Article Archive for May 2009
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing revisions to the National Renewable Fuel Standard program (commonly known as the RFS program). Today’s proposed rule intends to address changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard program as …
by Lisa Gibson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The newly funded Center for Lignocellulose Structure and Formation at Pennsylvania State University will be home to investigations into plant cells to produce better biomass-based fuels. The U.S. DOE …
In his letter to the Governors’ Biofuels Coalition, President Obama noted, “Advanced renewable transportation fuels will be one of the nation’s most important industries in the 21st Century. Combined with improved energy efficiency, biofuels are …
Thoughts from Joanne Ivancic, Executive Director, Advanced Biofuels USA. There has been a lot of controversy about “indirect land use change” analysis related to figuring out how much greenhouse gas emissions result from the production …
The 500+ page proposed renewable fuels greenhouse gas lifecycle rule released by EPA on May 5th and published in the Federal Register on May 26, 2009 (74 Fed. Reg. 24904) has been met with a …
The intersection of Jackson Avenue and North Johnson Street looks like many in Central City. There are vacant lots overgrown with vegetation and strewn with debris alongside boarded-up, decaying houses optimistically donning “for sale” signs. …
Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Fuels is developing biofuels that can be used to power both the mothership Eve that will launch the spacecraft from the stratosphere, while the SpaceShipTwo spacecraft will itself be designed to …
The Farm to Fuel® Summit has established itself as the major gathering place where stakeholders assemble each year to help advance the development of Forida’s bioenergy industry. In July 2009, leaders from the agricultural, government, …
Corn cobs are both economical and environmentally friendly as a feedstock for cellulosic ethanol, university and government reports indicate, reaffirming POET’s strategy for commercializing its new technology. Removing corn cobs from fields for use in …
Next-gen biofuel projects in Canada are eligible for up to 40 percent incentive to be repaid over 10 years. A nonprofit funded by the Canadian federal government announced today its latest call for applications for …
Waste Management, Inc. and InEnTec LLC announced the formation of S4 Energy Solutions LLC, a joint venture to develop, operate and market plasma gasification facilities using InEnTec’s Plasma Enhanced Melter (PEM™) technology. The joint venture …
Cathay Forest Products Corp. says it will pay C$2.9 million to acquire 40 per cent of Eco-Energy China Group, a private biodiesel producer based in China’s southwestern province of Guizhou. Cathay Forest, which has its …
With their sweet, refreshing juices and succulent interior, watermelons are a favorite summertime treat, especially around July 4th. But now this Independence Day favorite could become even more of a patriotic commodity. Agricultural Research Service …
Liquid fuels from biomass and coal have the potential to reduce petroleum fuel use and CO2 emissions in the U.S. transportation sector over the next 25 years, says a new report from the National Research …
Some researchers hope to turn plants into a renewable, nonpolluting replacement for crude oil. To achieve this, scientists have to learn how to convert plant biomass into a building block for plastics and fuels cheaply …
by Ron Pernick, RenewableEnergyWorld.com: I recently gave a talk to a group of environmentalists, technologists, and business people at an innovation forum in Portland, Oregon. In my talk, I relayed the findings of our recent …
This paper forms a component of the Renewable Energy and Distributed Generation Task Force (REDGTF) project: Identifying optimal legal frameworks for renewable energy in China and India (the Project). The Project is undertaken by Baker …
On the NREL web site, visitors can find a map that plots locations of ethanol plants and alternative fuel stations, including propane, hydrogen, E85 ethanol blends and other alternative fuels. Link to Map Partial Instructions
In a letter addressed to PM Manmohan Singh, a day after he assumed office for the second consecutive term, chief minister Nitish Kumar has demanded favourable consideration of state’s pending requests, … Nitish also demanded …
A Biofuels Digest Special Report on the 2nd Annual Waste-to-Fuels Conference and Trade Show: While policy momentum behind biofuels has sputtered in recent months due in part to a slumping economy, indirect land use change …
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is hosting a workshop to present details of its lifecycle greenhouse gas analysis for Proposed Revisions to the National Renewable Fuels Standard Program. The intent of the workshop is to …
The EPA is announcing a public hearing to be held for the proposed rule ”Regulation of Fuels and Fuel Additives: Changes to Renewable Fuel Standard Program” (the proposed rule is hereinafter referred to as ”RFS2”), …
The Asian biofuels industry has had a difficult year with falling crude oil prices and volatile palm oil prices making production costs uncompetitive. During these uncertain times, it is critical for biofuels producers, governments, oil …
EPA is extending the comment period related to a waiver application to increase the allowable ethanol content of gasoline to 15 volume percent. Under the Federal Register Notice, published April 21, 2009, the public comment …
May 15, 2009 – In recent years, the biofuels industry has made strides in breaking our nation’s addiction to foreign oil. The production of ethanol has also generated strong demand for our crops and created …
“Algae: The Race for New Oil” The National Algae Association Mid-South Chapter will present a one-day algae commercialization workshop at the Doubletree Castle Hotel in Orlando, FL on Friday, June 12, 2009. The event will kick …
Washington state won’t reach its goal next month of having biofuels make up at least 20 percent of its fuel use in state vehicles and ferries. The state had set a June 1 target for …
U.S. Freedom Bio Fuels, LLC, manufacturer of Biodiesel production equipment for the commercial end user, has developed a processor for converting animal fat to fuel. There BD65AF processor will produce 200 gallons of fuel per …
Organization Promotes Advanced Biofuels Posted by Cindy Zimmerman– May 25th, 2009 A Maryland-based organization is promoting the education, acceptance and use of advanced biofuels. “The goal of Advanced Biofuels USA is to show the American …
The Crowley County Commissioners announced the award of a $9,000,000 Private Activity Bond Allocation through the Colorado Department of Local Affairs. This allocation authorizes the issuance of $9 million in tax free bonds to support …
Danish oil group and shipping company AP Moller-Maersk is in talks with US plane maker Boeing about developing biofuels for planes as well as ships, a senior executive of AP Moller told a newspaper in an …
Biofuels Digest presents a special report on biofuels aviation, including coverage of feedstocks, airlines, aircraft manufacturers, engine makers and policy. READ MORE
In its current state, the bill falls far short of the policies needed to transition from a dirty energy economy to a clean energy economy. We believe the Waxman-Markey bill should be drastically changed or dropped.
Here’s …
The U.S. Renewable Fuels Standard requires the use of 600 million gallons of advanced biofuels in 2009, increasing to 21 billion gallons by 2022. The 2009 Advanced Biofuels Workshop, now co-located with the International Fuel …
Celebrating a quarter century of excellence, the 25th annual FEW will offer cutting-edge content, unparalleled business development opportunities, and a lively tribute to industry progress, including a specific track on Cellulosic Ethanol. From its inception …
According to Biofuels Digest, in Florida, PetroAlgae said that it believes it is now the closest company to commercialization of micro crops as a biofuel will complete its microcrop demonstration farm in Florida this year …
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (MN) and Ranking Member Frank Lucas (OK) along with a bipartisan group of 42 Members of Congress introduced a bill to correct flawed provisions in the Renewable Fuel Standard …
In Africa, Business Week and VUE Weekly are reporting on the rise of neocolonialism as massive land grans are undertaken by Saudi Arabia, China the United Arab Emirates, as well as European interests. The goal …
Scientists in California are reporting use of a first-of-its-kind approach to craft genetically engineered microbes with the much-sought ability to transform switchgrass, corn cobs, and other organic materials into methyl halides — the raw material …
Honeywell Aerospace is gearing up for biofuel tests on its APUs and engines this summer in a bid to stay ahead of the alternative fuel push. … That project is now entering a second phase …
More than 200 participants are expected to join top New Mexico public officials, government, education, environmental, and biodiesel industry leaders to discuss challenges and strategies for public policy and the development of environmentally beneficial biodiesel …
Diesel Brewing announced the company has launched its initiative to manufacture cellulosic bio-butanol from Oregon’s ample supplies of biomass and dairy farm manure. Bio-butanol is a 100% “green” liquid fuel that can be blended into …
GreenFuel Technologies, one of the first companies to enter the algae biofuels business, is shutting down after running out of money. Investor Duncan McIntyre of Polaris Venture Partners on Wednesday confirmed GreenFuel Technologies’ demise, saying …
Dynamotive Energy Systems Corporation, a leader in second generation biomass-to-biofuel technology, and BlueLeaf Inc., a Canadian private social purpose enterprise active in applied research concerning the environment, announced results of a year long test in …
Süd-Chemie AG (Germany), a leading manufacturer of catalysts and adsorbents, and The Linde Group (Germany), a leading global company in the sector of gases and engineering, have launched the production of climate-friendly biofuels based on …
I applaud your findings that CO2 is one of the 6 key contributors to air pollution and endangers public health and safety. I am also glad that the US Supreme Court ruled, in effect, that …
On May 5, President Obama announced steps to further his Administration’s commitment to advance biofuels research and commercialization. Specifically, he signed a Presidential Directive establishing a Biofuels Interagency Working Group, announced additional Recovery Act funds …
Robert Kozak, Atlantic Biomass Conversions, Inc. and Advanced Biofuels USA board member:
While the technical information submitted by EPA in support of this NPRM is probably adequate (using the quality of previously EPA submitted technical information …
The Collective Biodiesel Conference started in 2006 in Golden, Colorado. The conference has been hosted by the Colorado School of Mines for the three previous years. This year the conference is coming to the east …
There is a critically important need for our country to address global climate change and to reduce oil consumption. In this context, EPA and DOT currently intend to work in coordination to propose standards for …
President Obama today – for the first time in history – set in motion a new national policy aimed at both increasing fuel economy and reducing greenhouse gas pollution for all new cars and trucks …
US House of Representatives Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson has called a public hearing on low carbon fuel standards proposals for Thursday, May 21, 2009 at 10:30 AM in 1300 Longworth House Office Building. Click here …
(US Department o fAgriculture) The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP). BCAP is a new program authorized by the Food, Conservation, and …
At the time, jatropha’s promise seemed boundless. APJ Abdul Kalam, the president, even used his presidential address that year to extol its virtues. Jatropha can survive in the most arid wastelands, the story went, so …
Indian government-owned Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) is tying up with US-based National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) for a pilot project to produce second generation biofuel. This biofuel — essentailly bio-ethanol — would be produced from cellulosic …
… “Developing the next generation of biofuels is key to our effort to end our dependence on foreign oil and address the climate crisis — while creating millions of new jobs that can’t be outsourced,” …
Rentech, Inc., announced a plan to build a plant in Rialto, California for the production of ultra-clean synthetic fuels and electric power from renewable waste biomass feedstocks. The Rialto Renewable Energy Center (Rialto Project) is …
The seeds of a lowly weed could cut jet fuel’s cradle-to-grave carbon emissions by 84 percent. David Shonnard, Robbins Chair Professor of Chemical Engineering, conducted an analysis of jet fuel made from camelina oil to …
On May 12, the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) held a briefing to examine the economic, energy security, climate, and other environmental issues associated with biofuels—liquid fuels derived from plant, animal, or other organic …
Bruce Dale, Michigan State University…… Unfortunately, there is currently a great deal of irresponsible behavior concerning biofuels and bioproducts, both from their opponents and from their supporters. For example, it is irresponsible to promote virgin …
Mascoma Corporation announced that the company has made major research advances in consolidated bioprocessing, or CBP, a low-cost processing strategy for production of biofuels from cellulosic biomass. CBP avoids the need for the costly production …
… It appears that the EPA, in determining the ghg profile for biodiesel, is penalizing the U.S. biodiesel industry for land use decisions made outside the U.S. that have little if anything to do with …
Farming Biodiesel, Inc., a sustainable, social Jatropha farming organization, in association with New Eye Productions and Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), announces they will be featured in the upcoming television series titled Worldview Program. Breaking ground …
By Michael Harris —– BioWorld sees a number of dynamics that have the capacity to impact and define the future of the biofuels market. Some of these mitigating factors are: …
Biofuels can be over-hyped, but …
By Kathleen Kite-Powell —– Outside of the North America, the range of progress toward the use of ethanol-fueled vehicles is quite broad, from countries that only use conventional petroleum-based gasoline-powered vehicles to countries attempting to …
by Amanda Lyle —– Converting cellulose quickly and cheaply into biofuel may be feasible any day now – what remains to be seen is who will be the first to use synthetic biology to create …
The government of the Indian state of Orissa is preparing a master plan to use jatropha plantations to secure jobs for its rural areas. The proposal has gained renewed backing in recent months as refiners …
Bio Base Europe is a joint initiative of Biopark Terneuzen and Ghent Bio-Energy Valley. Both organisations have been working for some time for the expansion of a bio-based economy in the Flanders-Netherlands border region. Contrary …
Scientists have combined a discovery from a French garbage dump with breakthroughs in synthetic biology to come up with a novel method for turning plant waste into gasoline, without the need of any food sources. …
“I’m off the train,” Collin Peterson, US House Agriculture Committee chair said May 6 during a strongly worded statement at a hearing on the Environmental Protection Agency’s new proposal for assessing indirect effects of ethanol production on …
Originally formed in March 2006 as H2Diesel, Inc., New Generation Biofuels is commercializing a second generation biofuel using a proprietary process. NGB Biofuel is a precision blended product made from any number of new or …
Genifuel has teamed up with Pacific Northwest National Labs to make natural gas out of algae. Why? It’s cheaper and easier than producing liquid fuel. Why crush algae when you can incinerate it? That’s one …
A 76-year-old manufacturer of car wash soaps says it’s developed a new line of clean biofuel products that could revolutionize alternative fuels. Stone Soap Co. Inc. has applied for a patent for the chemistry behind …
…At The University of Texas at Austin, the scope of the project includes identifying the best strains of algae for producing oil from sites in Texas and from the university’s algal culture collection, harvesting the …
Based on technology exclusively licensed from North Carolina State University, the CentiaTM process can use virtually any triglyceride feedstock (virgin oils, waste greases, animal fats, algal oils, among others) to produce fuels similar to petroleum-derived …
With over 500 visitors attending the meeting in 2008, 2009 promises to be even bigger and better, covering both the biodiesel and bioethanol sectors. The event will bring together medium to large biofuels producers, investors, …
Biomass resources meet about 99.5% of the Liberian population’s energy needs so they are vital to basic welfare and economic activity. Already, traditional biomass products like firewood and charcoal are the primary energy source used …
Mascoma Corporation today announced that the company has made major research advances in consolidated bioprocessing, or CBP, a low-cost processing strategy for production of biofuels from cellulosic biomass. CBP avoids the need for the costly …
The greatest irony of America’s 21st Century quest for energy independence is that it – whatever “it” turns out to be – most assuredly has been here all along! And none of the emerging cellulosic …
Created by Advanced Biofuels USA, Inc., this series of primers available on the Education/Primer pages of the web site describes, step by step,
what advanced biofuels are,
why they are important,
what key laws and regulations have been passed …
Advanced Biofuels USA urges EPA, along with Congress and an engaged and informed public to carefully craft greenhouse gas emissions regulations and legislation with an eye to the following principles:
Greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, regardless …
Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc., and BioProcessAlgae LLC have executed a grant award agreement with the Iowa Office of Energy Independence for a $2.1 million research and development grant from the Iowa Power Fund to …
Comments by Robert Kozak, Advanced Biofuels USA board member: With EPA’s release of proposed rules for the 2010 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2), the focus of today’s (May 6, 2009) hearing will undoubtedly be the role …
The EPA published proposed revised statutory requirements which establish new specific volume standards for cellulosic biofuel, biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel that must be used in transportation fuel each year. The revised …
Armenia’s climatic conditions are not suitable for sugarcane production; however, there are several alternative crops suitable to Armenia’s climate for cultivation on available agricultural land that is not intended for the production of food crops. …
The Institute for Sustainable and Renewable Resources, in Danville, Va., is studying the potential to use the Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosis), a perennial native sunflower species, as a feedstock for producing ethanol. The institute is …
A technological breakthrough that dramatically reduces the cost of removing water from algae – making algae an economically feasible source of fuel was announced by Algae Venture Systems, an Ohio company. Algae VS process slashes the …
“The era of synthetic drop-in fuels is upon us,” writes Biofuels Digest editor Jim Lane. Drop In: The future does not lie in ethanol and biodiesel, though they may well provide important fractions of the renewable …
This is the first solicitation for the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E). ARPA-E is a new organization within the Department of Energy (DOE), created specifically to foster research and development (R&D) of transformational …
In late April, 2009, President Obama announced the launching of the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), a new Department of Energy organization modeled after the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the defense agency that gave …
The White House announced on April 27, 2009, that the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science will invest $777 million in Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRCs) over the next five years. In a major effort to …
In California, Burrill & Company released its 23rd annual industry report, Biotech 2009 Life Science, subtitled Navigating the Sea Change. The report contains extensive analysis and perspective on the performance of the biotech/life sciences industry in …
Minnesota’s new 5 percent biodiesel mandate takes effect on Friday, May 1, 2009, becoming the first state at that level. A 2 percent mandate was enacted in 2005 despite concerns the renewable fuel would have problems …
Part 1: Global Palm Oil Demand Fueling Deforestation
The benefits of the oil palm are difficult for Indonesia to ignore. Once planted, the tropical tree can produce fruit for more than 30 years, providing much-needed employment …
Southern Online Bio Technologies Ltd. (Southern Online Bio Technologies), an India-based internet services provider, is planning to establish a third (jatropha and pongamia-based) biodiesel plant by the end of 2009. The company also said that …
Five years ago, a group of determined government officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy were about to throw caution to the wind and think unlike…well, government officials. They …
The World First Racing team at the Warwick Innovative Manufacturing Research Center in Britain announced late last month that it has built an environmentally friendly Formula Three car powered by vegetable oil and waste chocolate. …
Sirona Fuels, an emerging leader in alternative fuels, announced that it has begun Jatropha planting operations in Haiti over the past month in a joint venture with 3C Missions, an organization that has established a …
With virtually all of the biofuels currently produced in the United States sourced from either soybeans or corn, there is significant interest in developing a diverse array of biomass feedstocks that will not compete for …
“Following California’s recent decision to use flawed models to estimate ethanol’s environmental impact, I am concerned that the EPA could soon apply similar standards that will handicap renewable fuel relative to regular gasoline,” said Thune. …
