News > February

EU Ministers Agree on 10% Biofuel Target for Transport
EU energy ministers have agreed to increase the share of biofuels used in transport to 10 percent by 2020. But at a meeting in Brussels they were unable to decide whether a target of getting 20 percent of energy from renewable sources by 2020 should be binding. The question of whether the renewables target should be mandatory will be decided by EU leaders at an EU summit in Brussels in March, where the energy package will be the main focus of discussions.
Source: EU ministers agree biofuel target, BBC News

Los Angeles Area Ports Seek Pollution-Reducing LNG Truck Fleet
The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach—the US’ two leading container ports—have issued a joint RFP for a new Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Truck Program, seeking an LNG-powered truck fleet that could help the ports reduce emissions of particulate matter (PM) and oxides of nitrogen (NO) by 80 to 90 percent. The effort is part of the Ports’ Clean Air Action Plan approved last year. Under the LNG Truck Program, heavy-duty diesel trucks older than 1989 would be scrapped and replaced with a 2006 model year, or newer, heavy-duty LNG truck. Funding for the program totals $22 million.
Source: Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach Issue RFP for LNG Truck Fleet, Green Car Congress

Jimmy Carter Breaks Ground on $25 Million Biodiesel Plant
Former President Jimmy Carter, an early advocate of alternative energy and conservation, helped break ground on a $25 million biodiesel plant in his hometown of Plains, Georgia. Energy initiatives during Carter’s administration allowed the United States to reduce oil imports from 9 million barrels a day to 5 million barrels within five years. "Now it's 12 million barrels a day," Carter said. "Too much of our energy policy has been controlled by oil companies and automakers."  "It's very important for us to use the crops that grow on our own land to make energy," added Carter.
Source: Carter breaks ground on biodiesel plant in Plains, Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Scientists Testing New Natural-Gas Fuel Tank
Scientists are working on a new fuel tank that may help natural gas become more attractive to consumers, especially in smaller vehicles. The new tank is a small, low-pressure version that can be shaped into a rectangular form and mounted under the floor of a car. The project is being funded by a $600,000 grant from the National Science Foundation's program Partnerships for Innovation and is supplemented by a $400,000 grant from the University of Missouri/Columbia, Midwest Research Institute, U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Education. The U.S Department of Energy says natural gas is cheaper than gas and diesel on an "energy equivalent" basis.
Source: Tech Watch: Scientists Testing New Natural-Gas Fuel Tank, Inside Line—Edmunds.com

Clean Fuels Will Revolutionize Agriculture, Says U.S. Official
Growing demand for clean fuels distilled from plants will likely revolutionize agriculture in both rich and poor countries, a top U.S. agriculture official said during a trade mission to East Africa. Michael Yost, the head of the U.S. foreign agriculture service, said African and American farmers both stood to profit from the growing demand for grains that can be converted to ethanol or biodiesel. Farmers who produce grains, sugar and plant oils all stand to benefit from the growing demand for biofuels and the higher prices that will surely follow, said Yost.
Source: Renewable fuels will revolutionize agriculture, says U.S. official, Montreal Gazette

New Zealand Sets Target for Future Biofuel Use
New Zealand’s Prime Minister Helen Clark has announced targets for the adoption of biofuels as she urged New Zealand to tackle climate change head on. In her opening statement to begin the parliamentary year, Clark announced measures to replace a percentage of gasoline and diesel with clean-burning biofuels, stating that biofuel must make up 3.4 percent of fuel sold in the country by 2012. She said the government intended to lead by example and will replace the ministerial car fleet over time with more efficient and less polluting cars.
Source: Clark: Biofuels coming to a petrol station near you, New Zealand Herald

Oil Companies Join Discourse on Alternative Fuels
Discussion of new and better ways to fuel our cars has never been greater—and the major oil companies are becoming increasingly involved in the conversation. As some of the industry's top executives—the chairmen of Exxon Mobil Corp. and Chevron Corp. and a top OPEC official, among them—gather in Houston to discuss global energy challenges, alternatives to fossil fuels will play a major part in the discussion. Why now? Increased scrutiny of oil companies because of fluctuating gasoline prices and record profits certainly is a factor. The companies' own bottom lines also play a key role: the cost of finding and tapping new oil and gas reserves is on the rise while the worldwide appetite for energy is only getting bigger.
Source: Oil firms speak up on alternative fuels, The Philadelphia Inquirer

Myanmar’s CNG Vehicles Top 10,000
Myanmar’s Weekly Eleven News reports that compressed natural gas (CNG) conversions in the country have risen to almost 11,000 vehicles. Passenger buses accounted for the majority of conversions with 5,274, followed by taxis with 2,902, and school buses with 1,099. CNG filling stations are expected to double in number during 2007 to cope with the surging demand for the clean-burning fuel. Myanmar plans to gradually modify all vehicles in the country to CNG-operated ones. The plan was introduced due to the rise of world crude oil prices and the abundance of natural gas in the country.
Source: Over 10,000 motor vehicles converted into CNG-run in previous Myanmar capital, People’s Daily Online

China to Develop Biofuel Forests as Big as England
China, the world’s third-largest ethanol maker, will use 32.9 million acres of forestland, land equivalent to the size of England, to grow trees that can be harvested to make bio-fuels. China plans to grow trees bearing nuts or fruits high in oil content to produce alternative fuels and boost farmers’ incomes, The world’s second-biggest energy user may spend 1.5 trillion yuan ($192 billion) in the next 15 years to increase the use of renewable resources to cut the nation’s reliance on oil. “The project will help resolve challenges to find replaceable energy and ensure the preservation of the environment,” said Cao Qingyao, a spokesman at the state forestry administration.
Source: China to develop biofuel forests as big as England, Checkbiotech.org

Hydrogen Ferry to Serve Amsterdam Commuters
A hydrogen ferryboat is set to become the latest addition to Amsterdam's fledgling fuel cell transport network, which so far includes hydrogen-powered buses and boats on a trial basis. The 100-passenger hydrogen boat will connect the two banks of the river IJ and should initially serve around 600 commuters. A consortium of international companies is cooperating on developing and building the boat. The city has embraced hydrogen-fuelled vehicles as a potential way of cutting air pollution, and projects like the H-boat form part of the Air Quality Action Plan.
Source: Hydrogen ferry to serve Amsterdam commuters, Environmental Data Interactive

U.S. Seeks Partnership With Brazil on Ethanol
The United States and Brazil, the two largest biofuel producers in the world, will meet to discuss a new energy partnership intended to encourage ethanol use throughout Latin America. U.S. officials also hope the partnership will diminish the regional influence of oil-rich Venezuela. U.S. officials expect to sign accords within a year that would promote technology sharing with Brazil and encourage more Latin American neighbors to become biofuel producers and consumers. The United States and Brazil together produce about 70 percent of the world's ethanol.
Source: U.S. Seeks Partnership With Brazil on Ethanol, Washington Post

Natural Gas Clean Truck Partnership Will Clean Up Oakland’s Diesel Emissions
Diesel emissions from trucks at the Port of Oakland are fewer as a result of a partnership between Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a trucking firm and a transportation company. As the fourth busiest container port in the United States, the Port of Oakland is focused on reducing on-road diesel truck emissions from port operations that impact the local community. With more than 1,100 natural gas fueled vehicles—the largest such fleet of any utility in the nation—PG&E focused on developing ways to help the Port reduce diesel emissions and support the community of West Oakland's clean air goals.
Source: PG&E Helps Port of Oakland Clean Up Diesel Emissions With Natural Gas Fueling Station and Clean Truck Partnership, Earthtimes.org

EU’s Plan to Cut CO2 Emissions Pits Motor Industry Against Environmentalists
The unveiling of the European Commission's plan to cut CO2 emissions from cars opens a new phase of a lobbying war between the motor industry and environmentalists. German car manufacturers have warned the European Commission of factory closures and job losses. But Brussels' influential green lobby emphasizes that the European Union cannot meet its ambitious climate change targets unless it brings emissions from transport under control. British MEP Chris Davies, who organized a seminar in the European Parliament to discuss innovations that would help to bring down emissions, points out that "we have to do these things for future generations."
Source: EU car CO2 fight only beginning, BBC News

Natural-Gas-Powered Honda—the Year's ‘Greenest’ Vehicle
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) named the natural-gas-powered Honda Civic GX as the greenest car of the year yesterday, with the release of the latest edition of the ACEEE Green Book Online. ACEEE rates the vehicles based on pollutant emissions, fuel consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions. Motorists in California that buy the greenest car of the year have an added advantage: they can drive it in the High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes, even if just one person is in the car.
Source: Natural-Gas-Powered Honda Civic GX, the Year's "Greenest" Vehicle, Technology News Daily

Bank of America Expands Hybrid Vehicle Incentives Nationally
Bank of America Corp. is expanding its reimbursement program for employees who purchase a new hybrid automobile. The bank will offer the $3,000 reimbursement nationally to 185,000 U.S.-based employees. BofA launched the program in June to employees living in Boston, Charlotte and Los Angeles and found that hybrid vehicle purchases by associates more than quadrupled within the three pilot cities. The company will evaluate the expanded program and may offer it to employees internationally at a future date.
Source: BofA expands hybrid-vehicle reimbursements, Charlotte Business Journal

Latest Biodiesel-Fueled Vehicles Showcased at National Biodiesel Conference
Attendees at the National Biodiesel Conference & Expo Ride-and-Drive were able to test-drive the latest vehicles offered by Volkswagen, DaimlerChrysler and General Motors that run on biodiesel blends. Along with the new VW Touareg TDI, conference attendees had an opportunity to drive the Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD, Dodge Ram 2500, Chevy Silverado Heavy Duty, and Chevy Express Cargo Van. All of the 2007 vehicles showcased in the ride-and-drive were fueled with B5, a blend of 5 percent biodiesel and 95 percent petroleum diesel, except the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Ram, which were fueled by B20.
Source: Auto Manufacturers Present Latest Biodiesel-Fueled Products At National Biodiesel Conference & Expo in San Antonio, TX, GrainNet

UN Report on Climate Change Highlights the Need for Clean Technologies
A United Nations climate report states that, “warming of the climate system is unequivocal.”  The report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which includes 2,500 scientists from more than 130 countries, says it’s “very likely” that global warming is primarily the result of human activities, due to greenhouse gases from the use of fossil fuels, land-use change, and agriculture. “The warning we’re getting from the international scientific community just keeps getting stronger and stronger, and it should be a message to all of us that we can’t continue on the current path when we’ve got clean energy solutions at hand,” said Jana Milford, a senior scientist at the environmental nonprofit Environmental Defense.
Source: Global Warming ‘Unequivocal’, Red Herring

UC Berkeley to Lead Energy Biosciences Institute—$500 Million Funding from BP
Oil giant BP will give $500 million to a partnership led by UC Berkeley to develop new biofuels and reduce environmental harm caused by the use of fossil fuels. UC Berkeley will team up with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory at the new Energy Biosciences Institute to develop clean, sustainable sources of energy. BP has agreed to provide $50 million a year for 10 years to the institute. “This is the first research laboratory dedicated to the development of alternative fuels,” said California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who had pledged $40 million in state funds if a California university received the award.
Source: Oil giant primes the biofuel pump with $500 million - Los Angeles Times

MapQuest’s New Gas Portal Provides Information on Alternative Fuels
MapQuest plans the launch of a new gas portal that will provide information on the location of fueling stations offering alternative fuels, as well as information on gas prices at stations around the country. With information from the Department of Energy, consumers will also be able to find listings for alternative fuel stations, including diesel, biodiesel, CNG (compressed natural gas), E-85, electric, hydrogen, LPG (propane) and LNG (liquefied natural gas). The site will also include links and information about alternative fueled vehicles to help consumers become knowledgeable about this emerging market.
Source: MapQuest’s New Gas Portal Provides Information on Alternative Fuels and Maps and Directions to Stations Offering the Lowest Prices, PR Web

Natural Gas Powered Taxis to Debut in Abu Dhabi
Compressed natural gas-powered (CNG) taxis will hit the roads of Abu Dhabi soon.  A company named Q Link will introduce the first 'green' fleet in the UAE this year, after converting its fleet to the alternative fuel. "The benefits of conversion to CNG as a clean transportation fuel has a lot of virtues to its credit," said Hadi Tahboub, Q Link General Manager. "Fleet operators can benefit from a reduced fuel cost of 30 to 40 per cent at least and the quality of air will be improved dramatically, since 80 per cent of air pollution in the UAE is caused by vehicle emissions and CNG reduces emissions dramatically," he added.
Source: Natural gas-powered taxis to debut in Abu Dhabi, Gulf News

Traffic Pollution Can Stunt Lung Growth, USC Study Shows 
Children who live near a major highway are more likely to develop asthma and respiratory damage, and also risk stunted lung development, according to a study performed by researchers at the University of Southern California (USC). The study found that children who lived within 500 meters of a freeway since age 10 had substantial deficits in lung function by age 18, compared to children living at least 1,500 meters away. More than 3,600 children were evaluated over a period of eight years, from around the age of 10 through high school graduation.
Source: Traffic pollution can stunt lung growth, study shows, Canadian Driver

House Committee OKs Bill to Promote Biofuels Infrastructure
The U.S. House Science and Technology Committee has approved legislation to promote the development of alternative biofuels and create the infrastructure to handle the supplies. The legislation requires the government to carry out research to make alternative bio-based fuels compatible with existing infrastructure to store and deliver the fuels to the point of final sale. "If our country is serious about reducing our dependence on foreign oil, we need to get serious about mobilizing the infrastructure necessary to distribute and dispense alternative fuels," said Rep. Bart Gordon, chairman of the science panel.
Source: House committee OKs bill to promote biofuels, The Washington Post