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Researchers in New Mexico have found a good use for the millions of gallons of briney waste water produced from refining petroleum, which also keeps the mess from being injected back into the ground.

This story from Biodiesel Magazine says the Center of Excellence for Hazardous Materials Management (CEHMM) in Carlsbad has found that the waste water is perfect for growing oil-producing algae… which in turn, can be turned into biodiesel:

CEHMM told Biodiesel Magazine that it has indentified a wild, salt-water strain of algae suited for growth in the extremely “brine-laden” subterranean waters found in southeastern New Mexico. “We’ve discovered that we can mimic the characteristics of these waters in our ponds where we are growing algae,” he said. CEHMM has nevertheless been able to manipulate the water to create prime cultivation conditions, and, without using genetic technologies, enhanced the oil-making performance of the algae shortly before the material is harvested. Lynn, however, could not divulge the technique being developed as a trade secret and said only that it involves indentifying the “triggers” which are conducive to increased oil expression in the algae strain. These oils “show incredible purity and viability” for biodiesel refining, CEHMM stated.

The article also points out that using this waste water takes the issue of using water to make biofuels off the table.

Friday will mark a historic day as Minnesota becomes the first state in the nation to require all diesel sold in the state to have a 5 percent biodiesel blend.

A biodiesel mandate is nothing new for the land of 10,000 lakes. The state has had a 2 percent requirement since 2005. And in 2012 the mandate jumps to 10 percent and 20 percent in 2015. The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports that although they’ve softened their stance against the green fuel after seeing firsthand that it can work, some groups are still concerned about biodiesel:

John Hausladen, president of Minnesota Trucking Association and a member of the state task force [appointed to study any possible issues with the increasing mandates], said he’s not too worried about the 5 percent increase, but he is worried about the fuel price fluctuations and future increases in biodiesel concentration.

“We’re not against biodiesel, we just want to make sure it’s used properly,” Hausladen said.

Other members of the task force believe any kinks in Minnesota’s biodiesel mandate will be worked out and serve as a good example to the rest of the nation.

A biodiesel maker in Upstate New York has expanded its capacity to turn waste vegetable oil into the green fuel by five-fold.

This story in Biodiesel Magazine says Buffalo Biodiesel Inc. can now crank out 5 million gallons each year:

According to Sumit Majumdar, president of Buffalo Biodiesel, the expansion project took approximately two months to complete. Buffalo Biodiesel, which collects and renders yellow grease from restaurants within the New York and Pennsylvania areas, has the capability to produce 5 MMgy of biodiesel at its facility in Tonawanda; however, the plant is currently producing approximately half the volume of its maximum rate due to lack of demand for the biofuel along with competing demand for bio heating oil use in the Northeast, according to Majumdar.

Mujumdar said that the expansion of Buffalo Biodiesel’s feedstock processing segment will allow the company to enter into contract negotiations with current biodiesel producers who are interested in buying its rendered yellow grease as feedstock for biodiesel production. At press time, Mujumdar didn’t disclose potentially interested parties for its feedstock.

The article goes on to point out that the feedstock sold to producers can help those producers turn it into a profit.