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sustainable fuel-engine combinations

Co-Optimizing Biofuels & Engines

Recently, we watched a presentation that the US Department of Energy’s Co-Optimization of Fuels & Engines (Co-Optima) project held about biofuels. Specifically, it was looking at the environmental and economic benefits of optimizing both the fuel and engine in light duty vehicles at the same time so the end result would be better than just changing one of those two factors. The Co-Optima team set forth with two goals for this research: 1) Increase light-duty fleet efficiency and reduce emissions. 2) Determine the cost and environmental impacts of biofuels for the light-duty sector. The second goal involves asking three questions: […]

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Juneteenth Celebration

What is Juneteenth, and What Does It Mean Today?

Juneteenth commemorates the day (June 19, 1865) when Union troops marched into Texas, the westernmost edge of the defeated Confederate States.  While Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation had gone onto effect on January 1, 1863, and the South surrendered on April 9, 1865, more than 250,000 enslaved black people in Texas were held in bondage until the Army declared them free by executive decree. An irrevocable and complete end of slavery in the United States would not come until seven months later, when the 13th Amendment was ratified in December 6, 1865.The end of slavery more than 150 years ago was a […]

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Corn plants sequester carbon

Carbon Sequester-ers

A while back, I overheard a group of Minnesota farmers joking that eventually they’d no longer be farmers. Rather, they’ll be known as carbon sequester-ers. If efforts to control carbon emissions are serious‒and ultimately adopted‒they could be both! When discussing climate, “sequestering” means to hold back or to store the emissions of oxides of carbon. Whether it’s farming, agriculture-related businesses, or any other industry seeking ways to capture and store carbon, sequestration could potentially reduce the greenhouse gas emissions associated with climate change. In fuel ethanol production, some have already set out as early adopters of these technologies. In western […]

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Ethanol can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 46%.

Understanding Ozone Pollution, And How To Prevent It

Summer is just getting started, and Minnesota has already experienced several air quality alerts for ground-level ozone.  Ozone pollution occurs when nitrogen dioxide (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) mix together in the air, fueled by warm temperatures and sunlight. This triggers a chemical reaction that can create ozone, which is also one of the building blocks of smog. Even for the healthiest people, exposure to ozone can lead to difficulty in breathing, fatigue, sore throats, wheezing, and coughing. For people already living with lung disease, it can make conditions such as asthma and COPD worse. Using ethanol blends such […]

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