The Earthrace, the 100 percent biodiesel-powered boat trying to set a record for circumnavigation of the globe, is approaching its last port before its final run back to Spain… and a world record. This update from the earthrace.net web site says Earthrace will dock at Port Suez, Egypt, after getting special permission to go through the Suez Canal, and fuel …
Biodiesel Could Be Future for Railroads
Trains are being touted right now for their efficient use of fuel. And riding the rails could become even greener, if some testing of biodiesel in locomotives proves positive. A small train company in the Pacific Northwest is using biodiesel on some of its routes. This story from the Seattle Times says the Eastern Washington Gateway Railroad has fueled up …
Biodiesel Could Bail Out Hummers
General Motors’ Hummer has caught a lot of heat with gas prices climbing above $4 and $5 a gallon. Those high prices could be the death sentence for gas-guzzling, all-terrain vehicles, as GM looks to save its business by finding products that will sell. But their could be a glimmer of hope on the horizon for the go-anywhere… but drink-everything-in-the-tank… …
Biodiesel Blend Regulations Expected to Boost Support and Demand
Biodiesel is expected to become a hotter commodity with consumers. The ASTM International D02 Main Committee has approved a trio of ASTM specifications for biodiesel blends. Changes to the existing B100 biodiesel blend stock specification (ASTM D6751) Finished specifications to include up to 5% biodiesel (B5) in the conventional petrodiesel specification (ASTM D975) A new specification for blends of between …
Biodiesel Wins Full ASTM Approval
As you might remember from my post this past Tuesday (June 17th), biodiesel received preliminary approval from a subcommittee of ASTM International… an organization that sets standards for a variety of things, including fuels. Now, biodiesel has cleared the next important hurdle as the full ASTM International D02 Main Committee voted to approve three long-awaited specifications for biodiesel blends. This …
Brewing Up Biodiesel for an “A”
A group of students in West Virginia are learning how to brew up biodiesel, while helping run the buses to get them to those classes. This story from the The State Journal says in the face of $5-a-gallon diesel fuel… and the likelihood of that growing to $6… the Lincoln County High School FFA has started the first biodiesel production …
Two New Members on Biodiesel Governing Board
The National Biodiesel Board has two new members on its Governing Board. This NBB release says Greg Hopkins of US Biofuels and Scott Johnson of GEN-X Energy Group replace Graham Noyes, outgoing secretary, of Imperium Renewables, Grays Harbor, Washington; and Jake Stewart of Organic Fuels in Houston: Hopkins, CEO of US Biofuels, has 35 years of combined experience in the …
Grassley Promises Push for Biodiesel Tax Incentive
Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) renewed his commitment to Congress renewing the biodiesel tax incentive… while he took a shot at the Grocery Manufacturers Association for what he says is a smear campaign by the group against biofuels. Grassley’s comments come on the heels of Tuesday’s vote, when the U.S. Senate came up just eight votes short of cloture to end …
Biodiesel Helping Fuel “Dump the Pump Day”
This coming Thursday is national “Dump the Pump Day,” a day when drivers are encouraged to use public transportation instead of their own vehicles to save money and fuel. Some of those folks will be running on biodiesel, as many communities use the green fuel to run their buses. One such community is Springfield, Missouri, which runs 1.2 million miles …
Biodiesel Cleared for Case Construction Equipment
Heavy equipment manufacturer Case has approved the use of B20 biodiesel for more than 85 percent of its products. This company press release says this follows Case’s move two years ago to give B5 the OK, the first construction equipment maker to do so: “Case is proudly leading the construction industry to help lower customers’ fuel costs and make a …