Alternative Transportation Fuels Today articles from January 2004

Alternative Transportation Fuels Today archives from January 2004

United Bio Energy Partners to Open Offices in KS.
January 5, 2004... United Bio Energy Partners LLC, a company that will provide both management and consulting for ethanol plants, as well as ethanol marketing services, recently opened new office headquarters in Wichita, KS. The company, which is a...

Southeast Texas Transit Unveils Propane Buses.
January 5, 2004... Southeast Texas Transit recently announced the introduction of two new propane-fueled buses in an effort to promote clean air in Orange County, TX. According to Southeast Texas Transit, the new buses, which cost $65,000 each, are expected...

NGV Institute Offers Training, Certification Courses.(Natural Gas Vehicle Institute)
January 5, 2004... The NGV Institute recently announced plans to offer three of its "most popular" natural gas vehicle (NGV) courses in Phoenix, AZ, later this month. On January 26, the institute will conduct the "NGV Driver and Mechanic Safety Training:...

DDS Announces Delivery of Biomass-to-Ethanol Processors.
January 6, 2004... DDS Technologies recently announced plans to deliver to Ethanol's ethanol production plant in Iowa the first of a series of dry disaggregation processors. According to DDS, the processors will be capable of converting up to 80 tons of...

New Public CNG Station to Open in Raleigh, NC.(compressed natural gas)
January 6, 2004... City officials in Raleigh, NC recently reported that a new fueling station offering compressed natural gas (CNG) is scheduled to open in the city later this month. According to officials, while North Carolina currently contains 15 CNG...

Northstar Station in CA Offers Biodiesel Blend.
January 6, 2004... Local officials in Lake Tahoe, CA recently reported that a Northstar fueling station has begun offering B10, a fuel blend of 10 percent biodiesel and 90 percent standard petroleum diesel. Since the alternative fuel's introduction, Northstar...

D.C. Metro Official Proposes Use of Hybrid, Clean Diesel Buses.
January 7, 2004... The Associated Press (AP) recently reported that incoming Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) chairman Robert Smith has proposed using the $13 million currently earmarked for the construction of a new compressed natural gas...

Local KY Group Wins Federal Grant for Biodiesel Project.(Union County Biodiesel)
January 7, 2004... The Courier Press recently reported the award of a $25,255 USDA Value-Added Agricultural Product Market Grant to Union County Biodiesel to "evealuate the feasability of and establish a business plan for the development of a new biodiesel...

Indcor Considers Construction of New Ethanol Plant.
January 7, 2004... Industry officials in Western Australia recently reported that ethanol producer Indcor is "seriously considering" the construction of a new ethanol plant in the Wheatbelt region. "We have modelled it and, in time, I would say there's...

FL Office of Greenways And Trails Begins Use of Biodiesel.
January 9, 2004... The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) recently announced the use of biodiesel fuel in trucks operated by its Office of Greenways and Trails. According to DEP, this brings the number of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) in...

Rentech Reports Fiscal Year-end Financial Results.(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... Denver, CO-based Rentech, Inc., the developer and licensor of a patented and proprietary Fischer-Tropsch gas-to-liquids process, recently announced its financial results for the fiscal year ended September 30, reporting a quarterly net loss of...

Collaboration to Boost CNG Vehicle Industry in Iran.
January 9, 2004... Industry officials in Iran recently reported that the country's Fuel Optimization Organization has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Pakistan's Hydrocarbure Development Institute for cooperation in developing Iran's compressed...

WestStart, NAC to Host Clean Heavy-duty Vehicles Conference.
January 9, 2004... WestStart-CALSTART, Inc. and the U.S. Army National Automotive Center (NAC) will host the Clean Heavy-duty Vehicles Conference, "the only national conference focused exclusively on advanced technologies and fuels for heavy-duty on- and non-road...

WestStart-CALSTART Names New Governing Board Member.(John Catoe)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2004... WestStart-CALSTART recently announced the appointment of John Catoe, deputy CEO of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA), to its governing board. According to the company, Catoe has been working in public...

Suncor Funding for Ontario Ethanol Plant.(Brief Article)
January 13, 2004... Suncor Energy Products Inc. recently announced it has applied to Natural Resources Canada for funding of its proposed $120-million ethanol plant in Sarnia, Ontario, under the federal government's ethanol program, while continuing with a renewed...

Indonesian Officials Discuss Biodiesel Development.(Brief Article)
January 13, 2004... Local officials in Jakarta, Indonesia recently reported that the city plans to pursue the development of biodiesel as an alternative vehicle fuel in an effort to reduce area pollution. "We have signed a memorandum of understanding with the...

Indian Authorities Extend Deadline for CNG, LPG Conversions.(compressed natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2004... Local officials in India recently reported that the Bombay High Court has extended the deadline for Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and Bharat Petroleum to convert 18 Mumbai airport refueling vehicles and...

Quantum, GM Renew Contract for NG Truck Development.(Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide Inc.)(General Motors Corporation)(natural gas fuel systems)
January 14, 2004... Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc. recently announced a follow-on development and production contract with General Motors Corporation (GM) to develop natural gas (NG) fuel systems for GM's 2005 model year full-size pickup trucks....

Rentech Announces Shift in Management, New Staff.
January 14, 2004... Denver, CO-based Rentech, Inc., a developer and licensor of a patented and proprietary Fischer-Tropsch gas-to-liquids (GTL) process, recently announced a shift in "key" management positions at the company, as well as an addition to the senior...

Local ME Fueling Station Offers B20.
January 14, 2004... Local officials in South China, ME recently reported that a fueling station at the area Frontier Village Market has begun offering B20, a fuel blend of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent standard petroleum diesel. "There are people who...

KCC Opens New E85 Station in Kansas.(Kansas Corn Commission)
January 15, 2004... The national ethanol vehicle coalition (NEVC) recently reported that the Kansas Corn Commission (KCC) has opened a new fueling station offering E85, a fuel blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent standard gasoline. According KCC, the...

Local CT Fleet Services Station to Offer B20.(Santa Energy)
January 15, 2004... City officials in New Haven, CT recently reported that Bridgeport, CT-based Santa Energy has begun delivering B20, a fuel blend of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent standard petroleum diesel, to a local Santa Fleet Services Station that will...

GGCL to Establish CNG Stations in Gujarat, India.(Gujarat Gas Company Ltd.)
January 15, 2004... Industry officials in the Indian state of Gujarat recently reported that Gujarat Gas Company, Ltd. (GGCL) plans to establish compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling stations in the cities of Ankleshwar, Surat and Bharuch during the next five...

MN Cooperative Seeks Funding for New Biodiesel Refinery.
January 16, 2004... Local officials in Brewster, MN recently reported that Minnesota Soybean Processors (MnSP) has launched an equity drive for funds to help expand its new soybean processing plant, which has only been operational for two months, to add refineries...

MME Closes Financing for New Ethanol Plant in MO.(Mid-Missouri Energy)(Agstar Financial Services)
January 16, 2004... Mid-Missouri Energy (MME), a farmer-owned cooperative, recently announced it has closed financing for its $60-million ethanol production plant in Saline County, MO. MME noted that Mankato, MN-based AgStar Financial Services is the primary...

Founding Member Rejoins WestStart-CALSTART.
January 16, 2004... WestStart-CALSTART recently announced the return of CALSTART founding member Bill Van Amburg to the position of senior vice president. According to WestStart-CALSTART, Van Amburg helped launch CALSTART before serving as its communications...

Weekly Update.
January 16, 2004... NATIONAL BIODIESEL CONFERENCE & EXPO 2004, February 1-4, 2004, Wyndham Palm Springs Hotel, Palm Springs, CA RFA 9TH ANNUAL NATIONAL ETHANOL CONFERENCE: POLICY & MARKETING, February 16-18, 2004, Fontainebleau Hilton Resort, Miami Beach, FL...

Lawsuits Emerge Over Lost Investment for IA Ethanol Plant.
January 20, 2004... The Associated Press (AP) recently reported that three lawsuits have been filed since April of last year as a result of the disappearance of a $3.9-million security deposit for a proposed ethanol production plant in Delaware County, IA. ...

Oklahoma City School District to Convert Buses to CNG.(compressed natural gas)
January 20, 2004... Local officials in Oklahoma City, OK recently reported that the Oklahoma City School District and MAPS for Kids, an initiative calling for a seven-year city sales tax to raise more than $500 million for metropolitan area schools, have invested...

Japanese Researchers Convert Biomass Into Ethanol.
January 20, 2004... The monthly newsletter New Materials Japan recently reported that researchers at Japan's Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute have developed a new process for the conversion of biomass into ethanol. According to the newsletter,...

Thai Government to Launch New NGV Initiative.(natural gas vehicle)
January 20, 2004... Government officials in Thailand recently reported that the Thai Energy Ministry has unveiled a natural gas vehicle (NGV) project to encourage the use of NGVs in an effort to decrease the impact of an ongoing oil crisis. According to...

Bachman AFV Changes Name to 'BAF Technologies'.
January 22, 2004... Dallas, TX-based natural gas and propane vehicle conversions provider Bachman AFV recently announced the change of its company name to "BAF Technologies," a change the company said "comes on the heels [of] the company's purchase of TranStar...

Local CO Retailer Offers Biodiesel.
January 22, 2004... City officials in Aspen, CO recently reported that the local Catherine Store has begun to offer B20, a fuel blend of 20 percent biodiesel with 80 percent standard petroleum diesel. According to officials, the retailer is now offering the...

Volvo Elects Not to Introduce CNG Buses in India.(compressed natural gas)
January 22, 2004... Industry officials in India recently reported that Volvo India has announced a decision not to introduce compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered buses in the country. According to officials, Volvo India said it based its choice on the lack of...

Yellow Cab to Operate CNG-powered Taxis.
January 23, 2004... Industry officials in San Diego, CA recently reported that Yellow Cab of San Diego, in partnership with Seal Beach, CA-based vehicular natural gas provider Clean Energy, plans to begin operating 20 new compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered...

Gopher State Still in Violation of Odor Limits.(Gopher State Ethanol)(Brief Article)
January 23, 2004... City officials in St. Paul, MN recently reported that tests conducted at the local Gopher State Ethanol facility have revealed no real progress in quelling the odor complaints resulting in a 2002 city suit and subsequent deal with the company...

Westport, Isuzu Japan Extend Development Partnership.
January 23, 2004... Westport Innovations, Inc. recently announced it has signed a new collaboration agreement with Isuzu Motors of Japan assess the market opportunity for the companies' co-developed monofuel CNG-powered direct injection technology. According...

ILSR Urges Schwarzenegger to Consider Ethanol.(Institute for Local Self-Reliance)(Arnold Schwarzenegger)
January 23, 2004... The Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) recently announced the release of a new report by ILSR vice president David Morris which argues that California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed "hydrogen highway" is "too expensive and...

Weekly Update.
January 23, 2004... CALIFORNIA BIODIESEL CONSUMERS' CONFERENCE, January 31-February 1, 2004, Gold Student Center, Pitzer College, Claremont, CA NATIONAL BIODIESEL CONFERENCE & EXPO 2004, February 1-4, 2004, Wyndham Palm Springs Hotel, Palm Springs, CA RFA...

American Biofuels Purchases Bakersfield Biodiesel Plant.(Green Star Products, Inc.)
January 26, 2004... Green Star Products, Inc. (GSPI) recently announced that American Biofuels (ABF), a biodiesel production company that is 35 percent owned by GSPI, has acquired 100 percent ownership of the Bakersfield Biodiesel Plant. According to GSPI,...

EC Report Says Alternative Fuels Can Compete With Gas, Diesel.
January 26, 2004... The European Natural Gas Vehicle Association (ENGVA) recently announced the release of a new European Commission (EC) report, titled "Market Development of Alternative Fuels," which identifies natural gas as "the only potential economically...

Mazda Moves Forward on Hydrogen Rotary Engine Development.
January 26, 2004... Kyodo News recently reported that Mazda Motor Corporation president Hisakazu Imaki has announced the automaker expects to introduce new vehicle models featuring hydrogen-powered rotary engines "in about three years." According to the news...

EPA, DOJ, WI Reach Agreement With Ace Ethanol.(United States. Environmental Protection Agency)(United States. Department of Justice)(Wisconsin)
January 27, 2004... The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the state of Wisconsin recently announced they have reached an agreement with Ace Ethanol, LLC on "alleged violations of federal and state clean-air regulations" at...

Ethanol Industry Sets Annual Production Record in 2003.
January 27, 2004... The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) recently announced that the domestic ethanol industry set an annual production record of 2.81 billion gallons in 2003, an increase of more than 32 percent from 2.13 billion gallons in 2002 and 91 percent...

Ethanol Across America Announces New Committee Member.(Senator Tim Johnson )
January 27, 2004... Ethanol Across America, a non-profit, non-partisan campaign of the Clean Fuels Foundation, recently announced that U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) has agreed to join it's advisory committee. According to Ethanol Across America, Johnson...

Dynetek to Market New CNG Cylinders in India, Bangladesh.(IPA Gastechnik Ltd.)(compressed natural gas)
January 27, 2004... Dynetek Industries, Ltd. recently announced it has entered a letter of collaboration with Veecon - IPA Gastechnik Ltd. of New Delhi, India to promote Dynetek's new line of Advanced Lightweight Storage Cylinders for use in compressed natural gas...

Construction of IL Ethanol Plant Scheduled for March.(Illinois River Energy L.L.C.)(Brief Article)
January 28, 2004... Industry officials in Illinois recently reported that Illinois River Energy, LLC plans to begin construction of a new $68-million ethanol production plant in the city of Rochelle in March. According to officials, the facility is designed to...

Delhi Government Considers New CNG Tax.(compressed natural gas)
January 28, 2004... Officials in Delhi, India recently reported that the Delhi government is considering placing a tax on compressed natural gas (CNG), which is currently exempt from taxation. "A decision on the tax on CNG has been pending for some time, with...

CNG Fueling Station Opens in Riverside, CA.(compressed natural gas)
January 29, 2004... Local officials in Riverside, CA recently reported the opening of a new $1.4 million compressed natural gas (CNG) station in the city, adding to the 70-plus such stations currently in the Southern California area. According to officials,...

Ardent Energy to Construct Biodiesel Plant in Scotland.
January 29, 2004... Industry officials in Scotland recently reported that Ardent Energy plans to begin constructing a new 15-million-pound (about $27.6-million), 45,000-ton biodiesel production facility in Newarthill next month. According to officials, the...

Energy Exchange to Host Alternative Fuels Forum in Germany.
January 29, 2004... The Energy Exchange, Ltd. will host the Annual Global Alternative Fuels Forum for Automotive Applications on March 3 and 4 in Hamburg, Germany, during which "six months of experiences with hydrogen drive fuel cell buses and their related...

Westport Reports Third-quarter Financial Results.
January 30, 2004... Westport Innovations, Inc. recently announced its financial results for the third quarter ended December 31, 2003, reporting a quarterly net loss of $13 million, or 20 cents per share, compared to a net loss of $12.2 million, or 24 cents per...

Ohio Ethanol Company Seeks Plant Investors.
January 30, 2004... The Ohio Advertiser-Tribune recently reported that Lima, Ohio-based Greater Ohio Ethanol LLC is actively seeking investment partners to help fund its plan to construct a new ethanol plant in Pleasant Township, Ohio. According to the...

Philippines DOE Negotiates With CNG Vehicle Suppliers.(compressed natural gas)
January 30, 2004... Industry officials in the Philippines recently reported that the federal Department of Energy (DOE) has begun preliminary negotiations with automobile manufacturers to facilitate the sale of compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles to jeepney and...

Weekly Update.
January 30, 2004... CALIFORNIA BIODIESEL CONSUMERS' CONFERENCE, January 31-February 1, 2004, Gold Student Center, Pitzer College, Claremont, CA NATIONAL BIODIESEL CONFERENCE & EXPO 2004, February 1-4, 2004, Wyndham Palm Springs Hotel, Palm Springs, CA RFA...