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 …
Boulder Goes For 90% Ethanol, Biodiesel Vehicles
The vast majority of city government vehicles in Boulder, Colorado will run on biodiesel or ethanol within the next few years, if city planners have their way. This story from the Boulder Daily Camera says that the city hopes to raise last year’s goal of 60 percent of new vehicles purchased running on alternatives to 90 percent this year: Given …
Biodiesel Not to Blame for MN Bus Problems
Officials in Minnesota say that biodiesel is not to blame for stalling school buses in the bitter, bitter cold of Minneapolis. After temperatures… without the wind chill… dropped to -20 to -30 degrees F, the Bloomington School District had to cancel classes, in part, because a dozen buses wouldn’t start. The bus company was quick to blame biodiesel, required by …
Biodiesel Leads ASA’s Priorities to Obama
Less than a week before the inauguration, the American Soybean Association (ASA) has given President-elect Barack Obama a list of its 2009 policy priorities… and biodiesel tops that list. This press release from the soybean advocacy group has details: “ASA looks forward to working closely with the Obama Administration to achieve these policy priorities, which not only make sense for …
Iowa Firm Wins Biodiesel Marketing Award
A Des Moines, Iowa-based distributor of biodiesel has won that state’s Secretary of Agriculture award for biodiesel marketing. This press release from Secretary Bill Northey says Keck Energy is the biodiesel winner of 2009 of the Secretary’s Biodiesel and Ethanol Marketing Awards (see Michelle’s post for the ethanol winner): Mark Meyer of Keck Energy of Des Moines is the 2009 …
PA Biodiesel Mandate Kicks In
Pennsylvania has produced enough biodiesel so that each gallon of diesel sold in the state will have to have a mix of the green fuel. According to this National Biodiesel Board press release, Gov. Ed Rendell made the announcement at the Pennsylvania Farm Show that the 2 percent biodiesel mandate will kick in a year from now. “The major challenge …
Virginia Gov Proposes Incentives for Renewable Energy
Virginia’s governor is proposing a series of grants and tax credits to help renewable energy sources, such as biodiesel, ethanol, solar and wind energy, grow in his state… and grow the green jobs that come with those sources. This story from Virginia Business says Gov. Timothy M. Kaine sees the green jobs and renewable energy as a way out of …