Members of the biofuels industries, including those growing the feedstocks to make the green fuels of ethanol and biodiesel, made their way to Washington, D.C. this week to try to stop the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from implementing rules that the biofuels folks will hurt their industry. The biggest point of contention is the EPA’s Indirect Land Use proposal that …
California Approves B20 for Underground Storage
The state of California has given the OK to store higher blends of biodiesel in underground storage tanks. Previously, 5 percent biodiesel… or B5… was the limit that a 25-year-old California law imposed. But Biodiesel Magazine reports that California’s Water Resources Control Board has expanded underground storage of biodiesel blends up to B20: The three-year variance allows underground storage of …
Purdue: B20 Just As Good As Ultra-low Sulfur Diesel
A 20 percent blend of biodiesel runs just as good as No. 2 ultra-low sulfur diesel. That’s the findings of a new study from Purdue University that showed no statistical dropoff when semis run the green fuel: “In terms of performance, reliability and maintenance costs, it was basically a wash,” said John Lumkes, the assistant professor of agricultural and biological …
Ethanol and Biodiesel Testimony Presented at EPA Hearing
The Environmental Protection Agency’s public hearing on the proposed rule for the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) is now underway in Washington, DC. The first testimony presented was from Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen, who expressed the ethanol industry’s major concerns about the agnecy’s attempt to measure greenhouse gas lifecycle analysis including international indirect land use changes. “There …
Additive to Help Burn Biodiesel in Newer Engines
One of the issues with burning higher blends of biodiesel in newer diesel engines that use post-injection for controlling emissions is significant engine wear with methyl ester dilution in the engine oil crankcase. This story from Biodiesel Magazine says Chevron Oronite Company LLC has developed a unique engine oil additive to help combat that engine wear when using B20: Fuel …
Gentlemen, Start Your Biodiesel Engines!
It’s not quite the Indy 500, but don’t tell that to the guys racing in the New Holland Celebrity Tractor Race! It’s the fourth year for the popular feature of the Country Music Association’s 2009 Music Festival, June 10-14, 2009 in Nashville, TN., and some of the participants are looking for revenge. The race (which you can see some of …
OriginOil Files Patent for Its Algae Production
Many drivers across the country are getting frustrated as gas prices are on the rise and oil prices have surpassed $70 a barrel. Algae production may be a good replacement for oil and today, OriginOil, Inc., announced that it has filed for a Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) on its technology to convert algae to renewable oil. The renewable oil could …
WI’s First Commercial Biodiesel Plant Idled
Biodiesel is still having a tough go of it… just like many other businesses in today’s economy. The latest victim of the economic downturn is Sanimax Energy, which has had to temporarily close its DeForest, Wisconsin plant… the first biodiesel plant to open in the Badger State two years ago. This story in the Wisconsin Ag Connection says the refinery, …
Harkin: Indirect Land Use Rule Not Good Science
The chair of the U.S. Senate’s Ag Committee says the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed Indirect Land Use Rule, which would make biodiesel ineligible for mandates and federal subsidies, is not good science… and he believes there are enough votes in Congress to keep it from going into effect. Agriculture Online reports that the EPA’s proposal would use the concept of …