An estimated 700m gallons of US biodiesel was produced last year, according to the National Biodiesel Board (NBB). Around 34% of biodiesel raw material came from refined soybean oil, 31% from crude soybean oil, 11% from inedible tallow and grease, and 24% from other fats and oils.
"The production of US biodiesel, which now accounts for over 75% of soybean oil's industrial use, experienced an annual average growth rate of an astonishing 90% for most of this decade," says Kenneth Doll, research chemist, Food and Industrial Oil Research Unit at the USDA's Agriculture Research Service (ARS).
The article goes on to say the American numbers match the worldwide trend in industrial oils use.
Former astronaut to claim temporary insanity.
The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, FL) August 28, 2007 Byline: Sarah Lundy ORLANDO, Fla. _ Claiming insanity at the time of a crime is one thing. Getting a jury to buy the argument is another.
That’s the challenge former NASA astronaut Lisa Nowak could face if she goes to trial on charges of attacking romantic rival Colleen Shipman at Orlando International Airport last February.
In a notice made public Tuesday, Nowak’s defense alerted the judge and prosecutors of her intent to rely on an insanity defense.
The document lists depression, obsessive behavior and other mental problems not visible when the Navy captain appeared in court Friday for a pretrial hearing and read a statement to reporters. see here insanity vs p90x
Legal experts said insanity at the time of the crime is not easy to prove _ one reason lawyers rarely use it as a defense tactic.
“Most people who plead not guilty by reason of insanity lose,” said Robert Batey, a law professor at Stetson University in St. Petersburg.
It isn’t a slam-dunk for prosecutors, either.
“It’s a way a jury that has sympathy for her can find her not guilty,” said Michael Seigel, a law professor at University of Florida. “It gives them a legal hook to hang their hat on.” Nowak _ a mission specialist on space shuttle Discovery’s flight in July 2006 _ is charged with attempted kidnapping and burglary with assault, punishable by up to life in prison if convicted. She’s also charged with misdemeanor battery.
Lawyers considering use of the insanity defense are required to notify the judge and prosecutors. Lawyer Donald Lykkebak delivered the notice to Circuit Court Judge Marc Lubet and prosecutor Pam Davis last week. It was filed with the Orange County Clerk of Courts late Monday and made public Tuesday.
The document hints at 44-year-old Nowak’s mindset in the weeks leading up to her drive alone from Houston to Orlando to confront Shipman, the woman she saw as her rival in a love triangle involving Navy Comdr. Bill Oefelein, also an astronaut at the time.
Some of the psychiatric diagnosis listed in the notice include major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and severe insomnia.
The document notes Nowak’s marriage problems and inability to confide in family members or others, as well as her large weight loss.
It also diagnoses Nowak with Asperger’s disorder, a condition with autistic-like symptoms that causes problems with social skills and can lead to eccentric behavior.
In Florida, to be legally insane a defendant must have a mental disorder that prevents a person from knowing what he or she is doing or its consequences. If the person does understand what he or she is doing and its consequences, then the person must not know that it was wrong.
After a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity, a judge decides whether the defendant needs to be committed to a state hospital.
(EDITORS: STORY CAN END HERE) (EDITORS: BEGIN OPTIONAL TRIM) “Of the ones who win, the vast majority of those are then civilly committed,” Stetson’s Batey said.
Marti Mackenzie, a spokeswoman for Nowak, said Lykkebak might not pursue the insanity defense if the case goes to trial, which is scheduled for next month. “Even the most naive observer should recognize that Lisa Nowak’s behavior on February 5 was uncharacteristic and unpredicted for such an accomplished person with no criminal record or history of violence,” according to a statement from Lykkebak’s office. “We have mental health experts to help explain this brief episode.” The notice listed two Texas psychiatrists as Nowak’s defense experts. site insanity vs p90x
One is Dr. Richard Pesikoff, identified in published reports as an expert for Andrea Yates, a mother accused of drowning her five children in 2001. She eventually was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
(END OPTIONAL TRIM) No psychiatric evaluations will be made public _ a decision made months ago by Lubet, who is considering whether to exclude Nowak’s statement to police and evidence from her car. Lykkebak says the interrogation and search violated Nowak’s rights.
The judge listened to arguments on several points Friday but did not rule. He is expected to rule this week on Nowak’s request to remove a monitoring device on her ankle.
Shipman’s attorney, Kepler Funk, said he was troubled that the insanity defense was not discussed at Friday’s hearing.
“Clearly, these revelations bolster our argument and augment Ms. Shipman’s testimony that it is appropriate to continue to monitor Ms. Nowak’s every move via the GPS anklet,” he said.
Bringing up insanity may be a sign of weakness in Nowak’s case, some legal experts said Tuesday. Proving insanity is usually more successful where a suspect has a documented history of mental illness. “Generally, you argue insanity defense when you don’t have anything else to argue,” Stetson’s Batey said.
Jennifer Zedalis, another UF law professor, said an insanity defense notice can be a plea-negotiating tool. Listing the two doctors could mean the defense has good evidence that a mental condition exists, she said.
The next move may be for prosecutors to have their own experts evaluate Nowak.
The State Attorney’s Office would not comment directly on the issue.
Spokeswoman Danielle Tavernier said it will be addressed in court.
___ Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
_____ PHOTOS (from MCT Photo Service, 202-383-6099): ASTRONAUT
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack counted progress toward energy independence among the Obama administration’s first 100 days accomplishments. !["usda-logo"]("http://domesticfuel.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/usda-logo-300x216.jpg" "\"usda-logo\""){kind=logo}
The amount of industrial fats and oils in the U.S. has grown by nearly one-fourth over the past couple of years, fueled mostly by the growth in popularity of biodiesel.
The 
However, market analyst Mike Krueger from 
“Our view is that we can get to 12 to 13 percent by just simply understanding that it’s significantly not much different than 10 percent, it’s an insignificant difference, and under the rules and regulations EPA could do that,” Vilsack said Monday. “If you get to 15 percent or higher, there may be more review required, and we appreciate that. But the help is needed now.” 
“We can move fairly quickly to move that rate up from 10 percent to maybe 12 or 13 percent in the interim and then take an even further jump to 15 percent or even 20 percent over the course of the next couple of years,” Vilsack said to the 
According to 
“These projects will be among many Obama Administration investments that will help strengthen our economy and address the climate crisis. A robust biofuels industry – focused on the next generation of biofuels – is critical to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, reducing our addiction to foreign oil and putting Americans back to work,” said Secretary of Energy Steven Chu. 
Vilsack says he favors improving efficiency in ethanol plants in order to ensure that the industry survives the economic downturn. “We need to make sure that the biofuels industry has the necessary support to survive the recent downturn,” Vilsack told reporters.
In his first day on the job at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, newly confirmed Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack laid out his top priorities to USDA staff.
Speaking to reporters this week, Secretary Ed Schafer noted that growth in ethanol and biodiesel production have helped create “remarkable prosperity and growth in the agriculture economy” during the Bush administration.