Country music legend Willie Nelson has been a longtime advocate of the American farmer and the American biofuels industry. While he’s been using a biodiesel-powered bus for his cross-country tour, one of his recent stops included New York City. This story on the CNN Money web site says he was there to promote a new, non-profit group that supports biofuels: …
Wisconsin Lawmakers Getting Calls on Biofuels
As legislators in Wisconsin continue their months-long wrangling over what should be in the state budget, biofuels advocates are making sure renewable energy is not left by the wayside. The Wisconsin Legislature was supposed to have approved a budget starting by July 1st, but that process is not complete… making the state the only one without an approved budget right …
Biodiesel from Algae
Science is giving the desert regions of the world the chance to get in on the biodiesel boom. Oil-producing algae could hold more promise than conventional Midwestern crops now primarily used to make the green fuel. This story in the El Paso (TX) Times says a company called Valcent Products has unveiled to the media its system of 10-foot-long water-filled …
The Brotherhood of Biodiesel
As naysayers try to bash the promise of biofuels, a man in Washington state is doing his part to spread the word through his brotherhood of biodiesel. This story in the Othello (WA) Outlook says Bill Riley, the director of Big Bend Economic Development Council, has been making his own biodiesel for several years. He’s taking the approach that every …
Ethanol on the Cob II
Citigroup is presenting “Ethanol on the Cob II,” a biofuels conference, October 2 in New York City. A number of companies with a biofuels interest will be presenting at the event, including Bunge North America. Tim Gallagher, Executive Vice President, Bunge North America and Todd Bastean, Vice President & General Manager, Bunge North America Biofuels, will address the conference and …
PA Gov. Touts Need for Alternative Fuels
Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell has unveiled his plan to his state legislature to increase the use of renewable fuels in Pennsylvania. Now, to follow up that call, Rendell has made a call to Beaver County, PA at will be the biggest producer of biodiesel in the state. This story in the Beaver County Times-Allegheny Times has more details about Rendell’s …
Biodiesel Booming in the Stock Market, Too
Midwest farmers and truckers, as well as environmental enthusiasts, have long admired the green benefits of biodiesel… green because of how clean it is and green because of the money it saves its users. Biodiesel gets 30 percent better mileage than gasoline (although, I realize the engines are different, and you can’t make a direct comparison between the two). This …
The Greenest Team in Football
The Philadelphia Eagles don’t just wear green jerseys (although, what was up with those UGLY uniforms this past weekend?). They also are living the green lifestyle. This story on the ABC News web site says the team is probably the greenest franchise in American sports: When the lights come on for an Eagles game at Lincoln Financial Field, 30 percent …
Wisconsin Biodiesel Association Opens Meeting to Public
The Wisconsin Biodiesel Association is opening its monthly meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 25th at 9:30 a.m. at the Wisconsin DNR office in Madison to the general public. This story on Wisconsin Ag Connection says it’s an effort to educate people about the benefits of biodiesel in the state: WBA President Jeff Pieterick says the group has prepared a particularly informative …
Former EU Ag Commissioner on Biofuels
Back in 2003, the European Union instituted some major reforms in its agricultural sector, which are now known as the “Fischler Reforms” after the Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries at the time, Franz Fischler. Among the policies instituted at the time was a very small incentive for farmers to produce crops on set aside land that could be …