... “Developing the next generation of biofuels is key to our effort to end our dependence on foreign oil and address the climate crisis -- while creating millions of new jobs that can't be outsourced,” Secretary Chu said. “With American
... It appears that the EPA, in determining the ghg profile for biodiesel, is penalizing the U.S. biodiesel industry for land use decisions made outside the U.S. that have little if anything to do with the domestic biodiesel production. A
"I'm off the train," Collin Peterson, US House Agriculture Committee chair said May 6 during a strongly worded statement at a hearing on the Environmental Protection Agency's new proposal for assessing indirect effects of ethanol production on greenhouse gas emissions. ...Peterson said,
...At The University of Texas at Austin, the scope of the project includes identifying the best strains of algae for producing oil from sites in Texas and from the university's algal culture collection, harvesting the algal strains, breaking the algal
Advanced Biofuels USA urges EPA, along with Congress and an engaged and informed public to carefully craft greenhouse gas emissions regulations and legislation with an eye to the following principles: Greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, regardless of source, should be assessed
Comments by Robert Kozak, Advanced Biofuels USA board member: With EPA's release of proposed rules for the 2010 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2), the focus of today's (May 6, 2009) hearing will undoubtedly be the role of indirect land use in
The EPA published proposed revised statutory requirements which establish new specific volume standards for cellulosic biofuel, biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel that must be used in transportation fuel each year. The revised statutory requirements also include new
This is the first solicitation for the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E). ARPA-E is a new organization within the Department of Energy (DOE), created specifically to foster research and development (R&D) of transformational energy-related technologies. … ARPA-E will
In late April, 2009, President Obama announced the launching of the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), a new Department of Energy organization modeled after the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the defense agency that gave us the Internet, stealth aircraft,
The White House announced on April 27, 2009, that the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science will invest $777 million in Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRCs) over the next five years. In a major effort to accelerate the scientific breakthroughs needed
After a thorough scientific review ordered in 2007 by the U.S. Supreme Court, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a proposed finding Friday, April 17, 2009, that greenhouse gases contribute to air pollution that may endanger public health or welfare. EPA’s proposed
On March 6, 2009, Growth Energy and 54 ethanol manufacturers submitted an application for a waiver of the prohibition of the introduction into commerce of certain fuels and fuel additives set forth in section 211(f) of the Clean Air Act
The Environmental Protection Agency, under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, is responsible for revising and implementing regulations to ensure that gasoline sold in the United States contains a minimum volume of renewable fuel. The Renewable Fuel Standard
This plan, published in October 2008, was designed by the Biomass Research and Development Board to help industry achieve aggressive national goals enumerated in the "Twenty in Ten" initiative, the Renewable Fuel Standard of the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of
Feedstock Production for Biofuels: Economic Drivers, Policy Implications, and the Role of Research advises on the economic feasibility of developing both farm- and forest-derived biofuel feedstocks for expansion of the national fuel mix. The report looks at the potential impacts
To help individuals and corporations navigate and access the various federal programs and grants available, Senator Cantwell has released a comprehensive biofuels guide. READ MORE
Jeffrey Steiner, USDA, Agricultural Research Service, describes the current circumstances of developing criteria and indicators for sustainable biofuels production as comparable to building a plane and flying at the same time. He is optimistic that today's challenge can be met just
M. Christina Negri, Argonne National Laboratory, presentation for the "Defining Sustainability: Science, Standards and Scorecards" session of the US Department of Energy's Biomass 2009 conference. The goal of the project is to develop and analyze system-based resource recovery strategies to
Andy Aden, National Renewable Energy Laboratory provides an assessment including biochemical and thermochemical pathways, and a review of sustainability challenges. From the Advanced Biofuels Research and Development session at the US Department of Energy's Biomass 2009 conference. Download PDF
William F. Hagy, III, USDA Rural Development, describes programs available under the 2008 Farm Bill to promote and support development and implementation of biofuels projects. From the Biofuels Commercialization session of the US Department of Energy's Biomass 2009 conference. Download
Zia Haq, US Department of Energy's Office of the Biomass Program, describes DOE's programs with regard to sustainable biofuels development and implementation. From the plenary session of DOE's Biomass 2009 conference. Download PDF
by Elizabeth Nesbitt (Journal of International Commerce and Economics) The increasing use of industrial biotechnology by the Chinese liquid biofuels and chemical industries is expected to help offset energy security and environmental concerns generated by China’s robust economic growth. The expanding use of bioprocesses
An in-depth study by Sandia National Laboratories and General Motors Corp. has found that plant and forestry waste and dedicated energy crops could sustainably replace nearly a third of gasoline use by the year 2030. The goal of the 90-Billion
On January 30, the U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Energy (DOE) announced up to $25 million (subject to appropriations) in funding for research and development of technologies and processes to produce biofuels, bioenergy, and high-value biobased products. Projects eligible
The California Air Resources Board in December 2005 requested a waiver of pre-emption for its greenhouse gas regulations for certain new motor vehicles beginning with Model Year 2009. On March 6, 2008, EPA published a Federal Register Notice Denying a
On January 26, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) awarded Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) a contract to help develop an alternative to petroleum-based jet fuel from agricultural and aquacultural feedstocks. The contract is worth up to $25 million
U.S. Department of Energy, December 22, 2008 The U.S. Department of Energy today announced the issuance of a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for up to $200 million over six years (FY 2009 – FY 2014), subject to annual appropriations, to
Area of Interest 3 (DE-PS26-09NT01236-03): Education and Outreach Workshops for Petroleum Reduction Fuels and Technologies Educational information and materials developed under this award will be used to establish a special Clean Cities learning program. This effort will help to increase
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is offering to guarantee loans of up to $250 million for commercial-scale biorefineries that produce biofuels from something other than corn starch. One company that plans to apply for a loan guarantee is Florida-based
by Angela Neville (Power Mag) ... In April, the Texas governor jumped into the middle of this debate. Responding to what some observers thought was strong pressure from TSCRA, Texas Governor Rick Perry (R) submitted a formal request to the Environmental
The Defense Department has been directed to explore a wide range of energy alternatives and fuel efficiency efforts in a bid to reduce the military's reliance on oil to power its aircraft, ground vehicles and non-nuclear ships. The goal of
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters announced July 10, 2008, that the FAA has selected the X PRIZE Foundation to develop a strategy to create monetary incentives for developing renewable aviation fuels and technologies to stem the affect of pollutants from
by Ron Pate (Sandia National Laboratories) This presentation explores the demands of water on renewable energy development, including biofuels. READ MORE
U.S. Department of Energy has included Pacific Ethanol in a matching award totaling $24.32 million to build the first cellulosic ethanol demonstration plant in the Northwest United States. The plant will employ a technology to produce ethanol from wheat straw,
(Task Force on Renewable Alternative Fuels Final Report) The Task Force on Renewable Alternative Fuels (Chapter 540 of 2007), chaired by Secretary of Agriculture Roger Richardson and staffed by the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA), consisted of two legislative members, the
The United States has become increasingly dependent in recent decades on imported petroleum to meet its energy needs. A portfolio of more diverse and domestic feedstocks for our nation's energy and chemical supply must be found to reduce our dependence
Based on the June 25-26, 2007 Workshop in Washington, DC, with Dr. George Hubner, University of Massachusetts--Amherst, Workshop Chair View the PDF
by Michael E. Himmel, Shi-You Ding, David K. Johnson, William S. Adney, Mark R. Nimlos, John W. Brady and Thomas D. Foust (Science Magazine) Lignocellulosic biomass has long been recognized as a potential sustainable source of mixed sugars for fermentation to biofuels and other biomaterials. Several technologies have
(British Petroleum) BP today announced it has selected the University of California Berkeley and its partners the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to join in a $500 million research program that will explore how bioscience
by Adam Lashinsky and Nelson D. Schwartz (CNN Money/Fortune Magazine) You probably don't know it, but the answer to America's gasoline addiction could be under the hood of your car. More than five million Tauruses, Explorers, Stratuses, Suburbans, and other vehicles
USDA and DOE put together this study finding that there could be adequate biomass to displace 30% or more of current US annual petroleum consumption. READ MORE
(US Department of Energy) This report identifies twelve building block chemicals that can be produced from sugars via biological or chemical conversions. The twelve building blocks can be subsequently converted to a number of high-value bio-based chemicals or materials. Building
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