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 …
Jobe: Biodiesel Growth Faces Challenges
High input costs could put the damper on biodiesel growth in 2008, despite the fact that demand for the green fuel will grow. But the long-term outlook still looks pretty positive. This story from Reuters says that assessment comes from the head of the industry’s largest trade group: “The economics overall for the biodiesel industry are extremely challenging right now. …
Biofuels Demand Driving Corn & Soybean Price Spikes
Corn and soybean prices have gone to record levels as producers struggle to keep up with food and biofuel demands. Bloomberg.com says a new U.S. government report prompted traders to push soybean prices to a record of about $13 a bushel while corn prices hit an 11-year high of $4.95 a bushel: The world soybean harvest will fall 6.5 percent …
FAPRI Analyzes Energy Bill
The Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute at the University of Missouri has completed an analysis of the new energy bill, and the results seem to point to some pretty positive results from the legislation. FAPRI reports the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007, signed into law by President Bush on December 19th, will have positive consequences for …
Galveston Biodiesel Plant Back On
A Galveston, Texas biodiesel plant that looked like it was done after oil giant Chevron backed out of a deal to expand operations, now looks like it is back to expanding its efforts. This story in the Houston Chronicle says Galveston Bay Biodiesel will spend $15 million to do some improvements and settle legal claims against it after Chevron left …
BioGold From the USA to the UK and Beyond
BioGold Fuels is extending the reach of its operations throughout the Western World. The company has entered into a joint venture with a company in the United Kingdom to establish waste to energy plants throughout Europe. BioGold Fuels Corporation in a joint venture with Jack Allen Holdings Limited, has formed BioGold Fuels U.K. Limited and BioGold Fuels Europe Limited. The …
Biodiesel Producers Gear Up for Orlando
In less than a month, biodiesel producers, users, and enthusiasts will gather in sunny Orlando, Florida for the National Biodiesel Board’s 2008 National Biodiesel Conference & Expo. The event is touted as the “largest and most comprehensive event in the history of the biodiesel industry.” This press release from the NBB says Florida has become a natural place for biodiesel …
Troubled Times at Imperium
Seattle-based biodiesel giant Imperium Renewables seems to be hitting some tough times lately. The latest news from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer says the company is laying people off: The Seattle biodiesel producer, which employed 107 people in mid-August, did not provide specific numbers. It issued this short statement when asked about the layoff by the P-I’s Andrea James. “Imperium Renewables has …