University of Colorado officials have been experimenting with burning biodiesel in their campus mass transit system buses… the Buff Buses… and the results have been pretty “buff” in their own right. This article in the school’s online newspaper, the Campuspress.com, says it has been out performing other “clean”… but still petroleum-based… fuels: In 2003, students passed a referendum to increase …
USDA Hands Out $18.2 mil in Renewable Energy Grants & Loans
USDA Rural Development officials have announced that 345 proposals in 37 states have been tapped to get about $18.2 million for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. This release from the Ag Department says the $13.4 million in grants and $4.8 million in loan guarantee/grant combinations are being awarded through USDA’s Section 9006 Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements …
Biodiesel Featured at Wisconsin Farm Tech Days
Biodiesel was one of the stars at this year’s Wisconsin Farm Tech Days as the state’s biodiesel industry also pushes the green fuel as the source of energy for this year’s harvest. This story on Wisconsin Ag Connection has more details: Jeff Pieterick, president of the Wisconsin Biodiesel Association, acknowledges that Wisconsin farmers are already among the biggest advocates of …
Ethanol at the EC
Leaders of the biofuels industry in both Europe and the United States are calling on the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to disavow a paper issued last week critical of world ethanol production. Europe is well behind the United States in biofuels production and use, but the European Commission is moving ahead with its plans to have biofuels …
Hydrogen Gives Boost to Biodiesel Bus
Buses in Toledo could get a dash more power with a dash of hydrogen along with the biodiesel they’re burning. This story on the Emerging Current web site says a test is being done to see if hydrogen will boost the biodiesel’s performance: H2 Engine Systems’ Executive Vice President David Macpherson claimed he could feel a surge in the engine …
Biodiesel Changing Attitudes About Diesel Vehicles
For years, diesel powered vehicles got a bad rap as being too noisy and smelly for the average consumer. But now, with the advent of cleaner burning biodiesel (compared to the smell of french fries), Americans are buying more diesel burners. This story on the Driving.ca web site has more details: Americans generally have regarded diesels as too noisy and …
Biodiesel to be on History Channel
Like I need another reason to watch the History Channel! This release posted on BusinessWire.com says biodiesel producer Better Biodiesel is going to be featured on an upcoming episode of the History Channel’s show Boneyard… a show that looks at the recycling of some big items, such as bombers and bridges: Chairman and CEO Ron Crafts will appear on The …
Greening the Garbage Truck
Two hundred twenty-five garbage trucks from Allied Waste will soon be running on biodiesel. There’s this quick blurb in Biodiesel Magazine about the move: San Mateo County, Calif.-based Allied Waste will roll out its new green initiative Thursday with the announcement of a major change: Its entire 225-truck fleet will switch to locally sourced biodiesel. The move is expected to …
Virginia Biodiesel Plant Vote Delayed
A much-anticipated vote on whether to allow a 320-million-gallon-a-year biodiesel plant to go into a site along the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia hit a delay on Tuesday evening. This story in the Virginian-Pilot says the South Norfolk city council wants to consider the issue a little longer: City Council members said they hope more time will resolve questions about the …
Biodiesel Bike Breaks Record
So you think a biodiesel engine is just for slow-moving tractors and slow-accelerating big rigs? Well, the bike pictured above is changing that whole line of thinking. What you see is the “DIE(sel) MOTO” project… a converted BMW biodiesel-powered motorcycle that now holds the world record for a diesel bike at more than 220 kph! This story on motoring.co.az says …