1. Home
  2. Articles posted by: Rona Fried (Page 2305)

Bio-Lubricant Named World's Best Technology

Agro Management Group (Colorado Springs, CO) was honored recently for its patented technology which enables plant-based lubricants to be used instead of petroleum in internal combustion engines. Sterling Bio-Technologies Corp. was formed in 2003 to bring this technology to market and holds an exclusive license to manufacture and sell lubricants based on the technology in the U.S. and Canada. The Sterling Grade” products are made from a base of 100% vegetable oil – including canola, sunflower and soybean – which is blended with additives to produce engine oils and other lubricants. The lubricants can be used in automotive and small engine applications. In addition to providing a market-ready alternative to petroleum-based engine oils that comes from renewable, agricultural products, these lubricants have added benefits including reductions in engine wear, tailpipe emissions and gasoline consumption. They are are also biodegradable and non-toxic. Despite the long-recognized superiority of plant-based oils over petroleum-based oils as lubricants, plant-based oils have not been previously been considered suitable for use in internal combustion engines because they lacked stability needed for high temperature applications. Carol Werner, Sterling’s chief executive officer. “The recognition of the technology as “World’s Best” by the participants in the adds independent support to […]

Read More

Weekly Clean Energy Roundup:May 19, 2004

*News and Events DOE, GM Launch a Fuel Efficiency, Emissions Contest for the Chevy Equinox Maryland Local Governments Buy a Large Amount of Wind Power State and Utility Clean Energy Programs Chalk Up Successes Popular PG&E Energy Efficiency Rebates Running Low on Funds EPA Awards Energy-Efficient Businesses and Congregations DOE, GM Launch a Fuel Efficiency, Emissions Contest for the Chevy EquinoxDOE and General Motors Corporation (GM) announced a new competition last week that will challenge engineering students across North America to redesign a Chevrolet Equinox, increasing its fuel efficiency and reducing its emissions while maintaining the vehicle’s safety and performance. Called “Challenge X: Crossover to Sustainable Mobility,” the three-year competition will pit teams of engineering students from 17 North American universities against each other in the redesign of Chevy’s compact sport utility vehicle (SUV). DOE’s Argonne National Laboratory will manage the Challenge X competition, and GM will supply each team with an Equinox SUV, $10,000 in seed money, technical mentoring, and additional production parts for the vehicle. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Transportation will also contribute to the competition, as will a number of sponsoring corporations and organizations. See the DOE press release.Maryland Local Governments […]

Read More

States Create Patchwork of Transgenic Crop Laws

State legislatures in 2003 considered more measures in support of agricultural biotechnology than in the entire 2001-2002 legislative session, according to a new report released Monday by the Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology. Once again, lawmakers from Hawaii introduced more legislation on agricultural biotechnology than any other state, accounting for 19 percent of all biotech legislation introduced last year – 19 bills and six resolutions. Legislation introduced in Hawaii includes bills that try to increase the amount of agricultural research in the state, that attempt to protect and potentially capitalize on Hawaii's unique natural biodiversity, and others that seek to make information about genetically modified crop field trials available to the public. The Iowa legislature was also very active, introducing 16 bills and passing four. The legislation introduced in Iowa was supportive of biotechnology, reflecting support for agricultural biotechnology as an important tool which can help Iowa maintain its position as an agricultural powerhouse. Legislators from the Northern Plains States – Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota – introduced 10 bills which reflect growing concern among wheat producers over the market impact of applying genetic engineering technology to wheat, a valuable export commodity for these states. Their concern registered […]

Read More