The U.S. Senate has hit an impasse over a proposed energy bill that makes larger allowances for alternative energy, in particular, wind power, than previous energy bills. This AP story from Forbes.com says Democrats had hopes for an early vote on the measure, but Republicans were against many of the measures in the omnibus bill: The impasse over renewable fuels …
Palm Oil Biodiesel Considered for Hawaii
Blue Earth Biofuels, which is building a 40-million-gallon-a-year biodiesel refinery with capabilities to go to 120 million gallons, has gotten the green light from the Hawaiian legislature to move forward with the project. But, this article in BizJournals.com, says the company that will buy the biodiesel for electric production, Hawaiian Electric Co., will host a series of meetings with the …
Riders on Udall Bus Tour Give Thoughts
The other day, I told you about about how the Morris K. Udall Foundation was making its annual cross-country trip promoting environmental and Native American issues and how this year it is doing under biodiesel power (see my post from June 12th). The Philadelphia Enquirer caught up with the group at one of its first stops after leaving Washington, DC: …
Greening Waste Management
While garbage trucks clean up our trash, too many times the trucks themselves have been polluting the environment through their emissions. According to this Reuters story, a growing number of cities, including New York and San Francisco, are switching their garbage trucks to the greener fuel fleets to cut soot and greenhouse gases… without any extra costs: “The greening of …
County on Long Island Going to Biodiesel
Suffolk County, New York is switching all of its 439 public works trucks to run on biodiesel. The move comes as neighboring Nassau, switched its 270 trucks to the biofuel as of the first of this year. According to this story in Newsday, officials unanimously approved the move for the end of next year. The switch comes after both counties …
Biodiesel Promotion and Quality Assurance Act Introduced
U.S. Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) is the sponsor of a new measure designed to ensure that a portion of America’s future diesel fuel supply is renewable. In a release from the National Biodiesel Board (of course, the NBB heartily endorses this bill), the Biodiesel Promotion and Quality Assurance Act would up the amount of biodiesel and “bio-based replacement diesel” that …
Biofuel Locator Maps Unmet Demands
NearBio, the innovator of technology that sends to your computer, cell phone, or mobile device info on where the nearest alternative fuel station is, has established a new web site: NeedBio.COM, a free registry that links local consumer demand for biodiesel with suppliers serving their area. Check out this from a company press release: “By giving biodiesel consumers a voice, …
Udall Bus Running on Biodiesel
A B20 blend of biodiesel will be what fuels the Morris K. Udall Foundation’s bus tour this year. The tour that highlights public service, environmental, and Native American issues launched today in Washington, D.C. According to this National Biodiesel Board news release, members of Congress and federal government agency leaders kicked off the coast-to-coast Udall Legacy Bus Tour near the …
Soybean Prices Spike Biodiesel Growth
The latest monthly crop report from the USDA says the rapid rise in soybean prices, brought on by the rapid rise in the biodiesel industry, is keeping biodiesel from being as profitable as it could be. This story on Forbes.com says the price for the biodiesel feedstock just rose above the profitability level: Industry experts say biodiesel plants make a …
Biodiesel, Solar for the Big Apple
Being green isn’t just for areas surrounded by green farm fields. The grey, concrete jungle of New York City will start using solar power and biodiesel to heat city buildings. An AP story posted on MSN’s money web site says the announcement comes as part of Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s environmental plans. He wants the city to reduce the city’s carbon …