With the rising interest in biodiesel and the increasing popularity of biodiesel-fueled vehicles (as we reported last Tuesday, July 22nd), consumers need to know how they can use the green fuel and still keep their manufacturer’s warranty. Recently, biodiesel received ASTM approval for meeting standards for fuel use. That means that any biodiesel that meets that standard is as safe …
Postal Service Delivering on Alternatives
Your mail could be delivered using green energy. This story from NPR says that the U.S. Postal Service has the largest fleet of alternatively-fueled vehicles in the country… 43,000 strong. And that’s just the beginning of its green efforts: It’s using solar cells to power some buildings. It’s using eco-friendly packaging. It’s so hip, it even has a vice president …
Shrimp Goes Big with Biodiesel
Researchers at Mississippi State University are looking at ways to turn the millions of pounds of shrimp parts not used for food into biodiesel. This story from Biodiesel Magazine says the project is being funded by the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium (MASGC), part of a federal/state partnership that matches National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration experts and resources with state academic …
CO Ranked High in Using Less Oil
Colorado is ranked high in the states becoming less dependent on oil, according to a study released by the Natural Resources Defense Council. In fact, it ranks ninth out of all fifty states; California ranks first and Mississippi ranks last. A primary reason is the addition of their alternative fuels infrastructure and promotion of such fuels.
Diesel Vehicles Gain Popularity, Good for Biodiesel
Diesel-powered vehicles are gaining in popularity, despite the higher price of diesel fuel compared to regular unleaded gasoline. And that rise in interest in those vehicles is good news for the biodiesel industry. Business Week reports sales are brisk with many makes getting into the business: Howard Cooper Volkswagen in Ann Arbor, Mich., for example, says that a buyer putting …
New Biodiesel Crop Becoming Cash Crop for Farmers
A new feedstock for the growing biodiesel industry could be a cash cow for the western states where it will be growing. Camelina is an oilseed that is growing in popularity in the more arid regions of the western United States. In fact, the profit potential is believed to be so great that the State of Colorado’s Agricultural Value-Added Development …
Ethanol Waiver Delay Gains Biodiesel Chief Praise
While the EPA delay of issuing a decision on Texas’ request for a waiver from the Renewable Fuel Standard (see Cindy’s story from earlier today) is seen as good news for the ethanol industry, it is also being praised by its biodiesel brethren. National Biodiesel Board Chief Executive Officer Joe Jobe issued this statement on the decision: “In considering the …
Federal Grant Helps Buy Cincy’s Biodiesel Buses
Cincinnati has received a federal grant to help the city’s mass transit system buy some biodiesel buses. This story from the Business Courier of Cincinnati quotes Ohio U.S. Sen. George Voinovich in announcing a $776,000 Clean Fuels Grant from the Federal Transit Administration through the U.S. Department of Transportation to the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA): Funds provided by …
Beef Tallow to Fuel Nebraska Biodiesel Plant
A beef producer that cranks out 22 million pounds of tallow a week will be turning that waste into another alternative to non-renewable petroleum. This story from the Sioux City (IA) Journal says Beef Products, Inc., better known as BPI, the world’s largest producer of lean boneless beef, has partnered with Natural Innovative Renewable Energy to build a 60-million-gallon-a-year biodiesel …
Home of Pony Express Making Run at Biodiesel Capitol
St. Joseph, Missouri is becoming a center for renewable fuels in this country as the city will soon become home to its third biodiesel plant, joining an ethanol refinery in the area. This story in the St. Joseph News-Press says the groundbreaking ceremony this week was purey ceremonial as Terra Bioenergy has been busy for some time, pouring concrete slabs …