Awake at the Wheel

Find Flex Fuel E85 on your iPhone

July 23, 2010 · Leave a Comment

Find, edit and update E85 retail locations–all from your iPhone.

The Renewable Fuels Association recently released a new iPhone App, E85 Fuelfinder–view in iTunes Preview–to help drivers locate E85 access nation-wide.

Users can add favorite stations, get driving directions, and view or update fuel prices. The application costs $1.99 and is available from the Apple App Store.

Read more from DomesticFuel.com.

→ Leave a CommentCategories: Flex Fuel · Flex Fuel E85 · Green Business · News Links · Propel Biofuels · Propel Customers · Retail locations
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Run faster, cleaner? Use E85.

July 12, 2010 · Leave a Comment

The old rules of racing are being challenged as cleaner and more efficient automotive fuels find their way to the track. Project Green, a group of researchers from the Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory has found that modern fuel-injected engines powered by E-85, outperform the same engine with a carburetor and leaded racing fuel. The cleaner burning fuel injection engines have been replacing carburetors since the 80s, except on the track.

“The testing disproves two widely and firmly held beliefs in the circle track racing community: that carbureted engines are inherently more powerful than engines equipped with a fuel injection system; and that E-85, which is less expensive than leaded racing fuel, is not well-suited as a fuel for race cars”, says Forrest Jehlik, principal mechanical engineer at Argonne’s Center for Transportation Technology.

Read more http://www.anl.gov/Media_Center/News/2010/news100707.html

→ Leave a CommentCategories: At the Pump · Big Oil · Driver Testimonials · Emissions · Ethanol Research · Flex Fuel E85 · Green Business · Green House Gases (GHG) · Nox

Volkswagen BlueMotion vehicles named 2010 World Green Car brand

July 9, 2010 · Leave a Comment

“The definition of the World Green Car of the Year was expanded a bit today when the World Car of The Year organization named Volkswagen‘s BlueMotion product brand – including the PoloPassat, and Golf models – as the 2010 World Green Car during the 2010 New York Auto Show. The 59-member jury’s statement declaring BlueMotion the winner took a swipe at hybrid technology when is said:

It is not necessary to add an electric motor and a heavy battery pack to achieve class-leading efficiency. Based on Volkswagen’s common-rail diesel engines, the BlueMotion models are among the most fuel-efficient vehicles on the market. In fact, the Passat BlueMotion can travel just about 1,000 miles on one tank of fuel in the European cycle. As far as internal combustion engines go today, these models are the ultimate you can get.

Even with these critical words, the organization did pick the Toyota Prius and the Honda Insight as the Green Car of the Year runners-up. In other World COTY news, the VW Polo won the overall World Car of the Year title.”

Read more from Autoblog Green.

Find out where to fill up your diesel with cleaner burning biodiesel in California and Washington.

→ Leave a CommentCategories: At the Pump · Biodiesel · Driver Testimonials · Emissions · Green Business · News Links · Retail locations · Vehicles
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This 4th of July, Declare your Independence at the Pump

July 2, 2010 · Leave a Comment

The Clean Air Choice Team, lead by the American Lung Association in North Dakota, encourages drivers to choose American-made fuel this Independence Day weekend.

E85 Flex Fuel is a new option at the pump for most drivers. The goal of the Clean Air Choice Team is to educate consumers about E85 fuel and its compatibility with flexible fuel vehicles.

Robert Moffitt, a spokesperson for the American Lung Association in North Dakota, said, “we calculate that if a single flex fuel vehicle is fueled with E85 instead of gasoline for a year, it prevents 4 tons of emissions from entering our air.”

The Clean Air Choice team has launch a North Dakota campaign encouraging drivers to fill tanks with E85 over the 4th of July weekend. Every trip to the pump is an opportunity to choose cleaner burning, domestically produced fuel.

Celebrate your freedom to choose what type of fuel to put in your car, truck or van. Find out if your vehicle can use Flex Fuel E85.

→ Leave a CommentCategories: At the Pump · Emissions · Ethanol Research · Flex Fuel · Flex Fuel E85 · Green Business · News Links · Retail locations · Vehicles
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Find E85, TomTom GPS App released

June 28, 2010 · Leave a Comment

You’re on your summer road trip cross-country, tank gage edging toward empty, you need to find the nearest E85 pump asap — simple, use the TomTom GPS App to navigate toward the closest E85 location.

The application, released by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), maps out the location of E85 fueling outlets all across the country. Flex Fuel Vehicles drivers can download the app to TomTom or Garmin GPS devises at www.ChooseEthanol.com.

Upon announcing the new app, Robert White, RFA Director of Market Development said, “We are continuing to explore new ways to connect the consumer with ethanol-blended fuels. TomTom and Garmin represent 67% of all GPS devices sold in the United States, and with our cooperation with the Department of Energy on station locations, this will continue to yield great results.”

To see a map of E85 stations across the US, visit the US Department of Energy’s interactive map.

→ Leave a CommentCategories: At the Pump · Emissions · Flex Fuel · Flex Fuel E85 · Green Business · News Links · Propel Biofuels · Propel Customers · Retail locations
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US Senator Patty Murray and Propel discuss economic impacts of biodiesel industry

June 16, 2010 · Leave a Comment

Monday morning, Senator Patty Murray (D – WA) & Propel hosted a press conference to discuss support for the Biodiesel Blenders Tax Credit and its positive impacts on job growth, carbon emissions reduction and national security. Since the tax credit was left to expire in January, US biodiesel production has largely screeched to a halt. As a result, many producers including Imperium Renewables have looked to markets outside of the US to sell its fuel. The industry’s message was clear; renew the tax credit and our industry will immediately increase production, and create jobs.

The event was held at Propel Fuels Clean Fuel Point, the first renewable fuels station in downtown Seattle, Senator Murray was joined by the leaders of companies from up and down the biodiesel value chain (bioscience, refining, production and retail consumer access), who discussed the importance of the extension of the tax credit currently being debated in Congress.

Speakers included Matt Horton, CEO of Propel Fuels, Todd Ellis, VP of Business Development for Imperium Renewables, Dr. Margaret McCormick, COO for Targeted Growth, and Cameron Hewes, President and CEO of General Biodiesel.

→ Leave a CommentCategories: At the Pump · Big Oil · Biodiesel · Biodiesel Production · Biodiesel Quality · Biodiesel Research · Climate Change · Cold Weather Biodiesel · Emissions · Feedstocks · Green Business · Green House Gases (GHG) · Introduction · Media · Next Generation Feedstock · Nox · Particulates · Politics · Propel Customers · Retail locations · Vehicles · blog

Can’t recycle that soiled cardboard? Try fuel.

June 11, 2010 · Leave a Comment

Of all the tons of corrugated cardboard recycled by the Cedar Rapids paper mill in Iowa, 5 percent of fibers from old containers cannot be recycled, which equates to about 50,000 tons of paper waste ending up in a landfill every year. Fiberight LLC plans to change this.

Fiberight has partnered with International Paper Cedar River to convert waste paper into cellulosic ethanol fuel. The clean tech company converted a first-generation corn ethanol plant in Blairstown, Iowa into a cellulosic ethanol production facility.

According to Todd Olstad, the paper mill’s operations manager, “through Fiberight’s new facility, we can now be assured that whatever recycled fiber can’t be made into new packaging can be used to create green energy, while helping us offset our disposal cost.”

By 2011, Fiberight’s facility will reach a final commercial production capacity of about 6 million gallons of cellulosic fuel per year.

Read more about Fiberight’s cellulosic fuel plant.

→ Leave a CommentCategories: Biodiesel · Biodiesel Production · Ethanol Research · Flex Fuel · Flex Fuel E85 · Green Business · Next Generation Feedstock
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Next generation biorefinery breaks ground in Boardman, OR

June 2, 2010 · Leave a Comment

With production expected to begin next year, Colorado-based ZeaChem has broke ground on a cellulosic ethanol biorefinery in Boardman, OR. The plant will use ZeaChem’s core technology, to produce ethyl acetate, a salable chemical intermediate that can turn poplar tree waste into cellulosic ethanol. The biorefinery is expected to produce up to 250,000 gallons per year.

“Breaking ground on ZeaChem’s biorefinery in Boardman is a significant milestone,” said Jim Imbler, president and chief executive officer of ZeaChem. “As a leader in this industry, ZeaChem is committed to producing economical and sustainable advanced biofuels and bio-based chemicals, creating jobs, and being a good neighbor in the community.”

ZeaChem is receiving $25 million in stimulus money for the plant that will create 300 direct and indirect jobs.

Read Press Release.

→ Leave a CommentCategories: Climate Change · Emissions · Energy Balance · Ethanol Research · Feedstocks · Flex Fuel · Flex Fuel E85 · Green Business · Next Generation Feedstock · Vehicles

Advanced fuel test crops flourish in California

June 1, 2010 · Leave a Comment

UC Davis test plot yields for advanced biofuel crops prove fruitful.

Findings from a three year switchgrass trial have shown increasing yields, from twelve to eighteen tons per acre depending on the site. Several switchgrass varieties were tested at facilities in El Centro & at UC Davis. Switchgrass has the potential to be a whole-plant cellulosic ethanol feedstock and is considered an important crop for the future of renewable fuels. The hardy grass begins its annual growth in the spring and can grow 4-7 feet tall. Leaves measure 30-90 centimeters in length.

Switchgrass uses C4 carbon fixation which means it is fairly efficient in the photosynthesis process and tolerates drought and high temperatures. The grass has low fertilizer requirements and grows well on marginal land.

Many of these hearty crops can grow on marginal lands and have the potential to produce biodiesel and cellulosic ethanol, and provide a new revenue source for American framers.

Read more about advanced feedstock research from Western Farm Press.

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Biodiesel + Electricity wins EcoCar Challenge

May 28, 2010 · Leave a Comment

Mississippi State tops GM’s EcoCar Challenge this year with a GM/Saturn Vue-based biodiesel hybrid. The Vue is estimated to have a 60-mile electric range, to get you to class and back, before the B20 powered 1.3-liter turbodiesel engine spins up. The biodiesel hybrid system can achieve an equivalent of 118 mpg. That’s about 100 mpgs better than the standard Vue. You can understand why they won.
“Each team experimented with technologies and made great strides towards optimizing fuel efficiency and minimizing emissions. With critical and successful testing under their belts, we’re excited to see the teams refine and improve their vehicles in the last leg of the EcoCAR competition,” said Karl Stracke, GM vice president, Global Vehicle Engineering.

More at motortrend.com. Click below to Vue gallery

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Diesel and ethanol from algae, Texas pilot program begins

May 21, 2010 · Leave a Comment

The goal is to use sunlight and waste CO2 to produce renewable diesel and ethanol from algae. Joule Unlimited, a Massachusetts-based company, believes they have the key to reaching this goal. In June, Joule will launch a pilot plant near Austin, Texas growing algae in large glass panels.

The company has developed single-cell organisms expressly for the purpose of creating fuel. Joule’s algae plants soak up sunlight and secrete oils, which are flushed out of the panel system using water. From there, the oils are separated from water to eventually refine into diesel and ethanol fuel.

The pilot production plant is slated to reach full commercial production by 2012–and Joule estimates 25,000 gallons of ethanol a year form each acre in production.

Eventually, such fuel production facilities will be located near power plants or ethanol production plants, capturing and using carbon dioxide emissions to feed the algae.

Read more about Joule’s pilot plant from the New York Times.

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Biodiesel Bulletin: Biodiesel delivers sweet treats

May 14, 2010 · Leave a Comment

Propel customer, Essential Baking Company, is highlighted in the latest edition of the National Biodiesel Board’s monthly bulletin.


“The Web site for The Essential Baking Company in Seattle says it all: “We’re fussy. Fussy about taste, the texture of our bread, the flakiness of our pastry, the richness of our desserts, and preserving the time-honored techniques of baking. And don’t even get us started about the importance of the pureness of what we put into our bodies or our impact on the environment.”

That commitment to the environment is fulfilled in part by using 99 percent biodiesel . . .” Read more from the National Biodiesel board.

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Buick Regal joins 2011 Flex Fuel Vehicle lineup

May 6, 2010 · 3 Comments

Add another flex fuel capable model to the list. All 2011 Buick Regals will be flex fuel ready starting this fall. The retooled 2.0-liter direct injected turbo engine is designed with alternative fuel in mind. The new design will increase fuel efficiency while using Flex Fuel E85.

As technology continues to improve, future engines will maintain the same level of fuel efficiency whether using flex fuel or petroleum gasoline.

Read more from autoblog.com.

See a list of all Flex Fuel Vehicle models.

→ 3 CommentsCategories: Climate Change · Emissions · Energy Balance · Ethanol Research · Flex Fuel · Flex Fuel E85 · Green Business · Vehicles · blog
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GM invests in E85 compatible, fuel-efficient vehicles and American jobs

April 30, 2010 · Leave a Comment

GM recently announced that it will invest more than $890 million to renovate five North American plants, creating or retaining more than 1,600 jobs and producing a new generation of fuel efficient, E85 compatible engines.

Mark Reuss, president of GM North America, stated,  “these latest investments show our commitment to improving fuel economy for buyers of every GM car, truck and crossover and giving them the best possible driving and ownership experience.”

The new small block engine family will gain fuel efficiency through direct injection, a redesigned combustion system, and lighter aluminum engine blocks.  GM says, “in addition to being E85 ethanol capable, these engines are being designed with the capability to meet increasingly stringent criteria emissions standards expected throughout this decade.”

Read more on GM’s new investment.

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Amtrak runs biodiesel in America’s heartland

April 23, 2010 · Leave a Comment

Earlier this week, Amtrak’s Heartland Flyer train made its first journey powered by B20 biodiesel.

The Heartland Flyer will run on tallow-based B20 biodiesel for the next year with plans to potentially expand the program to the entire system. The Heartland Flyer uses over 100,000 gallons of diesel fuel every year on its 400-mile route between Fort Worth, TX and Oklahoma City, OK.

The biodiesel test program is funded by a federal government grant. Amtrak will monitor and track train performance and emission reductions from the use of biodiesel.

The majority of Amtrak’s passenger trains burn petroleum diesel. In one year, Amtrak trains use over 62 million gallons of fuel. Switching to B20 biodiesel would significantly reduce consumption of petroleum diesel and has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by almost 200 million pounds.

More about the Heartland Flyer’s biodiesel test.

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Celebrate Earth Day with Propel

April 22, 2010 · Leave a Comment

Come celebrate Earth Day with Propel in Sacramento on Thursday, April 22, 2010 from 9am – 2pm at Cesar Chavez Park at 10th and I Streets. Propel will be giving away FREE FUEL CARDS to lucky flex fuel and biodiesel drivers.

Enjoy free entertainment, interactive learning and celebrate the earth! For more information please call the Earth Day HOTLINE (916) 808-6525.

Find Propel Events on Facebook

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Just in time for BBQ season . . . grill with ethanol

April 16, 2010 · 1 Comment

Trade in your charcoal barbaque for a cleaner burning alternative–grill with ethanol using FlameDisk®. Sologear, a Wisconsin-based company, developed FlameDisk® technology to create a new, more ecofriendly heat source for existing grills. The grilling technology uses solidified ethanol, it lights quickly and is ready to cook right away.

Sologear describes FlameDisk® as  ”much more eco-friendly than charcoal and lighter fluid because it features renewable ethanol. Ethanol is extremely clean burning and generates 90% fewer pollutants than charcoal. The FlameDisk®’s aluminum casing is also recyclable.”

More about FlameDisk®.

→ 1 CommentCategories: Climate Change · Emissions · Ethanol Research · Green Business · News Links · Uncategorized
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Changing how America fuels, one tank at a time

April 9, 2010 · Leave a Comment

In January, American drivers displaced 784,000 barrels of foreign oil every day by using American-made ethanol fuel, the most renewable fuel ever used in America’s history. A big thanks to all Propel customers who contributed by choosing to fill their vehicles with renewable, homegrown Flex Fuel E85.

Together, we can change what we put in our tanks, reduce our dependence on foreign oil and support domestically-produced, cleaner burning fuel.

Read more from Domestic Fuel.

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Mazda unveils 43 mpg SKY-D diesel

April 2, 2010 · Leave a Comment

Mazda recently announced that it plans to bring a mid-sized diesel vehicle to the United States by 2012. This will be Mazda’s first diesel sold in the U.S.–the vehicle will use the new SKY-D engine and have a 43 mpg highway rating.

Compared to the current diesel engine design, the diesel SKY-D will be 20 percent more fuel-efficient, have more torque, and have a ceramic diesel particulate filter which will meet American emission regulations.

More about Mazda’s upcoming diesel.

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Why Wait? New Lamborghini is E85 compatible

March 31, 2010 · Leave a Comment

No news on the price tag, but Lamborghini aims to make its new generation more efficient, meet a 35 percent CO2 reduction goal and add E85 fuel compatibility.

A post from Car and Driver reports that Lamborghini is working on “stop/start capability to thrift fuel in urban settings, cylinder deactivation—so that both the V-10 and the V-12 can operate on half as many cylinders—E85 compatibility, and possibly even a mild-hybrid solution.”

Lamborghini will also utilize carbon fiber to reduce the weight of the vehicle and offset any weight-gain from incorporating a hybrid system. Lamborghini collaborated with the University of Washington and Boeing to create the Automobili Lamborghini Composite Structures Laboratory (ACSL). Look for further developments in this field as carbon fiber costs are predicted to decline by 2012 – 2014.

Read more about Lamborghini from Car and Driver.

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Chrysler focuses on fuel efficiency, E85 compatibility

March 26, 2010 · Leave a Comment

Chrysler’s new flex fuel-ready, V-6 engine  goes into production this week, as part of an overhaul to Chrysler’s powertrain lineup. Not only will engines be fully flex fuel compatible, fuel efficiency will also increase by 25 percent over the next four years.

The new Pentastar V-6 engine will be available in Chrysler, Ram Truck, Jeep and Dodge models. The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee will be the first model to debut the revamped engine, which boasts  a 38 percent increase in horsepower, 11 percent increase in torque and 11 percent fuel economy improvement. Read more from Motor Authority.

Is your current vehicle compatible with Flex Fuel E85? Find out now.

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New Interceptor Replaces Crown Vic, Remains E85 Compatible

March 15, 2010 · Leave a Comment

Ford Motor Company recently announced that the new 2011 Police Interceptor, based on the redesigned Taurus, will replace the ubiquitous Crown Victoria. The new Interceptor design meets tough new federal rollover requirements, while the Crown Vic did not.

The power train features a V-6 engine that matches or exceeds V-8 performance in two options: a highly efficient 3.5-liter E8- compatible V-6 engine delivering at least 263 horsepower, and an all-new 3.5-liter EcoBoost™ V-6 twin-turbocharged, direct-injection.

The vehicle is to be built in Ford’s Torrence Ave plant on Chicago’s South side. Read more.

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Propel’s 85 cent E85 event a great success

March 1, 2010 · Leave a Comment

Last Wednesday’s event brought drivers across Sacramento to Propel stations to fill with E85 Flex Fuel for $0.85/gallon. New and returning customers were happy to brave the morning’s stormy weather to fill their tanks with low-carbon, domestically produced E85.

Drivers across the region joined together to reduce approximately 30,000 lbs of CO2 and save over $10,000 at the pump–in just one day!

Propel team members enjoyed meeting new customers at the pumps on Wednesday, as well as catching up with many loyal Propel users. We appreciate all your comments and suggestions on ways to improve customer experience at the pumps.

See more pictures from the event on our Facebook page.

→ Leave a CommentCategories: At the Pump · Driver Testimonials · Emissions · Flex Fuel · Flex Fuel E85 · Green Business · Green House Gases (GHG) · Pricing · Propel Biofuels · Propel Customers · Retail locations · Vehicles
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Propel offers 85 cent E85 on Feb. 24th

February 23, 2010 · Leave a Comment

On Wednesday, February 24th, Propel will offer E85 Ethanol for $.85/gallon at all Sacramento locations. The goal of the program, in partnership with CALSTART, is to help inform the 25,000 Flex Fuel drivers in Sacramento of the economic savings and environmental benefits of fueling with domestically produced, low carbon fuel. Join us at the pump on Wednesday from 9 am to 6 pm!

Promotion Details

Where: All Propel Sacramento area locations – see map
When: Wednesday, February 24, 9 am – 6 pm
More Info: Email info@propelfuels.com or call 1.800.871.0773

Not sure if you have a Flex Fuel Vehicle?

E85 capable Flex Fuel vehicles can be identified by the manufacturer’s vehicle badge, yellow gas cap, or by checking the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) online. Find out if your vehicle is E85 compatible by checking online at www.propelfuels.com/driveE85.

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Engine maker increases fuel economy for E85

February 19, 2010 · 1 Comment

Engine technology is beginning to catch up with alternative fuels. How an engine is designed can directly improve fuel economy for alternative fuels like E85, and Ricardo is making great strides in this direction with their Ethanol Boosted Direct Injection (EBDI) technology. Ricardo estimates that an E85 fuel economy improvement of up to 30 percent is possible with no loss of power or performance, using their EBDI engine in place of currently available gasoline power train. That makes E85 more efficient then gasoline.

So the testing begins. Two demonstrator vehicles are to be produced incorporating Ricardo’s EBDI engine technology showing that extreme optimization of ethanol combustion can enable engine downsizing of the order of 50 percent and still deliver substantial fuel economy and CO2 emission improvements from a cost-effective, high performance, inherently low emission power train. The project will use Ricardo’s EBDI flex fuel engine, developed from a production V6 gasoline engine, to repower two GMC Sierra 3500 HD pickup trucks, each with a curb weight of 6,000 pounds. Ricardo and partner Growth Energy have announced the project aims to show the market-readiness of Ricardo’s EBDI technology, which optimizes flex-fuel vehicles to burn ethanol with consumer value, horsepower and fuel economy comparable to gasoline. All that and independence from foreign oil. We wish them luck!

Read more.

→ 1 CommentCategories: Ethanol Research · Flex Fuel · Flex Fuel E85 · Vehicles
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Enterprise’s shuttle fleet to run biodiesel

February 10, 2010 · Leave a Comment

Enterprise, the largest vehicle rental company in North America, announced plans to fuel their entire airport shuttle fleet of more than 600 buses on biodiesel. Most shuttle buses will begin by using a B5 biodiesel blend, while in nine regions, buses will use a B20 blend with the intention of converting the entire bus fleet to B20 in the next five years.


By switching to biodiesel, the Enterprise fleet will reduce carbon emissions by the equivalent of retiring 40 shuttle buses and will reduce petroleum use by 420,000 gallons–in the first year alone.

In California, Propel Fuels and Enterprise have formed a partnership aimed to educate Enterprise customers on the availability and benefits of alternative fuels, and to fuel Enterprise’s rental cars with renewable E85.

Read more from Enterprise.

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GM & Ford announce B20 biodiesel compatibility for 2011 models

February 10, 2010 · Leave a Comment

General Motors and Ford both recently announced support for use of B20 biodiesel in their 2011 diesel models. The 2011 GM line-up of heavy duty diesel pickups equipped with the Duramax 6.6L engine and Ford’s 6.7-liter Power Stroke engine will both be B20 biodiesel compatible.

The new Duramax 6.6L turbo diesel engine will power the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups, as well as the Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana full-size vans. Chevrolet will display the 2011 Silverado heavy-duty trucks at the Chicago Auto Show on Feb. 10.

Ford plans to identify B20 compatible vehicles with a badge B20 road & leaf badge–similar to the badge used to identify Ford E85 Flex Fuel compatible vehicles.

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Waste into power, POET teams up with the city of Sioux Falls

January 26, 2010 · Leave a Comment

The joint project by leading ethanol producer, POET, and the city of Sioux Falls uses landfill gas to help power POET’s Chancellor, South Dakota ethanol production facility. Methane gas created by the Sioux Falls Regional Sanitary Landfill is transported down an 11-mile pipeline to POET’s biorefinery, helping to power ethanol production.

Methane, a major factor in global warming, is captured, converted and put to use producing process steam for ethanol production–using methane offsets 15 percent of the facility’s  energy needs, reducing overall CO2 emissions by more than 26,000 tons per year.

Revenue from selling methane to POET and subsequent carbon credits, earns an additional 1 million dollars per year for the city of Sioux Falls.

Earlier this month, the Environmental Protection Agency recognized the innovative work of the POET-Sioux Falls project in an award ceremony for programs that “employed unique project structures and took creative approaches to utilize (landfill gas) from municipal solid waste landfills.” The project will continue to grow as the supply of landfill gases increase, doubling capacity by 2025.

Read more about POET and Sioux Falls.

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VW Diesels take 1-2-3 spots at 2010 Dakar Rally

January 19, 2010 · Leave a Comment

Volkswagen TDIs, including the Race Touareg prototype, celebrated a one-two-three podium lockout at the finish of the toughest challenge worldwide in motorsport.

Read full article from AutoBlog.com.

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Study affirms health benefits of biodiesel for America’s miners

January 8, 2010 · Leave a Comment

The Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA) has published a new report that updates the mining community on biodiesel’s continued positive effects underground. After testing multiple biodiesel blends MSHA concluded that biodiesel reduces emissions, especially when combined with the use of after-treatment devices on diesel engines. “The result is a cleaner and healthier working environment for miners,” MSHA states.

Hutchinson Salt Company in Kansas was the first mine of any kind to use B99 biodiesel (a 99 percent biodiesel fuel mix). Since 2003, the company has used up to 30,000 gallons of B99 a year.

Their employees noted cleaner air in the mines within days after the switch to biodiesel. B99 powers all their underground diesel equipment, ranging from loaders to diesel pickups to tractors. Max Liby, vice president of manufacturing, says they have seen no reduction in performance even when machines run 20 consecutive hours.

Read Report

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