More Domestic Fuel Use Forecast
In the latest Long Term Energy Outlook report issued by the Energy Information Administration, higher fossil fuel prices and public policy will generate a further shift toward alternative energy in the coming years. According to an AP story, U.S. ethanol use is expected to grow to 11.2 billion gallons in 2012 from 4 billion gallons in 2005. By 2030, ethanol …
Pacific Biodiesel Opens Plant #10
Maui-based Pacific Biodiesel opened its 10th biodiesel plant this week in the northern California town of Gonzales. According to a news release, Pacific Biodiesel built the 10,000-square foot plant for California-based Energy Alternative Solutions Inc., which is planning at least six more plants in California within the next five years. The Gonzales plant will eventually be able to pump about …
Presidential Advisors Support Biofuels
The President’s Council of Advisors for Science and Technology (PCAST) has issued a report on the role of technology and emerging companies in helping to supply our nation’s energy needs. According to a release from the Renewable Fuels Association, the report concluded that biofuels like ethanol are a vital and readily available solution to help address America’s dependence on foreign …
Alabama Alternative Fuels
The state of Alabama is focusing on alternative fuels. Alabama Agriculture Industries Commissioner Ron Sparks has announced the formation of the Center for Alternative Fuels. “Hardly a week goes by that we don’t get calls to provide guidance to interested parties on how to build biodiesel or ethanol plants, or where to purchase alternative fuels. They want to know about …
Biodiesel Milk Trucks
Oakhurst Dairy, based in Maine, has announced the conversion of their delivery trucks to a biodiesel blend. Oakhurst credited tax incentives for driving the decision to convert 90 percent of its vehicles, making it the largest private biodiesel fleet in New England. Biodiesel is produced in Maine from waste vegetable oil. Except in the coldest weather, the delivery trucks will …
World Biodiesel Output May Triple by ’09
An analyst with Bunge Ltd., expects world biodiesel output to hit nearly 16 million metric tons by 2009. That prediction, which is more than triple the current 5 million metric tons this year, was made by Bunge’s Nancy DeVore at the Terrapinn Biofuels Finance & Investment World conference in London. Read more from Farm Futures.
Bean Breeding Groundbreaking
Monsanto is building a new soybean breeding facility in South Dakota. They broke ground just this week in fact. The site will develop and test new soybean varieties developed by Monsanto’s breeders, as well as varieties containing traits in various stages of pre-commercial advancement in the company’s product pipeline. The groundbreaking ceremony was held in conjunction with the dedication of …
NearBio for Bio Near You
Finding biodiesel to fuel up with just got a little easier thanks to NearBio. The free service is designed to enable cell phone users to easily find nearby biodiesel fueling locations based on city, zip code, or GPS coordinates. According to a company news release, The comprehensive national database of over 1000 individually verified locations is updated daily and is …
Biofuels Expected to Dominate Farm Bill
It was already a given that energy issues would dominate the writing of the 2007 Farm Bill, but even more support for domestic fuels like ethanol and biodiesel is expected now that the House and Senate Agriculture committees will be run by corn belt Democrats. Forbes reports that with Rep. Collin Peterson of Minnesota and Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa …