Leaders of five major agricultural organizations and the head of the Renewable Fuels Association joined together Wednesday to try and dispel many of the accusations that have been levied against biofuels in recent months and emphasize the positive contributions of ethanol in particular. “Instead of using ethanol as a scapegoat for increased food prices, we should be having a discussion …
NBB Honors New Uses for Glycerine
The National Biodiesel Board has recognized a group of U.S. Department of Agriculture researchers for finding new uses for natural glycerine, a by-product of biodiesel production, replacing glycerine made from non-renewable petroleum. This press release from the NBB has details: For their research, Drs. Richard Ashby, Daniel Solaiman and Thomas Foglia of the USDA’s Agriculture Research Service Eastern Regional Research …
Cellulosic Ethanol Focus at Hearing
A South Dakota lawmaker is urging Congress to allow cellulosic ethanol derived from woody biomass on federal lands to count towards the Renewable Fuels Standard. Current law prevents biofuels made from biomass that originates on public lands or any biomass from private land that is not ‘planted’ and ‘actively managed’ from being counted toward the RFS. During a hearing this …
Ethanol Standard Debated as Oil Prices Rise
As the House Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality heard testimony regarding the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) on Tuesday, oil hit yet another record high of $122 a barrel. Renewable Fuels Association president Bob Dinneen reminded the committee of that several times during the hearing, having to correct his own pre-prepared remarks. “Mr. Chairman, the RFS made sense when you …
NBB Helping Develop Soybean Oil Enhancement
Working with funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation, the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) is granting $1.2 million to the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis, Mo. for a three-year project to enhance oil production from soybeans. This NBB press release says it’s just another step the group has taken to free this country from foreign oil dependence: …
Wind Capital Gets $150 Million Investment
An Irish renewable energy and sustainable waste management company has made a significant investment into a St. Louis-based wind energy company. This story from the St. Louis (MO) Business Journal says that NTR plc is putting $150 million into Wind Capital Group and will supply 150 megawatts of wind turbines on behalf of Wind Capital to help move forward the …
The State of Cellulosic Ethanol
Cellulosic ethanol is no longer a pipe dream. It’s real and it is being produced today. That was the message Tom Slunecka, Vice President of Business Development for KL Process Design Group of South Dakota, gave at the 2008 Agri-Marketing Conference in Kansas City last week. Slunecka provided a detailed overview of the state of cellulosic ethanol to agri-marketers during …
Rock Port, MO First to be 100% Wind Powered
Electric meters are running backwards as Rock Port, Missouri became the first town in the country to run on 100 percent wind power. This article in the Maryville (MO) Daily Forum says the meters started moving in the other direction after this weekend when the four wind turbines (pictured on the right) on a hill just above the town started …
NBB Applauds Bush’s Greenhouse Gas Plan
The National Biodiesel Board is applauding President Bush’s plan to stop the growth of U.S. greenhouse gases by 2025. In this release from the NBB, the group says biodiesel will be a key part of the plan: “Biodiesel not only reduces our dependence on foreign oil, it is a valuable tool in the fight to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said …
Farm Foundation to Host Carbon Footprint Forum
Farm Foundation, a non-profit group that works as a catalyst for farm policy discussion, is holding a forum on the lifecycle carbon footprint analysis of biofuels, this coming Tuesday, April 8 from 9 am to 11 am in the First Amendment Lounge of the National Press Club in Washington D.C. Speakers providing opening comments will be: * Bruce McCarl of …