California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger talked about making biofuels cool and sexy during two speeches last week on the East Coast. Schwarzenegger spoke to the Council on Foreign Relations Board in New York on Thursday and at the Global Environmental Leadership Conference at Georgetown University on Wednesday, making nearly identical speeches comparing the environmental movement to bodybuilding and the need to …
New Biodiesel Plant for Kansas
Ground-breaking is planned for this summer for a new 60-million-gallon-a-year at Emporia, Kansas. According to this story in the Lawrence (KS) Journal-World, Iowa-based Renewable Energy Group will build the refinery with hopes of opening in just more than a year: Company president Nile Ramsbottom said the company looked at Emporia because of its location and an ongoing partnership with soybean …
Emerald Isle Going Greener
Ireland has broken ground on its first large-scale biodiesel refinery, expected to be making the alternative fuel by 2008. According to a story in Biofuel Review, the plant will use a variety of sources… many from local farmers: Green Biofuels Ireland intends to commence production of biodiesel from oil seed rape, recovered vegetable oil and animal fats in 2008. The …
Missouri Senate Moves Biodiesel Mandate
The Missouri State Senate has given first round approval to a 5% biodiesel mandate. This story on eTrucker.com says Senator Bill Stouffer’s bill would require all diesel sold in the state would have to have at least five percent biodiesel beginning in April 2009: Not only would the biodiesel mandate benefit agriculture, but “This is something that’s good for the …
Biodiesel Beats Lamborghini
Recently, I told you about an upcoming episode of MTV’s “Pimp My Ride” where a 1965 Chevy Impala is souped up with a biodiesel engine and blows away a Lamborghini in the quarter mile. Now, I’ve had a chance to talk to the man behind that Impala, Johnathan Goodwin, co-partner of SAE Energy… a company that specializes in converting gas-guzzlers …
More Uses for Biodiesel By-products
While animal feed products from the production of ethanol have caught most of the attention, researchers are looking at finding more uses for the by-products of biodiesel. According to this article posted on posted on ThePoultrySite.com, Iowa State University and the USDA’s Agricultural Research Services are looking at using glycerin in poultry and swine feed: “With an increase in biodiesel …
BC Buses Switch to Biodiesel
City buses in Victoria, British Columbia are now running on 5% biodiesel. The Victoria Times Colonist reports the move will save green in two ways… in the environment and the city budget: No mechanical modifications are required to the fleet, said transit senior vice-president Ron Drolet. “You can do it without any capital outlay. You get a supply that will …
WI’s First Commercial Biodiesel
Wisconsin’s first commercial biodiesel plant has started producing the renewable fuel… and a second refinery will open in about a week. According to this story in the Wisconsin State Journal, the Sanimax plant in DeForest began testing the production of beef tallow-based biodiesel: The first batch of biodiesel is expected to be ready in one week. Plant manager Russ Read …
RFS Program Announced
In step with the Bush Administration’s call to increase the supply of alternative and renewable fuels nationwide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today established the nation’s first comprehensive Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program, according to an EPA news release. At a press conference today, EPA Administrator Johnson, joined by Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman and National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator Nicole …
Biodiesel on “Pimp My Ride”
The hit MTV show “Pimp My Ride” will feature a 1965 Chevy Impala coverted to run on biodiesel for its Earth Day show on April 22nd. According to this story posted on CNET News, as part of the show, the converted Impala goes up against a Lamborghini in a quarter-mile drag race. And the Impala wins! “You don’t have to …