Four New Holland tractors are the first tractors that run on 100% biodiesel to arrive in the United Kingdom to work at Cornwall’s Eden Project, “an environmentally-focused attraction all about man’s relationship with plants and the environment.” According to this story in the Farmers Guardian, not only will the tractors be good for the environment, they’ll be good for the …
Dems Also Irked Over Conoco/Tyson Biodiesel Plans
This week, we’ve heard a lot of talk about a change in Internal Revenue Service policy that will allow big oil companies to cash in on a $1-a-gallon tax credit originally intended to help the biodiesel industry off the ground (see my posts on April 16th & April 18th). The National Biodiesel Board has blasted the IRS for the change, …
Obama Calls for Low Carbon Fuels
On the campaign trail in New Hampshire on Friday, Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) called for a National Low Carbon Fuel Standard (NLCFS) similar to one created in California earlier this year by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. According to a news release, Obama’s proposal would require that all transportation fuels sold in the U.S. contain 5 percent less carbon by 2015 and …
Greening the Gas Pumps
California, especially the San Francisco Bay area, is known for its environmentally conscious ways. According to this story in the North County Times, the area’s first public biodiesel station takes green to a whole new level: Biofuel Oasis, a Berkeley-based retailer, said its station will feature credit-card operated pumps, air and water hoses, a convenience store and long hours. But …
Manitoba Considers Biodiesel Mandate
The Canadian province of Manitoba is considering legislation that would ensure biodiesel quality sold in the province and could eventually mandate a minimum standard. Check out this story on the pending Biofuels Amendment Act on TruckNews.com: “We are excited about the potential the biofuels industry holds for Manitoba,” said Jim Rondeau, Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mines. “This new …
Alberta to Get Big Biofuel Refinery
Developers say they will build North America’s largest biofuel refinery… capable of producing about 100 million gallons a year of ethanol, biodiesel, and canola oil… near Innisfail, Alberta. This story in the Toronto Star says the $400 million plant will be built by private equity firms Riverstone Holdings and Carlyle Group and privately held Dominion Energy in an area where …
NBB Blasts Conoco/Tyson Biodiesel Plans
Oil company giant ConocoPhillips is teaming up with food giant Tyson to start selling biodiesel. According to this article on CNet News.com, the project would combine a plentiful resource Tyson has… animal fat… with a seemingly plentiful ConocoPhillips resource… money: Tyson formed a renewable-energy division last year. The company generates about 2.3 billion pounds of animal fat a year in …
NBB Says IRS On Side of Big Oil
As we close in on income tax deadline day, biodiesel advocates are blasting the U.S. Internal Revenue Service for allowing petroleum producers to cash in on the same dollar-a-gallon tax credit orginally set up to help the fledgling biodiesel industry. According to a National Biodiesel Board press release, special interests have successfully lobbied the U.S. Department of Treasury to to …
Arnold Pumps Biofuels
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 …