A trip to a Patagonian forest (that’s in South America) has produced the latest development in the biodiesel game. Dr. Gary Strobel from Montana State University has found the endophytic fungus, Gliocladium roseum — a hydrocarbon-producing fungus he found growing in a tree in Patagonia — has been shown to produce many of the same hydrocarbons found in diesel. This …
MO Agribusiness Summit Focuses on Biofuels
Jenna Higgins Rose from the National Biodiesel Board said, “The National Biodiesel Board’s Future Vision is to increase the demand for commercially produced biodiesel within the United States through education, communication, and quality assurance programs.” She added that the goal of NBB is to have 1.85 billion gallons of B100 sales, mostly as blends by 2015. Sponsoring the summit were: …
Cal Company Produces Sugarcane Biodiesel
A California biotechnology company has opened a biodiesel plant that makes the green fuel from sugarcane. This story from Cleantech.com says Emeryville, Calif.-based Amyris Biotechnologies opened the first of its two pilot plants in its home state with plans to open four commercial-sized plants in Brazil in the next couple of years: The 2.4 million gallon-capacity pilot plant in Emeryville …
‘No Thanks’ to $1 Million Biodiesel Grant
It’s not very often that you hear about a biodiesel firm turning down $1 million in the form of a government grant, but a green fuel maker in Pennsylvania seems to have some practical reasons for saying “thanks, but no thanks” to the money. This story from the Binghamton (NY) Press & Sun-Bulletin says Alternative Fuels Inc. turned down the …
First Transcontinental Biodiesel Flight
Florida-based Green Flight International and Pennsylvania’s Lake Erie Biofuels have teamed up to complete the first non-stop, transcontinental flight in a jet powered predominantly by biodiesel. This press release from Green Flight says the flight took off from Reno, Nevada and landed in Leesburg, Florida, flying for more than 11 hours: “This transcontinental flight was distinctive in that 1,776 miles …
Biodiesel, Ethanol Part of Farm Foundation Summit
Our friends at the Farm Foundation are at it again, bringing a variety of folks together to offer differing viewpoints to come up with workable solutions. Last month, I had a chance to sit in on their Transition to a Bioeconomy: Environmental and Rural Impacts Conference in St. Louis where I heard many sides of the issues facing the biodiesel …
BBI Moving Headquarters
BBI International is moving to bigger headquarters nearer to an international airport. BBI has maintained its corporate headquarters in Salida and neighboring Cotopaxi, Colorado for nearly 15 years. Maintaining its operational hub in the geographically remote community became increasingly difficult for the 90-person international company, according to company president Mike Bryan, especially being three hours from Denver airport. The company …
REG Opens Large-Scale Biodiesel Pump in Utah
Iowa-based Renewable Energy Group (REG) has announced the availability of their brand of biodiesel at a large-volume biodiesel terminal in Ogden, Utah. This company press release says this terminal is part of the company’s national infrastructure plan. REG has a strategic agreement with Kellerstrass Oil Co., a petroleum company and owner of the Ogden terminal, to offer blending of petroleum …
Biodiesel, Wind & Solar Powered Hotel Offers True “Green” Acres
Looking to get away from it all… including the dependence on foreign oil? Well, a cozy little hotel on Virginia’s Eastern Shore might just be the ticket for you. This story from The Chief Engineer says Thomas “Spess” Neblett, the owner and creator of The Neptune Vacation Suite Apartments in the quiet little town of Onley, Va. (population 450), says …
PA. Biodiesel Mandate Awaits Sustained Triggers
Pennsylvania’s 2 percent biodiesel mandate, passed earlier this year, is on hold, despite the fact that the state is meeting a 40-million-gallon-a-year biodiesel production threshold. This story from Biodiesel Magazine explains that there are some certification and sustainability measures that must also be met for the requirement to kick in: Conditions that need to be met above and beyond the …