The EPA affirms its ethanol targets, denying a Texas waiver; cleaning Beijing’s indoor air; and Mitsubishi is to road test its iMiEV electric car in California.

US EPA Denies Texas Waiver Request; Biofuel Mandates Remain 9B Gallons for 2008, 11.1B for 2009: Sorry, Texas. On Thursday, the EPA flatly turned down Texas governor Rick Perry’s request to reduce the state’s ethanol mandate by 50 percent. Perry contented that ethanol mandates have stressed animal feed prices and are hurting Texas’ cattle industry. In their refusal of the waiver, the EPA affirmed a 2008 goal of 9 billion gallons, with another increase in 2009.(Green Car Congress)

Green Games: Beijing’s Cleaning the Air–Indoors: The day has finally arrived, and Beijing is stepping out onto the world stage as an Olympic host city. The city continued under a pall of polluted air again Friday, despite China’s $20 billion effort bring back blue skies with factory shutdowns and almost a million idled personal vehicles. While outdoor air quality is likely to be an issue throughout the games, an American firm will be policing indoor breathability at 18 Olympic venues. Johnson Controls of Milwaukee was selected by Beijing to insure that 123 million square square feet of indoor air space remains clean and green. (WSJ.com)

Ford EcoBoost Cuts CO2 Emissions by 15%, Improves Gas Mileage: While hybrids and electric cars grab the lion’s share of green automotive headlines, Ford has been taking another track in the fight to beat soaring fuel costs. Technosailor’s Aaron Brazell visited FoMoCo’s Dearborn headquarters this week, and managed to get an eyeful of the company’s new EcoBoost engine. Ford says the turbocharged, direct-injection engine cuts carbon dioxide emissions by 15 percent and ups efficiency by about 2 mpg — without any loss in power. The engine will appear in the upcoming Lincoln MKS, a vehicle Ford officials claim will enjoy V-8 performance with only six cylinders. (Technosailor)

Mitsubishi iMiEV to get tested in California in Q4 2008!: It looks like Mitsubishi’s highly anticipated, all-electric iMiEV car will be tested on California roads befor the end of the year. Pacific Gas and Electric Company and Southern California Edison will join Mitshu in the real-world iMiEV driving demonstration. Both companies are apparently thinking ahead to EV charging infrastructure. The iMiEV — with 2+2 seating and a 65-mile cruising range — is scheduled to go on sale in Europe and North America sometime in 2009. (Autoblog Green)

Helios Grill is the First Solar BBQ: Labor Day — the unofficial finale of summer in the United States — is right around the corner. Ready to think about a greener barbecue this year? The Helios BBQ looks like something out of a 1950s Cold War newsreel, with a retro-futurist heat collection dish on one end and a grill on the other. The radar-like collector transfers heat to a coil in the cooking area. Now all you need is tofu franks and a hand-cranked TV set — and you’re green to go. (Geek.com)

Stories You Might Also Like: