In a move that can only be seen as a bold one to boost renewable fuels north of the border, the Canadian government has pledged to put $500 million into development of fuels from renewable sources. This story from The Canadian Press says the money is going to be put in a development fund managed by Sustainable Development Technology Canada: …
Maryland to Buy More Green Vehicles
Officials in the state of Maryland have pledged to buy more vehicles that run on ethanol and biodiesel and triple the number of hybrids in the state’s fleet by 2011. This story in the Baltimore (MD) Sun says the Board of Public Works, which approved the policy, is welcoming the news as a way to make Maryland more eco-friendly: “Even …
Researchers Find Biodiesel Exhaust Healthier than Diesel
Australian researchers have found that diesel exhaust does much more damage to people’s health than does biodiesel’s exhaust. This article from Science Daily says the professors at Deakin University have confirmed what many of us around biodiesel have known for a long time… that biodiesel exhaust is much easier to breathe: Associate Professor Leigh Ackland, Associate Head of Deakin’s School …
Talkin’ Biodiesel
To whet your appetite for the upcoming International Congress on Biodiesel (as if you needed anything else to get you excited about the green fuel!), the organizers of the November gathering in Austria are offering a new podcast. The programs will feature several different topics from covering the science and the technologies of biodiesel… part of this year’s theme… from …
Biofuels on Parade at Minnesota State Fair
Thanks to our friend Bob Moffitt, Communications Director, Clean Fuels & Vehicle Technologies Program, American Lung Association of Upper Midwest, for pointing us to his YouTube video about their “Path to Cleaner Air” exhibit at the Minnesota State Fair. It focuses on how “Biofuels like E85 (ethanol) and biodiesel are making Minnesota’s air cleaner and greener.”
D-Day Invader Traveling Around U.S. on Biodiesel
She stormed the beaches of Normandy on June 6th, 1944 in a bid to free Europe of Nazi tyranny. Now, LST (Landing Ship Tank) 325 is storming its way around America, running on biodiesel… possibly showing Americans how to shed their dependence on the tyranny of foreign oil. This article on Grainnet.com says the flat-bottomed troop transport, designed to run …
California Biodiesel Producers Start Group
In an effort to promote increased use and production of high quality, renewable biodiesel fuel in California, biodiesel producers in the Golden State have formed a trade group, the California Biodiesel Alliance. This article from the Central Valley Business Times says founding members of the group are biodiesel feedstock suppliers, producers, fuel marketers and distributors, technology providers, fuel retailers, consumers, …
Farmers Being Asked to Use Soy Biodiesel at Harvest Time
As the combines get ready to crank up to bring in this year’s grain harvest, farmers are being asked to fill up on fuel made from part of their crops. This story on The Farmer.com says the United Soybean Board has teamed up with National Biodiesel Board to launch a campaign asking farmers to use soy biodiesel in their harvesting …
Poisonous Plant Could Be Answer in Food vs. Fuel Debate
As the debate continues to rage over using some foodstuffs for fuel, there seems to be a plant that could solve the issue. The jatropha plant from Africa has been used for centuries as a natural hedge. Now, it could be a natural substitute for plants such as soybeans in the search for feedstocks for biodiesel. This story on CNNMoney.com …
Chesapeake Biodiesel Plant Gets Environmental Evaluation
Engineers for the company developing a 320-million-gallon-a-year biodiesel plant on a river around Chesapeake Bay in Virginia have looked at the possible impact the facility would have on the surrounding wetlands. WAVY-TV in Portsmouth, VA reports that the facility will be on the Elizabeth River: “Our site is designed every step of the way to minimize any impact on the …