The National Biodiesel Board is vowing to fight what it considers abuse of the biodiesel tax credit. According to a release from the NBB, the original intent of the credit was to help the biodiesel industry get off the ground, but big oil companies now are trying to take advantage of it: The NBB has been advised of a potential …
States Adopting Biodiesel Standards
New Mexico is the latest state to adopt a biodiesel standard as Governor Bill Richardson signed into law a measure that requires all diesel sold in the state to have at least a five percent blend by 2012. State vehicles would have to use 5% biodiesel by 2010. According to this story in Land Line Magazine, several other states have …
Biodiesel for Frisco Buses
San Francisco becomes the largest city in the nation to switch to a 20% biodiesel blend for all of its city vehicles. This comes as the area’s first public biodiesel pumps open (see my post from April 19th). Check out this release from the National Biodiesel Board: “Every city bears responsibility for taking local action to address our global climate …
Bioenergy and Rural Development
Top international experts meeting in Rome last week agreed that bioenergy could be a positive force for rural development According to a news release from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) it was the first time that experts in bioenergy, food security and the environment came together to discuss the environmental and food security impact of the rapidly-expanding bioenergy industry. …
New Biodiesel Plant in Cleveland
A new biodiesel refinery will open in downtown Cleveland in two weeks, and according to this article in the CantonRep.com, they’ll use soybean oil to make the biodiesel: Center Alternative Energy, a subsidiary of St. Louis-based Center Oil Co., will produce the biodiesel fuel in a storage terminal along the Cuyahoga River near downtown, refining soybean oil and blending it …
Crow Wraps Up Stop Global Warming Tour
Singer Sheryl Crow and environmentalist Laurie David (in the center of the picture above) wrapped up their nationwide tour in a biodiesel bus at a stop in Washington, DC today, Earth Day. The Washington Post featured some posts from Crow’s and David’s blogs along the way on the Stop Global Warming College Tour: David (4/10, Dallas): I am jogging outside …
First 100% Biodiesel Tractors in UK
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 …