(CalSTEP) Former Sec Shultz and Panel Cite Skyrocketing State Oil Imports, Price Shocks, Federal Inaction in Report A diverse group of leaders, including President Reagan’s Secretary of State, released a report today that said California would benefit if it took a
by Vinod Khosla (GreenTechMedia) Mr. Khosla comes out swinging at the Wall Street Journal’s take on Range Fuels and biofuels. ...Regarding certain “facts” in the editorial, “The Range Fuels Fiasco” (Review & Outlook, Feb. 10): The WSJ persists in mischaracterizing my relationship
(Renewable Fuels Association) While the rest of the economy slowly recovers, American ethanol production has been an economic success story. With ethanol plants operating and being built in 29 states, the economic benefits of domestic ethanol production are having an
by Mary Rosenthal (Algal Biomass Organization/Biofuels Digest) ...(T)argeted investments in clean energy technologies like advanced biofuels, including those derived from algae, will grow our country’s economy, foster the creation of new industries, create tens of thousands of jobs in the
by Courtney Blanchard (Telegraph Herald) Senator rejects new criticism of U.S. ethanol policy that comes after reports of low corn reserves. Near record-high corn prices and the lowest reserves in 15 years have reinvigorated the debate over ethanol. U.S. Sen. Chuck
(The Age) Federal independent MP Bob Katter has urged the Australian Workers' Union to help save Queensland's sugar industry from ruin by campaigning for wider ethanol use. "At this point of time in Queensland, the sugar industry is a bigger employer
by Peter Brown (Biofuels Digest) ...Walking the floor at the NBB last week, speaking with exhibitors, buyers and sellers, and the broad Biodiesel community in general, one topic was raised time and again: the parlous state of project financing. While the
by Daniel Looker (Agriculture.com) On a day when Libya teeters on the brink of civil war and cuts oil production, Retired Vice Admiral Denny McGinn takes little comfort from an announcement by the remaining members of OPEC that it will
by Joelle Brink (Biofuels Digest Asia) ...(M)ost of the food vs fuel stories archived on the web were dated either 2008 or 2011, and that many seemed remarkably similar. That’s when it dawned on me that very few people want
by Ayesha Rascoe (Reuters) ..."The fact is the industry has pretty much been built," USDA Chief Economist Joe Glauber told reporters on the sidelines of a Commodity Markets Council conference. "This isn't a question of just saying 'cut it off.'
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Essentially, despite rising banking sector profits and good results from stress tests, the bank financing market has not returned for biofuels – the financing source for whom the USDA loan guarantee was developed in the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...From the low points like the closure of the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s Aquatic Species Program to highs like 2009′s “Summer of Algae”, aquatic organisms from cyanobacteria to macroalgae have maintained a hold
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...The dialogue over the opportunities for biofuels continues to veer, as ever, away from the technology itself, or any emission-reducing or security-enhancing attributes of the fuel – and comes down to two questions. Can biofuels
by Lynn Yarris (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory/Renewable Energy World) That is the promise of advanced biofuels and the focus to date has been on the technological challenges of producing high quality biofuels in a way that is both sustainable and
by Bill Brandon (Advanced Biofuels USA) On February 10 & 11, about 120 participants gathered in chilly Chicago for the first Municipal Solid Waste to Biofuels Summit presented by the British firm, Eye for Energy. The conference drew participants from
by Nigel Hunt (Reuters) * UK wheat yields seen having potential to rise * EU biofuel expansion seen mainly based on bioethanol * Higher percentage of equity used in financing project Britain can grow enough wheat to supply the needs of food, feed
by Joelle Brink (Biofuels Digest Asia) ...“If weather blesses the world with bountiful crops in 2011,” writes Economic Times commodities editor Nidhi Nath Srinivas, “and that’s a giant if, they will first replenish exhausted stocks in the trading pipelines. Globally,
(25 x '25) Last week, USDA reported that surplus corn stocks have hit their lowest point since 1995 and corn prices have risen from $3.50 per bushel in July 2010, to $6.10 in January 2011. Critics of biofuels charge that
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 Jenny Mandel (New York Times/Greenwire) Conducting in-depth life-cycle assessments of the environmental impacts of biofuels is complicated, and new research suggests some questions in comparing biofuels to alternatives like petroleum-based fuels will never be answered. Furthermore, one study argues, consumer
by Andrew Restuccia (The Hill/E2Wire) Top Senate Democrats are calling on House Republicans to agree to a plan to eliminate oil industry tax breaks as a means of reducing the deficit. The proposal comes as House Republicans have pledged to cut
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...In Washington, there’s chaos this week, as members of the House of Representatives offer dozens, if not hundreds, of amendments to the continuing budget resolution designed to keep the government funded while the country hammers
(Royal Dutch Shell) Shell, February 14, 2011, published Signals and Signposts - a report into future energy scenarios which offers a deeper understanding of global developments and the world's energy supply, use and needs. They help us to make crucial choices in
by Al Maiorino (Public Strategy Group/Algae Industry Magazine) ...Despite the fact that the new plant would generate clean energy, increase the tax revenue and improve the local economy, the community doesn’t seem to understand these benefits. The residents say the
by Tim Searchinger (op ed The Washington Post) ...Agricultural production is keeping up in general with the growing demand for food - but it keeps up with the added demand for biofuels only if growing weather is good. ...Higher fuel
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...RINs- those pesky Renewable Information Numbers that have so many digits they give 140-character tweets on Twitter a run for their money. The bar code of biofuels – the thing that virtually no one understands,
(Algal Biomass Organization) We support the EPA's effort to quantify the potential for algal biomass to serve as a long term, viable option for low carbon fuel and the potential environmental impacts of algae-to-fuel technologies. The authors of the study focused
by Paul Bertorelli (AV Webinsider) ...There are aspects of this story that I find encouraging and some that I find worrisome. Specifically, the sheer amount of research work in this area is staggering. There are probably dozens of processes using just
(Science Daily) A new study by some of the world's top experts on forest governance finds fault with a spate of international accords, and helps explain their failure to stop rampant destruction of the world's most vulnerable forests. The report
by Joshua Philipp (The Epoch Times) A movement in the military to develop affordable alternative fuels may be moving the industry toward fruition, yet has fundamental gaps, according to a recent report from the RAND Corporation. ...Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy
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 Jeffrey Leonard (Washington Monthly) Why ending all government subsidies for fuel production will lead to a cleaner energy future—and why Obama has a rare chance to make it happen. ...If President Obama wants to set us on a path to a sustainable
by Darren Goode (Politico) With Republicans controlling the House and ramping up oversight and investigations of the Obama administration, focus at least initially in the next Congress will be on the Senate to lay a potential pathway for legislative compromise
by Alex Morales (Bloomberg) The market for ethanol made from plant waste and grasses rather than foodstuffs is set to ramp up in 2013 as the first commercial plants start, Novozymes A/S Chief Executive Officer Steen Riisgaard said. Novozymes partner Poet
by Jon H. Harsch (Agri-Pulse) ...Energy Committee Chair Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M. pointed to the EIA forecast that after peaking in 2005-06, U.S. oil imports should continue to decline – showing that the U.S. has already reduced its dependence on imports.
by Samihah Zaman (Gulfnews) More production aids development There is currently no need to worry that increasing biofuel crops for transport purposes will create food shortages and food price rises in the world, a panel in the capital heard yesterday. Instead,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Codexis yesterday announced a stunning 29% increase in revenue, ...What’s driving the numbers in Redwood City? ”We achieved our technical milestones with Shell, we made our first shipments of two important enzymes to Merck and
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...A large number of leading companies, and industry associations, reported that they had had no contact with the RAND report team. There have been allegations that the RAND team, either through naivete or deliberately, ignored projects
by Robert Rapier (Consumer Energy Report/R Squared Energy Blog) The just-issued RAND report Alternative Fuels for Military Applications has generated quite a bit of controversy. However, in my opinion many of the news stories covering the report got the gist of
by Dana Blankenhorn (Renewable Energy World) ...There are 17 elements classified as Rare Earths. Rare Earths aren't really rare. It's just rare to find them in commercial-grade ore. China has lots of Rare Earths, and as part of its export-oriented economic
(Farm Futures) RFA says there are tradeoffs in any energy decisions. ...Renewable Fuels Association spokesman Matt Hartwig says it's also become a double-edged sword for ethanol. On the one hand he says the U.S. can say thanks but no thanks to
by Geoff Cooper (Renewable Fuels Association) In compliance with Section 204 of the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is required to report to Congress every three years on the environmental and resource conservation
(AgWired.com) President Obama made some folks in the ag industry happy with his State of the Union (SOTU) address Tuesday talking about the importance of both biofuels and free trade agreements. Corn farmers and representatives of the renewable fuels industry were especially pleased
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) Former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania was never a believer in ethanol, biodiesel and other forms of renewable energy until one devastating day in American history. “I looked at this issue differently, until 9/11,” ...Santorum believes that domestic production
by Bob Dinneen (Renewable Fuels Association/Wall Street Journal) letter to editor Regarding your editorial "Amber Waves of Ethanol" (Jan. 22): Ethanol production today is as much about feed as it is about fuel. One out of every three bushels of corn entering
by Ben Geman (The Hill) The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee’s agenda this year includes new scrutiny of ethanol. A spokesperson for committee Democrats said a hearing is in the offing but hasn’t been scheduled yet. Whenever it occurs, the session
by Darren Samuelsohn (Politico) ... In his State of the Union speech last Tuesday, Obama cracked a smile as he repeated a call he’s made the past two years for the elimination of billions of dollars in tax breaks for oil companies.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In New York, the Wall Street Journal launched a bitter counterattack this week on former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, after Gingrich remarked, at a meeting of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association that “Obviously big urban
by Kathie Obradovich (Des Moines Register) Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who is mulling a 2012 run for president, called on President Obama to use his State of the Union speech tonight to make the American energy production a “major
[caption id="attachment_16299" align="alignleft" width="300"] Warren Brown, automotive columnist for the Washington Post, discusses Congressman Roscoe Bartlett's Open Fuel legislation with Astrid Dorner, US Correspondent for Handelsblatt, Lisa Lyons Wright, Energy and Stem Cell Legislative Assistant and Press Secretary for Congressman
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
(US Environmental Protection Agency) The "Biofuels and the Environment: The First Triennial Report to Congress (External Review Draft)" (EPA/600/R-10/183A) report, prepared by the National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) within EPA’s Office of Research and Development, is the first report
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Last week [after previously exiting their investment in Choren, a Fischer-Tropsch technology based in Germany] Shell announced that it will will exit its shareholding in Cellana, a joint venture between Shell and HR Biopetroleum. Today,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...California remains the heartland of technological innovation and there is no place on earth where ideas go farther, faster, and find more support from academia, the science establishment, and venture capitalists. (Let us not mix
by Philip Brasher (Des Moines Register) ...The potential for some green jobs, especially in biofuels, is dependent on technologies and processes that haven't proved economical. Ethanol giant Poet LLC wants to produce fuel from corncobs, a form of cellulose, as
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The USDA tells us that more than 500 biorefineries will be need to be built between now and 2022 in the United States to meet the added requirements for advanced biofuels. With those refineries costing
(The Independent) Pressure on Opec, which has a vested interest in a high oil price, offers no long-term solution Is the world on the brink of another ruinous oil shock? The International Energy Agency (IEA), which speaks for the big industrialised consumers
(Sugar Industry) Praj Industries, a small cap company provides turnkey plants and equipments for fermentation and distillation systems used in bio fuels processing, primarily which are ethanol related. Sabyasachi Ganguly, Analyst, Indiabulls Securities and author of a report on how
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 Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...We hereby sentence the authors to a one-year subscription to Biofuels Digest. We continue to sound the alarm on “studies” that are, in essence, reviews of peer-reviewed literature reviews and interviews with secondary sources. It’s the
(Advanced Biofuels Association) ABFA President Michael McAdams responded to the RAND Corporation’s release today of results of its study, Alternative Fuels for Military Applications: “Shame on the RAND Corporation as it does a great disservice to itself and our nation by
(Algal Biomass Organization) Today, the RAND Corporation published a study and accompanying press release calling into question the effectiveness of renewable fuels for military use. The report can be found here:http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/monographs/2011/RAND_MG969.pdf A copy of the press release can be found here:http://www.rand.org/news/press/2011/01/25.html It is
(RAND Corporation) If the U.S. military increases its use of alternative fuels, there will be no direct benefit to the nation's armed forces, according to a new RAND Corporation study. Any benefits from investment in alternative fuels by the U.S. Department of
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 Bob Dinneen (Renewable Fuels Association/Biofuels Digest) ...While some would choose to ignore reality, the nation can produce more ethanol sustainably using grains like corn, wheat and barley. ...The nation can also produce significant volumes of renewable fuel from non-grain
by Vinod Khosla (Green Tech Media) Part 1: Production technologies: where are we? The financial crisis of 2008 set back a number of projects and slowed actual construction of pilot and demo plants like it did in all industries, be
Editorial (Tampa Bay Online) ...Grassley's backing of the 45-cent-per-gallon tax credit for ethanol blended with gasoline is based, we suspect, less on contributions from corn farmers than on the fact that most Iowa voters like it. There's an important lesson here
by Andy Obermueller (Seeking Alpha/Street Authority) ...As prices at the pump inch higher, the United States will again begin to look seriously at alternative fuels. For some, this will mean electric vehicles, but for most, the question will be:
(25 x'25) The belief that the ethanol industry is entering a new era is nearly universal. As Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) President Bob Dinneen put it this week, “new challenges to ethanol policies will be mounted from within the new
(Clean Fuels Foundation) The Ethanol Across America education campaign released the latest in its series of Issue Briefs today on the Economic Impacts of Ethanol Production that illustrates the significant benefits of ethanol production to the U.S. economy. The Brief
by Vinod Khosla (GreenTechMedia) Given the likely continued dominance of the internal combustion engine, cellulosic and sugar-derived fuels offer one of the lowest risk advances to quickly and affordably achieve low-carbon transportation. Furthermore, substituting higher value bio-chemicals for petro-chemicals, will
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
(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 Robyn L. Minor (Bowling Green Daily News) Officials studying logistical challenges facing biofuel progress With gas prices in December seeing the biggest jump in 18 months, consideration of alternative fuel development moves to the forefront. “Gas price certainly reinvigorates the conversation,”
by Robert Vierhout (ePURE/Ethanol Producer Magazine) It took the European Commission several stakeholder meetings, two public consultations and many more economic modelling studies to conclude that the indirect land use change (ILUC) effects of biofuel demand are not that obvious.
by Bob Dinneen (Renewable Fuels Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) ...When the Renewable Fuels Association was formed in late 1980, America was producing just 175 million gallons of ethanol per year. Today, the industry produces more than 13 billion gallons annually,
(Michigan State University) Most college students in the United States do not grasp the scientific basis of the carbon cycle – an essential skill in understanding the causes and consequences of climate change, according to research published in the January
(Pacific Rim BioEnergy) Note: This is an update from an earlier post. The earlier post outlined the concepts but did not have any specific details. This post utilizes current figures and displays the economic principals based on those current figures. The
by Dina Fine Maron (ClimateWire/New York Times) ...U.S. EPA figures indicate that in the second half of 2010, not a drop of cellulosic ethanol -- a much-touted fuel that taps the sugars from farm wastes and other non-food sources of
by Todd Neeley (The Progressive Farmer) ...(P)ressure from rising corn prices at the start of 2011 is expected to test ethanol producers' ability to manage risk. ...Rabobank said ethanol would remain profitable with corn prices above $7 a bushel.
by Mary Rosenthal (Algal Biomass Organization/Biofuels Digest) ...The federal government must follow its long history of investing in national energy initiatives. ...Recently, any call for increased government funding or involvement in this nascent industry has been met with criticism or
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
by Josh Garrett (HeatingOil.com) ...Fitful economic recovery in the US and around the world, looming fights over financial and environmental regulation, and the continuing advancement of alternative fuel technologies are certain to make 2011 an interesting and eventful year for
by Stephanie Dreyer (Renewable Energy World/Growth Energy) ...The cost of crude is a major inflator of grocery prices, because transportation, manufacturing and packaging cost more as oil prices go up. In 2009, when diesel was $2.67 a gallon, the cost
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,
(Global Renewable Fuels Alliance) This week the International Energy Agency (IEA) issued a wakeup call to the world that high oil prices pose a threat to the stability of an already fragile recovering global economy. The IEA went on to
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) ...Yet while we lament about high energy costs, we downright howl over the higher costs of alternative energy and try to push today’s development aside for future progress and cost competitiveness. Let’s talk about cost parity for a
by Derek Thompson (The Atlantic) ...(E)xpensive oil is poisonous to an oil-driven economy. Every severe oil spike in the last 50 years has been followed by a deep recession. ...The United States imported $400 billion of oil in 2008, nearly 3
by John Petersen (Renewable Energy World) ...The dirty little secret of plug-in vehicles is that they'll all charge their batteries with inherently dirty night-time power and be responsible for more CO2 emissions than a fuel efficient Prius-class HEV that costs
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The US economy is just now showing signs of revival, and already we are seeing signs of runaway oil and grain prices that may bring unwanted inflation and dangerous instability hardly before the recovery has
(India Transport Portal) While biofuels are being considered as the alternative fuel for the vehicles in number of countries, they are not the sustainable option as the fuel for automobiles in India, said Jairam Ramesh, Environment Minister of Indian Union
by Joelle Brink (Biofuels Digest Asia) ...#1 It’s a breakthrough year for Asian biofuels science and technology. Many scientific and technological developments that simmered away in Asian labs and pilot plants in 2010 are set to burst on the scene
by Robert Vierhout (ePURE/Ethanol Producer Magazine) In Europe, much more than in the United States, green (but not just) non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are engaged loudly and aggressively in the biofuel debate. For several years now, a number of NGOs have
by Brooke Coleman (NewFuelsAlliance/Biofuels Digest) ...(W)hat’s good and what needs to be fixed in the LCFS? Where should the biofuels industry be happy, be hopeful, or be hopping mad? Brooke Coleman of the New Fuels Alliance – who knows this better
(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
(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
by Christopher Klug (Tiny Green Bubble) ...According to the Renewable Fuels Association data, the United States produced and used approximately 10.6 billion gallons of ethanol in 2009, making the US the largest producer of ethanol in the world. (Renewable Fuels
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 Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) ...In December 2010, Forisk Consulting released a study titled, “Economic and Regional Impact Analysis of the Treatment of Biomass Energy Under the EPA Greenhouse Gas Tailoring Rule.” According to NAFO, the study found that the U.S.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...For our 2010 batch of predictions, we give ourselves 6 marks out of 10. We gave ourselves 1 full mark for predicting the spread of Low Carbon Fuel Standard activity, the boom in renewable chemicals, a
(State Journal-Register) ...As a former secretary of agriculture, I know that continuing to encourage the ethanol industry is good for rural America and the entire nation. Ethanol generates jobs, preserves the environment, and protects our energy security. With some 17 percent
by Nicholas Zeman (Associated Content/Yahoo!) Asia's Largest Ag-Firm Discusses the Global Biodiesel Market ...New Diesel Magazine spoke with an official from Wilmar, on the condition of anonymity, about the implementation of the EU's Renewable Energy Directive and the efforts to ensure
by Katie Fehrenbacher (New York Times/GigaOM) Biofuels took a step away from the limelight in 2010, replaced by the buzz surrounding electric vehicles. But there were still a variety of policy decisions, and economic milestones that made the sector interesting
by George Will (The Washington Post) Cowlitz County in Washington state ...approved construction of a coal export terminal from which millions of tons of U.S. coal could be shipped to Asia annually. Both Oregon and Washington are curtailing the coal-fired generation
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel) According to former president of Shell Oil, John Hofmeister, Americans will be paying $5 per gallon for gas by 2012 due to growing demand for oil, tighter supplies and inadequate responses by the U.S. government. His
(Khabrein) A new Swiss Study by the federal office of power and environment assured that the so-called "second generation of Biofuels" has good chances for the environment and development as well. "Second generation biofuels impress, because of the characteristic that raw materials
by Mychal Wilmes (Agri News/Post-Bulletin) ...The conservative and liberal think-alikes want to kill the ethanol tax credit for different reasons. The liberals say that ethanol, at best, is environmentally neutral. The conservatives argue is that the tax credit is a
(The Forum of Fargo-Morehead) The use of a specialized sugar beet to produce ethanol could be a breakthrough in weaning the industry off corn. An announcement a few days ago of plans to build a small-scale beets-to-ethanol plant in North
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...The technologies are, in many cases, ready to scale. Coskata CEO Bill Roe declared a year ago now that “Coskata is open for business, ready to scale,” but the financiers we have heard about are asking
by Mark Sweney (The Guardian) A complaint to the advertising watchdog by Guardian columnist and environmental campaigner George Monbiot has caused a national press ad claiming biofuels offer a sustainable alternative to oil to be banned. The national press campaign, by the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Biofuels Digest reports that 80 percent of bioenergy executives are more optimistic both about their organization’s prospects for growth and industry growth, than 12 months ago, and that confidence about industry growth prospects has jumped 11
by Bill Jones (San Francisco Chronicle) ...Separating fact from fiction in the ethanol debate is not easy. "Food versus fuel" is a nice catch phrase, but worldwide, biofuel production accounts for less than 1 percent of total agricultural acreage. Corn ethanol
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 Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Cellulosic ethanol costs rapidly decline, barriers are surmountable The race to commercial viability for cellulosic ethanol may be coming to a close, according to a Boston Consulting Group report. Alternative energy technologies are poised to
by Michael Devine (Biodiesel Magazine) ...Now more than ever, the oilheat industry must recreate its brand image. Integrating biodiesel into the existing petroleum infrastructure provides the oilheat marketer a new, improved liquid fuel for the existing oilheat consumer. In this
(Biodiesel Magazine) ...(Ed) Hegland, (soybean grower from Minnesota, served as the NBB chairman for the past 3 years): One thing discussed at the November board meeting was the need to re-launch and redefine biodiesel as an advanced biofuel, rather than
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... The USDA’s Sarah Biddleman speaks in terms of “standing up a biofuels industry” like a pop-up children’s book, in that all the pieces have to rise up, in the right way, all at once. ... Is the
by Frank Morris (NPR / KCUR) ... Factoring in dramatic technical advances in both fields, most researchers figure that corn ethanol now delivers an energy gain — of about 40 percent. "But that's not really good enough," says Kovarik. "What we need is
by Matt Cunningham (How Stuff Works) ...The myriad of factors that go into the food-versus-biofuel equation are complex and vary from situation to situation. While one region's farming infrastructure, climate and fuel use may make it an ideal place to
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) How will the new leadership impact ethanol policies? Some strong ethanol advocates lost in the November election, including Earl Pomeroy and Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, acknowledges Bob Dinneen, president of the Renewable Fuels Association. Many more
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 Philip Brasher (Des Moines Register) The ethanol industry needs to stop its infighting to preserve its government support beyond next year, says Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Ia. "We can't stand any more division within biofuels," said Grassley, who led a successful fight
by Jonathan Fahey (AP/Salt Lake City Tribune) ... After seven decades of mostly uninterrupted growth, U.S. gasoline demand is at the start of a long-term decline. By 2030, Americans will burn at least 20 percent less gasoline than today, experts say,
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
by John Funk (The Cleveland Plain Dealer) Americans who are upset about $3 gasoline won't like the latest long-term projection from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Over the next 25 years, even as the nation's thirst for oil lessens, global demand for
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...This week in Honolulu, Chris Tindal of the US Navy joined advanced biofuels CEOs Jason Pyle of Sapphire Energy and Jonathan Wolfson of Solazyme at BIO’s Pacific Rim Summit, to discuss the scope and scale
(Global Renewable Fuels Alliance) The Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA) is calling on the UN’s Climate Change Conference in Cancun to do what could not be done in Copenhagen and recognize biofuels as a viable alternative to fossil fuels that offer
by Jim Presswood (Switchboard) The tax bill agreed to last Thursday by Senators Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell contains an energy package that would cause substantial environmental harm. ...The bill extends a 50 cent per gallon tax credit for liquid coal transportation
by Suzanne Bohan (Contra Costa Times/Center for Genetics and Society) Stanford University researcher Thomas Jaramillo is overseeing a million-dollar research project that explores ways to create liquid fuel from sunlight and carbon dioxide. A Stanford colleague, Yi Cui, has nearly $2 million
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
by Vinod Khosla (Foreign Policy) ...A mid-2009 report by the reinsurance giant Swiss Re found that climate change could shave off anywhere from 1 to 12 percent of GDP in many countries thanks to shifting climate zones, floods, droughts, and
by Steve Maddox (The Hill) ...Although conventional, corn-based ethanol is not the darling of the environmental movement, it does have certain national security benefits that cannot be overlooked. And the next generation of biofuels being developed across the country offer
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Honolulu, much of the leadership of the advanced biofuels and renewables chemicals industries have gathered this week at BIO’s Pacific Rim Summit. ...(W)hat are the key trends? Here are 11 that the Digest spotted. 1.
by Alan Anderson (Newsvine) The ruling by Judge Jeffrey White on Nov. 30 ordering that the current rootstock for producing Roundup Ready sugar beet seeds be removed from the ground should be made into a positive. The Center for Food Safety,
by Joelle Brink (Biofuels Digest Asia) The Cancun climate summit in Mexico kicked off last week at the same time as a “Cablegate” revelation that motorists buying fossil fuels at the pump are unwittingly funding terrorism in their own countries. The
by Marion Davis (Stockholm Environment Insitute) ...SEI researchers are part of a large, collaborative project led by the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and funded by the European Commission to gauge the impact of bioenergy development on forests in
by Terry McDonald (EnergyBoom) ...The EPA agrees with the (U.S. Energy Information Agency) that biomass is a renewable fuel with no impact on the environment: “Although the burning of biomass also produces carbon dioxide, the primary greenhouse gas, it is considered
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Shockers in the 50 Hottest Companies in Bioenergy Our picks for most underrated company? American Process at #97 and Fiberight at #85 got short shrift from the voters this year, and Targeted Growth has an outstanding story
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Florida, renewable fuels and chemicals developer Amyris took the #1 spot in the 2010-11 “50 Hottest Companies in Bioenergy” rankings, published today in Biofuels Digest, the online daily bioenergy news service. Solazyme (#2), POET (#3), LS9
by Bryan Walsh (Time/CNN) ...But what if you could adapt biofuels to use our current infrastructure, not the other way around? That's what a handful of biotech companies are doing right now. Startups like Amyris and LS9 are using the tools
(Newsweek) Republican Sens. Jim DeMint of South Carolina and Tom Coburn of Oklahoma were Tea Partiers before the term existed. ...Now they've found a new, eminently worthy target: The 7 billion taxpayer dollars that annually go to subsidize the production of corn-based
by John Upton (The Bay Citizen) A proposal to convert a rendering facility in southeastern San Francisco into a biodiesel manufacturing plant was approved Tuesday by the Port of San Francisco. ...Under the plan, animal and food waste that is currently turned
by Bob Dinneen (Renewable Fuels Association) Letter to the Editor, Chicago Tribune, Re: Dennis Byrne’s column “Time to stand up to ethanol interests.” ...First, Byrne’s facts and figures are accurate for the tax credits for domestic ethanol and the renewable fuels standards
(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 Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Yet the farm sector has become, in the wake of ethanol, a rare shining star in the sputtering US economy. Cleantech investors are pouring funds into bio-based investments that are getting shatteringly close to price
(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 Erin Voegele (Biodiesel Magazine) The European Commission released the results this month of a biotechnology report that explores public perceptions of biotechnology, including biofuels. Over all, the Eurobarometer survey found that 80 percent of Europeans are either in favor
by Greg Sargent (The Washington Post/The Plum Line) It looks like Chuck Grassley is not happy with fellow GOP senators Jim DeMint and Tom Coburn for calling on Congress to let billions in ethanol subsidies expire this year. ...Now Grassley has
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