Biofuel News Digest January 7th

Biofuel News keeps coming. With all the developments large and small, 2006 promises to be a pivotal year for biofuels. The confluence of economics and social awareness has blown the lid off of something that used to be a botique interest. Let's tune into the recent goings on.

NY Governor Pataki Annouces Biofuel Initiative
In his State of the State address, Governor Pataki threw New York State's hat in the biofuel ring. Using his executive powers, he is ordering state agencies to start using a percentage of biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel. He also is looking to boost the state's agricultural output of feedstock for biofuels. Pataki is considered a possible candidate for the 2008 Presidential race. IOd wishes New York success and hopes that biofuels are a major campiagn issue in 2008 as well.

Kentucky Cancer Caucus Endorses Biodiesel
In the continuing effort to educate the public on the benefits of biofuels, biodiesel wins the support of a key group. Biodiesel burns much cleaner than conventional diesel. But it still produces emissions. Net emmisions of carbon are of course reduced, but there is an increase of NOX. In evaluating the alternative between biodiesel and conventional petro diesel, this Kentucky cancer fighting group decided that biodiesel is a win in their cause.

Minnesota Governor Meets with Ford brass to pitch Biofuels.
In an effort to prevent the loss of manufacturing jobs in his state, Govenor Tom Pawlenty is pitching the conversion of a Ford plant to Biofuel ready vehicles. Following GM's announcement in December that they will be shuttering several plants, Ford's CEO William Ford stated that Ford would be making a similar annoucement in January. IOd will follow this story.

Biofuel Ready Cars Make a Splash at LA Autoshow
Hybrid vehicles are taking off. The automakers project that hybrids will constitute a significant percentage of of their fleets in a few short years. However, the growing interest in biofuels has also caught their attention. Saab and BMW demonstrated biofuel cars at this year's LA Auto Show.