A new study put out by a leading advocate of biofuels finds that green energy sources have been key to keeping the economy on a somewhat even keel and more production would help further economic recovery in at least one state… and you have to believe that it would apply to many more. At the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association meeting …
Biodiesel Conference Features Rock Stars, Race Cars & Sustainability
Less than a week away from the 2009 National Biodiesel Conference & Expo, Feb. 1-4, in San Francisco! Among the headliners for this year’s conference are music superstar Melissa Etheridge and movie star Daryl Hannah. And journalists, if you haven’t signed up for the premier event in the ever-growing biodiesel field, try this pitch on your editors: # Driving Green …
Eastern Kentucky Looks at Cellulose Biodiesel
Eastern Kentucky University has teamed up with energy research and defense manufacturing firm General Atomics to look at the potential to develop cellulose-based biodiesel. This story from the Business Lexington says the partnership will create the EKU Center for Renewable and Alternative Fuel Technologies (CRAFT): EKU President Doug Whitlock said the project is important to Kentucky’s farmers looking for cash …
Teaching… Using Biodiesel Buses
A Chicago school bus company owner, who was the first in the country to switch 90 percent of his 2,000 bus fleet to biodiesel, is using a modified version of the green-fueled kid-hauler to spread the gospel of biodiesel. John Benish is the parent of four young children and the owner of the largest privately-held school bus company in the …
Biodiesel Board, Others Welcome New EPA Chief
There’s a new person in charge of the federal agency in charge of keeping the environment clean, and thus, a friend to the clean, renewable energy field. The U.S. Senate has unanimously approved Pres. Barack Obama’s choice to head the Environmental Protection Agency, Lisa Jackson. Jackson’s home-state newspaper, New Jersey’s Star-Ledger, reported praise for Jackson from Assembly Enivronment Committee chair …
Confirmation: Biodiesel Not to Blame in Minnesota
A new report confirms that biodiesel was not to blame for stalling school buses in Minnesota last week. When the temperatures in the Minneapolis area dropped to -20 to -30 degrees F, some students got an extra day off from school when a handful of buses wouldn’t run. Naysayers immediately blamed biodiesel, but state officials suspected the green fuel was …
Biodiesel Board Congratulates Vilsack & Chu
The nation’s primary group representing the biodiesel industry is welcoming two of the newest members of President Obama Cabinet. The National Biodiesel Board has congratulated new U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and new Secretary of Energy Dr. Steven Chu, who both received unanimous confirmation from the U.S. Senate today: “Secretary Vilsack has been a consistent proponent of biofuels, and …
Airline Industry Strives Toward Biodiesel, Alternatives
The U.S. airline industry continues to make efforts to develop alternatives to petroleum-based jet fuels. We’ve been telling you about the various efforts made to run biodiesel in several airliners (see my stories from January 8, 2009 and October 15, 2008 for a couple of examples). Recently, Nancy Young, Vice President of Environmental Affairs for the Air Transport Association of …
Biodiesel Brings New Museum to DC
In addition to President Barack Obama making the 800-mile journey from Illinois to Washington, DC… ala Abraham Lincoln… a mobile museum powered by biodiesel also made that historic trip. The United Soybean Board says the soybean checkoff-funded biodiesel has been moving the “Abraham Lincoln: Self-Made in America Tour” mobile museum across the U.S. since last spring to commemorate the 200th …
More Biodiesel Producers Meet Quality Standard
Two more biodiesel producers have been added to the roster of those companies meeting an important quality assurance standard. This press release from the National Biodiesel Board congratulates Nova Biofuels’ 60-million-gallon capacity operation in Seneca, Illinois and the 30-million-gallon Prairie Pride, Inc. soybean-crushing and biodiesel refinery in Nevada, Missouri for meeting the NBB’s quality assurance program, BQ-9000: “BQ-9000 certification confirms …