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 …
More Tuscon Buses to Run on Biodiesel
Over the next five years, Tuscon, Arizona will be buying more biodiesel buses for the city’s public transportation system. This story from the Arizona Daily Star says Sun Tran, Tuscon’s bus system, is increasing the number of biodiesel buses… even as the green fuel already goes into a majority of the buses: The transit system has a contract to expand …
World Ethanol, Biodiesel Production Doubling by 2030
The amount of biofuels being produced in the world will double between 2010 and 2030… and that represents a significant increase from previous U.S. government estimates of how much ethanol and biodiesel will be produced in the future. This story from Reuters says a report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration says biofuels will be “an increasingly important source” of …
Ethanol Investing Decline
The issue of investment and financing for ethanol plants and bio refineries in general was addressed today by Chris Groobey, Baker & McKenzie, LLP. He works on project financing with investors and lenders and mostly in renewable fuels. He painted a pretty bleak picture. In fact, he says the New York investment community is not interested in biofuels right now. …
Biodiesel Powers Power Company
Electric utility giant Consolidated Edison… Con Ed as it is affectionately known… announced today it will run more biodiesel in its vehicles. This company press release from the utility giant serving more than three million customers in the New York City area has more: Con Edison’s fleet of approximately 1,700 diesel trucks is using cleaner-burning B-20 biodiesel fuel, 20 percent …
USB: Soy-Biodiesel Unfairly Blamed
Soybean growers say their crop is being unfairly maligned in the Food-versus-Fuel debate. Members of the United Soybean Board gathered in Indianapolis, Indiana this week, and part of what they are discussing is how to counter arguments supporting that viewpoint. Gary Truitt’s Hoosier Ag Today has more details from the meeting: During the discussion, there was considerable debate on how …