Archive for November, 2005
Biodiesel and rainforests
28 November 2005We mentioned the now growing complaint about biodiesel production harming the rainforests a couple of weeks ago. It seems everyone is picking up on this issue and the “greens” now say we’re dumping our problems on third world countries. Is there anything short of rolling back civilization to the dark ages that will satisfy the [...]
Biodiesel production - statewide or nationwide?
22 November 2005A recent article in a Seattle newspaper pointed out the difficulty facing the state of Washington as it tries to start its own biodiesel industry. Farmers tried to raise canola and found growing conditions were not as good as they were in various midwestern states. Adding to their problems, no crusher is currently available within [...]
Virgin Airways moving to biomass based fuels
16 November 2005Almost as an underscore to my earlier post about there being no need for incentives to move toward the production and use of biofuels, Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Airways, said he is planning to move his entire air fleet to biofuels as soon as possible. The rising price and unstable supplies of conventional petroleum [...]
Biodiesel booming - do we need incentives?
16 November 2005Whether we are talking about biodiesel specifically or biofuels in general, which include bioheat heating oil, various ethanol blends or even SVO (straight vegetable oil), the rapid expansion of both demand for and supply of these fuels is evident. It’s a great example of the free market at work but some of the activity in [...]
Free waste oil for DIY Biodiesel going away?
14 November 2005As I noted the other day, with the rapid growth of biodiesel and bioheat, the demand for left over cooking oil will eventually turn that waste into a commodity. Only those restaurants not paying attention will continue to give this oil away for free rather than use it themselves for making biodiesel or burning it [...]
Biodiesel growing fast for home heating
11 November 2005Everyone was busy watching biodiesel grow as a fuel for diesel powered vehicles and while their attention was diverted, the fuel was growing rapidly as a substitute for home heating oil, too. When we mentioned the new biodiesel injection blending facility in Pennsylvania the other day, it was interesting that the first load of fuel [...]
Biofuels - environmentalists don’t like them either
11 November 2005Right from the start, I stated that biodiesel is a great technology and my aim at The Biodiesel Report was not to stress any environmental issues involved and this is a perfect example of why I don’t. Environmentalists are quite literally never pleased:
The destruction of the world’s rainforests will be hastened by a Government pledge [...]
Canola - another oil source for biodiesel
9 November 2005With biodiesel growing in popularity and demand rising right along with it, producers are looking at more sources for the feedstock oil used to make it. Canola, a member of the rapeseed family, is now being considered for use in biodiesel. Although rapeseed is already used, it is inedible. Canola, on the other hand is [...]
