EAST LANSING ? Growing crops for biofuels summons images of fuel alternatives springing from the rural heartland. But a Michigan State University partnership with DaimlerChrysler is looking at turning industrial brownfields green. Kurt Thelen, MSU professor of crop and soil sciences, is leading the investigation to examine the possibility that some oilseed crops like soybeans,
SOUTHFIELD - NextGen Energy hopes to build two ethanol plants in Michigan, one in Watervliet in Berrien County in the southwest corner of the state, the other is in McBain in the central part of Northern Lower Michigan. Preliminary site plans have been approved, but permits have not yet been issued. Each plant will produce
MANISTEE ? The Manistee County Commission will hold a public hearing on Aug. 9 on whether to grant a special use permit to build a 50-million gallon Ethanol plant on the abadoned Manistee Drop Forge property, the first Ethanol facility that could be built in Northern Michigan. The project has been proposed by North Star
SOUTHFIELD - Lawrence Technological University will launch a new undergraduate minor in energy engineering this fall, aimed to provide mechanical engineering students with a better understanding of alternative or renewable energy sources, traditional fossil fuels, nuclear energy, energy management, and conservation. The courses will also be offered to practicing engineers as a certificate program. ?This
DEARBORN HEIGHTS - Ford on Monday kicked off production of dedicated hydrogen fueled V-10 engines that will be used to power Ford's E-450 hydrogen fueled shuttle buses. The buses are scheduled to be delivered to fleet customers later this year, first in Florida and then in other locations across North America. Hydrogen internal combustion engine
DETROIT - Fuel prices are hovering near record levels, while turmoil in the Middle East threatens to cut off supplies of petroleum. Wherever you turn these days, you hear people talking about hybrids, diesels, ethanol, and fuel-cell vehicles. But what exactly do these terms mean? Can they really reduce your fuel bills, trim back on
AUBURN HILLS ? Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman has appointed Mark Chernoby, Vice President - Advanced Vehicle Engineering, DaimlerChrysler, to the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technical Advisory Committee. Chernoby will communicate the latest developments in advanced fuel cell vehicle engineering within DaimlerChrysler. DaimlerChrysler has spent more than $1 billion in fuel cell vehicle research and
DETROIT ? NextEnergy has appointed Dan Radomski as director of market development where he will be responsible for managing the alternative energy incubator's communications activities and partnerships. Prior to joining NextEnergy, Radomski spent more than 11 years at the Society of Manufacturing Engineers where he most recently served as sales manager and product development manager
LANSING - Alternative fuels in Michigan would temporarily be taxed 7 cents cheaper than regular fuel, while 10 renaissance zones aimed at boosting the number of renewable energy facilities would be created under legislation signed Friday by Gov. Jennifer Granholm. Signed were SB 1074 , PA 268; SB 1075 , PA 269; SB 1078 ,
BANGOR - Michigan's first biodiesel plant won't be built by a big energy company, but by a group of farmers pooling their resources to launch a 10 million-gallon plant later this summer. Michigan BioDiesel LLC, a partnership of independent investors, is building the pioneer plant, which will produce biodiesel fuel from soybean oil and create