News and information about Biodiesel & alternative fuels.

2006/10/29

Nevada Biodiesel Plant

The folks at Infinifuel just announced their Nevada biodiesel plant, which is unique in that it incorporates geothermal energy into the production process:
"The facility is home to the first geothermal power plant in Nevada. There are two production geothermal wells and seven power production units providing over 5 MW of electrical energy. In addition, the 220 degree steam will be used in the production of biodiesel on site."
Here's the location on Google Maps.

Radio piece: Biodiesel for truckers

Here's a Living on Earth audio spot (including a transcript) about truckers and biodiesel; snippet:
"I didn't know a whole lot about it as far as biodiesel but the truckers say you get better mileage, the exhaust is not hurting your eyes or anything else. It's beautiful stuff. And so the truckers convinced me and, you know, that's who's gonna put it on the map anyway."
...

"Many truckers feel a tie to farmers because they transport agricultural products. And so far, biodiesel is not allowed to travel by pipeline. Instead, it's hauled by rail or tanker truck, so it's a source of work for truckers, too. The National Biodiesel Board ranks trucker outreach as one of its top priorities."
[via the SF Biofuel Y! Group]

NPR on Biodiesel

There's a great NPR/Kitchen Sisters piece from a few months back about biodiesel - they chat with the folks behind BioWillie, and about Carl's Corner TX, where it was first sold:
"Carl's Corner, Texas, is a truck stop between Dallas and Waco, Texas, where a little revolution has begun. Where truckers fill up on American fuel made from farm crops. BioWillie, they call it, because Willie Nelson is the driving force behind this biodiesel vision. His tour bus runs on it, (so do Bonnie Raitt's and Neil Young's) and a brigade of 18-wheelers barreling down the nation's highways; a growing fleet of semis whose exhaust smells like French fries."

With its dancing frogs on top of the truck-stop sign, Carl's is a well-known landmark for motorists who travel Interstate 35 outside of Dallas. Owner Carl Cornelius bought the land in 1979 and incorporated the town in 1986 so he could sell alcohol in an otherwise dry part of Hill County. He's been mayor ever since."