The Alternative Fuel Vehicle Institute 13th Alternative Fuels & Vehicles National Conference + Expo is underway in Anaheim, California. More than 1250 fleet and industry professionals are there for four days of information and product previews. Fleets were in the spotlight Sunday with workshops on how alternative fuels are being used in private fleets, airport shuttles, school buses, mass transit, …
Happy April Fools’ Day!
Couple of ethanol-related April Fool stories on-line: Rutabagas for biofuels Research by the biofuels industry has turned up a feedstock that does not compete with the food supply: rutabagas. “Nobody likes rutabagas,” says Toby Marston, CEO of biofuels startup Rutaba-Gas LLC. “American farmers grow tons of rutabagas, but nobody really eats them. They’re perfect for making fuel.” Marston says people …
Two Presidents Talk Ethanol Again
Ethanol and trade were the two main topics discussed by the presidents of Brazil and the United States meeting over the weekend at Camp David. “We talked about biofuels,” said President Bush in a joint press conference with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Saturday. “And I told the President that not only are we committed domestically to …
More US-Brazil Ethanol Talks
Ethanol will be on the table when Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva meets with President Bush in Washington this weekend. The meeting will be a follow-up to Bush’s visit to Brazil earlier this month and, according to an Associated Press report, Silva “hopes to advance a biofuels alliance and help break a deadlock in world trade talks.” Silva …
US BioEnergy Posts Earnings
US BioEnergy has announced net income of $20.4 million, or $0.41 per share, for the year ended December 31, 2006 and net income of $21.0 million, or $0.36 per share, for the fourth quarter. “This has been a year of significant progress and achievement for our company,” said Gordon Ommen, US BioEnergy president and CEO. “In addition to a successful …
Broin Changes Name
The nation’s largest dry mill ethanol producer has changed its name from Broin to Poet ™. According to a company release, “the change was made by the company in order to strengthen its communications, unify its several companies under one brand and better reflect its current position.” Poet President and CEO Jeff Broin said they wanted a name that would …
Black and White and Green All Over
Ford Motor Company‘s new 2008 Crown Victoria Police Interceptor will be offered as a flexible fuel vehicle allowing it to operate on E85 ethanol or gasoline. According to a news release, Ford is the largest producer and seller of police vehicles with more than 80 percent of the market. As police and government agencies move toward becoming more environmentally conscious …
O2 Diesel Powers SD School Buses
The historic communities of Lead and Deadwood, South Dakota will be the latest to experience a promising new age in environmentally friendly school transportation. All buses in the Lead-Deadwood School District will be powered by O2Diesel(TM), a fuel blend of ethanol-diesel. According to an O2 Diesel press release, “The essence of why we are using O2Diesel is we believe it …
Energy Department Funding
The U.S. Department of Energy has announced just over $23 million in federal funding for five projects focused on developing highly efficient fermentative organisms to convert biomass material to ethanol. According to a DOE press release, Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Alexander Karsner said the projects will study ways to produce cellulosic ethanol cost-effectively. “Ultimately, success in …
History Made at Homestead
The IndyCar Series made history in Homestead under the lights on March 24, filling up and feeling good on 100 percent fuel grade ethanol for the first time. This edition of “Fill up, Feel Good” includes comments from Renewable Fuels Association president Bob Dinneen, Indiana Senator Dick Lugar, IndyCar drivers Jeff Simmons, Scott Sharp and Dan Wheldon, RLR owner Bobby …