March 2013 – Advanced BioFuels USA

The Future of Biofuels in 10 Charts and Maps

by Jeremy Martin (Union of Concerned Scientists) … The good news is that biofuel production can responsibly continue to grow if we switch from corn to biomass as a source material or feedstock. Our recent

March 30, 2013 Read Full Article

University of Cincinnati Student Presents Pioneering Fuel Technology

by Arthur Davies (University of Cincinnati) Current and future researchers alike are teaming up to focus on one common goal: to lead America’s energy efforts. The next generation of scientists

March 30, 2013 Read Full Article

Better Biofuels

by James Hataway (UGA Research) … Li Tan was examining some of the sugars, proteins and polymers that make up plant cell walls, which provide the structural support and protection that allow

March 30, 2013 Read Full Article

Bio-diesel Fuel Company Owner Sentenced to 188 Months in Federal Prison for Crimes Connected to Illegal Fuels Scheme / Jeffrey Gunselman also fined $175,000 and ordered to pay nearly $55 million in restitution

(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) Jeffrey David Gunselman, 30, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sam R. Cummings to 188 months in federal prison, fined $175,000 and ordered to pay

March 29, 2013 Read Full Article

EPA Proposes Achievable Cleaner Fuels and Cars Standard, Slashing Air Pollution and Providing Extensive Health Benefits

(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) Based on extensive input from auto manufacturers, refiners, and states, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today proposed sensible standards for cars and gasoline that will

March 29, 2013 Read Full Article

Renewed Interest in Grain Sorghum in Nebraska

by Ken Anderson (Browfield Ag News) A combination of dry weather and increased demand from the ethanol sector could have grain sorghum poised for a comeback in Nebraska. Grain sorghum plantings

March 29, 2013 Read Full Article

E85 Sales Plummet 26 Percent in Minnesota

by David Shaffer (Star Tribune) As the price spread diminished between the high-ethanol gasoline blend and regular fuel, some drivers of Flex Fuel vehicles stopped pumping it into their tanks.

March 29, 2013 Read Full Article

Biofuels, Renewables Strongly up Since 2008, Says New EIA Report

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Maryland, the “Monthly Energy Review” by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), with data through December 31, 2012 is showing that renewable energy sources and natural

March 29, 2013 Read Full Article

Congress’s Affair With Ethanol: Love Gone Wrong?

by Bill Chameides (The Green Grok/Duke University) …As a libation, ethanol’s been around for a long, long time. As a fuel, it dates back to 1826 when it was first used

March 29, 2013 Read Full Article

WBA: Enough Land for More Food, Feed, Biofuels

by Anna Simet (Biomass Magazine) There is enough land available to produce more food, more feed and more biofuels, which are not the cause of global malnutrition problems, according to

March 29, 2013 Read Full Article

11 Reasons Why You Should Invest in the Biodiesel Industry

by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine/MarketWire) Below is breakdown of the latest, sourced information as to why investment in biodiesel is a sound decision written by Ron Kotrba, Editor of Biodiesel Magazine.

March 29, 2013 Read Full Article

A.I.M. Interview: Fermentalg’s CEO Pierre Calleja

(Algae Industry Magazine) Founded in 2009 by Pierre Calleja, Fermentalg is a French-based industrial biotechnology company specializing in the bio-production of chemical compounds from microalgae, for use in everyday products.

March 28, 2013 Read Full Article

SCS Expands Biofuel Certification Services into Southeast Asia

( SCS Global Services/PR NewsWire) SCS Global Services has announced the expansion of its biofuel certification services in Southeast Asia. The veteran third-party environmental certification body will now conduct audits under

March 28, 2013 Read Full Article

The Cutting Edge of Corn Stover and Switchgrass Supply: A Comprehensive Feedstock Solution

(U.S. Department of Energy) Supplying high-quality feedstock for use in a broad range of sustainable conversion processes to produce advanced biofuels is a complex, multi-step process. Each step in the

March 28, 2013 Read Full Article

European Commission Publishes Progress Report on RED

by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) On March 27 the European Commission published its first Renewable Energy Progress Report under the Renewable Energy Directive, showing that the EU as a

March 28, 2013 Read Full Article

SDTC’s SD Tech Fund™ Is Accepting Proposals for Funding from February 20th to April 17th, 2013

(Sustainable Development Technology Canada) Between research and commercialization lie the critical stages of development and demonstration: the points at which technologies leave the laboratory and undergo conclusive real-world testing. Traditionally,

March 28, 2013 Read Full Article

US Refiners May Boost Renewables Spending if RFS Targets Not Lowered: Moody’s

by Beth Evans (Platts) Ratings agency Moody’s expects US refiners to increase investments in renewables blending and infrastructure if federal renewables targets are not lowered. “In the absence of any

March 28, 2013 Read Full Article

Study Shows RINs Not Factor in Higher Gasoline, Fuel Group Says

by Mario Parker (Bloomberg) A surge in the value of Renewable Identification Numbers for ethanol compliance isn’t one of the reasons for higher gasoline retail prices, the Renewable Fuels Association

March 28, 2013 0 comment Read Full Article

EcoEngineers RIN QAP Forum Webinar April 3, 2013 2:00 PM EST

With speculation swirling around EPA rulemaking on quality assurance programs, EcoEngineers has announced that it is offering a free webinar for renewable fuel producers to offer clear direction for successfully

March 28, 2013 Read Full Article

Biomass 2013: How the Advanced Bioindustry Is Reshaping American Energy July 31-August 1 Washington, DC

On July 31–August 1, 2013, US Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office and Advanced Biofuels USA will co-host the sixth annual biomass conference, Biomass 2013: How the Advanced Bioindustry is

March 28, 2013 Read Full Article

Webinar: Biomass and the Military April 25, 2013 10:00AM EST

On Thursday, April 25, 2013, from 10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m. EST, Bioenergy Technologies Office staff members will talk about the latest joint efforts between the Department of Energy and the U.S.

March 28, 2013 0 comment Read Full Article

Computational Studies in Lignocellulose Deconstruction April 15, 2013 12:40 PM – 2:15 PM EDT Webinar

On April 15, 2013, from 1–2:15 p.m. ET, Dr. “Gnana” S. Gnanakaran—of Los Alamos National Laboratory—will present a webinar on his team’s molecular research on lignocellulosic biomass. Lignocellulose is a

March 28, 2013 Read Full Article

Carbon Accounting of Forest Bioenergy: Conclusions and Recommendations from a Critical Literature Review

(European Commission Joint Research Centre Institute for Energy and Transport) In the current European energy policy framework, biogenic CO2 emissions from combustion of forest biomass used for energy and transport

March 28, 2013 Read Full Article

Zimbabwe: Chisumbanje Ethanol Plant Reopens

by Tendai Mugabe (AllAfrica.com) Green Fuel resumed operations at its ethanol plant here yesterday, raising prospects that the country could soon start the mandatory blending of fuel that has been

March 28, 2013 Read Full Article

PTT Plans B7 Biodiesel Trial on Buses

(Bangkok Post) Oil giant aims to prove quality of green fuel. PTT Plc, the national oil conglomerate, will hold a field trial of B7 biodiesel on public buses in Bangkok

March 28, 2013 Read Full Article

Consortium Dumps Schneider Trash-to-Ethanol Deal

by Carrie Napoleon (Post-Tribune/Chicago Sun-Times) The deal to transfer ownership of the long-delayed trash-to-ethanol plant in Schneider has been scrapped. SMC LLC, the local construction consortium established to purchase

March 28, 2013 Read Full Article

Algae Biofuels and the Prisoner’s Dilemma

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) …As can be seen in the research by Perrine, Negi, and Sayre — a more optimal light distribution strategy is available to algae but they

March 28, 2013 Read Full Article

IMF: Governments Need to End Energy Subsidies

by Howard Schneider (The Washington Post) Government subsidies of gasoline, electricity and other energy sources amount to about $1.9 trillion a year and should be ended or offset with taxes used to

March 28, 2013 Read Full Article

IMF: Want to Fight Climate Change? Get Rid of $1.9 Trillion in Energy Subsidies.

by Brad Plumer (The Washington Post) What’s the simplest way to tackle global warming? Make sure that fossil fuels are priced properly and not subsidized. That’s the core idea behind

March 28, 2013 Read Full Article

Destination Green: ICAO Symposium on Aviation and Climate Change May 14-16, 2013 Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Every three years, ICAO organizes a major environmental event to share information on the latest developments in the area of aviation and environment with its Members States and other key

March 27, 2013 Read Full Article

ATAG’s Aviation & Environment Workshop May 13, 2013 Montreal, Canada

The only event to be jointly organised in cooperation with the leading industry associations: ACI, CANSO, IATA and ICCAIA. The aviation industry has joined forces like no other industry to

March 27, 2013 Read Full Article

Study Finds Technology and Biofuels Will Not Be Enough to Meet Aviation Carbon Targets without Emissions Trading

(GreenAirOnline) The aviation industry regards market-based measures (MBMs) as a temporary fix in achieving the carbon-neutral growth (CNG) goal from 2020 onwards until the benefits of new technology and operational

March 27, 2013 Read Full Article

NASA Project Seeks to Assess Biofuel Environmental Performance at Altitude and Impact on Contrails Formation

(GreenAirOnline) A team of NASA researchers has begun a programme of flight tests that will compare the environmental impacts from emissions and contrails of a blended fuel containing 50 per

March 27, 2013 Read Full Article

Nobel Prize-Winning US Economists Urge Obama to Support Carbon Pricing in Global Negotiations on Aviation Emissions

(GreenAirOnline) A group of 32 leading US economists, including eight Nobel Prize winners, have written an open letter to President Obama urging him to advance proposals at ICAO for a

March 27, 2013 Read Full Article

The Algae Biomass Organization Announces Algae Biomass Summit 2013 Student Travel Grants DEADLINE April 17, 2013

(Algae Biomass Organization) The Algae Biomass Organization is pleased to announce that it is offering a minimum of seven $500 travel grant scholarships to attend the 7th Annual Algae Biomass

March 27, 2013 Read Full Article

Ash from Refuse Could Become Hydrogen Gas

(Lund University) …The ash is what is left when rubbish has been burnt in thermal power stations. A researcher from Lund University in Sweden has now developed a technique to

March 27, 2013 Read Full Article

Algae.Tec Using Shipping Containers to Grow Algae

by John Davis (DomesticFuel.com) …And some, such as the folks at Algae.Tec, are looking to green shipping containers to grow a literal green feedstock. “What we wanted was a significant bulk

March 27, 2013 Read Full Article

UC San Diego/Scripps Use Unique DAF Process to Harvest Algae

by Jim McMahon (Biodiesel Digest) Since 2008, the San Diego Center for Algal Biotechnology (SD-CAB) has been conducting research into algal applications for biofuel. This has been a joint collaboration

March 27, 2013 Read Full Article

American University to Celebrate Switch to B20 at April 2 Event

by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) For biodiesel fans in the Washington, D.C., area, American University is the place to be April 2 as the Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition

March 27, 2013 Read Full Article

An Animal to Feed Your Eco-Car

by Solrun Dregelid (University of Bergen) The marine animal tunicate can be used both as biofuel and fish food, according to prize-winning research at UiB and Uni Research. On the

March 27, 2013 Read Full Article

BioNitrogen to Conduct Feasibility Study for Fertilizer Plant in Alberta, Canada

(BioNitrogen) BioNitrogen Corporation, a cleantech company that utilizes proprietary technology to build environmentally-friendly plants that convert biomass into urea fertilizer, announced today that it has signed an agreement with the

March 27, 2013 Read Full Article

ACE’s New Infographic Highlights How The RFS Is An American Success Story

(HoosierAgToday) For the second year in a row the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) has created an ‘infographic’ promoting the benefits of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Entitled “An American

March 27, 2013 Read Full Article

Energy Department Launches New Clean Energy Manufacturing Initiative

(U. S. Department of Energy) As part of the Obama Administration’s commitment to revitalizing America’s manufacturing sector, today the Energy Department launched the Clean Energy Manufacturing Initiative (CEMI), a new Department initiative

March 27, 2013 Read Full Article

University of Georgia Discovery May Allow Scientists to Make Fuel from CO2 in the Atmosphere

by James Hataway (University of Georgia) Excess carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere created by the widespread burning of fossil fuels is the major driving force of global climate change,

March 27, 2013 Read Full Article

ARPA-E Launches $20M Project REMOTE – Bioconversion of Natural Gas to Liquid Fuels

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ARPA-E aims to drive liquid fuel production from abundant, affordable methane — and sees biobased technology as the path forward. In Washington, ARPA-E released its

March 27, 2013 Read Full Article

Automakers Ask Supreme Court to Take up Ethanol Challenge

by David Shephardson (Detroit News) Major automakers asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear a challenge to the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to approve a higher blend of ethanol for

March 27, 2013 Read Full Article

Letter to President Obama on Climate Change: From the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology

(Center for Climate and Security) The President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, or PCAS, recently released a set of recommendations for President Obama on addressing climate change. The top-line recommendations include:

March 26, 2013 0 comment Read Full Article

Florida Bill Would Repeal Ethanol Requirement

by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) A bill has been introduced in the Florida legislature that would repeal the state’s Renewable Fuel Standard Act. Currently, the Florida law requires that all gasoline sold or

March 26, 2013 Read Full Article

DOE Gives Southern Research Institute $925,000 for Bio-Oil Work

by Chris Hanson (Biomass Magazine) Southern Research Institute won a $925,000 energy award from the U.S. DOE to develop a mild liquefaction process to convert biomass to petroleum refinery-ready bio-oils.

March 26, 2013 Read Full Article

Ethanol RINs Fall to Lowest Level in March on Slowing Demand

(Platts) Prices for 2012 and 2013 US ethanol renewable credits, also known as RINs, on Monday fell to their lowest levels in March on slowing demand from obligated parties, sources

March 26, 2013 Read Full Article

RFS: #1 on Big Oil Hitlist for a Reason

by Brooke Coleman (National Journal/Advanced Ethanol Council) First, let’s assess what we know to be true … RFS2 is just five years old. We are about one-third of the way

March 26, 2013 Read Full Article

Ministers Block EU Proposal to Limit Some Biofuels

(EurActiv) Several European ministers are blocking the EU’s proposal to curb the use of conventional biofuels, while some dispute claims the demand for crop-based oils drives deforestation and food insecurity

March 26, 2013 Read Full Article

Iowa City Moving Ahead with Trash-to-Biofuel Research

by Gregg Hennigan (The Gazette) Estimates indicate plan could reduce landfill waste by up to 80 percent Iowa City is moving forward with exploring a project that could divert solid waste

March 26, 2013 Read Full Article

Biorefinery 2015 – The Shape of Advanced Biofuels to Come – Part II

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Today in part II, we look at a new set of technologies coming along that are redefining our ideas about scale and cost. … A

March 26, 2013 Read Full Article

International Regulation of Microorganisms for Biofuel or Chemical Production: Europe, Asia and Australia

by David Glass (DGlassAssociates.com) In two blog entries in 2010, I described the possible regulatory regimes that might affect the use of genetically modified microorganisms or plants in the production

March 26, 2013 Read Full Article

BSCS Seeks Teacher-Collaborators for Research Project Funded by the National Science Foundation DEADLINE March 31, 2013

(Biological Sciences Curriculum Study) Teacher-collaborators will field test a 3-credit, online, graduate-level course designed to enhance teachers’ knowledge and practice related to energy concepts. The course is titled Energy: A Multidisciplinary

March 25, 2013 0 comment Read Full Article

The Bioenergy Farm Game

(Great Lakes BioEnergy Research Center) In this board game, players take on the role of bioenergy crop farmers trying to earn a living while being good environmental stewards. In the

March 25, 2013 0 comment Read Full Article

Bioenergy Institute for Educators Now Accepting Applications for 2013! DEADLINE March 31, 2013

(Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center) Institute dates: June 24-29, 2013 Application dealdine: March 31, 2013, In this one-week summer program, teams of educators core areas of GLBRC research, get hands-on