(National Algae Association) National Algae Association is pleased to announce the opening of a Testing Center. This first-of-its-kind initiative has been on-going as a part of NAA’s algae production incubator program to assist new algae start-up companies test commercial photobioreactors,
Archive
Back TO HOMEClimate Bonds Move Forward
(SustainableBusiness.com) Over the past two years, The Climate Bonds Initiative has been creating a new class of bonds that can finance a rapid transition globally to a low-carbon economy. ...Most of the bonds will be bought by institutional investors, but there are plans to
March 30, 2012 Read Full Article
Advanced Biofuels USA office closed
The Advanced Biofuels USA office will be closed from March 30 to April 6.We will not be providing daily updates at this time. Until we are back, here are resources you can use to continue to keep up on the latest
March 29, 2012 Read Full Article
20 New England Oilheat Dealers Pledge to Switch to Bioheat
(National Biodiesel Board/Biodiesel Magazine) ...Twenty new oilheat dealers officially registered as Bioheat dealers at the New England Bioheat Symposium on March 22 in Boston, which will give homeowners and other traditional oilheat users more access to cleaner-burning Bioheat. ...“Many oilheat dealers
March 29, 2012 Read Full Article
India Official Sheds Light on Local Biodiesel Industry
by Erin Voegele (Biodiesel Magazine) ...Although India’s biodiesel industry is small, it does show potential for growth. This week World Health Energy Holdings announced plans to establish algae biodiesel production in two areas of the country are moving forward. READ MORE
March 29, 2012 Read Full Article
Tom Murphy Interview: Resource Depletion is a Bigger Threat than Climate Change
by James Stafford (OilPrice.com) Rising geopolitical tensions and high oil prices are continuing to help renewable energy find favour amongst investors and politicians. Yet how much faith should we place in renewables to make up the shortfall in fossil fuels?
March 29, 2012 Read Full Article
Qantas to Charter Australia's First Commercial Flight Powered by Cooking Oil
(CNNGo) First biofuel flight will take off on April 13 from Sydney ...Qantas is the latest airline to launch a flight powered by cooking oil. Tickets are currently on sale for Australia’s first commercial biofuel flight, which is slated for April 13
March 29, 2012 Read Full Article
Is Kansas Ready to Bump to E15 at the Pump?
by Steve Everly (Kansas City Star) Ethanol industry pushes for the state to step up from the E10 blend now offered. But automakers warn of engine damage, voided warranties. ...E10 will still be available, and selling E15 won’t be mandatory, but
March 29, 2012 Read Full Article
Malaysia, Indonesia Refute EPA Report on Palm Oil-Based Biofuels
(Bernama) Malaysia and Indonesia, the world’s largest producers of palm oil, are on a joint mission to correct and update a United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report that could impact future exports of palm oil-based biofuels. Plantation Industries and Commodities
March 29, 2012 Read Full Article
The BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota Releases Roadmap for Minnesota's Advanced Biofuels and Biobased Chemicals Industry
(Enhanced Online News/Live Science Alley) Today (March 28, 2012), The BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota released a comprehensive white paper detailing the extent and impact of the advanced biofuels and biobased chemicals industry and providing a roadmap for their continued growth
March 29, 2012 Read Full Article
The Serious Fraud Office Launches an Investigation into Sustainable AgroEnergy, Operator of an Unregulated Investment Scheme.
by Gavin Lumsden (CityWire) The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has launched an investigation into Sustainable AgroEnergy, a London-based company that promoted itself to Sipp investors as a specialist in renewable biofuel crops and 'green oil' from Asia. According to Citywire's New Model Adviser magazine, which broke
March 29, 2012 Read Full Article
The Victory Plant
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Last July, the Digest launched a project called “Victory Plants” and set about recruiting a Biofuels Council of Advisors on Science, Technology and Economics to define a threshold standard for advanced manufacturing in biofuels, by April 2012
March 29, 2012 Read Full Article
Navy Plan Benefits Biomass
by Dan Piller (Des Moines Register) Fuel for carriers, jets adds demand for biofuel source other than corn A Missouri cooperative called (what else?) ShowMe Energy is building an $80 million, 3 million gallon facility that will open in 2014 and
March 28, 2012 Read Full Article
DuPont Lands Award for Feedstock Innovation
by Cori Anne Natoli (DelawareOnline) The DuPont Co. won the 2012 Sustainable Biofuels award for its research project on the transport and storage of corn stover for conversion to biofuel. The Stover Harvest Project is a collaborative effort led by DuPont’s Iowa-based Pioneer
March 28, 2012 Read Full Article
When Defending Biofuels, Supporters Point to History
by David Ferris (Forbes) At a conference today sponsored by the Carbon War Room outside Washington, D.C., a panel of biofuels entrepreneurs, supporters and financiers pointed to disruptive episodes in American history that bear some similarity to the current debate over cooking-oil fuel
March 28, 2012 Read Full Article
ADM Funds Distillers Grains Research in China
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Archer Daniels Midland Co. is expanding its research activities related to the use of distillers grains and corn stover to replace corn in cattle diets, recently announcing a two-year research project to be conducted
March 28, 2012 Read Full Article
Algal Diesel Outperforms Petrodiesel 2-1 in New Study
(Algae Industry Magazine) A team of scientists at the Argonne National Laboratory has published a paper in IOP Science’s Environmental Research Letters comparing the emissions performance of algal biofuels to petroleum fuels. In their qualified life-cycle study, algal-based diesel out-performed
March 28, 2012 Read Full Article
Government Drags Feet on Biofuel Project
(Business Day) State wants industry to source feedstock from small-scale farmers, writes Hopewell Radebe The government has not moved an inch on the proposal by the farming community to include maize as an alternative crop for biofuel production since the Department
March 28, 2012 Read Full Article
Pest Insects to Help Produce Ethanol
(Chalmers) Pest insects in tropical rainforests can be a valuable natural asset. So believes Lisbeth Olsson, who is hunting for new enzymes in partnership with Vietnamese researchers. ...Together, researchers from Chalmers and Vietnam are now going to search for previously unknown
March 28, 2012 Read Full Article
Eight Biofuels-Related Groups Send Letter to Congress Championing the Success of the RFS
(Renewable Fuels Association) The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) joined with seven other biofuel-related organizations to champion the success of the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Senator Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY),
March 28, 2012 Read Full Article
Central Valley Beet Growers Closer to Massive Bioenergy Plant
by Harry Cline (Western Farm Press) Former sugar beet growers on the West Side of the San Joaquin Valley are expected to learn next month whether they’ll be able to take the next step in an ambitious plan to return
March 28, 2012 Read Full Article
Pie in the Sky
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Companies like KiOR, ZeaChem, Virent take aim at a tasty aviation biofuels market with new recipes and game-changing economics ...If you can produce in-spec, sustainable, low-carbon, renewable jet fuel at $3.32 per gallon or less, it
March 28, 2012 Read Full Article
The Distributed/Centralized BioProduction Approach: Sustainable Biofuels and Bioproducts Are Possible Through the Significant Reduction of Biomass Transportation Costs
by Robert Kozak (Advanced Biofuels USA) Problem Definition: The production of biofuels in the US is at a substantial roadblock. Due to the high cost of transporting large quantities of low density, low value biomass to biorefineries, the economies of
March 27, 2012 Read Full Article
Net Benefits: The Idea of Pulling Carbon Dioxide out of the Atmosphere Is a Beguiling One. Could It Ever Become Real?
(The Economist) ...A report published last year by the American Physical Society (APS) put the cost of extracting and storing carbon dioxide using an air-capture system based on known technology at between $600 and $800 a tonne. That is about
March 27, 2012 Read Full Article
RFA Anticipates E15 Roll-Out to Begin Soon
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ...Dinneen noted that because ethanol is currently less expensive than gasoline, marketers should be able to offer E15 to consumers for a less expensive price than E10 or any other fuel. “We think it’s
March 27, 2012 Read Full Article
Recognizing Rudolf Diesel's Foresight on National Biodiesel Day
(National Biodiesel Board/Biodiesel Magazine) When Rudolph Diesel developed the first diesel engine it ran on peanut oil. Now, a century later as oil prices continue disrupting our economy, renewable fuel is back. Biodiesel is supporting jobs and breaking records as
March 27, 2012 Read Full Article
ADM Introduces Sustainable Grower Program for Canadian Canola
by Erin Voegele (Biodiesel Magazine) Archer Daniels Midland Co. Agri-Industries Lloydminster oilseeds processing facility recently announced the introduction of its Sustainable Grower Program in connection with the sustainability certification it has earned from the International Sustainability and Carbon
March 27, 2012 Read Full Article
Alternative Fuels for Aviation Overview on Current Initiatives and Identified Research Needs
(Netzwerk Biotriebstoffe) The report deals with the question "why sustainable alternative fuels are important for aviation, shows technology options, initiatives, links, documents and further research needs. The objective of the meeting between experts of both sides was to have an
March 27, 2012 Read Full Article
Porter Airlines to Conduct Canada's First Biofuel-Powered Revenue Flight
(MarketWire) Flight to be scheduled just before Earth Day with a Bombardier Q400 turboprop - Preparatory test flight successfully flown by Bombardier in February 2012 In mid-April, Porter Airlines plans to use one of its Bombardier Q400 turboprop airliners to conduct
March 27, 2012 Read Full Article
EU to Recognize Ensus as Biofuel Certification in 'Matter of Weeks': Source
(Platts) A decision in favor of recognizing Ensus, a UK biofuel sustainability certification scheme, will be taken in "a matter of weeks," a European Commission source said Monday. UK bioethanol producer Ensus received the support of EU member states' experts on
March 27, 2012 Read Full Article
Senate Opens Fight on Oil Tax Breaks
by Ben Geman and Andrew Restuccia (The Hill/E2Wire) The Senate voted 92-4 Monday to begin an election-year floor debate over Democratic legislation to repeal oil-industry tax breaks, a plan that’s unlikely to ultimately pass but provides a platform for partisan
March 27, 2012 Read Full Article
AEC Urges Support for Extension of Two Critical Tax Incentives
In a letter to Senate Finance Subcommittee on Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and Ranking Member John Cornyn (R-TX), the Advanced Ethanol Council voiced support for extending key cellulosic ethanol tax provisions set to expire at
March 27, 2012 Read Full Article
Low Carbon Fuel Standard Could Double Gas Prices
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) A new study released today by the Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) indicates that a low carbon fuel standard (LCFS) in Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states could result in doubling gasoline prices and other negative economic impacts. The study, “Analysis of the
March 27, 2012 Read Full Article
U.S. Gasoline Rises to Record Premium over Ethanol
by Michael Hirtzer (Reuters) U.S. gasoline futures soared to a record premium over ethanol on Monday as gas prices topped $4 per gallon in some states while stocks of the biofuel were likely to continue swelling, analysts and traders said. With retail gasoline in
March 27, 2012 Read Full Article
Trieste Conference Considers Algae in Developing Economies
by Syed Isa (Algae Industry Magazine) The International Centre for Science and High Technology (ICS-UNIDO) presented an Expert Group Meeting on Emerging Technologies for the Production of Biofuels and Chemicals from Algae, March 19-21, in Trieste, Italy. The basic issues
March 27, 2012 Read Full Article
Regional Approach to New, Clean Energy Can Improve Our Economy, Security
by LtGen John G. Castellaw, USMC (Ret.) (25 x '25) ...In spite of claims to the contrary, increased domestic drilling and building pipelines to carry Canadian crude south will not result in energy independence or low fuel prices in either the
March 27, 2012 Read Full Article
Illinois Bill Would Boost Ethanol Producers
(Convenience Store News) Illinois biofuel companies who have faced a market glut since the end of a federal tax credit led energy companies to rush pre-expiration production may have hope in the form of a newly proposed bill that would create new
March 27, 2012 Read Full Article
New Synthetic Biology Technique Boosts Microbial Production of Diesel Fuel
by Lynn Yarris (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) Joint BioEnergy Institute Researchers Develop Dynamic System for Regulating Metabolic Pathways Significant boosts in the microbial production of clean, green and renewable biodiesel fuel has been achieved with the development of a new technique
March 27, 2012 Read Full Article
Shell, BP Score Highest in New Pike Research Assessment of Oil Majors` Commercialization of Biofuels
(Reuters/Pike Research) ...Contrary to popular perception, the growth of the biofuels industry is not adverse to the interests of Big Oil. In fact, with “easy oil” increasingly difficult to source and with an obvious stake in the future of the
March 27, 2012 Read Full Article
J. Craig Venter Describes Biofuels, Vaccines and Foods from Made-to-Order Microbes
(PhysOrg) Just as aspiring authors often read hundreds of books before starting their own, scientists are using decades of knowledge garnered from sequencing or "reading" the genetic codes of thousands of living things to now start writing new volumes in
March 27, 2012 Read Full Article
Airplane Rivals Launch Joint Biofuel Project
(Wisconsin Bioenergy Initiative/PhysOrg) Plane makers and bitter rivals Airbus of Europe, Boeing of the US and Embraer of Brazil announced on Thursday a joint plan to develop affordable biofuels for the airplane industry. The airplane sector leaders agreed to seek opportunities
March 27, 2012 Read Full Article
Ionic Solvents Make Timber-to-Biofuels More Energy-Efficient
by Simon Levey (Industry Intelligence, Inc.) Key part of biomass processing could be made 80% more energy-efficient, reducing cost of biofuels by 10%, by treating timber with ionic solvents, find Imperial College London scientists A little bit of lubrication could make
March 27, 2012 Read Full Article
Iran Becomes Biofuel Producer
(Trend) ...Iran produced a sample of biofuel six months ago and is preparing to start its production. Located in the Khuzestan Province's Haft-Tapeh, a new 10,000 liter capacity biofuel facility will begin operating in the near future. Iran's biofuel, or bioethanol,
March 27, 2012 Read Full Article
KiOR on Budget, on Track for Opening First Commercial Biofuels Plant in 2012
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...KiOR did not recognize revenue during 2011, as its activities remained focused on construction of its first commercial facility in Columbus, Mississippi, research and development (R&D) designed to improve production yields and obtaining necessary financing
March 27, 2012 Read Full Article
Gingrich “a Flat Out Liar,” Says National Algae Association, Denying Campaign Contact, Slamming Speaker’s Algae Numbers
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Texas, the National Algae Association called on presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich to issue a retraction of statements he made at a campaign speech in Pennsylvania, branding the Speaker’s claim that he contacted the NAA to
March 27, 2012 Read Full Article
Virdia, Virent Pioneer New Super-Performing, Parity-Cost Renewable Jet Fuel Pathway
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Virent, Virdia debut super-performing drop-in aviation biofuels made from drop-in cellulosic pine tree sugars; “passed under conditions where conventional jet fuels would fail,” says Air Force. In Wisconsin, Virent and Virdia (formerly HCL CleanTech), announced the
March 27, 2012 Read Full Article
The Life of Algae
(Algae Industry Magazine) This video from Sapphire Energy tracks the cultivation of algae from their San Diego lab in microscopic images, to petri dishes, to flasks, and then outside in their Las Cruces, NM facility and into 14′, 40′, 100′
March 26, 2012 Read Full Article
Former Brew Master, Recycler Pioneers Biofuel Technology
(Maryland Clean Energy Center/The Current) Serial entrepreneur Craig Stuart-Paul has found a novel formula for growing a business. For the CEO of Fiberight, personal expertise in brewing beer plus innovations in recycling residential waste has added up to a new process
March 26, 2012 Read Full Article
Cenusa Bioenergy Receives $25 Million Grant from USDA
by Kelly Madsen (IowaStateDaily.com) The Iowa State University-led Cenusa Bioenergy project works to develop a biofuel with both a Midwestern and environmental focus. Through a five-year, $25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture,
March 26, 2012 Read Full Article
Qantas Puts Cooking Oil on the Menu with Test Flight
by Steve Creedy (The Australian) QANTAS hopes to boost government interest and involvement in aviation biofuels when the airline conducts Australia's first biofuel-powered commercial flight next month, using fuel derived from cooking oil. The return flight will take place on an Airbus
March 26, 2012 Read Full Article
Thai Airways International PCL : THAI Moves Forward with Sustainable Aviation Biofuels Development
(4-Traders.com) Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) along with the Ministry of Energy, PTT Public Company Limited, public and private organizations, and international airlines jointly launched the "Thai Aviation and Environmental Workshop - Biofuels and Efficient Flight Operations". Welcoming participants
March 26, 2012 Read Full Article
Former NATO Supreme Commander Talks Ethanol in Annawan
by Lisa Depies (GateHouse News Service/Galesburg.com) Retired Gen. Wesley Clark spent 38 years in the U.S. Army protecting America. Today, Clark is working to reduce the country’s dependence on foreign oil. Clark is co-chairman of Growth Energy, an organization that represents
March 26, 2012 Read Full Article
Can These Small Cap Biofuel Stocks Fuel You Profits? Gevo (GEVO), BioFuel Energy Corp. (BIOF) & Solazyme (SZYM)
by John Udovich (Small Cap Network) Among other reasons, higher oil prices since the start of the year have been helping small cap biofuel stocks like Gevo (NASDAQ: GEVO), BioFuel Energy Corp.(NASDAQ: BIOF)and Solazyme (NASDAQ: SZYM) but can higher oil prices alone sustain their rise?
March 26, 2012 Read Full Article
S.D. Retailers Respond Positively to Blender Pump Grant Program
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Just two months after launching its latest blender pump grant program, South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard announced that the governor’s office of economic development (GOED) has already received applications for the entire $950,000 allotted
March 26, 2012 Read Full Article
Sustainability Focus at World Biofuels Markets Conference in Rotterdam
by Stefaniya Becking (Advanced Biofuels USA) The World Biofuels Markets conference that took place on March 13-15, 2012 in Rotterdam provided an excellent environment for attendees to network with decision-makers from 80 countries and learn about prevailing concerns in the
March 26, 2012 Read Full Article
Queensland’s Election Landslide: a Message for State, Country or the World?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Two reasons why Queensland’s election stands out. First, the election was also notable for the electoral debut of the rural, populist Katter’s Australian Party, which was formed last year – socially conservative, pro-growth, protectionist,
March 26, 2012 Read Full Article
Can Ethanol-Optimized Engines Offer 25 Percent Relief in Fuel Costs?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Now, in Brazil, the generally accepted threshold point for ethanol and gasoline is around 70 percent – if the ethanol price is 70 percent, or less, of the gasoline price, flex-fuel drivers in Brazil general
March 26, 2012 Read Full Article
Flex Fuel Vehicle Sales Are on the Rise
by Courtney Collen (KSFY.com) ...One Sioux Falls dealership says people are not spending on just any car - they're in the market for Flex-Fuel Vehicles in order to save money. Flex-Fuel Vehicles run on regular gasoline or a blend of up
March 26, 2012 Read Full Article
Ethanol-Blended Fuel Use in ND Jumps 97 Percent since 2010
(Farm & Ranch Guide) Recently released statistics show a staggering 97 percent increase in the amount of ethanol-blended fuel sold in North Dakota from 2010 to 2011. ...Increased sales of ethanol-blended fuel in North Dakota are due in large part to
March 26, 2012 Read Full Article
Obama Pushes Efficiency, Alternative Fuels
(UPI) ...Obama said the key to America's energy future is reducing dependence on foreign oil through increased fuel efficiency and investment in alternative fuels. "The most important thing I can do as a president is not to simply focus on tomorrow;
March 26, 2012 Read Full Article
Volkswagen Partners with Amyris and Solazyme to Promote Automotive Use of Renewable Fuels
(PRNewsWire/Yahoo!) Partnership will advance research in automotive renewable diesel solutions for current and next-generation TDI® Clean Diesel applications Volkswagen of America today announced partnerships with Solazyme and Amyris, two of the world's leaders in renewable fuels, to evaluate emissions reductions and
March 23, 2012 Read Full Article
Biofuels Get a Bounce
by Reed Fujii (RecordNet.com) Community Fuels' biodiesel plant at the Port of Stockton served as the centerpiece Tuesday for U.S. Department of Agricultural officials highlighting gains in rural and farm-related energy projects under the 2008 Farm Bill. "We wanted to bring some
March 23, 2012 Read Full Article
Four-Star Biofuels: How the Pentagon Is Outpacing Civilians in Gen2 Adoption
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In “Four Star Biofuels: How the Pentagon Is Outpacing Civilians in Gen2 Adoption” a special Raymond James look at the military and biofuels demand, Pavel Molchanov writes: “A key differentiator of the next-generation (Gen2) biofuel
March 23, 2012 Read Full Article
What’s Your Biofuels Venture Worth?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Biofuels Digest released an updated version of its Biofuels Venture Value Calculator, downloadable here.. The purpose of the calculator is to assist project developers to quickly compare their basic system economics to other existing technologies for
March 23, 2012 Read Full Article
Algae Species Explored for Both Biofuel Source and Pollution Control
by Teresa Messmore (PhysOrg.com) The tiny, plant-like Heterosigma akashiwo is too small to see with the naked eye, but the microscopic algae may pack a big environmental punch. University of Delaware researchers are studying whether the species can neutralize harmful
March 23, 2012 Read Full Article
Neste Oil Virtually Quadrupled Its Use of Certified Raw Materials in Producing Renewable Fuel
(Neste Oil) Already 49% of the raw materials that Neste Oil used in 2011 to produce its renewable fuel was certified. This was an increase of 28 percentage points on the figure for 2010, and nearly quadruple in terms of
March 23, 2012 Read Full Article
Grafton Ethanol Plant Owners to Meet with Sugar Beet Growers
(Grand Forks Herald) Energae LP, the group planning to reopen the former Alchem Ltd. ethanol plant in Grafton, N.D., will conduct a meeting at noon Friday for sugar beet growers. The meeting will be at Marketplace on Eighth. About 75 people attended
March 23, 2012 Read Full Article
Push By Ethanol Producers Into Corn Oil Raises Concerns Over DDGs
(Dow Jones Newswire) A push by U.S. ethanol companies into corn oil is starting to give the livestock industry indigestion. Corn oil, which is used both for cooking oil and to make biodiesel fuel, has emerged over the last year as
March 23, 2012 Read Full Article
The Olive Economy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Here are five types of technologies that straddle the political divide between green and black. Re-using industrial waste gases Here are three companies aiming at capturing CO2 and either directly converting to fuels, or using it as
March 23, 2012 Read Full Article
NSAC Suggests REAP, BCAP Changes
by Anna Austin (Biomass Power and Thermal Magazine) The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition has released its 2012 Farm Bill platform, which provides suggestions to improve some federal bioenergy programs. These include the Repowering Assistance Program and the Biomass Crop Assistance
March 23, 2012 Read Full Article
Has Ethanol Lost Its License To Drive The Corn Market?
by Stu Ellis (FarmGateBlog) ...Now the bloom is off the rose. Gasoline demand is down, the blend wall is pushing ethanol demand down, and corn prices are not as strong as they once were. ...He (Bob Wisner, biofuels economist at Iowa
March 23, 2012 Read Full Article
Etankfire Seeks Partners for Ethanol Firefighting Research
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The increased use of ethanol creates new fire risks, particularly when considering the potential for large tank fires. The behavior of a fire involving large volumes of ethanol is significantly different than a petroleum fire, or
March 23, 2012 Read Full Article
Ethanol a Good Response to Rising Gas Prices?
by Heather Leigh (KMEG.com) ..."Today ethanol is priced about a dollar wholesale price, about a dollar under gasoline, so the consumer should also see some advantages in cheaper gas pump prices," said Chuck Hofland, General Manager of Siouxland Ethanol. ..."EPA a year
March 23, 2012 Read Full Article
What's Making Americans Less Thirsty For Gasoline?
by John Ydstie (National Public Radio) The price of gasoline keeps rising for Americans, but it's not because of rising demand from consumers. ..."When you look at the U.S. oil market, you see that there's actually no growth," says Daniel Yergin,
March 23, 2012 Read Full Article
Ethanol Blends Overtaking Gasoline Supply Chain
(OPISNet.com) It’s been a long time coming, but ethanol now dominates the U.S. gasoline blending landscape. The number of wholesale terminals supplying only conventional clear gasoline for truck loadings has trimmed down to just nine out of about 325 rack
March 23, 2012 Read Full Article
Fragrant New Biofuel: Researchers Develop a New Candidate for a Cleaner, Greener and Renewable Diesel Fuel
by Lynn Yarris (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) A class of chemical compounds best known today for fragrance and flavor may one day provide the clean, green and renewable fuel with which truck and auto drivers fill their tanks. Researchers at
March 23, 2012 Read Full Article
Neste Oil and Lufthansa Satisfied with Results of Renewable Aviation Fuel Trial
(Neste Oil) Neste Oil and Lufthansa tested Neste Oil's NExBTL renewable aviation fuel on a total of 1,187 flights between Frankfurt and Hamburg last year and one intercontinental flight between Frankfurt and Washington D.C. this year. Factors such as fuel
March 23, 2012 Read Full Article
HyperSolar Discloses Development Plan for Breakthrough Renewable Hydrogen and Natural Gas Technology
(HyperSolar) Company lays out specific milestones for reaching commercial viability of the world’s first nanotechnology-based, zero-carbon process for the production of renewable hydrogen and natural gas HyperSolar, Inc., the developer of a breakthrough technology to produce renewable hydrogen and natural gas
March 23, 2012 Read Full Article
LS9, Novozymes, Boeing, Abengoa, Dupont among the Winners in 2012 Sustainable Biofuels Awards
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In the Netherlands, World Biofuels Markets Congress & Exhibition 2012 announced the winners of the 2012 Sustainable Biofuels Awards. ...The winners are: Green Shoots Award: Bio Architecture Lab Biofuels Leadership Award: Novozymes Sustainable Biofuels Technology Award: LS9 Biofuels Adoption Award: City of Stockholm Sustainable
March 23, 2012 Read Full Article
The Waters and Underwaters of March: Heard on the Floor at World Biofuels Markets
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Sugar prices are booming, good news for producers in Brazil, India and elsewhere, but in Brazil it has created, shall we say, a certain reluctance to maximize ethanol production. Part of the reason for high prices,
March 23, 2012 Read Full Article
Obama Administration Announces New Funding for Biomass Research and Development Initiative
(US Department of Agriculture) Research to advance next generation biofuels and renewable energy technologies Today, as President Obama went to Ohio State University to discuss the Administration's all-out, all-of-the-above strategy for American energy, the White House announced up to $35 million
March 23, 2012 Read Full Article
No Farm Bill, No Tier 3—Not until after the Election; Sundrop Fuels Presents an Alternative
By Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuels USA) At the March 21 Bioenergy Day on Capitol Hill, discussion focused on the need for a continued Renewable Fuels Standard, reviews of the history of biofuels, assessment of current questioning of biofuels as viable
March 23, 2012 Read Full Article
Officials Keen to Make Region a Center for Aviation Biofuels
By Kyung M. Song (Seattle Times) ...Now efforts are under way from Olympia to Congress to help jump-start the nascent industry and to bring prices of jet biofuel down to earth. The goal is to establish the Pacific Northwest as an epicenter
March 22, 2012 Read Full Article
Biofuels and Climate: a Simple but Troubling View
by John DeCicco (The Energy Collective) If biofuels benefit the climate, it's not when they're burned; those CO2 emissions are the same as from the fossil fuels they replace. Any potential benefit is due to the CO2 uptake when plants are grown.
March 22, 2012 Read Full Article
Petrotec AG : Successful Restructuring and Strong Demand for Waste Based Biodiesel Lead to EUR 3 mio. Net Profit
(4-Traders) Petrotec AG (ISIN DE000PET111), the largest European producer of waste to biodiesel mainly used cooking oil based, reported a 97% sales increase in financial year 2011 (January 1 to December 31, 2011). ...Backed by an increased demand for sustainable waste-based
March 22, 2012 Read Full Article
BP and Biofuels: Beyond Petroleum, Big Plans, Brazil Principally
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) BP to showcase capabilities in low-carbon fuels at 2012 London Olympics. BP Biofuels chief Phil New outlines the BP’s path towards “getting biofuels right”. “6 percent of the entire BP workforce is now working in biofuels,”
March 22, 2012 Read Full Article
Copenhagen Biofuels Research Network Announced
by Jim Lane ( Biofuels Digest) From Denmark, Danielle Spiegel Feld of the Copenhagen University Faculty of Law writes: “I’d like to announce the launch of a new biofuels research initiative here in Copenhagen: the Copenhagen Biofuels Research Network. Established
March 22, 2012 Read Full Article
The Future of Biofuels VI: Petrobras’ Strategy
by José Vitor Bomtempo (Grupo de Economia da Energia) In the previous article, we compared the BP and Shell’s strategies for biofuels. Today we present the case of Petrobras. We have to recall the reasons for the analysis. We start with a
March 22, 2012 Read Full Article
Flip-Side to Biofuels Story
by John Maday (Drovers Cattle Network) A couple weeks ago, we ran an article titled “Feeding the biofuels beast,” which documented a University of Montana study suggesting current production methods and policy for biofuels are unsustainable. The article drew a number of
March 22, 2012 Read Full Article
Corn Ethanol Production Starts in Mato Grosso
(Agra-net.com) Usimat Destilaria de Alcohol said it has started ethanol production from corn during the intercrop season in Mato Grosso. In recent weeks, it produced 90,000 litres of ethanol from corn. It has invested BRL20 mln ($1=BRL1.75) in new equipment.
March 22, 2012 Read Full Article
State DNR Biomass Report Says Slash Extraction Won’t Hurt Forests
by Paul Gottlieb (Peninsula Daily News) A state Department of Natural Resources study has concluded that 3 million tons of bone-dry wood slash and other wood waste — double the existing amount that’s extracted — can be removed from Washington
March 22, 2012 Read Full Article
Of Miscanthus, Kardashians, Wolves and Fishmatoes: Taming, Mapping, Enhancing Genomes for Bioenergy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) It was revealed yesterday, in the peer-reviewed, online journal PLoS One that Ceres and the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) at Aberystwyth University in Wales have completed the first high-resolution, comprehensive genetic map of
March 22, 2012 Read Full Article
Milligan Bio-Tech Receives $1.7M Contribution from SaskBIO
by Erin Voegele (Biodiesel Magazine) The Government of Saskatchewan has announced it will provide up to $1.7 million to Milligan Bio-Tech Inc. under the Saskatchewan Biofuels Investment Opportunity (SaskBIO) program. The program provides repayable contributions for the construction or expansion
March 22, 2012 Read Full Article
Cobalt and the Naval Air Warfare Center Team Up to Produce a Renewable Jet Fuel From Bio N-Butanol
(Cobalt Technologies/Sacramento Bee) Contract Issued to Albemarle to Process First Run of N-Butanol Into Jet Fuel Today, the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD), China Lake announced a contract award to Albemarle Corporation, a leading specialty chemicals company, to complete its first biojet fuel production run
March 22, 2012 Read Full Article
Shell, BP Score Highest in New Pike Research Assessment of Oil Majors’ Commercialization of Biofuels
(IBTimes/Pike Research) Today’s biofuels industry accounts for nearly 30 billion gallons of production. Still in its infancy, advanced biofuels production represents just a trickle today, but biofuels are expected to play an increasingly important role over the next decade due
March 22, 2012 Read Full Article
To Strive, To Seek, to Find, and Max Out Yields
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Yield unlocks value, and especially feedstock yield. What’s the latest? What feedstocks are reporting yields that could support 1000+ gallons per acre for terrestrial crops? ...Yield from the acre, yield from the ton, yield from the
March 22, 2012 Read Full Article
Plant Strength Key to Cracking Biofuels?
(ScienceAlert/Ecos Magazine) Cellulose in plant cell walls contains sugars used to manufacture biofuels. However, this cellulose also resists decomposition, making it difficult to extract the sugars for use. New research into how plants form cellulose may hold the key. ...A structural
March 22, 2012 Read Full Article
Japan, the Pentagon, and the Future of Renewable Energy: Battle Lines Form
by Andrew DeWitt (The Asia-Pacific Journal) ...The Republicans think they see their chance to throw a wrench in the works. They recently decided to open congressional hearings to try, through focusing on Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, to put a political face on
March 22, 2012 Read Full Article
Oil Demand Shift: Asia Takes Over
by Chris Nelder (Smart Planet) The realization that oil prices aren’t about them anymore has been slow to dawn on Americans after a century of being the world’s swing consumers. But the fact is that the world’s developing economies have
March 22, 2012 Read Full Article
Thaioil to Diversify in Resilient Market Conditions
(BusinessReviewCanada/MarketWire) ..."Our approach will be achieved through the company's Green, Broad and Deep principles, all geared towards generating high quality business development and the deployment of resources, but in a sustainable, systematic way that is also strongly diversified," says Bulakul. The
March 22, 2012 Read Full Article
Palm Oil Mills Target Zero Emission
By Meng Yew Choong (The Star) Palm oil milling is far from benign, but the industry is frantically conducting research to realise low-emission technologies. The zero-discharge plant is one such bold concept. THE extraction of palm oil involves a number of
March 22, 2012 Read Full Article
JOil Announces Elite Jatropha Varieties Returns Repeatable Yields of over 2 Tons of Seeds per Hectare in First Year of India Field Trials
(JOil) • Tamil Nadu sites achieve first-year flowering in three months and first harvest in five months • Field trials now being conducted in India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Cambodia JOil (S) Pte. Ltd., a scientific bioenergy crop developer of a new
March 22, 2012 Read Full Article
Biofuels Thrive in the Shadow of Asia’s Oil Crisis
by Joelle Brink (Biofuels Digest Asia) ... So why, you ask, is the US lagging behind Asia? In the US too, biofuels will create lots of jobs as always happens in new growth industries, and lots of new business startups
March 22, 2012 Read Full Article
NASA’s Astrobiology Research Sparks 'GreenTech' Revolution
by Ruth Marlaire (NASA) ...A few years ago, Ames Exobiology scientists formed the Algae for Exploration (ALEX) group, which studies various types of lipids produced by different algal species under specific conditions, and started applying this research to new technologies.
March 20, 2012 Read Full Article
European Airlines Enter the Biofuels Market
by Eric van den Heuve (Edofys) Biofuels might offer opportunities for achieving improved balance of power to the European airlines in their high competitive market. It faces high rivalry and increasing fuel costs due to rising oil prices. Moreover, from
March 20, 2012 Read Full Article
Biodiesel Maker Pleads Guilty to Illegal Dumping
(AP/NewsOK.com) The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality says a 56-year-old man who made biodiesel at his home in Iberville Parish has pleaded guilty to illegally dumping pollutants into a canal behind his home. DEQ says Tommy M. Francise pleaded guilty in state court this week to dumping
March 20, 2012 Read Full Article
U.S. Navy Successfully Tests SoladieselHRD-76® During Operational Transit Voyage in USS Ford Frigate
(Solazyme/BusinessWire) -Solazyme, Inc., a renewable oil and bioproducts company, announced today that the USS Ford, a U.S. Navy Frigate fleet ship, successfully journeyed from its homeport in Everett, WA to San Diego, CA using Soladiesel HRD-76®, Solazyme’s 100% algal derived renewable
March 20, 2012 Read Full Article
Biofuels Moves from Dark Ages to Renaissance; Voices from World Biofuels Markets
by Nadim Chaudhry (Green Power Conferences/Biofuels Digest) Representatives from up and down the value chain of the biofuels industry took stage this week at World Biofuels Markets to discuss issues regarding the state of the industry and several key issues impacting
March 20, 2012 Read Full Article
Gasoline’s Comeback in the Bio-Based Era: 5 Cleantech Companies Vie for Green Gasoline Breakthroughs
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...But in the past two years, five technologies have emerged that are focused on renewable gasoline (along with some others that have the capability of producing gasoline-like fuels but are focused primarily on diesel or
March 20, 2012 Read Full Article
EPA Approves Misfueling Mitigation Plan
(Environmental Protection Agency) On March 15, 2012, EPA informed the Renewable Fuels Association by letter that its Model E15 Misfueling Mitigation Plan would generally be sufficient to satisfy the partial waivers’ requirement for a misfueling mitigation plan. For more information, please see the section
March 20, 2012 Read Full Article
An All-of-the-Above Approach to Energy in America
by Sarah Bittleman (USDA/25 x '25) America needs and is developing a reliable, sustainable, fuel supply. If we are able to produce more of it here at home – rather than relying on foreign oil – we’ll generate good, middle-class jobs
March 20, 2012 Read Full Article
DeltaWing: The Future Has Arrived
by Robert Kozak (Advanced Biofuels USA) The future arrived yesterday (March 15, 2012) at about 1:00 pm EDT. It arrived in Sebring, Florida. It came shrouded in a black tarp. By the time it drove away, it had shattered every conception
March 16, 2012 Read Full Article
Sebring Runs on Advanced Biofuels
by Robert Kozak (Advanced Biofuels USA) In keeping with their commitment to imposing the lowest environmental impact possible, the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) is providing 2nd generation “cellulosic” ethanol for all competitors using gasoline/alcohol fuels in the 60th Anniversary
March 16, 2012 Read Full Article
National Biodiesel Board Introduces First Phase of RIN Solution
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) The first phase of the National Biodiesel Board’s measures to help restore integrity to the renewable identification number (RIN) credit market was established yesterday after NBB held a town hall meeting with its members to
March 14, 2012 Read Full Article
Thai Biochemical Plant Converts Glycerin into Epichlorohydrin
by Erin Voegele (Biodiesel Magazine) Solvay, an international chemical group, recently announced that its Thai affiliate Vinythai successfully commissioned a biobased chemical plant. The $157 million facility, based in Map Ta Phut, Thailand, utilizes Solvay’s Epicerol technology to convert glycerin
March 14, 2012 Read Full Article
State Concerned with Algae-to-Ethanol Process of Fort Myers Company
by Laura Layden (Naples News) State concerns with a Southwest Florida company’s plans to make ethanol from algae may have stalled the business’s expansion. Tucked inside an energy bill the Legislature approved in the final hours of its recent session is
March 14, 2012 Read Full Article
U.S. Ag Secretary Says Ethanol Holding Gas Prices in Check
by Jim Martin (Erie Times-News) U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack knows gas prices are high. ...But Vilsack, a Pittsburgh native, said prices could be a lot worse. In an interview with the Erie Times-News, Vilsack said Tuesday that ethanol and other biofuels
March 14, 2012 Read Full Article
Exhibit Showcases Biodiesel at MN Auto Show
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) The “Biodiesel Green Room” exhibit will showcase the benefits of biodiesel at the Twin Cities Auto Show, March 10-18 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. The exhibit includes information on biodiesel, staff to answer questions, and new vehicles like
March 14, 2012 Read Full Article
Hog Producers Can Compete with Ethanol for Corn
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) An agricultural economist says hog producers are now able to compete with ethanol producers for corn. “This is an amazing difference from just five years ago,” said Purdue agricultural economist Dr. Chris Hurt. “The hog industry was
March 14, 2012 Read Full Article
American Ethanol No. 3 Chevy Debuts in Vegas
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) The American Ethanol No. 3 Chevy made its debut over the weekend at the Las Vegas Nationwide Series Sam’s Town 300 with rookie driver Austin Dillon finishing strong in 7th place. ... (Illinois corn farmer, chairman of NCGA’s NASCAR Advisory Committee Martin) Barbre said
March 14, 2012 Read Full Article
Stabenow’s Green-Energy Tax Break Plan Falls Short
by Josiah Ryan and Ben Geman (The Hill) The Senate on Tuesday rejected plans to extend a host of lapsed or soon-to-expire tax breaks for renewable fuels and power sources. Lawmakers voted 49-49 for Sen. Debbie Stabenow’s (D-Mich.) amendment to transportation
March 14, 2012 Read Full Article
PEW Group Briefing on Advanced Biofuels Progress in the Public and Private Sectors
by Josh Rathod (Advanced Biofuels USA) Throughout our country’s history, the U.S. Navy and military proper have played a key role in developing and adopting alternative energy sources. They pioneered the switch to coal as an alternative to reliance on
March 14, 2012 Read Full Article
Forage, Corn Feed Alternative for Cattle May Come from Biodiesel Industry
by Kay Ledbetter (PhysOrg.com) Crude glycerin, a byproduct of biodiesel production, could be an economical ingredient in cattle diets, according to studies by Texas AgriLife Research and West Texas A&M University personnel. Dr. Jim MacDonald, AgriLife Research beef cattle nutritionist in Amarillo, said
March 14, 2012 Read Full Article
Home News InvestmentVenture Capital Report: Solar, Wind and Biofuel Markets Smash Revenue Records
(Business Green) Analyst firm Clean Edge reports 31 per cent increase in market for core renewables technologies during 2011 The global market for solar PV, wind energy, and biofuels grew 31 per cent during 2011 to almost $250bn (£160bn), according to
March 14, 2012 Read Full Article
An Opportunity to Show Ethanol’s Edge
by Brian Jennings (American Coalition for Ethanol/Ethanol Producer Magazine) ...First, with E15 market ready in many states, the U.S. EPA ought to ensure summer Reid vapor pressure (RVP) limitations do not stand in the way of consumers having access
March 14, 2012 Read Full Article
US$ 40 Million to Be Invested in a Bio Ethanol and Balanced Food Factory
(Télam. National News Agency of Argentina.) Industry Minister Débora Giorgi met with Entre Ríos Production Minister, Roberto Schunk, who presented a US$ 40 million investment project from a local company that will open a factory for the production of bio
March 14, 2012 Read Full Article
State of the Advanced Biofuels Industry, 2012: The Digest Primer
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...To open up the advanced biofuels session, Green Power asked the Digest to give a short overview on the state of advanced biofuels. In today’s Digest, we’d like to share the highlights from that 15-minute
March 14, 2012 Read Full Article
FDA Has No Jurisdiction Here—Or Does It?
by Sarah Brew and Steve Toeniskoetter (Ethanol Producer Magazine/Faegre Baker Daniels) Pop quiz time—which federal agencies regulate your plant? Did your answer include the Food and Drug Administration? If your plant produces distillers grains, corn oil or similar products for
March 14, 2012 Read Full Article
ILUC: The ‘Soap’ Continues
by Robert Vierhout (ePURE/Ethanol Producer Magazine) ...In my opinion, the delay in putting a bill on the table is caused by the fact that the ILUC ‘science’ is simply not conclusive. A study by the International Food Policy Research Institute
March 14, 2012 Read Full Article
A Hand Full of Aces
by Mike Bryan (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ...In retrospect, the environmental war we have waged against petroleum, is perhaps a war that we should have avoided and instead focused on the real story of ethanol…its economic impact. Arguably, the reason ethanol
March 14, 2012 Read Full Article
Feeding the Chemical Market
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Ethanol serves as not only a liquid transportation fuel but also as a feedstock for biobased chemical production Although ethanol is generally associated with the transportation fuel market, it is in no way limited to
March 14, 2012 Read Full Article
Dollars and Sense: Analyses Vary, but Ethanol’s Economic Benefits Are Clear
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ...Analysts may disagree on the exact indirect effects of ethanol production, but they agree that the industry has had a positive direct effect on jobs and GDP over the past year. Whether that same
March 14, 2012 Read Full Article
By the Numbers: Trends and Patterns in the Ethanol Industry
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ...The arrival of the blend wall and expected increase in E85 prices due to the lapse of VEETC are two factors that have complicated the future outlook of ethanol use, (Bob) Wisner says. Analyzing
March 14, 2012 Read Full Article
Opinion: Making the Case for Renewable Energy Subsidies
by Wayne Lee (Biorefining Magazine/Lee Enterprises Consulting) ...Since renewable fuels do not enjoy the longer-term subsidies and programs of oil, we are back asking Congress and the administration for some stability. ...First, we must understand that, oftentimes, renewable energy advances
March 13, 2012 Read Full Article
Engineering Study Looks at Ethanol Plus Bolt-On Green Diesel
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Al-Corn Clean Fuel, a 50 MMgy plant in Claremont, Minn., is working with a St. Paul company investigating secondary production of green diesel at a new or existing ethanol plant. The project is fueled
March 13, 2012 Read Full Article
Synthetic Fuel Firm Targets International Adoption
by Bob Brooks (Automotive Industries) Possibly the most innovative new synthetic fuel, developed by privately financed Joule Unlimited, has proven the cost effectiveness of its system during 18 months at a pilot plant in Arizona. It is now under way
March 13, 2012 Read Full Article
Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. and BP Biofuels to Conduct Demonstration Field Trial of PowerCane(tm) Miscanthus
(iStockAnalyst) Four-Year Agreement Includes 100 Acres of PowerCane Miscanthus Near BP Biofuels' Demonstration Plant in Jennings, Louisiana Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. (MBI) and BP Biofuels have signed a four-year agreement to conduct a demonstration field trial of Mendel's PowerCane™ Miscanthus and evaluate
March 13, 2012 Read Full Article
USS FORD on Alternative Fuel Blend
by Naval Sea Systems Command Office of Corporate Communications (MarineLink.com) USS Ford Conducts Operational Transit on Alternative Fuel Blend. USS Ford (FFG 54) successfully transited from the ship's homeport in Everett, Wash., to San Diego, March 2, using 25,000 gallons of
March 13, 2012 Read Full Article
Indonesia and Malaysia Launch Palm Oil Offensive against U.S. Ruling
(FreshFruitPortal.com) Indonesia and Malaysia have questioned a U.S. decision that their palm oil fails to meet regulatory greenhouse gas reduction standards, website Antaranews.com reported. They disagreed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ruling that biofuels from Indonesia and Malaysia cut only 17%
March 13, 2012 Read Full Article
Mission New Energy Develops Indonesian Palm Oil Complex
by Joelle Brink (Biofuels Digest Asia) In Indonesia, Mission New Energy is developing a new downstream palm oil and oleo-chemical complex, in partnership with PTPN III. The complex will be located located at PTPNIII’s Sei Mangkei Industrial Zone in North
March 13, 2012 Read Full Article
The Palms Of Controversy
by Joelle Brink (Biofuels Digest Asia) Palms are said to be a symbol of peace and prosperity, but you can’t prove it by the past few weeks of heated debate over palm biofuel. Last week, we looked at the discrepancy between
March 13, 2012 Read Full Article
U.S. Report: Oil Imports Down, Domestic Production Highest since 2003
by Neela Banerjee (Los Angeles Times) The report by six federal agencies was released early Monday on the first anniversary of a speech by President Obama in which he pledged to reduce American dependence on foreign oil imports by one-third in about
March 13, 2012 Read Full Article
Mabus Defends Biofuels during Hearing on Navy Ship
by Brock Vergakis (AP/Wisconsin Rapids Tribune) Navy Secretary Ray Mabus defended the service's investment on biofuels Monday, saying that it is a "false choice" for critics to suggest the Navy should focus on building more ships instead of finding alternative fuels to
March 13, 2012 Read Full Article
Briefing: Advanced Biofuels in the Public and Private Sectors
(Pew Charitable Trusts) On Thursday, March 8, the Pew Project on National Security, Energy, and Climate held a briefing on the outlook for advanced biofuels, the roles of the federal government and private industry in developing this resource, and predictions for commercialization. Speakers included: Phyllis
March 13, 2012 Read Full Article
Steven Chu Discusses 'All of the Above' U.S. Energy Strategy
by David Biello (CNET.com/Scientific American) The U.S. government aims to improve energy production from renewables to oil, but what does that mean in practice? Energy Secretary Steven Chu explains. ..."We're not going to be able to just drill our way out
March 13, 2012 Read Full Article
36 Billion Gallons of Biofuels by 2022?
by Cory Nealon (Daily Press) U.S. must "hustle" to reach goal, Ag. Secretary Tom Vilsack says ...Vilsack expects the U.S. will eventually produce 15 billion gallons of corn-based ethanol, a target set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. But the rest
March 13, 2012 Read Full Article
Zimbabwe: Zanu-PF Chiefs Plan to Grab Ethanol Project
by Patrice Makova (AllAfrica.com) THE US$600 million Chisumbanje ethanol project is threatened with collapse as Zanu PF chiefs, including Cabinet ministers, demand free shares in the lucrative venture under the guise of indigenisation. Sources close to the project told The
March 13, 2012 Read Full Article
Senegal: Researchers Help Draft Biofuel Law
by Theodore Kouadio (AllAfrica.com) Senegal's government has called on the expertise of the country's researchers in drafting a new national law to regulate the production and environmental impact of biofuels. The law was developed in collaboration with scientists from the country's
March 13, 2012 Read Full Article
US Group Files Suit against Federal Cellulosic Ethanol Mandate
A US energy industry group on Monday said it has filed suit to challenge the federal government’s mandate for US cellulosic ethanol consumption, charging that it is unrealistic and constitutes an illegitimate tax. The American Petroleum Institute (API) said that it filed a petition for review in
March 13, 2012 Read Full Article
Plugging into Algal Power
by Peter Spinks (Sydney Morning Herald) ...And now, to help ameliorate the ravages of global warming, algae are being used to produce biofuels for vehicles and aviation fuels to power tomorrow's airliners. Algae, the world's fastest-growing photosynthetic organisms, accumulate up