The loss of ethanol as a sponsor has left Rahal-Letterman Racing (RLR) without a car or a driver for the upcoming IndyCar Series season, but co-owner Bobby Rahal is still looking. In a statement responding to media reports this week, Rahal said, “As of this time we do not have any sponsorship that will allow us to compete in the …
Eastern Kentucky Looks at Cellulose Biodiesel
Eastern Kentucky University has teamed up with energy research and defense manufacturing firm General Atomics to look at the potential to develop cellulose-based biodiesel. This story from the Business Lexington says the partnership will create the EKU Center for Renewable and Alternative Fuel Technologies (CRAFT): EKU President Doug Whitlock said the project is important to Kentucky’s farmers looking for cash …
Airline Industry Strives Toward Biodiesel, Alternatives
The U.S. airline industry continues to make efforts to develop alternatives to petroleum-based jet fuels. We’ve been telling you about the various efforts made to run biodiesel in several airliners (see my stories from January 8, 2009 and October 15, 2008 for a couple of examples). Recently, Nancy Young, Vice President of Environmental Affairs for the Air Transport Association of …
Biodiesel Board Congratulates Vilsack Nomination
The National Biodiesel Board continues to like what it sees when it comes to the incoming Obama Administration. The primary advocacy group for the green fuel sent out congratulations to former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack who was nominated to serve President-elect Obama as the next U.S. Secretary of Agriculture: Following the announcement, Joe Jobe, the CEO of the National Biodiesel …
Indy Ethanol Fallout
Several different groups are pressuring the Indy Racing League to rethink its decision to partner with Brazil for ethanol to fuel the Indy Car Series. Among them is a conservative, free market group called American Future Fund (AFF) which launched a radio ad which urging Hoosiers and others to call the IRL and tell them to continue using American ethanol …
Indy Defends Ethanol Choice
The Brazilian ethanol industry will remain the fuel sponsor of the Indy Racing League in 2009, but the ethanol will come from the United States – at least for the first year. That is a compromise of sorts announced by IRL after meeting with corn ethanol industry representatives. The multi-year partnership between the IndyCar Series and APEX-Brasil — a trade …
Indy Chooses Brazilian Ethanol
The domestic ethanol industry is pleading with the Indy Racing League to reconsider the decision to make Brazil the official ethanol supplier for the 23 IndyCar Series races. In a letter to IRL commercial division president Terry Angstadt this week, Renewable Fuels Association President Bob Dinneen implored the IRL to “at least ensure that the Indianapolis 500 be run on …
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 …
US to Become Biodiesel Leader by 2012
A research service for the chemical industry say that the U.S. is poised to be the world leader in biodiesel consumption by 2012. According to a press release posted on MarketWatch.com, SRI Consulting has published its Global 2008 Biodiesel Report, which says Americans will consume nearly one-fifth of all the world’s biodiesel by 2012… a dramatic turnaround from being a …
Team Ethanol Partners With Drivers Edge
Team Ethanol has teamed up with Driver’s Edge, a nonprofit organization that travels the country teaching teens defensive driving techniques for free. Driver’s Edge was prominently displayed on the No. 17 Team Ethanol car, driven by 2008 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year and 2008 Watkins Glen winner Ryan Hunter-Reay, during Sunday’s IndyCar® Series Honda Indy 200 in Mid-Ohio. Team …