Less than a week before the inauguration, the American Soybean Association (ASA) has given President-elect Barack Obama a list of its 2009 policy priorities… and biodiesel tops that list. This press release from the soybean advocacy group has details: “ASA looks forward to working closely with the Obama Administration to achieve these policy priorities, which not only make sense for …
Tyson/Syntroleum Biodiesel Plant Under Construction
The nation’s largest meat processor and a renewable fuel company have started construction on a biodiesel plant in Louisiana that will be the nation’s first renewable synthetic fuels plant. This press release from Tyson Foods and Syntroleum Corp. says the Dynamic Fuels plant in Geismar, Louisiana will produce 75 million gallons of biodiesel a year when it goes to full …
Biofuels Focus at Farm Bureau Meeting
Biofuels have been a major topic of discussion at the American Farm Bureau Federation 90th annual meeting in San Antonio this week. A conference titled “The Growing Role of Biofuels for Today, Tomorrow and Beyond,” featured Brooke Coleman, executive director of the New Fuels Alliance and spokesperson for FoodPriceTruth. “Agriculture is the key to the new energy economy,” Coleman said. …
Colorado Hands Out $620K in Ethanol, Biodiesel, Wind & Biomass Grants
The State of Colorado has handed out $620,000 in grants for research and development into a variety of renewable energy sources, including ethanol, biodiesel, biomass and wind energy. This press release from the state Department of Agriculture says the 14 grants have been hand out through the “Advancing Colorado’s Renewable Energy” (ACRE) program: “ACRE is a statewide effort to promote …
Iowa RFA to be Lead by Biodiesel Producer
For the first time in its history, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association is being led by a biodiesel producer. And, another biodiesel producer is the group’s vice president. This story from Biodiesel Magazine says Denny Mauser, with biodiesel producer Western Iowa Energy, has become president of the IRFA, and Nile Ramsbottom, with biodiesel producer REG Inc., was appointed vice president: …
Obama Picks Please Biodiesel Board
President-elect Barack Obama continues to fill his incoming administration with picks that seem to please the biodiesel world. The National Biodiesel Board has sent out congratulations to Dr. Steven Chu, who has been tapped to serve as the U.S. Secretary of Energy; Carol Browner, who was named to the new position of White House Coordinator of Energy and Climate Policy(commonly …
Lower Oil Prices Make Biodiesel Producers Struggle
Rising oil prices were a boon to biodiesel producers this summer, as near-$150/barrel prices for crude oil made it more and more profitable to produce biodiesel from a variety of feedstocks. However, with that same barrel of oil now costing less than $50, margins have tightened up for makers of the green fuel. This story in the Tampa (FL) Tribune …
Indy Defends Ethanol Choice
The Brazilian ethanol industry will remain the fuel sponsor of the Indy Racing League in 2009, but the ethanol will come from the United States – at least for the first year. That is a compromise of sorts announced by IRL after meeting with corn ethanol industry representatives. The multi-year partnership between the IndyCar Series and APEX-Brasil — a trade …
LA Looks to Become Solar City
Los Angeles wants to become a hub of the solar energy industry. This article from the LA Times says Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has unveiled a long-range to have solar power meet one-tenth of the city’s energy needs by 2020, an initiative that is expected to help the city’s Department of Water and Power kick the fossil fuel habit: The plan …