by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Some of the first American visitors to Yellowstone, who began to record their journeys into the wilds of northwestern Wyoming during the early 1870s, noted the horrible taste of the water from the hot
Texas
Back TO HOMEAustralian Tree Offers Texas Growers Biofuel Alternative
by Logan Hawkes (Southwest Farm Press) Biodiesel is experiencing a historic surge worldwide. Pongamiapinnata is becoming a popular oilseed choice for biofuel production and has captured the attention of U.S. growers. Pongamia is one of the few nitrogen-fixing trees producing seeds containing 30 to
January 30, 2012 Read Full Article
Clean Cities Coalitions, Industry Partners Host Texas Workshops
by Bryan Sims (Biodiesel Magazine) Clean Cities coalitions in Texas have partnered with Renewable Energy Group Inc. and Omaha, Neb.-based wholesale biodiesel distributor Bosselman Energy to co-host four workshops in four different cities throughout the state to educate downstream stakeholders
January 25, 2012 Read Full Article
Texas Farmer Wades into 'Feed versus Fuel' Battle
(National Corn Growers Association) Ongoing media coverage on corn usage tends to sensationalize trends by pitting demand from the ethanol industry against that from livestock, but Corn Board member Wesley Spurlock, a Texas farmer, has been speaking to groups across
January 24, 2012 Read Full Article
Researcher Sees DDGS as Potential Savior of U.S. Shrimp Industry
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ...(Addison) Lawrence, a project leader and scientist in charge at Texas AgriLife Research Mariculture Laboratory at Port Aransas, Texas, explains that two things have hit the U.S. domestic shrimp industry hard. No. 1 is
January 23, 2012 Read Full Article
The Litmus Test: 8 Projects for 2012 Will Test Perceptions, Reality for Advanced Biofuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...First commercial projects from newly-minted public companies Solazyme, Gevo and KiOR. Two trash-to-biofuels projects from INEOS Bio and Enerkem, located in Florida and Alberta. Europe’s largest biosuccinic acid project, scheduled to be opened by DSM
January 12, 2012 Read Full Article
Good Digestion: It’s Been a Bumpy Road to Full-Scale Adoption of Anaerobic Digestion Technologies at Ethanol Plants
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Despite the promise of methane from anaerobic digestion technology, low natural gas rates and other factors have kept ethanol producers from jumping in with both feet. ...On top of the digester, Western Plains Energy utilizes
December 29, 2011 Read Full Article
Texas Issues New Guidelines Facilitating Greater Biodiesel Use
by Ron Kortrba (Biodiesel Magazine) Last week the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality concluded that air quality is simply not a reason for concern regarding biodiesel volumes associated with federally required use. The federal renewable fuel standard (RFS2) calls for
December 29, 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
Leaf Energy Adds Third Cellulosic Energy Technology to Portfolio with Exclusive Agreement
by Angela Kean (Proactive Investors Australia) Leaf Energy (ASX: LER) has signed worldwide exclusive licence agreement with Texas A & M University to develop the marine yeast Debaryomyces hansenii as a production platform for high value biofuels and proteins. Debaryomyces hansenii
November 28, 2011 Read Full Article
'If You Build It, We Will Buy It' Says Airline CEO on Biojet Fuel
by Luke Geiver (Biorefining Magazine) The second week in November could go down as one of the most significant weeks for advanced biofuels, airline companies and the use of biofuel-blended jet fuel in the U.S. Early in the week, United
November 17, 2011 Read Full Article
Firm Says it Was Sold Phony Fuel Credits
(Courthouse News Service) A fuel distributor claims two companies sold it millions of "fraudulently created, and thus invalid" renewable fuel identification numbers. RIN numbers are part of the U.S. EPA's Renewable Fuel Standard program, to encourage use of renewable fuels. ...Vinmar
November 17, 2011 Read Full Article
Energy Sorghum: Researchers Develop High-Biomass Sorghum that Bypasses Flowering
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) What happens when sorghum doesn’t have to put energy into flowering and grain production? High-biomass sorghum that grows up to 20 feet tall, that’s what. Texas AgriLife Research, part of the Texas A&M University System,
November 17, 2011 Read Full Article
Natural Gas Threatens Biofuels?
by Carrin Hall (Energy Digital) As the natural gas industry targets vehicles, what will happen to biofuels development? Clean Energy Fuels, a leading natural gas provider in Seal Beach, has teamed up with Quarles Petroleum Inc. to bring customers alternative fuel,
November 17, 2011 Read Full Article
New Collaborative Industrial Photobioreactor Testing Facility Opening January 2012
(National Algae Association) Due to the lack of sufficient data on the performance of industrial-scale photobioreactors, fermentation, dewatering/harvesting and extraction equipment, the NAA is announcing a new collaborative testing center starting in The Woodlands, Texas beginning in January, 2012. "If we
November 15, 2011 Read Full Article
Biofuel Flights Signal Demand From U.S. Airlines
by Graham Warwick (Aviation Week) As airlines launch the first commercial biofuel flights in the U.S., the government is working with industry to scale up production of biomass-derived jet fuel to commercial quantities beginning in 2012. Following the lead set by
November 14, 2011 Read Full Article
EPA May Deem More Biodiesel RINs as Invalid over Alleged Fraud: Lawyer
(Platts) The US Environmental Protection Agency may end up deeming more biodiesel renewable identification numbers (RINs) as invalid following federal investigations into two companies that allegedly sold RINS without producing the appropriate volumes of biodiesel, a lawyer familiar with the
November 10, 2011 Read Full Article
US Gives $3M to Energy Company to Use Less Corn
by Kevin Welch (Amarillo Globe-News) The U.S. Department of Agriculture is giving White Energy, with ethanol plants in Hereford and Plainview, a $3-million grant to promote using materials other than corn to make biofuels. Those materials can range from crop residue
November 07, 2011 Read Full Article
Race for Scale: United, Alaska Airlines Launch Commercial Aviation Biofuels Flights
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) United and Solazyme, Alaska and Dynamic Fuels hook up, as producers scramble to make fuel, raise cash, ratchet down costs. Will producers scale, or fail? ...United Airlines will operate the first U.S. commercial flight powered by
November 07, 2011 Read Full Article
Closed Bio-Fuel Firm Tried, Failed at Making Own Product
by Walt Nett (Avalanche-Journal/LubbockOnline) Absolute Fuels tried twice to make biodiesel, but lost money the first time around and couldn’t produce usable fuel the next time, according to information in federal affidavits filed in connection with search and seizure warrants
November 03, 2011 Read Full Article
Amtrak: Biodiesel Trial Results Encouraging
(Railway Age) Amtrak says that it found the use of a renewable biodiesel fuel blend to power its daily Heartland Flyer train “resulted in no more wear on the locomotive than traditional diesel fuels and no reduction in performance or
November 02, 2011 Read Full Article
AgriLife Economist: Don't Blame Current Higher Gasoline Prices on Corn and Ethanol
by Robert Burns (AgriLifeToday) Feeling pain again at the gasoline pump? Don’t blame it on corn and the cost of ethanol. Well, at least don’t blame it entirely on corn, said Dr. Mark Welch, Texas AgriLife Extension Service grains marketing economist in
October 28, 2011 Read Full Article
BP Biofuels Goes for Full Vertical Integration, in US Cellulosic Ethanol Expansion
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Susan Ellerbusch: Now, at BP there are dozens of BP people who are experts in growing crops design, farm logistics. We are building an agriculture team after having acquired the biotech parts. ...Yes, every move
October 10, 2011 Read Full Article
The Good Side of Government
by Luke Geiver (Biorefining Magazine) For all the gripes, some government-backed programs are working ... (Founder of Westar Trade Resources, Cindy) Thyfault speaks with Biorefining Magazine about the programs that have worked to fund the economic needs of companies such as Coskata
October 03, 2011 Read Full Article
Department of Energy Awards $2 Million for National University Clean Energy Business Challenge to Jump Start Young Entrepreneurship
(US Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced $2 million over three years for six regional awardees to create and administer a network of student-focused business creation competitions and inspire young entrepreneurs to found innovative, clean
October 03, 2011 Read Full Article
Nuke It, Baby: Plasma2Energy’s Microwaves Aim for Super Low-Cost Biofuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A lesser-known pilot project in Mexico says it can produce biofuels at parity with $33 oil. Can this ultra-low cost project replicate its results at scale. Where is it deploying, and when? ...With gasification technologies, the
October 03, 2011 Read Full Article
Department of Energy Awards $156 Million for Groundbreaking Energy Research Projects
(Department of Energy/ARPA-E) ARPA-E Projects in 25 States Will Accelerate Innovation in Clean Energy Technologies, Increase America's Competitiveness and Create Jobs Arun Majumdar, Director of the Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), today announced 60 cutting-edge research projects aimed
September 30, 2011 Read Full Article
Gevo Awarded Contract to Supply Jet Fuel to U.S. Air Force
(BusinessWire/Yahoo!Finance) Air Force Purchase is for Jet Engine Testing and Feasibility Flight Demonstration Gevo, Inc., a leading renewable chemicals and advanced biofuels company, received a $5 million grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for the development of biojet
September 30, 2011 Read Full Article
Texas Farm Starts Growing Energy Cane for BP Cellulosic Project
by Carol Skewes (The Vindicator) A farm in Liberty County, Texas, has started growing energy grasses as part of a BP project to produce cellulosic ethanol. BP is planning to build a 70-million-gallon cellulosic-ethanol plant, which the company hopes would
September 26, 2011 Read Full Article
2 Alternative Biodiesel Processes Unveiled at Biorefining Show
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) The International Biorefining Conference & Trade Show in Houston wasn’t exclusively about biobased chemicals and next-gen biofuels. In fact, the event featured two speakers who presented novel biodiesel technologies that are on the verge of
September 26, 2011 Read Full Article
Austin-Based Company Hopes New Technology Can Spawn Boom in Algae Production
by Barry Harrell (Statesman.com/PluggedIn) ...AlgEternal Technologies LLC is near completion of a commercial facility at UT's J.J. Pickle Research Campus. The facility, which had its ribbon-cutting last week, is a collaboration among AlgEternal, UT's Center for Electromechanics and the university's
September 13, 2011 Read Full Article
Southwest Research Institute Launches International Alternative Fuel Technology Center
(Southwest Research Institute) Southwest Research Institute launched a collaborative effort to assist our clients to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and to address governmental mandates for alternative fuel production and tightened emissions standards. SwRI's new International Alternative Fuel Technology Center
September 12, 2011 Read Full Article
Portable Ammonia Factories Could Fuel Clean Cars
by Helen Knight (New Scientist) Ammonia produces just nitrogen and water vapour when burned and, unlike hydrogen, it is relatively easy to store in liquid form. That means transporting ammonia will not require costly new infrastructure, says John Fleming of SilverEagles Energy
September 10, 2011 Read Full Article
NAA Announces Completion of Commercial-Scale Pilot PBR
(Algae Industry Magazine) National Algae Association Executive Director Barry Cohen has announced the completion of additional commercial-scale pilot closed-loop photobioreactors (PBR’s) at the Biotech Institute at Lone Star College, The Woodlands, Texas. “Thanks to contributions of equipment from Solar Components Corporation,
September 06, 2011 Read Full Article
New Zealand, Texas Companies Collaborate on Algae Process
by Luke Geiver (Biodiesel Magazine) Aquaflow Bionomic Corp., a New Zealand-based algae technology developer, is taking a broad approach to algae-to-fuel development—one the company’s director Nick Gerritsen said may include nonalgae feedstocks. Aquaflow recently agreed to work with Texas-based CRI
August 31, 2011 Read Full Article
Emerging Markets Online CEO Introduces Houston's Biofuels Task Force
(Emerging Markets Online) Emerging Markets CEO Will Thurmond introduces the concept for The Greater Houston Partnership's Biofuels Task Force initiative at the Americas Energy City Summit. The Greater Houston Partnership is a non-profit, policy advocacy group. The GHP is a public-private
August 30, 2011 Read Full Article
E85 Station Opens in Corpus Christi, Texas
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) A new E85 station has opened at the Stripes Convenience Store in Corpus Christi, Texas and is now the only E85 station within 100 miles. The pump is located at its location on Weber Road, south of
August 24, 2011 Read Full Article
Biofuel Firm's US Deal Paves Way for Major Plant
by Bill Moore (Stuff.co.nz) Nelson-based biofuel company Aquaflow Bionomic Corporation has announced a deal with a Texas-based renewable fuel company that paves the way for the building of a multimillion-dollar biofuels plant. Its agreement is with CRI Catalyst Company, a provider
August 24, 2011 Read Full Article
Glycos Biotechnologies and Solix BioSystems Achieve Positive Results for the Suitability of Solix’s Algal Oils for the Production of Bio-derived Sustainable Chemicals
(Solix) Algal Oils Proven as Next Generation Feedstock for Industrial Bacterial Fermentation Glycos Biotechnologies, Inc. (GlycosBio), an international biochemical company commercializing high-value bio-chemicals, and Solix BioSystems, Inc. (Solix), a leading provider of integrated solutions and services that enable large scale cultivation
August 24, 2011 Read Full Article
Steaming Ahead to a Better Fuel: Railroad Companies Investigate Benefits of Using Biodiesel-Blended Fuels
by Erin Voegele (Biodiesel Magazine) The railroad is already considered one of the most environmentally sustainable and efficient ways to transport freight. Although most railways address fuel efficiency in terms of gallons-per-mile rather than miles-per-gallon, the sheer volume of cargo
August 23, 2011 Read Full Article
Biofuel Maker KiOR Faces Questions over Funding
By Ucilia Wang (GigaOm) Freshly minted as a public company, biofuel producer KiOR reported Thursday that it brought in no revenues and widened its losses for the second quarter. Given that no one expected the young company to make much money yet,
August 12, 2011 Read Full Article
Metabolism in Reverse: Making Biofuels at Full-Throttle Pace
(Rice University) Rice University engineers reverse E. coli metabolism for speedy production of fuels, chemicals In a biotechnological tour de force, Rice University engineering researchers this week unveiled a new method for rapidly converting simple glucose into biofuels and petrochemical substitutes.
August 11, 2011 Read Full Article
A&M Study Finds RFS Not Lowering Cattle Profits
(Southeast Farm Press/National Corn Growers Association) The study, which utilized Texas A&M University’s Agricultural & Food Policy Center’s premier farm-level modeling system and data from the University of Missouri’s Food & Agricultural Policy Research Institute, determined that net cash farm
August 10, 2011 Read Full Article
Big Green Bus Rolls on French-Fry Fumes to Teach Sustainability
by Marianne Brown (Dallas Morning News) ...Thirteen students from Dartmouth College rolled into Dallas on Monday in their environmental classroom on wheels: a converted Greyhound bus that runs on biodiesel and vegetable oil. The cooking oil, donated from restaurants, must be filtered
August 03, 2011 Read Full Article
Gevo Partners with Petrochem Firm to Build Demo Biorefinery
by Luke Geiver (Biorefining Magazine) Gevo Inc. has partnered with a Texas-based petrochemical company to build a demonstration hydrocarbon processing plant in Silsbee, Texas. South Hampton Resources, a subsidiary of Arabian American Development Co., will build and operate the 10,000
July 30, 2011 Read Full Article
The Energy Return on Investment for Algal Biocrude: Results for a Research Production Facility
by Colin M. Beal, Robert E. Hebner, Michael E. Webber, Rodney S. Ruoff and A. Frank Seibert (Bioenergy Research) This study is an experimental determination of the energy return on investment (EROI) for algal biocrude production at a research facility at the University of
July 29, 2011 Read Full Article
Terrabon, Inc. Awarded $9.6 Million by Logos Technologies to Produce 6000 Liters of Renewable Jet Fuel for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
(Terrabon, Inc.) Terrabon, Inc., a Houston-based bioenergy company, announced today that it has been awarded a $9.6 million, 18-month contract by Logos Technologies to design a more economical and renewable jet fuel (BioJet TM ) production solution for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
July 28, 2011 Read Full Article
Link Between Crops and Deforestation in Amazon Not So Cut and Dry
(InfoZine) A Kansas State University geographer is part of a research team out to prove what environmental scientists have suspected for years: Increasing the production of soybean and biofuel crops in Brazil increases deforestation in the Amazon. ...Although this cause-and-effect finding
July 21, 2011 Read Full Article
Microalgae Could Be Texas’ Next Big Cash Crop
by Rod Santa Ana (AgriLifeToday) Just as corn and peanuts stunned the world decades ago with their then-newly discovered multi-beneficial uses and applications, Texas AgriLife Research scientists in Corpus Christi think microalgae holds even more promise. “It’s a huge, untapped source
July 18, 2011 Read Full Article
ExxonMobil to Offer Biodiesel at Four Texas Terminals
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) ExxonMobil will soon offer ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) blended with biodiesel for the first time at four rack terminals in Texas. ExxonMobil will offer ULSD with up to a 5 percent biodiesel blend in Irving, Texas
July 06, 2011 Read Full Article
V8 Supercars Agrees to Five-Year Deal With Austin's Circuit of The Americas™ to Host Championship; SPEED™ to Broadcast Races
(PRNewsWire/Circuit of the Americas) Australia's Most Popular Motorsports Series Makes Its First U.S. Home in Austin, Texas V8 Supercars and Circuit of The Americas, along with Texas Governor Rick Perry andQueensland Premier Anna Bligh, announced today a five-year agreement to bring the famous Australian V8 Supercar series
July 05, 2011 Read Full Article
World's First Self-Powered Modular Cellulose Ethanol Refinery Announced
(PRNewswire) New product will include cellulose feedstock grown in shipping containers along with the container based ethanol refinery Allard Research and Development, the world leader in small to medium-scale ethanol fuel production systems, announced today the world's first self-powered modular cellulose
June 27, 2011 Read Full Article
DOE Awards $36M to Six Projects for Drop-In fuels, Chemicals
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Virent, Genomatica, HCL Clean Tech among the winners, as DOE fosters replacement of “entire barrel of oil” in latest funding round In Washington, US Secretary of Energy Steven Chu announced up to $36 millionto fund six small-scale
June 13, 2011 Read Full Article
Chevron, Weyerhaeuser Venture to Supply Wood for Kior’s Biofuels
(Bloomberg) Catchlight Energy LLC, a joint venture of Chevron Corp. and Weyerhaeuser Co., will supply forest products that Kior Inc. will convert into biofuels. The deal announced today expands an agreement made in April for Catchlight to purchase gasoline and diesel fuel blendstocks
June 10, 2011 Read Full Article
A&M Developing BioFuel from Island Plants
by Lindsay Curtis (KZTV10) ... The algae is harvested at the plant and spun down into a concentrated gel. Dr. Tzachi Samocha, Director of Research says, "The micro-algae concentrated in this bag that basically will provide people that will start extracting
May 17, 2011 Read Full Article
EPA Recognizes Environmental Innovation at Science Competition for High School Students / Param Jaggi Wins Patrick H. Hurd Sustainability Award
(Environmental Protection Agency) Out of more than 1,500 young scientists and engineers competing in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, Param Jaggi was named the winner of EPA's 2011 Patrick H. Hurd Sustainability Award. A senior at Plano East
May 13, 2011 Read Full Article
The Beginning of the End of the Ethanol Joke
by Paul Studebaker (Sustainable Planet) ...It’s too soon to talk about grain-based ethanol in the past tense, but maybe not by much. While ethanol has a place as a bio-based octane enhancer and consequently, as a means to extend oil
May 03, 2011 Read Full Article
Is More Really Less? Overfertilizing Can Degrade Quality
by Morgan Gallagher (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ...Rather than look at only the total mass yield of either the corn grain or the crop residue, we took a different approach. We measured the mass yield of key biochemicals such as carbohydrate,
April 27, 2011 Read Full Article
An Astonishing 2,564 Miles Per Gallon Achieved at Shell Eco-Marathon® Americas 2011
(Shell/PRNewsWire) Quebec's Universite Laval Defends Title Winning Shell Eco-marathon Americas for Third Consecutive Year Going the farthest distance might sound like a foot race. But this past weekend, it meant stretching the boundaries of fuel efficiencyas student teams competed in the
April 22, 2011 Read Full Article
State Corn Checkoff Sponsors Ethanol Eco-Challenge Team
(Wisconsin Ag Connection) A team of high school students from Durand placed third overall at the Shell Eco-marathon Americas competition in Houston, Texas last week, where they drove 572 miles per gallon with 100-percent ethanol fuel. The group's trip to the
April 22, 2011 Read Full Article
BIOeCON Raises 1 Million Euro’s for a Biomass Based Fuel Cell
(BIOeCON) BIOeCON a leading pioneer in the field of non-edible biomass conversion, has raised an additional 1 million Euro’s from existing shareholders, including a grant from the Dutch Ministry of Economic affairs, to design and build a prototype of a
April 15, 2011 Read Full Article
KiOR Files $100M IPO – The Complete Digest Analysis
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Khosla-backed pyrolysis venture heads for the public markets. Is the IPO window still open? Will this one fly? Should it? The Digest looks at the technology, the team, the progress, the economics, the proof, and
April 13, 2011 Read Full Article
Biodiesel Experts International to Provide Enzymatic Process For Biodiesel Production
(Biofuels Journal) Biodiesel Experts International LLC is prepared to provide engineering, onsite supervision, startup, training, enzyme material, and complete plants for an enzymatic process to convert waste oils or greases into ASTM spec biodiesel. The enzymatic process consist of two (2)
April 12, 2011 Read Full Article
Algae Farm Education Affiliation
(MSN.com) Algae Farm, (Pink Sheets:ALGF), announces that it has signed an Education Affiliation Agreement with Lone Star College System (“LSCS”), Conroe, Texas. The purpose of this agreement is to provide educational experiences for students enrolled in algae related programs in
April 11, 2011 Read Full Article
Harvesting, Storage and Transfer Technology Update
by Maynard Herron and Bob Matousek (Kansas Alliance for Biorefining and Bioenergy) AGCO (Hesston, KS) received an award for biomass feedstock supply demonstration as a partial match of a $5 million renewable energy R & D grant
April 11, 2011 Read Full Article
Students Preparing to Push the Boundaries of Fuel Efficiency and Go the Distance at Shell Eco-Marathon® Americas 2011
(Shell/PRNewsWire) While many students spent the weeks and months leading up to spring break preparing for midterm exams, an ambitious group of students geared up for another important test. They are the 70 teams from 18 high schools and
April 04, 2011 Read Full Article
Algal Fuel: VG Energy Study Shows Price Parity Possible With Conventional Oil
by Mitchell Anderson (EnergyBoom) Proprietary technology owned by VG Energy could create algal biofuel at costs competitive with current prices for conventional crude according to a report released by the company this week. The study was authored by John Sheehan, former project manager at
March 14, 2011 Read Full Article
The Brew Barons: Masters of Advanced Fermentation, Driving the Redefinition of Biofuels: Pt 1
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Is there enough energy, food, fiber and feed for all? Advances in industrial fermentation – a/k/a an incredulous “you’re making what? from what? using what? – will be the key to answering that question. The stars of this drama
March 01, 2011 Read Full Article
Texas A&M Dining Takes Sustainability To The Next Level
(Texas A&M University) Sustainability is more than a buzz word with Texas A&M University Dining, which partners with Terrabon, Inc. to collect post- consumer food scraps from the two biggest dining centers on campus for use in producing biofuels. Terrabon will produce the
February 22, 2011 Read Full Article
Algae Grown in Pecos for Fuel
by Geoff Folsom (OAOA.com) Icicles drip from the paddlewheel in the only one of the three 12th-of-an-acre algae ponds at Texas A&M University’s Pecos Research Center that’s operating this January morning. Not much is happening in the other six, smaller ponds
February 05, 2011 Read Full Article
KiOR Receives Loan Guarantee Term Sheet for over $1 Billion Project from US Department of Energy
(KiOR) Project would produce drop-in fuels from wood biomass at four facilities across three states KiOR, Inc., announced today that it has received a term sheet for a loan guarantee supporting an over $1 billion biofuels project from the U.S. Department of Energy’s
February 04, 2011 Read Full Article
Endicott Biofuels LLC to Construct 30-Million Gallon-Per-Year Second-Generation Biorefinery at KMTEX Ltd. Facility in Port Arthur, Texas
(Endicott Biofuels) Endicott Biofuels, LLC (EBF) has signed an agreement with KMTEX Ltd. (KMTEX) to construct a 30-million gallon-per-year biorefinery in Port Arthur, Texas, that will employ EBF’s proprietary technology for the production of high-purity G2 Clear™ biodiesel. KMTEX will
January 31, 2011 Read Full Article
Terrabon Exceeds Yield Targets for Biogasoline from Garbage
(Eco Friendly Magazine) Using CRI/Criterion’s catalyst technologies, Terrabon, Inc. has exceeded its target yield threshold of 70 gallons of biogasoline per dry ton of garbage received from the cafeteria dumpsters and paper shredders at Texas A&M University. ...The catalysts enabled Terrabon to
January 26, 2011 Read Full Article
Low Cost Algae Oil Production System Advances
by Bob Brooks (Automotive Industries) Photon8, a new venture algae oil development firm has emerged from research work at the University Of Texas, Brownsville, TX, by placing its priority on the economics of making algal based diesel fuel oil at
January 13, 2011 Read Full Article
Algae Growth Sensor Developed at Texas A&M
(Algae Industry Magazine) According to Texas A&M University’s Robert Burns, writing in the Western Farm Press, Texas AgriLife Research engineer Dr. Alex Thomasson has developed an optical-electronic sensor to automatically measure algae growth stages and allow micro-management of its production
December 29, 2010 Read Full Article
Drop-In Biofuel Developer Dorsan Joins ATI-Clean Energy Incubator
(University of Texas at Austin) The Austin Technology Incubator (ATI), a not-for-profit unit of The University of Texas at Austin, announced today that Dorsan Biofuels, Inc., joined as a member company of the ATI-Clean Energy Incubator. Dorsan uses proprietary technology to create
December 17, 2010 Read Full Article
Special Feature: A Conversation with LS9’s New CEO, Ed Dineen
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Ed Dineen is taking over the reigns at LS9 from Bill Haywood, who led the company from 2008, and from a #25 ranking to #4 in this year’s 50 Hottest Companies in Bioenergy. Salutes to Bill,
December 09, 2010 Read Full Article
Viral Genetics Launches VG Energy to Market Biofuel Technology
(BusinessWire) Viral Genetics, Inc., (Pinksheets: VRAL.PK) has launched a subsidiary called “VG Energy, Inc.” The new entity is majority-owned by Viral Genetics and its current shareholders, and was formed to market the company’s biofuel technology. “The new brand will help open
December 08, 2010 Read Full Article
Terrabon: Accelerating Commercialization of Drop-In Fuels, Waste-to-Energy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) (T)he Digest spent time this week with Gary Luce, CEO of Terrabon, whose advanced biofuels technology converts MSW and other residues into drop-in biogasoline, renewable diesel and jet fuel. The company, which has attracted investment from Waste
October 15, 2010 Read Full Article
The A.I.M. Interview: Algae Genetic Engineer Dr. Stephen Mayfield
by David Schwartz (Algae Industry Magazine) If moving genes around on a chromosome is your idea of a good time, meet Dr. Stephen Mayfield, Director of the San Diego Center for Algae Biotechnology. ...Steve is now the John Dove Isaacs Professor
September 23, 2010 Read Full Article
Green race: Algae-to-Biofuel Firm Announces Breakthroughs
by Steve Clark (The Brownsville Herald) Photon8 Inc., Brad Bartilson’s Brownsville-based startup company, has managed to plow through some sticky issues in its quest for commercially feasible algae-to-biofuel production and is two years ahead of schedule in terms of production milestones.In
September 22, 2010 Read Full Article
Valero is Expanding the Availability of E85, a Blend of 85 Percent Ethanol and 15 Percent Conventional Gasoline, throughout Its System
by Vicki Vaughan (San Antionio Express-News) ...The use of E85 is about to get more exposure, as San Antonio-based Valero Energy Corp. recently announced it will add E85 pumps to all of its new Valero Corner Stores as they're built
September 09, 2010 Read Full Article
Locals Eyeing Sorghum for Fuel
by Kevin Welch (Amarillo Globe News) ...Agronomist Brent Bean with the Texas AgriLife Extension Service put three of the stalks in a press Thursday during the summer field day at the agriculture research complex at Bushland. The nearly 9-foot stalks
September 07, 2010 Read Full Article
Candidate for Ag Commissioner Talks Biofuels
by Bob Thaxton (The Gazette-Enterprise) Hank Gilbert, the Democrats’ nominee for Texas agriculture commissioner, discussed his proposed biofuels policy here Thursday during the next-to-last stop on a 13-city tour around the state. ...“Texas has the potential to become a major biofuels
August 20, 2010 Read Full Article
Denton, TX to Have E85 and Biodiesel
by Michelle Kautz (DomesticFuels) ... City of Denton Fleet Services Division in Denton, Texas has been awarded a $599,860 grant to install E85 and Biodiesel. The award is part of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds by the North Texas
August 12, 2010 Read Full Article
Gilbert Plan: Bring Jobs to Texas through Biofuels
by Jj Valesquez (Victoria Advocate) ...Hank Gilbert spoke on the steps of the Victoria County Courthouse, his cowboy hat shading him from the 95-degree heat, about his plan to make Texas a major biofuels producer. "What biofuels can do is add
August 12, 2010 Read Full Article
Study Asks, Can Bio-Fuel Crops Be Grown in Lubbock?
by James Clark (KCBD) A new study done in Lubbock and other parts of Texas will look at growing crops for use as bio-fuels. The Texas Ag Extension in Lubbock and five other cities will do the study that looks
August 10, 2010 Read Full Article
Launch of Commerical Scale Seawater-Based Biofuels Project in Egypt
Energy Allied International, a Houston-based energy projects development company, and The Seawater Foundation and Global Seawater, Inc., pioneers in the development of Integrated Seawater Agriculture Systems (ISAS), have executed an MOU to jointly develop the world’s first commercial scale seawater-based
April 09, 2010 Read Full Article
Baylor Professor Turning Cow Manure into Fuel-Grade Ethanol
J.B. Smith (Waco Tribune-Herald) To critics who object to making ethanol fuel out of grain, Larry Lehr, of Waco, has an ecology-minded answer: Run it through a cow first. Lehr, who teaches environmental science at Baylor University, is planning to build
January 11, 2010 Read Full Article
Texas Loses “Food vs. Fuel” Biofuel Feud
by Angela Neville (Power Mag) ... In April, the Texas governor jumped into the middle of this debate. Responding to what some observers thought was strong pressure from TSCRA, Texas Governor Rick Perry (R) submitted a formal request to the Environmental