Alternative Transportation Fuels Today articles from May 2004

Alternative Transportation Fuels Today archives from May 2004

Platte Valley Fuel Ethanol to Begin Production at NE Plant.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... Local Nebraska newspaper the Grand Island Independent recently reported that officials with Platte Valley Fuel Ethanol plan to begin operating a new production facility in Central City, NE this month. According to the paper, the plant is...

Local CO City to Test Biodiesel in Fleet Vehicles.(Colorodo, Durango)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... Local Colorado newspaper the Durango Herald recently reported that the city of Durango plans to operate its fleet vehicles with biodiesel during a trial period in order to evaluate the alternative fuel's performance. "It's not cast in...

Iogen Begins Production of Cellulose Ethanol.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... Ottawa, Ontario-based Iogen Corporation recently began production of cellulose ethanol, an ultra-low CO2 emissions fuel. According to Iogen, as much as 10 percent cellulose ethanol can be blended with gasoline and used in any standard...

Sioux River Ethanol Plant Opens in South Dakota.(Brief Article)
May 4, 2004... The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) recently announced that the farmer-owned Sioux River Ethanol, LLC plant near Hudson, SD has begun operating. The facility is expected to convert 16 million bushels of corn per year into 45 million...

Local CA School District to Operate CNG Fueling Station.(Clovis Unified School District, California, compressed natural gas)(Brief Article)
May 4, 2004... Local California newspaper the Clovis Independent recently reported that the Clovis Unified School District (CUSD) plans to purchase and operate a compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station from natural gas company FleetStar. According...

Biodiesel to Fuel Transport at Clean Cities Conference.(National Biodiesel Board)(Brief Article)
May 4, 2004... The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) recently announced that this week's 10th National Clean Cities Conference & Expo in Ft. Lauderdale, FL will serve as a showcase for biodiesel, as the alternative fuel will be used in water taxis and shuttle...

U.K. Retailer to Begin Offering Biodiesel Fuel.(Brief Article)
May 4, 2004... Reuters recently reported that U.K. retailer Tesco plans to begin offering a fuel blend of five percent rapeseed-derived biodiesel and 95 percent ultra-low sulfur diesel at more than 20 of its "forecourts" in southeast England. According...

Local IA Council Approves Financial Assistance for Ethanol Plant.(Iowa)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2004... Local Iowa newspaper the Iowa Falls Times-Citizen recently reported that the Iowa Falls City Council has agreed to provide financial assistance for Midwest Renewables' proposed 40-million-gallon, $64.5-million Iowa Falls Ethanol Plant. ...

D.C. Transit Authority Orders Additional CNG Buses.(Compressed Natural Gas)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2004... The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) recently placed an order for 175 compressed natural gas (CNG)-fueled buses. Metro will purchase an additional 75 CNG buses in July, which, combined with the recent order, will bring...

Penn State Operates Agricultural Fleet With B20.(Pennsylvania)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2004... Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) recently reported that "almost all" of the fuel used this year by the College of Agricultural Sciences to power the university's 200 trucks, tractors and pieces of agricultural equipment will be B20, a...

San Francisco Officials Urge Muni to Consider Biodiesel.(San Francisco Municipal Railway)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... The San Francisco Examiner recently reported that the Land Use Committee of the city's Board of Supervisors has voted in favor of urging the San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni) to conduct a pilot study of the use of biodiesel fuel. ...

UFC Offers E85 at Local NE Fueling Station.( United Farmers Cooperative )(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Local Nebraska newspaper the Aurora News Register recently reported that United Farmers Cooperative (UFC) has begun offering E85, a fuel blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent standard gasoline, at a York Cardtrol fueling station in York....

New Biodiesel Plant Coming to South Australia.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Industry officials in Australia recently reported that Australian Renewable Fuels will construct a new biodiesel plant in Birkenhead, South Australia. The plant is expected to produce approximately 45 million liters (about 12 million...

NRMA Calls for Ethanol Education in Australia.(National Roads and Motorists Association)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Australia's National Roads and Motorists Association (NRMA) is calling for a national ethanol education campaign to accompany a recent gasoline pump labeling law. The group expressed concern that signs saying "no ethanol," which indicates...

AK Representative Proposes Ethanol Production Incentive.(Brief Article)
May 7, 2004... Alaska state representative Bill Williams recently introduced an amendment to a state senate bill aimed at encouraging the production of ethanol made from wood and seafood waste. The amendment adds language to senate bill 337, a measure...

Rentech Receives U.S. Patent for GTL Technology.(gas-to-liquids technology)(Brief Article)
May 7, 2004... Denver, CO-based Rentech, Inc. has been awarded a U.S. patent pertaining to its Fischer-Tropsch gas-to-liquids (GTL) technology. The new patent, number 6,730,221, covers details on hardware necessary to improve the dynamic settler used for...

Local MN Bus Company to Test Biodiesel.(Brief Article)
May 7, 2004... Agri News recently reported that Bernard Bus Service, Inc., together with the Fillmore-Mower Soybean Growers Association, plans to operate three school buses with B20, a fuel blend of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent standard petroleum...

Weekly Update.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
May 7, 2004... 2004 TOUR DE SOL: THE GREAT AMERICAN GREEN TRANSPORTATION FESTIVAL, May 21-25, 2004, Burlington, NJ, Trenton, NJ, New York, NY ALASKAN CLEAN ENERGY SYMPOSIUM, May 25-27, 2004, Hotel Captain Cook, Anchorage, AK 10TH ANNUAL EUROPEAN NGV...

ND Considers Investment in Ethanol Plant.(North Dakota)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2004... State officials in North Dakota recently proposed the investment of $1.25 million in a planned $80-million ethanol plant in the city of Richardton. Local private investors hope to raise about $30 million in capital for the facility, while...

ADM Appoints New Ethanol Sales & Marketing VP.(Archer Daniels Midland)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2004... Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) recently announced the appointment of Martin Lyons, who previously served as vice president and director of ethanol for ADM Corn Processing, as the new senior vice president of ethanol sales and marketing for the...

Location for Planned TX Ethanol Site Moved.(Texas, Panhandle Energies)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2004... The site of a planned Panhandle Energies ethanol plant in Moore County, TX has been moved after the cost to link the original site with a nearby railroad became too great. A new site has been identified north of the town of Dumas, which...

U.K. Launches Consultation Period for Biofuels Plan.(United kingdom)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2004... The U.K. Department for Transport (DfT) launched late last month a 12-week consultation period concerning the nation's plans to support the use of such biofuels as ethanol and biodiesel in the transportation sector. "The government is...

Federal Hearing Addresses Alternative Fuels.(Brief Article)
May 11, 2004... U.S. Representative Sam Graves (R-MO) recently convened a hearing to discuss the future of alternative fuels. The hearing focused on the environmental benefits of ethanol and biodiesel, as well as the positive implications those alternative...

DDS Technologies Ships Dry Disaggregation Machine to Xethanol.(Xethanol Corporation)(Brief Article)
May 11, 2004... DDS Technologies USA, Inc. recently announced the shipment of its first commercial dry disaggregation machine to the Iowa ethanol production plant of its joint venture partner Xethanol Corporation. According to DDS Technologies, the machine...

Mitsui to Study Feasibility of Biodiesel Production in South Africa.(Mitsui and Company Ltd.)(Brief Article)
May 11, 2004... Asia Pulse recently reported that Mitsui & Company, together with Thyssen Rheinstahl Technik GmbH and a South African venture firm, plan to conduct a study later this year exploring the feasibility of producing 100,000 tons of biodiesel per...

Dynetek Reports First-quarter Financial Results.(Brief Article)
May 12, 2004... Calgary, Alberta-based Dynetek Industries, Ltd., "a leader in the design, manufacturing and marketing of proprietary fuel storage cylinders and systems for compressed natural gas (CNG) and hydrogen," recently announced its financial results for...

Biodiesel Facility Planned for Andhra Pradesh.(Southern Online Biotechnologies, Ltd.)(Brief Article)
May 12, 2004... A number of researchers with prominent Indian firms have been asked to serve as honorary advisors for Southern Online Biotechnologies, Ltd.'s proposed biodiesel production facility in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The facility will utilize...

Mechanics Express Concern Over Ethanol Blends in India.(Brief Article)
May 12, 2004... The Times of India recently reported that mechanics in the state of Pune have expressed concerns that the introduction of ethanol-blended fuel in the region could potentially be causing higher cases of mechanical failures in four-stroke,...

U.S. Propane-powered Fleet Operators Receive Awards.
May 12, 2004... The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) recently announced the winners of the 2004 Exceptional Energy Fleet Awards. According to PERC, the award winners include the city of San Antonio, TX, which operates four propane fueling...

NCGA President Says Ethanol Importation Will Hurt Farmers.(National Corn Growers Association)(Brief Article)
May 13, 2004... National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) president Dee Vaughan recently criticized Cargill Corporation's plans to import Brazilian ethanol through El Salvador as a means to circumvent U.S. tariffs on imported ethanol. According to NCGA, a...

LAWA Divisions to Operate 53 CNG Vehicles.(Los Angeles World Airports)(Compressed natural gas)(Brief Article)
May 13, 2004... Four local California automotive retailers were awarded contracts earlier this week by the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners for compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles that will be operated by "various" divisions at Los Angeles World...

Thailand Sets Ethanol Production Target.(Brief Article)
May 13, 2004... The Bangkok Post recently reported that the government of Thailand's National Ethanol Committee has devised an ethanol promotion plan that calls for the production of one million liters (about 264,000 gallons) of the alternative fuel per day in...

NBB Says EPA Off-road Diesel Rules Could Benefit Biodiesel.(National Biodiesel Board, Environmental Protection Agency)(Brief Article)
May 14, 2004... The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) recently announced that new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations concerning off-road diesel vehicle exhaust are expected to provide opportunities for expanded use of biodiesel. The new rules...

IEA Report Highlights Current, Future Biofuel Trends.(International Energy Agency)(Brief Article)
May 14, 2004... The International Energy Agency (IEA) recently announced the release of a new report, titled "Biofuels for Transport: An International Perspective," which highlights recent trends in biofuel production and considers "how the future may look if...

Entrepreneur Looks to Develop Biodiesel From Trees in India.(karanj trees)(Brief Article)
May 14, 2004... Asian News International (ANI) recently reported that Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh resident P. Janardhan Reddy has proposed the local planting of 200 karanj trees to help produce oil for biodiesel fuel. According to the news service, Reddy,...

Weekly Update.(Calendar)
May 14, 2004... 2004 TOUR DE SOL: THE GREAT AMERICAN GREEN TRANSPORTATION FESTIVAL, May 21-25, 2004, Burlington, NJ, Trenton, NJ, New York, NY ALASKAN CLEAN ENERGY SYMPOSIUM, May 25-27, 2004, Hotel Captain Cook, Anchorage, AK 10TH ANNUAL EUROPEAN NGV...

EPA to Fund Conversion of Dallas Police Vehicles to CNG.(Environmental Protection Agency, compressed natural gas)(Brief Article)
May 17, 2004... The Dallas Morning News recently reported that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last week approved $1.9 million in funding for the conversion of 175 city police patrol cars to operate on compressed natural gas (CNG). However, the...

Topia Opens Biodiesel Pump in Toronto.
May 17, 2004... A new biodiesel pump recently opened in Toronto, Ontario with help from fuel supplier Topia Energy, Inc. The pump offers B20, a fuel blend of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent standard petroleum diesel, with customers able to purchase...

Senate-approved Measure Includes Biodiesel Tax Provisions.(Brief Article)
May 17, 2004... The American Soybean Association (ASA) and the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) recently applauded the U.S. Senate's passage of S. 1637, the foreign sales corporation/extraterritorial Income (FSC/ETI) bill, which includes a tax incentive designed...

Gopher State Ethanol Lays Off 31 Employees in MN.(Minnesota)(Brief Article)
May 18, 2004... The Minneapolis Business Journal recently reported that 31 of the 42 employees of the Gopher State Ethanol facility in St. Paul, MN have been laid off, including company president David Kreitzer. According to the paper, company officials...

Local GA Oil Company Distributes Biodiesel.(Davis Oil Company)(Brief Article)
May 18, 2004... Davis Oil Company of Perry, GA now offers biodiesel as an alternative to regular diesel fuel. The company distributes the fuel for World Energy Alternatives, LLC and delivers biodiesel to nearby Robins Air Force Base for use in base...

VeraSun to Build New Ethanol Plant in IA.(VeraSun Energy Corp., Iowa)(Brief Article)
May 18, 2004... VeraSun Energy Corporation of Brookings, IA is preparing to begin construction of a new ethanol production plant near Fort Dodge, IA. The plant is expected to produce approximately 110 million gallons of ethanol annually by processing 40...

Local Bangladesh Firms to Import CNG-powered Buses.(Nitol Motors and Utshab Motors Ltd., compressed natural gas)(Brief Article)
May 18, 2004... Bangladeshi newspaper the Daily Star recently reported that Nitol Motors and Utshab Motors, Ltd. plan to begin importing approximately 500 and 200 compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered buses, respectively, from India and China later this year....

Rentech Reports 2nd-quarter, 6-month Financial Results.(Brief Article)
May 19, 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 second quarter and six months ended March 31, 2004, reporting a...

NCGA Appoints New Public Policy Director.(National Corn Growers Association, Samantha Slater)(Brief Article)
May 19, 2004... The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) recently named Samantha Slater as its new director of public policy. According to NCGA, Slater will oversee NCGA's efforts focused on such issues as ethanol, the Clean Air Act, climate change and...

CWI Launches New Natural Gas Engine.(Cummins Westport Inc.)
May 19, 2004... Cummins Westport, Inc. (CWI) recently announced the launch of the new 8.9-liter L Gas Plus natural gas engine for heavy-duty trucks and transit buses earlier this month at the WasteExpo in Dallas, TX. According to CWI, the L Gas Plus, which...

Accessity to Acquire Pacific Ethanol, Re-Energy, Kinergy.(Kinergy Marketing, LLC.)(Brief Article)
May 20, 2004... Coral Springs, FL-based Accessity Corporation recently announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire large-scale ethanol plant developers Pacific Ethanol, Inc. and Re-Energy, LLC, as well as ethanol marketer Kinergy Marketing, LLC,...

Stakeholders Form Ethanol Association in KS.(Kansas)(Brief Article)
May 20, 2004... Local Kansas newspaper the Topeka Capital-Journal recently reported that a number of ethanol processing plants and related businesses have formed the Kansas Association of Ethanol Processors (KAEP). Topeka, KS-based Midwest Management...

Boulder, CO to Power More Fleet Vehicles With Biodiesel.(Colorado)(Brief Article)
May 20, 2004... Local Colorado newspaper the Daily Camera recently reported that officials with the city of Boulder have announced plans to power approximately 100 fleet vehicles with biodiesel blends by year's end. According to the paper, the city...

Suzuki to Introduce CNG Version of Wagon R.(Suzuki Motor Corporation, compressed natural gas)(Brief Article)
May 20, 2004... Japanese automaker Suzuki Motor Corporation will unveil a compressed natural gas (CNG) fueled version of its Wagon R model in July. Suzuki plans to sell the CNG model, which has a range of 260 kilometers (about 161 miles), for...

Boston City Council to Conduct Biodiesel Feasibility Study.(Brief Article)
May 21, 2004... Local Massachusetts newspaper the Weekly Dig recently reported that the Boston City Council plans to consider the possibility of constructing a biodiesel production plant that will process the alternative fuel from used cooking oil. ...

Metro Orders Natural Gas Engines From Cummins Westport.(Brief Article)
May 21, 2004... The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) recently ordered 150 natural gas-fueled C Gas Plus engines from Cummins Westport, Inc. (CWI). The engines will be equipped in transit buses that are scheduled to be delivered to...

ENGVA to Host European NGV Conference in Austria.(European Natural Gas Vehicle Association, natural gas vehicle)(Brief Article)
May 21, 2004... The European Natural Gas Vehicle Association (ENGVA) will host "Back to the Future: NGVs Expanding With Europe," the 10th annual European natural gas vehicle (NGV) conference and ENGVA annual meeting, May 25 through 27 at the Graz Convention...

Weekly Update.(Calendar)
May 21, 2004... 2004 TOUR DE SOL: THE GREAT AMERICAN GREEN TRANSPORTATION FESTIVAL, May 21-25, 2004, Burlington, NJ, Trenton, NJ, New York, NY ALASKAN CLEAN ENERGY SYMPOSIUM, May 25-27, 2004, Hotel Captain Cook, Anchorage, AK 10TH ANNUAL EUROPEAN NGV...

Nebraska County to Develop New Ethanol Plant.(Brief Article)
May 24, 2004... The Dakota County Economic Development Committee in Nebraska is currently working on plans to build a new ethanol production facility. Dakota County Board of Commissioners chairman Lyle Todd said the new plant could potentially help the...

Thai Industry Official Expects NGV Increase.(natural gas vehicle)(Brief Article)
May 24, 2004... Dow Jones recently reported that Manop Ratanasupanusorn, the natural gas vehicle (NGV) business group project director for Thai oil and gas company PTT PCL, has expressed his belief that while only 1,700 NGVs currently operate in Thailand, that...

U-M Students Use Waste Grease to Produce Viable Biodiesel.(Brief Article)
May 24, 2004... The University of Michigan (U-M) recently announced that a four-person team of U-M engineering students concluded and demonstrated during a term project for a course in environmental sustainability that "it is economically and technically...

CO-based Companies Consider Local Biodiesel Pump Development.(Shasta Energy Group)(Cross Petroleum)(Brief Article)
May 25, 2004... Local California newspaper the Redding Record Searchlight recently reported that Redding, CA-based Cross Petroleum and Mount Shasta, CA-based Shasta Energy Group are considering the development of a new biodiesel fueling station in northern...

China, Brazil Discuss Ethanol Collaboration.(Brief Article)
May 25, 2004... BNamericas.com recently reported that government officials in Brazil are considering the possibility of establishing an agreement with China that would include the introduction of ethanol-powered vehicles in China as well as the importation of...

Primary Energy to Construct Gunnedah Ethanol Plant.(Brief Article)
May 25, 2004... Local Australian newspaper, the Northern Daily Leader, recently reported that construction of Gunnedah, Australia's $110 million ethanol plant by Primary Energy is set to begin in June 2006. The plant is expected to produce 120 million...

MN Co-op Constructs Facility to Reduce Ethanol Plant Pollution.(Minnesota)(Brief Article)
May 26, 2004... The Associated Press (AP) recently reported that Winnebago, MN-based farmer-owned cooperative Corn Plus is developing a "pollution-control facility" at its Winnebago ethanol plant that is expected to reduce the plant's use of natural gas by 80...

Canadian Pilot Program Encourages NGV Use.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2004... A new $1.4-million pilot program, known as the Natural Gas for Vehicles Market Transformation Pilot Project, will offer Canadian commercial fleet drivers a $3,000 incentive to help reduce the price of natural gas vehicles (NGVs). According...

DI Oils to Launch Biodiesel Pilot Project in the Philippines.(Brief Article)
May 26, 2004... The Financial Times recently reported that DI Oils, together with the Philippine Coconut Authority, plans to initiate a biodiesel production pilot project in the Philippines. According to the paper, the project will evaluate the feasibility...

Dresser Acquire Nuovo Pignone Businesses.(Brief Article)
May 27, 2004... Dallas, TX-based Dresser, Inc. recently announced it has agreed to purchase the distribution business of General Electric subsidiary Nuovo Pignone S.p.A. The purchase includes a retail fueling business, consisting of gasoline, liquefied...

Saskatchewan Sets Ethanol Blending Targets.(Brief Article)
May 27, 2004... Local Canadian newspaper The StarPhoenix recently reported that Saskatchewan industry and resources minister Eric Cline has announced government plans to begin requiring the sale of gasoline blended with two percent ethanol on May 1, 2005, with...

Automakers Participate in Philippine Testing of CME Fuel Blend.(Brief Article)
May 27, 2004... The Financial Times recently reported that automakers BMW, Isuzu and Toyota are taking part in the Philippine government's feasibility testing of a fuel blend of diesel and coco-methyl ester (CME). The newspaper noted that Toyota is...

Broin to New Build Ethanol Plants in Iowa.(Brief Article)
May 28, 2004... Broin Companies of Sioux Falls, SD plans to build two new ethanol production plants in Iowa. One is slated for Webster County near the town of Guthrie while the other will be located in Humboldt County near Hardy. Combined, both plants...

New York to Host FedFleet 2004 Workshop and Information Fair.(Brief Article)
May 28, 2004... The Federal Fleet Policy Council, the U.S. General Services Administration's (GSA) Office of Governmentwide Policy and the GSA Fleet are sponsoring "FedFleet 2004: The Road to the Future is Now," the fourth national federal fleet manager...

Local MI School District Reports on B20 Use.(St. Johns Public School District, Michigan)(Brief Article)
May 28, 2004... Local Michigan newspaper the Lansing State Journal recently reported that officials with the St. Johns Public School District in St. Johns, MI say they have saved nearly $1,800 per year for the past two years through the use of B20, a fuel...

Weekly Update.(Calendar)
May 28, 2004... 14TH ANNUAL EPAC ETHANOL CONFERENCE, June 13-15, 2004, Great Northern Hotel, Helena, MT WINDSOR WORKSHOP: TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY & FUELS FORUM, June 14-17, 2004, Westin Harbor Castle, Toronto, Ontario CLIMATE CHANGE CENTRAL...