This week’s major economic speech from President-elect Barack Obama pointed out how ethanol and biodiesel, as well as other alternatives to conventional energy sources, will be key to the nation’s economic recovery.
This article from the New York Times says the plan also pushes energy efficiency:
“To finally spark the creation of a clean energy economy, we will double the production of alternative energy in the next three years,” Mr. Obama said in a speech at George Mason University in Virginia. “We will modernize more than 75 percent of federal buildings and improve the energy efficiency of two million American homes, saving consumers and taxpayers billions on our energy bills.”
Mr. Obama also said that the nation must begin building a “smart grid,” which he said would make the country less vulnerable to blackouts or even attacks, in addition to saving money and aiding renewable energy.
The article goes on to point out that green energy jobs have been a longtime priority for Obama since the earliest days of his candidacy.
In an effort to quell skepticism over the renewable energy industry’s chances to meet the 10.5-billion Renewable Fuels Standard in 2009, the National Biodiesel Board has reaffirmed its industry’s ability to hold up its end of the deal… and then some.
“The U.S. biodiesel industry’s contribution to the nation’s fuel supply will help ensure that the RFS targets for 2009 will be met,” said Manning Feraci, NBB’s Vice President of Federal Affairs. “In 2008 alone, the U.S. biodiesel industry produced nearly 700 million gallons of biodiesel, which equates to 1.05 billion ethanol equivalent gallons for purposes of the RFS.”
Speaking to reporters this week, Secretary Ed Schafer noted that growth in ethanol and biodiesel production have helped create “remarkable prosperity and growth in the agriculture economy” during the Bush administration. 
Less than two weeks after Air New Zealand took to the air in a flight powered by jatropha-based biodiesel, American carrier Continental Airlines has used a combination of the the weed and algae to fuel one of its 737s.
U.S. Sen. Christopher “Kit” Bond, a longtime friend of renewable and clean energy efforts, has announced he will not seek re-election in 2010.
The National Biodiesel Board is welcoming a new face to its great communications team.
Robinson has been involved in the communications industry for more than a decade, most recently serving as Press Secretary for Missouri Governor Matt Blunt when the state adopted a ten percent ethanol standard, and for the first time began fully funding biodiesel incentives. Robinson has worked in radio and television news stations in New Mexico, Missouri and Florida. She is a graduate of the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism.
In addition to Federal tax credits, Michigan fueling station owners can now receive 30 percent up to $20,000 to install E85 or biodiesel. Rep. Joel Sheltrown introduced House bill 5878’08 in March 2008, and it was signed into law on December 30 of last year.
Colorado-based 
Ames, Iowa-based biodiesel maker Renewable Energy Group Inc. and nutritional ingredient manufacturer Kemin Industries Inc. have finished a study and released the esults of a multi-feedstock biodiesel oxidation.
Eleven states in the Northeastern United States have agreed to a Low Carbon Fuel Standard, designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles and other energy uses. Biofuels, such as biodiesel and ethanol, are part of that plan.