Pretty BioWoman

Cindy Zimmerman

The stars just keep coming out for biofuels. The latest to lend a name to the domestic fuel movement is none other than Oscar-winning actress Julia Roberts, according to a release from Earth Biofuels. Ms. Roberts joins fellow Oscar-winner Morgan Freeman and country music legend Willie Nelson in promoting the use of renewable fuels such as Earth Biofuels’ biodiesel and …

Biodiesel, Ethanol

Farm Bureau Calls for More Tanks

Cindy Zimmerman

The American Farm Bureau Federation is asking Congress to provide incentives for gas station owners to install storage tanks so that alternative fuels will be more available to the public. House and Senate bills H.R. 5346 and S. 2614 would provide those incentives for not only ethanol and biodiesel, but also compressed natural gas or hydrogen. According to a release, …

Biodiesel, Ethanol

It’s a Wrap

Cindy Zimmerman

The National Biodiesel Board is showcasing colorfully wrapped bean-powered vehicles. This photo is the “Bean Bus” at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Beltsville Agricultural Research Center in Maryland. NBB has a number of other photos of vehicle wraps on their website and they want more. If you have a creative way you’ve shown your support of biodiesel, send them a …

Biodiesel

Minnesota Study

Cindy Zimmerman

Don’t think I have been ignoring the University of Minnesota study out this week that has given ethanol some bad press. I have just been playing catch up after being out of the office for a couple of days. Fact is, the study is actually positive in many ways. For one thing, the report finds that ethanol from corn produces …

Biodiesel, Ethanol

Biodiesel Rebate

Cindy Zimmerman

California-based CaseStack, Inc. is offering truckers a rebate to use biodiesel. According to the National Biodiesel Board, the Green Rebate Program began July 1 and will end two months later on September 1, 2006. CaseStack will give a rebate of 10 cents per gallon on any blend of biodiesel – up to $50.00 for the entirety of the program – …

Biodiesel

Michigan Alternative Fuel Incentives

Chuck Zimmerman

Michigan Governor GranholmHere’s a story that ought to rile up the people who can’t seem to understand the need to provide businesses in America with incentives to develop and use alternative fuels. These folks like to use the word subsidy as if it’s a bad word. I think incentive is a much better word and in the case of this story, it’s more accurate. This is from Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm’s website last Friday:

Biodiesel, Ethanol, Government, Legislation

Look It Up

Cindy Zimmerman

Biodiesel has hit the big time – it’s in the dictionary now. The National Biodiesel Board is pleased that the word “biodiesel” appears in the 2006 update of the Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition . This marks the first time that it has appeared in the dictionary, and signifies that biodiesel is becoming a household word. What’s more, word has …

Biodiesel

Celebrating Energy Independence

Cindy Zimmerman

Willie Nelson is celebrating our nation’s energy independence this week in Carl’s Corner, Texas with opening of his joint venture production plant, Pacific Biodiesel Texas. According to a National Biodiesel Board release, Nelson and Pacific Biodiesel decided to open the plant during the July 4th holiday week because, as Nelson put it, “this will be a true Texas Independence Day.” …

Biodiesel

NEX Marks the Spot

Cindy Zimmerman

Xethanol Corporation is parthering up Global Energy and Management, LLC to develop ethanol production in New England states. According to a press release, the new venture, known as NewEnglandXethanol LLC, or NEX, plans to open several ethanol plants throughout the region deploying Xethanol’s proprietary technologies. Additionally, Xethanol may co-locate biodiesel production in its facilities under Xethanol’s sub-license from H2Diesel, Inc.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, Miscellaneous

Bill Would Keep Incentives in Place

Cindy Zimmerman

A bill introduced this week in Congress would make the federal excise tax credits for renewable fuels permanent. According to a release from the National Biodiesel Board, Congressmen Kenny Hulshof (R-MO) and Earl Pomeroy (D-ND) introduced the Renewable Fuels and Energy Independence Promotion Act, which removes sunset provisions for ethanol and biodiesel incentives that accompanied the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax …

Biodiesel, Ethanol, Government