October 23, 2013
BY Ron Kotrba
October is “Biofuels Month” in Minnesota as proclaimed by Gov. Mark Dayton, and with the state preparing for its move to B10 next year, high school seniors have an opportunity to turn what they know about biodiesel into college cash. At the annual Education Minnesota Professional Conference in St. Paul this month, the American Lung Association announced the 2014 Clean Air Choice Biodiesel Scholarship, an essay contest open to any Minnesota high school senior. Entrants are asked to write 1,000 words or less about biodiesel. First place will yield a $1,000 scholarship, while second place winners will receive $500. The scholarships are sponsored by the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council. Rules and an online entry form can be found at www.cleanairchoice.org.
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Varo Energy, a European energy company based in Switzerland, on March 31 announced an agreement to acquire Preem, a Sweden-based petroleum and biofuels company that is developing additional renewable diesel and SAF capacity.
Iowa’s Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program on March 25 awarded nearly $3 million in grants to support the addition of E15 at 111 retail sites. The program also awarded grants to support two biodiesel infrastructure projects.
Tidewater Renewables Ltd. has reported there was a minor fire on April 1 in the main renewable diesel process unit at the corporation's renewable diesel refinery located in Prince George, British Columbia.
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