To support the growing demand for natural gas-fueled trucking in the United States, Clean Energy Fuels Corp. has signed an agreement with Pilot Travel Centers LLC to build, own and operate public access, compressed and liquefied natural gas (CNG/LNG) fueling facilities at agreed-upon Pilot Flying J truck travel centers nationwide.
Pilot Flying J operates over 550 truck travel centers in 43 states and six Canadian provinces. It is the largest truck-fueling operator in the country.
“Pilot Flying J is the clear leader in the truck stop and travel center industry. They have the best team and the best stations, and we are eager to begin our partnership with them. This is the critical link for Clean Energy to be able to roll out natural gas truck fueling services across the nation,” said Andrew J. Littlefair, Clean Energy President and CEO.
“With the availability of new, class-8, 2010 EPA-compliant natural gas trucks from several major manufacturers,” noted Mr. Littlefair, “major regional and national trucking operators are considering the move to natural gas for their fleets to add fuel diversity, lower emissions and reduce dependence on imported oil. Partnering with Pilot Flying J will not only allow us to help meet the demand from these fleets, but will also enable us to begin creating a nationwide goods movement corridor for natural gas trucks.”
Source Press Release
October 06, 2010
October 05, 2010
MSU Researcher Discover Method To Double Algae Oil Yeild
Montana State University researchers say they have discovered a chemical trigger that could double algae oil yield.
The technology is available for licensing to interested companies and entrepreneurs.
Source : MSU News
The chemical trigger is a well-timed dose of bicarbonate, a low-cost, easy-to-use chemical, similar to common stomach antacids. These results were presented on the first day of the Algal Biomass Summit in Phoenix, Ariz.
When given to algae during a specific point in its growth cycle, the bicarbonate doubles the rate of production of triacylglycerol, the key precursor to biodiesel. Some cultures have shown nearly three times faster rates of triacylglycerol accumulation, which would result in significant cost savings for biofuel manufacturers. This effect has been shown in both diatoms and in green alga.
The technology is available for licensing to interested companies and entrepreneurs.
Source : MSU News
BlueFire Renewables Selects MasTec To Construct Mississippi Cellulosic Ethanol Plant
The contract is negotiated in a manner to be appealing for non-recourse project bank financing and, more importantly, serves as the final key project contract agreement to move forward with both the DOE and USDA Loan Guarantee Programs.
"Having recently announced off-take and feedstock agreements for our Fulton, Mississippi plant, BlueFire Renewables has now satisfied all stated requirements to move forward on an agreement with either the DOE or USDA for a loan guarantee to complete financing of the project," stated Arnold Klann, CEO of BlueFire Renewables, Inc. "BlueFire now stands poised to finalize the government negotiations and affect the financing and construction of this commercial-sized cellulosic ethanol plant."
"We are excited about our involvement in the Fulton project with BlueFire Renewables and look forward to a long-term relationship. BlueFire's proprietary technologies, which convert non-food cellulosic waste into fuel, should bring environmentally friendly facilities and increased long-term employment to the State of Mississippi. We are glad to be a part of the initial roll-out and we look forward to working with BlueFire on a number of other opportunities," noted Jose Mas, MasTec, Inc.'s Chief Executive Officer.
This contract is a home run for BlueFire and for the industry. What MasTec and BlueFire have created and achieved with this contract sets the framework for many other BlueFire projects to be built with certainty.
The Fulton, MS project will allow BlueFire to utilize green and wood wastes available in the region as feedstock for the ethanol plant that is designed to produce approximately 19-million gallons of ethanol per year.
Source : Press Release
See Also :
BlueFire Renewables Signs 15 Year Feedstock Supply Contract for Cellulosic Ethanol Plant
BlueFire Renewables Announces Agreement with Tenaska BioFuels for Mississippi Cellulosic Ethanol Facility
BlueFire Ethanol Changes Name To BlueFire Renewables
Obama Administration Announces Plans to Install New Solar Panels on the White House Residence
U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Council of Environmental Quality (CEQ) Chair Nancy Sutley today announced plans to install solar panels and a solar hot water heater on the roof of the White House Residence. These two solar installations will be part of a Department of Energy demonstration project showing that American solar technologies are available, reliable, and ready for installation in homes throughout the country. Secretary Chu and Chair Sutley made the announcement during CEQ's 2010 GreenGov Symposium, which is bringing together leaders from Federal, state and local governments, nonprofit and academic communities and the private sector to identify opportunities around greening the Federal Government.
"This project reflects President Obama's strong commitment to U.S. leadership in solar energy and the jobs it will create here at home," said Secretary Chu. "Deploying solar energy technologies across the country will help America lead the global economy for years to come."
"President Obama has said the Federal Government has to lead by example in creating opportunity and jobs in clean energy," said Nancy Sutley, Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality. "By installing solar panels on arguably the most famous house in the country, his residence, the President is underscoring that commitment to lead and the promise and importance of renewable energy in the United States."
The PV system will convert sunlight directly to electricity. The solar hot water heater will have a solar collector facing the sun that will heat water for use in the White House Residence. The Department of Energy will now begin a competitive procurement process to select the company responsible for the installations.
Source : Press Release
"This project reflects President Obama's strong commitment to U.S. leadership in solar energy and the jobs it will create here at home," said Secretary Chu. "Deploying solar energy technologies across the country will help America lead the global economy for years to come."
"President Obama has said the Federal Government has to lead by example in creating opportunity and jobs in clean energy," said Nancy Sutley, Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality. "By installing solar panels on arguably the most famous house in the country, his residence, the President is underscoring that commitment to lead and the promise and importance of renewable energy in the United States."
The PV system will convert sunlight directly to electricity. The solar hot water heater will have a solar collector facing the sun that will heat water for use in the White House Residence. The Department of Energy will now begin a competitive procurement process to select the company responsible for the installations.
Source : Press Release
Nordex Begins Wind Turbine Production At Arkansas Plant
Today marks the official start of production at Nordex’s newly built wind turbine manufacturing plant in Jonesboro, Arkansas. The plant’s first production crew will go to work this morning assembling a wind turbine nacelle, which houses the engine and other key components and sits high atop the turbine tower.
“Two years ago, we announced our intention to make Nordex wind turbines in the US, for the US,” said Ralf Sigrist, President and CEO of Nordex USA, Inc. “Today we’re putting our hands to the metal and doing it. We hope Congress will do the same,” he added, “by finally passing meaningful renewable energy legislation.”
The first Jonesboro production crew, hired earlier this year, just completed a 10-week intensive training program at Nordex’s flagship plant in Rostock, Germany. Training will continue during the early phase of production, with the team’s German counterparts now taking up residence in Jonesboro for several months to work alongside their new colleagues.
“There’s no way to do this without international exchange,” said Joe Brenner, Vice President of Production for Nordex. “Wind energy has tremendous potential in the US, but it’s about more than just creating green jobs. We have to transfer expertise in order to build a wind industry workforce. Nordex is investing in such a workforce and bringing the needed skills to America.”
Nordex broke ground on its manufacturing plant last September, completing construction in July of this year. The company has hired 150 employees in the US to date, including 42 in Jonesboro, and has plans to employ up to 1000 nationally over four to five years. About 80% of the workforce in Jonesboro are locals. Construction on a second facility for assembling rotor blades is also planned for the future.
Nordex will hold a Grand Opening ceremony celebrating the completion of the plant and the start of production on Friday, October 29. The public is invited to an Open House at 4:00 pm, when progress on the work begun today will be on display.
Source : Press Release
“Two years ago, we announced our intention to make Nordex wind turbines in the US, for the US,” said Ralf Sigrist, President and CEO of Nordex USA, Inc. “Today we’re putting our hands to the metal and doing it. We hope Congress will do the same,” he added, “by finally passing meaningful renewable energy legislation.”
The first Jonesboro production crew, hired earlier this year, just completed a 10-week intensive training program at Nordex’s flagship plant in Rostock, Germany. Training will continue during the early phase of production, with the team’s German counterparts now taking up residence in Jonesboro for several months to work alongside their new colleagues.
“There’s no way to do this without international exchange,” said Joe Brenner, Vice President of Production for Nordex. “Wind energy has tremendous potential in the US, but it’s about more than just creating green jobs. We have to transfer expertise in order to build a wind industry workforce. Nordex is investing in such a workforce and bringing the needed skills to America.”
Nordex broke ground on its manufacturing plant last September, completing construction in July of this year. The company has hired 150 employees in the US to date, including 42 in Jonesboro, and has plans to employ up to 1000 nationally over four to five years. About 80% of the workforce in Jonesboro are locals. Construction on a second facility for assembling rotor blades is also planned for the future.
Nordex will hold a Grand Opening ceremony celebrating the completion of the plant and the start of production on Friday, October 29. The public is invited to an Open House at 4:00 pm, when progress on the work begun today will be on display.
Source : Press Release