Great Lakes Maritime Research Institute (GLMRI) announced late last month that they’ve been awarded a US$750,000 grant from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to support an engine repowering project on a 1,000-feet-long Great Lakes ore carrier.

BNSF Railway officials announced July 26 that they’ve reset the “strike price” at which U.S. diesel fuel surcharges are imposed to US$2.50/gallon, up from $1.25/gallon previously.

Canadian Pacific (CP) railroad officials announced July 28 that second quarter 2010 net income rose 23% year-over-year, to Cdn$166.6 million (US$ million).

Norfolk Southern railroad officials announced July 27 that second-quarter 2010 net income jumped 59%, to US$392 million, despite a 40% cost increase in diesel fuel versus 2Q 2009.

Cummins officials announced July 27 that global second quarter 2010 earnings hit US$405 million, up sharply from $109 million in 2Q 2009.

Washington-based Paccar officials announced July 27 that second-quarter 2010 global profits for the diesel truck and engine maker improved to US$99.6 million compared to $26.5 million for 2Q 2009.

A comparison of U.S. consumer monthly fuel costs between the new Chevrolet “Volt” plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) and other relatively “green” cars shows that only the BMW “Mini” all-electric car would be cheaper.

SK Energy’s profits improved in second quarter 2010 thanks in large part to a rebound in middle distillate refinery cracking margins.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials on July 26 published in the Federal Register a “notice of data availability” asking for comments on its study indicating that canola-oil biodiesel might meet the 50% greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction requirement for “biomass-based diesel” under EPA’s “renewable fuel standard-2” (RFS-2) regulations.

Texas-based Tesoro officials announced July 29 that improved margins on diesel helped the company post US$67 million net earnings in second quarter 2010 versus a net loss of $45 million in 2Q 2009.

ConocoPhillips (CoP) officials July 28 reported dramatically improved downstream earnings for second-quarter 2010 versus 2Q 2009 thanks in large part to a rebound in middle distillate refining margins.

Valero Energy officials announced July 27 that second-quarter 2010 operating rebounded sharply “mainly due to higher margins for diesel” compared to 2Q 2009 margins.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) found in a new report that jatropha-derived biodiesel – often touted as a “wonder plant” for biodiesel feedstock production in parched, degraded farmlands – cannot make a significant dent in oil dependence.

Algae-based biodiesel can be four times worse on net carbon dioxide emissions than petroleum diesel, according to a new study at University of Cambridge (UK).

Oklahoma-based Syntroleum officials announced July 28 that the company posted a US$600,000 net loss for second quarter 2010, versus $7.4 million net income in 2Q 2009.

Atlanta-based AGL Resources and Houston-based El Paso officials announced July 28 that they’ve signed a joint-venture agreement to distribute liquefied natural gas (LNG) across the southeastern United States, targeting heavy-duty trucks, buses, waste haulers, and peak-shaving power facilities.

Iran’s deputy oil minister Alireza Zeighami last week announced that his country would import up to four million liters of diesel fuel to be used to supply electric power plants in the country.

Ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD) prices in major world spot and futures markets moved upward last week on evidence of falling diesel exports from China.

Distillate futures, spot prices moved higher last week.