DOE to issue funding opportunity for aviation, advanced biofuels

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The U.S. Department of Energy on March 10 announced its intent to issue a funding opportunity this spring that aims to accelerate the production of low-carbon aviation fuels, renewable marine fuels, and other advanced biofuels.

According to the DOE, its Bioenergy Technologies Office is focused on applied research, development, demonstration and deployment (RDD&D) to improve the performance and reduce costs of biofuel production technologies and scale-up production systems in partnership with industry in order to reduce risks and pave the way for deployment of commercial-scale integrated biorefineries. The agency said working together on scaling up these emerging technologies will leverage the scientific strength of the agency and its partners and support the creation of construction, skilled trade and engineering jobs that grow an invigorate the bioeconomy.

Volvo VNR Electric Now Eligible for Dozens of Funding, Incentive Programs

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The Volvo VNR Electric, Volvo Trucks North America’s first commercially available battery-electric Class 8 vehicle, is now eligible for dozens of funding and incentive programs across North America, including up to $120,000 per vehicle from California’s Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP).

Through point-of-sale vouchers, incentives or rebates, funding programs established are helping make the transition to zero-emission vehicles more cost-effective for fleets of all sizes, operating across every sector.

PERC study analyzes carbon footprint of propane-fueled vehicles

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The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) released a study analyzing the carbon footprint of medium- and heavy-duty (MD-HD) engine vehicles powered by propane and electricity.

The analysis, “Decarbonization of MD-HD Vehicles with Propane,” says that propane-fueled MD-HD internal combustion engine vehicles provide a lower carbon footprint solution in 38 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., when compared to MD-HD electric vehicles charged using the electrical grid.

The study also reveals that MD-HD vehicles powered by renewable propane provide a lower carbon footprint solution in every U.S. state except Vermont, where electricity is generated by and imported from Canadian hydroelectric power plants, according to PERC.

Valero, Blackrock partner with Navigator on CCS project

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Valero Energy Corp. and BlackRock Global Energy & Power Infrastructure Fund III announced on March 16 that they are partnering with Navigator Energy Services to develop an industrial scale carbon capture pipeline system (CCS). The initial phase is expected to span more than 1,200 miles of new carbon dioxide gathering and transportation pipelines across five Midwest states with the capability of permanently storing up to 5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. Pending third party customer feedback, the system could be expanded to transport and sequester up to 8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. Valero, the largest renewable fuels producer in North America, is expected to become an anchor shipper by securing a majority of the initial available system capacity. Navigator is expected to lead the construction and operations of the system and anticipates operations to begin late 2024. In the coming months, Navigator will seek additional commitments to utilize the remaining capacity via a binding open season process.

Aemetis Receives Board Approval for RNG Pipeline Extension Project

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Aemetis Inc., a renewable natural gas (RNG) and renewable fuels company, says by a unanimous vote the Stanislaus County, Calif., board of supervisors accepted and approved the Aemetis Biogas Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration for construction of a 32-mile extension to the existing Aemetis Biogas four-mile private pipeline that was completed in 2020.

The pipeline is designed to carry biogas from dairies as part of the Aemetis Central Dairy Digester Project, which is planned to span across the Stanislaus and Merced counties in central California. The approval is necessary to meet the permitting requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) prior to pipeline construction and confirms that mitigation measures in the proposed project will avoid or mitigate any impacts on the environment.

Summit Precision Manufacturing Expands to State-of-the-Art Columbus Facility

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Summit Precision Manufacturing has announced the relocation of its operations from Cleveland to a brand-new, state-of-the-art facility in Columbus, Ohio. This move marks a major milestone for the company as it continues to expand production capabilities and strengthen its position as a leader in precision engineering and component manufacturing.

A Move Driven by Growth

The decision to relocate follows years of steady growth and increasing demand for Summit’s high-quality machining and fabrication services. The new 85,000-square-foot Columbus facility features advanced manufacturing equipment, expanded assembly areas, and upgraded quality control labs designed to support the company’s growing list of clients across aerospace, automotive, and industrial sectors.

“Our goal has always been to combine innovation with reliability,” said Mark Daniels, CEO of Summit Precision Manufacturing. “This new facility allows us to enhance our production efficiency, invest in new technologies, and provide even greater value to our customers.”

Cutting-Edge Capabilities

The Columbus location incorporates advanced automation systems, high-precision CNC machinery, and energy-efficient infrastructure to improve productivity and sustainability. The expanded layout also includes dedicated R&D space for prototyping and product testing, supporting Summit’s commitment to continuous improvement and technological advancement.

A Smooth Transition

The relocation process, coordinated with the help of professional industrial movers, was planned to minimize disruption to production schedules and client deliveries. Equipment transfer and facility setup were executed in phases, allowing operations to continue seamlessly during the transition.

Investing in the Local Workforce

With the move, Summit Precision Manufacturing plans to add over 60 new positions in the Columbus area, including roles in engineering, operations, and logistics. The company is partnering with local technical schools and workforce development programs to recruit and train skilled employees, fostering growth within the regional manufacturing community.

Summit’s expansion represents more than a physical move—it’s a commitment to innovation, community, and long-term sustainability. With its new facility in Columbus, the company is well-positioned to meet evolving industry demands and continue setting the standard for precision manufacturing excellence.

Sequestration: A Blueprint for Success

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With a stratigraphic well already completed, and ongoing modeling to determine volumes of carbon dioxide to be injected, Blue Flint in Underwood, North Dakota, is on its way to producing a zero-carbon fuel. The goal is prompted in large part by the 45Q tax credit, says Jeff Zueger, CEO of Midwest AgEnergy, Blue Flint’s parent company.

“45Q is a big driver,” Zueger says. “It unlocked the potential for these types of projects. The changes in 45Q have been a significant enabler to advancing these projects to make sure there’s enough economic opportunity there to support the risk that goes along with it.”

45Q provides a tax credit incentive for qualifying carbon emitters to capture and store carbon dioxide. Changes in 2018 extended the credit for two years and lowered the qualifying threshold for emitters from 500,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide to 100,000, opening the opportunity to more of the ethanol industry.

Westport Hydrogen-Fueled Engine Shows Promise in Initial Trials

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Westport Fuel Systems Inc., a supplier of advanced fuel delivery components and systems for clean, low-carbon fuels, says it had a successful startup and initial trials of a heavy-duty internal combustion engine running on hydrogen (H2) fuel, using its patented High-Pressure Direct Injection (HPDI) 2.0 system.

“We believe H2-HPDI could be extremely compelling, with near-zero greenhouse gas emissions and much lower cost than fuel cell vehicles or battery-electric vehicles, particularly for heavy-duty trucking and other high-load applications like mining, marine and rail that have come to rely on the efficiency, power, durability and reliability of diesel engines,” says David Johnson, CEO of Westport Fuel Systems.

Trucking Industry Making Strides Toward Electrification

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Original equipment manufacturers, shippers and environmental activist groups are aligning behind the promised benefits of zero-emission trucks, and are encouraging the trucking industry to accelerate adoption of vehicles powered by alternatives to diesel.

A March 5 report from the Environmental Defense Fund noted that while passenger cars are generating most of the sales for electric vehicles, electric trucks and buses are gaining momentum and are vital to achieving clean air goals. “Eliminating tailpipe pollution from these vehicles is also essential to help meet our nation’s climate goals,” the report said. “Our nation must adopt air pollution standards that ensure that all new sales of medium- and heavy-duty trucks and buses are zero-emission vehicles by 2040 at the latest,” the report said.

Toyota creates hydrogen fuel-cell module to power buses, trains, ships

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In addition to selling hydrogen fuel-cell cars, Toyota hopes to become a supplier of fuel-cell tech to other companies. To that end, the automaker has developed a modular fuel-cell system for use in other types of vehicles, including buses, trains, and ships, as well as stationary generators.

The goal is to grow the use of fuel cells by making a plug-and-play solution available to companies for the widest-possible array of applications, a Toyota press release said.