A year ago, clogged fuel filters and angry truckers were a big part of the biodiesel scene in Minnesota, where the state had just implemented a biodiesel requirement. But according to this story in the St. Paul Pioneer Press, this past winter was much better: Truckers in Minnesota still experienced lots of clogged fuel filters over the winter, but an …
Biodiesel Part of Latest Illinois State Agribusiness Grants
Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has given out $240,000 in Opportunity Returns grants including money for a feasibility study to find new uses for a by-product of biodiesel production. Northern Illinois University in DeKalb received $16,850, to identify and evaluate new uses for glycerin to use as an energy feedstock. This from a governor’s press release: “This investment demonstrates Gov. Blagojevich’s …
Homebrew Biodiesel Makers Running Afoul of Tax Laws
The other day I told you about a pair of Wisconsin biodiesel homebrewers who have been sent a tax bill by the state for about 33 cents a gallon of what they’ve been making and using in their vehicles. Now, a Virginia man has pleaded guilty to misdemeanor tax evasion on biodiesel he’s been making and selling. According to this …
Special Delivery by Alternative Fuel
After meeting with the CEOs of major automobile manufacturers on Monday, President Bush spent Tuesday taking a look at alternative fuel vehicles used by the U.S. Postal Service, FedEx, UPS, and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. According to a White House fact sheet, the U.S. Postal Service has the “largest alternative fuel vehicle fleet in the world. Almost 13 …
Ground Broken at New Biodiesel Plant in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle and officials with North Prairie Productions, LLC were among those at a groundbreaking ceremony in Evansville for the state’s latest biodiesel plant. According to this article posted on the Wisconsin Technology Network web site, when completed, the plant will produce 45 million gallons of biodiesel a year: “Our state has the ideal resources to be a …
Crops for Fuel
During a renewable energy roundtable discussion at Purdue University last week, the question was posed, why are we using food for fuel? USDA Chief Economist Dr. Keith Collins had the chance to respond to the questioner with an important point. “I first would say that I don’t think about using food for fuel. I think about using crops for fuel. …
Bush and the Big Three
President George W. Bush participated in a demonstration of alternative fuel vehicles on the South Lawn drive of the White House Monday with the CEOs of the three largest auto makers. The president said he “found it very interesting that by 2012, 50 percent of the automobiles in America will be flex-fuel vehicles. That means that the American consumer will …
Wisconsin Taxing Home-brewed Biodiesel
In what might be some concerning news to those trying to be truly independent of foreign oil and good for the environment, the State of Wisconsin is taxing the biodiesel home-brewed by two Manitowoc men. According to this AP story posted on WFRV-TV Green Bay web site, Steven Griesbach and Paul Simon received letters from the state Department of Revenue …
Montreal Latest City to Fuel Buses with Biodiesel
Montreal, Canada will run its entire bus fleet on biodiesel by 2008 and will buy eight hybrid buses to test in the city’s cold climate. According to this story posted on the CBC’s web site, it should be an affordable proposition for the city: All Société de transport de Montréal (STM) buses will run on biodiesel fuel by 2008, and …
West Coast Biodiesel Giant Looks to Expand Into Hawaii
Seattle-based Imperium Renewables, ready to put the country’s largest biodiesel plant into operation and holder of the record for investment in a biodiesel company (see my posts on Feb. 2nd and Feb. 21st), is reportedly planning to build a $90-million refinery in Hawaii scheduled to open in April 2008. Although few details are forthcoming just yet, this story in the …