As biodiesel has gained in popularity so has a feedstock that used to be just a waste product. Used cooking oil from restaurants can be made into some pretty high-quality biodiesel, and refiners are having to compete to get what used to be thrown out. This story on the Oregonlive.com web site says it used to cost restaurants to have …
The Math Behind Soy Biodiesel
The recent story of a biodiesel plant under construction near Evansville, Wisconsin that halted construction because of the high price of its feedstock, soybeans (see my November 13th, 2007 story on the issue), has prompted the local newspaper to question how economical making biodiesel really is. This article in the Janesville (WI) Gazette breaks down how you can actually still …
Minnesota Farmer to Head Biodiesel Board
Appleton, Minnesota soybean farmer Ed Hegland has been tapped to head the National Biodiesel Board. This press release from NBB says he’s no stranger to the biodiesel advocacy group: Hegland has served as a board member for the nonprofit trade association since 2004, representing the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council, and was elected to the governing board last year. …
BioWillie Wonka
With all due respect to Willie Nelson’s biodiesel, this could be be the sweetest of all the biofuels. A company in England is making biodiesel from waste chocolate from a candy company. This story from the Lancashire Evening Post has more about the product from Ecotec: And in the ultimate test, the chocolate invention is set to be used to …
New Biodiesel Plant Opens in Houston
Green Earth Biofuels has held the official grand opening of its new 90-million-gallon-a-year biodiesel plant near Houston, Texas. This story on Grainnet.com says the ceremony attracted company officials and Texas Governor Rick Perry: Greg Bafalis, Green Earth Fuels president and chief executive officer, remarked, “As the nation’s newest leader in helping energy companies integrate renewable, environmentally clean, and high-value biodiesel …
Biodiesel Producers Facing Tighter Margins
Despite increased demand for biodiesel, makers of the green fuel are having a tougher time making a profit. This article from Reuters says sales of American biodiesel tripled last year to about 250 million gallons and will go even higher next year. But the success has been a double-edged sword: [T]he sales jumps have had the side effect of helping …
The Vicious Cycle of Irony
Increased demand for biodiesel has meant an increased demand for biodiesel plants… which has increased demand for feedstocks such as soybeans… which has pushed up the price for soybeans… which has hurt the operation of the biodiesel plants. That’s irony, right? Some biodiesel plants are starting to feel the negative effects of the surge that brought them to life in …
Tyson, Syntroleum Biodiesel to Keep Air Force Flying
Tyson and Tulsa, Oklahoma-based Syntroleum have formed a company called Dynamic Fuels that will make jet fuel out of animal fat. This article on the cleantech.com web site says the two will turn 2.3 billion pounds of animal fat into 75 million gallons of biodiesel a year: Tyson announced that it would build the first biodiesel plant under its venture …
Biofuel Makers Want Changes to Farm Credit Rules
Leaders in Iowa’s renewable energy field are asking Congressional leaders to change federal law so Farm Credit would be allowed to make loans to build ethanol and biodiesel plants that do not have a majority of farmer-stockholders as owners. This story in Wallaces Farmer says they’ve sent a letter to both of Iowa’s U.S. Senators, Chuck Grassley and Tom Harkin, …
EU, NBB Face Off over Tax Credit
Lobbyists for the European Union and the National Biodiesel Board have been working Congress hard over the issue of tax credits. This article from The Hill.com says EU officials say the tax credit just allows American biodiesel to be dumped in Europe while the NBB argues the incentives are needed to support the alternative fuel: At issue are increased U.S. …