Fields of soybeans surround the newly re-opened Renewable Energy Group REG Albert Lea biodiesel plant in southern Minnesota, serving as a reminder of where the renewable fuel is rooted. Chris Hill, a soybean farmer who serves on the board of the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association and the Minnesota Biodiesel Council, is pleased to see the plant re-open because it really …
Minnesota Biodiesel Plant Will Celebrate Re-Opening
The Renewable Energy Group (REG) will be celebrating the grand re-opening Monday of a Minnesota biodiesel plant that was shut down for three years. REG acquired the former SoyMor production facility earlier this year, which is now known as REG Albert Lea, LLC. The company will be celebrating the grand re-opening of the plant with members of the Minnesota Soybean …
President Mentions Advanced Biofuels in Jobs Speech
President Obama reaffirmed the importance of domestically produced fuels in his address to Congress on jobs Thursday night. “If we provide the right incentives, the right support — and if we make sure our trading partners play by the rules — we can be the ones to build everything from fuel-efficient cars to advanced biofuels to semiconductors that we sell …
Biodiesel Board Announces New Capitol Hill VP
The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) has announced a new vice president of federal affairs to serve the industry on Capitol Hill. Anne Steckel, who will lead NBB’s Washington office, brings nearly 15 years of Washington experience to the job. Currently chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson of California, she has overseen legislative issues for several members of Congress, …
NBB Offers Diesel Technicians Biodiesel Training
Diesel technicians are getting up-to-date, accurate information about biodiesel compliments of a National Biodiesel Board (NBB) training program. The program is a partnership between NBB and Universal Technical Institute, a provider of entry-level technicians to the transportation industry. So far, more than 300 instructors have been taught about biodiesel through the program. “I’ve found that students are very curious about …
First Biodiesel School Bus Retires
What is believed to be the nation’s first school bus to run on a biodiesel blend was put out to pasture at the end of the 2010-11 school year, according to the National Biodiesel Board. When Medford, New Jersey’s 1998 International school bus retired at the end of June, it reached a milestone in the process. The bus was the …
NBB Testifies During EPA Hearing
Earlier this week, the Environmental Protection Agency held a hearing to discuss the latest renewable fuels proposal. One goal of the hearing was to determine if current 2011 mandates will be met by the obligated parties and to ensure the industry can produce enough fuel. Also under debate is whether the 2012 mandates are too high. Joe Jobe, the CEO …
ExxonMobil to Offer Biodiesel at Four Texas Terminals
ExxonMobil will soon offer ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) blended with biodiesel for the first time at four rack terminals in Texas. ExxonMobil will offer ULSD with up to a 5 percent biodiesel blend in Irving, Texas and North Houston beginning this summer. They will also also the fuel via third party terminals located in Tyler, Texas and Pasadena, Texas. According …
Isuzu Commercial Trucks Support Biodiesel Blends
Isuzu Commercial Truck of America has become the latest Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) to support the use of B20 biodiesel blends. According to the National Biodiesel Board, Isuzu confirmed that all of its new 2011 and forward model year diesel engines, including its four popular N-Series truck models as well as the new Isuzu Reach commercial van, are compatible with …
Biodiesel Tax Incentive Extension Introduced
A bipartisan group of lawmakers in both the House and Senate this week introduced legislation to extend the biodiesel tax incentive for three years. The Biodiesel Tax Incentive Reform and Extension Act would extend the $1 per gallon tax credit from 2012 through 2014 and would reform the biodiesel tax incentive from a blenders excise tax credit to a production …