Interest groups and companies with a stake in the renewable fuel industry have been lining up to visit the White House in the past three weeks as officials wrap up their review of a contentious rule setting the nation’s 2014 mandates for corn ethanol advanced biofuels.
The Farm Power Technology students at Mitchell Technical Institute received some information about the future on Thursday. About 40 students heard from Hoon Ge, a chemical engineer and expert in the world of diesel, particularly biodiesel. He held a seminar Thursday morning at Mitchell Technical Institute’s Technology Center Amphitheatre and was scheduled to hold another session Thursday night, which was open to the general public.
A biodiesel refinery in Missouri has earned a rare quality production status. Blue Sun’s St. Joseph, Mo., biodiesel refinery joined just 50 other companies in the country to receive BQ-9000 Producer status from the National Biodiesel Accreditation Commission (NABC) and National Biodiesel Board (NBB), a cooperative and voluntary program that combines the ASTM standard for biodiesel, ASTM D6751, and a quality systems program that includes storage, sampling, testing, blending, shipping, distribution, and fuel management practices.
The Renewable Fuels Association on Monday, Sept. 15, submitted comments to the California Air Resources Board voicing support for the agency’s proposal to transition to a new version of the Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions and Energy Use in Transportation Model, but also recommending several additional improvements.
While biodiesel companies across the United States await government decisions on updates to the Renewable Fuel Standard and Blender’s Tax Credit, the Western Sustainability and Pollution Prevention Network checked in with three West Coast biodiesel companies for an insider’s look at the state of the industry. Of the 297 biofuels companies currently operating in the U.S., we chose three — Pacific Biodiesel, Bently Biofuels and SeQuential Pacific Biodiesel — because they share a feedstock of used cooking oil and a passion for protecting the environment.
Yet again, Utah State University ingenuity and perseverance were on display at Utah’s famed Bonneville Salt Flats as Aggie undergrad Mike Morgan set new speed records with USU-made biofuels.
ASA and the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) met with the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and other Administration officials this week once again underscore the importance of stronger biodiesel volumes under the 2014 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).
Yet again, Utah State University ingenuity and perseverance were on display at Utah’s famed Bonneville Salt Flats as Aggie undergrad Mike Morgan set new speed records with USU-made biofuels.
One of the most predictable dynamics of the growing biodiesel industry has been unpredictability, a constant evolution of the market and its ever-transforming challenges. Managing through the ups and downs of business cycles and market changes is a part of every business. But many would argue the biodiesel industry has had more than its fair share. One thing that is certain, however, is that the National Biodiesel Conference & Expo is the place to be Jan. 19-22.
Federal funding is an important component of the biodiesel industry’s resource pool, expanding opportunities for enhanced outreach, education and research. Among the most significant pathways to access federal funding is through the Biodiesel Fuel Education Program.
