Alternative Transportation Fuels Today articles from January 2007

Alternative Transportation Fuels Today archives from January 2007

Nebraska farmers consider replacing wheat with corn.(Industry Report)
January 2, 2007... Nebraska farmers are considering planting corn in place of already-sowed wheat, according to agricultural economists. As the US ethanol industry has driven corn prices higher, farmers may kill the wheat to make room for corn in the spring....

North Dakota ethanol plant begins operations.(Industry Report)
January 2, 2007... Red Trail Energy's newest ethanol plant in Richardton, North Dakota, started operations last week. The plant is expected to produce roughly 145,000 gallons of ethanol a day, using 50,000 bushels of corn and 375 tons of coal. Red Trail...

Malawi test drives ethanol-fueled vehicle.(International Report)(Lilongwe Technical College)(Brief article)
January 2, 2007... A joint project between the Malawi government and Lilongwe Technical College will investigate ethanol-based fuels by driving an ethanol-run Mitsubishi Pajero over a 350 kilometer route from Lilongwe to Mzuzu, Malawi. The five-year, $1...

Idaho looks to include alternative fuels in energy plan.(Industry Report)
January 3, 2007... The Idaho Energy, Environment and Technology Interim Committee is drafting a plan that incorporates alternative and renewable energy into the state's energy plan. The plan is used as a policy-making guide for state power companies and the...

Iowa provides stimulus awards to alternative fuel plants.(Industry Report)
January 3, 2007... Iowa's Economic Development Board and Department of Economic Development last week announced economic stimulus awards for seven alternative fuels plants in the state. The IDED approved tax benefits for Hawkeye Renewables' planned $151...

Philippines plans to boost sugarcane production for ethanol.(International Report)
January 3, 2007... The Philippine government plans to develop new areas for planting sugarcane in an effort to support ethanol production. "We should take advantage of the emerging global trend on the use of bio-fuels to sustain and further boost the robust...

South Dakota ethanol plant advances.(Industry Report)
January 4, 2007... Missouri Valley Energy has placed a second phase order with Praj Industries for its Meckling, South Dakota ethanol project. The second phase order involves supply of equipment. Missouri Valley Energy's ethanol plant is expected to...

Meat Corporations investigate turning chicken fat to bio-fuel.(Industry Report)
January 4, 2007... A small amount of US bio-diesel is made from chicken fat, but the amount seems likely to increase in the near future. Meat supplier Tyson announced in November creation of a renewable energy division expected to be operational this year....

Michigan Renewable Fuels Commission up and running.(Industry Report)
January 4, 2007... Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm recently told the Renewable Fuels Commission its goal is to make the state a leader in alternative fuels. "We want to be the state that shows the nation how it can be done," Granholm said. The commission...

US ethanol production continues to rise.(Industry Report)
January 5, 2007... US daily ethanol production in Oct. matched the record set in Sept., according to the Renewable Fuels Association. US ethanol production reached 333,000 barrels per day in both months. Year-end ethanol production is estimated at 4.9...

Iowa produces most ethanol in 2006.(Industry Report)
January 5, 2007... Iowa was the number one producer of ethanol in the country in 2006, according to the Renewable Fuels Association. The state produced 1.1 billion gallons of ethanol. Illinois was the country's second largest producer with 780 million...

Earth Ethanol and Liquafication Corporation plan Washington ethanol plant.(Industry Report)
January 5, 2007... Earth Ethanol, Inc. has entered into an agreement with Liquafaction Corporation to construct and operate an ethanol production facility located near Moses Lake, Washington. The facility is expected to produce 36 million gallons of ethanol...

Eco-Energy enters deal with Ethanex.(Industry Report)(Ethanex Energy Inc.)(Brief article)
January 8, 2007... Eco-Energy Inc. announced last week it will buy Ethanex Energy Inc.'s entire output of ethanol for at least five years and provide logistics services to Ethanex. "We believe Ethanex's model will allow them to remain a very competitive,...

USSEC and diversified ethanol ink deal.(Industry Report)
January 8, 2007... US Sustainable Energy Corp. and Diversified Ethanol last week announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding that will see the companies collaborate on ethanol projects. "Our immediate goal is to construct a million gallon per day...

Canada considers bio-diesel requirements.(International Report)
January 8, 2007... Canada is considering a Clean Air Act that would see diesel fuel in Canada blended with a minimum of 2% renewable bio-diesel by 2012. The measure also includes a mandate for a minimum of 5% ethanol in gasoline. Contact:...

Proposes bill to support Delaware ethanol distribution.(Industry Report)
January 9, 2007... Delaware legislators plan to introduce a bill next month that would offer $1 million in state grants to 10 commercial gas stations interested in selling an 85% blend of ethanol. Currently no gas stations in the state sell ethanol. The 2007...

Pioneer Bio moves forward with Malaysian ethanol plants.(International Report)
January 9, 2007... Malaysia's Pioneer Bio Industries Corp. is moving forward with plans to produce ethanol from nipah palm trees. Company Chairman Badrul Shah Mohamad Noor recently said the company plans to build more than a dozen ethanol plants in Malaysia...

Peru aims for 'agrarian revolution' with ethanol project.(International Report)
January 9, 2007... Peruvian President Alan Garcia said Friday that Peru will start an "agrarian revolution" with an ethanol plant project in Peru's northern region of Piura. The project will initially produce roughly 40 million gallons of ethanol per year...

Alternative Energy Sources receives grants for ethanol plants.(Industry Report)
January 10, 2007... Alternative Energy Sources Inc. of Kansas has received $994,500 in government grants for ethanol plants in Illinois and Iowa. The company received an $850,000 grant from the Kankakee County Board in Illinois to make improvements to its...

Emerald Renewable Energy plans four new ethanol plants.(Industry Report)
January 10, 2007... Emerald Renewable Energy Inc., this week announced plans to build four ethanol plants in the Midwest, each with an annual production capacity of 100 million gallons. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Cargill Inc. The plants...

Congress reviews ethanol and bio-diesel bill.(Editorials, Asides & Reviews)
January 10, 2007... Congress is reviewing the Renewable Fuels and Energy Independence Promotion Act of 2007. The bill would permanently extend tax breaks for ethanol and bio-diesel production. The proposed legislation would create a permanent 51...

Governors call for massive increase in US ethanol use.(Industry Report)
January 11, 2007... The 37 members of the Governors' Ethanol Coalition released a report which asks the President and members of Congress to adopt four specific recommendations that, if implemented, would double ethanol use in the United States by 2010. These...

Biofuel Industries Group breaks ground in Adrian, Mich.(Industry Report)
January 11, 2007... Biofuel Industries Group LLC has broken ground to build a $20-million biodiesel plant in Adrian, Michigan. "The location of Adrian was selected because of its strong, agricultural-based community, its easy accessibility by truck or rail...

Maple plans ethanol production in Peru for 2009.(International Report)
January 11, 2007... Maple, a Texas-based group of companies involved in the financing, design, engineering and construction of energy-related infrastructure projects worldwide, plans to begin ethanol production from its project in coastal Peru in the second...

Weekly update.(International Report)(Calendar)
January 11, 2007... National Ethanol Conference, Tucson, Feb. 19-21 Effective Fuel Management for Fleets Conference, Miami, Feb. 20-21 (EIN STAFF: 01/11)

Farmers look to new options for alternative fuels.(Industry Report)
January 12, 2007... With the explosive growth in the ethanol industry, corn farmers are looking to new, readily available sources for alternate fuels. The stover, which includes all of the corn plant except the ear, is attracting attention because its...

Microhole Drilling Rig Demonstrated.(Industry Report)
January 12, 2007... A specially designed hybrid microhole coiled tubing rig recently concluded the drilling of 25 test wells to penetrate an intractable natural gas formation called the Niobrara in western Kansas and eastern Colorado. The test demonstrated cost...

New Iowa wind farm uses compressed air energy storage.(Industry Report)
January 12, 2007... Backed by the U.S. Department of Energy, a group of municipal utilities in Iowa are planning to build a new energy park that would integrate a 75-150 megawatt wind farm with Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) technology. The proposed...

Dynamotive develops high energy grade Bio-oil.(Industry Report)
January 16, 2007... Dynamotive Energy Systems Corporation, which develops and markets biomass-based biofuel technology, is introducing a higher energy grade of BioOil called Intermediate BioOil. Intermediate BioOil is designed as an alternative fuel for the...

Department of Energy signs $375 million contract.(Industry Report)
January 16, 2007... The US Department of Energy and the Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America, a research management consortium headquartered in Sugar Land, Texas, have finalized and signed a major 10-year, $375 million contract to manage research and...

Wind power industry growing in South Korea.(International Report)
January 16, 2007... With rising oil prices and growing public awareness of the changing environment, wind power stocks in South Korea are enjoying increasing investor interest. Last week, the nation's largest wind power farm began operation in the...

Indian automakers collaborate on Hithane project.(International Report)
January 17, 2007... India's Tata Motors, Bajaj Auto, Mahindra and Mahindra, Ashok Leyland and Eicher Motors are teaming up on a project to create an optimal mix of hydrogen and compressed natural gas. The project seeks to develop the CNG-hydrogen mixture...

Mitsubishi Motors and PSA Peugeot Citroen sign diesel engine agreement.(International Report)
January 17, 2007... Mitsubishi Motors Corporation and PSA Peugeot Citroen have signed an agreement under which PSA Peugeot Citroen will supply MMC with diesel engines. Mitsubishi Motors is introducing its new Outlander SUV in Europe this month, and will add a...

Saab tests first ethanol car in Australia.(International Report)
January 17, 2007... A real-world demonstration program of the first ethanol production car in Australia, Saab BioPower, ran in Queensland yesterday. Saab BioPower, an ethanol powered version of the Saab 9-5 vehicle, can run on E85 (85 per cent ethanol fuel) or...

President will push for increase in ethanol use.(Industry Report)
January 18, 2007... President Bush's annual speech to Congress next week is likely to call for a massive increase in US ethanol use. The State of the Union address is expected to touch on key energy policy points. A rising focus on "energy security" by both...

California flywheel energy storage system nears commercial production.(Industry Report)
January 18, 2007... The California Energy Commission recently announced that a 100 kilowatt scale-power flywheel energy storage system is now one step closer to commercialization. Designed to enhance the state's electricity grid, the Smart Energy Matrix...

Mark & Spence implements $394 million green plan involving bio-diesel.(International Report)
January 18, 2007... Marks & Spencer, the UK-based global retailer, has announced "Plan A"-a business-wide $394 million "eco-plan" that will have an impact on every part of their operations over the next five years. By 2012 Marks & Spencer will become carbon...

Weekly update.(Conferences)(Calendar)
January 18, 2007... National Ethanol Conference, Tucson, Feb. 19-21. Effective Fuel Management for Fleets Conference, Miami, Feb. 20-21 (EIN STAFF: 1/18)

Illinois law requires green state vehicles.(Industry Report)(Brief article)
January 19, 2007... A new Illinois law requires state agencies to buy vehicles that can run on more environmentally-friendly fuels. The legislation requires all gasoline-powered cars and trucks bought with state funds after July 1 to be flexible-fuel vehicles...

O2Diesel acquires ProEco Energy.(Industry Report)
January 19, 2007... O2Diesel Corporation, a developer of ethanol-diesel fuel blends, has entered an agreement to acquire 80% of ProEco Energy Company, Inc. ProEco is a privately held company that is developing an ethanol production facility in South Dakota...

GM CEO calls for more alternative fuels.(Industry Report)
January 19, 2007... General Motors Corp. chief executive Rick Wagoner called on the U.S. government to promote development of alternative fuels such as ethanol, hydrogen fuel cells and advanced battery technology by using tax credits or fuel subsidies. His...

World truck show to feature hybrid technology.(Industry Report)
January 22, 2007... The World Truck Show to be held at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, IN March 7-9 will feature hybrid and alternative fuel technologies. According to event organizer National Truck Equipment Association, many of these products...

Delaware residents support offshore wind power.(Industry Report)
January 22, 2007... Delaware residents are strongly in favor of offshore wind power as a future source of energy for the state, according to a survey conducted by University of Delaware researchers. When asked to select from a variety of sources to help the...

Enova Systems and Smith electric vehicles enter production supply agreement.(Industry Report)
January 22, 2007... Enova Systems announced that it has entered into a production supply agreement with Smith Electric Vehicles, a division of The Tanfield Group. Enova anticipates executing an exclusive agreement to supply a minimum of 200 electric drive...

Colorado Governor wants state to be a 'national leader' in alternative fuels.(Industry Report)
January 23, 2007... Newly elected Governor Bill Ritter pledged to establish Colorado as a "national leader in renewable energy" in his first State of the State address on Jan. 11. Ritter has laid out infrastructure plans including building high voltage...

Largest alternative fuels expo to be held in Anaheim.(Industry Report)
January 23, 2007... The 13th annual Alternative Fuels & Vehicles Conference and Expo will be held in Anaheim, California, April 1-4. Formerly known as the Clean Cities Conferences, the fuel and technology gathering is designed to bring "one-stop information...

Report: ethanol bubble could burst.(Editorials, Asides & Reviews)
January 23, 2007... Ethanol could be headed for a bubble if the industry doesn't make some big changes, according to a report released Monday by Pavilion Technologies. The software company, which sells ethanol-manufacturing software, commissioned the survey...

Bush seeks massive mandatory increase in alternative fuels.(Industry Report)
January 24, 2007... Vowing to reduce the nation's thirst for oil, President Bush called for a huge government-mandated increase in renewable fuels and tougher mileage standards for cars and light trucks in his State of the Union Address Tuesday night. The...

Ethanol can meet nation's increased gasoline demand.(Industry Report)
January 24, 2007... US gasoline consumption rose 0.8% in 2006, and the blending of fuel ethanol met the increase in demand, according to statistics compiled by the American Petroleum Institute. The year's higher volume of gasoline deliveries was met entirely...

Alternative fuels vastly more cost effective.(Industry Report)
January 24, 2007... Alternative fuels are 29% more cost-competitive than three years ago in comparison with hydrocarbon energy, according to the results of a study released by the Energy Management Institute. The study covered three years of pricing data from...

Ford displays first E85-Hybrid vehicle.(Industry Report)
January 25, 2007... Ford Motor Company displayed its first Escape Hybrid E85 vehicle at the 2007 Washington Auto Show, held Jan. 24-28. The company said it is the world's first hybrid vehicle capable of operating on blends of fuel containing E85. Ford said...

Ethanol gold rush imminent.(Industry Report)
January 25, 2007... President Bush's proposal to cut gasoline use 20 percent by greatly expanding the use of alternative fuels is likely to accelerate an ethanol gold rush on Wall Street, even as some industry leaders and environmentalists question whether Bush's...

Ethanol finance summit comes to Wall Street.(Industry Report)
January 25, 2007... The Ethanol Industry will come to Wall Street this spring for the industry's major deal-making vent when Infocast hosts the Ethanol Finance & Investment Summit at the Marriott Financial Center, March 19-21, 2007. The summit will provide...

Weekly update.(Conferences)(Calendar)
January 25, 2007... National Ethanol Conference, Tucson, Feb. 19-21. Effective Fuel Management for Fleets Conference, Miami, Feb. 20-21 Ethanol Finance & Investment Summit, Marriott Financial Center, New York, March 19-21 (EIN STAFF: 1/25)

President issues new energy use directive for the Federal government.(Industry Report)
January 26, 2007... President Bush issued an executive order Jan. 24 instituting new guidance for energy efficiency, use of renewable energy and reduction of environmental impact throughout the Federal government. The executive order calls upon all federal...

Researchers identify new catalyst for PEM fuel cells.(Industry Report)
January 26, 2007... Researchers with the US Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Argonne National Laboratory have identified a new variation of a familiar platinum-nickel alloy that is the most active oxygen-reducing catalyst ever...

Princeton researchers create new hydrogen fuel cell mechanism.(Industry Report)
January 26, 2007... Researchers at Princeton University have developed a new mechanism to efficiently control hydrogen fuel cell power. This technology could make fuel cells practical for small motors like the ones in chainsaws and lawnmowers. Jay Benziger, a...

Washington state legislature pushes for bio-fuels production.(Industry Report)
January 29, 2007... The Washington state legislature will consider a bill that would provide incentives to increase the production and use of bio-fuels. The incentives would go to farmers to grow crops like canola, and to various government entities to replace...

Algae potential bio-fuel source.(Industry Report)(Brief article)
January 29, 2007... Jim Sears, a Colorado-based entrepreneur, claims that algae could be used as a potential source for alternative fuels. Producing oil from soy or canola requires a three to five-month growing season, but some algae are so prolific, over half...

Siemens supplies coal gasification technology to Shenhua group.(International Report)
January 29, 2007... Shenhua Ningxia Coal Industry Group Co. Ltd. in China has awarded Siemens Power Generation $39 million contract for two entrained-flow gasifiers and further key equipment for a coal gasification plant. The coal gasification plant will be...

Dupont unveils new technology plan.(Industry Report)
January 30, 2007... Dupont plans to implement a new three-part bio-fuels strategy that will help meet President Bush's new energy proposal. The strategy includes improving existing ethanol production through differentiated seed and chemical products, and...

Volvo investing in Chemrec.(Industry Report)
January 30, 2007... Volvo Technology Transfer is investing in Chemrec, a company that has developed a technology for gasification of black liquor, a residual product from the pulp industry. "Chemrec has shown that there is an efficient process for converting...

Michigan agriculture faces significant change.(Editorials, Asides & Reviews)
January 30, 2007... Michigan's agriculture industry could face radical change due to the recent push for ethanol and other bio-fuels. In the next few years, Michigan plans to have eleven plants pumping out 650 million gallons of ethanol a year, requiring 260...

Wisconsin governor announces ethanol and bio-diesel funding proposal.(Industry Report)
January 31, 2007... Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle announced this week $40 million in funding toward renewable energy, including a $5 million grant for developing the nation's first cellulosic ethanol plant. The proposed budget picks up on Doyle's "Declaration...

Pavilion CMO claims consumers need more information about ethanol.(Industry Report)
January 31, 2007... Pavilion Technologies' Chief Marketing Officer Matt Tormollen said during a recent interview that investors are funding growth that could double production capacity to more than 11 billion gallons this year, but retailers aren't doing enough to...

Canadians favor higher fuel economy standards.(Industry Report)(Brief article)
January 31, 2007... Globe and Mail, a Strategic Counsel survey for Canada found that higher fuel-efficiency standards and forcing consumers and industry to switch to alternative fuels rank No. 1 and 2 in terms of what Canadians are most likely to support to...