Another day, more jobs lost due to Congress’ inaction on renewing the $1-a-gallon federal biodiesel tax credit.
This time, it’s the Maple River Energy biodiesel plant near Galva, Iowa. The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association says 12 of the facility’s 18 employees are being laid off until the biodiesel blenders credit is reinstated:
Delayne Johnson, General Manager of Maple River Energy, added: “Looking my employees in the eye and telling them they were being laid off was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do in my life. Despite the expiration of the tax credit, we did everything we could at Maple River Energy to keep a core key group of highly trained employees on the job. We took Congress at their word when they promised to make restoring the biodiesel tax credit their first priority in 2010. Congress has failed to live up to that promise.”
At a time when America needs every available job, it really hurts to see the conflict involved in the biodiesel tax credit—we want independence from foreign fuel and we want jobs.
A Canadian power company is funding testing of biodiesel in extreme cold condiitons to see if the green fuel will perform and how well it will hold up to long-term storage under those conditions.
This press release from Manitoba Hydro says the utility has partnered with Natural Resources Canada’s National Renewable Diesel Demonstration Initiative (NRDDI) in the $340,000 project testing 5 percent biodiesel blends in electric generators in a remote northern Manitoba community:
This study on the quality and reliability of biodiesel will contribute to a better understanding of the technical issues related to the use of the fuel. This research will also identify the best solutions to overcome any potential challenges to biodiesel implementation in Canadian operations…
This is an important test in Canada where cold weather and the desire to use more biodiesel fuel coincide. I hope we will get a good report, even though they are only testing B5 blends.
Governor Jodi Rell must now consider two bills that could have a profound effect on heating oil dealers and consumers in Connecticut. (image: WNPR - Connecticut Public Radio via flickr.com)
In late March, HeatingOil.com covered a debate over the pros and cons of Connecticut State Senate bill SB 382, which calls for less sulfur and more biodiesel in the state’s heating oil. On Wednesday night, proponents of the bill scored a major victory when the Connecticut State House passed the bill by a vote of 146-1 following its unanimous passage by the Senate on Monday. The bill is now awaiting the approval of Governor Jodi Rell.
A second and more controversial bill, SB 463 was also passed by the Connecticut Senate on Tuesday night and given final approval by the House after an all-night debate at 6:01 am Wednesday morning, the Connecticut Mirror reported. SB 463’s main goal is to bring down’s Connecticut’s electricity prices, which are the second highest in the nation, requiring state utilities to lower rates by 15 percent by July of 2012. The bill also provides a major incentive for Connecticut residents to upgrade their heating systems and make them more energy efficient. Under the proposed law, Connecticut electric companies would be required to create a loan program to fund consumer improvements to their homes that would save energy. The program would offer low-interest loans to homeowners for improvements like installing better windows, adding insulation, and purchasing a more efficient furnace or boiler. According to a summary of the bill posted to the assembly’s website on April 7, “The energy efficiency measures can be designed to save electricity, natural gas, or heating oil.”
Carbon steel coupons after 60 days of exposure to Key West seawater and biodiesel under anaerobic conditions. (b, c, and d) Coupons in biodiesel, at the biodiesel/seawater interface, and in seawater, respectively. Corresponding micrographs (e-g) indicate pitting after acid cleaning. Credit: ACS, Aktas et al.
A study by researchers from the University of Oklahoma and the US Naval Research Laboratory has found that biodiesel is easily susceptible to biological degradation by anaerobic bacteria. Although many fuel components are susceptible to anaerobic decay, the results suggest that biodiesel is far more amenable to such biodegradation processes than traditional hydrocarbons, the researchers said.
As I understand it, biodiesel isn’t a great thing to spill in the sea, but if you did, certain bacteria could be used to clean it. I think we already know that biodiesel is cleaner in every way than petroleum.