by Jason Torchinsky (Jalopnik) ... The more I think about it, though, the more I realize just how backwards we have it. Cars today are by far more powerful, more efficient, and better performing in nearly every possible metric — and a
Archive
Back TO HOMETennessee State University Takes Mobile Biodiesel Demonstration Unit on the Road March 9-26
(Tennessee State University) The Tennessee State University Cooperative Extension program will take the Mobile Biodiesel Education Demonstration (MBED) trailer on the road this spring, making stops across Tennessee March 9-26 in an effort to provide people across the state with an
March 05, 2015 Read Full Article
Metabolic Path to Improved Biofuel Production
(EurekAlert!/US Department of Energy Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) Researchers with the Energy Biosciences Institute (EBI), a partnership that includes the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and the University of California (UC) Berkeley, have found a way to increase the
March 05, 2015 Read Full Article
4 Minutes with… Kelly Takaya King, Vice President, Pacific Biodiesel Technologies
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Created on Maui in 1995 to recycle waste cooking oil into renewable fuel, Pacific Biodiesel is now the oldest biodiesel company in America... My current focus is agriculture-related projects (i.e. feedstock development), including overseeing a Congressional
March 05, 2015 Read Full Article
Wyoming Imposes 24-cent-per-gallon Tax on Alternative Fuels
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) Wyoming Gov. Matthew H. Mead recently signed a bill (HB0009) into law imposing a fuel tax on previously exempt alternative fuels such as biodiesel and ethanol. The new rate of taxation on alternative fuels beginning
March 05, 2015 Read Full Article
Province Mulls Turning Cheap Wine into Biofuel
by Bekezela Phakathi (Business Day Live) The Western Cape government is investigating alternative uses for cheap, low-quality wine, such as converting it into biofuel for tractors and generators as part of efforts to curb alcohol abuse. But such a move
March 05, 2015 Read Full Article
South Dakota Setting aside $300,000 to Expand Its Ethanol Program
(KFGO) South Dakota is setting aside $300,000 to help the state's retailers install ethanol storage tank units at gas stations. The Governor's Office of Economic Development announced this week that it earmarked the funds for its Ethanol Infrastructure Incentive Program. The program was
March 05, 2015 Read Full Article
Algae Strategies for a Healthy “Less Sugar, More Protein” World
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Diverting starches and sugars towards the making of fuels, chemicals and materials makes sense — better the tank than the bellyfat. And, most biobased operators are in the protein market already. Algae, corn processors, soybean processors — all
March 05, 2015 Read Full Article
Matrix Breaks through on Genetic Methods for Modifying Spirulina: New Platform for Proteins, Pigments
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Milestone reached on protein, phycocyanin in spirulina — opens up new opportunities for algae, cyanobacteria. In Washington, we have big news this week that Matrix Genetics announced a technology breakthrough that allows for rapid and
March 05, 2015 Read Full Article
Miscanthus Tops Stover, Switchgrass as Ideal Ethanol Source
(Farm Futures) Models predict that miscanthus will have higher fuel yield and profit when compared to corn stover and switchgrass A recent study simulated a side-by-side comparison of the yields and costs of producing ethanol using miscanthus, switchgrass, and corn stover,
March 05, 2015 Read Full Article
Renewable Fuels Critical to Energy Security | Commentary
by Hank Naughton (Roll Call) ... However, the one downside of cheap fuel at the pump is that it lulls people into forgetting our over-reliance on oil creates a serious national security concern for America and our allies. In the United States, we
March 05, 2015 Read Full Article
Ag Leaders Call On Presidential Hopefuls To Support Clean Energy Future
by Gary Truitt (Hoosier Ag Today/25 x '25) Prominent leaders from agriculture’s diverse value chain issued an open letter to policymakers and presidential hopefuls attending the first ever Iowa Ag Summit, urging them to consider Iowa’s renewable energy record in
March 04, 2015 Read Full Article
A New Source of Biofuel - Leather Sludge
(Reuters) In the Czech Republic, researchers at Tomas Bata University are working with the fat leftovers from leather production called fleshings to produce biodiesel from an otherwise toxic waste. Burning fleshing releases dioxins and nitrogen oxides, leaving few options for
March 04, 2015 Read Full Article
4 Minutes with… Sam A. Rushing, President of Advanced Cryogenics
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... The CO2 industry is continuing to add and improve upon raw sources of the commodity from all areas of biofuels, from traditional corn based, through advanced biofuels. CO2 is ever more important and in the limelight
March 04, 2015 Read Full Article
Iowa Road Funding Bill Passes with Reduced Tax Rate for B11
(The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association/Biodiesel Magazine) The Iowa Legislature created a 3-cent per gallon differential tax rate for B11 and higher biodiesel blends in the road funding legislation passed Feb. 24. This provision is expected to boost the availability and sales
March 04, 2015 Read Full Article
The Neodiesel Revolution Heads Offshore: Benefuel, Felda Expand in Malaysia
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) It’s New, it’s Neo — the neodiesel companies — brimming with technologies to create cleaner alternatives to a powerhouse fuel. They have the performance, half the carbon, and a range of low-cost feedstocks to choose
March 04, 2015 Read Full Article
BETO’s 2015 Project Peer Review March 23-27 Alexandria, VA
The Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) is hosting the 2015 Project Peer Review on March 23–27, 2015, at the Hilton Mark Center, in Alexandria, Virginia. Approximately 185 projects in BETO’s research, development, and demonstration portfolio will be presented to the public
March 04, 2015 Read Full Article
BioenergizeME Infographic Submission Deadline Approaching
(U.S. Department of Energy) The deadline for submissions for the Spring 2015 BioenergizeME Infographic Challenge is approaching! Please submit all infographics by March 20 at 5:00 p.m. Central Time. The BioenergizeMe Social Media Campaign will take place April 13–23. Check
March 04, 2015 Read Full Article
BioCNG Expanding for St. Landry Parish
by Rich Piellisch (Fleets & Fuels) BioCNG is extending its work for the St. Landry Parish Solid Waste Disposal District in Louisiana, upgrading an existing landfill gas-based compressed natural gas fueling station in Washington, La. and adding a second facility,
March 04, 2015 Read Full Article
4 Minutes with… Gary Weihs, Managing Director, Kincannon & Reed, Executive Recruiting
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... My reward is helping our clients succeed in the war for talent and them avoiding the opportunity costs from a lack of executive leadership that can make a difference. ... We need multiple examples of enviable
March 04, 2015 Read Full Article
Beta Renewables CEO Guido Ghisolfi Dies in Apparent Suicide
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The charismatic Beta Renewables CEO is gone, builder of the world’s first commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plant. Guido Ghisolfi, 58, the CEO of Beta Renewables, is dead. News reports from Italy indicate a suicide, after the
March 04, 2015 Read Full Article
White House Reviews EPA Airplane Emissions Plan
by Timothy Cama (The Hill) The White House is reviewing the first step the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to take toward regulating greenhouse gas emissions from airplanes. ... The White House’s review is the final step before the EPA can unveil
March 04, 2015 Read Full Article
Here’s What Will Send Oil Prices Back Up Again
by Martin Tillier (OilPrice.com) ... The low price brigade cites another factor in making their predictions, the rise of alternative energy sources. There is no doubt that there have been significant advances in that area, particularly in wind and solar power, but,
March 04, 2015 Read Full Article
Visalia-Based Edeniq Engineering Ethanol’s Future
by George Lurie (The Business Journal NOW) ... Lower oil prices, (Brian) Thome (president and CEO of Edeniq) said, translate into “lower prices for ethanol too. That means margins for ethanol producers will be squeezed” — a scenario that plays right into
March 03, 2015 Read Full Article
USDA Publishes Final BCAP Rule
by Anna Simet (Biomass Magazine) The USDA has released the final rule for the Biomass Crop Assistance Program, and though the general scope of BCAP is not changing with the recently published rule, there are some key changes being made
March 03, 2015 Read Full Article
The Cellulosic-RIN Revolution
by Katie Fletcher (Biomass Magazine) Expanded cellulosic fuel pathways have led to a surge of biogas-based fuel credits, and producers are taking advantage of a significant boost to project economics. Traditionally, the biogas project end market has been the sale of
March 03, 2015 Read Full Article
Some Ethanol Supporters Push for E30
by Mikkel Pates (Agweek) While the mainstream ethanol advocates are pushing toward E15, some want much more. Orrie Swayze, a Wilmot, S.D., semi-farmer and former South Dakota Corn Growers Association president, says the Environmental Protection Agency shift toward E15 would be
March 03, 2015 Read Full Article
Department of Agriculture and Energy Department Announce Up to $8.7 Million through the Interagency Biomass Research and Development Initiative
(US Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Agriculture in collaboration with the Energy Department announced that up to $8.7 million in funding will be made available through the Biomass Research and Development Initiative (BRDI) to reduce the nation’s dependence
March 03, 2015 Read Full Article
Maryland Clean Energy Center Appoints Advanced Biofuels USA's Joanne Ivancic to 2015 Advisory Council
The Maryland Clean Energy Center is pleased to announce the addition of Joanne Ivancic, Executive Director, Advanced Biofuels USA to the MCEC 2015 Advisory Council. Advanced Biofuels USA , a nonprofit educational organization headquartered in Frederick, Maryland, advocates for the adoption
March 03, 2015 Read Full Article
Let's Make True Fuel Freedom a Reality
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... Prior to the conference, I received an email from someone with Fuel Freedom Foundation, asking for more information on the stories and blogs I have written about ethanol producers that sell E85 directly to retailers. (Some sell
March 03, 2015 Read Full Article
Why are We Producing Biofuels?
by Robert C. Brown, Tristan R. Brown (Iowa State University) “Why Are We Producing Biofuels?” is written for those who are curious about efforts to introduce biofuels into our energy supply but are not satisfied with the publically accessible information
March 03, 2015 Read Full Article
4 Minutes with… Orion Lekos PhD, Director of Research, Whole Energy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Whole Energy focuses on three areas… 1. Marketing Biofuels such as biodiesel, bio-methane, ethanol and renewable diesel; 2. Engineering services such as credit registration and process engineering; and 3. Refining glycerin to a commodity grade product and converting
March 03, 2015 Read Full Article
Renewable Energy Facility in Calabarzon
(Philippine Information Agency) An alternative source that does not rely on fossil fuels was established in Infanta, Quezon to help supply the energy demand in rice and rice-based communities, Jan. 29. Located in Brgy. Binonoan, the bioethanol distillation facility produces energy
March 03, 2015 Read Full Article
Maui Sugar Plantation Still Looking for Biofuel Crop
(SunHerald.com/Associated Press/Maui News) Hawaii's last sugar cane plantation wants to transition to growing plants for energy. But it hasn't found another crop that grows as well as sugar cane in a variety of soils or one that can stand up
March 03, 2015 Read Full Article
Energy Group, Total, Makes Investment & Initiates Joint Development Agreement with Renmatix
(Renmatix/Total/PR Newswire) - Total invests in Renmatix – Takes equity and Board seat in Philadelphia based licensor of supercritical hydrolysis technology for conversion of biomass into economical cellulosic sugar -- Companies complete Joint Development Agreement to initiate distinct R&D
March 03, 2015 Read Full Article
Outlook for Bioenergy 2015: What’s in Store for This Versatile Renewable Energy Feedstock?
by Jennifer Runyon (RenewableEnergyWorld.com) ... Scott Chabina, a director with Carl Marks Advisors, is extremely bullish on the biofuels industry and is excited about what’s to come in 2015. Chabina — who said he hasn’t “had a single day where
March 03, 2015 Read Full Article
Brazilian Study Explores Multiple Causes of 2007 Mexico Tortilla Crisis
by Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuels USA) In light of signs of a moderation in the long upward trend in commodity prices, and recurrent assignment of blame for food insecurity and high food prices to the emergence of biofuels markets, particularly
March 02, 2015 Read Full Article
NREL Report Provides Documentation of the Advanced Biorefinery Landscape
(Department of Energy) The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) released a report in January 2015 on the status of the non-starch ethanol and renewable hydrocarbon biofuels industry in the United States. The report, 2013 Survey of Non-Starch Ethanol and Renewable
March 02, 2015 Read Full Article
Education: Educator Training Program
How can you grow your own knowledge and skills to inspire your students? What new opportunities are developing for science-based careers in the region? Learn about this and more at the USDA-sponsored Bioenergy and Bioproducts teacher training workshops, organized by
March 02, 2015 Read Full Article
Education: Graduate Program Bioenergy Scholarships
This program offers scholarships for graduate professional courses in bioenergy - take a look at the bioenergy courses that are available, and envision how you could benefit from taking one of these graduate level, credit-bearing courses. Submit your complete application, along
March 02, 2015 Read Full Article
E15 Is New to Most Fuel Stations, but Not to NASCAR
(Growth Energy/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Fuel with 15 percent ethanol, known as E15, has made its way into south Florida recently. E15 has been approved for sale by the U.S. EPA since January 2011 and has been offered to consumers since July
March 02, 2015 Read Full Article
Report Provides Overview of European Biobased Economy
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A recent report published by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service’s Global Information Network provides an overview of the EU biobased economy and estimated biomass requirements for the production of biofuels, bioplastics, biochemicals and biopharmaceuticals. According
March 02, 2015 Read Full Article
California GHG Reporting Obligations Extend to Ethanol
by Graham Noyes.(Ethanol Producer Magazine/Keyes, Fox & Wiedman LLP) California has embarked upon the most aggressive greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction program in the world. As a result of California’s Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gas Emissions program (the MRR), biofuel producers,
March 02, 2015 Read Full Article
Abengoa Reports Top Year for Biofuel Business
by Anna Simet (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Abengoa’s biofuels segment experienced the best year in its history in 2014, company CEO Manuel Sánchez Ortega reported during the company’s 2014 fiscal year results, which can be largely attributed to very high margins
March 02, 2015 Read Full Article
Vilsack Calls for Ethanol Industry Support of Trade Negotiations
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack asked for the ethanol industry's support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership in his keynote address at the 2015 Growth Energy Executive Leadership Conference held in Phoenix Feb. 26-27. The opponents
March 02, 2015 Read Full Article
Greenwire: Midwest Law Center Can Compromise but Doesn’t Fear a Fight
by Jeremy P. Jacobs (E&E/Greenwire) Ask Chicago environmentalists who’s the Windy City’s best lawyer, and they’re likely to name Howard Learner. Learner has built his Environmental Law and Policy Center into a Midwest powerhouse over the last 20 years on transportation
March 02, 2015 Read Full Article
Small Ethanol Plants Struggle for an Edge
by David Shaffer (Star Tribune) As production plants have grown larger and more efficient, small, older ethanol plants risk being left behind. ... Most vintage ethanol plants, including Buffalo Lake, expanded over the years, but that isn’t always enough to stay competitive.
March 02, 2015 Read Full Article
Ocean Circulation Change: Sea level Spiked for Two Years along Northeastern North America
(Science Daily/University of Arizona) Sea levels from New York to Newfoundland jumped up about four inches in 2009 and 2010 because ocean circulation changed. The unusual spike in sea level caused flooding along the northeast coast of North America and
March 02, 2015 Read Full Article
Investors Ask Oil Companies to Disclose Refineries' Risks from Climate Change
by Siri Srinivas (The Guardian) Shareholders ask the five largest US oil companies – Valero, Exxon Mobil, Marathon Petroleum, Phillips 66 and Chevron – to disclose the risks their operations and facilities face from rising sea levels and storm surges. ... In letters
March 02, 2015 Read Full Article
Emergent Technologies Institute Breaks Ground
(LEO A DALY) Florida Gulf Cost University (FGCU)officials held groundbreaking ceremonies Tuesday for the Emergent Technologies Institute (ETI), a new research campus thatwill team academics and private sector partners to study and incubate renewable energy technology. The majority of the 6.5-acre campus willbe devoted to outdoor
March 02, 2015 Read Full Article
4 Minutes with… Gregory T. Benz, President, Benz Technology International
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Such work has enables successful, economical and scalable mixing equipment designs for cellulose hydrolysis reactors, for example. Also source economical major process equipment from developing countries, and aid in licensing in China. ... Troubleshoot mixing problems in
March 02, 2015 Read Full Article
What Cellulosic Can Learn from Solar and Other Clean-Tech Industries?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Thought Leadership: The Digest speaks with Sebastian Soederberg, Novozymes’ VP for Biomass Conversion on the cellulosic ethanol industry. ... If you look at charts of installed capacity since the 1990s for a variety of clean-tech industries,
March 02, 2015 Read Full Article
Experimental Investigation of Spark-Ignited Combustion with High-Octane Biofuels and EGR. 2. Fuel and EGR Effects on Knock-Limited Load and Speed
Derek A. Splitter and James P. Szybist (Oak Ridge National Laboratory/Energy & Fuels) The present study experimentally investigates spark-ignited combustion with 87 AKI E0 gasoline in its neat form and in midlevel alcohol–gasoline blends with 24% vol/vol isobutanol–gasoline (IB24) and
March 02, 2015 Read Full Article
The Food Waste Debacle
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Last week there was a Fast Food industry fly-in to DC — arguing for a repeal of the Renewable Fuel Standard on the grounds of food price impact. ... It just happens that major report on
March 02, 2015 Read Full Article
Maverick Announces Its Oasis BG Gas-to-Liquid Methanol Plant
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Here we highlight an interesting solution to the problem of organic waste. In North Carolina, Maverick Synfuels announced the availability of the Maverick Oasis BG Gas-to-Liquid methanol plant product line. These plants convert biogas from sources such
March 02, 2015 Read Full Article
Catsimatidis Trying to Slip Pricey Biofuels Mandate into Budget
by Fredric U. Dicker (New York Post) ... Senate Republicans, under pressure from maverick supermarket billionaire John Catsimatidis, are trying to slip a “green biofuels” mandate into Gov. Cuomo’s new budget that could add $150 million a year to heating costs in
March 02, 2015 Read Full Article
The Good News on Ethanol: U.S. a ‘Biofuels Superpower'
by Dan Morgan (Des Moines Register) ... President Barack Obama didn’t mention ethanol, biofuels, or agriculture in his State of the Union address, even as he boasted that the country was “number one in oil and gas.” Yet a thriving renewable
March 02, 2015 Read Full Article
Harper Government Investment Benefits Biofuels Sector
(Western Economic Diversification Canada/MarketWired) Biofuel producers in Western Canada will soon be able to purify and convert raw glycerol more cost-effectively thanks to an investment of $538,542, announced today by the Honourable Michelle Rempel, Minister of State for Western Economic
March 01, 2015 Read Full Article
USDA Increases Ethanol Support
by Daniel Looker (Agriculture.com) Speaking to the ethanol lobbying group, Growth Energy, Agriculture Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack Thursday announced more USDA support for bioenergy research and farmer production of biomass but also praised efforts by the biofuel industry itself
March 01, 2015 Read Full Article
The Renewable Fuels Standard Is Antiquated, But Don't Abandon It
by Loren Steffy (Forbes) It’s time to start building a smarter energy policy. It’s decades past time, actually, ... The Renewable Fuels Standard is a good place to start. ... The RFS was also touted an important step in reducing greenhouse gasses
March 01, 2015 Read Full Article
Build or Conquer? 3 Companies Battling Over the Future of Biofuels
by Maxx Chatsko (Motley Fool) ... Yet, to date only three commercial scale cellulosic ethanol facilities have been built in the United States. Why aren't there more? The technology is more complicated than most think. The first facility, which churns out 25
March 01, 2015 Read Full Article
Biofuels For A Greener Dubai
by Imran Khan (Forbes/Lootah Biofuels) The Dubai Supreme Council of Energy has set an ambitious target for 2030: reduce demand for energy by 30% and diversify its renewable energy sources. Effectively being implemented in the power sector, the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy