(AZOCleanTech.com) With the ever-increasing emissions standards and push for sustainability solutions, Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies has developed an ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber compound from a polymer produced from sugarcane-based feedstock. The bio-renewable rubber, for which development began in 2012, is made
Michigan
Back TO HOMENew Analysis: Giving Consumers Access to Renewable Fuel Yields Environmental Benefits
(Fuels America) A new analysis produced by the University of Illinois at Chicago’s principal research economist Dr. Stefen Mueller found that giving consumers more access to cleaner fuel options like E15 would provide significant environmental benefits. E15 is a cleaner
March 27, 2015 Read Full Article
Economic Models Provide Insights into Global Sustainability Challenges
(Purdue University) Using models that blend global economics, geography, ecology and environmental sciences is essential to understanding how changes in trade and natural systems in one part of the world affect those in another, a review concludes. Tom Hertel, distinguished professor
February 27, 2015 Read Full Article
South Dakota Driver Wins Renewable Fuels Association’s E85 “Post Your Price” Contest
(Renewable Fuels Association) Today, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is pleased to announce Scott LeBrun as the winner of RFA’s E85 “Post Your Price” contest. The contest, which was announced last October and concluded just before midnight on Tuesday, allowed
February 20, 2015 Read Full Article
E15’s Big Dance
by Bob Dinneen (Renewable Fuels Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) The future is bright as hundreds of E15 stations are in the works with many expected to open, writes Bob Dinneen of RFA. It’s still early in the game for E15 and
February 17, 2015 Read Full Article
4 Minutes with… James Wynn, Director Bio-based Technology Derisking, MBI
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... In addition to derisking technologies for clients, MBI is working to commercialize 3 major bio-based technologies, the most revolutionary of these being the AFEX biomass pretreatment. ... MBI is finalizing plans to transition AFEX from pilot
February 09, 2015 Read Full Article
Closer Look at Flawed Studies behind Policies Used to Promote 'Low-Carbon' Biofuels
(Science Daily) Nearly all of the studies used to promote biofuels as climate-friendly alternatives to petroleum fuels are flawed and need to be redone, according to a researcher who reviewed more than 100 papers published over more than two decades. Once
February 08, 2015 Read Full Article
Risky Business Project Finds Midwest Agriculture, Labor, and Manufacturing Industries Face Economic Risk from Climate Change
(The Risky Business Project) Results Show that America's Heartland Risks Economic Disruptions as Climate Change Advances, Reduces Labor Productivity, and Shifts Agricultural Production Patterns The Midwestern United States faces potential disruptions to its agricultural economy, and dangerous levels of heat in many
February 06, 2015 Read Full Article
Straight from the Ethanol Producer to Your Gas Tank
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Some ethanol producers are selling E85 directly to drivers like you and me. It seems they take the phrase, cutting out the middleman, very seriously! ... The company (Carbon Green Bioenergy LLC) had tried to convince a
February 06, 2015 Read Full Article
Straight from the Ethanol Producer to Your Gas Tank
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Some ethanol producers are selling E85 directly to drivers like you and me. It seems they take the phrase, cutting out the middleman, very seriously! ... The company (Carbon Green Bioenergy LLC) had tried to convince a
January 27, 2015 Read Full Article
More Ethanol Producers Should Sell Directly to Gas Retailers
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Ethanol producers that aren’t selling E85 direct to area gas retailers should seriously think about it, according to producers with direct-sales programs in place. .. Although there are other ethanol plants that have E85 direct sales programs,
January 20, 2015 Read Full Article
Gas Tax Hike Looking More Palatable to Republicans
by Fawn Johnson (National Journal) Some lawmakers say there needs to be a rebate for low-income families. Others call it a "user fee." Lawmakers may have finally run out of arcane accounting options to fund the nation's highways and
January 16, 2015 Read Full Article
Innovative Research, Applications and Approaches Keep Freudenberg-NOK Ahead of the Competition
(Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies/PR NewsWire) The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit offers visitors an eye-pleasing preview of new cars and trucks. But in addition to amazing design, many of this year's hottest vehicles also offer better fuel economy,
January 14, 2015 Read Full Article
The 41 Weirdest Things Ever Used to Make Biofuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Bunnies, liposuction fat, Prince Charles’ leftover wine, day-old whale, the human poo bus, fire ants dipped in hexane, old beer, raging fireballs, vibrating blobs, dope, and even the New Orleans Times-Picayune. Take your pick and,
December 31, 2014 Read Full Article
Great Lakes Ag Technology Business Incubator Celebrates Opening
(County of Ottawa, Michigan/Ethanol Producer Magazine) At a grand opening in early December, Ottawa County, Michigan, announced the official kick‐off of the Great Lakes Ag‐Tech Business Incubator. The incubator, a non‐profit corporation, will specialize in helping farmers and entrepreneurs turn their
December 30, 2014 Read Full Article
Yellow Hose Program Brings Price Stability to E85 in Michigan
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A Michigan ethanol plant has had success with its Yellow Hose program, blending E85 and supplying area retailers, as well as sales at an on-site fuel pump. Carbon Green Bioenergy LLC blends E85 at the
December 29, 2014 Read Full Article
Five Myths about Gas Taxes
by Paul Bledsoe (The Washington Post) A dramatic 40 percent drop in oil prices since June has prompted new discussion aboutraising the long-static federal gasoline tax and has many states considering gas tax hikes as well. At the federal level, Congress
December 22, 2014 Read Full Article
E85 Prices Shock EPM Reader
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Big Oil isn't above stooping to dirty tricks to mislead consumers into thinking E85 isn't a good fuel to buy, including by trying to price the fuel right out of the market. We recently received
December 11, 2014 Read Full Article
Message to the Masses
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The biofuels mobile education center is a 45-foot long trailer filled with interactive touch screen computers, educational displays, movies and more, to educate visitors about ethanol and other biofuels. ... Curt Froyen, project manager, tells EPM: TRAILER
December 11, 2014 Read Full Article
4 minutes with…Basil Karampelas, President, American Process
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) We’ve developed 2 proprietary biorefinery technologies producing low-cost cellulosic sugars from non-food based biomass. Our Green Power+ technology produces low-cost cellulosic sugars from the hemicelluloses. AVAP technology produces cellulosic sugars from cellulose and hemicelluloses. Our
December 03, 2014 Read Full Article
Study: Ethanol Use in Michigan Reduces Pollution by Reducing GHGs
(Michigan Corn Growers Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) A new study released by Michigan State University researchers Bruce Dale and Seungdo Kim shows ethanol use by Michigan drivers and boaters reduces pollution by cutting down on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Use of
November 24, 2014 Read Full Article
Fuels America Debuts Campaign for RFS Supporters Facing Reelection
by Isabel Lane (Biofuels Digest) In the US, Fuels America has launched a six-figure TV and radio campaign in Minnesota, Michigan, and Nebraska thanking American renewable fuels champions Sen. Al Franken, Rep. Collin Peterson, Rep. Lee Terry and Rep. Gary
October 30, 2014 Read Full Article
Michigan State Discovery Boon for Biofuels and Even Cancer Treatment
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Michigan, discovery of a cellular snooze button has allowed a team of Michigan State University scientists to potentially improve biofuel production and offer insight on the early stages of cancer. The discovery that the
October 16, 2014 Read Full Article
Boosting Biomass for Bioenergy
by Katie Fletcher (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Many dedicated energy crops hold promise as feedstocks for next-generation ethanol. Extensive R&D is still needed, however, to overcome the challenges in making these plants viable for commercial applications. ... This year, $12.6 million was awarded to
October 01, 2014 Read Full Article
4 Minutes With…Steve Hartig, General Manager Licensing, POET DSM Advanced Biofuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... It’s typical Steve (Hartig) — rarely in the limelight, but always in the know... We are focused on taking the strengths of POET in ethanol and DSM in biotechnology and focusing them on making cellulosic ethanol
September 25, 2014 Read Full Article
University of Wyoming Researchers Advance Biorenewable Energy Prospects
(University of Wyoming) After graduating from Northern Kentucky University with bachelor’s degrees in chemistry and accounting, Allen Morris decided to pursue graduate studies at the University of Wyoming for two primary reasons: the Rocky Mountain lifestyle, and an attractive stipend
September 18, 2014 Read Full Article
$5 Million Waste Biomass Processing Plant Planned in Michigan
by Anna Simet (Ethanol Producer Magazine) BioCycle plans to make use of agricultural scrap and waste materials and other biomass sources as manufacturing precursors, via a $5 million bioprocessing facility that is currently in final financing stages. According to President and
July 22, 2014 Read Full Article
Mascoma Confirms Strategy Shift, Outlines Plans for Technology
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... Larry Klein and the Sierra Club sued Frontier and the DOE after the DOE issued a finding of “no significant impact” and granted a Frontier funding application which pledged about $100 million, or about
July 22, 2014 Read Full Article
Research Projects to Improve Plant Feedstocks for Bioenergy Production: Departments of Agriculture and Energy Announce Projects in 10 States
(US Department of Agriculture) The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today (July 17, 2014) announced the selection of 10 projects that are being awarded funding aimed at accelerating genetic breeding programs to improve
July 18, 2014 Read Full Article
How Two Small New York Towns Have Shaken up the National Fight over Fracking
by Steven Mufson (The Washington Post) The multibillion-dollar Anschutz Exploration Corp., which helped make its founder, Philip Anschutz, one of the richest men in America, filed a lawsuit three years ago against Dryden, a small town in Upstate New York. The issue: Dryden
July 03, 2014 Read Full Article
Take a Closer Look: Biofuels Can Support Environmental, Economic and Social Goals
by Bruce E. Dale, James E. Anderson, Robert C. Brown, Steven Csonka⊥ Virginia H. Dale, Gary Herwick, Randall D. Jackson, Nicholas Jordan, Stephen Kaffka, Keith L. Kline, Lee R. Lynd, Carolyn Malmstrom, Rebecca G. Ong, Tom L. Richard, Caroline Taylor, and Michael Q. Wang
July 01, 2014 Read Full Article
Michigan State Advances Algae’s Viability as a Biofuel
(Biodiesel Magazine) Lab success doesn’t always translate to real-world success. A team of Michigan State University scientists, however, has invented a new technology that increases the odds of helping algae-based biofuels cross that gap and come closer to reality. The current issue
June 17, 2014 Read Full Article
Michigan State University Partnership Accelerates Bio-Based Projects
(Michigan State University) The Michigan Translational Research and Commercialization Program for the Bio-Economy, launched by MSU and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, announces the first three BioAg projects selected for grants to help make them broadly available for consumer use. Supported
June 12, 2014 Read Full Article
The I-75 Biofuels Corridor: Now, the World’s Longest
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Complete this summer — this 1786-mile stretch of American interstate highway aims to offer the longest all-biofuels driving experience on the planet. B20, E85? Here are the need-to-knows. This week across six US states, stakeholders are celebrating the
June 12, 2014 Read Full Article
Court Upholds Upper Peninsula Ethanol Plant Review but Project Likely Dropped
by Eric Freedman (Great Lakes Echo) A federal appeals court has rejected a challenge to an environmental assessment of a $100 million construction subsidy for an ethanol plant in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) had assessed the project’s
June 09, 2014 Read Full Article
USDA Awarding $6 Million to Prepare Farmers for New Farm Bill Programs
(US Department of Agriculture) Farm Bill Implementation Continues at Brisk Pace with Universities and State Cooperative Extension Programs Now Set to Help Educate Farmers Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is awarding $6 million
June 03, 2014 Read Full Article
Successful Production of High-Octane Renewable Gasoline from Woody Biomass
(Gas Technology Institute) In a recently completed project, Gas Technology Institute (GTI) worked with Haldor Topsoe, Inc. on an integrated biorefinery to make renewable “drop-in” gasoline, successfully producing a high-octane transportation fuel. The use of renewable gasoline could reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by approximately
June 03, 2014 Read Full Article
Poplars Designed for Deconstruction: A Major Boon to Biofuels
(University of Wisconsin-Madison/Biomass Magazine) What began 20 years ago as an innovation to improve paper industry processes and dairy forage digestibility may now open the door to a much more energy- and cost-efficient way to convert biomass into fuel. ... Poplar trees,
June 02, 2014 Read Full Article
Sixth Circuit Greenlights Cellulosic Ethanol Plant
by Paul E. Gutermann (Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP/Lexology.com) The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit held this week that the Department of Energy (DOE) complied with its obligations under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in providing
May 27, 2014 Read Full Article
Ethanol Producer Brings Biodiesel to Cambridge
by Cole Epley (Omaha.com) The Michigan-based parent company of a southwestern Nebraska ethanol plant has opened a new travel center in Cambridge, Neb., adding to the state’s short list of retail locations where consumers can purchase biodiesel blends at the pump. ... Anew
May 13, 2014 Read Full Article
Unzipping Poplars' Biofuel Potential
by Layne Cameron, Curtis Wilkerson, Krista Eastman and John Ralph (Michigan State University/Renewable Energy World) What began 20 years ago as an innovation to improve paper industry processes and dairy forage digestibility may now open the door to a much
May 13, 2014 Read Full Article
American Process Sells the First Woody Biomass Cellulosic Ethanol RINS
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) On Friday April 18, 2014, American Process shipped its second commercial ethanol cargo and sold the first cellulosic ethanol RINs from its Alpena Biorefinery. These are the first cellulosic ethanol RINs generated since the beginning of
April 25, 2014 Read Full Article
MARAD Releases Results of Renewable Diesel Testing
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) On March 28, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced the results of biofuel testing completed onboard the training ship State of Michigan. The tests compared operational, vibration and air emissions differences between regular ultralow
April 04, 2014 Read Full Article
Toxic Emission Spikes at Fracking Sites Are Rarely Monitored, Study Finds
by Lisa Song and Jim Morris (InsideClimateNews.org) Gas drilling facilities have sporadic emission spikes that spew toxins harmful to human health, but states rarely monitor these fleeting events. People in natural gas drilling areas who complain about nauseating odors, nosebleeds and
April 04, 2014 Read Full Article
DNA Analysis Strategy Aids in Study of Biofuel Feedstocks
by Chris Hanson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Researchers from Michigan State University, U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory published the largest soil DNA sequencing effort. “The Great Prairie represents the largest expanse of the world’s most
March 25, 2014 Read Full Article
Push Continues for Greater Scrutiny on Petroleum Coke in Detroit and Beyond
by David Muller (MLive.com) U.S. Rep. Gary Peters, D - Bloomfield Hills, joined a counterpart in Illinois on Wednesday to call on the Environmental Protection Agency to investigate the best methods for storing and transporting petroleum coke, as well as
March 21, 2014 Read Full Article
Michigan State University Advances Algae's Viability as a Biofuel
(EurekAlert! / Michigan State University) Lab success doesn't always translate to real-world success. A team of Michigan State University scientists, however, has invented a new technology that increases the odds of helping algae-based biofuels cross that gap and come closer
February 28, 2014 Read Full Article
Cold Flow Properties for Blends of Biofuels with Diesel and Jet Fuels
by Anne L. Lown, Lars Peereboom, Sherry A. Mueller, James E. Anderson, Dennis J. Miller, Carl T. Lira (Fuel) •We report cloud point temperatures of diesel, jet fuel, and biofuel mixtures. •Compound classes included alkanes, ethers, ketones, esters, and diesters. •Cloud point depression
January 03, 2014 Read Full Article
Field Trial with Lignin Modified Poplars Shows Potential for Bio-Based Economy, but Also that Work Still Needs to Be Done
(VIB) The results of a field trial with genetically modified poplar trees in Zwijnaarde, Belgium, shows that the wood of lignin modified poplar trees can be converted into sugars in a more efficient way. These sugars can serve as the
January 02, 2014 Read Full Article
Study Provides Comparison of Biomass Crop Growth in the Midwest
by Chris Hanson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... Researchers at the Energy Biosciences Institute at the University of Illinois evaluated woody and grassy biomass feedstocks for cellulosic ethanol production at Illinois. Twenty-one species of short-rotation woody biomass were included in the study.
December 27, 2013 Read Full Article
Ethanol and Air Quality: Influence of Fuel Ethanol Content on Emissions and Fuel Economy of Flexible Fuel Vehicles
by Carolyn P. Hubbard , James E. Anderson , and Timothy J. Wallington (Environmental Science and Technology) Engine-out and tailpipe emissions of NOx, CO, nonmethane hydrocarbons (NMHC), nonmethane organic gases (NMOG), total hydrocarbons (THC), methane, ethene, acetaldehyde, formaldehyde, ethanol, N2O,
December 26, 2013 Read Full Article
Study: US Spewing 50% More Methane than EPA Says
by Seth Borenstein (Associated Press/US News and World Report) The United States is spewing 50 percent more methane — a potent heat-trapping gas — than the federal government estimates, a new comprehensive scientific study says. Much of it is coming
November 25, 2013 Read Full Article
Unlocking the Universe of Biobased (and Not So Biobased) Materials
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... In Massachusetts, applied mathematicians Markos Katsoulakis and Luc Rey-Bellet of the University of Massachusetts Amherst will share a three-year, $2.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, with others, to develop new methods to improve mathematical
November 20, 2013 Read Full Article
U.S. Farm State Lawmakers Urge CFTC to Examine Volatile RINs Market
by Cezary Podkul (Reuters) Thirteen U.S. lawmakers on Tuesday urged the derivatives market regulator to examine fraud and manipulation in the cash market for ethanol blending credits known as RINs, as political scrutiny of the market intensifies following an unprecedented
October 23, 2013 Read Full Article
Clean Energy Becomes the First Ever Commercial Distributor of Transportational Fuel Made from Waste
(Clean Energy) Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (Nasdaq: CLNE), North America’s largest provider of natural gas for transportation, announced today (October 3, 2013) that it will be the first company to commercially distribute a renewable natural gas vehicle fuel, called Redeem,
October 04, 2013 Read Full Article
Ford to Debut New EcoBoost Race Engine
(American Le Mans Series/Ford Racing) As part of its continuing strategy to introduce product-relevant technology into racing, Ford announced today plans to bring its 3.5-liter V6 EcoBoost® racing engine to the 2014 TUDOR United SportsCar Championship series. The new engine, which
October 04, 2013 Read Full Article
ARPA-E Awards $34M in R&D for Advanced Liquid Fuels from Methane
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the US Department of Energy announced that 15 breakthrough energy projects will receive approximately $34 million from the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) via the REMOTE program (Reducing Emissions using Methanotrophic Organisms for
September 20, 2013 Read Full Article
In the Black: Advanced Biofuels and Chems: Sizzling Carbon and Parity-Pricing Updates
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A report published by strategic energy consultancy Element Energy finds that by 2030, higher levels of advanced biofuels could cut Britain’s annual car CO2 emissions by 27% or 12 million tonnes a year — at
September 18, 2013 Read Full Article
Summer Volatility Restrictions on E15 End, Fuel Now Available
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) E15 is again available after summer volatility restrictions ended Sept. 15. ... E15 is approved for use with vehicles model year 2001 and newer. However, because the U.S. EPA has awarded E10 a waiver to
September 18, 2013 Read Full Article
Valero Revamps Approach to Renewable Energy
by Vickie Vaughan (Fuel Fix) Valero Energy Corp. has been making adjustments to its investments in renewable energy. This year the San Antonio refiner quietly pulled out of a partnership to build a cellulosic ethanol plant while a second plant in
September 03, 2013 Read Full Article
Bacteria and Fungi Together: A Biofuel Dream Team?
by Erin Brodwin (Scientific American) A group of researchers enlist fungi and E. coli to make the first biofuel of its kind ... The team took Trichoderma reesei, a fungi widely known for its ability to efficiently decompose the non-edible parts of plants, plus a specially
August 20, 2013 Read Full Article
Congressional Leadership Moving Towards Position on Renewable Fuel Standard Advocated by the Domestic Fuel Solutions Group
(PR NewsWire/Digital Journal/Domestic Fuel Solutions Group) From Day One the Domestic Fuel Solutions Group (DFSG) has been advocating for reasonable RFS reform. Congress is taking notice. At the end of two days of recent House Energy & Commerce Committee hearings on
August 19, 2013 Read Full Article
New Mexico State University-Led Biofuel Research Gets Federal Funding
(Associated Press) Research into the potential of algae-based fuel is getting a $5 million boost from the U.S. Department of Energy. ... NMSU is working on the project along with Los Alamos, Argonne and Pacific Northwest national laboratories, Washington State and Michigan
August 14, 2013 Read Full Article
Oil Industry Begins Running New Ad on Renewable Fuels (video)
by Jennifer A. Dlouhy (Fuel Fix) The American Petroleum Institute on Monday launched a new round of advertising taking aim at an eight-year-old renewable fuels mandate it wants Congress to repeal. The new television ad features everyday people behind the wheel,
August 13, 2013 Read Full Article
As Key Partner Departs, Future Dims for Michigan Cellulosic Biofuel Plant
by Andy McGlashen (Midwest Energy News) The exit of its majority owner and operator leaves the future uncertain for a long-delayed project that has attracted at least $120 million in public financing to turn wood from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula into fuel
August 07, 2013 Read Full Article
12 Bellwether Biofuels Projects – Where Do They Stand?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Advanced biofuels – mirage or reality? In January we wrote: “When these 12 projects open for business (or not) in 2013, you’ll know for sure.” So, what do we know? ... We identified 12 “Bellwether projects” in
July 22, 2013 Read Full Article
American Petroleum Institute Launches New Campaign
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) American Petroleum Institute (API) has launched a new campaign featuring print and TV ads taking aim at E15 and the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The ethanol industry responded and Bob Dinneen, President and CEO of the
July 16, 2013 Read Full Article
Getting to the Root of the Matter
by Jennifer Donovan (Michigan Tech News) Working to identify key genes in the root development of poplar trees, three Michigan Technological University scientists have come up with a new model for how genes interact and affect each other’s function. They
July 16, 2013 Read Full Article
Ricardo Continues Work on Efficient Engines for Ethanol Blends
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Ricardo Inc. is both strong on ethanol blends and efficient engines. ... Earlier in June, an advanced combustion engine research project was announced where Ricardo will partner with the University of California-Berkeley, MIT, Lawrence Berkeley, Lawrence
July 09, 2013 Read Full Article
Pretreated Biomass for Food and Fuel
by Susanne REtka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Bruce Dale urges careful thought about energy and agriculture. A 1-ton-per-day pilot facility on the campus of Michigan State University geared up this spring to produce pretreated biomass for feed trials. It’s part of
July 02, 2013 Read Full Article
Cellulosic Technology— Pulp and Paper Style
by Chris Hanson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) American Process applies forestry products know-how to cellulosic conversion. Though a relative newcomer to the ethanol world, Georgia-based American Process Inc. is no stranger in the forest products industry. The company has demonstrated its consulting
July 02, 2013 Read Full Article
Increased Enzyme Binding to Substrate Is Not Necessary for More Efficient Cellulose Hydrolysis
by Dahai Gao, Shishir P. S. Chundawat, Anurag Sethi, Venkatesh Balana, S. Gnanakaran, and Bruce E. Dale (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences) Substrate binding is typically one of the rate-limiting steps preceding enzyme catalytic action during homogeneous reactions. However,
June 27, 2013 Read Full Article
Conversation with Racing Legend Bobby Rahal at Detroit Grand Prix
by Robert Kozak (Advanced Biofuels USA) While attending the Detroit Grand Prix races earlier this month, we had the opportunity to spend some time with racing legend Bobby Rahal. Bobby is the 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner, a three-time IndyCar series
June 25, 2013 Read Full Article
Cellulosic Ethanol: Scale-Up and Commercialization - Part 2
by David Glass (D Glass Associates) In the final breakout session of the BIO World Congress on June 19, there was a second panel on scale-up and commercialization of cellulosic ethanol. As with the session on the conference’s first day,
June 21, 2013 Read Full Article
Can Advanced Biofuels Help Revitalize IndyCar?
by Robert Kozak (Advanced Biofuels USA) The car racing carnival came to Detroit this past weekend. The venue was Belle Isle, once a beautiful island park in the Detroit River that served as a verdant escape for the residents of
June 05, 2013 Read Full Article
Mazda Wins Again with SKYACTIV-D Clean Diesel: Is It Renewable?
by Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuels USA) NASCAR's sportscar racing division, GrandAm, and Green Racing aren’t words that you see together. For one thing, GrandAm competitors race on all-petroleum race fuel. Yet, GrandAm and the American Le Mans Series, the series which
June 04, 2013 Read Full Article
The Renewable Chemical Industry Must Speak with One Voice
by Brent Erickson (Biotechnology Industry Organization/Biofuels Digest) ...Renewable chemicals offer cost-competitiveness with petrochemicals or new properties and features that add value to innovative consumer products. In that way, they’ve captured some market share and created demand. But many renewable chemical
May 23, 2013 Read Full Article
API Lands Brazil Investment to Commercialize Cellulosic Process
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) With a fresh investment from Brazil’s GranBio, American Process Inc. is poised to develop its first commercial-scale cellulosic biorefineries in both the U.S. and Brazil. API CEO Theodora Retsina, said the companies hope
May 06, 2013 Read Full Article
Michigan State University Bioenergy Research Looks for Food and Fuel Solutions
by Russ White (MLive) ... Michigan State University leads research of bioenergies and biofuels through AgBioResearch and the Kellogg Biological Station and partnerships with coalitions such as the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center and the Global Center for Food Systems Innovation. ... The
May 06, 2013 Read Full Article
Hyundai Tech Center Expansion to Allow More Emissions Testing
by Alisa Priddle (Detroit Free Press) An expansion of Hyundai’s eight-year-old technical center in Superior Township, east of Ann Arbor, will require 50 new jobs and enable more vehicle emission testing. ...The new testing chambers can run vehicles through extreme temperature
April 29, 2013 Read Full Article
Researchers Examining Fertilizers for Algae Biofuels
(Algae Industry Magazine) One of the major roadblocks to mass-producing algae for biofuels, observes researchers at the University of Michigan College of Engineering, is the need for fertilizer. Although algae have trouble reusing the nitrogen and phosphorus left in the
April 29, 2013 Read Full Article
Cellulosic Technology Must Use Existing Cropland — Study
by Amanda Peterka (Governors Biofuel Coalition) Cellulosic biofuels can become profitable for farmers and help displace oil, but they must use already-available agricultural land, according to a study released by a nonprofit yesterday. Commissioned by the Council for Agricultural Science and
April 05, 2013 Read Full Article
DOE Announces Five-Year Renewal of Funding for Bioenergy Research Centers
(Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy today announced it would fund its three Bioenergy Research Centers for an additional five-year period, subject to continued congressional appropriations. The three Centers—including the BioEnergy Research Center (BESC) led by Oak Ridge
April 05, 2013 Read Full Article
US Department of Energy Gives Michigan State, University of Wisconsin $125 Million to Continue Biofuels Research
by Brandon Howell (MLive) Michigan State University and the University of Wisconsin will continue their partnered research of advanced biofuels thanks to $125 million from the U.S. Department of Energy. The Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, housed at the Wisconsin campus
April 05, 2013 Read Full Article
Biorefinery 2015 – The Shape of Advanced Biofuels to Come – Part II
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Today in part II, we look at a new set of technologies coming along that are redefining our ideas about scale and cost. ... A barrier to long term deployment? The $11 per gallon average capital
March 26, 2013 Read Full Article
Cellulosic Biofuels in the US: How Much and How Soon? 2014′s Terrific Ten
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Although no commercial-scale cellulosic biofuels facilities are operating in the United States at present, at least ten projects exceeding 20 million gallons per year are expected to begin operations by 2014. Tristan R. Brown and Robert
March 22, 2013 Read Full Article
Michigan State University, PHYCO2 Collaborate on Algae Growth Demonstration Project
(PHYCO2/Biodiesel Magazine) ...The partnership will demonstrate the patent-pending PHYCO2-developed technology to sequester CO2, reclaim water and continuously grow multiple types of algae at an accelerated rate without sunlight. The goal of the demonstration project is to meet the growing demand
March 06, 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
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
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
POET Expands Corn Oil Operations
(Inside Indiana Business/POET) Twenty-five of POET’s network of 27 biorefineries have now installed its patent-pending corn oil technology, bringing its total capacity to approximately 250,000 tons per year, enough feedstock to produce 68 million gallons of biodiesel annually. POET has been
January 21, 2013 Read Full Article
Direct Connections
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Developing a retail relationship with area fuel stations is a potential perk for ethanol plants, retailers and consumers. In some areas of the U.S., drivers filling up with ethanol blends have one more reason to
January 18, 2013 Read Full Article
Sustainable Bioenergy Production from Marginal Lands in the US Midwest
by Ilya Gelfand, Ritvik Sahajpal, Xuesong Zhang, R. César Izaurralde, Katherine L. Gross & G. Philip Robertson (Nature) ...An alternative is to grow lignocellulosic (cellulosic) crops on ‘marginal’ lands9. Cellulosic feedstocks can have positive environmental outcomes10, 11 and could make up a
January 18, 2013 Read Full Article
Crystal Flash Named as Exclusive Dealer of Alternative Autogas in Michigan
by Stephen Kloosterman (The Holland Sentinel) The Grand Rapids-based Crystal Flash Energy is now the exclusive dealer in Michigan for autogas, an alternative fuel. ...Autogas, a liquefied version of propane, can run in mechanically modified gas engines, and a number of
January 03, 2013 Read Full Article
12 Bellwether Biofuels Projects for 2013
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A long war of opinion has been waged for years between advanced biofuels’ detractors and supporters. Mirage or reality? Completion of 6 key projects 2012 decided much of the debate. When these 12 projects open
January 01, 2013 Read Full Article
Advanced Ethanol Council Releases Snapshot of Cellulosic Ethanol Production around the World
(Renewable Fuels Association) The Advanced Ethanol Council this morning released a report giving a snapshot of cellulosic ethanol producers in the U.S. and around the world. A look at facilities owned by companies such as Abengoa Bioenergy, Enerkem, INEOS Bio
December 19, 2012 Read Full Article
USDA Grants Support Sustainable Bioenergy Production
(US Department of Agriculture) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced $10 million in research grants to spur production of bioenergy and biobased products that will lead to the development of sustainable regional systems and help create jobs. Vilsack highlighted the
December 17, 2012 Read Full Article
Tick-Tick-Tick. Crude Oil from Algae in 60 Seconds, Really?
by Robert Rapier (Biobased Digest/Energy Trends Insider) Researchers tout a process to make oil from algae biomass – is it pyro oil or a real biocrude? ...Researchers at the University of Michigan announced that they had sped up the process that
December 11, 2012 Read Full Article
Mixing Processes Could Increase the Impact of Biofuel Spills on Aquatic Environments
(e! Science News) ...A group of researchers from the University of Michigan wondered how ethanol-based fuels would spread in the event of a large aquatic spill. They found that ethanol-based liquids mix actively with water, very different from how pure
November 29, 2012 Read Full Article
Algal Scientific Corporation Takes Home $500,000 Cash Grand Prize at the 2012 Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition
More than $1 Million in cash and prizes was awarded last evening at the 2012 Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition in downtown Detroit, with Algal Scientific Corporation taking home the $500,000 cash grand prize. Last evening’s Gala and Awards Ceremony at
November 27, 2012 Read Full Article
COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD — ‘Ethanol’ Shouldn’t Be a Dirty Word
by Cliff Meeuwsen (Holland Sentinel) Ethanol has become a dirty word for some, and I’m not sure why. How did the cleanest burning, highest quality, cheapest form of liquid renewable fuel ever get to be such a punching bag for politicians,
November 12, 2012 Read Full Article
After the Election: Biofuels and the Next Four Years
by Brent Erickson (BIO/Biofuels Digest) For the advanced biofuels industry, the 2012 election turned on Senate races. ...The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee has jurisdiction over the RFS. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) will remain Chairwoman, but recent media reports have raised
November 08, 2012 Read Full Article
Biofuel Breakthrough: Quick Cook Method Turns Algae into Oil
(EurekAlert!/University of Michigan) It looks like Mother Nature was wasting her time with a multimillion-year process to produce crude oil. Michigan Engineering researchers can "pressure-cook" algae for as little as a minute and transform an unprecedented 65 percent of the
November 01, 2012 Read Full Article
State Corn Groups Lay Groundwork for Higher Ethanol Blends, Greater Consumer Choice
(National Corn Growers Association) State corn associations across the country are working diligently to make the increased use of higher ethanol blends a reality through programs to put the necessary infrastructure in place. Laying the groundwork for a shift toward
October 25, 2012 Read Full Article
BDC Members Tour American Process Inc.'s Cellulosic Ethanol Facility in Alpena, MI, Which Started Up in June 2012
(Bioenergy Deployment Consortium/MarketWire) BDC held its 2012 Fall Symposium in Alpena, MI on September 18 & 19, capping the event with a tour of the new cellulosic ethanol plant owned by American Process Inc. (API), a BDC member. API's facility is
October 16, 2012 Read Full Article
Even with High Gas Prices, Drivers Question Value of E85
by Bryce G. Hoffman (Detroit News) ...While the price of ethanol, or E85, is lower than the price of regular unleaded — the average price in Michigan at the end of last week was $3.45 per gallon for E85
October 08, 2012 Read Full Article
High Octane Number Ethanol–Gasoline Blends: Quantifying the Potential Benefits in the United States
by J.E. Anderson, D.M. DiCicco, J.M. Ginder, U. Kramer, T.G. Leone, H.E. Raney-Pablo, T.J. Wallington (Fuel) Ethanol provides a significant contribution to road transportation fuel in the US, Brazil, and elsewhere. Renewable fuels regulations in the US and EU imply that
September 20, 2012 Read Full Article
Researchers Win Grant to Assess Impact of Bioenergy Projects
by Luke Geiver (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A team of researchers will spend the next five years assessing the social, economic and ecological impacts of bioenergy projects happening in Michigan, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina. Led by Michigan Tech University Professor Kathy
September 13, 2012 Read Full Article
Michigan Tech Leads International Study of Social, Environmental Impacts of Biofuel Production
by Jennifer Donovan (Michigan Tech News) Is it possible to develop and produce biofuels in a sustainable way, without harming people or the environment? What policies need to be put in place to help that happen? Nearly three dozen researchers from four
August 30, 2012 Read Full Article
Entrepreneurs Cook Up Biodiesel Formula for a Greener Windsor
by Phoebe Ho (MetroNews) With barely any background in chemistry, a University of Windsor nursing grad and her business partner spent the last two months experimenting with animal fat and vegetable oil in hopes of creating a greener city. Lois Li, a
August 23, 2012 Read Full Article
Ethanol May Get a Boost through Breakthrough Process
by Angie Bergenson (Hydrogen Fuel News) ...A team of researchers from Michigan State University have been working to make ethanol a more attractive source of fuel for the country. The team has made a breakthrough which is claims will boosts
August 15, 2012 Read Full Article
Bioenergy Research and the Future for Michigan Farmers
by Russ White and Mackenzie Mohr(Michigan Live) ...“One of the things that we’re evaluating with cellulosic ethanol is (if there) are there places we can produce these crops on lands that aren’t producing food crops,” he ( MSU Extension’s Bioenergy Educator Dennis Pennington)
August 14, 2012 Read Full Article
Upgrading Ethanol: Local Man’s Project Earns ACGA Award
by Larry Kershner (The Messenger) A post-graduate student at Michigan State University thinks that upgrading ethanol to a higher grade of alcohol - 1-butanol - will help the ethanol industry get past the "blender's wall," especially as the price of
July 31, 2012 Read Full Article
Pursuing Abundance: USDA, DOE Invest $41M to Drive Biofuels Feedstock Yields, Diversification
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The recent focus on drought, and the scarcity scare, shows that diversification and yield enhancement remain the bioeconomy’s chief weapons in the war on availability and affordability. The USDA and DOE respond with a $41M
July 26, 2012 Read Full Article
Researchers Make Hydrogen as Cellulosic Ethanol Coproduct
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Rather than focusing on a single microbe capable of converting cellulose to ethanol in a fermenter, researchers at Michigan State University are mimicking nature, culturing two bacteria that grow synergistically. The process creates two
July 17, 2012 Read Full Article
New Biofuel Process Dramatically Improves Energy Recovery
by Danny King (AutoblogGreen) ... Michigan State University scientists have found a biofuel production method that the institution says boosts energy from the production process by a factor of 20. Gemma Reguera, a microbiologist at MSU, led an effort that uses – stay with
July 17, 2012 Read Full Article
Ethanol Report Visits Bobby Likis
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) This edition of “The Ethanol Report” features comments from Bobby Likis of the Bobby Likis Car Clinic Network, a radio, television and internet distributed automotive talk show that recently partnered with the Renewable Fuels Association to help educate both
July 03, 2012 Read Full Article
Waste Lines: The Hottest Trends with Bio’s Coolest Feedstock
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Regardless of its naming deficiencies, waste has been hot and getting hotter as a bioenergy feedstock because it solves three of the most pressing problems blocking capacity expansion. 1. The feedstocks are available at fixed, affordable
May 29, 2012 Read Full Article
Teacher to Launch Biodiesel Fuel Plant
by Lisa Perkins (Traverse City Record-Eagle) Bill Koucky will soon produce biodiesel fuel, after years of planning, experimenting and jumping through regulatory hoops. ...Traverse City will be home to a biodiesel fuel plant when Koucky's Northwest Michigan Biodiesel LLC swings into
May 21, 2012 Read Full Article
Fifth Stop: Sustainability
by Margaret Broeren (Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center) ...Much more than a buzzword, “sustainable” means that trade-offs—social, environmental and economic factors—have been measured, modeled and validated against actual “boots on the ground data” measured at agricultural research stations and on Midwestern
April 30, 2012 Read Full Article
Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center Summer Programs for Educators: Accepting Applications!
The Education and Outreach area of GLBRC supports and collaborates on a diverse array of programs, which complement our mission and goals. These programs mainly address the needs of K-12 and undergraduate learning communities, and topically address bioenergy-related issues ranging
April 24, 2012 Read Full Article
Students Show off Their Clean Snowmobiles
by Gabrielle Mays (Upper Michigan's Source) For the past seven months, hundreds of students from all over North America have been working hard on their innovative designs for the Clean Snowmobile Challenge. Students take a production built snowmobile and reshape, mold and
March 08, 2012 Read Full Article
Chain, Chain, Chain – Chain of Fuels: Mascoma, Sud-Chemie on Short Path to Parity with Gasoline
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Can companies like Mascoma and Sud-Chemie, by transforming the economics of cellulosic ethanol, compete at parity with gasoline – no subsidies, no five-years-to-commercial-scale, no kidding? Part II – “Chain-Chain-Chain, Chain of Fuels In Part II,
March 02, 2012 Read Full Article
Ethanol Mandates could Be Costly Misstep
(Futurity.org) While many people are willing to pay a premium for ethanol, the number is not enough to justify a government mandate for the corn-based fuel, according to economist Soren Anderson. Anderson, assistant professor of economics at Michigan State University, studied the demand
February 22, 2012 Read Full Article
Grow it Here, Make it Here
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...In Michigan, US Senator Debbie Stabenow expanded her “Grow it Here, Make it Here” initiative into a $5 billion proposal designed to dramatically expand bio-based manufacturing and job creation, funded through what she described as reductions in
February 21, 2012 Read Full Article
Controversial Wood-to-Ethanol Plant May Finally Get under Way in Upper Peninsula
by Katherine Yung (Detroit Free Press) After a lengthy delay, construction of what could be the nation's first large-scale wood-to-ethanol plant in the country is to start this year in Michigan's eastern Upper Peninsula. If successful, the $232-million biorefinery in Kinross
February 13, 2012 Read Full Article
Mascoma Implements Commercialization Strategy for Drop-In MGT™ Yeast Product to Improve Economics of Corn Ethanol Production
(Mascoma/BusinessWire) Mascoma Corporation, a renewable fuels company, announced today that it has implemented key components of the commercialization strategy for its Mascoma Grain Technology, or MGT™, yeast product, which is the first commercial application of Mascoma’s proprietary consolidated bioprocessing (CBP)
January 12, 2012 Read Full Article
USDA Helps Install 266 Blender Pumps through REAP
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The USDA announced the final round of fiscal year 2011 Renewable Energy for America Program awards on Dec. 14. The awards included grants for 12 blender pump projects in eight states, bringing the
December 30, 2011 Read Full Article
Mascoma, Codexis Closing in on Commercialized Cellulosic Biofuels
by Derek Mead (GreenTechMedia) Biofuel up-and-comers Codexis and Mascoma both have big news that means cellulosic ethanol production is right around the corner. ...With traditional sugar feedstocks -- and in the U.S., that means corn -- up around $275 a ton,
December 29, 2011 Read Full Article
2nd Lawsuit Challenges Ethanol Project in UP
(WLNS/AP) Critics of a refinery planned for the Upper Peninsula have filed a second lawsuit against the project. Larry Klein and the Sierra Club claim the U.S. Energy Department failed to follow federal environmental law when it approved the refinery near
December 28, 2011 Read Full Article
Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces Funding To Create Jobs, Reduce Energy Costs for Agricultural Producers and Rural Small Businesses
(US Department of Agriculture) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today (December 14, 2011) announced loans and grants for agricultural producers and rural small businesses across the country to implement renewable energy and energy efficiency measures in their operations. The funding is
December 27, 2011 Read Full Article
Battery-Car Future Undercut by Europe, Improvements in ICE Technology
by Neil Winton (Detroit News) Investment bank Morgan Stanley came up with a nasty surprise for Nissan-Renault and other cheer-leaders for battery powered cars when it cut its electric vehicle sales forecast by nearly 50 per cent for 2025. Europe’s economic
December 19, 2011 Read Full Article
Mascoma Awarded $80 Million from the DOE for Construction of Commercial-Scale Hardwood Cellulosic Ethanol Facility in Kinross, Michigan
(MarketWatch/Mascoma) Fully-funded commercial-scale facility Mascoma Corporation, a renewable fuels company, announced today that it has signed a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to assist in the design, construction and operation of a commercial-scale hardwood cellulosic ethanol facility
December 15, 2011 Read Full Article
OnSite Energy Partners with MSU's Freeway to Fuels Project
by Bryan Sims (Biodiesel Magazine) Having finished the first phase of exploring the feasibility of growing, harvesting and utilizing bioenergy crops last year on unconventional growing lands in Michigan, such as highway right-of-ways, vacant urban land and airport property, Michigan
December 14, 2011 Read Full Article
Valero Partnering to Build Ethanol Plant in Michigan
(Valero) New Hampshire-based biofuels company Mascoma Corp. has entered into an agreement with energy giant Valero to build a plant that produces ethanol in Michigan's Upper Peninsula using Mascoma's proprietary technology. Mascoma, of Lebanon, agreed to the deal with Texas-based Valero
December 12, 2011 Read Full Article
Codexis, Mascoma Show that Low-Cost Sugar is the Key, as Biofuels Moves from R&D into Industrial Era
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...“The government rushed into investments, with no diligence,” says Codexis chief Alan Shaw. “They are just not industrialists, in my opinion.” Two major announcements this week drive the point home in advanced biofuels. In California, Codexis introduced its
December 12, 2011 Read Full Article
Hitting a New Stride: The Biorefining Sector Is Poised for Commercial Scale-Up as Funding Strategies Mature and Production Capacity Grows
by Erin Voegele (Biorefining Magazine) The biorefining sector reached an important new milestone this year with at least five companies undergoing successful initial public offerings (IPOs). As we move into the new year, members of industry will take another important
December 10, 2011 Read Full Article
New Department of Natural Resources Advisory Council Weighted toward Timber Interests
(Michigan Radio) ...A new advisory council is heavily weighted with voices from the timber industry, and there will be more emphasis on developing forest products to boost the state’s economy. Governor Rick Snyder says there’s a lot of potential to use
December 09, 2011 Read Full Article
Michigan's Loss, Alberta's Gain: Smoky Lake or High Prairie to House 66-Million-Litre Biodiesel Plant Starting in 2012
by Dave Cooper (Edmonton Journal) An innovative Michigan plant that could produce 66 million litres of biodiesel from sub-grade canola is about to be disassembled and readied for a move to Alberta this winter. The location will be either Smoky Lake
December 08, 2011 Read Full Article
Imperium Renewables Helping Bring Biojet fuel to the Northwest
by Bryan Sims (Biodiesel Magazine) Seattle, Wash.-based biodiesel producer Imperium Renewables and the U.S. DOE’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have reported positive results in a joint development for the production of biomass-based drop-in jet fuel in the Pacific Northwest. So
September 28, 2011 Read Full Article
Renewable Energy Technologies LLC Predicted to Produce Ethanol - 8,000 Gallons Daily - by End of Year
by Annette Manwell (Holland Sentinel) Renewable Energy Technologies LLC had hoped to produce ethanol in Holland by now, but building issues sent the company back to the market to find a new home. Now ethanol could be in production by the
September 28, 2011 Read Full Article
Mascoma’s IPO: The 10-Minute Version
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Intrigued by cellulosic ethanol and a new product called MGT, in Mascoma’s IPO? ...Mascoma Corporation announced that it has filed an S-1 registration statement relating to a proposed $100 million initial public offering. The number of
September 20, 2011 Read Full Article
One-Pot Catalytic Conversion of Cellulose and of Woody Biomass Solids to Liquid Fuels
by Theodore D. Matson, Katalin Barta, Alexei V. Iretskii, and Peter C. Ford (Journal of the American Chemical Society) Efficient methodologies for converting biomass solids to liquid fuels have the potential to reduce dependence on imported petroleum while easing the
September 13, 2011 Read Full Article
Moving Algae Biofuels from "Potential" to "Practice": Next Generation Algae Extraction and Fractionation Technology
By Brian L. Goodall, Puneet Chandra and Tom Czartoski (SRS Energy) Brian Goodall introduced SRS energy which specializes in oil and water purification, separation and related services. For four years, SRS Dexter focused their R&D on algae extraction and fractionation. Goodall
September 09, 2011 Read Full Article
NextCAT Gets NSF Award to Help Commercialize Catalyst Technology
by Bryan Sims (Biodiesel Magazine) Detroit-based startup biodiesel technology developer NextCAT Inc. has received $498,830 in funding from a National Science Foundation Phase II Small Business Innovation Research award. The funding will help commercialize alternative biodiesel catalyst technology, developed at
August 31, 2011 Read Full Article
Bruce Dale: Michigan State Chemical Engineer Takes a Critical Look at the Pluses and Minuses of Biofuels
by Stephen K. Ritter (Chemical & Engineering News) Bruce E. Dale often plays the role of devil's advocate not only against the rosy picture of biofuels painted by start-ups and trade associations but also against the gloom-and-doom message of some
August 29, 2011 Read Full Article
Cellulosic Biofuel Could Revive Farmlands Conservation Program
by Tiffany Stecker (ClimateWire/Scientific American) A study looks into giving farmers permission to harvest cellulosic feedstocks on land set aside for wetlands and wildlife conservation Growing cellulosic feedstocks on federally subsidized conservation land could balance the biofuels emissions equation to be completely carbon-neutral,
August 11, 2011 Read Full Article
Company Plans to Turn Old Beverages into Ethanol
(Waste and Recycling News) Detroit-based DART said its new location will turn alcohol and sugar-based beverages such as old beer, wine, soda, juice and liquor into fuel grade ethanol. In addition, the company said, the facility will also convert the