Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says USDA has met President Obama’s 30-day directive to expedite and increase the production of biofuels. “Further developing the biofuels industry helps create jobs and stimulates rural economies, an important part of getting our economy back on track,” Vilsack announced. “President Obama and I are committed to advancing clean and renewable energy as it creates jobs …
Renew 09: Empowering the Land Conference Expo
Looking for a conference that encompasses all forms of renewable energy? Then RENEW 09: Empowering the Land Conference and Expo may be the one you’re looking for. The conference, being held on June 23-24, 2009 in Tucumcari, New Mexico is a “nuts and bolts” conference for anyone looking to prosper from the emerging renewable energy economy. Renew 09 will feature …
The Irrationality of Indirect Analysis
The rationale of indirect land use remains in the hot seat and the biofuels industry continues to stand its ground. Today, Robert Zubrin, author of Energy Victory and senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies had an article published in Roll Call, a publication targeted at Washington, DC politicians. “The Irrationality of Indirect Analysis,” lays out why taking …
Pennsylvania Looks to Stimulus Money to Help Biofuels
Pennsylvania’s governor is looking to the federal government to help along his state’s biodiesel and alternative fuel vehicle industries. Governor Ed Rendell is asking the U.S. Department of Energy for $15 million in federal stimulus bucks for Alternative Fuel and Advanced Technology Vehicles Pilot Grants: “As part of Pennsylvania’s Energy Independence Strategy, the PennSecurity Fuels Initiative mandates the production and …
Clinton at Ethanol Summit 2009: Save the Trees
The Ethanol Summit 2009 is in full swing in Sao Paulo, Brazil with President Bill Clinton kicking off the festivities yesterday. His main message was that while biofuels are an important element in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, it cannot happen at the continued destruction of rainforests. In an article published by Reuters yesterday, Clinton was quoted as saying, …
Boeing: Biofuels Just Fine For Aircraft
One of the world’s biggest makers of aircraft says that in initial tests, biofuels don’t affect performance and present no technical or safety problems, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by more than 50 percent. This story from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says that word comes from the top people at Boeing: “It meets all jet fuel requirements and then some,” …
Exxon CEO: Alt Fuels Help Satisfy Global Energy Need
While the chief of Exxon Mobil believes the U.S. demand for gasoline has peaked, he thinks the global demand for gasoline will continue to grow. And Rex Tillerson thinks that alternative fuels will help meet that growing demand. This story in the Dallas Morning News says Tillerson made the pitch for investing more in renewable energy during the company’s annual …
Interior Funds Efforts to Turn Fallen Trees into Biofuels
Burning deadfalls and brush in your stove or in your car might be a better option than having that same forest waste burn down your home. One of the issues that the national forests and park lands run into each year is what to do with the fallen trees and underbrush that contribute to forest fires that threaten surrounding communities …
Washington to Miss Biofuels Target
The state of Washington will not meet its target of state vehicles and ferries using biofuels for at least 20 percent of its fuel usage, the Seattle Times reports. The state has a June 1 deadline for alternative fuels to compromise a fifth of its fuel usage. As of the end of 2008, biofuels captured a mere 2.1 percent of …