Free Republic

On Thursday the U.S. Navy completed the first leg of its largest alternative fuel test onboard a destroyer along the California coast. Twenty-thousand gallons of algae-based fuel was pumped into the retired destroyer, PAUL H. FOSTER, for the 20 hour trip that began Wednesday. The successful overnight trip is a big step in paving the way for a plan to unveil a small carrier strike group of destroyers, cruisers, aircraft, submarines and a carrier to run on alternative fuels and nuclear power next year. The Navy has been investing millions into alternative energies, in an effort to cut its dependence...

Commercial aviation finally flies on biofuel The era of commercial airliners in the US flying on biofuels is here.A Boeing 747-8 freighter taking off from Paine Field, in Everett, Washington. The plane was one of the first to fly a biofuel blend, and on Monday, Continental Airlines flew the first-ever US passenger flight with an algae-biofuel blend.(Credit: Daniel Terdiman/CNET) A Continental Airlines Boeing 737-800 from Houston on 7 November became the first US plane to fly passengers while using an algae-based biofuel. According to an article originally published in the Houston Chronicle, the Continental flight carried 154 customers while using...

The first U.S. commercial airline flight powered by biofuels is set to take off from Houston on Monday ­– a United Airlines 737 that will fly to Chicago burning a blend of petroleum and an algae-derived fuel made by Silicon Valley’s Solazyme.

Trying to make a biofuel startup work is tough. On one hand, you're fighting for a share of one of the biggest markets on the planet—last year the global oil and gas market was an astounding $2.6 trillion. But fuels are a commodity—customers really don't care whether they get their gasoline from Exxon or Shell or BP, because the product is essentially the same. That means the margin on fuel is extremely low, which then means you have to produce in large-scale to make any meaningful profit. But that in turn means a lot of capital spending—just building a pilot...

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Solazyme, Inc. (NASDAQ:SZYM - News), a renewable oil and bioproducts company, announced the continuation and expansion of its relationship with Unilever, one of the world’s leading consumer goods companies. The Commercial Development Agreement, which is funded by Unilever, expands the companies’ current research and development efforts and is the fourth agreement the parties have entered into. Upon successful completion of the development agreement and related activities, the two companies have agreed the terms of a multi-year supply agreement in which Unilever would purchase commercial quantities of Solazyme’s renewable oils.

Imagine a cheaper gasoline that can be produced domestically and is environmentally friendly. A pipe dream?Maybe not if a Pasadena-based company’s business plan pans out.KiOR, (pronounced KEY-ORE) has spent the last three years perfecting a technology that enables the company to convert low cost biomass like wood chips or algae into hydrocarbon-based renewable crude oil that is then refined into gasoline or diesel.“Kior was built on the vision that we can reduce our dependence on petroleum by harnessing alternative sources of fuel without having to rebuild the nation’s fuel infrastructure,” Fred Cannon, KiOR’s President and CEO says in a statement...

A man died after being shot with a Taser during a confrontation Sunday night with Mason police officers, according to police. Police said Douglas Boucher, 39, of Mason died at a local hospital after he was shot by the Taser following a disturbance around 11:15 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13 at the Speedway gas station, 711 Reading Road. Two Mason police officers stopped at the Speedway at the corner of Tylersville and Reading Road for a drink when a clerk asked them to talk to Boucher, who was causing some kind of trouble, according to a report. The two officers approached...

<p>After nine months of exposure to the overseas outsourcing market, I'm ready to give an update on the realities of outsourcing for small businesses. This is an emotionally charged issue for a lot of people in the U.S., so let me start by saying up front that the results are mixed. Like a lot of larger businesses, I've discovered a number of hidden risks and costs. While I don't think those issues will end the trend of sending jobs to cheaper labor markets, I do think the wholesale enthusiasm for outsourcing overseas is quickly waning.</p>

US Takes Aim at Chinese TVs in Trade Row Tue Nov 25, 1:48 AM ET Add Business - Reuters to My Yahoo! By Doug Palmer and Tony Munroe WASHINGTON/HONG KONG (Reuters) - The United States accused Chinese companies of dumping televisions on the U.S. market and slapped stiff duties on the products, in the latest flare-up in trade tension between the two economic giants. Reuters Photo Related Quotes DJIA NASDAQ ^SPC 9729.20 1944.79 1049.76 -18.59 -2.35 -2.32 delayed 20 mins - disclaimer Quote Data provided by Reuters High-tech Holiday Gifts Best buys for your gadget lover, plus great gifts under...