Renewable fuels

Renewable fuels are alternative fuel sources such as ethanol, biodiesel (e.g. Renewable fuels have become particularly newsworthy with the signing of the Energy Bill, which expanded the current use of renewable fuels in the United States. Founded in 2004, Altra is led by seasoned business leaders and veterans of the biofuels and energy industries. Altra acquires, develops and operates a portfolio of renewable energy projects throughout the United States. Altra is specifically focused on the production and sale of ethanol and biodiesel fuels that can help meet the world's growing energy demands as it faces shrinking petroleum supplies that come from unstable regions of the globe. Political instability and increased world petroleum consumption have caused a corresponding rapid growth in the global demand for alternative and renewable fuels, which Altra believes will ultimately and permanently alter the dynamics of world energy markets.

With the biofuel industry growing faster than 20% per year for the past five years, renewable fuels are increasingly cost competitive with fossil fuels and are viewed as a necessary alternative as conventional fuel additives such as MTBE are phased out for environmental reasons. In the summer of 2005, as oil prices crossed the of $60+ per barrel mark, the U.S. Congress passed a sweeping Energy Bill that provided sizeable mandates to adopt renewable fuels.

Other articles:
Production of Biodiesel - Renewable Energy

According to the Environmental Protection Agencys new Renewable Fuel Standard, renewable fuels are defined as motor vehicle fuels produced from plant or animal products or wastes. Within this definition, two distinct forms of diesel fuel are specified: biodiesel and renewable diesel. Each is defined according to the process by which it is produced. The term "biodiesel" is often used very broadly to refer to any blend of conventional petroleum diesel with any renewable diesel product. In order to avoid confusion, the term biodiesel should be used in reference to pure biodiesel fuel meeting the ASTM D6571 standard.

This hearing on renewable fuels is the first in a series on small business participation in the energy industry. In the coming weeks, the committee will examine broader renewable energy issues, as well as legislation impacting small business’ energy needs.