Green Options » petroleum http://greenoptions.com/tag/petroleum Posts tagged 'petroleum' Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:51:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 en US Company Transforms Algae into Bioplastic: Could Slash Petroleum Use by 50% http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/02/us-company-transforms-algae-into-bioplastic-could-slash-petroleum-use-by-50/ http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/02/us-company-transforms-algae-into-bioplastic-could-slash-petroleum-use-by-50/#comments Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:51:04 +0000 Andrew Williams http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/02/us-company-transforms-algae-into-bioplastic-could-slash-petroleum-use-by-50/

California-based company Cereplast has revealed that it is developing breakthrough technology to transform algae into bioplastics, and predicts that it could replace 50% or more of the petroleum content used in traditional plastic resins.

Cereplast already makes plastic from renewable material such as corn starch, tapioca, wheat and potatoes, but is keen to trumpet the advantages of the new approach.

According to Frederic Scheer, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Cereplast, “Algae-based resins represent an outstanding opportunity for companies across the plastic supply chain to become more environmentally sustainable and reduce the industry’s reliance on oil.”

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/02/us-company-transforms-algae-into-bioplastic-could-slash-petroleum-use-by-50/feed/ Scientists Researching How Plants Can Make Petroleum http://gas2.org/2009/10/02/scientists-researching-how-plants-can-make-petroleum/ http://gas2.org/2009/10/02/scientists-researching-how-plants-can-make-petroleum/#comments Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:19:07 +0000 Nick Chambers http://gas2.org/2009/10/02/scientists-researching-how-plants-can-make-petroleum/

As part of a National Science Foundation grant program to examine cutting edge ways to make nature work for us, a team of scientists at Iowa State University have been awarded $2 million to unravel how some plants and algae can make hydrocarbons and discover if the genes that govern that process might be isolated.

“These plants are capturing solar energy and creating something that’s chemically identical to petroleum,” said Jackie Shanks, Iowa State’s Manley R. Hoppe Professor of Chemical Engineering, in a statement.

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]]> http://gas2.org/2009/10/02/scientists-researching-how-plants-can-make-petroleum/feed/ Colorado will offer $6,000 Tax Credit for Plug-in Hybrid Conversions http://gas2.org/2009/09/14/colorado-will-offer-6000-tax-credit-for-plug-in-hybrid-conversions/ http://gas2.org/2009/09/14/colorado-will-offer-6000-tax-credit-for-plug-in-hybrid-conversions/#comments Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:01:57 +0000 Clayton B. Cornell http://gas2.org/2009/09/14/colorado-will-offer-6000-tax-credit-for-plug-in-hybrid-conversions/ Plug-in Prius

If you live in Colorado and own a Prius, here’s a New Year’s Day gift for you: $6,000 off a plug-in hybrid conversion.

Earlier this year, Colorado passed House Bill 1331, “Incentives for Efficient Motor Vehicles,” which creates new tax credits of up to $6,000 for the purchase of, or conversion to, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle.

Background: plug-in hybrid and electric car retrofits.

The new credit will be a substantial discount off the average price of a plug-in conversion, which generally run around $10-14,000. On top of the Federal Tax Credit of 10% (up to $4,000), plug-in retrofits could start to make a lot of sense for some car owners.

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]]> http://gas2.org/2009/09/14/colorado-will-offer-6000-tax-credit-for-plug-in-hybrid-conversions/feed/ Show Me the Money: More Recovery Act Funding Put Toward State Energy Programs http://planetsave.com/blog/2009/07/10/show-me-the-money-more-recovery-act-funding-put-toward-state-energy-programs/ http://planetsave.com/blog/2009/07/10/show-me-the-money-more-recovery-act-funding-put-toward-state-energy-programs/#comments Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:50:43 +0000 Ruedigar Matthes http://planetsave.com/blog/2009/07/10/show-me-the-money-more-recovery-act-funding-put-toward-state-energy-programs/

More money was distributed today by the Department of Energy. 141 million dollars to be more precise. This time Hawaii, Maine, Nebraska, New Mexico, the Northern Mariana Islands and Texas will play beneficiaries of the Recovery Act.

As a part of the Department’s State Energy Program, which has been apportioned $3.1 billion, states and territories propose plans to prioritize energy savings, create or retain jobs, increase the use of renewable energy, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. And that’s where this $141 million will be going. Each state receives funding according to its needs (population based), with Texas receiving more than half of the allotted $141 million dollars. They will receive $87.5 million.

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]]> http://planetsave.com/blog/2009/07/10/show-me-the-money-more-recovery-act-funding-put-toward-state-energy-programs/feed/ Growing Plastic: A New Use for Biomass http://inspiredeconomist.com/2009/06/19/growing-plastic-2/ http://inspiredeconomist.com/2009/06/19/growing-plastic-2/#comments Fri, 19 Jun 2009 12:00:10 +0000 Lisa Wojnovich http://inspiredeconomist.com/2009/06/19/growing-plastic-2/ A field of miscanthus, one of several crops grown to produce biomassIn the constant push for ever newer and greener technology and energy, we sometimes forget that it is often both simpler and cheaper to revisit old techniques in new ways. And that’s exactly what a group of researchers in California has done.

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]]> http://inspiredeconomist.com/2009/06/19/growing-plastic-2/feed/ Coca-Cola Launches Eco-Friendly Packaging http://inspiredeconomist.com/2009/05/31/coca-cola-launches-eco-friendly-packaging/ http://inspiredeconomist.com/2009/05/31/coca-cola-launches-eco-friendly-packaging/#comments Sun, 31 May 2009 23:43:12 +0000 Lisa Wojnovich http://inspiredeconomist.com/2009/05/31/coca-cola-launches-eco-friendly-packaging/ A Bottle of Dasani Water

In their ongoing efforts to achieve a more environmentally friendly image, the Coca-Cola Co. announced earlier this month that they will be launching new biobased plastic bottles for their Dasani water line later this year and vitaminwater next year. They’re calling their new packaging the “PlantBottleTM.”

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]]> http://inspiredeconomist.com/2009/05/31/coca-cola-launches-eco-friendly-packaging/feed/ How GM is Making Electric Vehicles Relevant http://gas2.org/2009/05/27/how-gm-is-making-electric-vehicles-relevant/ http://gas2.org/2009/05/27/how-gm-is-making-electric-vehicles-relevant/#comments Wed, 27 May 2009 13:59:14 +0000 Frank Weber http://gas2.org/2009/05/27/how-gm-is-making-electric-vehicles-relevant/

Editor’s Note: Frank Weber is the Global Electric Vehicle Development Executive for General Motors. Here he discusses the Chevy Volt and the future of transportation. This post was written for Gas 2.0 and reposted at the GM FastLane Blog.

A couple weeks ago, I had the opportunity to speak at EVS 24 in Norway about extended-range electric vehicles (E-REVs). Attendees and presenters were some of the brightest minds from around the world working to make electric vehicles an everyday reality, but frankly, I sensed many of those minds think electric vehicle development is better suited to small, entrepreneurial companies, some with little or no automotive experience.

There seems to be in the minds of many some sort of inherent conflict between being a large, traditional automaker and the ability to develop cars of the future.

I couldn’t disagree more with that sentiment, and GM is on a mission to prove it.

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]]> http://gas2.org/2009/05/27/how-gm-is-making-electric-vehicles-relevant/feed/ 6 World Records Set by South African Mines http://ecoworldly.com/2009/04/27/six-areas-where-south-african-mining-leads-the-world/ http://ecoworldly.com/2009/04/27/six-areas-where-south-african-mining-leads-the-world/#comments Mon, 27 Apr 2009 19:15:57 +0000 Dave Harcourt http://ecoworldly.com/2009/04/27/six-areas-where-south-african-mining-leads-the-world/ South Africa is a world leader both in terms of mineral resources and in the development of mining technology to extract these resources. The industry there leads the world in many areas, and has had enormous impact on the growth of Africa and on the environment.

1. The Biggest Open Cast, Hand Dug Mine in the World

KImberly Big Hole

The Big Hole of Kimberly was dug by hand, using picks and shovels. There is debate about whether the Big Hole is the biggest hand dug open cast mine in the world. Its surface area of 17 hectares (42 acres) and depth of around 200 metres (650 ft) required the excavation of around 25 million tons of earth and rock. This was achieved in 52 years between 1866 and 1914 by a workforce of up to 50,000 miners. What is beyond dispute though is that The Big Hole yielded 2,720 kilograms (6000 lb) of diamonds significantly more than the Jagersfontein mine, the other contender for the title of biggest. After all what better metric is there than output!

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]]> http://ecoworldly.com/2009/04/27/six-areas-where-south-african-mining-leads-the-world/feed/ Saltwater-Based Algae Biodiesel Could be Cost Competitive with Petroleum Diesel? http://gas2.org/2009/03/26/saltwater-based-algae-biodiesel-could-be-cost-competitive-with-petroleum-diesel/ http://gas2.org/2009/03/26/saltwater-based-algae-biodiesel-could-be-cost-competitive-with-petroleum-diesel/#comments Thu, 26 Mar 2009 12:00:16 +0000 Jake Richardson http://gas2.org/2009/03/26/saltwater-based-algae-biodiesel-could-be-cost-competitive-with-petroleum-diesel/ algae harvesting

Biodiesel produced from saltwater-based Algae could be cost competitive with petroleum diesel, according to some reports.

Aurora Biofuels, located in Alameda, CA has reported their 18 month pilot project produced 1,000 gallons of ATSM quality biodiesel in Florida open ponds of just 1/8th of an acre. The company estimates they could grow 6,000 gallons per acre in full production mode.

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]]> http://gas2.org/2009/03/26/saltwater-based-algae-biodiesel-could-be-cost-competitive-with-petroleum-diesel/feed/ China’s Oil Stockpiling Suggests Fossil Fuel Dependency Unlikely to Decline http://sustainablog.org/2009/03/11/china%e2%80%99s-oil-stockpiling-suggests-fossil-fuel-dependency-unlikely-to-decline/ http://sustainablog.org/2009/03/11/china%e2%80%99s-oil-stockpiling-suggests-fossil-fuel-dependency-unlikely-to-decline/#comments Wed, 11 Mar 2009 13:00:08 +0000 Elizabeth Balkan http://sustainablog.org/2009/03/11/china%e2%80%99s-oil-stockpiling-suggests-fossil-fuel-dependency-unlikely-to-decline/ In a rare admission of China’s strategic petroleum reserve capacity, a senior industry executive acknowledged that all four state-owned emergency oil reserve tanks – holding a total 100 million barrels – are filled to the brim.

Revealing that China’s current stockpiles have already exceeded the capacity of the first phase of facilities, which the government built over the last two years, China Shipping Group President Li Shaode urged the government to use foreign exchange reserves to finance floating storage capacity in the short term.

Li’s comments come after a string of recent oil- and gas-related events in China. Within the last few months, China has entered into natural gas supply agreements with Myanmar, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, and has already begun construction on needed pipelines. Just yesterday, China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC) signed a 25 year gas supply agreement with Qatar.

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]]> http://sustainablog.org/2009/03/11/china%e2%80%99s-oil-stockpiling-suggests-fossil-fuel-dependency-unlikely-to-decline/feed/ Oil Shale: Saving Grace or Environmental Catastrophe? http://inspiredeconomist.com/2009/02/28/oil-shale/ http://inspiredeconomist.com/2009/02/28/oil-shale/#comments Sat, 28 Feb 2009 23:49:13 +0000 Lisa Wojnovich http://inspiredeconomist.com/2009/02/28/oil-shale/ The Rocky MountainsDid you know that the Rocky Mountains contain more oil than Saudi Arabia? Most people don’t. The problem is that, unlike the easily accessed and processed oceans of liquid oil under Middle Eastern sands, the Rocky Mountains’ petroleum is found in rocks called oil shale. Oil shale, which must be mined, is a type of sedimentary rock that releases oil when heated in specific types of chemical processes. The problem, according to environmental groups, is that producing energy from oil shale is even less environmentally friendly than using normal, liquid oil or even coal.

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]]> http://inspiredeconomist.com/2009/02/28/oil-shale/feed/ To Drill or Not to Drill? http://inspiredeconomist.com/2009/02/28/to-drill-or-not-to-drill/ http://inspiredeconomist.com/2009/02/28/to-drill-or-not-to-drill/#comments Sat, 28 Feb 2009 23:35:11 +0000 Lisa Wojnovich http://inspiredeconomist.com/2009/02/28/to-drill-or-not-to-drill/ An oil platform in New Zealand

Late in the Bush administration, the president lifted an executive order banning offshore drilling. A few months later, facing skyrocketing gas prices, Congress allowed a congressional moratorium, dating back to 1982, to lapse. Offshore drilling has been blatantly polarizing national politics ever since.

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]]> http://inspiredeconomist.com/2009/02/28/to-drill-or-not-to-drill/feed/ BP Becomes Leader in Cellulosic Ethanol Investment, Adds $22.5M to Verenium http://gas2.org/2009/02/20/bp-becomes-leader-in-cellulosic-ethanol-investment-adds-225m-to-verenium/ http://gas2.org/2009/02/20/bp-becomes-leader-in-cellulosic-ethanol-investment-adds-225m-to-verenium/#comments Fri, 20 Feb 2009 19:31:33 +0000 Clayton B. Cornell http://gas2.org/2009/02/20/bp-becomes-leader-in-cellulosic-ethanol-investment-adds-225m-to-verenium/ cellulosic ethanol plant

On Wednesday, BP anounced a joint venture with Verenium to build the world’s largest cellulosic ethanol facility.  BP’s total investment—now $112.5 million—will be the largest by an oil company in advanced, non-food-based biofuels.

The Florida-based plant would be 25 times larger than Verenium’s existing (and operational) cellulosic ethanol facility in Louisiana, which began operation earlier this month and is expected to produce 60+ million gallons of cellulosic ethanol per year when at full capacity. This new, larger facility is schedule to break ground in 2010 and commece operations in 2012.

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]]> http://gas2.org/2009/02/20/bp-becomes-leader-in-cellulosic-ethanol-investment-adds-225m-to-verenium/feed/ An Interview with Josh Tickell About His New Film, Fuel http://sustainablog.org/2009/02/17/an-interview-with-josh-tickell-about-his-new-film-fuel/ http://sustainablog.org/2009/02/17/an-interview-with-josh-tickell-about-his-new-film-fuel/#comments Wed, 18 Feb 2009 04:58:04 +0000 Leslie Berliant http://sustainablog.org/2009/02/17/an-interview-with-josh-tickell-about-his-new-film-fuel/ Director, Josh TickellWhen I first met Josh Tickell a few years ago, he was a blonde-haired, baby-faced, young man driving around the country in a diesel van painted with yellow sunflowers that he was running on used fast food vegetable oil. He called it the Veggie Van and he was an unabashed biofuel evangelist.

I asked Josh my favorite biofuel question at the time: If Willie Nelson can figure out how to run a car on vegetable oil, why can’t Detroit? I’d like to think we bonded a little over that. He had me test drive a diesel Volkswagen and told me that he had written some books and was going around the country in the Veggie Van, lecturing on the benefits of biofuels. He also said he was working on a film. I didn’t think much of the film making bit. I live in L.A. Every one is working on a film about something. Still, Josh had a sincerity and contagious optimism about him that was distinctly antithetical to being just another L.A. film guy.

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]]> http://sustainablog.org/2009/02/17/an-interview-with-josh-tickell-about-his-new-film-fuel/feed/ Japan Airlines’ 747 Flies More Efficiently with Biofuels than with Jet-A Fuel http://ecoworldly.com/2009/01/31/japan-airlines-747-flies-more-efficiently-with-biofuels-than-with-jet-a-fuel/ http://ecoworldly.com/2009/01/31/japan-airlines-747-flies-more-efficiently-with-biofuels-than-with-jet-a-fuel/#comments Sat, 31 Jan 2009 23:57:50 +0000 Bryan Nelson http://ecoworldly.com/2009/01/31/japan-airlines-747-flies-more-efficiently-with-biofuels-than-with-jet-a-fuel/ Japan Airlines became the first airline to demonstrate camelina as a successful biofuel this week, as the fuel surpassed traditional 100% Jet-A fuel in efficiency according to pilots. The biofuel blend used, which was 84% camelina, 16% jatropha and less than 1% algae, brings optimism that the airline could be flying full passenger flights using only biofuels within 3-5 years.

Japan Airlines\' 747 in Flight

The remarkable crop, camelina, has been eyed for years as an affordable biofuel that can be grown easily in rotation with traditional food crops like wheat. Used as biodiesel, camelina could also potentially power cars and trucks cheaper than its petroleum counterpart. But for all of its use as a biofuel, it might be most exceptional as a cooking oil. Loaded with Omega-3 fatty acids, vegetable oils made from camelina are good for the heart and the brain, and could also be used as a cheap feed for fish and livestock.

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]]> http://ecoworldly.com/2009/01/31/japan-airlines-747-flies-more-efficiently-with-biofuels-than-with-jet-a-fuel/feed/ Talking Sustainability with Scott Kellogg http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/01/28/talking-sustainability-with-scott-kellogg/ http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/01/28/talking-sustainability-with-scott-kellogg/#comments Wed, 28 Jan 2009 13:14:40 +0000 Becky Striepe http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/01/28/talking-sustainability-with-scott-kellogg/ Last night, Scott Kellogg from the Rhizome Collective spoke at Charis Books in Little Five Points. He talked about permaculture and taking back the word sustainability.


[Creative Commons photo by Chad Hanna]

Marketers and large corporations have co-opted the word sustainability to sell products. It’s come to mean expensive bamboo counter tops and organic cotton bedding. We need to take back that word to its original meaning. Sustainability is living within your means. It’s closing the waste cycle and finding ways to turn trash into something that’s usable again. Last night, Kellogg talked about some ways that Rhizome is accomplishing these things. Ways that we can, too!

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]]> http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/01/28/talking-sustainability-with-scott-kellogg/feed/ Book Review: Andrew Nikiforuk’s Tar Sands: Dirty Oil and the Future of a Continent http://sustainablog.org/2009/01/07/book-review-andrew-nikiforuk%e2%80%99s-tar-sands-dirty-oil-and-the-future-of-a-continent/ http://sustainablog.org/2009/01/07/book-review-andrew-nikiforuk%e2%80%99s-tar-sands-dirty-oil-and-the-future-of-a-continent/#comments Wed, 07 Jan 2009 12:00:29 +0000 Justin Van Kleeck http://sustainablog.org/2009/01/07/book-review-andrew-nikiforuk%e2%80%99s-tar-sands-dirty-oil-and-the-future-of-a-continent/ Northern Alberta’s vast stores of bitumen–a.k.a. “tar sands” or “oil sands” or “dirty oil”–may well be one of the worst environmental tragedies you never heard of. At least that is what Andrew Nikiforuk, a prize-winning Canadian journalist, wants you to believe.

In his recent book Tar Sands: Diry Oil and the Future of a Continent, Nikiforuk lands a knockout blow on the kissers of the oil industry, oil-friendly bureaucrats, and petrol-guzzling North Americans. It is obvious that this Canadian is sick and tired of watching his own beloved habitat mutate from a pristine Northern ecosystem to a veritable toxic wasteland.

That said, Nikiforuk is clearly perturbed (another “p” word springs to mind…but this is a family-friendly blog). His book combines intensive research with a lively, caustic writing style…sort of enlightened invective. This makes for an astonishingly entertaining read that raises your hackles while raising your awareness about a seriously dangerous issue.

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]]> http://sustainablog.org/2009/01/07/book-review-andrew-nikiforuk%e2%80%99s-tar-sands-dirty-oil-and-the-future-of-a-continent/feed/ 7 Reasons Why Liquid & Gas Fuels are Here for the Long Haul http://gas2.org/2008/12/29/7-reasons-why-liquid-and-gas-fuels-are-here-for-the-long-haul/ http://gas2.org/2008/12/29/7-reasons-why-liquid-and-gas-fuels-are-here-for-the-long-haul/#comments Mon, 29 Dec 2008 16:38:49 +0000 Nick Chambers http://gas2.org/2008/12/29/7-reasons-why-liquid-and-gas-fuels-are-here-for-the-long-haul/ Taking a big picture view of the world and our future, the only realistic expectation is that liquid and gas fuels will be needed and used for a long time to come. In light of this we should embrace biofuels and compressed natural gas as much better alternatives to petroleum.

Don’t get me wrong. As a daily commuter, I drool over the upcoming swath of electric cars and plug-in hybrids. I fantasize about the day when I can ditch my car entirely and ride a high-speed, internet-connected, ultra-quiet Maglev train to work. And, as an avid fan of sci-fi, I also imagine a time when we’ve tapped the power of fusion to run anti-gravity personal transporter devices that fit on our belts.

But I’m also a realist. And, as realist, it’s pretty obvious that any of these pie-in-the-sky fantasies in which we won’t be using liquid fuel at all within 10 years time are missing the bigger picture.

So, to bring us back to reality, for a while now I’ve been chewing on this list of reasons why we’ll still be using liquid fuels in 10, 20, and even 30 years’ time. Look it over and let me know what you think.

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]]> http://gas2.org/2008/12/29/7-reasons-why-liquid-and-gas-fuels-are-here-for-the-long-haul/feed/ Palin Ignored Chance to Promote US Energy Independence http://redgreenandblue.org/2008/10/12/palin-ignored-chance-to-promote-us-energy-independence/ http://redgreenandblue.org/2008/10/12/palin-ignored-chance-to-promote-us-energy-independence/#comments Mon, 13 Oct 2008 01:38:04 +0000 Alex Felsinger http://redgreenandblue.org/2008/10/12/palin-ignored-chance-to-promote-us-energy-independence/ As Governor, Sarah Palin has successfully maintained Alaska’s energy independence, but at the same time, she has essentially ignored the mainland’s energy concerns.

Time Magazine reports that as Governor, Palin supported the direct export of enough clean natural gas to supply 1.4 million Americans for two years.

In early 2007, an Alaskan liquefied natural gas plant owned by Marathon Oil and ConocoPhillips requested Department of Energy permission to export some of the fuel. Palin entered the discussion in April, but only to ensure that Alaska’s natural gas needs would be included in the deal.

>>More on energy independence at RG&B

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]]> http://redgreenandblue.org/2008/10/12/palin-ignored-chance-to-promote-us-energy-independence/feed/ Is Sarah Palin Really “…one of the foremost experts in this nation on energy issues?” [w/video] http://redgreenandblue.org/2008/10/10/is-sarah-palin-really-one-of-the-foremost-experts-in-this-nation-on-energy-issues-wvideo/ http://redgreenandblue.org/2008/10/10/is-sarah-palin-really-one-of-the-foremost-experts-in-this-nation-on-energy-issues-wvideo/#comments Fri, 10 Oct 2008 13:00:56 +0000 Timothy B. Hurst http://redgreenandblue.org/2008/10/10/is-sarah-palin-really-one-of-the-foremost-experts-in-this-nation-on-energy-issues-wvideo/ A day after the second presidential debate, both components of the Republican ticket for the executive sat down with Fox News‘ Sean Hannity to discuss, among other things, energy policy. In the interview, John Mccain said Sarah Palin was “…probably one of the most foremost experts in this nation on energy issues.”

Mccain elaborates:

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