by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) A report recently filed with the USDA Foreign Agriculture Service’s Global Agricultural Information Network provides an overview of the European Union’s biofuel market, including data on wood pellets and biogas. Regarding pellets, the report explains that
Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Back TO HOMEWhite House Releases “Federal Alternative Jet Fuel Research and Development Strategy”
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, a new White House report, titled “Federal Alternative Jet Fuel Research and Development Strategy,” sets out prioritized federal research and development goals and objectives to address key scientific and technical challenges that inhibit
August 01, 2016 Read Full Article
Notice of Solicitation of Applications for the Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance Program
(U.S. Department of Agriculture/Federal Register) This Notice announces the solicitation of applications for funds available under the Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance Program (the Program) to provide guaranteed loans to fund the development, construction, and Retrofitting of
August 01, 2016 Read Full Article
E85 Comes to N. Virginia Mobil
(PR Newswire/Protec Fuel) Performance Auto Community Celebrates Sunday with Car Show -- Working its way up the seaboard, E85 is now available for the first time on I-95, in Woodbridge, Va. The Potomac Mills Mobil convenience store at 14496 Gideon Drive,
August 01, 2016 Read Full Article
Insights About Green Jobs from Bioenergy 2016
by Janine Finnell (Advanced Biofuels USA/Leaders in Energy) I attended the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) “Bioenergy 2016: Mobilizing the Bioeconomy through Innovation” conference held in Washington DC from July 12-14, 2016. There were 17 breakout sessions on topics including bioenergy
July 26, 2016 Read Full Article
#Peanut Oil Could be New Fuel Source
by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) Providing a new jet fuel source could be a new market for the peanut industry, one that is in the process of being evaluated by both USDA and the Navy. ... Dr. Lamb (Dr. Marshall Lamb with the
July 26, 2016 Read Full Article
Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Intelligence Pack
(Renewable Waste Intelligence) Complete the form and you will receive four 30 minute presentations PLUS audio: UTILITY CASE STUDY: BUILD, OWN AND OPERATE AD by Jim Lucas, Market Development Manager, SoCal Gas CLOSING THE LOOP: REALIZING THE VALUE OF DIGESTATE
July 21, 2016 Read Full Article
Grassley Says Vilsack's Better for Ag Agenda as Secretary, not VP
by Amy Mayer (Iowa Public Radio) U.S. Agriculture Secretary and former Iowa governor Tom Vilsack may be on Hillary Clinton's short-list for a vice presidential running mate. Several national media outlets have reported that while Vilsack has not confirmed he's
July 21, 2016 Read Full Article
Indiana Gets More Ethanol Blend Pumps
(Agri-News) Sixteen ethanol blender pumps soon will be available at gas stations in Allen and LaPorte counties thanks in part to funding from Indiana Corn Marketing Council. ICMC and the Indiana Office of Energy Development announced more than $331,000 will be
July 20, 2016 Read Full Article
Plant Scientists Study Interactions between GMOs and the Environment
(University of Connecticut) ... The research team is led by professor emerita Carol Auer and supported by a grant from the Biotechnology Risk Assessment Grant Program, an initiative of the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Auer and her research
July 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Retailer to Expand Availability of Ethanol Blends at 20 Stations
(Renewable Fuels Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Renewable Fuels Association is proud to announce that the Power Energy Corp. has been awarded a $1.44 million grant from Illinois to offer higher ethanol blends at 20 retail stations in the state. The grant,
July 18, 2016 Read Full Article
USDA Backs Small Rural Firms with $55M in Grants, Loan Guarantees
by Stephen Davies (Agri-Pulse) USDA is providing nearly $55 million in grants and loan guarantees to help 821 small businesses in rural areas save on energy costs. The latest round of grants awarded under the Rural Energy for America Program total
July 15, 2016 Read Full Article
Biobased Benefits Shine for Energy Security and Economy
(SoyBiobased.org) When Lewis Bainbridge learned to fly helicopters for the U.S. military in the 1970s, the fuel crises limited his flight time and he had to wait an hour to get 10 gallons of gasoline. In recent years, Ian Macwan
July 15, 2016 Read Full Article
USGC, Partners Build Relationships With Colombian Ethanol Industry
(Public.org/U.S. Grains Council) The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) and its domestic partners, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and Growth Energy, traveled to Colombia last week to cultivate relationships with the
July 08, 2016 Read Full Article
India's Ethanol Blending to Rise to 2% in 2017 as More Local Product Available: USDA
(Platts) India's ethanol blending is projected to rise marginally from 1.9% this year to 2% in 2017, according to an annual report recently released by the US Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service, as more domestically produced product will be
July 06, 2016 Read Full Article
Iowa’s Ethanol Plants Consistently Gaining in Efficiency
by Dirck Steimel (Iowa Farm Bureau) While political battles over the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) continue to grab headlines, Iowa’s ethanol plants are quietly pushing ahead and becoming more and more efficient. The 43 corn-based and cellulosic ethanol plants in the
July 06, 2016 Read Full Article
Biogeochemical Research Priorities for Sustainable Biofuel and Bioenergy Feedstock Production in the Americas.
by Gollany HT, Titus BD, Scott DA, Asbjornsen H, Resh SC, Chimner RA, Kaczmarek DJ, Leite LF, Ferreira AC, Rod KA, Hilbert J, Galdos MV, Cisz ME (Biogeochemical Research) Rapid expansion in biomass production for biofuels and bioenergy in the
June 28, 2016 Read Full Article
Crop Insurance Gives Farmers More Planting Flexibility
(US Department of Agriculture) Insurance Changes Expand Farm Safety Net for Double Cropping -- Acting Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Michael Scuse today announced that the federal crop insurance program will provide additional flexibility to farmers. The modifications center on the
June 23, 2016 Read Full Article
Cover Crop Work Continues as Part of Biomass Research for Cellulosic Ethanol
(POET) POET is expanding its cover crop research as part of soil sustainability work in Emmetsburg, Iowa for cellulosic ethanol development. The work is part of an ongoing commitment to helping farmers make sound management decisions around harvesting crop
June 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Sweet Smell of Success: Greenyug, ADM Taking Biobased Chemicals to Scale
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... In California, Greenyug said it will build an industrial-scale ethyl acetate manufacturing facility adjacent to Archer Daniels Midland Company’s wet mill corn processing facilities in Columbus, Nebraska. Greenyug has formed a subsidiary, Prairie Catalytic
June 21, 2016 Read Full Article
Missing a Turn on the Road to a Billion Tons
by Corinne Young and Michele Jalbert (re:chem/Biofuels Digest) A Billion Ton Bioeconomy. For those of us who have worked in this space for the last decade, the US government’s aspiration to grow the sector to such size and scope is music
June 20, 2016 Read Full Article
Expanding the Bioeconomy: The Digest’s Multi-Slide Guide to Using the Billion Ton Report
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This analysis was presented by Jonny Rogers at ABLC Feedstocks 2016, and is the result of is a collaborative effort between the U.S. Department of Energy, Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO), National Laboratories, and various Agency
June 15, 2016 Read Full Article
Sorghum Checkoff Announces $500,000 Investment
(Sorghum Checkoff/Biomass Magazine) The Sorghum Checkoff recently announced a $500,000 investment in sorghum research, made at the inaugural Transportation Energy Resources from Renewable Agriculture (TERRA) program field day at the University of Arizona's Maricopa Agricultural Center in Maricopa, Arizona. This investment follows the
June 10, 2016 Read Full Article
Oh Magoo! The Digest Looks at Mainstream Media’s Coverage of Renewables
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Blundermeisters of Media Misinformation are at it again. The world’s favorite advanced biofuel, biodiesel, gets another hit job from mainstream media. The Digest investigates. -- AFP, the major international news service, reported last week that
June 10, 2016 Read Full Article
Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee Notice For Solicitation Of Nominations
(Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee/Federal Register) Deadline for Technical Advisory Committee member nominations is June 30, 2016. The Biomass Research and Development Act of 2000 (Biomass Act) [Pub. L. 106-224] requires cooperation and coordination in biomass research and development
June 08, 2016 Read Full Article
Of Sausage-Making, DC and Bioenergy Budgets
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The signals coming out of Washington DC are so confusing, you might be wondering if there’s going to be a budget for the US Department of Energy for the fiscal year starting this October. ... Meanwhile, the DOE’s
June 02, 2016 Read Full Article
USDA Resumes Incentives to Grow and Harvest Biomass for Energy and Biobased Products
(U.S. Department of Agriculture) U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Val Dolcini today announced that incentives resume this month for farmers and foresters who grow and harvest biomass for renewable energy and biobased products. The funds
May 28, 2016 Read Full Article
USDA Announces More Than $8 Million in Payments to Support the Production of Advanced Biofuel
(US Department of Agriculture) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $8.8 million to boost the production of advanced biofuels and sustain jobs at renewable energy facilities in 39 states. USDA continues
May 27, 2016 Read Full Article
CAAFI Celebrates 10th Anniversary!
(Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative) We are proud to announce the 10th Anniversary of the initiation of the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI) as of May 24, 2016, and more importantly, to reflect on the success we’ve achieved to date,
May 27, 2016 Read Full Article
Whatever Happened to Advanced Biofuels?
by David Biello (Scientific American) ... Burning cellulosic ethanol as a fuel could result in just 10 percent of the CO2 emissions produced by burning gasoline. One big secret to making it all work is the advanced biofuel refinery's location right next
May 26, 2016 Read Full Article
Workshop In Japan Aims To Dispel Myths On U.S. Ethanol GHGs
(U.S. Grains Council) The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) and its industry partners sought to dispel myths about U.S. ethanol and open the door for the renewable fuel in the Japanese market this week at a workshop held in Tokyo for
May 20, 2016 Read Full Article
USDA Announces $21 Million Available for Bioeconomy Research and Development
(US Department of Agriculture/EurekAlert!) The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today (May 18, 2016) announced the availability of $21 million to support the development of regional systems in sustainable bioenergy and biobased products, as well as education and training for the
May 19, 2016 Read Full Article
USDA: Inviting Organisations for AFRI Sustainable Bioenergy and Bioproducts Challenge
by Deepika (FundsForNGOs.org) The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), an agency of United States Department of Agriculture is seeking applications from organisations for Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Sustainable Bioenergy and Bioproducts (SBEBP) Challenge Area Program with an
May 17, 2016 Read Full Article
Branstad Signature Ensures Iowans Have Greater Access to Homegrown Fuel
(KMALand/Iowa Renewable Fuels Association) Iowa Governor Terry Branstad signed into law H.F. 2464, a multifaceted bill that secures funding for the state’s highly successful biodiesel and ethanol blender pump program, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program, through June 30, 2017.
May 17, 2016 Read Full Article
Scientists Agree, Biodiesel A Key to Global Carbon Reduction
(National Biodiesel Board/PR NewsWire) World's experts advance the science of quantifying transportation emissions -- Scientific experts agree that America's Advanced Biofuel, biodiesel, holds significant promise in the effort to reduce carbon emissions. Last year, biodiesel use in the U.S. cut
May 17, 2016 Read Full Article
Guest Commentary: New Gas Pumps Fuel NWI Energy Options
by Michael McIntire (Northwest Indiana Times) ... Family Express, a favorite local company, is installing new fuel pumps across eight counties with help from the Indiana Corn Marketing Council and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Drivers will have the option to fuel
May 16, 2016 Read Full Article
Could Biofuels Be Part of the Future for "Delmarva: A Region of Possibilities"?
by Joanne Ivancic* (Advanced Biofuels USA) "Don’t come to listen, come to act." That's what the invitation from the Rural Maryland Council, USDA Rural Development office and Maryland Broadband Cooperative said. We were invited to connect for a day with other
May 16, 2016 Read Full Article
A Global Force for Good: The Digest’s Multi-Slide Guide to the US Navy’s Military Biofuels Program
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) To explain the Navy’s marine and aviation biofuels program, Chris Tindal gave the following presentation at ABLC 2016 in February. As we described it earlier this year, “They’re here. $2.05 per gallon, at-scale, domestically produced advanced
May 13, 2016 Read Full Article
Cruz Aims to Declaw Energy Security Hawks with Appropriations Amendment
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... The Def Con 2 alert from the biofuels educational and advocacy group (Advanced Biofuels USA) noted a House Subcommittee draft for defense appropriations, which had this language in Section 8132: None of the funds made available
May 13, 2016 Read Full Article
UC Riverside Awarded $1.3M from USDA for Green Energy Research
by Sarah Nightingale (University of California Riverside) Charles Wyman, Distinguished Professor in Chemical and Environmental Engineering and holder of the Ford Motor Company Chair in Environmental Engineering at the Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT), and Charles Cai, research engineer
May 13, 2016 Read Full Article
Senator Sherrod Brown Announces Up to $2 Million in New Federal Resources for The Ohio State University to Support Research on Biofuel
(Office of Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) 25 Percent of Soybean Oil Processed in U.S. is used for Biodiesel and Bioheat. Ohio Ranks Sixth in the Nation for Soybean Production. -- Today (May 11, 2016), U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) )
May 13, 2016 Read Full Article
Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces Climate Smart Agriculture and Forestry Results, Additional $72.3 Million Soil Health Investment to Support Paris Agreement
(U.S. Department of Agriculture) Today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack shared the first results of USDA's Building Blocks for Climate Smart Agriculture and Forestry, one year after he unveiled the plan at Michigan State University. In addition to providing specific goals
May 12, 2016 Read Full Article
Senate Opens Door for Increased Ethanol Use
by Tom C. Doran (AgriNews) Legislation that supporters say will enhance consumer choices and increase demand for Illinois corn was unanimously approved in the Illinois Senate. The bill allows the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to receive nearly $11.98 million from
May 11, 2016 Read Full Article
Boating and Engine Experts Call on Lawmakers to Boost Biofuel Blends
(Fuels America/The Auto Channel) Certified mechanics, engine performance experts, and professional fishermen are briefing lawmakers on Capitol Hill today about the importance of ethanol in protecting the environment, preserving America’s energy security, and providing a high-octane boost to marine engines.
May 10, 2016 Read Full Article
USDA: FSFL Program Now Includes Microloan Option
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) On April 29, the USDA announced changes to the Farm Storage Facility Loan Program, which provides low-interest financing so agricultural producers can build or upgrade permanent facilities to store commodities. Renewable biomass is among
May 09, 2016 Read Full Article
USDA, DOE Partner to Invest $10 Million in Green Energy Research
(U.S. Department of Agriculture) The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)'s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the joint investment of $10 million towards research that will drive more efficient biofuels production
May 09, 2016 Read Full Article
Indiana Fuel Retailer Family Express Receives $789K for Blender Pumps
(Renewable Fuels Association) Convenience store and fuel retailer Family Express is receiving more than $789,000 through an Indiana blender pump program to bring online 45 dispensers at 37 stations in the state, it was announced Monday. The Hoosier Homegrown Fuels Blender
May 03, 2016 Read Full Article
Biomass Provision in Bipartisan Energy Bill Touches Environmental Flash Point
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) ... In the sweeping measure that was overall non-controversial, one provision in particular has some environmental groups in apoplexy – the categorization of biomass as carbon neutral. ... Passed by voice vote in February and advanced by
April 29, 2016 Read Full Article
Food & Ag Groups Urge Support for Biotech Education Provision
by Karen Batra (Biotech Now) As the House Committee on Appropriations marks up the FY2017 agriculture spending bill, the Committee is considering $3 million for consumer education and outreach to “promote understanding and acceptance of” biotechnology, a joint effort by the
April 25, 2016 Read Full Article
Biofuels Retail Advancement in Wisconsin Transportation (BRAWT) Additional Funding Available Now!
(Wisconsin Clean Cities) Second Round Funding Now Available--ALL GRANT PROPOSALS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY: FRIDAY, MAY 6, 2016 AT 12:00 PM CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME Submit completed applications via email to seo@wisconsin.gov. Questions? Submit to seo@wisconsin.gov and answers will be posted at the bottom. On October 28,
April 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Species-Specific, Process-Specific DDGS Nutrition Profiles Needed
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) How do low-oil, low-fiber, high-protein coproducts successfully find their best markets? -- An array of distillers grains coproducts are entering the market—low oil, low fiber, high protein—with great potential. But animal nutritionists caution
April 15, 2016 Read Full Article
APEC Ethanol Forum Highlights Asia as Next Frontier For Exports
(U.S. Grains Council) The growing interest for ethanol in the Asia-Pacific region is driven in part by ever-growing environmental concerns, especially those related to rising greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and deteriorating air quality, the direct results of rapidly-rising fossil fuel consumption
April 15, 2016 Read Full Article
Supporting the Bioeconomy: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to USDA Biomass Programs
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This month, we held a well-attended webinar on USDA Biomass programs. Here below is a slide deck presented on the day, by the USDA’s Mark Brodziski. The recorded version of the USDA Biomass Programs webinar can
April 15, 2016 Read Full Article
Algae + Papaya = Biofuel
by Jan Suszkiw (US Department of Agriculture) ... At the Daniel K. Inouye U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center in Hilo, Hawaii, Agricultural Research Service (ARS) plant pathologist Lisa Keith has spent the past 5 years fine-tuning conditions under which Chlorella
April 15, 2016 Read Full Article
Growth Energy to participate in Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) - The Auto Channel's Marc Rauch Part of the Presentation Team
(Growth Energy) This week, Jim Miller, Vice President and Chief Economist of Growth Energy will travel with Steve Bleyl, Executive Vice President of Green Plains Inc., and Doug Berven, Vice President of Corporate Affairs of POET to Chinese Taipei to
April 11, 2016 Read Full Article
Interagency Effort Provides Links to Biofuel Data on One Web Page
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Biofuel number crunchers in the know are finding their jobs easier because of a website hosted by the USDA Economic Research Service where the Interagency Council on Agricultural & Rural Statistics pulls together links
April 08, 2016 Read Full Article
USDA Seeks Applications for Grants to Help Agricultural Producers Increase the Value of Their Products
(US Department of Agriculture) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is making up to $44 million available to farmers, ranchers and businesses to develop new bio-based products and expand markets through the Value-Added Producer Grant program. "America's farmers, ranchers
April 08, 2016 Read Full Article
Make Haste with Waste
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... (W)hen you compare them to homogenized, uniform, high-yield, purpose-grown energy crops. residues may be queer, but they are here. Not only available, but reliable, you can count on the fact that they will not
April 08, 2016 Read Full Article
Boom Times: The Digest’s Multi-Slide Guide to Renewable Diesel’s Explosive Growth
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This week, we held a well-attended webinar on “Boom times in Renewable Diesel” Here below is the first slide deck presented on the day, from The Digest. The recorded version of the webinar can be accessed
April 07, 2016 Read Full Article
Up, Up & Away: The Top 10 Magic Moments in Aviation Biofuels in 2016
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia formed a partnership to investigate options for locally produced aviation biofuel. The trans-Tasman alliance partners are issuing a Request for Information (RFI) to the market to explore the opportunity
April 06, 2016 Read Full Article
Farm Bill Energy Programs Enable New Feedstock Production To Help Fuel the Biobased Economy
by Brent Erickson (Biotechnology Innovation Organization/Biofuels Digest) ... Congress changed mandatory funding for two key bioenergy programs – despite their tangible successes – through its Fiscal Year 2016 (FY16) Omnibus spending bill. USDA’s Section 9003 Loan Guarantee Program and the Biomass
April 06, 2016 Read Full Article
After a Decade of Growth, Corn Use for Ethanol Projected to Decline
(US Department of Agriculture/Ag Professional) Ethanol production in the United States is based almost entirely on corn as a feedstock. Corn‑based ethanol production is projected to fall over the next 10 years. This reflects declining overall gasoline consumption in the United
April 04, 2016 Read Full Article
Prospective Plantings: The Digest’s 2016 8-Slide Guide to Corn, Soy, Sorghum, Wheat Acreage
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Prospective Plantings report provides the first official, survey based estimates of U.S. farmers’ 2016 planting intentions. U.S. corn growers expect to plant 93.6 million acres to corn this year, according to the Prospective Plantings report
April 04, 2016 Read Full Article
Shock Rise in Corn Production Leads to Price Plunge
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In grains, the big news has been the USDA prospective plantings report, which has corn up to 93 million acres in 2016, up 5 million over last year, and it was an unexpected gain given
April 04, 2016 Read Full Article
A 21st-Century Investment in Productive, Sustainable Agriculture
by Margaret M. Zeigler (The Hill/Global Harvest Initiative) ... Held each year since 1973, National AG Day helps consumers, the administration and Congress understand how farmers grow safe and affordable food, and underscores the essential role of agriculture in maintaining both a
March 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Ethanol Industry Takes Part in USDA Trade Mission to Peru, Chile
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Several representatives of the biofuel industry are participating in a USDA trade mission to Peru and Chile March 14-18. The mission, led by Agricultural Secretary Tom Vilsack, aims to expand export opportunities for U.S.
March 16, 2016 Read Full Article
USDA Announces $260 Million Available for Regional Conservation Partnership Program
(US Department of Agriculture) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the availability of up to $260 million for partner proposals to improve the nation's water quality, combat drought, enhance soil health, support wildlife habitat and protect agricultural viability. The funding
March 14, 2016 Read Full Article
RFA Analysis Finds Improvement of Corn Ethanol Net Energy Balance
(Renewable Fuels Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) An analysis conducted by the Renewable Fuels Association and released March 7 finds the net energy balance of corn-based ethanol at U.S. dry mill biorefineries averages 2.6–2.8, an improvement over previous estimates, reflecting efficiency gains. The figures build
March 08, 2016 Read Full Article
A Conversation with US Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack
(Industrial Biotechnology) ... My current assessment is that there exists an unlimited sense of opportunity in the biobased products and bioenergy sector. I look at the work being done at the USDA, which is extensive and has been helpful in getting
March 08, 2016 Read Full Article
Sustainable, Affordable Biomass: The Digest’s 2016 8-Slide Guide to the Biomass Research and Development Initiative
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), Institute of Bioenergy, Climate, and Environment (IBCE) and the Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Golden Field Office, Bioenergy Technologies Office jointly operate the
March 08, 2016 Read Full Article
USDA Highlights Bioeconomy Investments
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) The USDA recently published a fact sheet highlighting its investments in rural America, including several related to sparking innovation in America’s bioeconomy to support the development of biomanufacturing and advanced biofuels. According to fact sheet, USDA
March 04, 2016 Read Full Article
Vislack Defends Biofuels, Bioenergy during House Hearing
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) On Feb. 24, the House Committee on Agriculture held a hearing on the state of the rural economy. Biofuels and bioenergy were among the topics discussed during the nearly three-hour event. When asked to characterize the
March 04, 2016 Read Full Article
Boardman Biorefinery Gets $11 Million USDA Backing
by George Plaven (East Oregonian) The U.S. Department of Agriculture is stepping up with an $11 million loan to build a new biorefinery in Boardman. -- With financing in place, a Minnesota-based energy company plans to build its first
March 02, 2016 Read Full Article
Leaf Resources Expands Equity Stake in ZeaChem, Signs JV to Develop Celluosic Sugars Project in US
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Australia, Leaf Resources and ZeaChem signed a joint venture agreement to establish a Glycell based project in the USA. The new agreenent advances the relationship between the two companies from an October 2014 Collaboration
March 01, 2016 Read Full Article
Vilsack, Goodlatte Debate Biofuels Policy
by Ken Anderson (Brownfield Ag News) Federal support for biofuels came up for discussion at this week’s House Agriculture Committee hearing on the state of the rural economy. Representative Bob Goodlatte of Virginia questioned Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack about the USDA’s
February 27, 2016 Read Full Article
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Talks GMOs And Ethanol
by Robin Young (NPR's Here and Now) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is the only member of the cabinet who’s been there since President Obama took office. He heads a department that oversees a wide swath of government programs, including food safety
February 26, 2016 Read Full Article
Biofuels Retail Advancement in Wisconsin Transportation (BRAWT) Program
(Wisconsin Clean Cities) On October 28, 2015, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, Office of Energy Innovation (OEI) had been awarded $3.7 million through the Biofuels Infrastructure Program (BIP) to significantly expand
February 26, 2016 Read Full Article
Zeitgeist at the Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference
[caption id="attachment_70483" align="alignright" width="260"] LanzaTech CEO Jennifer Holmgren visits with Advanced Biofuels USA's Bill Brandon at a pre-conference get-together.[/caption] by Joanne Ivancic* (Advanced Biofuels USA) You might think that annual conferences feel the same year after year. Not true. One of
February 25, 2016 Read Full Article
Edgington Letter: The RFS Does Work
by Chris Edgington (Globe Gazette) ... Today, energy represents 5.2 cents of every dollar spent on food versus 6.8 cents in 2008. According to the USDA the average grocery bill is up 1 percent in 2015 vs. 2014 and yet the
February 23, 2016 Read Full Article
Report: Energy Efficiency of Ethanol Continues to Improve
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Reports recently published by the USDA Office of the Chief Economist and the University of Missouri’s Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute demonstrate that ethanol production continues to become more energy efficient and shows
February 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Statement from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Research Showing Significant Improvement in Efficiency of Ethanol Production and Other Trends
(U.S. Department of Agriculture) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today released a statement on two recent research reports supported by USDA focused on ethanol and other renewable fuels, one published by USDA's Office of the Chief Economist and another published by
February 22, 2016 Read Full Article
The Revolution in Biobased Materials: The Digest’s 8-Slide Guide to the USDA BioPreferred Program
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the goal of the BioPreferred program is to increase the purchase and use of biobased products. The BioPreferred program was created by the 2002 Farm Bill and reauthorized and expanded
February 22, 2016 Read Full Article
US Aims at 30% Penetration of Biomass Carbon in US Transport by 2030: New Federal Report Debut at ABLC 2016
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the Biomass R&D Technical Advisory Committee has recommended “targeting a potential 30% penetration of biomass carbon into the U.S. transportation market by 2030 in a sustainable and cost-effective manner to create jobs, reduce greenhouse gas impacts,
February 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Biofuel Company with Polygamous Ties Spent Big on Utah Politicians even as Frauds Were Found
by Nate Carlisle and Brian Maffly (The Salt Lake Tribune) Federal agents raided offices of Washakie and Kingstons amid claims the company hasn’t actually manufactured its own biofuels. -- The storage tanks Washakie Renewable Energy was planning to build while
February 15, 2016 Read Full Article
Issue Brief: Obama FY2017 Budget Proposal: Sustainable Energy, Buildings, Transportation and Climate
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) On February 9, 2016, President Obama released his $4.15 trillion fiscal year (FY) 2017 federal budget proposal, a 5 percent increase over 2016. In his final budget request, President Obama is seeking to increase funding
February 12, 2016 Read Full Article
GOED Awarded $1.5 Million for Ethanol Program
(South Dakota Ag Connection) South Dakota is ramping up its efforts to increase ethanol usage in South Dakota, thanks in part to a $1.5 million U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation (USDA - CCC) federal grant awarded to the
February 08, 2016 Read Full Article
NASA Should Be the Key to the Crucial Development of Large Scale Bio-Jetfuel and Rocket Fuel End-to-End Production
by Robert E. Kozak* (Advanced Biofuels USA) In looking at a way to jump-start this country’s bogged down production of biomass-based jetfuel (Jet-A, JP-5, JP-8) and rocket fuel (RP-1/2), the early history of the US space program should serve as
February 08, 2016 Read Full Article
2016 Time to Double-down on Renewable Chemicals
by Corinne Young and Michele Jalbert (Biofuels Digest/re:chem Alliance) For all of 2015’s turbulence in the renewable chemical sector, in one area – US government policy – the industry saw marked progress. For the last two years, the Renewable Chemical &
February 02, 2016 Read Full Article
Biofuels Retail Advancement in Wisconsin Transportation (BRAWT) Program
(Wisconsin Clean Cities) On October 28, 2015, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, Office of Energy Innovation (OEI) had been awarded $3.7 million through the Biofuels Infrastructure Program (BIP) to significantly expand
February 01, 2016 Read Full Article
Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Food, Agriculture, Natural Resources and Human Sciences Education and Literacy Initiative Fellowships DEADLINES: February 11, March 18 and March 24, 2016
(US Department of Agriculture) Program: Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) | AFRI Education and Literacy Initiative | Educational Scholarship Programs The AFRI Food, Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Human Sciences Education and Literacy Initiative (ELI) provides fellowships to undergraduate, predoctoral,
February 01, 2016 Read Full Article
BETO-Funded Study Offers Methods to Support a Water-Sustainable Bioenergy Industry
(US Department of Energy) Argonne National Laboratory released a study funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) that examines the potential effects of future biofuel production on freshwater resources in the Missouri River Basin—a region that
January 29, 2016 Read Full Article
USDA Highlights Benefits of Rural Development Grants with Eye on Bioenergy
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the USDA has highlighted the economic impacts on rural communities bioenergy investments have made in a new report looking at the $1.1 billion granted for renewable energy through 15,678 individual awards between 2009
January 29, 2016 Read Full Article
Ensyn Nabs Chevron Exec as New CEO
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Jeffrey Jacobs, who served as Vice President of Chevron Technology Ventures until his recent retirement from Chevron, was appointed CEO of Ensyn Corporation and elected to its Board of Directors. Jacobs was also appointed as
January 29, 2016 Read Full Article
Branstad, Reynolds, Northey Announce First Round of Funding Awards for “Fueling Our Future Initiative” $2.49 Million Awarded to Help Install 107 New Blender Pumps around Iowa
(Iowa Department of Agriculture) Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds and Sec. of Agriculture Bill Northey today announced that $2.49 million has been awarded through the “Fueling Our Future 100” initiative to support the installation of 107 new
January 28, 2016 Read Full Article
Betting on Biogas Growth in 2016
by Amanda Bilek (Biomass Magazine/Great Plains Institute) ... In the summer of 2014, the USDA released the Biogas Opportunities Roadmap. The release of this roadmap marked the first time that federal agencies made a public commitment to coordinate biogas activities and
January 26, 2016 Read Full Article
Export Markets for ‘Liquid Corn’
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Global trade for U.S. ethanol has been trending up in the past decade, becoming an important part of the industry’s growth strategy. -- Looking at the numbers, it doesn’t take long to conclude that
January 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Launch of the Great Green Fleet
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) $2.05 per gallon for drop-in, non-food advanced biofuels blends. Who would have thought it possible a few years ago. Well, the Navy for one. Their remarkable vision results in Carrier Strike Group 3 operating in a
January 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Great Green Fleet: The Digest’s 2016 8-Slide Guide to the US Navy’s Transition to Renewable Fuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Department of the Navy is now buying advanced, drop-in, cost-competitive, next gen renewable fuels. The biofuels sought can be blended in a range of 10 to 50 percent with conventional petroleum products and must meet
January 20, 2016 Read Full Article
Amidst Drop in Oil Prices, U.S. Navy Deploys 'Great Green Fleet'
by David Alexander (Reuters/Yahoo!) The U.S. Navy will formally deploy its so-called "Great Green Fleet" on Wednesday, sending warships to sea on biofuels even though oil prices have dropped 70 percent since congressional Republicans first criticized the high cost of
January 20, 2016 Read Full Article
University of Georgia Scientists Using $5 Million Grant to Combat Invasive Weed Johnsongrass
by James Hataway (University of Georgia) A team of researchers led by faculty at the University of Georgia have received a $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to find new ways of combating Johnsongrass, one of the most
January 20, 2016 Read Full Article
Insurance for New Biofuel Crop Now Available
(US Department of Agriculture/PRMediaRelease) Carinata Producers Need to Make Insurance Decisions Soon -- USDA’s Risk Management Agency today announced that producers in Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota can insure carinata by written agreement under the canola and rapeseed insurance plans.
January 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Florida Treasure Coast Farm-to-Fly Aviation Biofuel Project Starts Feasibility Study
by Robert E. Kozak* (Advanced Biofuels USA) On January 7th, the Florida Treasure Coast Education, Research and Development Authority (TCERDA) held a Kickoff Meeting in Ft. Pierce for their Farm-to-Fly Aviation Biofuel feasibility study. This study is funded by a
January 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Bringing Up Biofuel
by Rosalie Bliss (US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service) ... U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists have advanced a process to produce a crude liquid called “bio-oil” from agricultural waste. The team is headed by Agricultural Research Service (ARS)
January 15, 2016 Read Full Article
Avoiding Common Pitfalls: The Digest’s 2016 8-Slide Guide to the USDA Section 9003 Loan Guarantee
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Department of Agriculture needs no introduction, but within USDA Rural Development is the Energy Division takes a leading role on biorefinery loan guarantees. How does the process work, what are the deadlines, how are applications scored?
January 13, 2016 Read Full Article
Algae-Derived Biofuels Gain Traction as Commercial Viability Increases
(Eco-Business/Future Market Insights) Algaculture, the farming of algae for fuel, is gaining traction globally as governments and private players look to leverage on the potential of algae as a biofuel. Concerns about depleting oil resources and the environmental impact of
January 11, 2016 Read Full Article
Only Results Count: The Digest’s 2016 8-Slide Guide to Success with a Section 9003 Loan Guarantee App
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) What is the Purpose of the Feasibility Study? How can I know if my project is feasible? What should I look for in choosing a feasibility study consultant? What does a successful proforma look like when oil
January 11, 2016 Read Full Article
Great Green Fleet: The Digest’s 2016 8-Slide Guide to the US Navy’s Transition to Renewable Fuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Department of the Navy is now buying advanced, drop-in, cost-competitive, next gen renewable fuels. The biofuels sought can be blended in a range of 10 to 50 percent with conventional petroleum products and must meet
January 08, 2016 Read Full Article
Navy to Launch Great Green Fleet with 77 Million Gallon Buy of Cost-Competitive, Non-Food Advanced Biofuels Blends
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) They’re here. $2.05 per gallon, at-scale, domestically produced advanced renewable fuels — utilizing non-food feedstocks and based on next-generation technology. The Navy’s 7-year quest to diversify its fuel supply without paying more or changing its
January 08, 2016 Read Full Article
USDA Highlights 2015 Bioeconomy Achievements
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... Several of the achievements listed by the USDA benefited the bioenergy and biofuels sectors. Under the category of climate change achievements, the department highlighted its work with the U.S. EPA to set the first-ever
January 04, 2016 Read Full Article
Letter: Building on Ethanol Success Is a Good Way to Reach Renewable Energy Goals
by Robert Moffitt (American Lung Association in Minnesota/Post Bulletin) A Dec. 14 letter to the editor described Rochester's "community responsibility to become energy sustainable." A key component to achieving this goal is increasing the use of clean-burning transportation fuels in the
January 04, 2016 Read Full Article
Cheap Oil Slows down UW’s Plan for Tree-Based Biofuels
by Katherine Long (Seattle Times) Four years after the University of Washington received a $40 million federal grant to kick-start a biofuels industry in the Northwest, scientists have made great progress, but plans are lagging, in part because fossil fuels
January 04, 2016 Read Full Article
University of Delaware Researchers Develop Algae Biofuels
by Karen B. Roberts (University of Delaware/Biomass Magazine) ... At the University of Delaware, associate scientist Jennifer Stewart is working to create sustainable algae-based biofuels that could reduce carbon dioxide and other harmful emissions in the atmosphere. ... Many scientists have proposed growing algae
December 28, 2015 Read Full Article
USDA to Request Extension of Residue, Biomass Field Study
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service has published a notice announcing its intention to request a revision and extension of a currently approved information collection for a residue and biomass field survey. According to a
December 28, 2015 Read Full Article
The Bioeconomy’s River Pilot: The Digest’s 2016 8-Slide Guide to the USDA
by Valerie Reed (US Department of Agriculture/Biofuels Digest) A great government agency is a little like a river pilot — doesn’t run the ship, but steps in as a vital partner for complex, critical tasks where specialized know-how and resources
December 28, 2015 Read Full Article
Successfully Financing Advanced Biobased Projects: The Digest’s 2016 8-Slide Guide to the USDA Loan Guarantee Program
by John Kirkwood (Biofuels Digest/Faegre Baker Daniels) Project financing is the financing of infrastructure and industrial projects and relies primarily on the development of a project and its cash flow for repayment — but for a first commercial plant for a given technology,
December 28, 2015 Read Full Article
USDA Trade Mission Spurs Record Ethanol Exports to China
(U.S. Department of Agriculture) The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced a significant jump in ethanol exports to China this year, following a USDA-led trade mission to the country last year. Representatives from nine state departments of agriculture and
December 23, 2015 Read Full Article
Re-Thinking the Carbon Reduction Value of Corn Ethanol Fuel
by Ron Alverson (Ethanol Across America) It has been seven years since Argonne National Labs (ANL), as part of the Energy Security and Independence Act requirements, first determined the Life Cycle Carbon Intensity of mid-west corn ethanol fuel. ANL, using
December 23, 2015 Read Full Article
Are We There Yet? A Biofuel Refinery Update
by Tom Ewing (Renewable Energy World) As oil prices plummet, are drop-in aviation biofuel refineries ever going to be built? --- In September 2014, the Department of Energy (DOE), along with the Departments of the Navy and Agriculture, announced a
December 22, 2015 Read Full Article
More Biofuel Pumps at Missouri Gas Stations
by Mindy Ward (Farm Progress) Consumers will have more biofuel,ethanol choices at the gas pump. -- Mark Cadle sees the investment in biofuel infrastructure in Missouri as a win-win-win. "The goal is to expand markets for farmers, support rural economic growth,
December 21, 2015 Read Full Article
USGC Ethanol Export Program Yields Results in Peru
(U.S. Grains Council/Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. Grains Council’s ethanol export promotion program has seen an early success with a U.S. exporter confirming sales of 10 million gallons of U.S. ethanol to Peru—valued at more than $15 million—following a trade
December 21, 2015 Read Full Article
In Santa’s Stocking: 3 Big Wins for Renewable Fuels, Feedstocks
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) $1 biodiesel tax credit extended through 2016, and much more. In Washington, lawmakers in the U.S. House and Senate passed legislation for retroactive reinstatement of the $1 per gallon biodiesel mixture excise tax credit from January
December 21, 2015 Read Full Article
Obama Administration Announces Competition to Designate the Third and Final Round of Promise Zones
(U.S. Department of Agriculture) Today, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Julián Castro and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that communities may now apply to be designated a Promise Zone under the third
December 18, 2015 Read Full Article
Federal Agencies Release Update on National Biogas Activities
(U.S. Department of Agriculture) In support of the Obama Administration's Climate Action Plan, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) jointly released the Biogas Opportunities Roadmap Progress Report today
December 17, 2015 Read Full Article
MBA & KS95 Reward Drivers to Switch to E15
(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) Twin Cities radio station, KS95 FM, and the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association (MBA), today rewarded customers who fueled up with E15 at Highland Service Minnoco. From 11 am to 12 pm, customers who fueled up with E15 at Highland
December 16, 2015 Read Full Article
Indiana Opens Applications for Blender Fuel Pump Program
(Indiana Office of Energy Development) The Indiana Office of Energy Development and the Indiana Corn Marketing Council recently announced that publicly-accessible fuel retail stations in Indiana can begin applying for a share of $1,338,400 through the Hoosier Homegrown Fuels Blender
December 14, 2015 Read Full Article
Create Your Own Biodiesel on Your Farm?
(RFD-TV) ... "This is something where they can grow it, and they can make it themselves and they can use it on the farm," says Jason de Koff, an assistant professor in agronomy and soil science at Tennessee State University.
December 14, 2015 Read Full Article
Food Waste Legislation Includes AD Provisions
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) On Dec. 7, Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, introduced the Food Recovery Act of 2015. The bill, which aims to reduce the amount of food waste in the U.S., also contains provisions related to waste-to-energy development. ... One
December 11, 2015 Read Full Article
How Much Corn for Ethanol? USDA Takes Cautious Approach to Corn Use in New Ethanol Mandate
by Alan Brugler (DTN The Progressive Farmer) USDA on Wednesday increased projected 2015-16 corn use for ethanol by 25 million bushels from its November World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report. Was this enough to reflect the additional blending required by
December 11, 2015 Read Full Article
We Know How To Make Farms More Sustainable, But We're Not Doing It
by Joseph Erbentraut (The Huffington Post) A new analysis finds potentially transformative agricultural research isn’t getting the level of funding it probably should. --- Two years ago, when acclaimed food journalist Michael Pollan trumpeted “the most encouraging ag research finding of recent
December 11, 2015 Read Full Article
USDA Provides Loan Guarantee Conditional Commitment to Build Georgia Biofuel Plant
(US Department of Agriculture) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced a conditional commitment for a $70 million loan guarantee to help build a cellulosic biorefinery in central Georgia. USDA is providing the loan guarantee conditional commitment, an important milestone in
December 11, 2015 Read Full Article
Partnerships that Speed Tech to Market: The Digest’s 2015 8-Slide Guide to Effective Agricultural Research Services Partnerships
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This year at ABLC Next, Bill Orts, a Research Leader for Bioproducts at the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, gave us an overview of partnership opportunities at USDA and through ARS. One of the vehicles is known as a
December 09, 2015 Read Full Article
Iowa Reveals Details on $5 Million Blender Pump Grant Program
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Iowa, The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) has been awarded $5 million to install an estimated 187 blender pumps, through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Biofuels Infrastructure Partnership, Iowa fuel retailers
December 07, 2015 Read Full Article
RFA: EPA’s Final RFS Rule Puts Future of Biofuels & Climate Policy in Hands of Oil Industry
(Renewable Fuels Association) Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its final Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) renewable volume obligations (RVOs) for 2014, 2015 and 2016 that refiners have to meet in blending biofuels with gasoline. The agency increased the blending
November 30, 2015 Read Full Article
Tribal Partnerships Fuel Sustainable Aviation
by Stephanie Pearl (US Department of Agriculture) Alaska Airlines will conduct a demonstration flight in 2016 using 1,000 gallons of jet fuel made from forest scraps. The aviation biofuel was derived from twigs and small branches that would otherwise have been
November 26, 2015 Read Full Article
Virginia and Maryland Awarded Nearly $5 Million in Federal Funds to Install Ethanol Pumps
(Office of Governor Terry McAuliffe) Governor Terry McAuliffe announced today (October 29, 2015) that Virginia, in partnership with Maryland, was selected for a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant totaling nearly $5 million to install ethanol refueling infrastructure in Virginia. The
November 19, 2015 Read Full Article
SD, VA Projects Receive USDA Value-Added Grant Funding
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Five bioenergy projects in two states were among the 258 businesses nationwide receiving a total of nearly $34 million from the USDA Rural Development Value-Added Producer Grant program. The grants were announced last week
November 18, 2015 Read Full Article
Debunking Biofuels: Do They Really Raise Food Prices?
by Melissa Pariettin(MSN.com) ... Many factors determine the price of food in the U.S. If the introduction of the RFS (Renewable Fuel Standard) had as significant an impact on food prices as certain outlets have suggested, then the increase would be
November 18, 2015 Read Full Article
Hardwood Biofuels Researched Using Poplar Trees
by Dennis Farrell (The Daily Evergreen) ... A regional consortium for sustainable biofuels is teaming up with multiple companies and universities like Washington State to convert poplar trees into ethanol. Advanced Hardwood Biofuels Northwest (AHB) invests time, money and research
November 17, 2015 Read Full Article
Biorefinery Assistance Program Changes Now in Effect
by John Kirkwood (Faegre Baker Daniels LLP/Ethanol Producer Magazine) A few changes have been implemented in the Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance Program, writes John Kirkwood. ... In June, an interim final rule was published in the
November 11, 2015 Read Full Article
Ethanol Industry Participates in Clean Energy Mission to India
(US Grains Council, Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy/Ethanol Producer Magazine) A team of U.S. ethanol industry representatives led by USDA Undersecretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Michael Scuse traveled to India last week to discuss opportunities for developing clean
November 11, 2015 Read Full Article
Will the Renewable Fuel Standard Impact the 2016 Elections?
by Jonathan H Harsch (Agri-Pulse) The escalating battle over the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) added another front Thursday. National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson warned President Obama that lowering the RFS volume requirements could result in Democrats losing otherwise winnable congressional
November 09, 2015 Read Full Article
Ethanol Pump Grants Encourage Growth to Ethanol Industry
by Meghan Grebner (Brownfield Ag News) The president of the Indiana Corn Marketing Council (ICMC) says the announcement of the Biofuels Infrastructure Partnership (BIP) grants will help promote and grow the state’s ethanol industry. Denny Maple says the grants from USDA
November 06, 2015 Read Full Article
DE-FOA-0001444 Plant Feedstock Genomics for Bioenergy: A Joint Research
The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science, Office of Biological and Environmental Research (OBER), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), hereby announce their interest in receiving applications for genomics- based research
November 06, 2015 Read Full Article
Biofuels Program Meant to Promote Different Blends at Pump
(Associated Press/Bakken.com) The North Dakota Department of Commerce is accepting applications for a program to market biofuels. The $1.2 million program sponsored through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership offers grants to test and evaluate ways to promote
November 03, 2015 Read Full Article
Money Flowing to Install More Ethanol Blender Pumps in Nebraska
(Lincoln Journal Star) Money raised or promised in Nebraska has more than matched $2.85 million in federal funds to establish a public-private partnership to add 80 new blender pumps across the state of Nebraska, allowing greater access to ethanol for
November 03, 2015 Read Full Article
Mission Incomplete
by Katie Fletcher (Biomass Magazine) The U.S. Department of Defense has yet to purchase alternative fuels beyond testing and demonstration purposes, but intentions remain. -- In July, the U.S. Government Accountability Office published a report observing U.S. Department of Defense
November 03, 2015 Read Full Article
Wisconsin Expands Biofuel Fueling Stations
(Spooner Advocate) The Public Service Commission (PSC) has announced that Wisconsin is the recipient of a $3.7 million U.S. Department of Agriculture grant to significantly expand and support the installation of ethanol blending equipment at retail gas stations throughout the
November 03, 2015 Read Full Article
The Biobased Option: The Digest’s 2015 8-Slide Guide to Biobased Products
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Includes Ohio State University's "Advanced Bioeconomy" flowchart and BioPreferred Program map; results of surveys regarding awareness of bio-based products, etc. READ MORE
November 03, 2015 Read Full Article
USDA Climate Hubs Fellows Program (CFHP) Opportunity--App DEADLINE: Nov. 20, 2015
(Southeast Partnership for Integrated Biomass Supply Systems) USDA-NIFA CLIMATE HUBS FELLOWS PROGRAM HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED, WITH A NOVEMBER 20TH, 2015 APPLICATION DEADLINE The Climate Hubs Fellows Program (CHFP) has been announced (http://go.usa.gov/3J4GA). The deadline for applications is November 20th. The CHFP
November 02, 2015 Read Full Article
2016 SouthEast Energy Development (SEED) Fellowship Program -- 10 Week Summer Undergraduate Fellowship (MAY 23 ‐JULY 23, 2015) App. DEADLINE Nov. 23, 2015
The Southeast Energy Development (SEED) Fellowship is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture‐Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) program under the Southeast Partnership for Integrated Biomass Supply Systems (IBSS) project. The SEED Fellows will: Work in a multidisciplinary team for 10