Freightliner Introduces First Hybrid-Electric Class A Motorhome

John Davis

Looking to make a cleaner world and give better mileage to its customers, Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation (FCCC) has introduced the first hybrid-electric Class A motorhome chassis in the industry. This company press release says the innovative ecoFRED™ chassis shows significant improvements in fuel economy compared with traditional gas pullers: Fulfilling the tagline “Driven by You,” the ecoFRED prototype was …

Miscellaneous

Downstream of Mighty Mo Could Become Power Generator

John Davis

A downstream portion of the Missouri River could join the upper part of the river in becoming a major power generator in this country. This story from the Columbia (MO) Daily Tribune says a Massachusetts-based company is hoping to harness the hydrokinetic energy the river produces… without the massive dams seen in the Dakotas and Montana: Free Flow Power Corp. …

Miscellaneous

Top Ethanol Producer Addresses Farm Forum

Cindy Zimmerman

The head of the world’s largest ethanol producing company was keynote speaker at 12th Annual Farm Journal Forum in Washington D.C. today. POET CEO Jeff Broin says his company is considering various options to purchase ethanol plants, although he would not specifically comment on rumors that they might buy the bankrupt VeraSun or any of its assets. “There are a …

Miscellaneous

Happy Thanksgiving

Chuck Zimmerman

It’s time to take a break in the action from all the news and information in the alternative fuels business. In case you haven’t seen it, you might want to check out the History Channels, Modern Marvels – The Turkey, since it features a segment on turning turkey waste into fuel! Have a Happy Thanksgiving from ZimmComm New Media. And …

Miscellaneous

EPA, UPS Team Up for Green Brown Trucks

John Davis

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 …

Government, Miscellaneous

Solving Global Warming Gets Debaters Going

John Davis

Just when I thought we would not get much on renewable energy in tonight’s presidential debate from Belmont University in Nashville, a question from the crowd has started the conversation in earnest. A lady asked if the candidates would take the same quick call-to-action approach to solve the looming global warming crisis as we saw in the recent financial crisis. …

Government, Miscellaneous, Solar, Wind

McCain, Obama Call for More Renewable Energy

John Davis

Presidential candidates Republican Sen. John McCain and Democrat Sen. Barack Obama are back at this evening, debating from the campus of Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn… and I’m here on my couch watching and listening carefully to what they say, paying special attention to what they say about renewable energy. Both have just touched on the renewable energy issue, mostly …

Miscellaneous

Senate Approves Renewable Energy Credits

John Davis

Things could be looking up for renewal of renewable energy incentives as the U.S. Senate has approved $17 billion in tax credits for wind, solar, geothermal and ocean energy systems. This article from cleantech.com says passage comes on the heels of last week’s similar vote by the U.S. House (see my Sept. 17th post): The tax credits, due to expire …

Government, Legislation, Miscellaneous, Solar, Wind