Drivers throughout Minnesota will have access to ethanol-enriched gasoline and other biodiesel fuels due to legislation signed into law by Governor Tim Pawlenty. The state’s executive has signed an omnibus bill passed by the legislature that would increase Minnesota’s biodiesel requirements from 2% to 20% by 2015. Collaboration between state agencies, producers and station owners could accelerate this standard with technological advancements.

The increasing subsidies and government support for biofuels has led a Texas Chevrolet dealer to establish its own biofuel station. Classic Chevrolet/HUMMER in Dallas, Texas has installed nine biodiesel and E-85 pumps in a station adjacent to its quick lube shop. The dealership spent $500,000 to outfit the station for the benefit of Chevy and HUMMER customers interested in purchasing trucks and SUVs powered by biofuels.

It appears that consideration to land-use changes were not studied in great detail in determining the effectiveness of corn-based biofuel as a viable solution for environmental concerns. The journal Science will soon be publishing accounts from two studies conducted by independent research teams from Princeton University and from the Nature Conservancy that looked at these issues in more detail.

The growing concern is that the solution to use corn-based ethanol in the future will further increase greenhouse gas emissions. Producing ethanol = global warming? That could be the case according to the researchers which included co-authors from Iowa State University, the Woods Hole Research Center and the Agricultural Conservation Economics. It seems unfortunate that this is being reported after a push in the U.S. to increase the use of biofuels in the next decade or so; and it obviously warrants some future study into the questions raised.

Even before the Inaugural Networking Forum of the National Algae Association kicks off in Texas on April 10th, algae is being recognized for its potential as the next biofuel.

Research on the benefits of algae began in the late 1980’s. It is versatile and can grow anywhere, and fast. It grows up to 40 times faster than most other plants. Its adaptability allows it to grow in locales other than farmlands and forests. It has an abundant presence on this planet from ponds, marshes, lakes and rivers to terrestrial plants and even snow. Wherever it grows it serves double-duty eating up air pollutants while producing oil.