(UPI) Amtrak plans to operate its Heartland Flyer Oklahoma-Texas service on animal-based biodiesel for the next year, officials say. The first biodiesel-powered train pulled into Fort Worth, Texas, Tuesday, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram said. The train does a daily 400-mile round
by Nik Bristow (AutoBlogGreen) Green Earth Technologies, maker of G-Oil, the "world's first and only bio-based and ultimate biodegradable motor oil approved by the American Petroleum Institute," aired their first-ever television commercial on Saturday, April 17 during SPEED TV's live
by Kathrine Schmidt (dailycomet.com) A businessman from New Iberia is starting a national website that aims to match renewable-energy investors with local landowners and farmers. Kevin Caffery believes the state of the ethanol industry, which makes fuels from plant matter, is
by Robert Rapier (Forbes) ...In order to better understand the intricacies of the issues involved, I have been engaged in dialogue with a number of industry groups and economists. Here I will try to shed some light on the tariff
by John Davis (DomesticFuel.com) Mansfield Oil Company has acquired East Fork Biodiesel of Algona, Iowa … a 60-million-gallon-a-year refinery that will get its feedstock of corn oil from Mansdfield’s network of C&N Companies ethanol plants in the Midwest. ...this will give
by Tom Konrad (RenewableEnergyWorld.com) ... The most obvious strategy for dealing with peak oil is substitution. If we can find another form of energy in place of oil, then our economy can grow without more painful adjustments. These strategies are among the
(The Business Standard) The biofuel industry is finding it tough to remain in business, with both government pricing and raw material availability working against them. ...Senior officials of the National Oilseeds and Development Board (NOVOD) said 76 institutions across the country
by Martin LaMonica (cnet News) The U.S. auto industry needs to "go green" in more than one way, says Bill Ford. Ford is committed to making its vehicles more fuel efficient by investing in a number of technologies, including electrification,
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel) “When do we stop investing in OPEC and start investing in America?” That’s the question that oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens asked at a House Ways and Means committee hearing Wednesday (April 14, 2010) on “Energy Tax
by Patrick Westhoff (Washington Times letter to editor) The editorial "Stop 'Big Corn' " (Opinion, Monday) did not accurately describe the analysis of ethanol policy conducted by our institute. The editorial says we at the University of Missouri's Food and Agricultural
(TheAutoChannel) The National Biodiesel Board's The Biodiesel Bulletin reported that General Motors is the latest OEM to show support for a 20 percent blend of biodiesel (B20) in its diesel vehicles. Company officials announced to biodiesel supporters at the National
by Sebastian Blanco (AutoBlogGreen) The definition of the World Green Car of the Year was expanded a bit today when the World Car of The Year organization named Volkswagen's BlueMotion product brand – including the Polo, Passat, and Golf models
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) There is hardly an organization in the world that has done more of the heavy lifting and hard work for ethanol than Growth Energy, but it takes a fair bit of effort to find the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Switzerland, the Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels has developed a revised lifecycle GHG calculations methodology for biofuels, starting from the Sustainability Quick Check Tool (SQCB) for biofuels — using an online, user friendly GHG calculation
by Simone Pfuderer, Grant Davies, Ian Mitchell (Food and Farming Analysis, Defra) This paper is part of a larger body of work that aims to shed more light on what led to the high agricultural commodity prices in 2008. The
"Global trade and environmental impact of the EU biofuels mandate" is the title of a study finalised by the International Food Policy Research Institute this 25 March 2010. The report is one of four studies commissioned by the European Commission
U.S. Department of Energy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Cathy Zoi today announced that the Department’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory will build an advanced biofuels process development facility aimed at speeding the commercialization of advanced biofuels by
Agencies Move to Increase Energy Security and Fuel Efficiency. President Obama announced March 31, 2010, that the Federal Government will lead by example in replacing older cars in the federal fleet with fuel efficient hybrids and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, reducing our
The Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA) March 21, 2010, released its 2010 production forecast for ethanol and the future continues to look positive for growth in the industry. Total fuel ethanol production for 2009 was 73.9 billion litres according to data assembled by
(Masami Kojima of the Oil, Gas, and Mining PolicyDivision of the World Bank/Scribd.com) Liquid biofuels are being increasingly used to substitute fuels derived from oil. A number of governments have provided incentives for the liquid biofuel industry, prompted by a desire
by Eric Petermann (The Journal-Standard) Furst-McNess has started a new business that markets a by-product of ethanol production, dry distillers’ grain, for use as a feed supplement for livestock, and has already established a relationship that exports that product to
(GreenAirOnline) Carbon pricing is critical to the business case for aviation biofuels as airlines join schemes such as the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS), which starts in 2012, said British Airways’ Head of Environment Jonathon Counsell at last week’s
by Gary Pinnell (Highlands Today) In April 2008, Congressman Tim Mahoney told county commissioners that Highlands was poised to become "the biofuels capital of America." They were expected to produce hundreds of jobs and millions in revenues. Two years have gone
by Biomass Advisors Available for USD $695, the Camelina Market Opportunity and Renewable Energy Report includes: Graphs, charts and at-a-glance summaries for a quick understanding of key information Summaries and updates of over 50 North American Camelina trials and research and development
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Florida, Biofuels Digest released its updated Advanced Biofuels tracking database, release 1.1, with advanced biofuels production capacity now projected to reach 1.704 billion gallons by the end of 2013, based on announced projects and
by Alan Murray and Kimberley Strassel (Wall Street Journal) These days, giant oil companies find themselves trying to balance two big pressures on their business. Governments are trying to slash carbon emissions—but the world's thirst for oil is growing by leaps
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...(T)hough the biofuels industry should, and generally does, reacts with excitement when oil industry majors invest in biofuels ventures — such as Shell’s investment in cellulosic ethanol pioneer Iogen and in algal fuels pioneer Cellana
by Jacqui Fatka (Feedstuffs) A study on energy subsidies commissioned by G20 nations found that the world could be spending $500 billion annually to subsidize fossil fuels - the majority from subsidized end-user prices. The report, "Analysis of the Scope
by Bob McNiesh (Harris Group) This paper describes factors in selecting a site for construction of a bio-energy facility. This general approach assumes that a marketing study has been completed to identify a specific area or areas that the facility would
Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, R.W. Beck, has been awarded a blanket purchase agreement by the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Golden Field Office to support The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's Biomass
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...In the Joule technology, biomass is not used as an intermediate. Via a solar converter unit, the microorganism obtains carbon and oxygen by fixing atmospheric CO2 or utilizing direct fed waste CO2, and obtains hydrogen
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...“Cellulosic ethanol is not the same as first generation ethanol,” (Arnie) Klann (Bluefire Ethanol CEO) noted. “There, you had the corn growers, and there was a vested interest, and companies like ADM, Cargill to provide the support.
William Laski & David Schwartz, publishers, launched an online magazine addressing the growth and development of the algae biofuels and co-products industry: • its influential personalities • developing technologies • evolving businesses • breakthrough products • important news and timely information READ MORE
by Jack Oswald, CEO of SynGest (MIT/Stanford Venture Lab) In this PowerPoint presentation, SynGest's CEO took his experience as a "start-up guy" and applied it to a strategy for developing biofertilizers in concert with biofuels. He illustrates key points about
by Nicholas Zeman (Biodiesel Magazine) U.S. biofuel companies get no representation on NASDAQ’s new DB NASDAQ OMX Clean Tech Index (DBCC), launched Feb. 10, after a rigorous selection process performed by Deutsche Bank’s Climate Change Advisors. Solar, geothermal and waste
by Robert M. Ames, Anthony Corridore, Edward Hirs, Paul W. MacAvoy (Yale Graduates Energy Study Group) The authors demonstrate that the United States profits handsomely in all circumstances by imposing an embargo on imports of foreign crude oil. The US removes its
by Mark (Corn Commentary) ...The next issue can already be seen on the horizon and it can be seen clearly because it is not a “new” criticism. It is called the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC). This is the
by Oil Price (iStockAnalyst) ...additives and substitutes such as biofuels will play an ever-increasing role by stretching beleaguered production quotas. As market forces and rising prices drive this technology to the forefront, one of the richest potential production areas has
by Pete Davey (Advanced Biofuels USA) Currently many of the world’s chemicals originate from petroleum based sources, causing a major dependence on petroleum that encompasses more than transportation fuels. Some of the chemicals currently derived from non-sustainable sources are the
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. EPA has come up with a new system for renewable identification number (RINs) that should be easier to use as well as cut down on the possibility of human error. ...Tony Miller,
(Inside Indiana Business) Sales and marketing arm of ARCA West, Itzen Media officially announced that Ignite Racing Fuel will become the title sponsor of the ARCA West Series. Ignite Racing Fuel will be replacing previous title sponsor MAC’s Convenience at
Our industry produced a record 10.6 billion gallons of ethanol in 2009. Efficiency enhancements and innovations in production combined with improved farming techniques allowed us to achieve this record with existing corn acreage and reduced process water. As we look to
by Jessica Leber (ClimateWire New York Times) Many cellulosic fuel producers are working with enzymes to break down tough, inedible plant parts, such as corncobs or switch grass, into simpler sugars that can be fermented to ethanol. Now enzyme companies
by Will Thurmond (Biofuels Digest) The global biofuels industry is entering a new decade of emerging opportunities and considerable challenges in reaching 2020 targets. The global economic recession is already shaking out many of the would-be players in a crowded
(TheBioenergySite) Daimler AG has started a new project for the cultivation of the biodiesel raw material jatropha in the south of India and the seedlings for the first 100 hectares have been planted. The company is supporting several village communities
by Gregor Heard (FarmOnline) THEY’RE back - after being flavour of the month in the middle years of the decade, renewable fuels were knocked out of the water over the past three years, and consigned to the scrap-heap by many. A
by Suzanne Goldenberg (The Guardian) The brains trust of the Pentagon says it is just months away from producing a jet fuel from algae for the same cost as its fossil-fuel equivalent. The claim, which comes from the Defense Advanced Research
by Tom Humphrey (Knoxnews.com) A federal judge has rejected a lawsuit by the American Petroleum Institute that sought to invalidate North Carolina's "ethanol blending" statute, which is similar to a 2009 law passed by the Tennessee legislature. API has also
Garbrook introduced the 2010 Advanced Biofuels Resource (ABR), an upgraded version of its online knowledgebase that summarizes scientific, technical, commercial, environmental, and policy information on all generations of biofuels. The enhanced product features the US Ethanol and Biodiesel Mega Tables
by Joshua Kagan (GreenTechMedia) ...If we consider that the oil majors are not in the oil business, but rather, the infrastructure business --- and as long as they control the liquids that come out of the pumps, they won't care
by Sam Hopkins (Green Chip Stocks) ...Cosan is entering into a joint venture with an oil giant that could be worth $12 billion, and its happy beginning to 2010 signals a renewal of interest in ethanol and entrance of some
by Josie Garthwaite (Earth2Tech) Amid the rubble of the first generation of biofuel projects focused on ethanol derived from corn, a new landscape of biofuel tech has taken shape. As Lux Research puts it in a report released, the companies
by Michael Gonzalez (Post-Tribune) More of Gary's men and women in blue could be driving green by spring. The Board of Works on Wednesday voted to advertise for vendors to provide up to 120 "flex fuel" and hybrid vehicles for the
by Ian Berry (Dow Jones Newswires) ...Brazil, faced with tightening supplies of its sugarcane-based ethanol as growers there find better profits in sugar, said last month it is considering importing U.S., corn-based ethanol. While there are limits on how much
(edmunds.com) Oil refiners and truckers have sued California to overturn the state's low-carbon fuel standard. The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, alleges that the LCFS violates the Constitution's commerce clause, which reserves
The study “2nd Generation Biofuels and Trade“ explores the potential supply and demand of 2nd generation biofuels up until 2030, and discusses various impacts on biofuel trade, ranging from cost advantages over shipping capacities and routes to policy impacts. It
by Vivek Wadhwa (TechCrunch.com and The Washington Post) ...China, in particular, is making massive investments and has a huge advantage from focused policy and large markets. Even though China is not likely to produce its own innovation, it will continue
by Dr. Rosalie Lober (Biofuels Digest) Unless you’re working daily in the field of biofuels, you will probably do research to learn the specifics of the variety of fuel options, feedstocks and technologies. How will you do this without becoming
by Will Thurmond (Biofuels Digest) This evening I enjoyed a drive from Houston to Dallas and arrived at the National Biodiesel Board (NBB)’s 2010 event just in time for the auto-show. I’m a big auto enthusiast, and a fan of
(RightSite) As China's solar and wind power sectors grab headlines, leading agribusiness companies are grabbing a foothold in China's biofuel sector. As oil prices threaten to rise in years to come, China's drive to create a biofuel industry that does
President Barack Obama announced a series of steps his Administration is taking as part of its comprehensive strategy to enhance American energy independence while building a foundation for a new clean energy economy, and its promise of new industries and
by João Carvalho (Business News Americas) Imported corn-based ethanol from the US could help ease ethanol prices in Brazil that have been rising because of increasing demand and heavy rains that have delayed the sugarcane harvest, Julio Maria Borges, a director
by Darrel Good (University of Illinois and Cattle Network) ...Planting decisions for individual crops in the spring of 2010 will be influenced by a number of factors. These include relative crop prices, prospects for net returns for completing crops, and
by David Plazas (News-Press) The Lee County Commissioners on Tuesday changed the rules on doling out economic development incentive money, and maybe that’s a good thing. We’ll have to see because Algenol Biofuels— which is now getting $10 million of
by Ray Wert (Jalopnik) Who killed the electric car? Well, a closer evaluation of today's Tesla's IPO filing with the SEC reveals Tesla will. They plan to kill the Tesla Roadster after 2011. No, seriously. The boys over at Wired:Autopia pinged
[caption id="attachment_6062" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Kent Niederhofer, President of Ricardo, Inc., unveils highly fuel-efficient, low-emissions, flex-fuel engine at DC Auto Show"][/caption] Ricardo technology achieves breakthrough efficiency for ethanol-fuelled engines System surpasses gasoline efficiency, reaches near-diesel levels and reduces operational costs compared to current
by Brett Clanton and Monica Hatcher (Houston Chronicle) Chevron Corp. plans to restructure its global refining business under a sweeping plan that will result in an unspecified number of job losses and that could see the U.S. oil giant exit
(Cattlenetwork.com) The November 26, 2008, edition of This Week In Petroleum looked at profit margins for the dry mill fuel ethanol industry, pointing out the boom-and-bust cycles that had occurred. In 2009, ethanol producers’ margins continued to fluctuate... The price (revenue) component
by Will Thurmond (Biofuels Digest) As industry and governments enter a new decade and contemplate the outcome of the December, 2009 Copenhagen treaty, the ‘big picture’ on biofuels continues to get lost in the rhetoric of sustainability in Brussels and
by Carlos St. James (Argentine Renewable Energies Chamber) …Argentina, along with the rest of Latin America, is poised to begin capturing more and more of the growing pie that is global renewable energies investment. …Clearly, the world is coming to the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Massachusetts, Qteros unexpectedly dumped CEO Bill Frey and installed former Verenium EVP John McCarthy — one of the key players in the Celunol-Diversa merger that became cellulosic ethanol pioneer Verenium. McCarthy lost no time
(Reuters) China has agreed to lower the tariff on imports of ethanol to 5 percent from the previous 30 percent, which traders said could open the door for imports of fuel ethanol from countries like Brazil. …Brazil, the world's largest ethanol exporter,
Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Q: Why is there a tariff on Brazilian ethanol? A. Under WTO rules the corn ethanol subsidy of 45 cents per gallon has to be made available to domestic and foreign ethanol. The tariff is designed
A new study by Douglas Bradley, Luc Pelkmans and Dieter Cupyers examines the potential supply and demand of 2nd generation biofuels up until 2030, and discusses various impacts on biofuel trade, ranging from cost advantages over shipping capacities and routes
by Carpe Diem (benzinga.com) Some excerpts from the new study "Green Protectionism in the European Union: How Europe’s Biofuels Policy and the Renewable Energy Directive Violate WTO Commitments" from the European Center for International Political Economy: Biofuels production in Europe is
by Naureen S. Malik (Wall Street Journal) Cellulosic-ethanol production, a cornerstone of the U.S. government's plan to curb greenhouse-gas emissions, is earmarked to overtake corn ethanol over the next decade. But the industry's expected takeoff could be delayed by a year. Several potholes
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A progressive culture, declining fossil fuel reserves, an emissions challenge, considerable sugarcane resources, native feedstocks such as moringa and the Australian Beauty Tree, a nexus of research into cellulosic bioprocessing, algae and jatropha. Plus, healthy
(Camara Argentina de Energias Renovables/CADER) · In the last few months the Argentine biodiesel industry has stabilized output, if not profitability, and in August 2009 produced some 109,000 tons after a very good July; · In the last few months
by Todd A. Taylor (Fredrikson & Byron) From his presentation at the Algae Biomass Summit in October 2009, Todd Taylor outlines the process, challenges and expectations of finding funding for any new technology/advanced biofuels company. READ MORE
ENVIROTEK announced the company's Corona, California-based Extreme Bio-Diesel (EBD) division has successfully completed the first phase of its refinery expansion and is in full production of Bio-Diesel fuel, ahead of the projected January 2010 schedule. ENVIROTEK President, Robert Thompson, announced the facility
Valero Renewable Fuels Company, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Valero Energy Corporation , announced today that it has signed an agreement with ASA Ethanol Holdings, LLC to buy two ethanol plants that had been previously owned by VeraSun Energy
The Air Transport Association of America, Inc. (ATA), the industry trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, announced that a core group of airlines has signed groundbreaking memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with two different producers – AltAir Fuels LLC and
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Biofuels Digest provides a summary of various cellulosic ethanol production technologies; and who is using them where. ---... Companies that have been in the R&D phases for years — if not decades — are emerging
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) “What you win is the right to negotiate,” chuckles Jim Imbler, CEO of ZeaChem, reflecting on the company’s recent success in winning one of the DOE’s recently announced 19 awards for integrated bioenergy pilot and demonstration
(Biodiesel Digest) Dow Water & Process Solutions, a business unit of The Dow Chemical Company (Dow), and Bayer Technology Services GmbH (BTS), announced a licensing agreement for the worldwide marketing of the registered BayFAME technology, a continuous process developed by
Mission NewEnergy Limited (“Mission”) a biodiesel refiner and one of the world’s largest Jatropha plantation companies by acreage announced that it has entered into a binding five-year biodiesel Supply Agreement with Valero Marketing and Supply Company, a subsidiary of Valero
PetroAlgae Inc., announced today that its has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Foster Wheeler AG’s Global Engineering and Construction Group for engineering services to be performed in conjunction with PetroAlgae’s micro-crop technology, which allows for the production of dry
Bloomberg L.P., has acquired New Energy Finance, a global leader in providing news, data and analysis on renewable energy, carbon markets, energy efficiency, biofuels, carbon capture and storage, and nuclear power. "This acquisition is the next step in Bloomberg's initiative to
The U.S. Commerce Department’s Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will pilot a program to accelerate the examination of certain “green” technology patent applications, Secretary Gary Locke announced on Monday. The new initiative, coming days before the United Nations Climate Change
Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced the issue of a final rule amending the Department of Energy’s regulations for its Loan Guarantee Program. The revised rule will allow for increased participation in the program by financial institutions and other investors and
by Fredrik Erixon (European Center for International Political Economy) This paper examines the trade-policy consequences of current approaches in the European Union towards biofuels. The EU uses a broad range of measures to subsidise the production of biofuels in Europe
by Susanne Retka Schill (Biodiesel Magazine) The driver for biofuels usage is not limited to the United States and Europe, but is also growing in the Asia-Pacific and Latin American regions, according to Tammy Klein, executive director of global biofuels
by Clayton McMartin (DTN Ethanol Center) Two key timing issues have essentially paralyzed the Environmental Protection Agency at this point regarding the Renewable Fuels Standard. The first is the pending issuance of the much-awaited final rules for RFS2, and the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the EPA announced that it will delay its determination on E15 ethanol blending until the middle of next year, citing that only 2 of 19 DOE tests are complete at this stage. EPA
Biofuels Digest released a downloadable, consolidated table of cellulosic ethanol and advanced biofuels production, including current production as of December 2009, and planned introductions of new capacity through 2012. The Digest found in its review of operating pilot and demonstration
In a presentation called "This is 1992," Riggs Eckelberry compares the state of the advanced biofuels industry to that of Internet-related industries in 1992 proposing a "distributed partnership model" of limited capital expenditure, clean balance sheets, minimal leverage, streamlined operational focus on
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Biofuels Digest provides a quick overview of Big Oil's current investments in advanced biofuels. READ MORE
...I’m here to talk about the role of advanced biofuels and why at BP we believe we need to get them into the market sooner. We believe this is necessary if biofuels are to fulfil their potential. Biofuels have a
(Checkbiotech) A new OECD report, The Bioeconomy to 2030: Designing a Policy Agenda, proposes that biotechnology is the key to tacking future global challenges. Biotechnology has great potential, which has been already demonstrated in the sectors of pharmaceutical and agriculture.
Held during the gala dinner on day two of World Biofuels Markets 2010, the awards are designed to recognise the companies who have had the biggest positive impact on their environment and on the wider society. Categories for 2010: - Sustainable Bioethanol Award
by Bruce V. Bigelow (XconomySanDiego) As startups developing next-generation biofuels emerge in San Diego, Boston, and elsewhere, a business model for rapidly expanding to commercial-scale operations already can be found in the biotech industry, experts said yesterday. The premise of
POET announced that cost reductions achieved over the past year of operating their cellulosic ethanol pilot plant have exceeded expectations in their drive to commercialize the process. Reductions in energy usage, enzyme costs, raw material requirements and capital expenses have
(Environmental Investigation Agency) Field investigations by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) and Telapak reveal that ill-prepared indigenous Papuan communities are being enticed, tricked and sometimes coerced into releasing large swathes of forested land to powerful conglomerates, backed by overseas investors
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the Health Care Bill passed the US House of Representatives and included - as part of a 42-page "manager's amendment", a provision striking a biofuel tax credit used by pulp and paper firms
(Reuters) Oil major Royal Dutch Shell has sold its shareholding in German second-generation biofuels company Choren. ... Choren is building Germany's first biofuels plant using new generations of non-food raw materials as feedstock and is likely to start initial commercial
Receive coaching, feedback and support in writing your business plan Win a trip to the Netherlands to meet investors and business partners, and the opportunity of being considered for more than USD $100.000 of finance Get expert advice while starting your business Access
What areas are hotbeds of inventive activity and will be tomorrow's big innovations? To find out, the IP Solutions business of Thomson Reuters tracked hot spots of innovation through the first quarter of 2009, analyzing global patenting activity in fields
The contemporary biofuels market, born amid the chaos of the Arab Oil Embargo of 1973, has alternately sputtered, stalled and lurched, but has yet to cruise at its objective speed limit on the road to challenging gasoline as the transportation
by Inae Riveras (Reuters) ... Brazil's largest sugar and ethanol producing group, said it expects to crush 58 million tonnes of cane in 2010/11 (April-March), up from 54 million tonnes in 2009/10. "We expect to grow at the same rate as
by Peter Murphy (Reuters) Some Brazilian motorists who fuel their cars solely on cane-based ethanol are switching back to gasoline as high sugar prices now make the biofuel more costly in some states. Brazil is a pioneer in biofuel with its
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the US Department of Energy is requiring that to receive DOE loan guarantees renewable energy projects meet a debt rating standard higher than 63 percent of all US corporate first-time debt issuers since
by Peter Fairley (Technology Review) ... Producing advanced biofuels on the scale of tens of billions of gallons per year will mean financing several hundred commercial-scale biorefineries at a net cost of roughly $250 billion. For investors in cellulosic ethanol
Hart’s Global Biofuels Center released its annual Global Ethanol & Biodiesel Outlook. The study provides forecasts to 2015 and covers 32 countries. Some study findings: · Global ethanol demand will represent 12-14% of the global gasoline pool by 2015; · Demand for biodiesel
... “We knew that the first company to actually come out and openly document the real productivity picture would face a tough challenge,” said Barry Cohen, executive director of the National Algae Association. “OriginOil did it and now we have
by Seth Borenstein (AP) President Barack Obama is calling on the world to end massive government subsidies that encourage the use of fossil fuels blamed for global warming. The president, who is set to host the G-20 economic summit opening
(Environmental Law Institute) The largest U.S subsidies to fossil fuels are attributed to tax breaks that aid foreign oil production, according to research released by the Environmental Law Institute in partnership with the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. The
by Stephen Lacey (REnewableEnergyWorld.com) ... Biofuels typically get a lot of attention as gas prices go up in the summer driving season. This year was different. After the love affair with biofuels throughout 2006 and the bitter attack on biofuels
Biofuels Digest published a 5-part series on where the industry is obtaining financing in the year since the seizure of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, and collapse of Lehman Brothers triggered the global financial meltdown. In Part I of the series,
(Chattahbox) The new study released by the Environmental Law Institute entitled, “Estimating U.S. Government Subsidies to Energy Sources: 2002-2008,” provides the Obama administration with an additional weapon for the phasing out of fossil fuel subsidies in the United States. According
A Conversation on Southern Energy describes the current and future role of energy in Southern economic development. The report is full of regional and individual state data about existing and alternative energy sources. The report also includes recommendations necessary to
by Anna Austin (Biomass Magazine) ... DOE Program Manager Michael Fraser identified characteristics to strengthen the financial review of project applications. Information on third–party supply and off-take agreements to support revenue and cost projections, or having a reliable source of
Europe has established a floor of 35%, i.e., any biofuel entering Europe must reduce emissions by at least that amount when compared to a diesel benchmark. According to the European analysis, using palm oil to make biodiesel results in GHG
(CBC News) Manitoba is about to become the first province in Canada to mandate the use of biodiesel. Starting Nov. 1, all diesel fuel sold in the province must contain an average of two per cent biodiesel, Energy Minister Jim
by Steve Gorman (Reuters) The Prius hybrid automobile is popular for its fuel efficiency, but its electric motor and battery guzzle rare earth metals, a little-known class of elements found in a wide range of gadgets and consumer goods. That
The Memphis Bioworks® Foundation announced the conclusion of the "Regional Strategy for Biobased Products in the Mississippi Delta," a 5-state, 98-county examination of the potential for agriculture and forestry revitalization through the development of new markets, and the related industrial
by Jeff H. Hassannia (Diversified Energy Corporation) ... Instead of forecasting the likely costs for capital and O&M for a given architecture and its reported yield, let’s assess what a project would require in order to make it commercially viable. That
(FullOn Holdings, Inc./MMD Newswire) Richard Kamahele Figueroa, President and CEO of FullOn Holdings, Inc., a Native Hawaiian owned company, announed today that its Honolulu based division, Golden State Biofuels, has been awarded a forty nine year exclusive agreement by the
by Ann Davis and Russell Gold (Wall Street Journal) The biofuels revolution that promised to reduce America's dependence on foreign oil is fizzling out. Two-thirds of U.S. biodiesel production capacity now sits unused, reports the National Biodiesel Board. Biodiesel, a
by Doreen Hemlock and Jaideep Hardikar (South Florida Sun-Sentinel) The neatly planted rows of jatropha trees in Delray Beach are sprouting round, green fruit that can be crushed into oil to run diesel engines. Teri Gevinson founder of Ag-Oil LLC,
by Michael Kanellos (Greentech Media) Five years ago it was easy to divide up companies trying to make fuel out of algae. There were only a handful in the market and all were in and around the "science experiment" phase.
A report by Greener Dawn Investment Group's research arm "aims to provide an in-depth and unbiased review of the algae industry’s market potential, current technologies and processes, from the point of view of a financial investor. Considering the fate of
by Betsey Piette (Worker's World) Collectively the countries which participate in the Group of Twenty comprise 85 percent of the global gross national product, 80 percent of world trade and two-thirds of the world’s population. What many G-20 countries lack,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the Center for Public Integrity released a report on lobbying over the impending Climate Bill, and reported that 13 bioenergy companies plus several trade groups registered to lobby Congress for the first time
by Rebecca Burn-Callander (Real Business) It's one of the few private equity ventures to raise its target amount this year. And it's a green enterprise. Richard Branson's Virgin Green Fund is defying the downturn, raising £240m in total: £70m from
by Neil Winton (Detroit News) While manufacturers like Nissan of Japan jostle for the lead in the race to saturate markets with electric cars, automotive forecasters seeking to cut through the hyperbole tell a more sober story. ... Automotive forecaster
The bioenergy maritime shipping study published by International Enery Agency Bioenergy Task 40 describes main properties of biofuels in relation to maritime shipping, examine current shipping lanes and major tradable biomass sources (including AR, BR, CA, MY, RU and Baltic States),
“For Cap-and-Trade to truly reduce CO2 emissions, many promising lab-scale technologies will have to be prototyped, tested, and commercialized quickly,” says Bob Kozak, President of Atlantic Biomass Conversions. “With the current wording, the proposed Cap-and-Trade legislation does not have a
by Chris Morrison (BNET Energy) Veteran cleantech venture capitalist Vinod Khosla will be announcing a pair of new funds to invest from today, according to a story in Forbes. If their sources are correct, it would make Khosla one of
by Paul Winters (Biotech Industry Organization, Renewable Energy World) Both the United States and Canada have made considerable investments in founding a renewable biofuels and chemicals industry, setting standards for the production and use of biofuels and committing money for research,
by Jennifer Kho (Renewable Energy World) At first glance, it might look like oil companies are pulling out of renewables. At the end of June, BP closed its alternative-energy headquarters. The oil company also has cut its alternative-energy budget and
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) Uniol AS opened its new biodiesel plant in Fredrikstad, Norway, in June. The plant was built by Austrian turnkey provider BDI-Bio-Diesel International AG (BDI), marking its 28th project worldwide. Production capacity for the new Uniol
Railways has decided to introduce bio-diesel and CNG engines, the successful laboratory trial of which has already been carried out. Informing this in the Lok Sabha today, Minister of State for Railways K H Muniyappa said trials have been completed
GreenHouse is teaming-up with beer pioneer Karl Strauss Brewing Company to convert spent beer yeast into ethanol fuel for California residents and businesses. This news comes on the heels of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s June 4 press conference, where he unveiled
(25 x25) The USDA reported last week that American farmers are expected to produce 12.3 billion bushels of corn, the second largest U.S. corn crop in history. After estimating all of the uses of corn, USDA projects an excess corn
by Clifford Krauss (New York Times) Ethanol and oil don’t mix very well. At least that has been the impression left over the years by oil company executives. They have long complained that ethanol is not energy efficient and that
Jim Lane, editor of Biofuels Digest summarizes the current state of the nascent advanced biofuels industry, including the current popularity of algae, sluggish progress of cellulosic ethanol and promise of drop-in biofuels. READ MORE
The Biofuel Partnership Limited has entered into a letter of intent with the Canadian public company Pacific Cascade Minerals Inc to form a joint venture for the further development, marketing and sale of The Biofuel Partnership’s BioCube technology. BioCube is an
ExxonMobile announced its alliance with leading biotech company, Synthetic Genomics Inc., to research and develop next generation biofuels from photosynthetic algae. ... ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company has entered into a research and development alliance with SGI, a privately held company
Biofuels Digest published two reports about the "Hottest 20 Companies in Bioenergy," first listing the companies and their investors and then listing the investors and the companies they support.
All Programs in the U.S Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, are required to conduct a Peer Review of their funded projects on an annual or biannual schedule. The Office of Biomass Program (OBP) conducts these reviews by
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