by Chris Prentice (Reuters) U.S. oil refining executives met with a senior official in President Donald Trump's administration at the White House last week to argue their position for an overhaul of the nation's biofuels program, two people in the
Introducing Biochar: Climate Change Solution or Greenwash Nightmare?
by Steve Horn (DeSmog) After years of investigating biochar, which promoters have touted as a potential climate change fix, DeSmog is releasing its findings on the science, claims, and controversy surrounding this approach to sequestering carbon. Biochar is the product of plant or animal products (biomass) undergoing
March 27, 2017 Read Full Article
Food, Face Cream and Jet Fuel: Japanese Firm Finds Many Uses for Algae
by Sarah Karacs (CNN Tech) A tiny organism thinner than a strand of hair could help fuel airplanes in the future. Japanese firm Euglena has been cultivating a type of algae for use in food and cosmetics. But it sees
March 27, 2017 Read Full Article
The Zero-Emission Planet: IRENA Says “Affordable, Achieveable”.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Eliminating Energy-Related Carbon Emissions Possible, New IRENA Study Finds Since the election of Donald Trump as US President, we’ve heard a great deal less about “reductions in greenhouse gas emissions” from friends of the advanced bioeconomy,
March 24, 2017 Read Full Article
Researchers Find New Way to Typify Cellulose, Advance Bioproducts
(Washington State University/Biomass Magazine) Researchers at Washington State University Tri-Cities and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have found a new way to define the molecular structure of cellulose, which could lead to cheaper and more efficient ways to make a variety of
March 24, 2017 Read Full Article
Changing the Language of Renewable Energy, the Electric Monopoly’s Newest Ploy
by John Farrell / Nick Stumo-Langer (Institute for Local Self-Reliance/Renewable Energy World) ... Instead, investor-owned utilities (through the Edison Electric Institute trade organization) poured money into communications consultants, and the result of this "Lexicon Project" says volumes about their plans for the
March 24, 2017 Read Full Article
The Long Road to Cellulosic Ethanol
by Stephanie Mercier (Farm Journal Foundation/AgWeb) This blog will present the author’s perspective on a wide range of timely agricultural policy topics, touching on both domestic and international issues. ... The long term answer, that ultimately ethanol will primarily be produced from inedible
March 24, 2017 Read Full Article
Algae Biofuel Market Estimates & Trend Analysis by Application (Transportation, Others), By Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Rest of World), By Country, and Segment Forecasts, 2018 - 2025
(Reportbuyer/PR Newswire) The global algae biofuel market is expected to reach USD 10.73 billion by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Depleting fossil fuel resources as well as rising awareness towards environment protection is expected
March 24, 2017 Read Full Article
State Ag Department Greenlights 16 Promising Industrial Hemp Research Projects
(Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture) Projects Mark Return of Hemp to PA following Gov. Wolf’s Signing of Act 92 -- After decades of being gone from the landscape of Pennsylvania, a promising and versatile crop with enormous market potential will soon
March 24, 2017 Read Full Article
Glencoe Silver Lake Students Tour Heartland Corn Products
(Minnesota BioFuels Association) Eight students from Glencoe Silver Lake High School toured Heartland Corn Products today to understand how clean renewable Minnesota energy is produced. The students, from grades 10 to 12, toured the various process of ethanol production at Heartland
March 24, 2017 Read Full Article
Cabinet Approves Closure/Winding up of CREDA HPCL Biofuel Ltd (CHBL) and IndianOil - CREDA Biofuels Ltd. (ICBL)
(Business Standard) The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved closure/winding up of CREDA HPCL Biofuel (CHBL) and IndianOil - Chhattisgarh Renewable Energy Development Agency (CREDA) Biofuels (ICBL). ... Joint Ventures (JV) between CREDA
March 24, 2017 Read Full Article
Advanced Biorefining Leadership: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Renewable Energy Group
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Renewable Energy Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: REGI) is a leading provider of cleaner, lower carbon intensity products and services. We are an international producer of biomass-based diesel, a developer of renewable chemicals and are North America’s
March 24, 2017 Read Full Article
BioChar’s Buzzing and Cool Planet’s $20M Cap Raise Is Feeding It
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Colorado, Cool Planet has closed on $19.3 million in Series A financing and note conversion to commercialize its Cool Terra and Cool Fauna engineered biocarbon products. This latest round of funding was led by
March 24, 2017 Read Full Article
RFA Trains 200th Ethanol Industry Employee on FSMA Preventive Controls for Animal Food Requirements
by Kelsey Quargnenti (Renewable Fuels Association) This month the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) hit a major milestone with its Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) training program on Preventive Controls for Animal Food. During the latest course, offered in early March in
March 24, 2017 Read Full Article
Ethanol Powering Crappie Masters Boats
by Chuck Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) When it comes to using ethanol blended fuel in your boat engine it is important to follow manufacturer directions and actually just properly maintain your equipment. That is advice from pro fishermen like Terry Richard here.
March 24, 2017 Read Full Article
Scientists Made a Detailed “Roadmap” for Meeting the Paris Climate Goals. It’s Eye-Opening.
by Brad Plumer (Vox) ... They start with the big picture: To hit the Paris climate goals without geoengineering, the world has to do three broad (and incredibly ambitious) things: 1) Global CO2 emissions from energy and industry have to fall in
March 24, 2017 Read Full Article
Multiple State, Federal Bills Introduced to Stop the Spread of E15
by Daniel Strohl (Hemmings Daily) ... The most extreme of those bills, H.R. 1314, which Virginia Representative Robert Goodlatte introduced, calls for the elimination of the Renewable Fuel Standard, the portion of the Clean Air Act enacted in 2005
March 24, 2017 Read Full Article
Opportunities and Risks of Seaweed Biofuels in Aviation
(Algae Industry Magazine) When it comes to cutting emissions from transport, shipping and aviation are often considered the elephant in the room: having been excluded from the Paris agreement and being inadequately addressed under existing UN conventions and EU legislation.
March 24, 2017 Read Full Article
EU Sees ‘Strategic Advantage’ of Biofuels in Aviation
by Hannah Black and Sarantis Michalopoulos (EurActiv) In sectors like aviation where decarbonisation options are limited, there is a strategic advantage in encouraging the use of biofuels, a European Commission official has said. The aviation sector is dependent on liquid fuels and has
March 23, 2017 Read Full Article
Preem and Vattenfall Collaborate on Biofuel
(Vattenfall) Vattenfall aims to provide climate-smart hydrogen gas to large-scale production of biofuel. Preem and Vattenfall have concluded an agreement to investigate the potential of using climate-smart hydrogen gas in the large scale production of biofuel for the Swedish market. The
March 23, 2017 Read Full Article
Mustard Seeds without Mustard Flavor: New Robust Oilseed Crop Can Resist Global Warming
(University of Copenhagen) University of Copenhagen and the global player Bayer CropScience have successfully developed a new oilseed crop that is much more resistant to heat, drought and diseases than oilseed rape. The breakthrough is so big that it will
March 23, 2017 Read Full Article
U.S. National Biodiesel Board Petitions against 'Illegal' Biodiesel Imports
by Christine Prentice and Michael Hirtzer (Reuters) The National Biodiesel Board said on Thursday it has filed a petition to the U.S. government to investigate imports from Argentina and Indonesia, saying they have violated trade laws by flooding the U.S. market
March 23, 2017 Read Full Article
Oh, the Irony! 'Eco-Friendly' Biodiesel Found Environmentally Destructive
(Sputnik News) Whereas biofuel is often touted as the "greenest" solution to the Earth's climate woes, such as global warming, many experts find it at least as damaging to the environment as ordinary fuel. Another characteristic worth considering is the
March 23, 2017 Read Full Article
Be the Buzz of BIO--Nomination DEADLINE: March 31, 2017
Are you an innovative biotech company that is R&D-intensive and is developing strategic partnerships within the industry? Nominate your company to be the Buzz of BIO! But hurry! Only 40 nominations will be accepted in total, and must be submitted
March 23, 2017 Read Full Article
Maryland Grain Producers Promote E15 across Mid-Atlantic
(Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board/Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board has launched a four-month ethanol advertising campaign in the Mid-Atlantic. This includes postcards, bus, video, internet and radio advertising designed to highlight ethanol fuel and local stations
March 23, 2017 Read Full Article
Trump Loyalty to Rural Votes Under Scrutiny at Confirmation (1)
(Bloomberg/Washington Post) When Sonny Perdue III appears before a Senate panel Thursday for his confirmation hearing to become U.S. secretary of agriculture, lawmakers and farm groups will likely have few concerns about whether the former Georgia governor can do the
March 23, 2017 Read Full Article
Proteins Interactions Hold Key for Maximizing Oil Production in Plants for Biofuels and Biomaterials
(Brookhaven National Laboratory/Lab Manager) Findings point to new biochemical strategies for increasing oil yield from crops grown to produce biofuels and biomaterials -- ... By exploring the details of this delicate energy balance, a group of scientists from the U.S.
March 23, 2017 Read Full Article
Problem of Producing Cheap Biofuel from Cassava Solved
(Bangkok Post) New yeast species is key to cutting cost -- ... After 18 months of research and experiments, the Thailand Institute of Science and Technological Research (TISTR) has found that they can use a species of yeast named Saccharomyces Cerevisiae
March 23, 2017 Read Full Article
California Actively Reviewing LFCS Including LCA Models and Aviation Biofuel
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In California, review of the Low Carbon Fuel Standard is well underway with a public meeting looking scheduled for April 4 looking at lifecycle assessment modeling for fuels and feedstocks including potential updates to CA-GREET
March 23, 2017 Read Full Article
Vopak Americas Awards Matrix Service EPC of Brownfield Expansion Project at Deer Park, Texas Terminal
(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
March 23, 2017 Read Full Article
African Climate Technology Center (ACTC) Selects Nine Institutions to Develop Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Research Projects Across the Continent
(AllAfrica) The African Climate Technology Center (ACTC) has the mission of supporting Sub-Saharan countries in scaling-up the adoption of clean technologies for adaptation and mitigation, through activities that include knowledge creation and dissemination, support to policies and enabling environment and
March 23, 2017 Read Full Article
DC’s Climate Change: Renewables Adapting to Shifting Political Weather
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Over at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, new lab director Martin Keller told the Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association that “renewable energy needs a new story to tell.” The Denver Business Journal’s Cathy Proctor reported
March 23, 2017 Read Full Article
Nutrition and Energy from Methane: The Digest’s 2017 Muti-Slide Guide to Calysta
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In December, we reported that Cargill and Calysta will co-create the world’s largest gas fermentation facility in Memphis, Tennessee to produce Calysta’s FeedKind protein, a family of sustainable, traceable nutritional ingredients for fish, livestock and pets. Start-up
March 23, 2017 Read Full Article
CALL FOR PAPERS: 10th Annual Dupont Summit on Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy --- December 1, 2017 --- Washington, DC DEADLINE: September 15, 2017
The purpose of the Dupont Summit is to promote interdisciplinary dialogue about pressing issues related to science, technology and the environment. The conference mirrors the interest of the PSO and its partners in promoting conversation about current policy concerns. Presented every
March 22, 2017 Read Full Article
Eliminating Energy-Related Carbon Emissions Possible, IRENA Study Finds
(Zawaya) ... The report also describes how the energy sector transition needs to go beyond the power sector into all end-use sectors. Renewables need to account for the majority of power generation in 2050, based on continued rapid growth especially
March 22, 2017 Read Full Article
As Carbon Tax Increases Costs, Calgary Transit Considers Renewable Diesel
by Annalise Klingbeil (Calgary Sun) With the province's new carbon tax expected to cost Calgary Transit at least $3.75 million over the next two years, city bureaucrats may soon study if switching buses to renewable diesel is a good idea. Jeff
March 22, 2017 Read Full Article
NBB Highlights 5 Individuals' Stories for National Biodiesel Day
(National Biodiesel Board/Biodiesel Magazine) ... (Rudolf) Diesel, who invented the engine that bears his name, ran early models on peanut oil, and was an ardent believer in vegetable oil-based fuel. That’s why the biodiesel industry honors Diesel by making his
March 22, 2017 Read Full Article
Biox Explores Renewable Diesel Production in Sombra, Ontario
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) Canada-based biodiesel producer Biox Corp. is exploring co-locating a renewable diesel production facility next to the 50 MMly (13.2 MMgy) biodiesel plant it purchased from Methes Energies last year in Sombra, Ontario. The biodiesel plant,
March 22, 2017 Read Full Article
2017-'18 RVOs Assumed Intact as Regulatory Freeze Deadline Passes
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) March 21 represents the end of the 60-day freeze period on new regulations pending review, implemented by the incoming U.S. administration Jan. 20. Among the regulations on hold during the two-month freeze period was the
March 22, 2017 Read Full Article
Exploring The Symbiotic Relationship of Lichens Could Make For Better Biofuel Production
(Biofuels Journal) Researchers at John Hopkins University, USA, have created artificial lichens using bacteria and yeast that are capable of producing materials for biofuels directly from sunlight and CO2. The research is published in the open access journal Biotechnology for Biofuels
March 22, 2017 Read Full Article
Methane Plant Is the First to Use Nopal
(Mexico News Daily) A staple of Mexican landscapes and countless dishes, nopal — also known as prickly pear cactus — is now powering a tortilla plant and two vehicles in Michoacán. It was 10 years ago that Rogelio Sosa López, a farmer and tortilla
March 22, 2017 Read Full Article
New Study Sets the Stage for Engineering Fungi to Make Fuels instead of Toxins
(Phys.Org) Molds produce a wide range of both valuable and toxic molecules, which have important implications for energy production, agriculture and human health. A recent study revealed that an organelle within fungal cells called the endoplasmic reticulum acts as a
March 22, 2017 Read Full Article
ISO Publishes New Marine Fuel Specs, Paving Way for More Biofuels in Blend
by Ned Molloy (Platts) The International Organisation for Standardisation has launched a new class of marine fuel specifications to provide standards for higher quantities of biofuels to be blended into marine distillates, and making reporting of cloud point mandatory in their
March 22, 2017 Read Full Article
Veterans Encourage President to Include Ethanol, RFS in Energy Plan
by Rachel Gantz (Renewable Fuels Association) More than 120 military veterans working and investing in the ethanol industry sent a letter to President Trump last week, urging him to include a prominent role for ethanol and the Renewable Fuel Standard
March 22, 2017 Read Full Article
New Study Links Habitat Destruction to Ethanol Production
by Jordan Lubetkin (National Wildlife Federation) Millions of acres of wildlife habitat are being lost to crop production, according to a new peer-reviewed study published today in the journal Environmental Research Letters, which found a strong link between the location
March 22, 2017 Read Full Article
Bioenergy Gets Graphic with New Illustrated Guide to the Subject
(University of Manchester) A new graphic novel which addresses the big questions around bioenergy and climate change is being launched by The University of Manchester ahead of a major conference this week. In a unique collaboration between artists and researchers working
March 22, 2017 Read Full Article
Any Alcohol into Any Drop-In Fuel: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Byogy Renewables
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Byogy has developed a catalytic platform that converts any source of ethanol, butanol, mixed alcohols, or related olefins, into full replacement, and cost competitive biofuels including gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. Byogy’s jet fuel is
March 22, 2017 Read Full Article
As OPEC Falls, What Is the Liberated Market Signaling to Producers?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... There’s a theory going around that biofuels are “government fuels” — and prices are set around a table in Washington, DC. But if you visit the big biodiesel and ethanol firms, you’ll see right
March 22, 2017 Read Full Article
Carbon Tax Talk Exposes White House Factions
by Anthony Adragna (Politico's Morning Energy) A friendly meeting at the White House with former secretary of State James Baker and fellow Republicans pushing a carbon tax has underscored the increasingly tense relationship between President Donald Trump's moderate and hardline
March 22, 2017 Read Full Article
National Farmers Union Passes Resolution to Support E30 Use
by Tom Bryan (Ethanol Producer Magazine) National Farmers Union called for the U.S. EPA to open the market to higher blends of ethanol in a landmark resolution passed during the group’s annual meeting held last week in San Diego. "National Farmers
March 20, 2017 Read Full Article
Senators Urge Trump to Maintain RFS Point of Obligation
(Ethanol Producer Magazine) Nearly two dozen U.S. senators have signed a letter advising President Trump not to change the federal biofuels program's longtime compliance protocol. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., today led 23 senators in a bipartisan
March 20, 2017 Read Full Article
Economists: Octane Premium Offsets Ethanol Energy Penalty
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Ethanol critics bash the fuel for its lower energy value than gasoline, while ethanol supporters point to its octane-boosting properties. University of Illinois ag economists Scott Irwin and Darrel Good analyze the value
March 20, 2017 Read Full Article
Greenbelt Resources Commissions First Waste-to-Ethanol System in Australia
(Greenbelt Resources Corporation/PR Newswire) Important Milestone Demonstrates International Commercial Scale and Viability -- Greenbelt Resources Corporation (OTC: GRCO), an innovator of sustainable energy production systems, announced today that it has commissioned the first waste-to-ethanol system for Standard Ethanol Pty. Ltd.,
March 20, 2017 Read Full Article
Company Hopes to Make Cellulosic Ethanol at under $1 per Gallon
(Ethanol Producer Magazine) After announcing plans to purchase an aspirant cellulosic ethanol plant in Florida, Alliance BioEnergy Plus Inc. has released a bold cost-of-production estimate after researching the economics of its patented cellulose-to-sugar (CTS) conversion process. The company’s independent research found
March 20, 2017 Read Full Article
Icahn Bets against Renewables Market He Wants Trump to Overhaul
by Zachary Mider and Jennifer A Dlouhy (Bloomberg) Special adviser to president urges change in EPA rule; ‘It’s bothersome that one guy can control RIN markets’ -- Carl Icahn, the billionaire investor and adviser to President Donald Trump, said he’s betting
March 20, 2017 Read Full Article
Wassup, DOE? The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to the Bioenergy Technologies Office
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) What’s up at the DOE? Bioenergy Technologies Office Director Jonathan Male answered the question in this update, given at ABLC 2017 in Washington. In this deck, he looks at milestones ahead, programs, goals and challenges.
March 20, 2017 Read Full Article
Big Bird, You’re Fired! And All of You Enviros, too! Trump Thumps, Dumps in New Budget
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Good-bye ARPA-E, DOE, Loan Guarantee program, Energy Star, OPIC, USTDA, NEA, and the Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing Program. Even Big Bird gets the guillotine. In Washington, the White House released its budget requests for 2018,
March 20, 2017 Read Full Article
Groups Hail Recall of EPA’s Federal Fuel Economy and Emissions Rules
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the High Octane Alliance called the Trump Administration’s recall the fuel economy rule “an important first step in achieving realistic reductions in fuel consumption.” Alliance Chairman Tom Daschle said the recall was necessary due
March 20, 2017 Read Full Article
Growth Energy Files Comments on Ontario's Development of Renewable Fuel Standard
(Growth Energy) Growth Energy recently filed comments and exhibits to Canada’s Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change on the Canadian province of Ontario’s discussion paper, “Developing a Modern Renewable Fuel Standard for Gasoline in Ontario.” The comments focused on the
March 20, 2017 Read Full Article
Louisiana Becomes 29th State to Adopt E15 Ethanol
(Growth Energy) Louisiana is now the 29th state to offer consumers a better choice at the pump – gasoline blended with 15 percent ethanol known as E15. The latest in this market expansion is a RaceTrac station in Baton Rouge –
March 20, 2017 Read Full Article
Co-Processing Biointermediates: The Digest’s Multi-Slide Guide to Honeywell UOP
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Honeywell’s UOP has developed a renewable jet fuel processing technology, a renewable diesel process, as well as a joint venture, Envergent Technologies, that will market technologies and equipment for generating power, transportation fuel and heating
March 20, 2017 Read Full Article
Diamond Green Diesel Expanding to 275M Gallon Capacity to Meet Booming Renewable Diesel Demand
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Louisiana, the Diamond Green Diesel facility in Norco will expand its annual production capacity of renewable diesel from 10,000 barrels per day to 18,000 bpd (275 million gallons per year), using Honeywell UOP’s Ecofining
March 20, 2017 Read Full Article
NASA-Led Study Confirms that Aviation Biofuels Can Be a Boon for the Environment
by Alan Boyle (GeekWire/Yahoo!) A NASA-led study demonstrates that airplanes powered by biofuels can emit up to 70 percent less particulate pollution – providing a potential boost for technologies that are being pioneered at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The study, published today (March 15, 2017)
March 16, 2017 Read Full Article
CALL FOR ABSTRACTS and STUDENT POSTERS: tcbiomass2017 --- September 19-21, 2017 --- Chicago, IL DEADLINE: April 15, 2017
Researchers and technology developers are invited to share their process innovations and insights to enable the production of clean heat and power, transportation fuels, chemicals, biochar, and other high-value products. Undergraduate and graduate students whose posters are selected will be
March 14, 2017 Read Full Article
Education Internships at Idaho National Laboratory
(Idaho National Laboratory) As a Department of Energy facility, INL offers a diverse number of paid internship positions to high school, undergraduate and graduate level students. These internship opportunities enable students to collaborate with experienced scientists and engineers in order
March 14, 2017 Read Full Article
Education: NEWBio Teacher Training Workshop DEADLINE:
(NEWBio) Spend a week (July 10-14, 2017) at University Park (Penn State) learning about current bioenergy research from nationally recognized faculty. Renewable Energy alternatives are vital for the health of our planet, and the NEWBio Project, funded by the USDA,
March 14, 2017 Read Full Article
Education: Bioenergy Scholars Program DEADLINE: March 17, 2017
(NEWBio) The Bioenergy Scholars Program offers summer research work to undergraduates, who can apply to work at one of several universities in the Northeast US (including Penn State, Cornell, Rutgers, West Virginia University, SUNY ESF, and Delaware State University and
March 14, 2017 Read Full Article
Education: Graduate Program Bioenergy Scholarships--Graduate Distance Education DEADLINE: March 20, 2017
(NEWBio) The NEWBio graduate distance education program provides scholarship support to students wanting to enroll for one of the following online courses from Penn State World Campus: Bioenergy Bioenergy Feedstocks Bioenergy Harvest and Logistics Conversion Technologies for Bioenergy Production Scholarships are
March 14, 2017 Read Full Article
New ASTM High-Octane Fuel Standard Published
(Growth Energy) Last week, ASTM International published an important new high-octane fuel standard, ASTM D8076 – 17, Standard Specification for 100 Research Octane Number Test Fuel for Automotive Spark-Ignition Engines. A major victory for the ethanol industry, this new specification
March 14, 2017 Read Full Article
Co-op Aiming to Boost Farmer Biodiesel Use
by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) An Iowa farm cooperative wants to convince more farmers in the state to use biodiesel by showing just how well it performs. United Farmers Cooperative of Afton, Iowa compared the performance of two trucks with blends of
March 14, 2017 Read Full Article
The Role of Biodiesel in Curbing Pollution
by Sandeep Chaturvedi (Biodiesel Association of India/Financial Express) Rapidly increasing vehicular pollution and complete neglect by the authorities to take pollution-reduction measures over the past few decades have resulted in deterioration of ambient air quality across the country. A recent
March 14, 2017 Read Full Article
Second-Generation Biofuels ‘More Cost-Effective’ than First-Generation Biofuels, New Study Suggests
by Liz Gyekye (Biofuels International) Investment in ethanol production from waste biomass could have great economic environmental benefits, according to a new study from researchers from the Brazilian Bioethanol Science and Technology Laboratory. In this study, the researchers found that ethanol produced
March 14, 2017 Read Full Article
Scientists Are Conspicuously Missing from Trump’s Government
by Chris Mooney (The Washington Post) President Trump has moved to fill just one of 46 key science and technology positions that help the government counter risks ranging from chemical and biological attacks to rising seas, a Washington Post analysis has found. The
March 14, 2017 Read Full Article
CBA Event Highlights California's Thriving Biodiesel Market
by Celia DuBose (California Biodiesel Alliance/Biodiesel Magazine) Jennifer Case, chair of the California Biodiesel Alliance, ended her opening address at the sixth annual California Biodiesel Conference March 1 in Sacramento with one simple message: The world of biodiesel is trending up.
March 14, 2017 Read Full Article
Neste MY Renewable Diesel Helped Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions by a Staggering 6.7 Million Tons in 2016
(Neste/Globe Newswire) Neste is the world's leading company producing renewable diesel from waste and residues. Its low-carbon Neste MY Renewable Diesel refined from renewable raw materials helped its users replace conventional diesel and reduce carbon emissions by a staggering 6.7
March 14, 2017 Read Full Article
Going Green after St. Patrick's Day
(Diesel Technology Forum) Don’t put away all your green gear after St. Patrick’s Day. You’ll need it again on Saturday to celebrate National Biodiesel Day. -- Whether it’s energy independence, energy security, greenhouse gas reduction or just getting work done
March 14, 2017 Read Full Article
Government of Canada Invests $43 Million in Clean Technology Innovation
(Government of Canada/CNW) Investments support Canadian-based technologies and create opportunities for businesses to grow and contribute to clean economic growth. -- Technology and the innovation it helps promote are key to the future of Canada's economy. This is why the
March 14, 2017 Read Full Article
Now is the Time to Act on RFS Reform: Bipartisan Group of Lawmakers Re-introduce Bill to Reform Ethanol Mandate
(Office of Congressman Bob Goodlatte) (R-Va 6)) Reps. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), Jim Costa (D-Calif.), Steve Womack (R-Ark.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) released the following statement today after reintroducing the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Reform Act (H.R. 1315): “The Renewable Fuel Standard
March 14, 2017 Read Full Article
Vietnam Revives Biofuel Plan, Sets National Switch in 2018
(VnExpress) After years failing to promote ethanol blended fuel, the government makes a big move. After more than two years failing to promote a locally-produced biofuel product in major cities, Vietnam has announced an even more ambitious plan: a national switch. The
March 14, 2017 Read Full Article
Port of Amsterdam Reduces CO2 Footprint
(GoodFuels) Port of Amsterdam reduces CO2 footprint by 25% through fleet-wide use of advanced marine biofuel from GoodFuels Marine. Following a previous successful pilot, GoodFuels Marine has also won Port of Amsterdam’s tender for its fleet of five patrol vessels.
March 14, 2017 Read Full Article
Bank in Tie-Up with UPM to Buy Used Cooking Oil from Public
by Syiffaa’ Musa (The Star) ... Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and CIMB Foundation are collaborating to educate the public through a BioDiesel From Used Cooking Oil Programme. The project encourages the public to drop off their used cooking oil at one of
March 14, 2017 Read Full Article
Advancing Advanced: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Aemetis
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Aemetis owns and operates 110 million gallons per year of ethanol and biodiesel facilities in the US and India, and is upgrading the plants using patented technology to produce lower carbon, higher value advanced biofuels
March 14, 2017 Read Full Article
The Justice League of Pyromaniax
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The High Lords of Pyrolysis travel under the unlikely cover identities of “George Huber” and “Robert Brown” — but we know them in their true superhero identities of “The Catalyst” and “The Godfatha”. ... Instead,
March 14, 2017 Read Full Article
Extra! Extra! Read All about It!
by Mandy Stoker (E4 Environment/Bioenergy Insight) ... The agricultural industry is becoming increasingly mechanised and technical, yet is seems public perceptions lag behind, preferring not to view farms as centres of production, algorithms, and computer-driven combine harvesters. Whilst providing the
March 14, 2017 Read Full Article
Academics and IEA Slam ‘Misleading’ Chatham House Bioenergy Report
by Liz Gyekye (Bioenergy Insight) More than 125 academics have joined the International Energy Agency Bioenergy Technology Collaboration Programme (IEA Bioenergy) slamming Chatham House’s recent report on bioenergy, calling it ‘misleading. The group of academics from across the world and the IEA
March 14, 2017 Read Full Article
National Academies Report Finds Future Biotechnology Products May Overwhelm Agencies
(Bergeson & Campbell) On March 9, 2017, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (National Academies) published a report entitled Preparing for Future Products of Biotechnology, prepared by the Committee on Future Biotechnology Products and Opportunities to Enhance Capabilities
March 14, 2017 Read Full Article
2016 Survey of Non-Starch Alcohol and Renewable Hydrocarbon Biofuels Producers
(Netzwerk Biotreibstoffe/National Renewable Energy Laboratory) The reports tracks the status of non-starch alcohol and renewable hydrocarbon projects. What it is: Publicly available annual report summarizing U.S. advanced biorefinery projects and global trends in the deployment of commercial technologies as of year-end
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
High Biofuel Blends in Aviation (HBBA)
(Netzwerk Biotreibstoffe) In the frame of the ENER/C2/2012/ 420-1 Tender a study on high biofuel blends in aviation has been carried out by Deutsche Lufthansa AG and the “Wehrwissenschaftliches Institut für Werk- und Betriebsstoffe”. The purpose of this research was
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Drop-In Biofuels for Marine and Aviation Markets
(Netzwerk Biotreibstoffe) A workshop was held in conjunction with ExCo78 in Rotorua, New Zealand on the 9th November 2016. With approximately 60 participants, the theme of the workshop was Drop-in biofuels for international marine and aviation markets. Fifteen invited speakers gave presentations (including
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Pruitt Allies Lobby on EPA’s Ethanol Mandate
by Timothy Cama (The Hill) ... Glenn Coffee and Crystal Coon, through their firm, Coffee Group, filed paperwork this week with Congress to represent Oklahoma-based gasoline station and convenience store owner QuikTrip Corp. on issues related to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Pruitt
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
A Global Synthesis of Jatropha Cultivation: Insights into Land Use Change and Management Practices
David C. Walmsley Rob Bailis, and Alexandra-Maria Klein (Environmental Science & Technology) Despite setbacks, interest in Jatropha cultivation remains high. This study addressed the question to what extent Jatropha cultivation has replaced specific vegetation and land use types and how
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Viable Biomass for Hawaii
by Gretchen Miller (Biofuels Digest) ... Meghan Pawlowksi, a graduate student at the University of Hawaii Manoa’s College of Tropical Agriculture, crawled around her field site on the last sugarcane plantation in Hawaii, Maui’s Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company, or HC&S,
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Commercializing Algae: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Algenol
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Algenol is a global, industrial biotechnology company that is commercializing its patented algae technology platform for production of ethanol and other biofuels, chemicals and biobased materials. Formed in 2006, and headquartered in Fort Myers, Florida with
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
EU Sees ‘Strategic Advantage’ of Biofuels in Aviation
by Hannah Black and Sarantis Michalopoulos (EurActiv) In sectors like aviation where decarbonisation options are limited, there is a strategic advantage in encouraging the use of biofuels, a European Commission official has said. The aviation sector is dependent on liquid fuels
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Bloomberg G-20 Poised to Signal Retreat From Climate-Change Funding Pledge
by Joe Ryan (Bloomberg) Draft statement encourages private funding for climate change; Previous communique emphasized strong government support -- Finance ministers for the U.S., China, Germany and other members of the Group of 20 economies may scale back a robust
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
IRFA Celebrates 100th E15 Fueling Site Opening
(Iowa Renewable Fuels Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Crossroads Convenience Store in Spencer became Iowa’s 100th E15 station, strengthening Iowa’s position as the number one state in the U.S. for E15 refueling sites. The Spencer store is owned by Wessels Oil Company, which
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Cars Seen Missing U.S. Mileage Targets for First Time Since 2004
by Ryan Beene (Bloomberg) Regulator report shows U.S. fleet to fall below mileage target; Results may feed debate over Obama auto-efficiency standards -- Cars and light trucks from the 2016 model year will be the first to fall short of U.S.
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Zimbabwe: Govt Liberalises Ethanol Production
by Tinashe Makichi (The Herald/AllAfrica) Government has liberalised local ethanol production as the country's sole producer, Green Fuel has constantly failed to provide adequate supplies especially during the rainy season rains. The current inadequate supplies of ethanol from Green Fuel last
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
BioApplied: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Nova Scotia’s Biorefinery Initiative
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) There’s a biorefinery initiative in Canada’s Atlantic region (first initiated in Nova Scotia but expanding regionally). A partnership between Emera, Innovacorp, and the Federal and Provincial governments, are aimed at creating the necessary conditions to attract and host a
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
UPS, Google Fleets Cutting Emissions with Neste Renewable Diesel
by Jessica Lyons Hardcastle (Environmental Leader) UPS delivery trucks and Google gBuses are among the fleets using Neste renewable diesel, which the company said reduced its customers carbon emissions by 6.7 million tons in 2016. The company says in addition to
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Soybean Association Discusses Trade, Biofuels, Conservation and Research
(Norwalk Reflector) ... Progressive policies for a strong farm safety net, increased funding for agricultural export programs, ambitious global trade negotiations, an aggressive support for biodiesel policies and robust funding for agricultural research and conservation programs will guide the American Soybean
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Recent Research: Biodiesel Market Expects China and India to Be Key Future Markets Due to Numerous Diesel Vehicles
(Energy Market Research/Furion Analytics Research and Consulting LLP/WhaTech) ... Several countries across the world are are busy procuring biodiesel equipment in an effort scale-up their biofuel energy supply. Hence, the Biodiesel Market is in a tremendous position to register a significant
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Parliament Committee Says Palm Oil Biofuels Usage Should End by 2020
by Sarantis Michalopoulos (EurActiv) MEPs adopted a report on Thursday (9 March) urging the European Commission to phase out the use of palm oil as a component of biodiesel by 2020 “at the latest”. In November, the European Commission presented its draft
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Five New Artificial Yeast Chromosomes Set Stage for First Synthetic Eukaryotic Genome
(American Association for the Advancement of Science/EurekAlert!) In a package featuring seven new studies, scientists of the Synthetic Yeast Genome Project (Sc2.0) who previously constructed a single yeast chromosome now report constructing five more - representing more than one-third of yeast's
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Biofuel May Backfire as a Budget Bluff
(NewsInEnglish.no) Plans by the Norwegian government to mandate usage of much more biofuel, as another so-called “green” measure that helped secure last year’s state budget compromise, may end up backfiring as little more than a budget bluff. New statistics suggest
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Science & SciLifeLab Prize for Young Scientists DEADLINE: July 15, 2017
(Science Magazine) This Prize was created to recognize that global economic health is dependent upon a vibrant research community and we need to encourage our best and brightest to continue in their chosen fields of research. Science/AAAS and SciLifeLab, a coordinated
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
NexSteppe Sorghum Products Approved for Commercial Sale in the European Union
(NexSteppe) NexSteppe Inc., a company dedicated to pioneering the next generation of sustainable feedstock solutions for biobased industries, announced today that the European Union has fully approved two NexSteppe Sorghum hybrids for commercial sale in the region. One of the
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Public Citizen Files Complaint Alleging Trump Adviser’s Activities May Have Violated Federal Lobbying Laws
(Public Citizen) Carl Icahn and His Businesses Haven’t Registered As Lobbyists Yet Continue to Influence Government Policy -- Icahn Enterprises, CVR Energy and their related affiliates appear to be in violation of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (LDA), according
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Government Invests 10 Billion in University’s Poop-to-Currency Project
by Joseph Shin (The Korea Bizwire) “Ttong-bonwi-hwapae” literally translates into “poop standard currency.” And the government is investing 10 billion won ($8.65 million) over the next five years to turn this human waste-to-currency idea into reality in South Korean towns
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Biofuels Digest Publishes On-demand Streams from BioChannel.TV
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Major announcement: New ICM cellulosic fuels project. Major announcement: Licella JV for supercritical fuels & chemicals Major announcement: New $112M Sofinnova renewable chemicals venture fund Industry Horizons: Presentations from Amyris, Capricorn Venture Partners, Ginkgo BioWorks, Raymond James ABLC Financing &
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Advanced Bioeconomy Conference: Some Scale-Up Successes, but Still a Shadow of Conventional Biofuels
by Pavel Molchanov (Raymond James/Biofuels Digest) These are excerpts from a complete review of ABLC by Raymond James Senior VP Pavel Molchanov, which you can read here. While the tone (on the whole) is no longer worsening, it is far from being as optimistic
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Whisky Business: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Celtic Renewables
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In uniquely combining the whisky by-products, Celtic Renewables Ltd adapt the traditional Weizmann Fermentation process (also known as ABE fermentation) to a brand new and entirely sustainable novel substrate – not only providing a sustainable
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
ICAO Council Adopts New CO2 Emissions Standard for Aircraft
(International Civil Aviation Organization) The 36-State ICAO Council has adopted a new aircraft CO2 emissions standard which will reduce the impact of aviation greenhouse gas emissions on the global climate. Contained in a new Volume III to Annex 16 of the Chicago
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
California Won't Meet Its Climate Change Goals without a Lot More Housing Density in Its Cities
by Liam Dillon (Los Angeles Times) ... The state has pledged to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 40% below 1990 levels by 2030. To do so, Southern Californians will have to drive nearly 12% less by that date than they did
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
The Unbearable Lightness of Innovation
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... I am reviewing the notes about so many companies in Stealth Mode, that you’d think it was a place, like Silicon Valley or Times Square. Stealth Mode. It’s so fashionable, it ought to be worn on
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Ethanol Keeps Growing Economic Impact
by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) ... According to the latest study by ABF Economics, the U.S. ethanol industry added $42.1 billion to the nation’s gross domestic product in 2016 and supported nearly 340,000 jobs. “The ethanol industry continues to make a significant
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Do Scott Pruitt’s Statements on CO2 and Global Warming Misrepresent Scientific Consensus?
by Alex Kasprak (Snopes) EPA administrator Pruitt told CNBC that he does not agree that carbon dioxide is "a primary contributor to the global warming that we see," arguing that scientists are still debating the issue. ... While climate science is, indeed,
March 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Insights about Feedstock from the Advance Bioeconomy Leadership Conference
by Joanne Ivancic* (Advanced Biofuels USA) Biofuels Digest's Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference started with an afternoon ABLC Feedstock Summit at the US Department of Agriculture. Three points jumped out. The value of the farmers/growers perspective of biofuels; rethinking the value
March 10, 2017 Read Full Article
Sandia Purposefully Crashing Algae Ponds
(Algae Industry Magazine) For algal biofuels to compete with petroleum, farming algae has to become less expensive. Toward that goal, Sandia National Laboratories is testing strains of algae for resistance to a host of predators and diseases, and learning to
March 10, 2017 Read Full Article
New Leaf Biofuel Plans to Double Biodiesel Production Capacity
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) San Diego-based biodiesel producer New Leaf Biofuel has received a notice of proposed award from the California Energy Commission’s Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program, which will help fund an expansion project to
March 10, 2017 Read Full Article
Express Yourself: The Coming Revolution in Crop Yields via Epigenetics
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... For now, let’s visit briefly the story of epigenetics. If you are concerned that a) the world doesn’t want genetic modification and b) the world needs crops with more stress tolerance and yield if
March 09, 2017 Read Full Article
Biofuel Produced by Microalgae
(Tokyo Institute of Technology/EurekAlert!) The perimeter of lipid droplet in their cells is an important place for oil synthesis -- Photosynthetic organisms such as plants and green algae can transform atmospheric carbon dioxide into carbon storage molecules, especially oils such as
March 08, 2017 Read Full Article
Malaysia Lagging in Palm Biofuel Research, Says Economist
by Koh Jun Lin (Malaysiakini) Malaysia has not done enough research on palm oil derived biodiesel although Malaysian palm oil companies are well-poised to take advantage it, according to economist Jomo Kwame Sundaram. Countries such as Cuba, Brazil, the US and
March 08, 2017 Read Full Article
German Biodiesel Imports Rise Sharply, Exports Grow Modestly
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) ... According to the government figures, U.S. imports of German biodiesel were topped only by those of the Netherlands and Poland, reaching 85,000 tons (25.5 million gallons)—nearly seven times the volume imported in 2015. While German
March 08, 2017 Read Full Article
Twin Challenges to LCFS Advance in California Courts
by Joshua T. Bledsoe and Max Friedman (Latham & Watkins LLP/Biodiesel Magazine) Two related cases, advancing in parallel, have the potential to upend California’s low carbon fuel standard (LCFS), whether via full suspension of the LCFS or carving out diesel
March 08, 2017 Read Full Article
Tuscaloosa's Inventure Is Changing the Way We Look at Waste
by William Thornton (AL.com) In a non-descript 40,000-square-foot building not far from the popular Tuscaloosa restaurant Waysider, a group of chemists and engineers are finding uses for the world's industrial food-related waste. Inventure is making industry around the world rethink what
March 08, 2017 Read Full Article
‘Purest Definition of a Conflict’: Icahn’s $126 Million Gain on Biofuel Deal Draws Criticism
by Jennifer A Dlouhy, Ari Natter, and Bill Allison (Bloomberg) Investor Carl Icahn is also unpaid adviser to White House; Value of Icahn CVR Energy stake grew after biofuel deal -- Carl Icahn’s stake in a Texas refiner grew by as
March 08, 2017 Read Full Article
Jobs and Money Take Top Billing with American Biodiesel
(National Biodiesel Board) Industry Leaders Showcase biodiesel benefits with key influencers -- When it comes to American biodiesel, jobs and economic opportunities are the hot tickets. In town from across the nation, biodiesel industry leaders are meeting with key influencers
March 08, 2017 Read Full Article
Capital Corp Merchant Banking Gives Green Light to $18m Funding for Californian Biodiesel Project
(Biofuels International) US investment bank Capital Corp Merchant Banking has given the green light to help fund a biodiesel project in California. In a statement, the bank said that the facility will be able to process multiple feedstocks of any quality
March 08, 2017 Read Full Article
Nominations Open for Rosalind Franklin Award for Leadership in Industrial Biotechnology DEADLINE: March 24, 2017
The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) is now accepting nominations for its fourth annual Rosalind Franklin Award for Leadership in Industrial Biotechnology. Each year, this award is given to an outstanding woman in the industrial biotechnology sector who has made significant
March 08, 2017 Read Full Article
Study: Climate Change May Hurt Nation's Agricultural Productivity
by Amy Mayer (Iowa Public Radio) The agriculture sector needs to ramp up its response to climate change, especially in the Midwest, according to a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. ... Lead author Xin-Zhong Liang, a
March 08, 2017 Read Full Article
Hawaii’s Largest Oil Refinery Owner in Talks with Biofuel Developers
by Duane Shimogawa (Pacific Business News) Par Pacific Holdings Inc., owner of the largest oil refinery in Hawaii, is actively speaking with several biofuel developers regarding the use of this renewable fuel as a replacement for oil, a company executive confirmed
March 08, 2017 Read Full Article
Trump Adviser Peter Thiel Questions ‘Group Think’ of Restricting Carbon Emissions
by James Osborne (Fuel Fix) Peter Thiel, the technology investor and adviser to President Donald Trump, questioned the global push towards restricting carbon emissions as “group think” while speaking Tuesday at the energy conference CERAWeek by IHS Markit. “I’m not sure
March 08, 2017 Read Full Article
RINs Not Driving Any Profits: Motiva
(Argus Media) No one profits from credits used to track compliance with US biofuel mandates, Motiva chief executive Dan Romasko said today, wading into a controversy that has split the industry. Refinery margins rise and fall to offset the cost of
March 08, 2017 Read Full Article
Watchdog to Ask U.S. Lawmakers to Probe Icahn's Role with Trump
by Chris Prentice (Reuters/Yahoo!) A government watchdog group, Public Citizen, said on Wednesday it will ask lawmakers to investigate whether billionaire investor Carl Icahn should have been subject to lobbying disclosure laws when he advised President Donald Trump to overhaul
March 08, 2017 Read Full Article
Smart Microalgae at the Danish IP Fair
(Algae Industry Magazine) On May 9 Yumiko Sakuragi from the Copenhagen Plant Science Centre will participate in the Danish IP fair in Industriens Hus, Copenhagen. Dr. Sakuragi will present her invention on how smart microalgae can enhance bioethanol production from
March 08, 2017 Read Full Article
MIT Study Estimates That VW's Dieselgate Scandal Will Send 1,200 Europeans To An Early Grave
by David Tracy (Jalopnik) In 2015, Researchers from MIT, Harvard and Hasselt University (in Belgium) estimated that VW’s 482,000 cheating diesels would lead to an estimated 59 premature deaths in the U.S. Now some of those same researchers have taken a
March 08, 2017 Read Full Article
Research Finds Microalgae That Grow in Waste and Generate Biofuels
(Embrapa (Google translation)) Embrapa Agroenergia (DF) was able to identify species of microalgae that can be cultivated in liquid waste from agroindustrial processes, effluents. This crop can generate renewable raw material for biofuels, feed, cosmetics and various other products. The research,
March 08, 2017 Read Full Article
Thailand Announces 3.66 Million Tons of Rotten Rice to Be Auctioned March 23
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Thailand, the National Rice Policy Committee agreed to open another round of bidding for rotten rice on March 23 for 3.66 million metric tons. The rotten rice is allowed for industrial uses including biofuels
March 08, 2017 Read Full Article
The Algae Chemicals Opportunity: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) At ABLC 2017, Algae Biomass Organization executive director Matt Carr took the stage with a theme of “algae as a factory for conversion of low-value carbon into oils, proteins, pigments, soil enhancers, ethanol and higher alcohols, probiotics and therapeutic compounds, and other high-value
March 08, 2017 Read Full Article
Agricultural Robot May Be 'Game Changer' for Crop Growers, Breeders
by Sharita L Forrest (Phys.Org) A semiautonomous robot may soon be roaming agricultural fields gathering and transmitting real-time data about the growth and development of crops, information that crop breeders—and eventually farmers—can use to identify the genetic traits in plants likely to
March 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Camelina, Canola Show Promise as Cool-Season Crops
(The Crop Science Society of America/Biodiesel Magazine) ... In California, growers usually choose warm-season crops: ones that grow from March to October. But extension agronomist Stephen Kaffka and his team at UC Davis, including project scientist Nic George, explored growing
March 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Trans Borneo Expedition All Geared up for 860km Road Trip to Promote Biodiesel
by Daryll Law (Borneo Post) The Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) and Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities (MPIC) will hold the Trans Borneo Expedition aimed at promoting the use of biodiesel fuel from today to March 5. The expedition aims to
March 07, 2017 Read Full Article
21 Techs to Watch in 2017 and Other Hot Trends: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to the State of the Advanced Bioeconomy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) At ABLC 2017 in Washington, the Digest presented its annual State of the Advanced Bioeconomy presentation, including a look at 21 technologies and companies to watch in 2017. “Opening with our annual industry survey on business confidence, we then
March 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Battle Brewing over Ethanol Program Post 2022
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
March 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Biodiesel Company Makes the Leap into Cosmetics, Parts I and 2
by Simon Pitman (CosmeticsDesign.com) It is not every day that a biodiesel company branches out into the cosmetic ingredients market, but that is exactly what Hawaii-based Pacific Biodiesel has done. Pacific Biodiesel made a big jump from biodiesel to diversify into
March 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Vega Biofuels to Provide Biochar to Alaska’s Legal Cannabis Industry
(Vega Biofuels) Vega Biofuels, Inc. (OTCPink:VGPR) announced today that it has signed a five year Agreement to provide the Company’s Biochar to legal cannabis growers in Alaska. The state of Alaska is the most recent state to legalize both medical
March 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Oil Instability Giving New Life to Biofuels?
by Douglas L. Faulkner (Biofuels Digest) Robert McNally, the author of the new, critically-acclaimed book, “Crude Volatility: The History and the Future of Boom-Bust Oil Prices”, believes that global oil markets are entering an epic, structural shift to a protracted new
March 07, 2017 Read Full Article
How the County’s Biodiesel-Making Effort in Cathcart Flopped
by Karen Law (Tribune) Snohomish County’s gamble on turning canola into biodiesel has turned belly-up, but at least the Spokane Indian Tribe may reap a jackpot this week when the County Council votes on surplussing its remaining biofuel equipment, a
March 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Lawsuit Limits Demolition at Former Great Northern Mill Site
by Darren Fishell and Nick Sambides Jr. (Bangor Daily News) Investors seeking to build a biofuel refinery that they say would employ more than 100 people at the former Great Northern Paper Co. mill site were granted a temporary restraining order