For biodiesel to move into the mainstream, it obviously requires more vehicles that can burn the fuel along with increasing volumes of sustainable feedstock. But before that, it will take more fueling stations and a streamlined distribution infrastructure.

Biodiesel plants are starting to co-exist along side oil refineries. Magellan Midstream Partners announced its 10th plant to produce and pipeline biodiesel alongside of petroleum.

The new facility in Aurora, Colorado will be the 40th terminal nationwide carrying biodiesel according to the National Biodiesel Board. Most biodiesel is shipped by rail, but more distribution terminals and pipelines will be needed to reduce the cost and increase consumer access to biodiesel.

Announcements from the Detroit Auto will encourage more energy companies to get involved with biodiesel. Honda and Toyota -- both known for their success with hybrids -- will provide another fuel efficient option with diesel cars and trucks starting next year. This is a substantial shift for the companies, but to be continue their reputation as fuel efficiency leaders, they had no choice but to jump on board the diesel bandwagon.

Safeway this week promised to switch its entire fleet of trucks to biodiesel as part of the company's initiative to reduce its carbon footprint. When you consider the 20 percent increased efficiency of diesel engines along with only using 80 percent fossil fuels (with B20), the carbon impact is substantial.

During Tuesday nights Democratic Debate, a question about the viability of the Yucca Mountain nuclear facility lead to a discussion of energy priorities among the three candidates.

Here's a quick summary of their positions and criticism from their fellow candidates:

Senator John Edwards: was criticized by Senator Clinton about his voting twice for funding for the Yucca mountain nuclear waste site. His defense was that the "technology has changed" since his previous votes, and that there was some fraud committed in obtaining permits. Now he says he is against the building of any new nuclear power plants because they are terrorist targets, and that even if the amount of nuclear plants were doubled, it would still only address one-seventh of the greenhouse gas emissions. He is also against the building of new coal power plants unless sequestration technologies are developed. He also mentioned the importance of cellulosic ethanol.

Senator Hillary Clinton: was criticized by Senator Edwards for taking lobbyist money from the energy industries. She said she voted against the 2005 energy bill because it was designed by Dick Cheney and included millions in giveaways to the oil and gas industries. Senator Edwards referred to her previous statement of being "agnostic towards nuclear" as a future energy source.

Senator Barack Obama: was criticized by Senator Clinton because he voted for the 2005 energy bill that was generous towards the oil and gas industries. He said that he voted for it because it also provided funding for wind and solar energy. That bill also provided support for nuclear power, of which Illinois has more than any other state. He said that he voted against Yucca mountain despite his state's pro-nuclear stance. He said he supports nuclear energy as part of the "menu of options" for reducing greenhouse gases. He was the only candidate who spoke about the need for conservation and support for the cap and trade system.

Clorox has developed its first natural cleaning products, the Green Works line at commercial cleaning products.

The products are certified by the Environmental Protection Agency’s Design for the Environment Program, verifying that the products "help protect the environment and are safer for families" by using the safest solvents. The ingredients are derived from coconuts and lemon oil and are biodegradable and non-allergenic, and Clorox said the company did not perform testing on animals.

The EPA maintains a list of partners offering approved cleaning products here. Hopefully we'll see many more products showing up in store shelves with this label on it.

The line includes a concentrated product, bathroom, all purpose, toilet bowl and glass cleaners.

Companies and landlords (especially those where children are at play) are increasingly looking for cleaning companies that use environmentally friendly products. Government agencies and private companies could send a strong message by hiring only contractors that use natural cleaning products.

The new Eco-Patents Commons will allow innovations geared towards environmental sustainability to be shared instead of hidden away under lock and key.

IBM, Sony, Nokia and Pitney Bowes are working together to create the Eco-Patent Commons, which will be administered by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development – a Geneva-based organization promoting sustainability in business. The idea will kick off by putting 31 patents into the public domain that span from a manufacturing process that reduces volatile compounds to a natural way to purify waste water.

This is a great idea because protecting the environment should not be a secret. If Nokia submitted a patent that recycles cell phones into new clocks, calculators and remote controls, other companies should be able to harness that technology as well because we're all recipients of the greater good.

It seems as the Governor Schwarzenegger's dream to create a hydrogen highway of refueling stations from California to Canada is all but dead.

Nearly four years ago Schwarzenegger first outlined his plan, but because fuel cell technology is progressing much slower than glaciers are receding and California is in a budget crunch, the pipeline to funding is being shut off.

While noble in its aspiration, the technology to create hydrogen from clean energy sources is still not there, so building hundreds of stations made no sense. Putting the money into R&D to make hydrogen from electrolysis or algae more cost effective, fuel cell vehicles or hydrogen storage, would have been a better bet, even though billions have already been spent on those areas.

During those four years plug-in hybrids, cellulosic and electric vehicles have all progressed much more rapidly, and in combination, they could eliminate the need for fuel cell cars and a hydrogen highway.

Ethanol and electricity are much easier to distribute and store than hydrogen, so unless there is a major breakthrough in hydrogen from clean energy in the near future, fuel cell cars may never come to pass.