by Thomas W. Kerlin (ISA Interchange) ...Plants convert carbon dioxide and water into sugar via photosynthesis using energy from the sun. The sugar undergoes further transformations within the plant. Carbohydrates, compounds composed entirely of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, are produced.
Unleashing the Power of the Bio-Economy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Recommendations from the Milken Institute — and a group of industry heavyweights — to accelerate the bioeconomy revolution. In California this week, the Milken Institute released a good read on the future of the bioeconomy, based
March 06, 2013 Read Full Article
Biodiesel Exec Pushes to Keep State Biofuel Mandate in Place
by Dennis Domrzalski (Albuquerque Business First) One of America’s largest producers of biodiesel said it might walk away from its unfinished biodiesel plant in Clovis if the state Legislature rolls back a mandate that all diesel fuel sold in the state
March 06, 2013 Read Full Article
SE Asian Palm Oil Producers Target U.S. Biofuel Market
(The Star/Reuters) A blending tax credit for alternative fuels has helped re-open the way for shipments of palm biodiesel to the United States, giving top producers Indonesia and Malaysia an outlet for palm oil stocks at near-record levels. ...That overhang has
March 06, 2013 Read Full Article
Survey Says: Soladiesel Algae Fuel Is a Monster Hit in Propel Fuels Retail Trial
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Sales increase 35 percent at participating test sites — and survey results reveal driver preference for algae-based Soladiesel over conventional fuels. In California, Propel Fuels and Solazyme announced that sales grew by 35 percent at Propel
March 06, 2013 Read Full Article
Biomass Analysis Tool Is Faster, More Precise
by Bill Scanlon (National Renewable Energy Laboratory/Renewable Energy World) A screening tool from the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) eases and greatly quickens one of the thorniest tasks in the biofuels industry: determining cell wall chemistry
March 05, 2013 Read Full Article
REA Welcomes Ed Davey’s Support for Biofuels in Europe
by Robin Whitlock (Renewable Energy Magazine) ...The Renewable Energy Association (REA) has welcomed Energy Secretary Ed Davey’s stance on biofuels at the European Energy Council. Mr Davey said that the idea of a one-size-fits-all approach to the issue of indirect land use change
March 05, 2013 Read Full Article
Residents Alarmed by ‘Toxic Discharge’ from Great Wall Ethanol
(ElevenMyanmar.com) A chemical plant in Sagaing Region’s Katha district has been accused of discharging toxic chemicals into ditches and waterways. Analysis of the liquid discharged from Great Wall Ethanol plant found that it could be fatal, people who live near the
March 05, 2013 Read Full Article
Beta Renewables Sees 2015 as Boom Year for Cellulosic Biofuels
by Nina Chestney (Reuters) * U.S. cellulosic biofuel goals not reached * Beta sees industry stepping up output by 2015 * New players could emerge from eastern Europe Biofuels made from wood waste and sugarcane have languished well below expectations for years but
March 05, 2013 Read Full Article
Ethanol Plants Turning toward Grain Sorghum
by Art Hovey (Lincoln Star Journal) ...On a much brighter note, the managers of ethanol plants in Trenton and Ravenna are pushing hard to make a crop also known as milo the main ingredient in their renewable fuels recipes. ...Drought hardiness
March 05, 2013 Read Full Article
Science Teacher Tests Biofuel Plane
by Neil Remiesiewicz and Steve Nielsen (WPRI.com) Ross McCurdy, who teaches at Ponaganset High School, teamed up with other fliers to take their biodiesel-powered aircraft for a test flight Saturday. McCurdy and the team modified a Cessna 182 aircraft to run
March 05, 2013 Read Full Article
Canada, Renewables and the Courtroom Wallah
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Take some process heat and steam and CO2 from an ethanol plant — add a greenhouse, then stir and bake — what do you get? A whole bunch of healthy food, and fuel, and
March 05, 2013 Read Full Article
Sprouting Up: Soybean Farming in Canada Industry Market Research Report Now Available from IBISWorld
(PR Web/TimesUnion.com) Although US soybean farmers have grown in the past five years, the industry will continue to face revenue and profit pressures from international operators, with Brazil expected to overtake the United States as the top provider of soybeans
March 05, 2013 Read Full Article
Is Fracking a ‘Bridge’ to a Clean-Energy Future? Ernest Moniz Thinks So.
by Brad Plumer (The Washington Post) When it comes to energy, Ernest Moniz seems to be an “all of the above” guy. President Obama’s new nominee for the Energy Department has heaped praise on everything from solar panels and efficiency to nuclear
March 04, 2013 Read Full Article
Ernest Moniz, MIT Physicist, Nominated as Energy Secretary
by Steven Mufson (The Washington Post) ...At MIT, he has directed the school’s Energy Initiative, where he oversaw reports on almost every aspect of energy. And he has been a member of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. Moniz, who
March 04, 2013 Read Full Article
Obama Filling out Cabinet, Will Nominate New Budget Chief, EPA Director and Energy Secretary
(Associated Press/The Washington Post) President Barack Obama is announcing his picks for three Cabinet-level jobs — nominees to run the Energy Department, Environmental Protection Agency and budget office. Obama says energy secretary nominee Ernest Moniz is a “brilliant scientist” who knows
March 04, 2013 Read Full Article
Irvine Renewable Fuels Firm Halts Work on Mississippi Plant
by Jane Yu (Orange County Business Journal) Irvine-based renewable fuels maker BlueFire Renewables Inc. has halted construction work on a plant planned for Fulton, Miss. plant. BlueFire converts non-food resources, such as trash, wood waste and other agricultural residues, into ethanol.
March 04, 2013 Read Full Article
Natural Gas Leaks Come under Scrutiny, Raise Questions on Climate Impact
by Juliet Eilperin (The Washington Post) ... Measuring how much methane gas is leaking from pipes under the District could help answer a key policy question. As natural gas production expands in the United States, do its benefits for the climate far outweigh
March 04, 2013 Read Full Article
NASA Begins Flight Research Campaign Using Alternate Jet Fuel
(National Aeronautics and Space Administration) NASA researchers have begun a series of flights using the agency's DC-8 flying laboratory to study the effects of alternate biofuel on engine performance, emissions and aircraft-generated contrails at altitude. The Alternative Fuel Effects on Contrails
March 04, 2013 Read Full Article
Big Oil’s Big Smear?
by Brad Krohn (Biofuels Digest/United States EnviroFuels, LLC) Big Oil’s best kept secret from the American consumer is Brazil’s fuel ethanol mandate, which started during the 1970s as a result of the OPEC oil embargoes. In Brazil, where ethanol
March 04, 2013 Read Full Article
SeQuential-Pacific Ushers in Spring with Return to B99 Blends
by SeQuential-Pacific Biodiesel (Biodiesel Magazine) ...Beginning March 1, SeQuential-Pacific Biodiesel, the Northwest’s longest-running commercial biodiesel producer, is returning to 99 percent biodiesel blends (B99) at its local retail outlets after offering B50 for the colder months. B99 will be available
March 04, 2013 Read Full Article
Is the U.S. Military Fighting Straw Men?
by Brent Erickson (Biotechnology Industry Organization/Biofuels Digest) Are supporters of the oil industry grasping at straws to keep the U.S. military addicted to oil? ...Our reliance on foreign oil has already impacted military readiness, as spiraling oil prices forced the
March 04, 2013 Read Full Article
Renewable Fuel Standard Is Working as Intended
by Ed Ulch (The Gazette) ... World Grain stated in its February issue that “Grain-based food companies had record stock performance in 2012.” Big oil companies are touting high food prices to stir the public and create resistance to renewable fuels
March 01, 2013 Read Full Article
Sundrop Fuels Buys 1,213 Acres for Alexandria-Area Biofuels Plant
by Jeff Matthews (The Town Talk) Sundrop Fuels Inc. closed on the purchase of more than 1,213 acres of land in the Rapides Station area Thursday where the biofuels company plans to locate its plant manufacturing "green gasoline." Sundrop Fuels has
March 01, 2013 Read Full Article
Encouraging Advanced Biofuels Development in a Low Carbon Economy
by Jeff Kessler (The Energy Collective) ...Unlike the current consumer technology industry, where new products can offer novel or superior services, transportation fuel options compete primarily on price and availability with limited room for product differentiation. Without substantial government support
March 01, 2013 Read Full Article
Regional Innovations – San Diego: How to Bridge a Mega-Region’s Urban and Rural Divide
(California Economic Summit) ... But as the Cali-Baja Mega-Region Initiative, as it's now called, celebrates its fifth year in existence next month, it has become clear these three distinct regions can not only overcome their differences—they've found new ways to thrive
March 01, 2013 Read Full Article
B&Q Introduces Bio-LNG Fleet
(EnergyGlobal.com) Gasrec and B&Q are working together to create a greener fleet with 50 dual fuel lorries powered by Bio-LNG. The eco-friendly fuel used to power the lorries comprises 60% biomethane, the natural green source of renewable energy produced from organic
March 01, 2013 Read Full Article
Biodiesel Production Plant Opens in Central Iran
(Press TV) Iran has inaugurated a biodiesel production plant in the central province of Isfahan as the country attempts to increase reliance on environment-friendly fuels. ... The Tiran and Karvan plant has been built at the cost of over USD12 million.
March 01, 2013 Read Full Article
INCBIO Has Secured an Order for the Supply of an 8,000MT/year High FFA Biodiesel Plant from Green Energy Group Limited in Hong Kong
(INCBIO) Incbio, a leading Portuguese engineering company, who specializes in state of the art fully automated industrial ultrasonic Biodiesel plants, has signed a contract with Biofuel Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Green Energy Group Limited, a public company whose shares
March 01, 2013 Read Full Article
Rentech to Close Colorado Demo Unit, Drop Advanced Biofuels R&D Activities
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In California, Rentech announced plans to cease operations at, reduce staffing at, and mothball its research and development Product Demonstration Unit, in Commerce City, CO, and to eliminate all related R&D activities. As a result of
March 01, 2013 Read Full Article
Australian Government Awards $10 Million to Licella, Muradel as Accelerator towards Commercial Scale
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Algae, drop-in fuels get a kick-start from $3.2 billion ARENA funds In Australia, two key projects focused on algae biofuels and drop-in fuels from wood biomass and residues took major steps forwards with an Australian Government
March 01, 2013 Read Full Article
Defending Clean Energy Goals and Policies
(25 x '25) Renewable energy stakeholders were reminded again in recent weeks that misguided criticism and outright misinformation launched against the nation’s pursuit of a clean energy future must be turned back. ...An example of the latter is the recent publication
March 01, 2013 Read Full Article
What’s So Different about Biodiesel Fuel?
by Daniel Ciolkosz (Pennsylvania State University) ...The sizes of the molecules in biodiesel and petroleum diesel are about the same, but they differ in chemical structure. Biodiesel molecules consist almost entirely of chemicals called fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), which
March 01, 2013 Read Full Article
When it Comes to Biofuels Driving the Economy, The Sky is the Limit
(BioTechNow) Last week, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack wrote a column talking about the unlimited opportunities for biofuels to grow the rural economy. He highlighted what the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has already done to support biofuels including loan guarantees and
March 01, 2013 Read Full Article
Water Quality Expert Kenneth Hudnell Calling for Shift in Policy and Treatment Strategies to Make Near Term Impact on Impaired Water Bodies
(BusinessWire) Dr. Kenneth Hudnell, one of the foremost experts on harmful algal blooms, cyanobacteria, their toxins, and their effects on health and aquatic ecosystems is calling for a significant shift in government regulatory policy and remediation strategies being applied to impaired
February 28, 2013 Read Full Article
Brazilian Sustainable Jet Biofuel Plans Boosted by Promise of a New Generation of Jatropha Hybrid Crops
(GreenAirOnline) Once touted as a wonder-crop that would become a staple feedstock for jet biofuels, jatropha suffered a fall from grace as yields failed to live up to overblown claims. However, California-based alternative energy crop company SG Biofuels (SGB) says
February 28, 2013 Read Full Article
Addax Bioenergy Earns First African Certification by Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels (RSB)
(RSB Services) The RSB Services Foundation, the implementing entity of the Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels (RSB) which has developed a global sustainability standard and certification system for biofuel production, is pleased to announce that Addax Bioenergy Sierra Leone (SL) Limited
February 28, 2013 Read Full Article
Mendota Beet Ethanol Plant Waits on $5M Grant
(The Business Journal) Developers of a planned biorefinery in Mendota are hoping to get $5 million from the California Energy Commission as part of a program to encourage the development of alternative fuels. The pilot-scale biorefinery broke ground last October following
February 28, 2013 Read Full Article
RFA Releases “40 Facts About Ethanol” Video
(Renewable Fuels Association) The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) today released a new video entitled “40 Facts About Ethanol.” It is a fast-paced, up-tempo, animated data-based review of ethanol past, present and future. To view this video, please visit www.EthanolRFA.org or RFA’s YouTube channel.
February 28, 2013 Read Full Article
Inside the Military's Clean-Energy Revolution
by Julia Whitty (The Atlantic/Mother Jones) ...To get to the Nimitz, 100 miles off Honolulu, our turboprop is flying a 50-50 blend of biofuel and standard JP-5 shipboard aviation fuel. The biofuel is made from algae plus waste cooking oil. This
February 28, 2013 Read Full Article
Ethanol Rises Versus Gasoline as Motor Fuel Slumps, Corn Gains
by Mario Parker (Bloomberg) Ethanol’s discount to gasoline fell the most in more than three months as the motor fuel slumped and corn rose. The spread narrowed 10.45 cents to 58.56 cents a gallon, the smallest difference since Feb. 4 and
February 28, 2013 Read Full Article
Piedmont Biofuels Certified Under Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels Program
(AZO Cleantech) Piedmont Biofuels of Pittsboro, North Carolina has been certified under the internationally recognized Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels (RSB) Program following a third-party assessment conducted by SCS Global Services (SCS). Piedmont Biofuels collects used cooking oil from restaurants in the
February 28, 2013 Read Full Article
Echuca Plant Will Provide Biofuel for Melbourne
by Warwick Long (ABC Rural) A Melbourne businessman has bought a 4,500 hectare property to produce biofuels for his revegetation and timber recycling companies in the city. Peter O'Donnell bought Madowla Park, east of Echuca in northern Victoria, and built a
February 28, 2013 Read Full Article
Estimates Reduce Amount of Additional Land Available for Biofuel Production
(American Chemical Society) Amid efforts to expand production of biofuels, scientists are reporting new estimates that downgrade the amount of additional land available for growing fuel crops by almost 80 percent. Their report appears in the ACS journal Environmental
February 28, 2013 Read Full Article
Can the US Still Meet Its 2022 Biofuels Targets?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As cellulosic biofuels technologies start to deploy — critics and friends ask, 36 billion gallons by 2022, can it still be done? Yep, there’s a pathway. In Washington, the US Energy Information Administration released a map
February 28, 2013 Read Full Article
6 Questions for DuPont’s CEO on Startups, Ethanol and Solar
by Katie Fehrenbacher (GigaOm) The leader of the 210-year-old science giant DuPont, Ellen Kullman, sits down with GigaOM to give us her take on the future of energy for a world population that will boom to 9 billion in 2050. The
February 28, 2013 Read Full Article
New Shell Scenarios Sharpen Focus on Future for Society, Energy
(HeraldOnline/Royal Dutch Shell) Shell today released new scenarios that explore two possible ways the 21st century could unfold, with dramatically different implications for society and the world's energy system. One scenario sees cleaner-burning natural gas becoming the most important energy source
February 27, 2013 Read Full Article
Hot Route! New Bioenergy Financing Pathway via Risk Transfer Guaranty Bonds
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) One of the most interesting and compelling solutions to the problem of financing commercial-scale biofuels was unveiled this week at the Avalon Air Show by Westar CEO Cindy Thyfault. Dubbed the Risk Transfer Guaranty Bond –
February 27, 2013 Read Full Article
Hemp Has Untapped Market as Biofuel, Pikeville Businessman Says
by Janet Patton (Kentucky.com) Kentucky's debate on hemp so far has centered on the marijuana question and the market question. But Roger Ford has one of his own: What about the energy question? Ford, CEO of Patriot BioEnergy in Pikeville,
February 27, 2013 Read Full Article
NACS: Liquid Fuels Will Continue to Dominate in 2040
(Convenience Store News) Liquid fuels will continue to be the top fueling option for drivers for the next two-plus decades. However, the composition of these fuels will undergo significant change. According to the "Future of Fuels 2013" report released today by NACS,
February 27, 2013 Read Full Article
Live from #EIS13: 3 Leaders on the Importance of Energy Innovation
by Bryan McBournie (SmartBlog on Leadership) ... DuPont Chairwoman and CEO Ellen Kullman said it is important to ensure that the world’s energy mix is diverse, sustainable and accessible, and adding partners is key to innovation. Value-chain collaboration helped DuPont bring
February 27, 2013 Read Full Article
Can E15 Save Ethanol?
(1011Now.com) ...Nebraska ethanol and ag leaders believe E15 is key in getting idle ethanol plants back to producing. Robert White, the director of market development for the Renewable Fuels Association, tells fuel retailers that gasoline demand dropped 6 percent last year as more
February 27, 2013 Read Full Article
Witnesses Bash E15 During One-Sided House Committee Hearing
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A Feb. 26 hearing featured testimony of three E15 critics, including a representative of the Coordinating Research Council, which has authored research reports concluding E15 could damage engine valves and fuel system components. Absent
February 27, 2013 Read Full Article
'Fat Worms' Inch Scientists Toward Better Biofuel Production
(Science Daily) Fat worms confirm that researchers from Michigan State University have successfully engineered a plant with oily leaves - a feat that could enhance biofuel production as well as lead to improved animal feeds. The results, published in the current
February 27, 2013 Read Full Article
Project Aims to Produce Bio-Diesel from Cooking Oil in World Cup Host Cities
(Renewable Energy Magazine) The Bioplanet project, which is part of the Brazil Promotion Plan for the World Cup, anticipates the production of 25 million litres of biodiesel until the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The Bioplanet project anticipates the set-up of 40
February 27, 2013 Read Full Article
EIA: Cellulosic Biofuels Will Likely Remain Well below EISA Targets
(Green Car Congress) US Commercial-scale production of cellulosic biofuels reached about 20,000 gallons in late 2012, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). EIA estimates this output could grow to more than 5 million gallons this year, as operations ramp up
February 27, 2013 Read Full Article
Small Farmers Risk Exclusion from Biofuels Certification Schemes
(UN Food and Agriculture Organization) The way certification schemes for biofuels are structured makes it difficult for smallholder producers and many developing countries to participate in export markets, according to a new report from FAO. The report, Biofuels and the Sustainability Challenge,
February 27, 2013 Read Full Article
Flying the Aussie BioSkies
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... In the world of biofuels there is no sector as active as military and aviation biofuels in terms of willing customers. At the Low Carbon Fuel Conference, held over two days in conjunction with
February 27, 2013 Read Full Article
Minnesota Legislature: Bill Would Broaden Biofuels Additives in State
by Leslie Brooks Suzukamo (TwinCities.com) Minnesota legislators will get a chance Wednesday, Feb. 27, to look at a bill that would allow a different kind of corn-based biofuel besides ethanol to be mixed with gasoline. The bill also would set an
February 27, 2013 Read Full Article
CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS: Commercial Algae Farming Workshop April 11-12, 2013 The Woodlands, Texas DEADLINE: March 15, 2013
The National Algae Association (NAA) has announced a Commercial Algae Farming Workshop to be held April 11-12, 2013 at the Homewood Suites by Hilton, 29813 I-45 North, in The Woodlands, Texas. The workshop presentation topics will include Growing for Nutraceuticals (Omega 3, EPA, DHA),
February 27, 2013 Read Full Article
The Battle to Counter Big Oil's Campaign
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Fuels America is redoubling its efforts to point the finger at the real beneficiaries should the RFS be weakened and E15 smeared and it's not consumers or the environment. Fuels America had a little fun
February 26, 2013 Read Full Article
U.S. Refiners May Use RINs to Meet Requirement on Biofuel Use
by Louise Downing (Bloomberg BusinessWeek) ...“The biofuels sector faces difficult choices”, said Alejandro Zamorano Cadavid, U.S. analyst for biofuels at New Energy Finance. “Corn ethanol use has expanded rapidly in the U.S. as an oxygenate in gasoline. But this year,
February 26, 2013 Read Full Article
Australia to Build $10m Seawater Pipeline for Algae Industry
(Algae Industry Magazine) Australia’s State Development Minister Colin Barnett has announced a $10 million government sponsored project for construction of a seawater pipeline to support the expansion of an algae industry at Karratha, in Western Australia. The pipeline would initially
February 26, 2013 Read Full Article
Solyndra Critics Back U.S. Lab Seeking Biofuel From Germs
by Jim Snyder (Bloomberg) People attending a Washington event this week may witness something almost unheard of in political circles: Republicans praising a clean-energy program supported by President Barack Obama. The Advanced Research Projects Agency -- Energy, originally funded through the 2009
February 26, 2013 Read Full Article
Historical Studies Confirm the Existence of Indirect Emissions from Biofuels
(EurActiv.com) Biofuels made from food crops indirectly generate net emissions of greenhouse gases in the future, confirm the preliminary results of two studies on the history of the change in land use. If the peer does not affect the conclusions of
February 26, 2013 Read Full Article
Chromatin and Calgren Renewable Fuels Sign Multi-Year Alliance for Locally-Grown Sorghum for Ethanol Production
(Chromatin/MarketWatch) Chromatin, Inc., a leading provider of innovative crop breeding technology, sorghum seed products and feedstocks, and Calgren Renewable Fuels, a leading ethanol producer located in Pixley, CA, announced today an alliance to develop a local supply chain for sorghum
February 26, 2013 Read Full Article
Australia at the Crossroads – Import or Export Aviation Biofuels?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As journalists, at the Digest our job is to ask the 7 Questions. Who, What, Where, When, How Much, How and Why. In aviation biofuels the task is made easier because we can say with
February 26, 2013 Read Full Article
Lux: Alternative Fuel Companies Reach for Real Revenue in 2013
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A 32-page report by Lux Research picks winners and losers in 2012 among alternative fuel developers. The state of the market report, which is provided only to clients, also predicts that many companies will
February 25, 2013 Read Full Article
Chromatin Signs Sorghum Supply Deal with Aemetis
(Chromatin/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Chromatin Inc., a leading provider of innovative crop breeding technology, sorghum seed products and feedstocks, and Aemetis Inc., an advanced fuels and renewable chemicals company, have announced that they have entered into a multi-year agreement to source
February 25, 2013 Read Full Article
American Ethanol Enhances Sponsorship of Richard Childress Racing
(National Corn Growers Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) American Ethanol announced its plans to enhance its partnership with Richard Childress Racing and driver Austin Dillon for the 2013 NASCAR season. Dillon will race the No. 33 American Ethanol Chevrolet in the NASCAR Sprint
February 25, 2013 Read Full Article
EPA Issues Final Rule for Additional Qualifying Renewable Fuel Pathways under the RFS Program
(Environmental Protection Agency) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to identify additional fuel pathways that the Agency has determined meet the lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction requirements for biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel, and cellulosic biofuel
February 25, 2013 Read Full Article
Ethanol Industry Responds to Witness List for E15 Hearing
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space and Technology’s Subcommittee on Environment is scheduled to hold a hearing on mid-level ethanol blends on Feb. 26. The hearing will feature three witnesses: Robert
February 25, 2013 Read Full Article
State-by-State Ethanol Update
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) The Renewable Fuels Association has released a state-by-state update to the “Contribution of the Ethanol Industry to the Economy of the United States,” an economic impact analysis performed by Cardno ENTRIX. The original report, released earlier
February 25, 2013 Read Full Article
Ottawa Ending Biofuels Subsidy over Unfulfilled Industry Promises
by Shawn McCarthy (Globe and Mail) The Conservative government is formally shutting down its controversial biofuels subsidy program, saying companies producing biodiesel have failed to meet ambitious production targets. In a letter sent Thursday, Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver rejected calls
February 25, 2013 Read Full Article
Technology-to-Market Summer Scholars
(US Department of Energy) The Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) is devoted exclusively to transformational energy technology research and development. ARPA-E’s mission is to: Enhance U.S. economic security by identifying technologies with the potential to reduce energy imports from
February 25, 2013 Read Full Article
Aviation Biofuels on the Up and Up
by Peter Hannam (Sidney Morning Herald) Lufthansa probably thought it was on a public relations winner when it began operating flights using a mix of biofuel and regular jet fuel between Frankfurt and Hamburg in 2011. However, the ''green skies'' branding potential
February 25, 2013 Read Full Article
Ministers Say 'Yes, But' to New Rules on Biofuels
(E-EnergyMarket.com) Energy ministers, meeting in Brussels on 22 February, have given a lukewarm reception to new rules proposed by the European Commission to limit the share of first-generation biofuels used in transport. The Irish Presidency of the EU asked ministers to
February 25, 2013 Read Full Article
Iowa Board Awards Funds for Job Creation Projects in Milford, Galva
byDave Dreeszen (SiouxCityJournal.com) The Iowa Economic Development Authority board awarded financial aid packages Friday to two Northwest Iowa manufacturers planning to expand and add new jobs. American Natural Processors, a specialty oilseed and grain processor in Cherokee, will receive up to
February 25, 2013 Read Full Article
Licella’s Fibre Fuels – Drop-In Biofuels, in Pictures
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) What is fibre fuel, how does it displace petroleum via supercritical technology, and what does the plant look like? ... For those less familiar with New Zealand’s energy brands, Z Energy (“pronounced “Zed”) is the company
February 25, 2013 Read Full Article
Searching the Mangrove and the Desert for a Native Biofuel
by Dr Andreas Henschel (The National) ...The UAE, recognising the potential of biofuel, is now looking to discover its own plant-based sources of energy. And it is trying to mitigate some of the challenges posed by the first generation of
February 25, 2013 Read Full Article
Scientists Trick Iron-Eating Bacteria into "Breathing" Electrons in Effort to Create Biofuels
by Lidija Grozdanic (Inhabitat.com) ...Scientists Daniel Bond, Zarath Summers and Jeffrey Gralnick of the University of Minnesota’s BioTechnology Institute used the co-called electrochemical cultivation to grow iron-oxidizing bacteria without any presence of iron. By adding marine oxidizer Mariprofundus ferrooxydans PV-1,
February 25, 2013 Read Full Article
Fuel Tax Credit Extensions Frequently Asked Questions
(Internal Revenue Service) The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (Pub. L. 112-240) retroactively extends certain fuel tax credits that expired on Dec. 31, 2011. The retroactively extended fuel tax credits are the biodiesel mixture credit, biodiesel credit, alternative fuel
February 25, 2013 Read Full Article
Team Up for Energy Victory
by Col. Bill Holmberg (ret.) (American Council On Renewable Energy) “Up with octane, down with aromatics, and embrace the needs of people and nature,” says ACORE’s legendary biomass guru. But less freak-out, more reach-out is needed, he cautions. ...However, certain forces
February 25, 2013 Read Full Article
Researchers Produce High Density Renewable Fuels from Terpenes; Potential Use as Significant Components of Jet, Diesel and Tactical Fuels
(Green Car Congress) Researchers at the Naval Air Warfare Center, Weapons Division (NAWCWD) at China Lake have developed a process for the synthesis of high energy density renewable fuels through the selective dimerization of α-pinene, camphene, limonene and crude turpentine
February 25, 2013 Read Full Article
Making Superfuels Affordable, via Biofuels: The JP-10 Story
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Could a switch to biofuels make super-dense JP-10 military aviation fuels affordable? Could F18A Super Hornets add payload or extend range? Currently reserved for tactical missiles because of cost, biofuels could provide a path to affordable
February 25, 2013 Read Full Article
Dynamic Fuels Earns Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels (RSB) Certification
(RSB Services Foundation) The RSB Services Foundation, the implementing entity of the Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels (RSB) which has developed a global sustainability standard and certification system for biofuel production, is pleased to announce that Dynamic Fuels, LLC (Dynamic Fuels)
February 25, 2013 Read Full Article
Could Algae Biofuel Doom The Keystone XL Pipeline?
by Tina Casey (Clean Technica) As pressure on the Obama Administration to approve the Keystone XL Pipeline ramps up, algae biofuel is emerging as yet another domestic energy source that undercuts every argument for the project, which is designed to
February 22, 2013 Read Full Article
Dubai Giant Invests in Algenol
by Jeff Lytle (NaplesNews.com) ...Paul Woods, founder and CEO of Algenol Biofuels, which is making ethanol from algae and is about to go into major production, said global giant Reliance Industries Limited has put up $100 million. That, he said, is
February 22, 2013 Read Full Article
Montana State University Graduate Launches Biofuels Startup, Partners with University
by Sepp Jannotta (Bozeman Daily Chronicle) A Bozeman biofuels startup is partnering with Montana State University to turn a fungus discovered in the highly acidic hot springs of Yellowstone National Park into sustainable energy. The discovery -- a fungus pulled from
February 22, 2013 Read Full Article
EPA Calls for 2013 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award Nominations
(Environmental Protection Agency) New green chemistry technologies grow markets and save businesses money. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced the nominations for the 2013 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards for companies and institutions that can design chemicals or a
February 22, 2013 Read Full Article
Global Markets and Technologies for Biofuel Enzymes
( Bharat Book Bureau/PR NewsWire/WFSB) Bharat Book Bureau has recently added the market intelligence report titled "Global Markets and Technologies for Biofuel Enzymes." REPORT HIGHLIGHTS - An overview of the global market for biofuel enzymes, which include amylases, lipases, cellulases, and proteases; and fuels,
February 22, 2013 Read Full Article
Ethanol Continues to Be Job Creator
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) Despite facing major challenges in 2012, the ethanol industry still created more than 380,000 jobs and $43 Billion in Gross Domestic Product, according to the latest analysis conducted by Cardno-ENTRIX and commissioned by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA). “The
February 22, 2013 Read Full Article
US Patent Issued for BDR's Ceramic Membrane Reactor Technology
(BioDiesel Reactor Technologies Inc./Biodiesel Magazine) BioDiesel Reactor Technologies Inc. recently announced that U.S. Patent No. 8,366,794 entitled “Apparatus and Method for Biofuel Production” has been issued. The patent covers the commercial application of BDR’s ceramic membrane reactor technology for
February 22, 2013 Read Full Article
Hard Reality – Biofuels Are a Loser, Despite All the Hope and Hype
by Rod Adams (Atomic Insights) I’ve been spending the past hour or so reading an excellent paper written by a US Naval aviator titled Twenty-First Century Snake Oil: Why the United States Should Reject Biofuels as Part of a Rational National
February 22, 2013 Read Full Article
Aboitiz to Invest $30m in Biomethane
by Alena Mae S. Flores (Manila Standard Today) Aseagas Corp., a joint venture between Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. and Gazasia Ltd. of the United Kingdom, has allocated $30 million for the construction of a liquid biomethane plant in the second to
February 22, 2013 Read Full Article
Pertamina, Toyota Sign Biofuel Research and Development Agreement
by Hatman Bintang (Indonesia Today) State-owned petroleum company, PT Pertamina, signs Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Toyota Motor Corporation for research and development of biofuel, CNG, and Euro 4-standard fuel for land transportation. The agreement will run for two years. READ MORE
February 22, 2013 Read Full Article
Residential Cooking Oil and Grease Drop-off Program for Austin, Texas by DieselGreen Fuels
(PR WEB/DieselGreen Fuels) After recycling oil from Austin and San Antonio commercial kitchens since 2006, DieselGreen is announcing a drop off program for small amounts of used cooking oil. Oil can be dropped off at multiple locations and up to
February 22, 2013 Read Full Article
Rodney Hailey Sentenced to More Than 12 Years in Prison for Selling $9 Million in Fraudulent Renewable Fuel Credits
(Environmental Protection Agency) Owner of “Clean Green Fuel” falsely claimed his company produced 23 million gallons of renewable fuel U.S. District Judge William D. Quarles, Jr. sentenced Rodney R. Hailey, of Perry Hall, Md., today to nearly 12 years and six
February 22, 2013 Read Full Article
Bill Russell vs Wilt Chamberlain, the Algae Biofuels Angle
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Nature hasn’t (so far) selected algae for long life. Generally, the little one-celled growth factories survive by blooming slightly faster than they get eaten. Making a world that’s safe for algae is like breeding ice
February 22, 2013 Read Full Article
DEFRA Releases UK Biofuel Feedstock Production Statistics
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.K. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs recently published experimental statistics on the area of crops grown for bioenergy from 2008 through 2011. According to DEFRA, approximately 109,000 hectares (269,345 acres) of
February 22, 2013 Read Full Article
Beets Being Considered for Ethanol Production
by Jessica Holdman (Bismark Tribune) Research scientists at Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory are testing sugar beets as a new source of ethanol. Igathi Cannayen presented his research this week at the lab’s annual research conference held at the Seven Seas
February 22, 2013 Read Full Article
As Prices at the Pump Go Up, Up, Up American Ethanol is the Motorist’s Friend
by Bob Dinneen (Renewable Fuels Association) If you've been paying more at the pump for gasoline, you aren't alone. And, if it weren't for U.S. ethanol, you'd be paying even more. ...Gas prices are skyrocketing despite an increase in domestic oil
February 22, 2013 Read Full Article
Industry Groups Appeal High-Ethanol Fuel Case to Supreme Court
by Ben Goad (The Hill Reg Watch) A coalition of industry groups asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday to reconsider a lower court’s finding in favor of the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2011 decision to allow sales of the high-ethanol
February 22, 2013 Read Full Article
Bioenergy Combined with CCS Could Enable Carbon-Negative Energy
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Stanford University’s Global Climate and Energy Project has released a report highlighting the potential to combine bioenergy production with carbon capture and storage techniques to enable carbon-negative energy production. "Net negative emissions can be
February 21, 2013 Read Full Article
The USDA’s BioPreferred Program – in Suspended Animation — What Next?
by Jim Lane (BioBased Digest) ... It is a program that encourages companies to voluntarily register the amount of biobased content in their products — and, for those that pass a minimum content threshold, the BioPreferred program and its team
February 21, 2013 Read Full Article
E85 Fuel Saves at the Pump, but Comes with a Cost Later
by Frank Witsil (Detroit Free Press) With gas prices pushing $4 a gallon in Michigan, drivers may be tempted to try a less expensive alternative – E85, an ethanol blend – which is selling in stations that carry it for
February 21, 2013 Read Full Article
Avoiding Virus Dangers in 'Domesticating' Wild Plants for Biofuel Use
(Michigan State University) In our ongoing quest for alternative energy sources, researchers are looking more to plants that grow in the wild for use in biofuels, plants such as switchgrass. However, attempts to “domesticate” wild-growing plants have a downside, as it
February 21, 2013 Read Full Article
Engineered Yeast Makes More Biofuels
by Helen Tunnicliffe (TCE Today) Moving process to mitochondria ups production 260% Chemical engineers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology have engineered yeast to increase production of isobutanol, a promising biofuel, by 260%. Isobutanol, a heavy alcohol, contains more energy than ethanol and is
February 21, 2013 Read Full Article
EU Should Phase Out Support for Land-Based Biofuels, Lobbies Say
by Ewa Krukowska (Bloomberg) The European Union should phase out support for land-based biofuels that displace food production and indirectly boost emissions, eight lobbies said in a letter to the bloc’s energy ministers. The groups, including Transport and Environment, Greenpeace and Oxfam,
February 21, 2013 Read Full Article
Energo Zelena Rendering Company Started Up
(ElectraWinds) Energo Zelena, Electrawinds’ rendering project in Serbia, is fully operational after a start-up period of a few weeks. This animal-waste product processing project is a new step in Electrawinds’ vertical integration and provides the energy company with direct access
February 21, 2013 Read Full Article
Greenleaf Sets the Bar for Safe, Efficient Biodiesel Production
by Gus Kellogg, Rahul Bobbili and Dianna Overmyer (Sustainable Planet) Greenleaf Biofuels recently began producing biodiesel fuel at its New Haven, Connecticut plant. When fully operational the facility is slated to produce up to 10 million gallons of biodiesel fuel per
February 21, 2013 Read Full Article
Great Big Things from Tiny Lil’ Algae: 10 Algae Trends for 2013
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) 22 projects around the world show the multi-faceted promise of algae. Concrete, polyurethane, bioplastics, cosmetics and, oh, fuels — so many big things to make from algae, it’s become a big deal. ...While fuels remain the
February 21, 2013 Read Full Article
How a Microbial Biorefinery Regulates Genes
(Brown University) Digesting lignin, a highly stable polymer that accounts for up to a third of biomass, is a limiting step to producing a variety of biofuels. Researchers at Brown have figured out the microscopic chemical switch that allows Streptomycesbacteria to
February 21, 2013 Read Full Article
Sugarcane Fibre Could Boost Biofuel Development – Study
by Natasha Odendaal (Creamer Media's Engineering News) A doctorate study undertaken by Stellenbosch University Department of Process Engineering student Yuda Benjamin has found that the fibres of some varieties of sugarcane had the potential to boost the production of ethanol at a reduced
February 21, 2013 Read Full Article
Fresno Biodiesel Plant Gets $6M Grant
(The Business Journal) A planned biodiesel production facility will begin operating next year thanks to a $6-million grant approved this week by the California Energy Commission. The facility is one of six projects throughout the state approved for the grants totaling
February 21, 2013 Read Full Article
The Biorefinery Project of the Future — Today
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... As we highlighted this week in the Digest, Chromatin and Pacific Ethanol announced that they have entered into a multi-year agreement to produce, deliver and use locally grown sorghum in the production of ethanol. The
February 21, 2013 Read Full Article
Team Develops Sustainable Process for Wastewater Algae to Biocrude
(FIS.com) A team at the University of Kansas has demonstrated the feasibility of an integrated wastewater algae-to-biocrude process using hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) that can sustainably cultivate algal biomass for biofuel production. A paper on their work is published in the
February 19, 2013 Read Full Article
The Dew Drop Inn — Who’s Dropping in What in Biofuels?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) B20, B5, B100, E10, E22, E15, M50, E85, Bu12.5, HEFA 50. Is your head swimming with acronyms and blend ratios? Who exactly is making drop-in fuels, and what does that mean? In the world of alternative
February 19, 2013 Read Full Article
Corporations, Investors 'Grabbing' Land and Water Overseas
by By Brian Bienkowsk (Environmental Health News) As a growing population stresses the world's food and water supplies, corporations and investors in wealthy countries are buying up foreign farmland and the freshwater perks that come with it. From Sudan to Indonesia,
February 19, 2013 Read Full Article
Canadian Government Invests in Biofuel Initiatives
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Canadian government has announced investments in two projects that will benefit the biofuel and biorefining industries. On Feb. 13, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada announced a $600,000 investment that will help the Alberta Sugar
February 19, 2013 Read Full Article
Ethanol Industry Pushes Back against Legislation to Block E15
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) On Feb. 14, U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and David Vitter, R-La., introduced legislation that would overturn U.S. EPA approval of E15 for model year 2001 and newer light duty vehicles. The ethanol industry jumped
February 19, 2013 Read Full Article
Recent Land Use Change in the Western Corn Belt Threatens Grasslands and Wetlands
by Christopher K. Wright and Michael C. Wimberly (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences) In the US Corn Belt, a recent doubling in commodity prices has created incentives for landowners to convert grassland to corn and soybean cropping. Here,
February 19, 2013 Read Full Article
Solid Energy Sells Its Biofuel Arm to Management
by Michael Berry (The Press/Stuff.co.nz) Solid Energy's biofuel company has been sold to its management, two Christchurch men who are confident of making a profit with the business that stumped the state. Biodiesel New Zealand has been sold for an undisclosed
February 19, 2013 Read Full Article
Peru’s Maple Shifting to Cane Ethanol in ‘Transformational Year’
by Stephan Nielsen (Bloomberg BusinessWeek) Maple Energy Plc, the Peruvian company that made more than 99 percent of its revenue from selling petroleum products in 2011, expects to get more than half its business from ethanol sales this year as
February 19, 2013 Read Full Article
Biofuels Digest’s SuperData: 150 Free Biofuels Downloads
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Florida, Biofuels Digest published its newly-improved and updated SuperData site — now with 150 free downloads, including must-read industry and energy sector forecasts, hard-to-find presentations and both new and classic reports. SuperData includes information on
February 19, 2013 Read Full Article
New Initiative Equips Farmers to Combat Climate Change and Increase Food Security
(BusinessWire) Radio Lifeline, a non-profit based in the US, announces the launch of the Black Earth Project, a new initiative designed to help farmers mitigate the growing effects of climate change. Radio Lifeline’s partner in this project is re:char, a leading developer of small-scale biochar
February 19, 2013 Read Full Article
Bill Would Limit EPA's Ability to Increase Cellulosic RFS Volumes
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Pending legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives aims to limit the ability of the U.S. EPA to increase the cellulosic biofuel requirements its sets each year under the renewable fuel standard (RFS). The
February 19, 2013 Read Full Article
AEC Responds to The Wall Street Journal Coverage
(Advanced Ethanol Council/Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Wall Street Journal editorial board has once again demonstrated that it either does not understand why Congress decided to require oil companies to use cellulosic biofuels five years ago or it is not willing to tell the truth
February 15, 2013 Read Full Article
VayuGrid Signs Agreement for Biofuel Zones in Zambia
(VayuGrid/PR NewsWire) EEP-SEA Selects VayuSap™ Among 168 Other Projects for a Grant of Over $1 Million India-based VayuGrid and Zambia-based BetterWorld Energy have inked an agreement to partner on VayuSap™ biofuel development zones in Zambia. The development zones, based on Elite VayuSap™ trees, will
February 15, 2013 Read Full Article
Weighing Obama's SOTUS Proposal: More Oil Drilling to Fund Clean Energy?
by Jim Snyder (Bloomberg/Renewable Energy World) President Barack Obama's proposal to fund clean-energy research with fees paid by oil and gas producers is renewing a debate over whether the promise of innovation tomorrow is worth expanding drilling today. Obama's "Energy Security Trust"
February 15, 2013 Read Full Article
Praj to Start Building India Sugar-Cane Waste Fuel Plant by May
by Stephan Nielsen (Bloomberg BusinessWeek) Praj Industries Ltd., an engineering company backed by billionaire Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, expects to begin construction on a $30 million biofuel demonstration plant in India before building one in the U.S. Construction on the 30,000-litre (7,925-gallon) facility will
February 15, 2013 Read Full Article
Urban Air Initiative Worried About Stocks, Not Ethanol
by John Davis and Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) Ethanol is good for taking harmful particles out of automobile emissions, but a group committed to cleaner air is worried that gasoline makers might just end up putting more particulates in the blendstock. “The
February 15, 2013 Read Full Article
If You’re Not Extracting Corn Oil, Why Not?
by John Davis and Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) Ethanol producers need to squeeze every penny out of their operations. But one expert in the field of corn oil wonders why some refiners aren’t trying to capture the corn oil produced when
February 15, 2013 Read Full Article
The Ethanol Blend Wall, Biodiesel Production Capacity, and the RFS...Something Has to Give
by Scott Irwin and Darrel Good (FarmDocDaily/University of Illinois) ...Our focus is on the increasing difficulty of meeting the RFS for both renewable biofuel (domestically produced ethanol) and advanced biofuels in the next 12 to 18 months. ...Our expectation is that
February 15, 2013 Read Full Article
Stop Them, If You've Heard This One Before
by Bob Dinneen (Renewable Fuels Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) ...U.S. ethanol production proved to be the remedy to our imported oil addiction, driving America’s dependence down from 60 percent in 2005 to 41 percent last year. Incredibly, even that tired canard
February 15, 2013 Read Full Article
Energy Department Announces New Investment to Advance Cost-Competitive Hydrogen Fuel
(US Department of Energy) The Energy Department today announced a $1 million investment to analyze and evaluate potential cost-competitive pathways for producing and transporting hydrogen fuel. The project selected—led by Strategic Analysis, Inc. in Arlington, Virginia—will identify cost-effective and efficient
February 15, 2013 Read Full Article
EU Biofuels Policy Still Driving the Second Scramble for Africa
(ActionAid) At a seminar on biofuels in Dublin yesterday, David Barissa, a leading expert on food security and land rights from ActionAid Kenya spoke of the litany of broken promises, rights violations and destruction which have faced poor communities in
February 15, 2013 Read Full Article
Fracking Success Hits Biofuels Investment
by Jason Krupp (EIN News) Petrol retailer Z Energy says world oil prices could plunge by almost half in the next five years, as United States oil and gas production booms because of "fracking". Fracking is the hydraulic fracturing of underground
February 15, 2013 Read Full Article
Harper Government Announces Clean Technology Projects Across Canada
(Sustainable Development Technology Canada) The Honourable Joe Oliver, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, today was joined by the Honourable Peter Kent, Minister of the Environment, to announce an important investment to support 23 clean technology projects in communities from coast to
February 15, 2013 Read Full Article
That Darn Devil, Them Dang Details: What’s Really Driving Food Prices?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In the new USDA long-term forecasts, rising global meat consumption stands out as a driver of rising food prices, exports. ...But you might ask yourself — in a world where you can find hyperbole linking hunger
February 15, 2013 Read Full Article
NRDC Post-State of the Union Poll: 60 Percent of Americans Support Presidential Action to Fight Ravages of Climate Change
(Natural Resources Defense Council) NRDC's polling immediately after the State of the Union made clear that Americans consider climate change a serious problem and want the President to take action. Sixty-five percent of Americans think that climate change is a serious
February 15, 2013 Read Full Article
DOE Seeks Comment on Efforts to Improve Vehicle Performance, Fuel Economy
(US Department of Energy) The Energy Department on February 1 invited public comment on an upcoming solicitation totaling more than $50 million for new research projects that will develop advanced technologies to improve vehicle performance and increase fuel economy. The
February 15, 2013 Read Full Article
Big Steps in Biofuels: ACORE’s Renewable Energy Policy Forum ‘13
By Joshua Rathod (Advanced Biofuels USA) Thinking about the back and forth on EPA’s cellulosic fuel mandates in the last month, the press on the harmful effects of diverting food crops for fuel processing in certain cases, and the general
February 15, 2013 Read Full Article
New Policy Can Put the EU on Track to Reach 100% Renewable Energy
(World Wildlife Fund) Today WWF launched a new report – Putting the EU on Track for 100% Renewable Energy [1] – which shows where Europe needs to be by 2030 in order to reach a fully renewable energy system by 2050. It
February 15, 2013 Read Full Article
Sustainable Bioenergy and Grasslands on the Edge
(Bioenergy Crops) There is an increasing interest worldwide on developing sustainable bioenergy alternatives for low competitive lands where food production profitability is scarce or where soils and climates are not suited for traditional activities or have no market access and
February 15, 2013 Read Full Article
New DOE Research: RFS a Proven Economic Success with Minimal Impact on Food Prices or Land Use
(Renewable Fuels Association) A new research article published last month in the academic journal Biofuels concluded that the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) is producing significant positive economic effects in the United States. According to the paper, authored by researchers at the Department of Energy’s
February 14, 2013 Read Full Article
Bridges to Commercialization
by Jim Lane (Biobased DIgest) Bringing your biobased technology forward through the Valley of Death may require a bridge over troubled waters. Here are partners worth knowing. ... Bioenergy commercialization is long, expensive and risky. Derisking the enterprise by making the
February 14, 2013 Read Full Article
Ethanol Industry Poised for Surge in Fuel Made from Crop Waste
(Associated Press/Omaha.com) After decades of talk, the ethanol industry is building multimillion-dollar refineries in several states that will use corn plant residue, wood scraps and even garbage to produce the fuel additive. The breakthrough comes at a key time for the
February 14, 2013 Read Full Article
Novozymes Wins $2.5M Grant to Study Turning Corn Stalks into Biofuel
(WRAL Tech Wire) Novozymes, which operates its North American headquarters in Franklinton, N.C., has landed a federal grant worth as much as $2,5 million for research into ways to turn corn leaves and stalk, or stover, into fuel for vehicles. Novozymes
February 14, 2013 Read Full Article
Biofuels Center Announces 2012-2013 Targeted Biofuels Development Funding Program, Strengthening Western NC
(Biofuels Center of North Carolina) The Biofuels Center of North Carolina announced Monday, 4 February 2013, it will award up to $1.1 million for projects that address identified areas of critical need related to the acceleration of the renewable fuels