Iowa State University has received an $885,000 U.S. Department of Energy grant to see how small particles can be used to help make biodiesel production bigger. This story from Biodiesel Magazine says the school’s Ames Laboratory is researching how nanoscale particles can be used to get chemical compounds (triglycerides, neutral lipids, and fatty acids) from microalgae for biodiesel production. According …
Tampa Could Become Major Biodiesel Port
Tampa, Florida could become a major port for alternative fuels… just in time as an area just up the road is expanding its potential to produce biodiesel. Yesterday, I told you about how Groveland is expanding its biodiesel production capabilities and hopes to rival Houston, Texas in terms of green fuel refining. Now, GreenHunter Energy Inc. of Houston might be …
Speakers Announced for the 2008 MO Agribusiness Summit
The line of speakers have been announced to participate at the 2008 Missouri Agribusiness Summit on November 12 in Columbia, MO. The purpose of this event is to provide information to agribusinesses and producers regarding current industry topics and to promote the local resources that are available to agribusinesses. “The 2007 inaugural Summit covered a lot of great topics, and …
Mustard Seed Biodiesel for Some CA Buses
Some locally grown mustard seeds could soon be powering buses in Monterey County, California. This story from the San Mateo County (CA) Times says the mustard seed oil could be turned into biodiesel by the end of this year: By December, Monterey-Salinas Transit officials hope to have refined mustard-seed oil — which will be mixed with regular diesel fuel — …
More Biodiesel for Central Florida
An area in Central Florida already touted as a mecca for biodiesel production could be getting another biodiesel plant. Back on August 15th, I told you how Groveland, just 30 miles west of Orlando in Lake County, was poised to have three biodiesel plants by the end of 2009. Now, this story in the Orlando Sentinel says yet another refinery …
Cal Clean Air Plan Good for Biodiesel, Solar
A plan to reduce California’s greenhouse gas emissions is expected to be a boon for biodiesel and solar in the state. This story from Biodiesel Magazine says the California Air Resources Board has recently unveiled its Proposed Scoping Plan to reduce those emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 and is set to approve the final version in December: The principle …
Don’t Let Up Gas on Alternatives to Gas
While oil prices have been slashed by more than half since summertime highs of nearly $150 a barrel and gas prices have plummeted as well (hey, I’m not complaining about $2.40/gallon gas I just bought tonight), it’s no reason to let up on the drive to expand alternatives, such as ethanol and biodiesel. This story in the Chattanooga (TN) Times …
Biodiesel, Solar Could Gain in Volatile Market
The stock market has been on a roller coaster ride lately… down hundreds of points one day, up hundreds the next. But in this article from Reuters, Jeffrey Sohl, the director of the Center for Venture Research at the University of New Hampshire and a professor of entrepreneurship at the university’s Whittemore School of Business and Economics, says some alternative …
School Buses Run on Biodiesel for 10 Years
The first school district in the country to run its buses on biodiesel is celebrating 10 years of driving on the green fuel. This feature from the National Biodiesel Board explains that Medford Township School District in New Jersey first started using biodiesel when Director of Operations and Technology for the Medford Township Board of Education Joe Biluck applied for …