I couldn’t resist this story when I ran across it. A science teacher from Miami, Florida is truly putting her money where her mouth is when it comes to how safe biodiesel is. Bertha Vasquez demonstrates for Miami’s NBC6 (which has this cool link to a bunch of ecologically-friendly in its Going Green section) and reporter Patricia Andreu just how …
Building A Sustainability Task Force
The National Biodiesel Board is looking for people to serve on its new Sustainability Task Force. You might remember from Cindy’s posting from Feb. 6th on the NBB National Conference & Expo blog that NBB chair Ed Hegland appointed Emily Bockian Landsburg of the Energy Cooperative and Philadelphia Fry-O-Diesel as the chair of the new group. Landsburg and NBB task …
Deere Running on Biofuels
John Deere sponsored one of the most popular and well attended Learning Center sessions at the 2008 Commodity Classic in Nashville this week. “Starch and Cellulose as Ethanol Feedstocks” discussed the importance of starch as today’s primary ethanol feedstock, harvesting challenges for increased corn yields as well as cellulose, and how to increase demand for biofuels. Don Borgman, director of …
Challenge to Argentine Export Tax System
The American Soybean Association (ASA) is filing a World Trade Organization challenge to Argentina’s export tax system… a system the ASA says turns out to be an unfair subsidy for Argentine biodiesel exports. This story posted on Agriculture Online has details: The Argentine export tax system favors biodiesel with lower export taxes for the fuel than for exports of raw …
Ohio Becoming Mecca for Green Collar Jobs
A new report says Ohio could be home to 174,000 advanced, renewable energy jobs by 2030. The report by the American Solar Energy Society, funded by the non-profit Ohio Business Development Coalition, says the Buckeye State is pioneering efforts to increase the number of skilled professionals in the renewable energy field: According to the Ohio Business Development Coalition (OBDC), the …
SD Biodiesel Tax Break Moves to Governor’s Desk
The South Dakota State House and Senate has voted unanimously to approve a bill that would cut state taxes on diesel mixed with biodiesel. This story in Land Line Magazine says if the governor signs the bill as expected, it could take a little time before the effects kick in: At the request of Gov. Mike Rounds, the House and …
NBB to Truckers: Biodiesel Getting Better
Officials with the National Biodiesel Board are telling those who depend on their trucks… and the fuel they put in those trucks… for their living that the quality of biodiesel is getting better. This story posted on Truck News.com says the NBB’s Richard Nelson has addressed those attending this week’s National Truck Equipment Associations’ Work Truck Show in Atlanta, Georgia: …
House Approves $18 billion in Taxes on Big Oil to Help Renewables
The U.S House today approved $18 billion in new taxes on the oil companies that will fund incentives for renewable energy. Bloomberg.com reports that the vote comes as crude oil prices topped $100 a barrel and will send the bill to the Senate, where similar measures have faced stiff opposition in the past: The $18.1 billion measure, versions of which …
Central Florida Buses to Run on Own Biodiesel
Buses in Central Florida will soon be running on a blend of their own biodiesel… a first in the country for any bus fleet. According to this story in the Orlando Sentinel, a $2.5 million state grant is helping Lynx, Central Florida’s bus system, convert all 290 of its buses and four support vehicles to run on biodiesel in 2009: …
California Working on Biofuel Access
While California leads the nation in alternative fuel stations, pumps offering E85 ethanol and biodiesel are still extremely rare. In fact, this Los Angeles Times story posted on Checkbiotech.org says that out of the 835 alternative fuel stations, 379 offer electricity, 215 pump liquefied petroleum gas, and 174 dispense compressed natural gas… with just a handful offering biodiesel or E85. …