by Chris Woodyard (USA Today) Just because General Motors (GM) is touting its Chevrolet Volt electric car technology, it hasn't stopped pursuing other energy alternatives, from hydrogen fuel cells to natural gas, General Motors CEO Dan Akerson said Wednesday. ... •Hydrogen. While "There
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. DOE’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory has launched a new interactive website meant to integrate a wide variety of data and resources related to bioenergy in an attempt to provide a holistic view
(The Economist) SPOOKED by the spike in oil prices in 2008 and warily eyeing the latest spurt in fuel charges, airlines have noted that the costs of not going green are growing. In particular, they fret about the painful levies on
[caption id="attachment_16797" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="GM's commitment to racing with biofuels continues with Dale Earnhardt, Jr. winning the pole position for the 2011 Daytona 500. Photo: J.Ivancic"][/caption] by Robert E. Kozak (Advanced Biofuels USA) NASCAR is kicking off their season next week
(Dyson Racing) Dyson Racing is pleased to welcome Green Earth Technologies, Inc., and their G-OIL® brand as the primary sponsor of the #16 Dyson Racing G-OIL Mazda Lola Coupe for the 2011 American Le Mans Series season. G-OIL is the
(Scoop) Independent fuel retailer Gull New Zealand has today reported record bio fuel sales volumes. Over the past three years, Gull has expanded its biofuel range and its distribution and now sells bio fuels at 39 locations throughout the North Island,
by Art Hovey (Lincoln Star Journal) Nineteen years after cars capable of using 85 percent ethanol blends went on the market, it appears that Schuyler is about to join the ranks of Nebraska communities that make the product available to
by Cole Gustafson (Western Farm Press/North Dakota State University Extension Service) A USDA-funded study is developing new pricing and trading standards for cellulosic biomass feedstocks. A first step in the study is to identify the most promising feedstocks and the
(Algae Industry Magazine) Ben Cloud had a radical idea. Coming from an agricultural background that included 17 years as president and CEO of Western Agri-Group—a diversified farming enterprise comprising 4500 acres and 250 employees producing, packing and shipping dates, cotton,
by Vinod Khosla (GreenTechMedia) Imagination is in shortest supply when it comes to agronomic econometrics that extrapolate the past instead of inventing a new future. Part II: Feedstock. Feedstock cost, environmental impact and even its politics are critical variables. With each
by Grace V. Jean (National Defense Magazine) The Air Force within the next five years wants to be able to go on a shopping spree to snap up several hundred million gallons of alternative fuels produced within U.S. borders. As
by Jim Cook (Dothan Eagle) Local drivers of flex fuel vehicles can enjoy the benefits of their eco-friendly rides now that two E85 fuel stations have opened in the area. On Thursday, the Inland Food Stores at 2747 Ross Clark Circle
by Dave Rodman (NASCAR.COM) NASCAR's competition update held Friday at Daytona International Speedway as part of Preseason Thunder testing touched on a lot of topics but produced only one hard news item -- no fuel injection in a 2011 Sprint
By Dave Rodman (NASCAR.COM) The Sprint Cup Series' introduction to E15 Ethanol-blended Sunoco race fuel began in earnest during the past three days of Preseason Thunder at Daytona International Speedway. And while NASCAR teams, their manufacturers and engine suppliers have had a
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) BioProcess Algae LLC has begun operating commercial-scale algae bioreactors at Green Plains Renewable Energy Inc.’s 65 MMgy ethanol plant in Shenandoah, Iowa. The project is a joint venture among GPRE, BioProcessH20 LLC, a division
(The Bismark Tribune) Sales of E85 fuel in North Dakota last year more than doubled. State officials credit a grant program for retailers who install so-called blender pumps. Gov. Jack Dalrymple said between January and November last year, about 582,000 gallons
(EMM NewsBrief) Alternative fuels have the potential to gradually replace fossil energy sources and make transport sustainable by 2050, according to a report presented to the European Commission today by the stakeholder expert group on future transport fuels. The EU
(POET) First farmers completed BCAP applications Monday Farmers are now delivering biomass bales to POET's 22-acre storage site in Emmetsburg, Iowa, the future home of the 25 million-gallon-per-year cellulosic ethanol plant dubbed "Project LIBERTY." Area farmers harvested 56,000 tons of corn cobs, leaves,
by Amie Williams (Mustang Evolution/The Auto Channel) ...Doug’s Ford Mustang utilizes 350 times less gasoline than the Toyota Prius. He has tried desperately in the last three years to get an OEM company to take an interest in his technology
by Ben Geman (The Hill/E2Wire) The ethanol industry is quickly attacking a draft EPA study that details a slew of ecological harms that could accompany increased biofuels production. “EPA’s failure to provide this report in any context with the environmental degradation done
by Todd Taylor with Christina Connelly, Ralph Groschen, Mark Lindquist, Gregg Mast, Tim Welle and Doug Cameron (Biofuels Digest/Minnesota) ...Venture capitalists in California support and encourage these and many other companies and deserve ample credit for the Cambrian-like explosion of new
(OriginOil) Owner of three ‘CO2 to energy’ projects will pilot extraction unit at large coal-fired power plant OriginOil, Inc., the developer of breakthrough technology to transform algae, the most promising source of renewable oil, into a true competitor to petroleum, today announced
U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar introduced today the “Dual Fuel Vehicles Bill of 2011.” The bill will provide future vehicle owners a choice in fueling options through the production of vehicles that can operate on multiple fuels. “In order to rapidly decrease
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) introduced a new piece of legislation today, called the “Biofuels Market Expansion Act of 2011.” The bill, if passed, would ensure an increasing number of automobiles in the U.S. be flexible
by Gary Truitt (Hoosier Ag Today) ...What is lacking is the infrastructure to get that ethanol to the consumer. Juan Sesmero, Asst. Professor of Ag Economics at Purdue, says improving the infrastructure is key to ethanol‘s future, “Improving the
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The California Air Resources Board will hold a public hearing Feb. 24 to consider 25 amendments proposed by various ethanol producers, representing 1.6 billion gallons of annual domestic production, to reduce the carbon intensity
(US Environmental Protection Agency) In response to a request by Growth Energy under section 211(f)(4) of the Clean Air Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has partially granted a waiver to allow fuel and fuel additive manufacturers to introduce into
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) Flex fuel vehicle (FFV) drivers in southeast Alabama now have two new locations to get 85 percent ethanol fuel with the opportunity to get mid grade ethanol blends in the future. Inland Stores (a subsidiary of Southwest
(Sandia National Laboratories) Engine experts and biofuels researchers at Sandia National Laboratories are working on a project that aims to modify an endophytic fungus so that it will produce fuel-type hydrocarbons for transportation purposes. The biofuels being investigated for the project
by Porter J. Martin and Gregory J. Lynch (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... Can ethanol survive without these supports? I believe the answer is yes, if we take steps to plan now. Why? Because we have seen ethanol producers start to
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Research being conducted in Tennessee to take biomass from the “farm gate to the biorefinery gate” has zeroed in on switchgrass. That’s not to say that switchgrass is the only answer for cellulosic ethanol
by Hayal Alemayehu (NewsDire) The government is schedule to increase the proportion of ethanol being blended in benzene to 10 percent beginning March 7. For over a year now, the benzene that has been in use in Addis Ababa
(BusinessWire/Accenture) China could lead the race to roll out electric vehicles and will deploy new transport technologies at scale more quickly than the United States, according to a report by Accenture that compares the two countries. But the US could
by Isaac Davison (NZHerald.co.NZ) ...The truck, launched in Rodney yesterday by Auckland Mayor Len Brown, is the result of the first successful New Zealand project to turn landfill gas into a transport fuel. Its creators say the truck's
(Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board) Grain producers from the state of Maryland announced they have awarded a grant to the Clean Fuels Foundation for a statewide program to increase the sale of high level ethanol blends and support local E85
by Denis Langlois (OwenSoundSunTimes.com) Owen Sound is scrapping its environmentally conscious biodiesel program due to its cost and a "considerable" number of engine failures. ...The city first fuelled a bus on a blend of diesel and cooking oil in 2007
by Susan Taylor (Reuters) A tiny Canadian startup company that is preparing to open a biodiesel plant in Toronto this spring says it will produce clean fuel, animal feed and human food all from the modest flax seed. Privately held Energy
by KXMBTV Bismarck (KXNet.com) Producing a new fuel mix...right at the station, ethanol blender pumps are helping push the demand for ethanol. At Wilton Cenex they're blending their own mix of gasoline and ethanol right at the pump. Consumers now have the choice of
by Vikki Broughton Hodges (The Dispatch) The first local retail sales of ethanol and biodiesel fuels are scheduled to begin in April at Sparky’s Marketplace, a new service station, convenience store and car wash being developed by Hill Oil Co.
By Christine Souza (California Farm Bureau Federation) As the nation attempts to recover from the economic downturn, farmers and ranchers realize this kind of positive movement in the economy will lead to higher energy costs. A significant portion of
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) The American Farm Bureau Federation is supporting a new direction in biofuels policy away from the blenders tax credit and toward increasing infrastructure. “The whole discussion has been evolving within the industry and within the Congress,” said AFBF President
(National Biodiesel Board) Automakers Back Biodiesel, America’s First Commercially Available ‘Advanced Biofuel’ The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit has long been known as THE event of the year for the latest vehicle technologies and innovations, setting the pace
(BiotechNow) ...Paul Bryan, biomass program manager for the Energy Department, who also spoke at the Pacific Rim Summit, points out that the government’s transition to biofuels must be careful and deliberate. “We get a lot of products from a barrel of
(Pratt & Whitney) A Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220 engine recently powered its first biofuel test flight of a U.S. Air Force F-15 Eagle at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. This flight test, powered by alternative jet fuel, comes on the
by Daniel Looker (Agriculture.com) To farmers who pioneered the ethanol industry, the goal was creating another market for corn. To retired General Wesley Clark, it’s about patriotism and national security. Clark, who is co-chairman of the ethanol lobbying group, Growth Energy,
The First International Algae Competition was launched at the World Algae Congress held in San Francisco, CA, December 6-8, 2010. Algae Competition objectives are to create an open source collaboratory that expands and shares a vision for algae in our future
by Sue Sterling (The Daily Star-Journal) Agricultural and environmental groups hope to convince legislators to restore funding for the Biomass Crop Assistance Program in the Senate Omnibus Appropriations Bill that will be considered in March. The BCAP program, enacted as part
(Renewable Fuels Association) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed label for E15 (15% ethanol/85% gasoline) “will do little, if anything, to promote the successful introduction of a new fuel to the marketplace” the Renewable Fuels Association wrote in comments
by Brian Wallheimer (Purdue University/Western Farm Press) The United States doesn't have the infrastructure to meet the federal mandate for renewable fuel use with ethanol, but could meet the standard with significant increases in cellulosic and next-generation biofuels, according to a
(Growth Energy) In formal comments submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) yesterday, Growth Energy proposed a new label for E15 (a blend of 15 percent ethanol and 85 percent gasoline) that will more accurately provide consumers with the
(Convenience Store News) Thorntons is now offering E-85 Flex Fuel in 36 store locations -- seven in Illinois, 11 in Indiana, 11 in Kentucky and seven in Tennessee, the company reported. READ MORE
by Christopher Klug (Tiny Green Bubble) In the United States, domestic ethanol production and motor fuel additives are becoming more and more common. However, a bevy of misinformation campaigns surround the use of resources for these clean energy initiatives. These
by Barry Cohen (National Algae Association) ... Some of the accomplishments include: - Construction of commercial-scale demo PBR at Lone Star College - Delivery by NAA Engineering Consortium of plans and design for the 100-acre challenge - Delivery by NAA finance team of first financial
(Green Car Congress/FavStocks) Chinese carmaker Jianghuai Automobile Co.,Ltd. (JAC) shipped 500 ethanol-powered cars to Brazil at the end of December, the first batch resulting from a deal signed in August with Brazilian dealer SHC to export 620,000 units to Brazil over
by David DeWitte (Sioux City Journal) USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack expects a forthcoming round of federal grants to help start non-corn-based advanced biofuel plants outside the nation's traditional ethanol heartland boosting support for ethanol. The government plans to announce measures in early
By Don Hofstrand (Iowa State University Extension/JoplinStockyards.com) U.S. energy policy has recently moved into the background due to concerns about the current economic downturn. However, the importance of the two major drivers of energy policy - the need to wean
by Emily Bowen, Sean C. Kennedy, Kelsey Miranda (Worcester Polytechnic Institute) The aim of this project was to design a process for producing bioethanol from sugar beets as a possible feedstock replacement for corn. Currently eighty-five percent of the energy used by the United
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Miscanthus will see a giant leap in acreage in 2011, thanks to Soperton, Ga.-based Repreve Renewables LLC. The company currently has 500 acres planted in five locations in the Southeast, which Craig Patterson,
(Europa.eu) An EU-funded collaboration between universities and industry is overcoming limitations in current technologies to develop new bioethanol engines. Driven by the need for more sustainable and less polluting sources of energy, the European Union is now more determined than ever to
by Jessica Naudziunas (NPR / KBIA / Harvest Public Media) ...Starting next season, NASCAR will use a 15 percent ethanol-gas blend. It has a bit more ethanol than E10, which many gas stations today offer as regular fuel. This year,
by Ben Lefebvre (Wall Street Journal) Several major U.S. oil refiners said Tuesday that they won't sell gasoline containing 15% ethanol despite recent government authorization for fuel makers to start distributing the fuel blend. Valero Energy Corp., Marathon Oil Corp. and Tesoro
by Steve Gelsi and Jeffry Bartash (MarketWatch) Blend of 15% ethanol may cause problems, group warns A trade group that includes automotive giants Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Co. has joined forces with other vehicle and engine makers to sound a
by Charles Abbott and Timothy Gardner (Reuters) U.S. ethanol makers face a battle over reforming subsidies next year after current incentives are rolled over in the tax package signed into law by President Barack Obama on Friday. The new law extends the
by Adrian Higgins (The Washington Post) ...But a push to add another 50 percent to the ethanol content of some automobile fuel has opened a barrel of worms. Automakers say they don't know how it will affect their cars; power-equipment
(Europa) The European Commission has authorised, under EU state aid rules, a €5 million investment aid for a pipeline infrastructure to transport waste CO2 from a bioethanol plant in Rotterdam to greenhouses in the “Zuidplaspolder”. The waste CO2 will be used
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Surveys show that as many as 75 percent of flex-fuel vehicle (FFV) owners don’t know they can fill their vehicles with E85. Now, a new public awareness campaign will aim to change that. ...On Dec.
by Amy West (KHAS TV) Want to see more ethanol blends at the pump? Well, the American Corn Growers Foundation has a plan and they're challenging Congress to help the industry by redirecting more than $15 billion in Foreign Tax
by Raymond J. Learsy (Huffington Post) In a classic example and contender for the Alfred E. Neuman "I Don't Get It" prize of the year the New York Times' editorial page of December 9th outdid itself. First we had a dissertation on
(SBI Energy) The world is rushing to harness alternative and renewable energy sources, and global specialty pipeline infrastructure is jumping to keep up. SBI Energy estimates that the total global market for specialty pipelines will show year over year increases of
(Diesel Technology Forum) Sulfur Content in Diesel Fuel Has Been Reduced By 97% Since 2006 This week marked a major milestone for the nation’s transition to ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuel as all highway diesel fuel in the United States complies with the
(Business Green) Researchers hope to prove biofuels could be a viable alternative to diesel in Antarctic temperatures An attempt to record the quickest ever crossing of Antarctica has reached the South Pole, powered entirely by biofuels. The 10 man team from the Moon
(Sprigger's Choice) Sprigger’s Choice should be your choice establishing lifting, harvesting and planting your Bio-Energy Crop such as Miscanthus with Rhizomes. Growers of the energy crop Miscanthus will shortly have available to them some additional equipment, specifically designed to assist in
by Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuels USA) Animated discussion characterized the fourth day of the Infocast series on cellulosic biofuels. Much is at stake. The industry is so close to being able to find success. If gasoline was $4.00/gallon, implementation would
(International Business Times) Farmers in this iron-roof village in Sierra Leone say they didn't know what they were getting into when they leased their land for a biofuel crop they now fear threatens their food harvests. Addax Bioenergy, part of privately-owned Swiss
by Paul Hoversten (Air & Space Smithsonian) Richard Altman, who spent 39 years as a propulsion engineer at Pratt & Whitney, is executive director of the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative. The industry-government alliance was formed in 2006 to push development
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...In July, the EPA indicating in a draft ruling that it would specify a range of 6-25 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol, and finalized its mandated volumes at 6.6 million gallons, way, way down from
(Information Week Government) ...In a White House blog post last week, the Obama administration listed 10 "must-have" mobile applications it's made available on its USA.gov mobile applications site. The site, launched in July as part of a redesign of USA.gov, supports
(Ceres) Energy crop developer Ceres, Inc. reports that growers are ready and willing to produce biomass for biopower and advanced biofuels, and have the land to do so. A company survey of U.S. growers showed that 71% of respondents were very
by Matt Hardigree (Jalopnik/MSNBC) Family makes full-fledged home on wheels from recycled materials ...With 46-inch tires and a biodiesel engine also used by construction equipment, the EcoRoamer looks and sounds terrifying. Its size belies its sophistication — it also uses a NASA-designed
by Lynn Grooms (Farm Industry News) The market for corncobs for cellulosic ethanol production is still new. So, too, is the market for other types of biomass. But new research and new collection equipment are paving the way for the
(Sweetwater Energy) Sweetwater has begun delivering concentrated sugar water from its expanded pilot system in Rochester, NY to sources developing bio-jet fuel. Production is ramping up over the next 3 months in preparation for major-scale deliveries beginning in 2011, utilizing Sweetwater's first commercial-scale processor. READ MORE
by James Cartledge (BrighterEnergy.org) New research from Purdue University highlights the need to improve efficiencies in the logistics of cellulosic biomass feedstocks for ethanol production. A study from the university’s agricultural and biological engineering researchers found that turning cellulosic feedstocks like corn
(Star Advertiser) The Marine Corps said it will host a ribbon cutting tomorrow for the first "E85" fueling station in Hawaii that utilizes a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. "As always, we are excited to lead the way
(US Enviromental Protection Agency) As part of its commitment to help ensure that biofuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel, are safely stored in underground storage tanks (USTs), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released draft guidance for UST owners and
(MarketWatch/Linde) ...Linde is currently researching various production options aimed at gradually increasing the share of "green" sources in the hydrogen landscape. One of these uses liquid biomass (glycerine), a by-product of biodiesel production, as the feedstock. READ MORE From the report: The
(Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection) Announces Nearly $8 Million for 21 Projects Promoting Biofuels, Natural Gas- and Electric-Powered Vehicles Governor Edward G. Rendell said today that Pennsylvania is cutting its appetite for foreign oil by more than a half-million gallons as
by Eric Evarts (Consumer Reports) ...Overall, 63 percent expect to get a significant increase in fuel economy, regardless of the type of vehicle they buy. Only 67 percent said they are considering a traditional gasoline engine in their next new-car
by Aureon Kwolek (E-100-4) ...Today’s gasoline engines are not currently designed to exploit the attributes of ethanol and blends of ethanol-water, which already carry most of the oxygen required for combustion. Mainstream engine specifications (including spark plugs) are optimized for
(New Energy and Fuel) ...The U.S. is closing in on the million barrel per day milestone. Cheers in some sections, groans in others, but for America, slashing off the equivalent of 750,000 b/d of imported oil is a good thing. Most
by Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuels USA) Technologies proven at the bench scale and biofuel feedstocks developed or identified are worthless until they come together at a successful biorefinery. Getting there involves a series of choices: new, "greenfield" construction "from scratch" or
(Algae Industry Magazine) Algae are an agricultural product and algae producers should consider the Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) guidelines developed in Europe and Asia as well as the US guidelines for genetic engineering (GE) of agricultural products. ... While algaculture will
(TransWorldNews) Growth in world biofuel demand will continue to expand at a rapid double-digit annual pace, reaching 121 million metric tons in 2014. Bioethanol will experience the greatest gains, as continued steady growth in the large North American market will be
(POET/Renewable Energy World) Sebewaing, Elkton stations now offering blends of E30, E50, E85 and more POET Biorefining – Caro has helped two area businesses install new blender pumps, providing more alternative fuel options for drivers in Sebewaing and Elkton, Mich. The plant
The first Argus-based European ethanol swap was traded November 8, 2010. The December swap for 1,000m3 was sold by AOT to Total at $695/m3 and brokered by Prebon. International energy price reporting agency Argus produces daily price assessments for T1 and
(PRNewswire) Pennsylvania motorists wishing to use E-85, a cleaner fuel consisting of 85 percent Ethanol, will soon have a more consistent source of fuel as they travel between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg. Sheetz today unveiled its "East-West Clean Fuel Corridor" where E-85
(Renewable Fuels Association) It's time to take your boat out of the water and store it for the winter months. To assure proper storage and preparation guidelines are followed, the Renewable Fuels Association has put together three bulletins providing watercraft
by Wendy Leavitt (FleetOwner) Amyris, Inc. has announced that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has furthered its official registration of Amyris’s renewable diesel fuel, raising the registered blend level with ultra-low sulfur diesel from 20% to 35%. According to the company,
by Cathy Kessinger (TriCity Herald) A $1.3 million grant from Connect Oregon will help Tidewater Terminal Co. expand its facility in Umatilla, company officials said Monday. The company will install a new 1.26 million-gallon tank at Umatilla. This will allow Tidewater to
(NACS Online) Inside EPA says the guidance would address similar concerns that came about from MTBE. According to Inside EPA, the EPA is crafting guidance addressing the compatibility of underground storage tanks with E15, “an effort that appears aimed at addressing
by Joelle Dent (Biofuels Digest-Asia) “Why wait for top-down solutions? Providing energy in a bottom-up way instead has a lot to recommend it. There is no need to wait for politicians or utilities to act. The technology is is rapidly falling
by Benson Kong (Truck Trend) You'd be forgiven for mistaking the present U.S. market Ford Ranger for one from the Ronald Reagan era -- which is exactly why the new global version has truck fans crying foul over Ford's decision
(USA Today) Kia just introduced its first South Korean model that can run on 100% ethanol -- the Kia Soul Flex. It will never make it to the U.S., but cars capable of running entirely on ethanol are critical in Brazil, where
(Renewable Fuels Association) Today, PMAA and RFA joined forces to urge their members to limit E-15 sales to Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) until regulations governing the fuel are finalized and implemented. The following is the PMAA/RFA joint memorandum: To: PMAA and
by Miyuki Iiyama and James Onchieku (SciDev) It sounds too good to be true: a biofuel crop that grows on semi-arid lands and degraded soils, replaces fossil fuels in developing countries and brings huge injections of cash to poor smallholders. That is what
(Rentech, Inc.) ‘Eureka! Diesel Drives the Future’ drive raised awareness with California political leaders, consumers on 1,000-mile drive The journey was a crowning moment for the Audi A3 TDI as the ‘2010 Green Car of the Year®’ Two cars on the tour averaged
(US Biofuels Exchange) The US Biofuels Exchange, “the US-BX”, has opened today for live Ethanol and Biodiesel trading and will offer free trading on all listings posted before January 1, 2011. The US-BX’s proprietary “two-sided” trading platform was designed with direct
by Dr. Christopher Wright (Research Engineer, Idaho National Laboratory) Dr. Wright's presentation describes his current project on the creation of a mobile unit to preprocess bales of cellulosic feedstock into a form that can be utilized by a fuel production facility. He
by Dr. Theodore Wegner (Assistant Director, Forest Products Laboratory, U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service) Dr. Wegner begins with an interesting profile of the demand for advanced biofuels, and the different pathways to produce biofuels from cellulosic feedstocks. He shows the distribution
by Dr. J. Richard Hess (Biomass Program Technology Manager, Idaho National Laboratory) Dr. Hess details the biomass attributes that impact the nature of and cost of feedstock preparation, biochemical conversion, and thermochemcal conversion, along with general flow diagrams for each process.
by Dr. Barbara Wells (President and Chief Executive Officer, Arborgen) Arborgen is an industry leader in tree production and improvement, and is well situated in the market to meet the heightened demand for woody biomass to be turned into advanced biofuels
Anna Rath (Vice President of Commercial Development, Ceres, Inc.) Ceres is a seed company that uses advanced biotechnology to develop and distribute energy crop seeds. Rath discusses reasons for their commercial development being slower than planned, but Ceres still anticipates several
by Dr. Neal Gutterson (President and Chief Executive Officer, Mendel Biotechnologies, Inc.) Dr. Gutterson details the activities of Mendel Biotechnologies relevant to the advanced biofuels business space. Mendel developed Miscanthus x giganteus, a custom, sterile, weed-resistant variation of miscanthus. Currently, Mendel is
by Dr. Miles Palmer (Founder, Palmer Labs) Dr. Palmer analyzes the capital and operating expenses for commercial algae production, with a variety of considerations. His analysis shows facilities larger than 400 acres can be profitable, with high internal rate of return for
by Dr. Timothy Volk (Research Associate, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry) Dr. Volk proposes a cycle for growing and harvesting willow trees for use in advanced biofuel production. The amount of usable biomass per acre is very high in woody
by Bob Matousek (Manager of Plant and Harvesting Research and Development, Agco Corporation) Mr. Matousek's presentation discusses techniques for collecting corn crop residues into solid bales that can be transported to fuel production facilities. He details research performed on equipment
by Andrew Wineke (Colorado Springs Gazette) There’s not a lot of corn in Teller County, but that isn’t stopping Sturman Industries from bringing together the top minds in the ethanol industry for a two-day technology summit ending Wednesday at its Woodland
by John Lukas (Harris Group) The Achilles heel of many of the new biomass conversion projects, be they for fuel energy or chemicals, will be the material handling portion of these facilities. The projects will utilize a wide range of feedstocks
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Hawaii is a code word meaning “paradise” not only to sun-starved tourists, but to bioenergy developers. It has all the hallmarks of the “perfect market”. 1. A state that generates no energy from fossil fuels and
(United Nations Environment Programme) Water, land use change and invasive species are key factors that must be addressed alongside greenhouse gas cuts Water could determine the degree to which bioenergy can contribute to combating climate change by reducing the world's reliance on
(BIO) Mainstream Agriculture Was Given a “Decidedly Minor Voice” Representatives from national and regional agriculture, food and feed organizations withdrew en masse this week from the Leonardo Academy’s sustainable agriculture standard setting initiative citing “fatal, systemic limitations and chronic biases”
by David Fig, Jennifer Franco, Lucia Goldfarb. Les Levidow, Mireille Hönicke, Maria Luisa Mendonça (Transnational Insitute) The biofuel project is an agro-industrial development and politically contested policy process where governments increasingly become global actors. European Union (EU) biofuels policy rests upon
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A new Biofuels Digest report found that states that produced enough energy to meet their internal demand for gasoline maintained growth rates 2.5 times above the national average, and either completely avoided the 2007-09 recession
(Green Car Congress) A study by researchers at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Tianjin University has found that the use of fumigation ethanol in a 4-cylinder diesel decreases NOx, smoke and particulate mass and number concentrations. An accompanying significant increase
(EIN News/USDA) ...USDA announced assistance under the Recovery Act for 334 broadband expansions designed to reach more than 6 million people and 250,000 businesses in rural and remote areas. ...By launching the USDA led effort "Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food"
by Bruce E. Dale, Bryan D. Bals, Seungdo Kim and Pragnya Eranki (Biomass Conversion Research Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering and Material Science, and Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Michigan State University) There is an intense ongoing debate regarding the
(EPA) EPA is concurrently proposing a regulatory program to promote the successful introduction of E15 into commerce by ensuring that E15 is used in approved motor vehicles and reducing the potential for the misfueling of E15 into vehicles and engines for
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...In the long term, major oil companies like Shell and ExxonMobil see global transition in the 30-40 percent range by 2050. That may sound like small potatoes. Voters, project developers, and politicians would like to see
(PR Newswire) Syracuse partnership substitutes petroleum diesel with biodiesel Syracuse University today announced a partnership to advance the use of biofuels by the U.S. armed forces as an alternative energy source. The effort involves entrepreneurs John Fox '92 and Wayne Arden,
by Erin Voegele (BioDiesel Magazine) Legislation currently pending in Pennsylvania could negatively impact the state’s biodiesel industry. On Oct. 6, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives adopted an amendment, SB 901, which seeks to impose a new fuel tax on businesses
(GoDanRiver.com) ...On Friday, state and local leaders celebrated the groundbreaking of SEnTeC — a research and development facility that would commercialize bio-energy projects for the region through contract research, developing licensed technologies or creating spin-off businesses. Construction should be completed by
by Dennis Flower (H&V News) Users of gas oil should prepare for the inclusion of biodiesel following changes in line with new European Directives for Renewable Energy and Fuel Quality, ICOM Energy Association has warned. The new fuel will be available later
by Diane Krieger Spivak (Post-Tribune) If the town approves any of three recently opened trash hauling bids, residents here would likely pay 60 percent more to have their trash taken to a landfill than to a proposed garbage-to-ethanol plant. Town officials, who
(Algae Industry Magazine) The National Algae Association’s (NAA) collective of producers, researchers, technologists, engineering and equipment manufacturers have developed preliminary designs for a 100-acre commercial-scale algae production system and have identified the majority of the CAPEX and OPEX issues, according to
by Beatrice Philamon (IPP Media) Tanzanian and Brazilian experts are expected to carry out a countrywide survey to identify and propose strategic areas that would be allocated for biofuel farming. “Our intention is to have special areas or land that will be
by Robert (Aglines) The battle is raging over the public airwaves about the proposed oil tar sand pipeline from Canada that will cross Nebraska. As, the proponents rightly state, there are plenty of oil and gas pipelines crossing Nebraska and some of
(US Environmental Protection Agency) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today waived a limitation on selling fuel that is more than 10 percent ethanol for model year 2007 and newer cars and light trucks. The waiver applies to fuel that
(BYMNews) ...With the government's proposed mandate that all gasolines use up to 15% ethanol, are you ready for the switch? Using a highly advanced formula developed first for car engines, Bell Performance's MIX-I-GO and Marine MXO are the first products on
(Ethanol Across America) C. Boyden Gray, one of the architects of the historic 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments that established the nation's reformulated gasoline program, called for increased regulation of air toxics by the Environmental Protection Agency and in so
(Journal of Peasant Studies) In this collection we ask a number of questions emerging out of the new agrarian political economy created by the ‘biofuel complex’. Together the papers offer perspectives from political economy, political sociology and political ecology, and
(Dayton Business Journal) Ohio is preparing to dole out $8 million to boost manufacturers by subsidizing ethanol and biodiesel refining equipment purchases. ...Under the Advancing Biofuels Beyond the Basics program, companies can snag $500,000 to $1 million for buying equipment that
By Arpita Bhattacharyya, Andrew Light (Center for American Progress) Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced Tuesday an impressive collaboration at the Clinton Global Initiative that brings together U.S. agencies and the United Nations Foundation to form the Global Alliance for
By Kerri Ebert (Midwest Producer) ...Kansas State University agricultural economist David Lambert has been developing economic models focusing on how development of the cellulosic ethanol industry could help meet EISA targets of 16 billion gallons of cellulosic ethanol production by
(Operation Free) Stock car racing fans at Kansas Speedway on September 30 will receive an unusual message from one of the cars speeding around the track: America needs to compete in the "Race to Energy Independence." Operation Free, a group of
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...We have spoken to farmers, local business owners, environmentalists, community development officials, engine developers, scientists, policy makers, producers, investors, lenders, blenders, wholesalers, retailers, and end users. We have visited development projects on four continents. We have
(Eco Periodicals) During a recent meeting in San Salvador, member countries of the Central American Integration System (SICA) weighed up the possibility of standardising criteria for assessing the quality of biofuels and their potential impact in each country. SICA comprises Belize, Costa
by Marc Katz (Dayton Daily News) ...“Ethanol is not the (total) answer,” said John DiMartini, Ethanol Marketing Manager of The Andersons, which has a plant in Greenville. “But together (with other alternative fuels) we can put a severe dent in
by Jerry Fruin (Chair), Mark D. Stowers, Kelly Tiller (Council for Agricultural Science and Technology) The sustainable collection of biomass feedstocks is an important consideration for cellulosic ethanol production. The sustainable amount of biomass that can be removed from the
by John Davis (DomesticFuel) The next generation of biofuels must be developed in conjunction with advanced combustion engines, if there is to be long-term success of those biofuels. That word comes from researchers at the Sandia National Laboratories. The recommendations were made following
by Barbara Grondin Francella (Convenience Store News) ...The EPA is considering a request to authorize the use of E15, while ethanol advocates are calling for the immediate approval of E12 and longer-term, even higher ethanol blends (E25, etc.) However, the
(Green Car Congress) A C-17 Globemaster III based at Edwards Air Force Base is conducting flight tests to see how it performs with different combinations of biofuels. The aircraft was powered by 50% JP-8, 25% hydro-treated renewable jet fuel (HRJ) and
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