News stories tagged with "soy"

(09/19/06) Biofuel. You hear a lot about it these days. And how the growing industry means new opportunities for farmers and foresters and other businesses in the North Country. Over the next few days we're going to take a closer look at what the biofuel economy might mean for the North Country. We'll look at big plans and small solutions.

First, what is biofuel? Biofuel means using biological material for energy. Like burning wood in a woodstove for heat. There are two kinds of biofuel used for transportation: ethanol and biodiesel. Ethanol is a gasoline additive made from vegetable crops - mostly corn. We'll talk more about ethanol tomorrow.

Today we'll look at biodiesel. Biodiesel is basically vegetable oil with the glycerin removed. It can run in diesel engines. It's mostly made from soybean oil. As fuel prices rise, It's becoming more cost-competitive. But as Gregory Warner reports, many consumers and farmers are still wary.

(07/07/05) There's been a lot of attention to biodiesel, and other alternative fuels. Biodiesel is made from agricultural products like soybeans or corn. It's environmentally friendly, less toxic than table salt, and runs in regular diesel engines. Biodiesel production got a late start in this country, but the industry has grown considerably in the past few years.

Legislators are hoping that New York State can become a leader in the alternative fuel industry. Recently Governor Pataki announced a state grant of $4 million to a biofuel plant in Fulton. It's the second alternative fuel facility in that area.

Last year Congress passed a tax credit for biodiesel to encourage demand. The Senate's recent Energy Bill extended the credit to 2010. Congressman John McHugh is pushing the House to do the same. As Gregory Warner reports, the credit will likely help North Country farmers, but there's a lot further to go.