Diesel Bits* Nebraska has eliminated hours-of-service restrictions on diesel haulers following a diesel shortage. The problem was due to a severe drought and a reduction in refinery production during the change to Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel fuel.
* The Thai Energy Ministry is pushing local biodiesel use in order to pump up demand for its homegrown palm tree oil (versus importing raw palm oil). The plan is for biodiesel to be offered countrywide by 2011 (B5). The hope is for B10 to hit by 2012.
* Glycerin is a significant byproduct of biodiesel production, and manufacturers of synthetic glycerin are getting panicky because demand is down. Or so goes the investigative marketing study by Kline & Company over the biodiesel boom and ripple effect. The Global Business Opportunities in Biodiesel Fuels, 2006-2019 report will have global supply-and-demand analysis and loads of other biodiesel research; it will be published in the first quarter of 2007. Interested in reading all about it? It'll cost about $44,000 to get a copy of the report.
* Cummins has its first order for two Cummins-powered (QSK60-L) locomotives in Angola, Africa.