Indiana corn and soybean growers are helping to promote biofuels awareness in their state in a number of ways. For one, the corn growers have partnered with the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC) on a billboard and radio campaign in major Indiana cities aimed at informing consumers that all automakers approve the use of 10 percent ethanol-enriched fuel. The …
Renewable Energy Investments Up 50% in 2007
Venture capital (VC) investments in renewable energy sources, including solar, biodiesel, and ethanol (among others) hit $3.4 billion… up a whopping 50 percent over investments in green energy ventures in 2006. This story from RenewableEnergyAccess.com has more information: Investment in solar was more than $1.05 billion in more than 70 financing rounds. Investment in battery technology came to $433.9 Million …
Green Grocer Goes with Green Fuel
Safeway, one of the largest food and drug retailers in the nation, has announced it will fuel its entire U.S. fleet of trucks with 20 percent biodiesel. The move to run more than 1,000 trucks on the green fuel is being applauded by the National Biodiesel Board in this press release from the group: “Safeway is proud to lead by …
Biomass Conference Slated for April
Minneapolis, Minnesota will play host to the International Biomass ’08 Conference and Trade Show… a three-day gathering on April 15th-17th to look at the potential and future of biofuels produced from biomass. Biofuel producer and consultant BBI International is the host for the event that includes: Conference Features International Panel This panel will cover the opportunities and challenges of biomass …
Romney’s Stance on Renewables
It looks like former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney will win the Michigan primary. So, as I have done for other candidates as they have won caucuses and primaries, I’m posting some of the winner’s thoughts on renewable energy. From the Romney campaign web site: Invest In Research. Dramatically increase federal spending on research, development, and demonstration projects that hold promise …
MO Governor Calls for Biodiesel Standard
Missouri Governor Matt Blunt wants a 5 percent biodiesel standard for his state. In his State of the State address before the Missouri House of Representatives, Blunt called on lawmakers to approve the standard: To further grow alternative fuel production, I support a B5 standard for biodiesel sold in our state. Biodiesel from soybeans has proven much more environmentally-friendly and …
Iowa to Hold 2nd Renewable Fuels Summit
The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association is inviting everyone to its 2nd Annual Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit, January 31st, 2008 at the Polk County Convention Complex in Des Moines, Iowa. Activities begin at 1:00 p.m. and run through 5:30 p.m. and include: * Keynote speaker Governor Chet Culver will share his vision for maintaining Iowa’s first-in-the-nation status in renewable fuels. * …
Biomass Advisory Committee Members
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Acting Secretary Chuck Conner and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Samuel Bodman today announced the appointment of six new members and the reappointment of seven members to serve on its Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee for a term of three years. The Committee was established by the Biomass Research and Development Act …
ND Gov Disputes National Geographic with Renewable Energy Successes
North Dakota Governor John Hoeven is strongly disputing the contents of a National Geographic article that paints the Northern Plains state in a less-than-flattering light. The article entitled “The Emptied Prairie” talks about how so many towns have been abandoned because of tough times. But in a letter to the editor of the National Geographic, Hoeven points to how biofuels …
Thar Receives $1.9 Mil Grant for Biodiesel Production
A Pittsburgh-based maker of supercritical fluids… replacements for solvent-based technologies in the pharmaceutical, food, chemical, and electronics industries… is getting some money to help improve the efficiency of biodiesel production. This story from the Pittsburgh (PA) Tribune-Review says Thar Technologies, Inc. has received a $1.9 million grant from the National Institute of Science and Technologies: Unlike most biodiesel-producing techniques, the …