by Deborah Yetter (Courier-Journal) A spirited group of protesters marched more than 20 blocks along West Broadway Sunday afternoon to show their opposition to a proposed plant in the area that would produce methane by composting spent grain used to produce
economic development
Back TO HOMEUSDA, TDA Announce Seed Funding to Ignite Agri-Tech Entrepreneurship
(Tennessee Department of Agriculture) The next great business idea just may come from rural Tennessee. USDA Rural Development and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture today announced $220,000 in combined seed funding for a new initiative to help make Tennessee a
August 21, 2015 Read Full Article
North Set to Be Biofuel Capital
by Charlie Peel (Townsville Bulletin) Up to 30 mini biofuel plants could be rolled out across North Queensland as part of an ambitious plan to make the region Australia’s renewable fuel capital. The centrepiece of the project would be a $150 million
August 17, 2015 Read Full Article
RFS Has Positive Impact on Rural Nebraska
by Eric Kamler Geneva (The Independent/Journal-Star) This month marks the 10th anniversary since President George W. Bush signed the Renewable Fuel Standard into law. The RFS has spurred billions of dollars in investments in biofuel technology, boosted our state and
August 17, 2015 Read Full Article
Ethanol Plant Essential to Michigan’s Thumb
by Nicole Heslip (Brownfields Ag News) The general manager of POET’s Michigan based ethanol plant says the Caro facility has offset the demise of the automotive industry. “If you look at the Thumb of Michigan, it used to be heavily automotive
August 17, 2015 Read Full Article
POET Drives $13.5B in Economic Impact in 2014: Report
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In South Dakota, POET released its first-ever economic impact study, and reported that in 2014 the company generated a total of $13.5 billion in sales for U.S. businesses; added $5.4 billion in national gross domestic
August 17, 2015 Read Full Article
Ricketts: Danish Company's Interest in Nebraska Expansion Cooled after EPA's Ethanol Proposal
by Russell Hubbard (World-Herald) Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts said on the last day of his European trade mission that federal rulings on ethanol mandates are obstructing the expansion of a growing Danish company with a substantial Cornhusker State presence. Novozymes, a
June 16, 2015 Read Full Article
Contribution of the Ethanol Industry to the Economy of Minnesota
John M. Urbanchuk and Stuart D. Norvell (Agriculture and Biofuels Consulting, LLP/ Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) From the farm to the fuel pump, the ethanol industry is a vital component of Minnesota’s economy. Ethanol plants provide jobs and income not only for
May 08, 2015 Read Full Article
4 Minutes with… Lisa Hughes, Industrial Biotechnology Industry Specialist, DEED
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development(DEED)is the state’s principal economic development agency. ... My role as the industry specialist with DEED is to continue to expand Minnesota’s bioindustrial cluster through strategies that include: 1. Providing
May 08, 2015 Read Full Article
New Study Reveals Wide-Ranging Economic Impact of Ethanol Production
(Renewable Fuels Association) At this year’s National Ethanol Conference, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) released a new ABF Economics study titled “Contribution of the Ethanol Industry to the Economy of the United States in 2014,” which quantified the economic, national
February 27, 2015 Read Full Article
Ethanol Industry Looking beyond Incentives
by Scott Jamieson (Canadian Biomass Magazine) Executives from Canada's biofuels industry are looking at efficiencies and diversification as tools to ensure the sector's continued growth. That was the main message shared with a packed room at the first day of
December 03, 2014 Read Full Article
4 Minutes with…Ben Thorp, Chairman, Bioenergy Deployment Consortium
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Currently we are evaluating the underlying technologies that are involved in the 85 million annual gallon cellulosic ethanol that will be on-stream in the US this year. We have discovered that there is equal
November 24, 2014 Read Full Article
Study Shows Ethanol Impact on Retail AG Service Sales
(North Dakota Farmers Union/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Ethanol production in North Dakota generates significant income for retail agricultural service and supply dealers, roughly $700 million a year, according to a study recently released by the Center for Agricultural Policy and Trade
November 06, 2014 Read Full Article
Midlands Voices: Renewable Fuels Are Homegrown Success
by John Hansen (Nebraska Farmers Union/Omaha.com) ... When Iowa State University’s Center for Agricultural and Rural Development examined the impact the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) has on a family of four, it found an average in fuel savings of $863 per
October 29, 2014 Read Full Article
Biofuels Help Boost Sustainable Transport and Support Rural Development in Africa: GRFA
(Renewable Fuels Association) Today, as the first African Sustainable Transport Forum gets under way in Nairobi, Kenya, the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA) called on forum attendees to adopt biofuels friendly policies and regulations that would kick-start the increased use
October 29, 2014 Read Full Article
Robust Economic Opportunities in the U.S. Biobased Economy
by Brent Erickson (Biofuels Digest/Biotechnology Industry Organization) A report released a couple of weeks ago by the USDA’s BioPreferred Program, “Why Biobased?,” provides a very positive overview of economic opportunities in the emerging biobased economy. Those opportunities include a revival
October 21, 2014 Read Full Article
Meetings to Examine Biofuel Production
(GSA Business) The S.C. Clean Energy Business Alliance will host two meetings this week as part of a $150,000 federal grant program aimed at linking economic development officials in Colleton and Clarendon counties with industrial biofuel companies. The first meeting will be held Wednesday
September 16, 2014 Read Full Article
USDA Seeks Applications for Grants to Increase Economic Opportunity and Improve the Quality of Life in Rural Areas
(US Department of Agriculture) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is seeking applications for grants that will be awarded to organizations to provide critical financial and technical assistance to recipients to develop and strengthen their capacity to carry
August 13, 2014 Read Full Article
The Impact of Ethanol Production on the North Dakota Agricultural Retail Industry
by Richard Taylor and Won W. Koo (Center for Agricultural Policy and Trade Studies North Dakota State University) ... The first immediate impact of ethanol was increased agricultural commodity prices. In 2005, the corn price averaged $2.00 per bushel. At the end of 2006,
August 12, 2014 Read Full Article
World Bank: Climate-Smart Development Benefits Lives, Jobs, GDP
by Sue Retka Schill (Biomass Magazine) Advanced biofuels and biomass play supporting roles in several scenarios examined in a recent report from the World Bank Group looking at climate-smart development. The report introduces a new comprehensive model developed to take
August 11, 2014 Read Full Article
UK Aviation Group Calls for Government Backing to Kick-Start Production of Sustainable Aviation Fuels
(GreenAir Online) The potential to reduce UK aviation’s annual carbon emissions by up to 1.7 million tonnes by 2030 through the uptake of sustainable aviation fuels can only be realised with government support, says UK industry environmental strategy group Sustainable Aviation
August 11, 2014 Read Full Article
Proposed Constitutional Amendment in Ohio Would Benefit Biomass
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) ... On July 7, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine certified a petition for the proposed Clean Energy Initiative amendment. According to Josh Pulliam, a consultant for Yes for Ohio’s’ Energy Future, the political action committee that
July 18, 2014 Read Full Article
Aviation Industry Publishes Fuelling the Future, Calls for Urgent Review of UK Government Sustainable Aviation Fuels Policy
(Sustainable Aviation) - Potential to reduce UK aviation’s carbon emissions by 1.7 million tonnes per annum by 2030, and by 18% by 2050, through the uptake of sustainable aviation fuels, finds independent analysis by sustainable energy experts E4tech - Contribution of
July 18, 2014 Read Full Article
South Carolina Nets Grants for Transportation Biofuels
by Chuck Crumbo (GSA Business) The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded two grants totaling $150,000 to the S.C. Clean Energy Business Alliance aimed at developing transportation biofuel investments for commercial and military use. The alliance, which announced the grants at Wednesday’s
July 11, 2014 Read Full Article
After False Start, Biofuels Industry May Yet Impact Highlands County
by Marc Valero (Highlands Today) SEBRING — Three years ago, Highlands County was on the cusp of a bio boom time with hundreds of jobs looming in construction, agriculture and technology with buzz words such as biofuels, ethanol production and renewable
June 17, 2014 Read Full Article
California Council on Science and Technology Releases Report on Expanding Biofuels in California
(California Council on Science and Technology) Advanced biofuels have the potential to provide California with economic opportunities while reducing greenhouse gas emissions consistent with the state's climate and clean air policies. However, the state may not have sufficient incentives in
May 14, 2014 Read Full Article
Renewable Fuels Drive Economic Growth
by Tom Doran (AgriNews) An economic impact study found far-reaching benefits of renewable fuels for America’s workers and the U.S. economy. The study, conducted by John Dunham and Associates and released by Fuels America, determined the entire renewable fuels supply drives
May 09, 2014 Read Full Article
Ethanol is a Win for Illinois, A Win for Agriculture
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) Illinois State Representative Donald Moffitt knows agriculture. He grew up on a family farm, on which his son still farms (and Don occasionally helps). This has been a huge asset for him in his role as
December 26, 2013 Read Full Article
Integrating Place-Specific Livelihood and Equity Outcomes into Global Assessments of Bioenergy Deployment
by Felix Creutzig, Esteve Corbera, Simon Bolwig and Carol Hunsberger (IOP Science) Integrated assessment models suggest that the large-scale deployment of bioenergy could contribute to ambitious climate change mitigation efforts. However, such a shift would intensify the global competition for
October 30, 2013 Read Full Article
Maintain Renewable Fuel Standards
by Tim Burrack (Chicago Tribune) Letter to Editor: ... As family farmers for more than 40 years, we have had our share of ups and downs. The RFS gave farmers like us a new market for our corn, helped bring corn prices
October 02, 2013 Read Full Article
Biofuels Center Deserves a Better Fate
by G.K. Butterfield (The Herald Sun) Without intervention or significant investment from non-profit organizations or the private sector, the Biofuels Center of North Carolina in Oxford is due to close for good on October 1, 2013. This is a travesty
September 26, 2013 Read Full Article
Cool Planet to Invest $168M in Louisiana – Stealthy Biotechnology Heads for Scale
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The complete Cool Planet story. What is it? Why transformational? What are the next steps? New venture will convert wood waste to gasoline. In Louisiana, Cool Planet Energy Systems CEO Howard Janzen, flanked by Louisiana Gov.
August 26, 2013 Read Full Article
Biofuels Center of North Carolina to Close National Model Due to State Budget Elimination
(Biofuels Center of North Carolina) Due to the North Carolina General Assembly’s elimination of its funding in the state budget signed last week by Gov. Pat McCrory, the Biofuels Center of North Carolina has begun to shut down operations over
August 02, 2013 Read Full Article
Alternative Biofuel Crops to Fuel the Future of the Poor
(EurekAlert/World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF)) The World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) have launched the IFAD-ICRAF Programme for the Development of Alternative Biofuel Crops, an initiative focused on providing clean energy for rural communities, enhancing
July 24, 2013 Read Full Article
Colorado Needs the Renewable Fuel Standard
by Kent Peppler (Denver Post) ...But predictions of more off-the-charts wildfires this summer are a reminder of how fragile it all is and how much we have to lose. Renewable fuels can help us protect it. ... We must address the root
May 02, 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
DuPont Breaks Ground on World’s Largest Cellulosic Biorefinery
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... In Iowa, DuPont broke ground today on its $200 million, 30 million gallon cellulosic biofuels facility in Nevada, Iowa. Expected to be completed in mid-2014, the new facility produce cellulosic ethanol from corn stover. ...(W)ith the
November 30, 2012 Read Full Article
World Energy Outlook: A New Global Energy Landscape Is Emerging
(International Energy Agency) The 2012 edition of the World Energy Outlook was released on 12 November 2012. Drawing on the latest data and policy developments the report presents analytical insights into trends in energy markets and what they mean for
November 16, 2012 Read Full Article
Minnesota Corn Growers Say Ethanol is Fueling Rural Economies
(MarketWatch) From small-town mayors to President Obama, there is one thing on the minds of all elected officials: putting more Americans back to work. And while recent unemployment numbers have been less than encouraging, the U.S. ethanol industry is bringing
June 14, 2012 Read Full Article
Contribution of Biofuels to the Global Economy
(Global Renewable Fuels Association/Cardno ENTRIX) ...As is the case with virtually all other emerging and developing countries, biofuels offer the prospects of a new cash crop for farmers, increased employment in rural areas, expanded manufacturing output, reduced fuel import costs, and foreign
May 21, 2012 Read Full Article
The BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota Releases Roadmap for Minnesota's Advanced Biofuels and Biobased Chemicals Industry
(Enhanced Online News/Live Science Alley) Today (March 28, 2012), The BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota released a comprehensive white paper detailing the extent and impact of the advanced biofuels and biobased chemicals industry and providing a roadmap for their continued growth
March 29, 2012 Read Full Article
The Bio-Based Economy: A Renewed and Renewable Vision for 2012
by Brent Erickson (Biofuels Digest/BIO) ...To be clear, the bioeconomy is the total economic activity from all sectors of the biotechnology industry – pharmaceuticals, food and agriculture and industrial biotechnology. With biotechnology we can help, heal, fuel and feed the
January 06, 2012 Read Full Article
Georgia Offers Support for Biomass-to-Energy Projects
by Erin Voegele (Biorefining Magazine) The 2011 Southeast Biomass Conference & Tradeshow kicked off in Atlanta today. Nearly 325 professionals and 60 exhibitors are taking part in this year’s event, which has a strong regional focus. Jill Stuckey, director of
November 03, 2011 Read Full Article
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Ethanol Cuts Dependence, Pollution
by John R. Block (The Washington Times) As Secretary of Agriculture during the Reagan administration, I helped the American ethanol industry take off. Imagine my surprise to read an editorial in The Washington Times (“Corn-fueled politics,” Oct. 17) contending that American