Renewable energy proposals had mixed results in yesterday’s elections, with Missouri easily passing one measure but California rejecting two others. This entry from the InformationWeek blog has details: In Missouri, Proposition C was passed, requiring investor-owned electric utilities “to generate or purchase electricity from renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, biomass, and hydropower with the renewable energy sources equaling …
USDA Under Secretary Resigns
The exodus of appointees under the Bush Administration has begun. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer today announced the resignation of Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural Development Thomas Dorr. “Tom Dorr has been a transformational leader for USDA Rural Development,” Schafer said. “As the transition to a new Administration continues in the months ahead, senior leaders will be moving on, but …
Trading Used Cooking Oil for Biodiesel
The folks in El Paso, Texas now have a way to get rid of their old, used cooking grease and fill up their gas tanks. This story from KVIA-TV in El Paso says it’s a new pilot program offered by the city to turn the grease into biodiesel: The service is free and available to residents who pay a solid …
EPA, UPS Team Up for Green Brown Trucks
Shipping giant UPS has teamed up with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to put more eco-friendly delivery trucks on the road. This story from CNN says UPS will order some new vehicles that uses technology developed by the feds, namely, a hydraulic hybrid system: The Environmental Protection Agency holds many of the patents on the innovative technology, which was developed …
Ag Chief Addresses Concerns About Loans to Ethanol Plants
Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer met with livestock, dairy, and feed grain organizations on Monday to explain how some rural businesses – including both ethanol plants and livestock industries – may be eligible for the USDA’s Business and Industry Loan Guarantee Program. “We walked through the B&I loan guarantee program, which has been used by their memberships, and we assured them …
USDA Clarifies Ethanol Plant Loan Comments
Comments made to the press last week by Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer regarding the possibility of USDA loans to ethanol plants that have been hurt by commodity market speculation this year have caused quite a stir. USDA has been working to get the word out this week to clarify that this is not any kind of a “bail out” …
Don’t Let Up Gas on Alternatives to Gas
While oil prices have been slashed by more than half since summertime highs of nearly $150 a barrel and gas prices have plummeted as well (hey, I’m not complaining about $2.40/gallon gas I just bought tonight), it’s no reason to let up on the drive to expand alternatives, such as ethanol and biodiesel. This story in the Chattanooga (TN) Times …
Ethanol Plants Could Get USDA Loans
Ethanol plants that have been hurt by dramatic fluctuations in commodity prices this year could be eligible for assistance from the US Department of Agriculture. Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer told reporters after an address to the World Food Prize breakfast in Des Moines Friday that “some plants are under pressure because they’ve been speculating on corn.” Schafer said there …