies got to take one of cars out during an actual qualifying run at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course near Columbus: …
Biodiesel Not on Agenda for US-EU Trade Talks
Just as the European Union was extending for five years the temporary duties the EU has slapped on American biodiesel, you would think would be the time the U.S. Trade Representative would want to talk about the protectionist tariffs with his European counterpart. Nope. Ambassador Ron Kirk had bigger fish to fry when he met with European Union Trade Commissioner …
Educating the EPA About Biodiesel
Some folks in Missouri are trying to educate the government (I know, I know) about the possible implications of a rule that could hurt the biodiesel industry. As many of you are aware, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is considering a rule change to the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) that would basically leave soybean-based biodiesel out of the RFS… putting …
High School Biodiesel Team Gets Funds for Research
While we here about millions of dollars going to big renewable energy programs, it’s nice to hear about a few bucks going to some small, grassroots efforts. A high school biodiesel program from New Hampshire known for beating some colleges in energy competitions has received $5,000 from an anonymous donor. This story from the Nashua (NH) Telegraph says the Merrimack …
Wash. State Slated for $2 Mil in Algae Biofuels Research
Washington State University is set to get $2 million for its algae-biofuels research, thanks to that state’s senior senator. This press release from U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) says she was able to use her position on the Senate Appropriations Committee to put the money in the fiscal year 2010 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill: “This funding will support …
Making Biodiesel from Microbes and Sugarcane
A California biotechnology company has found a way to turn the waste from microbes eating sugar into biodiesel. This story from DailyTech.com says that the Amyris Biotechnologies plant is capable of producing 10,000 gallons a year and is being tested in Brazil. In addition, it could make biodiesel even more price competitive: While biodiesel and biofuels are not exactly a …
DF Cast: Midwest a Good Place for Algae Biodiesel
While producing a green fuel from a green pond scum… turning algae into biodiesel… isn’t anything new, doing it in the nation’s breadbasket, where plenty of soybeans for biodiesel are already being grown, is a bit more of a novel concept. In this edition of the Domestic Fuel Cast, we talk to Dr. Richard Sayre, the Director of the Enterprise …
Blackhawk Biofuels Meets Ultimate Biodiesel Quality
Renewable Energy Group’s Blackhawk Biofuels has earned BQ-9000 Producer status from the National Biodiesel Board and the National Biodiesel Accreditation Committee. This press release from the Iowa-based REG says the biodiesel from the Danville, Illinois Blackhawk Biofuels plant meets what is considered the ultimate standard for the green fuel’s production: “Today the petroleum industry is demanding biodiesel from BQ-9000 Producers,” …
Brown Uses Biodiesel to Go Green
Those guys and gals in those brown delivery trucks seem pretty efficient (especially when they get your order to you on time!). But UPS is making its whole operation even more efficient and greener… and biodiesel is playing an important role. This story on FastCompany.com says the delivery giant today announced a new goal of cutting its entire airborne fleet’s …