A $40,000 grant is helping a Pennsylvania school district go green. The Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant will help the Radnor Township School District purchase nearly 94,000 gallons of B20 biodiesel, as well as helping cover two storage tanks for the green fuel. The district received praise from Pennsylvania Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen McGinty through her agency’s press release: “Schools, truck …
Duel Fuel Strategy for Gulf
Gulf Ethanol Corporation is pursuing a dual biofuel development strategy focused on processing feedstocks for ethanol in the U.S. and manufacturing biodiesel in Central America. Company officials say they will mainly focus on using its technology to develop non-food feedstocks for ethanol manufacturers in the United States. In Central America, Gulf will utilize feedstocks, such as palm oil, for the …
Growing Oil in the Texas Desert
While finding oil in the hot, dry regions of Texas might not be something new, how one company is going about it certainly is. Last September, I told you about Valcent Product’s algae-growing operation that has the potential of producing 100,000 gallons of algae oil a year for every acre. That compares to corn’s 30 gallons per acre from corn …
Former Imperium VP Joins Harris Group
International engineering firm Harris Group, which has a stake in the alternative energy game, has named former Imperium Renewables Vice President Mark Warner as the company’s director of the program management services. A company press release says Warner’s experience with Imperium will serve him well at Seattle-based Harris Group: Mr. Warner led the effort to build the largest biodiesel production …
Government Dispels Biofuels Myths
A new paper from the U.S. Department of Energy tries to put to rest some of the myths that still swirl around biofuels. The document, posted on the DOE web site, takes on some of the most-often repeated arguments against renewable energy with solid facts: MYTH: In terms of emissions, biofuels emit the same amount as gasoline or more. FACT: …
Report: World Biofuel Demand Will Continue to Skyrocket
A study by the Freedonia Group Inc. says that demand for biofuels throughout the world will grow by 20 percent a year to 92 million metric tons in 2011. This article from the International Business Times says the Cleveland-based industry research firm says the demand will increase despite the current food-versus-fuel and environmental debates: Market expansion will come from a …
Farm Foundation to Host Carbon Footprint Forum
Farm Foundation, a non-profit group that works as a catalyst for farm policy discussion, is holding a forum on the lifecycle carbon footprint analysis of biofuels, this coming Tuesday, April 8 from 9 am to 11 am in the First Amendment Lounge of the National Press Club in Washington D.C. Speakers providing opening comments will be: * Bruce McCarl of …
Biodiesel Additive Approved by Texas
An additive to biodiesel has been approved by the State of Texas for its low-emission program. ORYXE Energy International’s ORYXE(R) LED for Biodiesel has received an unprecedented approval for use in the Texas Low Emission Diesel Program (TxLED). This press release from the company says it means fuel producers will be able to use the additive at a lower treat …
Ground Breaks on MO Biodiesel Plant
Ground’s been broken on a new biodiesel plant in the Northern Missouri town of Moberly. This story in the Moberly (MO) Monitor says the $16.5 million Producer’s Choice Soy Energy plant and soybean crushing facility could be in operation by the beginning of March 2009: The almost 14-acre tract is filled with corn stubble today. But construction, to be done …
Algae to Ethanol Research
Algae is already being used to make biodiesel by companies like Solazyme of California. Now researchers are looking into using algae to make ethanol. According to the Kalamazoo Gazette, a group of Western Michigan University researchers gave U.S. Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) a presentation of their ideas last week. Chemistry professor Steven Bertman said, “The unifying theme is recovery of …