Investors still seem to have quite an appetite for alternative energy… but their tastes might be changing a bit. This AP story posted on Forbes.com says energy sources such as solar and wind have made some gains, while ethanol investments became somewhat flat: According to IPOHome.com, 115 companies went public in the U.S. during the first half of the year. …
Dakota Skies Turn Dark
Just less than a year ago, the prospects for a biodiesel plant in Minot, North Dakota seemed pretty promising as the state’s governor, a U.S. Senator, and North Dakota’s ag commissioner attended the groundbreaking at the Dakota Skies Biodiesel plant. But a decision by the Minot Area Development Corporation, which donated the land for the plant in the first place, …
Soybean Acres Drop Despite Biodiesel Rise
In what might be considered a bit counter-intuitive, U.S. soybean acres planted have dropped to the lowest level in 12 years… despite increased interests in biodiesel… a product that often uses soy oil as its feedstock. This story posted on Forbes.com says the culprit is more farmers switching to corn to make the even more popular ethanol: The USDA reported …
Speaker Declares “Energy Independence Day”
Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives have rolled out an energy plan during what they tout as America’s “Energy Independence Day.” The Houston Chronicle reports Speaker Nancy Pelosi outlined a broad array of “green energy” proposals her party hopes to get through Congress before leaving for the August recess: “When it comes to energy, we must think big,” Pelosi …
Making Biofuels More Accessible in Tennessee
Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen wants drivers to be able to find ethanol and biodiesel to fill their tanks. This story on the WKRN-TV web site says stickers at the gas pumps pushing the state’s new BioTenn plan, promoting E85 ethanol and biodiesel, should be popping up in about a month or so: “What I’m trying to do is get Tennessee …
Tuscaloosa Latest to Make Biodiesel Switch
Tuscaloosa, Alabama is the latest city to switch its diesel powered fleet to biodiesel. This story on the WVUA-TV web site says the city is switching nearly 300 vehicles to run on a 20% biodiesel blend: The fuel comes from a plant in West Alabama called Alabama Biodiesel, located in Moundville. According to the company’s website, they began producing biodiesel …
Familiar Face to Lead Renewable Energy Market
For a long time, Texas was known to be a leader in the non-renewable energy fields… in particular, the petroleum market. But it looks like the Lone Star State is now poised to dominate the green fuel picture as well. This story in the Houston Chronicle says Texas will lead the nation in renewable energy production by 2025, and could …
Royal Riding on Biodiesel
In an effort to be more friendly to the planet, Prince Charles says he is using biodiesel in a couple of his personal vehicles… and might even use the green fuel on the Royal Train. This story appeared in the Seattle Post Intelligencer: The report — printed on recycled paper in vegetable-based ink — said the prince had reduced the …
Solving the Glycerin Glut
Biodiesel is riding the wave of record production that only looks to get bigger as Americans yearn for the greener fuel to help break the addiction on foreign oil. That’s the good news. The bad news is the industry is facing a glut of a biodiesel by-product called glycerin. But researchers at Rice University have found a way to make …
Arkansas to Get 150 MGY Biodiesel Plant
Consolidated Biofuels and International Bio Fuels Corp. have announced plans to jointly open a biodiesel plant in Arkansas… one that will be among the biggest in the country. The refinery will be built on a 65 acre lot on the Mississippi Port of Yellow Bend and will produce 150 million gallons of biodiesel and 70 million bushels of soybean oil …