New funding for alternative energy
The recent spike in petroleum prices has been a boon for alternative energy start-up companies. “For the first time, the people who invest other people’s money are convinced about the prospects for alternative energy,” says Dan Reicher, president of the investment firm, New Energy Capital and a former assistant secretary at the DOE.
Source: How to beat the big energy chill, Newsweek

Senate group to unveil oil-saving plan
A bi-partisan Senate bill was introduced in Congress this week aimed at saving 2.5 million barrels of oil per day within a decade. The legislation would include tax breaks and loan guarantees to get automakers to manufacture more hybrid vehicles.
Source: Senate group to unveil oil-saving plan, Seattle Post-Intelligencer

IEA: WEO shows rising energy demand to 2030
The Paris-based International Energy Agency warns that present world energy needs will be 50% higher by 2030. According to their World Energy Outlook 2005 report, oil will still be the dominant fuel 25 years from now.
Source: IEA: WEO shows rising energy demand to 2030, Oil and Gas Journal

Gates fund invests $84M in ethanol producer
Cascade Investment LLC, an investment company owned by Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, has agreed to invest $84 million in Pacific Ethanol Inc., an alternative fuel developer. Based in Fresno, Cascade plans to build five large-scale ethanol production facilities on the West Coast.
Source: Gates fund invents $84M in ethanol producer, Puget Sound Business Journal

Edwards supports natural gas drilling off U.S. coast
U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards (D-Waco), member of the House Energy and Water Development Subcommittee on Appropriations, is pushing to end the 24-year ban on natural gas drilling off the U.S. shoreline. “We have to have an energy policy that is consistent, whether gasoline prices are high or low,” says Edwards.
Source: Edwards supports natural gas drilling off U.S. coast, Waco Tribune-Herald

Oklahoma could be key in fuel cell technology
Members of the Oklahoma Fuel Cell Initiative Task Force met with officials at the state Capitol to discuss how their existing petroleum pipelines could be converted to transport alternative fuels.
Source: Okla. could be key in fuel cell technology, Seattle Port-Intelligencer

Emory shuttles evaluating switch to biodiesel
Emory University is considering a student proposal to run its shuttle service on biodiesel fuel. If approved, the conversion will take place in the fall of 2006.
Source: Shuttle service could switch to greener fuel, The Emory Wheel

Chevron builds underground natural gas storage project in Colorado
Chevron Global Gas has filed an application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as part of the permitting process to build an underground natural gas storage facility to provide critical infrastructure necessary to meet the growing demand for natural gas.
Source: Chevron announces natural gas storage project in Colorado, PR Newswire

Los Angeles airports add hydrogen demonstration vehicles
The Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners approved a participant agreement with Mercedes-Benz and the DOE to evaluate a prototype zero-emission passenger vehicle that utilizes a hydrogen-fuel cell drive system in a real-world setting. The agreement calls for LAX to become the only U.S. airport to participate in the “Controlled Hydrogen Fleet and Infrastructure Demonstration and Validation Project”.
Source: Los Angeles Airport adds hydrogen-fueled demonstration vehicle to its alternative-fuel fleet, Market Wire

Largest CNG station in Asia to open in China
Xi’an Zhuhong Major Gas Station, the largest CNG station in Asia, will begin operation in late November. The station is the city’s latest step in improving the environment and accelerating the development of environmentally friendly transport.
Source: Giant gas station to fuel Xi'an cars, China Daily

New York State approves greenhouse gas standards for vehicles
New York State Environmental Board has just approved tougher air standards adopted recently by California and Vermont, which mandates fewer greenhouse gas emissions by 2016.
Source: New York State approves greenhouse gas standards for vehicles. CanadianDriver.com

Washington State hungry for biodiesel
Steve Krueger, a contract consultant with the State Department of General Administration’s Office of State Procurement, said the state is trying to get a leg up on an executive order calling on state agencies to start using 5% biodiesel blend in diesel-powered vehicles and commit to a 20% biodiesel blend by Sept. 1, 2009.
Source: State is ‘hungry’ for biodiesel, The Olympian

Three cities added to natural gas supply line
The Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) will soon supply piped natural gas to Hyderabad, Vijayawda and Rajahmundry. CNG will be supplied to the transportation sector as part of GAIL’s Blue Sky project aimed at bringing down air pollution levels.
Source: 22 cities to get natural gas soon, The New Wind Press

Chevron secures pipeline
Chevron Global Gas has signed a binding agreement with Kinder Morgan Energy Partners to be one of the anchor shippers in a 3.2 billion-cubic-feet-per-day pipeline system to be connected to the Sabine Pass LNG terminal in Cameron Parish, LA.
Source: Agreement provides Chevron access to a broad range of U.S. gas demand centers, PR Newswire

Groups push for natural gas in CT
Residents and members of the Greenwich town legislature are pitching a plan to officials to run part of the town’s fleet on natural gas to reduce air pollution. Town Fleet Director Betty Linck stated the high hydrogen content found in natural gas creates less harmful emissions than those powered by gasoline or diesel.
Source: Groups push for natural gas, The Greenwich Times

Green fuel for the future in the UK
As part of the Government’s commitment to the Kyoto Climate Change Protocol, Transportation Secretary Alistar Darlin has announced a new measure to make transportation fuels greener by requiring 5% of all UK fuel sold to come from a renewable source by 2010.
Source: Green fuel for the future, Transport News Network

Redondo Beach CA CNG buses to take over LAX trips
Redondo Beach plans to expand its new bus service next summer by picking up an underperforming Metropolitan Transportation Authority route. City leaders agreed to spend approximately $1.2 million on a new five-vehicle fleet fueled by CNG.
Source: Redondo Beach buses to take over LAX trips, The Daily Breeze

Biodiesel for both sides of the border
The Washington Technology Center’s Northwest Energy Technology Collaborative will launch a project to convert waste vegetable oil into biodiesel fuel for utility line trucks operating along both sides of the U.S./Canadian border. The project, will replace 12,000 gallons of standard diesel fuel per month with cleaner-burning biodiesel.
Source: Biodiesel for both sides of the border, Renewable Energy Access

State announces alternative fuels grant program
The Indiana State Department of Agriculture has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Indiana Energy Group to administer the $1.1 million Alternative Fuels Grant Program.
Source: State announces alternative fuels grant program, Inside Indiana Business

DOE fuels hydrogen research
The University of Georgia and the University of California, Santa Cruz have secured $1.35 million collectively in grants from the U.S. Department of Energy. The funding will go to hydrogen production and storage research.
Source: Department of Energy grants fuel hydrogen research and UGA, EurekAlert

India bus replacement complete
The replacement of Mumbai’s ageing buses will be completed by the end of this year. 200 CNG-fueled buses have already been introduced, while another 400 will follow in the next four years.
Source: Mumbai’s ageing buses to be replaced by year-end, New Kerala

Boone to push biodiesel legislation
Arizona Representative Tom Boone is planning to introduce legislation next session that could encourage the use of biodiesel and incentives for its production in Arizona. Boone’s proposed legislation will encourage a reduction in foreign oil dependency and support environmentally friendly alternative fuels.
Source: Boone to push biodiesel legislation, Arizona Capitol Times

Biodiesel plant opens in Arkansas
Eastman Chemical Co. has announced its Batesville plant has begun production of biodiesel fuel. The plant is using soybean oil as its primary feedstock, but plans to also use recycled waste vegetable oil before the end of the year.
Source: Eastman Chemical begins biodiesel production in Arkansas, Arkansas Business