As anticipated, President George W. Bush devoted a significant portion of his 2007 State of the Union address Tuesday evening to energy. “For too long our nation has been dependent on foreign oil,” said President Bush. “It’s in our vital interest to diversify America’s energy supply. The way forward is through technology.” The audience applauded seven times during the four …
Corn Growers, Farm Aid Team Up for Renewable Energy Workshops
The American Corn Growers Association has received some grants from Farm Aid to put on a series of workshops across the country on producing and using ethanol, biodiesel, and wind energy. The Farm Aid money has been given to the Corn Growers to put on the workshops in more than half a dozen states on a variety of subjects: * …
Analyst Says Grain and Livestock Markets Affected by Biofuels Boom
Bill Holbrook, owner of Holbrook Consulting, says grain markets are responding to the rapid growth in the ethanol and biodiesel markets. But what will it mean to longer-term grain and livestock prices? In my interview with him, Holbrook says right now, livestock producers are expecting tighter margins, but long-term feed prices are more likely to be affected by weather and …
High Crude Oil Prices Boost Alternative Fuels’ Price Competitiveness
The Energy Management Institute has released a report that shows alternative fuels are much more cost effective… by nearly 30 percent… than they were just three years ago. The New York-based institute touts itself as higher learning for energy professionals such as oil companies, utilities, and transportation fleets. It found that biodiesel was 29.2% more cost effective than a few …
Missouri Sees Sharp Increase in Biofuels Investors
Another indicator of the viability of ethanol and biodiesel might be the increasing numbers of investors in the alternative fuels. In Missouri, for example, the Secretary of State’s office reports the number of the number of biofuels investments filed with the state increased from just five in 2005 to 15 last year. In this Associated Press story, government requirements are …
Louisville Schools Switch to Biodiesel
Another major city is using greener burning biodiesel… this time for the school district’s buses. The Louisville (Kentucky) Courier-Journal reports that the Jefferson County Public School District has switched its entire 1000+ bus fleet to biodiesel. Jefferson County uses a blend containing just 2 percent biodiesel but will consider increasing that to a 20 percent mix, which can reduce particulate …
Biodiesel Continues March Out of Midwest
It used to be the image of a modern oilman was a Middle Eastern sheik. But more and more, it’s an American Mid-WESTERNER. Case in point, this article from the Bangor (Maine) Daily News. The town of Bucksport, Maine could become the home of one of the largest biodiesel plants in the Northeastern United States. Dirigo Biofuels, an Iowa-based company …
Minnesota Professor Looks at Economic Viability of Using Animal Fat for Biodiesel
Recently, both Cindy and I have been telling you about using the leftovers from meat processing (chicken fat, in particular) to help make biodiesel. Now, I’ve talked with Vernon Eidman, Professor Emeritus in Applied Economics with the University of Minnesota about the economic viability of using these alternative feedstocks in alternative fuels. Check it out! Professor Eidman (5 min MP3)
Bill Would Increase Biofuels Infrastructure
Senator John Thune (R-SD) and Senator Ken Salazar (D-CO) this week introduced bi-partisan legislation designed to increase the availability of alternative fuels at the pump. According to Sen. Thune’s press office, the Alternative Energy Refueling Systems Act would provide for increased energy security for Americans by providing incentives for gas station owners across the country to install alternative fuel tanks, …
Interview with Jerry Bagley, Chicken Fat Oilman
Back on January 4th, we told you about a plant near Dexter in Southeast Missouri that is using chicken fat to make biodiesel. Read the original AP story here. Today, I talked with Jerry Bagley, one of the co-owners with Global Fuels, LLC. He told me that he thinks they are just on the edge of the potential for this …