Sure, they might not be cast opposite stunning starlets such as Angelina Jolie or call for their closeup after jumping off a 30-story building in a spectacular stunt, but renewable energy sources, especially biodiesel and solar, are playing a starring role in Hollywood these days.
Even the entertainment magazine Variety recognized the renewables’ walk out on the red carpet of green living:
” ‘Green’ business is good business,” according to Warner Bros. chairman and CEO Barry Meyer, who maintains that the studio’s green initiatives “are not only good for the environment, but they are beneficial to our bottom line.”
The studio said it saves about $1.3 million annually from energy conservation measures adopted in recent years.
Warner finished construction earlier this year on a “green” soundstage and has installed a 500-kilowatt solar electrical system with more than 2,700 solar panels. It is the largest in the industry, as well as in the city of Burbank, according to Warner Bros.
NBC Universal introduced its “Green Is Universal” campaign several years ago. Beth Colleton, veep of the initiative for the conglom, said is an attempt to “green the way we do business 365 days a year.”
According to the studio, the use of biodiesel fuel on the upcoming Focus Features pic “Away We Go” resulted in a reduction of harmful carbon emissions.
Even Hollywood staple William Morris Agency has invested in 15 hybrid vehicles for its fleet. Let’s just hope they don’t want an agent’s cut. But, then, maybe they could get a percent of biodiesel or ethanol… just like we do in our vehicles’ fuels!.
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With Wall Street still not recovered from the economic downturn and banks keeping a tight hold of the credit purses’ drawstrings, the next generation of biofuels producers could have a rough time getting going and staying going.
The Green Fleet Award went to Victor La Rosa, President of Total Transportation Services, Inc. (TTSI), was the first in line with alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) to operate in full-time drayage service at the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. 
The Green Giant Award went to T. Boone Pickens (right) who has pushed national attention on natural gas for transportation as a key tenet in lessening U.S. dependence on foreign oil. 
A group of experts are slated to speak on the commercialization of biofuels at the 31st Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals on May 3-6 in San Francisco. Speakers will include scientists from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), the Energy Biosciences Institute (EBI), the Department of Energy’s Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) and UC Berkeley, as well as private companies. 
Citing the Earth Day connection, waiver petitioner 
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It’s appropriately named Independence Station because it’s located in Independence, Oregon. But it could be named for the independence from foreign energy sources, as the “world’s greenest building” will be fueled with biodiesel.
Many warmer parts of the world, including the American Southeast, have been cultivating the jatropha plant as a source material for biodiesel. But farmers in colder climates would like to look into the warm-loving, non-food feedstock, too. Well, if everything goes well with research at a Pennsylvania school, they might just get the chance.
State senators in Iowa have passed a standard that would require all diesel fuel sold in the state contain 5 percent biodiesel. The measure still needs to clear the State House and gain the governor’s signature to become law. If it does, the Hawkeye State would become the eighth state in the nation to have a biodiesel requirement, joining Minnesota, Washington, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, New Mexico and Massachusetts, which all have biodiesel mandates.
“Iowa has been a leader in the helping to establish biodiesel as a reliable and renewable energy alternative,” said Joe Jobe, National Biodiesel Board CEO. “Biodiesel gives all Iowans an opportunity to use a renewable fuel made for, grown by, refined by, and distributed by Iowans. This is empowering the citizens of the state to choose to use less foreign oil.”