July is the time to celebrate Independence Day, but, unfortunately, the United States is still a long way from declaring energy independence. Home-grown, renewable fuels are one part of the answer when it comes to meeting America’s fuel needs, and soybean farmers and their soybean checkoff have been working to develop, test and prove the value of soy biodiesel for …
Investment in Biodiesel, Ethanol, Solar & Wind Up 60%
The world’s investment in clean energies – solar, wind and biofuels – jumped an amazing 60 percent from 2006 to 2007… thanks to rising oil prices and changing climate rules. This story from Bloomberg.com says the information came from a United Nations Environment Program report: Wind power attracted the most financing at $50 billion, according to a report today from …
Biodiesel Co. Prez: Push Back Against Myths
The president of a New York City biodiesel company is encouraging his industry to “push back” against the myths put out about the green fuel. Biodiesel Magazine reports Brent Baker, president of Tri-State Biodiesel got tired of dispelling misinformation about biodiesel: Isn’t it the reason people are starving? Doesn’t it take more energy to make than it creates? What about …
Getting More From Biodiesel By-products
Researchers at Rice University are finding more uses for the glut of glycerin brought about by the rise in popularity of biodiesel. A story from the school says the researchers have found a way to use E. coli and other bacteria to turn glycerin into chemicals formate, succinate and other valuable organic acids. The article says the work is being …
REG Finishes Buy of US Biodiesel
Regulators have given Iowa-based Renewable Energy Group (REG) the green light for finalizing its buy of a U.S. Biodiesel plant in Houston, Texas. This article from the Central Valley Business Times says REG will start producing biodiesel on July 7th: The REG Houston facility could produce 35 million gallons per year it it runs at, or near, full capacity, the …
More Biodiesel Facts to Dispute Food-vs.-Fuel
An interesting piece was posted on the AgWeb.com web site that I thought made a pretty good argument in the food-versus-fuel debate. Greg Anderson, a family farmer who grows soybeans near Newman Grove, Nebraska (and serves as an ex-officio member of the United Soybean Board Executive Committee) makes some pretty strong arguments that there is not a great food shortage …
Used Cooking Oil Powering Jacksonville’s Fleet
City vehicles in Jacksonville, Florida’s will be running more and more on biodiesel… and the green fuel will help clean up the city’s waste. This story from the Jacksonville Business Journal says the city is making 100 percent biodiesel at its fuel depot and mixing it to B20 to run in its diesel-powered vehicles: Fleet management picks up used cooking …
Biodiesel Boat Shatters World Record
Sixty days after it left port in Sagunto, Spain… and 14 days ahead of the previous world record… the 100 percent biodiesel-powered boat, Earthrace, has finished circling the globe faster than any other boat ever has before. This update comes from the Earthrace’s web site: Sagunto, Spain, 27 June 2008, 13.24 GMT: Earthrace, the world’s fastest eco-boat, has smashed the …
Biodiesel, Ethanol, Wind Part of ND Energy Future
A North Dakota commission is recommending that ethanol, biodiesel and wind play a larger role in that state’s energy future. The Dickinson (ND) Press reports that the state’s EmPower Commission has issued 10 major goals with renewable fuels at the forefront. Here are some of the goals: *Support the nation’s 25X25 Initiative to derive at least 25 percent of all …