The American Soybean Association (ASA) is raising concerns about the level of government funding to alternative energy sources, particularly biodiesel, in the Senate’s version of the Farm Bill. This article from Grainnet.com says provisions in the energy portion of the bill are among the group’s concerns: In the Energy Title, ASA is very concerned with the level of funding provided …
Rockers, Biofuel Makers Appeal to Congress
The U.S. House Select Committee on Energy Independence will hear from biofuel producers, environmentalists, and even some music stars when it holds a hearing entitled “The Grass is Greener: The Future of Biofuels,” tomorrow morning (Wednesday, October 24th) at 9:30 EDT in Washington, D.C. Among those testifying before Rep. Edward J. Markey’s (D-Massachusetts) committee, musician Adam Gardner (left) of the …
Missouri to Open Seventh Biodiesel Plant; More on the Way
A group of farmers and businessmen in Northern Missouri has announced they will open a five-million-gallon-a-year biodiesel lant near the town of Moberly. When opened, that will give the Show-Me State seven biodiesel plants with at least five more in the works. This story in the Columbia Daily Tribune says the Producers’ Choice Soy Energy’s soybean-based refinery is just in …
Florida Alternative Fuel Locator
Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles Bronson has announced a new website that provides locations in the state where E85, E10, biodiesel and biodiesel-blended fuels can be purchased. “This tool will enable motorists to locate renewable, cleaner burning fuels around the state,” Bronson said. “I am very pleased that a number of facilities are now making these fuels available …
Palm Beach County Buses Going Green
Palm Beach County in Florida is the latest municipality to switch its bus fleet to cleaner-burning biodiesel. Palm Tran, with its 9-10 million riders a year, will switch its 115 buses to biodiesel in a few months. This story in the Palm Beach Daily News says it will be green in two ways: for the environment and for the county’s …
100 MPG BioBike Racing Across Australia
The BioBike – a 100-mile-per-gallon, biodiesel-powered motorcycle – is racing 3,000 km (1,800 miles) across Australia. The BioBike, designed by a group of seven Mechanical Engineering students from the University of Adelaide in South Australia, is in the race from Darwin to Adelaide in the Greenfleet Technology Class for environmentally-friendly engines. This story on the gizmag.com web site says the …
VeraSun Wants Double Duty for Corn
Ethanol producer VeraSun is considering sinking $30 million into a process that would allow the company to also get biodiesel out of its ethanol production. This story in the Des Moines Register says VeraSun might make changes to a north Iowa plant to extract corn oil from dried distillers grain — an ethanol byproduct — and make that oil into …
Imperium to Provide Biodiesel for Hawaiian Electric
Seattle-based Imperium Renewables has inked an exclusive deal with Hawaiian Electric Company, which provides 95 percent of electricity for residents of the islands, to provide biodiesel for some of the utility’s generators. This post from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer has more details: The contract, which runs through 2011, calls for Imperium to supply between five million and 12 million gallons of …
The Future of Environmentalism
A student from the University of California-Berkeley is one of six North Americans to win the 2007 Brower Youth Award, recognizing her efforts to boost environmental sustainability at the school. A Cal press release says 21-year-old Rachel Barge, a junior majoring in conservation and resource studies, has spearheaded the school’s Green Initiative Fund, financing clean energy and transportation to include …
Automakers, Biodiesel Producers Want Better Standards and Sources
Officials from Chrysler and the NextDiesel refinery in Adrian, Michigan are calling for better standards for biodiesel and more oily feedstocks to make the green fuel. This story from the Adrian (MI) Daily Telegram says the officials discussed the issue during a tour of the plant this week: Right now NextDiesel, which started production in August at its facility on …