by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) Continued investment and expansion took place in the U.S. biodiesel sector throughout 2017, despite rising political uncertainty and a lapsed tax credit. Here is an overview of some of the activity, plus a special sidebar story
The Summit is the algae industry's premier event, where leading producers of algae products go to network with industry suppliers and technology providers, where project developers converse with utility executives, and where researchers and technology developers rub elbows with venture
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) Texas Republican John Cornyn is drawing up ideas for new legislation to overhaul the Renewable Fuel Standard, in a bid to end the stalemate between corn-state lawmakers and oily ones. "Cornyn's office has been hosting talks for
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) To date, North America is the most active of all regions in terms of deploying advanced technology — whether it is cellulosic ethanol, isobutanol for fuels and chemicals, or renewable chemical plants, you see the first
(Bioenergy Insight) In a paper by Texas A&M scientists, biochar shows potential for increasing efficiency of the anaerobic digestion of animal manure. Biochar is a charcoal material composed of agricultural by-products, including manure, crop residues and grasses. The substance can be used as a
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... In it, we are reminded that innovation is a never-ending war between two brothers named Urgency and Diligence — and the conflict comes roaring back to life when we consider the news that occasionally seeps out of that mysterious
by James Osborne (Houston Chronicle) Attack on federal biofuels mandate provides chance to appeal to base -- ... But for the junior senator, facing re-election this year as Democrats show new swagger in the age of Trump, ethanol provides the chance to appeal
by Todd Neeley (DTN/KTIC) Capping the price of biofuel credits at 10 cents would essentially eliminate the Renewable Fuel Standard mandate for biodiesel and possibly hurt corn-based ethanol, according to an analysis by farmdoc at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. In meetings
by Jarrett Renshaw (Reuters) U.S. lawmakers from states that produce corn for ethanol plants said on Wednesday they would consider proposals from Senator Ted Cruz of Texas to help the oil refining industry cope with the nation’s biofuels regulation, but would never
by Andrew F. Quinlan ( Center for Freedom and Prosperity/The Hill) ... A refiner must earn RIN credits to meet its annual obligation by selling enough gallons of biofuel or by purchasing them — the credits, not the actual product — from others with
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, in a letter to EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt on Friday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) asked the agency to waive Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) for his state to no more
by Anthony Adragna (Politico's Morning Energy) Ahead of a Thursday meeting between Trump, Sen. Ted Cruz and other senior officials about biofuels policy, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott formally asked for a Renewable Fuel Standard waiver from Pruitt. "The time is ripe
by Mark R. Edwards (Algae Industry Magazine) t the recent Algae Biomass Summit in Salt Lake City Algae Foundation President Ira Levine shared this year’s advancements in algal-based education for K-14 and beyond. The past year has been an eventful year
by Dan Solomon (Texas Monthly) In January 2015, there were a dozen little earthquakes in the Dallas–Fort Worth area in less than 48 hours. They weren’t the first, or the last, that would strike the region, either. Prior to 2008, there had
(NGV Journal) Dallas Fort Worth International (DFW) Airport awarded Clean Energy a renewable natural gas fueling contract for the airport’s vehicle fleet. The contract calls for Clean Energy to provide the airport with its Redeem™ brand of biomethane, the first renewable
by Joseph Bebon (NGT News) Houston-based Neste US Inc. has announced exclusive partnerships with four fuel distributors in California to provide public and private fleets access to Neste MY Renewable Diesel. The distribution partners include IPC (USA) Inc., Ramos Oil Co., Van De Pol Petroleum,
by Joseph Bebon (NGT News) During the Airports Going Green 2017 conference, Clean Energy Fuels Corp. announced that event host Dallas Fort Worth International (DFW) Airport awarded Clean Energy a renewable natural gas (RNG) fueling contract for the airport’s vehicle fleet. The contract calls
by Maija Sihvonen* (Advanced Biofuels USA) Participants from over 70 countries gathered at Stockholm’s Älvsjömässan for the annual European Biomass Conference, EUBCE 2017 in June 12-15. In the field of advanced biofuels two years is a long time, so it
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... There are no tires in Nevertire because Green Distillation Technologies, some 20 clicks up the road in Warren, is operating its Destructive Distillation technology at pilot scale and is recycling used tires into oil, carbon and steel wire
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) “Italian newspapers reported over the weekend that cellulosic ethanol developer Mossi & Ghisolfi shuts down this week,” reported a source from Europe. “227 people of whom 121 from the Crescentino ethanol refinery are to stay at
by Curtis Tate (NorthJersey.com) ... The flammable biofuel is transported in trains that look virtually identical to the oil trains that have attracted so much attention, and controversy, in the country's energy boom of the past decade. But according to federal data, 1
by James Osborne (Houston Chronicle) At a Rice University forum last year, Mexican Energy Secretary Pedro Joaquin Coldwell was asked whether his government would allow refiners to increase the concentrations of ethanol in gasoline beyond the 5.8 percent that it had
The theme for the NEC will be “Ethanol Strong: Empowering Dialogue to Grow Markets.” The NEC provides an unequaled opportunity to engage key decision makers and industry executives about the latest technologies and government policies affecting the industry today. Speakers will
by Alexa M. Schmitz (Cornell University/Biomass Magazine) ... This week, researchers from the Cornell-affiliated Boyce Thompson Institute and Texas A&M University report in Plant Direct exciting new technology that may revolutionize the search for the perfect algal strain: algal droplet bioreactors on a chip. A single
by Simon Thomsen (Business Insider) Virgin Australia will run a two-year trial mixing biojet fuels with regular avgas on flights out of Brisbane in a move the challenger airline is claiming as a world first. US-based renewable fuel producer Gevo Inc will
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Yes, ARPA-E has unveiled its latest moonshot and is investing $22M in Macroalgae Research Inspiring Novel Energy Resources — also known as MARINER. The projects that comprise ARPA-E’s Macroalgae Research Inspiring Novel Energy Resources (MARINER) program
(U.S. Department of Energy) Today (September 20, 2017), U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry announced that the Department of Energy (DOE) has selected eight projects to negotiate for up to $15 million in total DOE funding to optimize integrated biorefineries. These projects
(U.S. Department of Energy) Today (August 22, 2017), the Energy Department (DOE) announced $13.4 million in support of five new cost-shared, community-based projects focused on energy efficient mobility systems including connected and autonomous vehicles and alternative fuel vehicles and infrastructure
by Jeremy Deaton (Nexus Media) ... Many are leasing their fields to solar developers in need of flat land clear of trees and other obstructions. This practice has become so popular that the Solar Energy Industries Association published a guide for landowners. Recently, former president
by Ramanan Krishnamoorti (University of Houston/Houston Chronicle) ... It won't happen overnight. Barriers remain, from range anxiety with full electric vehicles to an already overburdened and aging electric grid. Affordable grid-scale energy storage remains elusive. ... Transportation makes up roughly a third of energy
by Steven Mufson and Chris Mooney (The Washington Post) The White House has branded this week “energy week,” rolling out a buzzword, “dominance,” and replaying lines from last year’s Trump campaign in an effort to portray the United States as
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Terpenes may be the most unloved class of energy molecule of all time, if you compare R&D spending to potential. Even ARPA-E, the home of high-risk, high-reward government research into energy, hasn’t delved into terpenes since
by Heather Zhang (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Carbon credit prices recover and multiple new pathways are certified as the state’s program gets back on track. -- California’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions from the transport sector are racing to make progress
by Anthony Adragna (Politico's Morning Energy) The Academy of Medicine, Engineering & Science of Texas is today releasing a report examining the environmental and community impacts of shale production in that state. Key findings: Texas produced more oil in 2015
(Biofuels International) ... The new research found that as the seasons progress, cattle find it increasingly difficult to digest a type of Bermuda grass - Tifton 85. However, the scientists also found that by supplementing the grass with dried distillers grains
by Lauren Tyler (NGT News) DTE Biomass Energy, an Ann Arbor, Mich.-based subsidiary of DTE Energy, says it has acquired two landfill gas-to-energy projects in Texas, which will generate enough renewable natural gas (RNG) to fuel more than 1,000 transit buses each
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Where Pittsburgh mayor Bill Peduto joined the mayors of more than 175 cities in a rebel yell that has been heard nationwide since President Trump pulled out of the Paris Climate Accords last Thursday. Peduto said:
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Anellotech’s Bio-TCat process is designed to produce cost-competitive renewable aromatic (BTX) chemicals (benzene, toluene and xylenes) from non-food biomass for use in making plastics such as polyester, nylon, polycarbonate, polystyrene, or for renewable transportation
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Think beyond nanotechnology. It’s Nanno Technology, as Qualitas’ nannochloropsis strain gets deployed in New Mexico at the old Green Crude Farm (now Green Stream Farms), as well as in Texas. In Texas, Qualitas Health unveiled a
(CleanTech Canada) In a discovery that could help jump-start the hydrogen economy, a team of physicists at the University of Houston have found a catalyst that can divide water using low-cost materials -- Hydrogen gas may be an entirely clean-burning
by Kathleen Phillips (AgriLife Today) Waste material from the paper and pulp industry soon could be made into anything from tennis rackets to cars. “We have overcome one of the industry’s most challenging issues by discovering how to make good quality carbon
(Phys.Org) The genome of the fuel-producing green microalga Botryococcus braunii has been sequenced by a team of researchers led by a group at Texas A&M AgriLife Research. The report, in Genome Announcements, comes after almost seven years of research, according to
by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) Ethanol has a seat on the ground at one of the largest Earth Day events in the country this weekend – Earth Day Texas, which last year hosted over 130,000 attendees, over 700 exhibitors and more
by Ron Kotrba (Biomass Magazine) U.S. imports of biomass-based diesel hit extreme heights in 2016, fulfilling a third of the consumption market, driving the domestic biodiesel industry to more actively seek counteracting measures to protect its own investments. --
(Convenience Store News) Blend coming to 44 Dallas-Fort Worth area c-stores. -- QuikTrip Corp. will begin offering E15 fuel at 44 of its convenience stores in the Dallas-Forth Worth Metro area. E15 was approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) California Air Resources Board recently released a set of carbon intensity (CI) pathways for fuels certified under the readopted low carbon fuel standard (LCFS) using the CA-GREET 2.0 model. Eighteen total pathways have been certified
(Vopak Americas/Globe Newswire) Matrix Service Company (Nasdaq:MTRX) announced today that its subsidiary, Matrix Service Inc. has been awarded the engineering, fabrication, procurement, and construction of 10 new tanks and associated balance of plant work by Vopak Americas, a division of
by Jonathan H. Harsch (Agri-Pulse) Ethanol already supplies over 10 percent of the U.S. gasoline market and the fuel’s share is growing. Yet Congressman Bill Flores, who wants to see ethanol capped at 9.7 percent of the market, is holding back on
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... But there’s something so cool in that technology that we can’t take our eyes off the company and its progress, even though looking at the balance sheet can feel like watching a car crash in slow
by Tim Meko and Laris Karklis (The Washington Post) There are more than 900,000 active oil and gas wells in the United States, and more than 130,000 have been drilled since 2010, according to Drillinginfo, a company that provides data and
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Velocys enables modular gas-to-liquids and biomass-to-liquids plants to convert unconventional, remote and problem gas and waste biomass into valuable, drop-in liquid fuels. After 15 years and some $300 million in investment, Velocys technology is headed for
by Gene Gebolys (World Energy/Biodiesel Magazine) ... Trying to make a living in biodiesel for two decades now, the hard way is about the only way it happens. ... 2016 was a breakthrough year for the biodiesel industry, and for World Energy. We brought
(BIOX/NewsWire Canada) BIOX Corporation ("BIOX" or the "Company") (TSX: BX), a renewable energy company that owns and operates biodiesel production facilities, today announced that World Energy BIOX Biofuels LLC (WEBB), a 50/50 joint venture between World Energy and BIOX, has
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Oberon Fuels is facilitating the growth of the DME transportation industry by converting biogas and other hydrocarbon rich waste streams to higher valued commodities such as DME. Using its proprietary small-scale process, Oberon makes DME
(Iowa State University) Iowa State University will bring its expertise in biorenewable technologies and pilot plant operations to the country’s 10th Manufacturing USA Institute. The recently announced advanced manufacturing institute is dedicated to improving the productivity and efficiency of chemical manufacturing.
(Turf Feeding Systems/PR Web) Turf Feeding Systems, a Houston company, is starting a new project and is contracted to design, build and manage the agriculture for a special BioJet fuel project in the Yucatan region of Mexico that is focused
(University of Missouri) Switchgrass Can Improve Soil Quality on Eroded Farms, Study Finds -- The loss of fertile topsoil from agricultural fields is an economic problem for modern farmers. When runoff water washes topsoil from agricultural fields in areas with
by Juliet Eilperin and Steven Mufson (The Washington Post) President-elect Donald Trump has picked Rick Perry to head the Energy Department, said two people familiar with the decision, seeking to put the former Texas governor in control of an agency whose
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Gevo has two proprietary technologies that combine to make it possible to retrofit existing ethanol plants to produce isobutanol, a four carbon alcohol which serves as a hydrocarbon platform molecule. They have developed an industrial
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In 2011, KiOR raised $150 million in its June IPO, claiming that it was generating yields of 67 gallons per ton in its Demo unit operations. But it was miles short of that. In our previous
(GEVO) Expands on Previously Announced Partnership with Musket Corporation -- Gevo, Inc.(NASDAQ:GEVO), announced today that gasoline blended with its isobutanol and marketed for use in automobiles has begun to be sold in the Houston area. This marks the first time
The Smart Cities Innovation Summit, in partnership with US Ignite, will once again deliver North America’s largest concentration of C-Level Smart City Leadership working towards innovative solutions for progressive city needs. Join us in Austin Texas as we expand our
ACI’s 8th Carbon Dioxide Utilization Summit will follow on from our successful series of conferences focusing on the re-use of greenhouse gas CO2 and converting this into profitable sustainable materials. The two day conference brings together senior experts from various
(Convenience Store News) More than 100 Southern stores to add the renewable product soon. -- RaceTrac will expand its fuel offering this year with the debut of E15 fuel at its convenience stores throughout the South. The chain will add
(Gevo/Globe Newswire) Gevo, Inc. (NASDAQ:GEVO), announced today that it has completed production of the world’s first cellulosic renewable jet fuel that is specified for commercial flights. Gevo successfully adapted its patented technologies to convert cellulosic sugars derived from wood waste
(American Airlines) American Airlines announced today that it has retained Ocean Park, a boutique investment bank with expertise in the renewable fuels industry, to assist with evaluating alternative jet fuels and identifying the most promising companies and technologies. American recognizes the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This season, The Digest is hosting the Strategic Intent webinar series, looking at the plans, progress and future milestones of strategic stakeholders in the Advanced Bioeconomy. In this slide deck, we looked at Valero and
(U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission) On September 26, 2016, the Securities and Exchange Commission charged Texas-based Mard, Inc., formerly known as KiOR, Inc., ("KiOR"), and its former CEO and President Fred Cannon for failing to disclose important assumptions about the
by Patrick Thomas (ABC33/40) ... ABC 33/40 followed up on a complaint from an ABC 33/40 viewer about price gouging in Odenville in St. Clair County. ... He learned the gas station owner sells non-ethanol gas, which is more expensive than
by Louisa Kellie (Phys.Org) Chemists at The University of Texas at Arlington have been the first to demonstrate that an organic semiconductor polymer called polyaniline is a promising photocathode material for the conversion of carbon dioxide into alcohol fuels without
(Beaumont Enterprise) In a region that was built by oil refining, it's a tough thing to wrap your mind around: Ethanol is cheaper than gasoline and boosts fuel octane, thus helping engines perform better. And contrary to persistent claims by
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) for agricultural uses. What can you use Aerial Data Analysis for? Says Precision Hawk's Ally Ferguson, quite a lot. Crop health indices, Plant height, Canopy cover, Weed detection, Season monitoring, Environmental
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... But so far, the company and its celebrity investors and directors such as former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and famed venture capitalist Vinod Khosla had escaped close scrutiny. ... The methods for keeping the truth bottled
(Business Wire/Flint Hills Resources) First-of-its-kind plant capable of producing high-quality, cost-competitive biodiesel from a multitude of advantaged, non-edible feedstocks -- Flint Hills Resources and Benefuel® Inc. announced today the startup of the Duonix Beatrice biodiesel plant and the first successful
by Jacqueline Campos (Fuel Fix/Opportune) ... When it comes to this year’s election, renewable fuels continue to be well-supported, but policy mandating the use of those renewable fuels in gasoline remains to be seen. ... The dilemma is that RINs cannot be utilized until
by Almuth Ernsting (Biofuelwatch/The Biomass Monitor) ... As far as Branson and his airline, Virgin Atlantic, were concerned, the flight was indeed no more than a stunt: The “biofuel test flight” burned 95% ordinary kerosene and just 5% biofuels, made from
by Samantha Oller (CSP Daily News) Have I got a fuel for you! It is higher octane than E10, giving you greater bang for your buck. It features even more environmentally friendly, domestically produced ethanol. And it is actually a
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This season, The Digest is hosting the Strategic Intent webinar series, looking at the plans, progress and future milestones of strategic stakeholders in the Advanced Bioeconomy. In this slide deck, we looked at ExxonMobil and its
by Brady Dennis (The Washington Post) The real estate data firm Zillow recently published a research analysis that estimated rising sea levels could leave nearly 2 million U.S. homes inundated by 2100, a fate that would displace millions of people
by Lauren Tyler (Next Gen Transportation News) The Chicago Park District says its environmentally friendly biodiesel program has continued to pay off, and consequently, will showcase the program at a Fleet Education Seminar hosted by the Chicago Area Clean Cities
by James Osborne (FuelFix) Now gas station owners say they, too, are losing out after the price of RINs – the credits which refineries must have to prove there is ethanol and other biofuels in the fuel supply — shot
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Gevo says: We’re staking our near-term prospects on marine biofuels. Investors hear: We’re underwater. Gevo says: Timing delay in our isobutanol gallonage, took longer to get the fixes implemented, we’ll make up on the back side.
by James Osborne (Houston Chronicle) Earlier this year Jack Lipinski, chief executive of the Sugar Land refiner CVR Energy, flew to Washington to plead his case to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. His problem: the prices of credits required to
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... The nature of collaboration across the advanced bioeconomy is shifting dramatically – and we are seeing the democratization of R&D. ... The CRISPR revolution As Dan Watkins of DFJ’s Mercury Fund put it, “There’s a
by Joanna Schroeder (Energy.AgWired.com) A contingency of ethanol producers from Mexico recently visited the U.S. to look at the option of sorghum as an ethanol feedstock as the country’s industry continues to grow following the announcement by Pemex, the country’s
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Texas, Reuters is reporting that “Valero Energy expects to get hit with a half-billion-dollar bill in the second half of the year” and the news agency attributed the costs to “the rising cost of
by Kathleen Phillips (AgriLife Today) The U.S. Department of Energy has granted $2.5 million for a Texas A&M AgriLife Research study to find ways to use biorefinery waste to make new, marketable products. “In the biorefinery field, we have a saying: You
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Global Algae Innovations designs innovative technology to make algae production more efficient and consistent. This week, the DOE made a major award to a group led by GAI, including the University of California-San Diego, TSD Management Associates,
(U.S. Department of Energy) The Energy Department today announced up to $15 million for three projects aimed at reducing the production costs of algae-based biofuels and bioproducts through improvements in algal biomass yields. These projects will develop highly productive algal
by Sibyl Layag (SNL) Magellan Midstream Partners LP said it plans to build a marine terminal for refined petroleum products along the Houston Ship Channel in Pasadena, Texas. ... The project, supported by long-term contracts, would handle products such as various
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) What’s a major opportunity with thin stillage? Ebio says it can deliver “20% Increased Efficiency, 20% Advanced Ethanol, Payback in 5 months, based on any feedstock, and offering D5 Advanced biofuels” — all that with its Alcoli process,
by Chris Prentice (Reuters) Green Plains Inc said on Tuesday it plans to build and operate its first export-import fuels terminal in Beaumont, Texas, the latest in a string of expansion moves by the country's fourth-largest ethanol producer. The Omaha, Nebraska-based
(CB&I/PR Newswire) CB&I (NYSE: CBI) today announced it has been awarded the 2016 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for its AlkyClean® process technology, a solid acid catalyst alkylation technology jointly developed by CB&I, Albermarle
(U.S. House Committee on Agriculture) ... (T)he House Agriculture Committee debuted a new blog, Homegrown, to chronicle daily life of American farmers and ranchers from the perspective of producers. The gap between urban and rural Americans is growing, and many
by Darryl Fears (The Washington Post) Now, after the growth of a natural gas production operation commonly known as fracking, the United States is producing more methane emissions than any country in the world. And in a complaint submitted to
by Lydia DePillis (Houston Chronicle) Rigs can run with fewer people now, so they won't need to be re-hired. -- ... A "full recovery" would do wonders for the economy of Houston and Texas as a whole. As my colleague Collin Eaton has
(Q13Fox.com) Alaska airlines made aviation history today, when it flew two planes partially fueled by “biofuel” made from fermented corn. The airline fueled up two jets at Sea-Tac Airport. One headed south, to San Francisco, the other east, to Washington, DC. “We aren’t
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In March, United Airlines made history by becoming the first U.S. airline to begin use of commercial-scale volumes of sustainable aviation biofuel for regularly scheduled flights with the departure of United Flight 708 from Los Angeles International
by Jim Lane (Biofuels DIgest) ... Old KiOR was exciting, dramatic, and fast, and the headlines it produced between 2008 and 2011 were candy for a renewables-hungry world. A Breakthrough in Catalytic Pyrolysis to make cost-competitive, drop-in renewable fuels. A “Magic Catalyst”.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Some teams are sellers. They reduce costs, go lean, and hunker down in a case of “wait’ll next year”. In industrial biotechnology, the calendar tells us it’s May but it might as well be July, because
by Jim Talent (Americans for Energy Security and Innovation/The Hill) Opponents of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) claim that the free hand of an unrestricted marketplace will guide biofuels into our fuel supply, driving economic competition and giving consumers better
by Darryl Fears (The Washington Post) But a study by the U.S. Geological Survey appears to have answered a critical question about the millions of gallons of chemical-laced water that are injected into the wells to fracture rocks and release trapped
by Krista Eastman (Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center) Three U.S. Department of Energy-funded research centers – the BioEnergy Science Center (Oak Ridge National Laboratory), the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (University of Wisconsin–Madison and Michigan State University), and the Joint BioEnergy
(Genscape) On April 27, 2016, Genscape Vesseltracker detected a shipment of 4,200 tons (about 1.3 million gallons) of biodiesel from Australia arriving at the Texas Terminals Wharf in the Houston area. The Stolt Sun vessel carried the product that originated
(Associated Press/FuelFix) Oil drilling companies and royalty owners from the Texas Panhandle to New Mexico’s stretch of the Permian Basin are embarking on a grass-roots campaign to limit foreign oil imports, salvaging what they say is a major sector of the
By Michael McCoy (Chemical and Engineering News) Seeing more growth ahead, two small companies invest in new plants -- Growth in the biodiesel market is spurring two small companies to invest in U.S. production of sodium methylate, a catalyst used
by Alan Neuhauser (US News and World Report) America's fracking boom promised big paychecks, but thousands of workers were exploited, the Labor Department says. -- ... Despite booming industry profits and record oil and gas output – which together rejuvenated the
(Algae Industry Magazine) An enzyme responsible for making hydrocarbons has been discovered by Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientists studying the common green microalga Botryococcus braunii. The study, published in the current issue of the journal Nature Communications, could enable scientists
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the DOE’s ARPA-E TERRA projects seek to accelerate the development of sustainable energy crops for the production of renewable transportation fuels from biomass. To accomplish this, the projects uniquely integrate agriculture, information technology,
by Megan Elliott (Flying Magazine) First transcontinental flight using aviation biofuel in a certified light aircraft. -- High-school science teacher Ross McCurdy is planning the first transcontinental flight using aviation biofuel in a certified light aircraft. McCurdy will launch from North
by Francesca Brindle (Energy Global) Murex LLC, a leading domestic US ethanol marketer and distributer, has announced further market growth with the execution of a multi-year ethanol marketing agreement with White Energy. The agreement calls for Murex LLC to market
Join global innovation, business and defense leadership as they accelerate state-of-art technology solutions in support of national security and the warfighter. Showcase your Technology in the Nation's largest Defense Innovation Prospecting Program. Submit your technology for consideration today. Selected innovations will have
by Daniel S. Cohan and Shayak Sengupta (Inderscience Publishers/International Journal of Global Warming) We compare the net greenhouse gas emissions impact of substituting natural gas for other fossil fuels for five purposes: light-duty vehicles, transit buses, residential heating, electricity generation, and
(U.S. Department of Justice) Philip Joseph Rivkin, aka Felipe Poitan Arriaga, was sentenced today in Houston, Texas, to 121 months in prison, three years of supervised release and to pay more than $87 million in restitution and was ordered to
by Vittorio Hernandez (International Business Times) A one-step conversion process that turns carbon dioxide and water into useable liquid hydrocarbon fuels makes change of current fuel distribution system in vehicles unnecessary. The inexpensive and simple new sustainable fuels technology has the
by Gary W. Johnson (WacoTrib.com) ... In this instance, the numbers quoted for bad-gasoline engine emissions with ethanol blends is a prediction based on ethanol harming and even shutting down catalytic converters. It was a prominent oil industry lobby that convinced
by Thomas Content (Milwaukee, Wisconsin Journal Sentinel) ... In one project among several around the nation, ExxonMobil is working with researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison on technology to bring down the cost of renewable diesel and jet fuel. Researchers led
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Earth Energy Renewables is a company focused on commercializing bio-based chemicals and fuels. The company has demonstrated success in creating high-margin green alternatives to petroleum-based products. With a robust technology that can process any biodegradable
by Susanna Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Eighty-nine ethanol producers west of the Mississippi River prepare for the revised LCFS. ... After a couple of years in limbo due to challenges to the Low Carbon Fuel Standard, the California carbon credit
(Digital Journal/ JP Energy Partners LP) JP Energy Partners LP (“JP Energy”) (NYSE:JPEP) today (February 15, 2016) announced that it has initiated the expansion of its existing rail facilities at its North Little Rock refined products terminal to allow for unit
by Louisa Burwood-Taylor (AgFunder News) Cool Planet, the biocarbon and biofuel producer, has raised $9 million in extra funding to commercialize its soil amendment product CoolTerra, which just earned a USDA Certified Biobased Product Label. ... But the majority of funding until
(The Motley Fuel) ... Can the company's renewable natural gas, which it sells under the brand name Redeem, continue to drive growth even in the current environment? I think it can, but there's more to like than just Redeem. Let's talk
(Fleets & Fuels) Sales of the Renewable Natural Gas More than Doubled in 2015 -- Clean Energy Fuels said today that its sales of Redeem brand biomethane, aka renewable natural gas, more than doubled last year to 50 million gallons, from
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The IH2 process was developed by Gas Technology Institute (GTI) of Des Plaines, Illinois—a research, development, and training organization serving energy markets. GTI experts invented, tested, and patented IH2 technology and are providing ongoing commercialization support. Twelve
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Gulf Racing Fuels becomes the Official Fuel of MSR Houston Race Track. MSR Houston is a private membership country club race track. Gevo, is supplying Gulf the bio-isobutanol produced at Gevo’s fermentation plant in Luverne, MN. MSR
(Cambridge News) Entomics is turning food waste into biofuel and animal feed. -- ... Known as Entomos before a recent rebrand, Entomics has been co-founded by four Cambridge University graduates who met on the sustainability challenge organised by CUTEC, the university's
(Pipeline and Gas Journal) Flint Hills Resources (FHR) is going forward with a project to build its first ethanol terminal in Texas. Construction will begin this month and the terminal is expected to be operational by December. The new terminal will
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Global trade for U.S. ethanol has been trending up in the past decade, becoming an important part of the industry’s growth strategy. -- Looking at the numbers, it doesn’t take long to conclude that
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Texas, Tesoro has unveiled its plan to foster the development of biocrude made from renewable biomass, which can be co-processed in its existing refineries, along with traditional crude oil. And the company has identified three
by James Hataway (University of Georgia) A team of researchers led by faculty at the University of Georgia have received a $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to find new ways of combating Johnsongrass, one of the most
(Algae Industry Magazine) In any industry, a few incredible people make an enormous impact. The algae industry is fortunate to honor Algae Ambassadors that are great scientists and industry leaders. They are also superb educators for our next generation of
(Rice University/Science Daily) Research shows how nature handles lignin -- New research shows how bacterial enzymes team up to attack lignin. The findings could lead to more efficient processes for creating biofuels from wood, grass and agricultural waste, say scientists. The molecules
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... “Most investors are from South Dakota by far,” he reported, but the project did attract investors from Texas, Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota and Illinois. “Generally, from areas where they understand the ethanol investment,” he
by Ron Kotrba (Biomass Magazine) Alternative energy companies typically prosper when oil prices are high, but it’s not all doom and gloom when the cost of crude nosedives. ... So what does all this mean for the wood pellet and other bioenergy
by Bill Rooney (Biofuels Digest/Texas A&M) Sorghum has been identified by the US Department of Energy as an energy crop of interest. Owing to its high biomass yield, drought tolerance, established production systems, carbon life cycle, genetic resources and potential for further improvement and available hybrids. Texas A&M”s
by Tom Ewing (Renewable Energy World) As oil prices plummet, are drop-in aviation biofuel refineries ever going to be built? --- In September 2014, the Department of Energy (DOE), along with the Departments of the Navy and Agriculture, announced a
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As ASTM technical balloting is underway and as experts sift through and request revised submissions of technical data, insiders are pointing to an early 2016 approval for Gevo’s renewable alcohol-to-jet fuel. In Washington, CAAFI Executive Director
by Ghasideh Pourhashem (Forbes) ... Originally, along with energy security targets and diversifying U.S. fuel mix, the RFS was designed to lower the lifecycle GHG emissions and combustion-related smog from fossil fuel use. In recent years, as domestic energy production
by Kay Ledbette (Texas A&M AgriLife) ... Russ Jessup, an AgriLife Research perennial grass breeder in College Station, said he is introducing a new biofuel-biomass feedstock that is a hybrid “similar to seedless watermelons, seedless grapes and other sterile
(Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research/EurekAlert!) DOE-funded project will track movement of phosphate in real time -- Professor Maria Harrison has received part of a $1.2 million grant from the Department of Energy to support the development of biosensors to
by Anna Simet (Biomass Magazine) U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz has announced that the U.S. DOE’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy has awarded $125 million to 41 energy technology projects, four of which involve bioenergy or biomass. ... Projects relevant to the bioenergy
(Pacific Ag) For industries like mushroom composting to erosion technology as well as dairy and cattle feed, Pacific Ag is creating a supply chain for agricultural residue -- — Pacific Ag, the nation’s largest crop residue harvest company, has recently completed
by Doug Kennedy (KWBE) A biodiesel plant at the northwest edge of Beatrice is getting ready for the start of operations, by planning to do some testing procedures, soon. ... Crews have been retrofitting the former Beatrice Biodiesel facility to use
(DEINOVE/BusinessWire) DEINOVE (Paris:ALDEI), a biotech company developing innovative processes for producing biofuels and bio-based chemicals by using Deinococcus bacteria as host strains, today announces an agreement with Flint Hills Resources to develop a process for producing ingredients for animal nutrition. Flint
by Kay Ledbetter (AgriLife Today) Dr. Russ Jessup, an AgriLife Research perennial grass breeder in College Station, said he is introducing a new biofuel-biomass feedstock that is a hybrid “similar to seedless watermelons, seedless grapes and other sterile triploid crops.” Jessup
(National Corn Growers Association) For the third year in a row, Texas Corn Producers is teaming up with American Ethanol at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. On November 6 through 8, American Ethanol will be top of mind
by Jon Scharingson (Renewable Energy Group, Inc./Convenience Store Decisions) Whether or not to sell biodiesel can be a significant decision for a convenience store owner. Convenience store owners need to determine what will work best for their operation and how they
by Tona Kunz (Argonne National Laboratory) The U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory this week released a pair of studies on the efficiency of shale oil production excavation. The reports show that shale oil production generates greenhouse gas emissions
by Ray Defenbaugh (Ethanol Producer Magazine/Prime the Pump/Growth Energy) Prime the pump, an effort to grow the ethanol market to accelerate the build-out of higher blend retail infrastructure, has had tremendous success, writes Ray Defenbaugh. -- The ethanol industry is
(HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology) Jeremy Schmutz, faculty investigator at the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, has received a grant from the National Science Foundation to study how switchgrass plants adapt to drought stress. Schmutz, who co-directs the Genome Sequencing Center at
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