by William Coyle (Amber Waves) Next-generation biofuel companies are using a variety of strategies to overcome high initial capital costs, limited access to low-cost biomass, and other hurdles to remain financially viable during pre-commercial development. ...There are more than 30 U.S.
(LehighValleyLive.com) ...The Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority today received a $700,000 state grant to promote cleaner transportation through the production and use of alternative biodiesel, natural gas and electricity. ...The money comes from an Alternative Fuel Incentive Grant through the Pennsylvania Department
by Tom Still (Wisconsin Technology Network) The April 20 explosion onboard the Deepwater Horizon, which killed 11 workers and unleashed millions of gallons of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico, has renewed public calls for fuels that aren't as
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Although equity investors (primarily strategics and venture capitalists) and the government grant market has continued to participate strongly in biofuels investing, the debt market that typically represents up to 80 percent of commercial scale financing
by Debra Schell (Press and Journal) The Obama Administration’s quest to wean the nation off foreign oil by turning to renewable energy sources brought U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to Middletown Friday. Vilsack, along with Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A team from the investment bank Stern Brothers, the law firms Mintz Levin and Kreig DeVault have developed a bond-oriented approach that has received favorable initial reaction from the USDA, and may well break the logjam
(PRNewswire) The number of next generation biofuels projects reached 200 globally, a report from the Global Biofuels Center (GBC) recently announced, beyond the more than 100 Brazilian bioethanol facilities that will qualify as "Advanced Biofuels" in the U.S. These projects include
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Argentina, the Argentine Renewable Energies Chamber has released its latest study in its State of the Biofuels Industry series, covering the B5 and E5 mandates that began this year. Ethanol highlights: The domestic market for ethanol
(PR Newswire) The Advanced BioFuels Association applauded the leadership of U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) as he recently introduced a biofuels tax incentive bill that extends the Investment Tax Credit to advanced biofuels. The Nelson bill, S. 3338, would make available the
by Eduard Gismatullin (Bloomberg Business Week) Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Europe’s largest oil company, expects the share of renewable energy in transport fuels worldwide to double over the next 10 years. The portion of renewables is already approaching 10 percent because of
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...The invite-only meeting, which attracted more than 100 attendees, was structured around two panels, one focused primarily on policy and led by USDA Chief Economist Joe Glauber and featuring biofuels consortium head Jose Olivares (Los
by Jerry Hagstrom (Ag Week) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said at a White House clean energy forum May 6 that USDA may have to take bigger chances with its business loan guarantees if it is going to finance energy plants
(US Environmental Protection Agency) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded nearly $2.5 million to 11 companies to support their work in eight key environmental areas: monitoring and control of air emissions, biofuels, green buildings, drinking water monitoring, hazardous
(Marketwire) Award Accelerates Development of Advanced Biofuels OPX Biotechnologies Inc., a renewable biochemical and biofuel company, has been awarded a $6 million grant for the development of advancement biofuels by the U.S. Department of Energy through its Advanced Research Project Agency -
(National Algae Association) With an eye toward young talent leading the future of algaebioenergy development, the National Algae Association, in cooperation with Algae Industry Magazine, announces the launch of the Algae Innovation Awards, a scholarship competition for innovative university microbiology and engineering
by Thom Gabrukiewicz (ArgusLeader.com) ...Tom Vilsack, the president's agriculture secretary, said Thursday that much progress has been made - but more must be done. "We're conducting the first national on-energy production survey to find out among 20,000 farms and ranches precisely
by David Schwartz (Algae Industry Magazine) ...When we look at the markets, it will come down to transportation as the deal killer on biofuels, including algae. The longer the distance from the production site to the processing site and to
(AP, Bloomberg Businessweek) U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin says she will propose a tax credit aimed at encouraging investment in development of the next generation of renewable fuels. ...She says her bill would create a tax credit for those who
(Enerkem) Enerkem announced that it has been selected by Alberta Energy to receive funding for its future Edmonton waste-to-biofuels facility, operated under the name of Enerkem GreenField Alberta Biofuels. The $3.35 million funding will come from the Biorefining Commercialization and Market
by Ed Baldridge (NewsSun.com) County commissioners voted 5-0 to withdraw their application for a grant supporting the new ethanol plant project, but it was merely a formality according to County Administrator Michael Wright. The Community Development Black Grant in the amount of
(US Department of Energy) The U.S. Departments of Energy (DOE) and Agriculture (USDA) today jointly announced up to $33 million in funding for research and development of technologies and processes to produce biofuels, bioenergy and high-value biobased products, subject to annual
by Katie Fehrenbacher (earth2tech) It was about this time last year that the economic downturn’s effects on the ability of next-generation biofuel companies to raise funds became really apparent. Companies that could have more easily snagged funds in better economic times
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...“It allows us to produce a greater abundance of all three which are at the heart of the intersection of energy and agriculture. We can put an end to the “food vs. fuel” debate and
by Tom Konrad (RenewableEnergyWorld.com) There are many proposed solutions to the liquid fuels scarcity caused be stagnating (and eventually falling) oil supplies combined with growing demand in emerging economies. Some will be good investments, others won't. Here is where I'm putting
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) On March 18, 2010, the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) held a briefing on the state of the cellulosic biofuel industry and its prospects for producing the volumes required by the federal Renewable Fuel Standard
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) ...The purpose of this project was to determine what incentives best support the commercialization of environmentally sustainable, low carbon, renewable biofuel technologies, to identify ways federal and state incentives can work together, and to determine
by Jake Caldwell (Center for American Progress) ...There is no question that the United States must reduce its dependence on oil. One-fifth of the oil consumed in the United States is imported from nations that are “dangerous or unstable” for
by Meredith Cohn (The Baltimore Sun) In response to a national call for homegrown, Earth-friendly fuels to fill Americans' gas tanks, a couple of University of Maryland researchers are planting trees. Fuel derived from the hardy, fast-growing common poplar could eventually
(US Department of Energy) At a Recovery Act Cabinet Meeting today, Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of Energy Steven Chu announced that the U.S. Department of Energy is awarding $106 million in funding for 37 ambitious research projects that
by Mark Steil (Minnesota Public Radio) The idea of a biofuel made from something other than food was one of the stars of both the Bush and Obama administration's energy programs, but the future of cellulosic ethanol is in doubt. Cellulosic
by Martha Ellen (Watertown Daily Times) Newton Falls Fine Paper could be the first commercial plant to use a breakthrough technology that turns waste into ethanol. "It's a possibility. It's well down the road," said Donald H. Schnackel, vice president of
(University of Minnesota) The Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Environment (IREE) recently awarded over $5.1 million to 24 renewable energy research and demonstration projects at the University of Minnesota. The selected projects focus on a wide-range of topics including solar
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 David Schwartz (Algae Industry Magazine) Since forming the National Algae Association over two years ago, Barry has concentrated on creating and establishing strong working relationships with what he calls “algaepreneurs” throughout the U.S. Starting the NAA was a direct result
(POET) Technology ready, CEO says, but loan guarantee, policy stability and market access still needed to achieve vision. POET plans to have a hand in producing 3.5 billion gallons of cellulosic ethanol per year by 2022, POET CEO Jeff Broin said
by Gordon Dickson (Star-Telegram) Where's the beef? It's in the belly of that Amtrak locomotive. Shortly after noon Tuesday, the Amtrak Heartland Flyer pulled into downtown Fort Worth. It looked and smelled like pretty much any other train at the Intermodal
(Great Lakes Innovation and Technology Report) Heating and squishing microalgae in a pressure-cooker can fast-forward the crude-oil-making process from millennia to minutes. University of Michigan professors are working to understand and improve this procedure in an effort to speed up development
by Chrispin Inambao (New Era) LL Biofuels Namibia, a highly ambitious foreign-initiated and multi-billion-dollar venture, has secured 300 000 hectares of land from chiefs in Caprivi to plant jatropha, whose seeds will be press-crushed to produce much-sought-after biodiesel. Biodiesel that could be
(USDA) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack April 16, 2010, invited public comment on several proposed rules designed to increase the production of advanced biofuels and the development of biorefineries. The programs are authorized under the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (The
(XPrize Foundation, Marketwire) ...X PRIZE is an educational nonprofit organization whose mission is to create radical breakthroughs, inspiring the formation of new industries, jobs and the revitalization of markets that are currently stalled. Through strategic design of ground-breaking competitions with
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 Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ...IntAct Labs LLC has been awarded a $46,770 U.S. EPA grant to further research ethanol stillage treatment using a microbial fuel cell process, according to Justin Buck, chief technology officer for the company. The microbial
by Green Liver (Imperial Valley News) A Purdue University researcher will lead a portion of a federally funded effort based at Iowa State University aimed at creating genetically engineered algae for environmentally friendly biodiesel production. Currently, hydrocarbon fuels such as diesel
by Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuels USA) It doesn't make sense to exchange reliance on one kind of imported transportation essential for another. This is as true for foreign oil; fossil fuels; batteries and rare earth metals for electric cars; as
(Biomass Magazine) Using a high shear bioreactor (extrusion) pretreatment process can help prepare corn stover as a feedstock for making cellulosic ethanol, a South Dakota State University study finds. The SDSU study explored different temperatures, screw speeds, and enzymes to learn
by James Cartledge (BrighterEnergy.org) The Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company (HC&S) has said it is aiming to become a large-scale “energy farm” to provide biofuels for the US Navy and Hawaii itself. The company based in Pu’unene, Hawaii, is set to
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Scott Carpenter once noted that we know more about the heavens than the sea — but for biofuels, there is every urgent reason to look carefully to salt-friendly projects that can utilize brackish water, or
Ontario is investing $4 million through the Innovation Demonstration Fund (IDF) to help Woodland Biofuels Inc. and its partners build a groundbreaking demonstration plant that will efficiently produce cellulosic ethanol from renewable wastes. The plant will use Woodland’s patented technology, which
The first ARIES biodiesel production system has been delivered to Naval Base Ventura County. ARIES is the result of a collaborative effort by the U.S. Navy, Biodiesel Industries and Aerojet to produce a sustainable and reliable renewable fuel, biodiesel, using
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Washington, the US Department of Energy released its Open Government Plan highlighting DOE initiatives to maintain and increase transparency, increase participation between the Department, its program offices, sites and the American public, and increase collaborative
Seeking to enhance Pennsylvania's energy security, promote alternative forms of energy and create a cleaner environment, Governor Edward G. Rendell announced an $8 million investment in 20 projects that will advance the alternative fuels industry in the state. “The Alternative Fuel
(Gerson Lehman Group) Needless to say, as the ethanol industry continues to grow, the level of opposition continues to increase and the battle has become much more visible. Historically anti-ethanol rhetoric has originated from the American Petroleum Association (API) and associated “Big oil” companies but
(The Economist) The renewable-fuel standard released in February by America’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) paints an ambitious picture of biofuels’ future. It wants the amount of the stuff used as transport fuel to climb from 13 billion gallons (49 billion
by Jane Meinhardt (Tampa Bay Business Journal) A startup formed when University of South Florida researchers created a patent-pending catalytic process that transformed sawdust into jet fuel is taking off. COSI Catalysts Inc. received honorable mention last week in the “Advanced
(Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News) Funding the existing cellulosic biofuel reverse auction program is a targeted, affordable way to assist pioneer cellulosic biofuel producers in the United States. The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) released a March 23, 2010, letter to House and Senate
The Louisiana Department of Natural Resources was awarded $71,694,000 to fund energy projects through SEP. A portion of these funds has been used to create the Transportation Efficiency & Alternative Fuels Grant Program as described in the following sections. The Louisiana
HCL CleanTech, a U.S.-Israeli biofuels technology development company, has chosen North Carolina as the site for its administrative headquarters and first pilot plant. The Biofuels Center of North Carolina has assisted the company and will provide office space in Oxford in
by Joshua Kagan (GreenTechMedia) Algae biofuels are often considered one of those technologies --- like hydrogen fuel cells --- that are always "ten years away." Well, one company says it might have just cracked the code and could be supplying
by Leah Beth Ward (YakimaHerald.com) The parent company of the AB Foods-Washington Beef processing plant in Toppenish has won $2 million in grants and loans to create a biofuels company that will transform waste into diesel. AB Bioenergy will use the
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded $2.38 million to 34 small businesses to develop innovative, sustainable technologies to protect human health and the environment. These efforts will help improve air quality, protect our water, work to decrease the
General Motors Co. announced on March 30, 2010, a five-year partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to help develop the potential of the jatropha plant as a sustainable biofuel energy crop. Traditionally considered a weed, jatropha plants produce
by Karen Lovett (Nashua Telegraph) ...Closer to home, the Merrimack Biodiesel Crew has also been experimenting with algae, growing different types in flasks on a science lab windowsill. Now, the crew hopes to expand its operation – and host other environmentally
by Michelle Kautz (DomesticFuel.com) According to the Associated Press, the Ohio Turnpike Commission has announced plans to open up two “green” rest areas, powered by renewable energy such as wind or solar power and they will carry E85. READ MORE
by Halima Abdallah (The East African) Uganda scientists have made a breakthrough in extracting bio-ethanol from non-food parts of plants — cassava stems, cassava leaves, pineapple leaves, elephant grass stems and wood — opening the way for commercial production of ethanol
by Mokagedi Gaotlhobogwe (MmegiOnline) Coal-rich Botswana has announced its ambitious plans to reduce carbon emissions by setting up a 50 million-litre per year bio-diesel processing plant to be fed from jatropha (oil seed) plantations by 2012. The project will be funded
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
by Thom Gabrukiewicz (Argus Leader) A native perennial might hold the promise of being not only a new source crop for cellulosic ethanol, but also a way to help capture and store carbon. South Dakota State University plant breeders are helping investigate
(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 Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...orchestrating a sweeping revamp of energy strategy at the Department of Defense — where a new generation of leaders cite benefits such as these when they tout the features of biofuels: 1. Saving lives – as
To promote more clean energy production the Alberta government is expanding and extending an incentive program for producers of bioenergy products. Funding under the Bioenergy Producer Credit Program is extended for five years until 2016. The program will help Alberta meet
(Focus Taiwan) Taiwan is suggesting its South Pacific allies plant Jatropha trees to help solve energy shortages. ..."Jatropha is the recipe for green energy, " said Tao Wen-lung, secretary-general of Taiwan's International Cooperation and Development Fund, which is in charge of
Joined by advocates of America's renewable fuels industry, Congressman Earl Pomeroy (D-ND) and Congressman John Shimkus (R-IL) unveiled legislation that would extend tax incentives that are critical to the nation's ethanol industry and the preservation of hundreds of thousands of jobs. The
by Kevin Abourzk (Lincoln Journal Star) But algae? A team of University of Nebraska-Lincoln researchers is working to extract oil from that sticky green stuff that gums up boat motors and fishing lines. Then they'll study the feasibility of using it
(Biofuels International) According to Bio Base Europe the first crop of genetically modified poplar plants will be converted into ethanol in a Flemish-Dutch pilot installation. The poplars were planted in May 2009 in an outside field in Ghent, Belgium. The crop
by Shutapa Paul (liveMint.com, Wall Street Journal) The 140-year old construction firm, Shapoorji Pallonji and Co. Ltd, signed an agreement with the government of Ethiopia to take on lease up to 50,000ha of land to cultivate pongamia pinnata—a feedstock for
by Mutale Kapekele (The Post Online) The government should set up a biofuels fund, Biofuels Association of Zambia (BAZ) chairperson Professor Thomson Sinkala has advised. ...“Biofuels is a turnkey industry for Zambia. We must go beyond potential and turn the
(clickgreen) The Carbon Trust has announced plans to take on the world in the global race to develop a sustainable, cost-effective biofuel from algae. The "dream team" of eleven leading UK institutions was unveiled who will work together with the Carbon
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 (National Defense Magazine) The secretary of the Navy’s announcement last fall of several initiatives to wean the sea service off fossil fuels has generated excitement but also some trepidation among energy researchers and defense contractors. Much of the hope for
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 funding is available again through three USDA programs to promote increased production of biofuel and bioenergy. The programs are authorized under the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008
(iStock Analyst) ...Li Rongjie, a deputy to the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, said the country could potentially produce 1.2 billion tons of dry cellulosic biomass per year, which has the energy content of 400 million tons of
(Greenwise) A consortium of British businesses has netted £7 million of Government funding to develop a technology that could see mini refineries sited near landfill sites up and down the country producing cheap, carbon efficient biofuel for transport from waste. ...The
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 Katie Fehrenbacher (Earth2Tech) Craig Venter, considered to be the father of genomics and the founder of synthetic biology startup Synthetic Genomics, said there’s a fundamental problem with algae fuel at the Wall Street Journal’s Eco:nomics conference on Thursday: in
by Johann Hari (The Nation) Groups like Conservation International are among the most trusted "brands" in America, pledged to protect and defend nature. Yet as we confront the biggest ecological crisis in human history, many of the green organizations meant
by Cole Gustafson (Prairie Business Magazine) ... In addition to problems on Wall Street following the collapse of the financial markets, cellulosic biofuel producers have lacked standard benchmarks of performance like those used in grain corn ethanol plants (1 bushel
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) ...Strategic Fit: ...(I)t is important to remember that the original success of 1st generation biofuels stemmed from Brazil having an advantaged sugar industry that achieved scale and innovation benefits. This allowed diversification into biofuels when
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.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) has awarded a Technology Investment Agreement to DuPont for the development of a process to convert sugars produced by macroalgae into next-generation biofuels called isobutanol. Bio Architecture Lab (BAL)
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) BIO exec VP Brent Erickson ruefully noted in a conference with reporters that the biofuels industry was “very disappointed in the loan guarantee program. Biomass was mixed in with wind and solar, which have much
(Reuters) Canada will invest nearly C$80 million ($77 million) to expand a Quebec ethanol plant, the government said on Tuesday, as it promotes the use of the grain-based fuel as a substitute to gasoline and creates jobs. Ottawa, through its ecoENERGY
by David J. Leeds (GreentechMedia) After sitting through presentations from a "who's who" of the energy world these past two days at the DOE's inaugural ARPA-E Innovation Summit, any one of the more than 1,700 individuals in the room likely needed
UOP, a Honeywell ( HON) company, announced today that it has been awarded a $1.5 million cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of Energy for a project to demonstrate technology to capture carbon dioxide and produce algae for use in
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) was a cold Wednesday afternoon in January when the news came through that a consortium called the National Alliance for Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts had received a $44 million grant from the Department of Energy.
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 Naureen S. Malik (Dow Jones Newswires) Makers of cellulosic ethanol warn that ambitious U.S. government goals to significantly boost production of the technologically advanced fuel over the next 12 years won't be met without stronger backing from Washington. ...industry executives
by Robert Kozak (Advanced Biofuels USA) Contemplating the continued inability of the US to meet the biofuels and advanced biofuels production and sales expectations codified in the Renewable Fuels Standard, the Advanced Biofuels USA board passed a resolution to introduce
Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) is calling on entrepreneurs and technology developers across Canada to submit Statements of Interests to the SD Tech Fund™, as SDTC opens its 17th round of funding. “Investing in promising clean technology solutions developed in Canada
(CleanTechPRWire) DMC Green, Inc., announced that the Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded DMC Green two separate grants to support their on-going green fuel infrastructure projects in California. The two grants will help fund E85 ethanol installation for ten gas
by Peter Sur (West Hawaii Today) A new biodiesel plant that will produce 2.6 million gallons a year is planned for Keaau. ...Now an undeveloped property, a little more than a year from now the Maui-based principals of Pacific Biodiesel
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 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 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
Editorial (The Washington Post) ... Is there no alternative between simple do-nothingism and House complexity? In fact, there is. An alternative proposal increasingly capturing interest on Capitol Hill is the CLEAR Act, sponsored by Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Susan
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
(Central Valley Business Times) The mass production of biofuels could be a major step toward eliminating dependence on fossil fuels, but a number of factors have stood in the way, including the argument against using productive agricultural land for fuel
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 Paul Bollinger (The DOD Energy Blog) It appears that the Obama Administration is close to formally announcing a nominee for the Department of Defense (DOD) Director of Operational Energy Plans and Programs. The Director of this office will have
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
Rentech, Inc. and ClearFuels Technology Inc., jointly announced that their project to construct a biomass gasifier at Rentech's Energy Technology Center ("RETC") in Denver has been awarded a conditional $22.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy ("DOE"). The
by Tiffany Hsu (Los Angeles Times) Propel Fuels received $20 million in funding, the renewable-fuels retailer said. Along with a $12-million investment from Craton Equity Partners, Nth Power and @Ventures, the company received $8 million in debt financing. The funds
(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
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the Biotechnology Industry Organization followed up on a shift in US biofuels policy with a call for four new steps it said would increase the pace of biofuels commercialization. BIO called for: • Revising
(Biofuels Digest) A letter to Energy Secretary Chu from 11 cellulosic ethanol CEOs and directors: “The Department is obligated by statute to determine that LGP-funded projects offer a “reasonable prospect of repayment” (EPAct Section 1702(d)(1)). We understand that, at present,
Will Thurmond (Biofuels Digest) In 1973 the world experienced the first major supply shock from OPEC, leading to petrol shortages, and a sustained period of economic stagnation, and rampant inflation. As a response, US President Carter established the National Renewable
The United States can lead the world in deploying advanced biotechnology for biofuels and create thousands of new jobs by implementing policies to support the emerging industry. The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) today applauded President Obama’s call in the State
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 Tamsin Carlisle (The National) Just six months after ExxonMobil agreed to invest US$600 million (Dh2.2 billion) in a six-year project to develop biofuel from microscopic plants, teams of researchers are performing their first experiments. ... “We’re at full speed
by Robert Kozak (Advanced Biofuels USA) The QDR (Quadrennial Defense Review), which sets the Department of Defense's priorities for the next four years, came out February 1, 2010. The QDR, because it is much more detailed than the FY 2011
by Robert Kozak (Advanced Biofuels USA) The FY 2011 US Budget request is so long, cumbersome and detailed, that we've read it and pulled out some salient points related to biofuels so you don't have to. But, if you want
by Dan Miller (The Patriot-News) The state will provide $3 million toward an $11 million upgrade of the Keystone BioFuels bio-refinery production plant in Hampden Township (Pennsylvania). The Alternative Energy Investment Fund will provide a $1 million loan guarantee and a
Massachusetts-based renewable energy company Bodega Algae and Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences in West Boothbay Harbor, Maine, have received a six-month, $150,000 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Science Foundation to develop and test a prototype for
by Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuels USA) “Maybe the “Valley of Death” is working as it should for the biofuels industry. First generation biofuels seem to be finding their place in the market. Maybe there are good reasons that other technologies
Sixteen clean technology projects from across Canada will receive $58 million in funding to help move innovative technology solutions to the market. The announcement, confirming the decision of the Board of Directors of Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC), was made
(January 21, 2010) ...It is imperative that government provide R&D funding, especially at the front end when private investments would not recoup the full value of the shared social good or when a new technology would displace an embedded way
by Kamilla Go (Santiago Times) Chile's Energy Minister Marcelo Tokman and a Corporation for Public Works (Corfo) vice president announced a US$30 million investment in biofuel research in 2010. The project will be funded by alternative energy companies Deserp Bioenergy,
by Jeffrey Decker (FlightGlobal) Interview with Richard Altman, executive director of the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative, working closely with aviation's private and public sectors in a bid to achieve carbon neutral growth by 2020 ... Are there sectors you would like
Boeing, the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, Etihad Airways and Honeywell's UOP announced an agreement to establish a major research institution and demonstration project in Abu Dhabi dedicated to sustainable energy solutions. The Sustainable Bioenergy Research Project (SBRP) will
(US Department of Energy)Secretary Steven Chu also announced the selection of eight infrastructure projects to receive up to $1.6 million to support expanded fueling infrastructure for ethanol blends. The projects will expand ethanol blends infrastructure at existing retail fueling locations in nine
by Amy Westervelt (Solve Climate) There was a sense of deja vu in the biofuels sector this week when U.S. Energy Secretary Chu announced nearly $80 million in funding for research and development of algae-based fuels. The dream of turning pond
With the goal of providing drivers with more choices at the pump, the Missouri Corn Merchandising Council (MCMC) has been awarded a $200,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to expand the number of ethanol stations along major
UOP LLC, a Honeywell company, announced it has been selected for negotiation of a $25 million award from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to build a demonstration unit in Hawaii to convert cellulosic biomass into green transportation fuels. As part
U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced the investment of nearly $80 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for advanced biofuels research and fueling infrastructure that will help support the development of a clean sustainable transportation
Memphis Bioworks Foundation announced it has been awarded a $2.9 million Energy Training Partnership Grant under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Green Jobs Training Program. The two-year initiative will fund programs to train area workers for jobs in
by Juliet Eilperin (Washington Post) It sounded like a good idea: Provide a little government money to convert wood shavings and plant waste into renewable energy. But as laudable as that goal sounds, it could end up causing more economic damage than
by Joe Caspermeyer (Renewable Energy World) An Arizona State University research team has developed a process that removes a key obstacle to producing lower cost, renewable biofuels. The team has programmed a photosynthetic microbe to self-destruct, making the recovery of
by Megan Kuhn (Flightglobal) Four companies with biorefinery projects targeting alternative jet fuel production will receive grant money totalling up to $100 million from the US Energy Department. Honeywell subsidiary UOP, algae-based fuel developer Sapphire Energy, chemical producer Elevance Renewable Sciences
The Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) is leading a biodiesel pilot project to demonstrate how well the renewable fuel performs year-round in agriculture equipment. Supported under the National Renewable Diesel Demonstration Initiative (NRDDI), the project will help SRC assess biodiesel's quality
J.B. Smith (Waco Tribune-Herald) To critics who object to making ethanol fuel out of grain, Larry Lehr, of Waco, has an ecology-minded answer: Run it through a cow first. Lehr, who teaches environmental science at Baylor University, is planning to build
Montana State University professors are taking the next step in research that could make it possible to produce biofuel from wood chips using a fungus discovered in South America. This fall, the university received a four-year, $2 million grant from
As scientists scramble to develop ways to generate enormous amounts of energy from cleaner-burning, renewable fuels to replace coal and oil, promising agricultural crops such as switchgrass have made headlines. But selecting the plants from which to make energy is
by Kris Bevill (Biomass Magazine) The North Carolina Board of Science & Technology is currently accepting proposals for the state’s 2009-’10 Green Business Fund grant program. The fund, developed to promote environmentally friendly economic growth in North Carolina, will award
Neil Rossmeissl (Department of Energy, Office of Biomass Program) Presentation includes Biomass Program goals and objectives; charts of biomass pathways to biofuels, biochemicals, other biomass-based products; description of grant-making metholology; charts of biomass conversion techniques; chart of key strategic relationships
by Ben Lefebvre and William Lemos (ICIS.com) US ethanol and biodiesel players have put a disastrous 2009 behind them, but many are wondering if they can survive 2010 without major government support. Biofuels producers are awaiting the roll-out of the updated
by Alexis Madrigal (Wired Science) For nearly 20 years, a government laboratory built a living, respiring library of carefully collected organisms in search of something that could grow quickly while producing something precious: oil. But now that collection has largely been
by Alexis Madrigal (Wired Science) For nearly 20 years, a government laboratory built a living, respiring library of carefully collected organisms in search of something that could grow quickly while producing something precious: oil. But now that collection has largely been
by Herman Trabish (New Energy News and REnewable Energy.com) ... Despite enormous amounts of money poured into research and development, a way to economically produce second-generation (non-crop) biofuels at commercial scale has eluded the most ambitiously dedicated lab scientists and the
Consistentwith other examples of questions raised about the qualifications of reviewers and quality of reviews, Idaho Sustainable Energy details in a letter to supporters their experience with the DOE Intergrated Biorefinery Operations process. Of particular interest are suggestions that a 78%
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