New cars that run on biodiesel have gotten a boost from the federal government’s Cash for Clunkers program.
Biodiesel Magazine reports that portion of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 has helped encourage the sale of clean diesel vehicles, which, of course, run on biodiesel:
“It’s completely exceeded our expectations,” said Sean Maynard of Volkswagen U.S. “Clean diesels have been 30 percent of our total sales over the past month.”
“We’re running out of stock of TDI clean diesels,” Maynard told Biodiesel Magazine. “We can’t sell these models fast enough.”
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported, however, that the program’s funds could be exhausted because of overwhelming consumer demand. Regarding this situation, Dave McCurdy, CEO of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers made the following statement. “Alliance members urge the Administration to increase funding to this important program,” he said. “The very fact that we’re at this point just days into the program shows how effective these incentives have been. In addition to seeing an increase in sales of more fuel efficient vehicles with the latest safety enhancements, we’re seeing an increase in dealer traffic that will contribute to the wellbeing of automakers and the entire supply chain.”
The U.S. Senate is to vote on whether to renew the program tomorrow (Thursday).
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the availability of up to $5.5 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to increase the use of higher ethanol blends (up to E85). Two areas of interest are targeted: “Refueling Infrastructure for Higher Ethanol Blends” and “Outreach for Higher Ethanol Blends”. 
The state of Colorado is offering businesses the opportunity to apply for grants for small wind turbine installations.Colorado residents and businesses have until August 28, 2009 to apply for the New Energy Economic Development (NEED) grants. The grants provide funds to purchase and install small wind turbines (or other renewable energy systems). These NEED grants help Colorado residents (or businesses) install small wind turbine systems for much below the normal cost. The NEED grants can be used in conjunction with the Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) which further reduces the cost to install the small wind turbines.
BBI International recently completed a county-wide biomass assessment and economic feasibility sponsored by The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute. The report is now available on the 
A biodiesel-powered hydroplane has been successfully tested at a Seattle-area boat race.
Oregon has become the latest state to require diesel sold in the state… well, at least in nine counties in the northwest part of Oregon starting August 5th and the rest of the state by October 1… have a mix of biodiesel.
The biodiesel industry and the soybean checkoff have teamed up to try to dispel some of the misinformation being used that would basically disqualify soybean-based biodiesel, the bulk of the nation’s biodiesel, from the proposed federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS-2).
Bike riders at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally are seriously appreciating their ethanol koozies. Here’s market development staff members from the 
Reps. Jay Inslee of Washington and Bill Delahunt of Massachusetts are preparing a bill that would require utilities to purchase small-scale renewable energy from developers at rates equal to the cost of production plus a premium. The so-called feed-in tariffs proposal would set European-style guarantees for investors that many credit for a recent boom in solar energy in Germany.
“We have some brilliant Americans with brilliant business plans with brilliant technologies, but they don’t have financing,” Inslee said at a briefing last week on Capitol Hill. “The charm of the feed-in tariff is solid, take-it-to-the-bank security and confidence for the investing community.”