(Rice University/Science Daily) Research shows how nature handles lignin -- New research shows how bacterial enzymes team up to attack lignin. The findings could lead to more efficient processes for creating biofuels from wood, grass and agricultural waste, say scientists. The molecules
Wisconsin
Back TO HOMEVirent Bio-Jet Provides More than 50% Reduction in Particulate Matter Emissions
(Virent) Rolls-Royce Testing Demonstrates Virent Synthesized Aromatic Kerosene (SAK) Bio-Jet Fuel Blend Provides Health and Environmental Benefits While Maintaining Engine Performance Bio-jet emissions testing by Rolls-Royce and supported by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) under the Continuous Lower Energy, Emissions, and
January 08, 2016 Read Full Article
Six-Year Study Suggests Perennial Crop Yields Can Compete with Corn Stover
by Mark E. Griffin (Wisconsin Energy Institute/University of Wisconsin) A six-year Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC) study on the viability of different bioenergy feedstocks recently demonstrated that perennial cropping systems such as switchgrass, giant miscanthus, poplar, native grasses, and
December 30, 2015 Read Full Article
Students Experiment with Biofuels
by Sarah Wright (The Herald Independent) What are biofuels? How can they help us meet our future energy needs while minimizing negative environmental impacts? With support from the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC) at UW-Madison, students in freshman biology classes at
December 28, 2015 Read Full Article
University of Illinois Awarded Grant to Support Sorghum Research
(University of Illinois/Biomass Magazine) The University of Illinois has been awarded a 3-year, $5 million grant from the DOE Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy as part of its OPEN 2015 funding initiative (ARPA-E OPEN). Under Principal Investigator Andrew Leakey, Associate Professor of
December 18, 2015 Read Full Article
New Way to Make Yeast Hybrids May Inspire New Brews, Biofuels
by Terry Devitt (University of Wisconsin-Madison News) The makers of beer, wine, biofuels and other products that depend on yeasts may soon have many more strains of the microorganism to work with, thanks to a new method for making interspecies
December 07, 2015 Read Full Article
Wisconsin Expands Biofuel Fueling Stations
(Spooner Advocate) The Public Service Commission (PSC) has announced that Wisconsin is the recipient of a $3.7 million U.S. Department of Agriculture grant to significantly expand and support the installation of ethanol blending equipment at retail gas stations throughout the
November 03, 2015 Read Full Article
Priming the Pump for Higher Blends
by Ray Defenbaugh (Ethanol Producer Magazine/Prime the Pump/Growth Energy) Prime the pump, an effort to grow the ethanol market to accelerate the build-out of higher blend retail infrastructure, has had tremendous success, writes Ray Defenbaugh. -- The ethanol industry is
October 27, 2015 Read Full Article
Seeking Better Biofuels
by Melody M. Bomgardner (Chemical & Engineering News) Researchers at the Joint BioEnergy Institute transform biomass into energy-rich fuel molecules -- .. JBEI researchers are zeroing in on concepts that others have decided are too difficult or would take too
October 26, 2015 Read Full Article
Twofold Renewable in Tulare County
by Keith Loria (Biomass Magazine) California’s Calgren Renewable Fuels uses renewable energy generated onsite to power its renewable fuel production process. When the Calgren Ethanol Biodigester officially opened in Tulare County, California, early this year, it represented a major commitment by the
September 23, 2015 Read Full Article
100% Renewable: The Digest’s 2015 8-Slide Guide to the Coca-Cola Plant Bottle
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Since introducing PlantBottle packaging – the first-ever fully recyclable PET plastic bottle made partially from plants – Coca-Cola has distributed more than 25 billion of the bottles to thirsty consumers in 37 countries. The breakthrough
September 16, 2015 Read Full Article
Regenis Application Wins Dairy Digester Grant in CA
(Merlo Farming Group) California Department of Food and Agriculture announced the AgPower Visalia, LLC project in Tulare Co. has been awarded a three million dollar dairy digester research and development grant yesterday. The project, developed by Camco Clean Energy, will be
September 15, 2015 Read Full Article
USDA Invests $100M in Renewable Fuel Pumps: The Deep Dive into Who Got What, and How the Landscape Shifts
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) USDA announces state finalists for the Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership. Will it move the needle? The Digest investigates. In Washington, US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that 21 states will receive grants through the Biofuel Infrastructure
September 14, 2015 Read Full Article
Dear EPA: The RFS Supports Food AND Fuel
by Coral Didion (Renewable Fuels Association) Food versus fuel is the misconception that we are diverting farmland and crops toward biofuel production to the detriment of the food supply. Didion Milling, which has been in business since 1972, producing corn meal,
September 11, 2015 Read Full Article
USDA Announces State Finalists for the Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership
(US Department of Agriculture) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that 21 states will receive grants through the Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership (BIP) to add infrastructure needed to supply more renewable fuel to America's drivers. Since announcing the program in May
September 10, 2015 Read Full Article
Grant to Help Increase Biofuels Yield while Limiting Fertilizer Use
(Michigan State University) Michigan State University has earned a $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to better understand how biofuel crops acquire nitrogen, insights that could help maximize yields while minimizing fertilizer use. Sarah Evans, an integrative biologist
September 10, 2015 Read Full Article
Energy Department Awards up to $4 Million to Develop Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts
(US Department of Energy) The Energy Department today announced two additional projects selected to receive up to $4 million to develop next-generation biofuels that will help reduce the cost of producing gasoline, diesel, and jet fuels from biomass. These projects—in
August 27, 2015 Read Full Article
Glucan Biorenewables: The Digest’s 2015 5-Minute Guide
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Glucan Biorenewables is producing furan derivatives from biomass. The furfural platform will be used to launch other value-added co-products: 5-hydroxyl-methyl furfural (HMF) and downstream derivatives The company’s TriVersa Process meets the need for a renewable, environmentally
August 24, 2015 Read Full Article
Clear Air Choice Promotes Ethanol Fuel
(WHBL) If you are old enough, you may remember the old Burma Shave signs that would line a roadway to promote that product a few words at a time. Now the American Lung Association’s Upper Midwest Clear Air Choice Team is
August 21, 2015 Read Full Article
Reps. Keith Ripp and Andy Jorgensen: Weakening Renewable Fuel Standard Would Hurt Rural Wisconsin
by Reps. Keith Ripp and Andy Jorgensen (Wisconsin State Journal) ... We are proud to support the Renewable Fuel Standard despite the fact that the two of us hail from different political parties. And we are not the only example of the bipartisan
August 19, 2015 Read Full Article
RFA Asks EPA to Provide Relief to Midwest Consumers in Wake of Refinery Outage
(Renewable Fuels Association) Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen issued the following statement in response to the shutdown of the BP 240,000-barrels-per-day refinery in Whiting, Indiana, which has caused gasoline prices to spike in Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio,
August 17, 2015 Read Full Article
Ethanol Producers Tackle Blend Wall with Direct Sales
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A small number of ethanol producers sell E85 and other ethanol blends directly to consumers with on-site blender pumps or, in a few cases, own retail gas stations. Mitch Miller, CEO of Carbon Green Bioenergy
August 17, 2015 Read Full Article
50 Grassroots Events Planned in Support of Renewable Fuel Standard
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, more than fifty grassroots events are now scheduled take place at state and county fairs throughout the month of August, starting August 7th. Farmers and consumers will have the chance to inform and
August 10, 2015 Read Full Article
Voters Want Pro Clean Energy Prez Candidates
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) NextGen Climate has released the results of a survey that finds voters in key presidential swing states support transitioning to at least 50 percent clean energy by 2030. Hart Research conducted the poll in eight battleground
August 04, 2015 Read Full Article
Wisconsin Program Offers Funding for Small-Scale Farm AD Systems
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) Wisconsin-based Focus on Energy, a statewide program for energy efficiency and renewable energy, recently announced it is soliciting proposals for a program focused on small, farm-scale anaerobic digestion (AD) systems. According to Focus on Energy, Wisconsin
August 03, 2015 Read Full Article
Sensenbrenner Bill Would Limit Biofuel Blends
(Wisconsin Ag Connection) Wisconsin Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner introduced legislation this week that requires the Environmental Protection Agency to limit the volume of cellulosic biofuel to be blended into the nation's fuel supply to what is commercially available until a comprehensive
July 29, 2015 Read Full Article
E85 Promotion Offered at Poynette Cenex Station on Friday
(Wisconsin Ag Connection) Flex fuel vehicle owners have another opportunity to fill up with E85 for just 85-cents per gallon at a participating Cenex stations this summer. This Friday, flex fuel vehicle drivers will be able to fill up with
July 29, 2015 Read Full Article
Blog: Research Projects Look into Low-Lignin Plants
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) You may have heard the old joke, “you can make anything out of lignin, except money.” Well, I hope to still be writing about ethanol the day that's been proven wrong. ... Earlier this year, I
July 14, 2015 Read Full Article
Study: Even with High LDV Electrification, Low-Carbon Biofuels Will Be Necessary to Meet 80% GHG Reduction Target; “Daunting” Policy Implications
(Green Car Congress) A study by researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Michigan State University colleague has concluded that even with a relatively high rate of electrification of the US light-duty fleet (40% of vehicle miles traveled and
July 03, 2015 Read Full Article
Making the Biofuels Process Safer for Microbes
by Scott Gordon (University of Wisconsin-Madison) A team of investigators at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Michigan State University have created a process for making the work environment less toxic—literally—for the organisms that do the heavy lifting in the increasingly
July 02, 2015 Read Full Article
Researchers Examine Alternative Switchgrass Breeding Methods to Increase Biofuel Production
(AZO CleanTech) Using switchgrass to produce biofuel is one way to decrease the United States’ dependence on oil, but growing it and making it profitable can be complicated. Switchgrass is an excellent candidate for biofuel production. It is an adaptable plant
June 22, 2015 Read Full Article
Farmers, Biofuel Industry Calls on Congress to Leave RFS Alone
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) On June 17, Fuels America hosted a press call during which American farmers and representatives of the biofuel industry discussed how legislative changes to the renewable fuel standard (RFS) would threaten America’s security, consumers, climate
June 19, 2015 Read Full Article
Virent, Coca-Cola Hit Key Production Milestone with the 100% Biobased Plant Bottle
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Production goes from pilot to demonstration scale as Coca-Cola “makes it happy,” showcasing its newest Plant Bottles at Expo Milan News has arrived from Europe that Coca-Cola is displaying 100% bio-based content Plant Bottles produced using
June 08, 2015 Read Full Article
The Most Complete Functional Map of an Entire Enzyme Family
(Joint Genome Institute) DOE-funded researchers develop a new process for annotating cellulose-degrading enzymes. Researchers at two Department of Energy-funded Scientific User Facilities collaborated with one of three Bioenergy Research Centers to develop and analyze high-resolution crystal structures of an enzyme from
June 03, 2015 Read Full Article
4 Minutes with… Tim Donohue, Director, Great Lakes Bioenergy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Great Lakes Bioenergy is a DOE, Office of Science-funded Bioenergy Research Center. Its mission is to develop ways to produce ethanol, advanced biofuels and chemicals from the non-edible, lignocellulosic part of plant biomass. The Center
June 03, 2015 Read Full Article
Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center: Basic Research for Cellulosic Biofuels in the US
by Danilo Gusmão de Quadros* (Advanced Biofuels USA) This reports on part of a trip to Wisconsin to visit the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC), University of Wisconsin (UW), a dairy farm that uses biogas production and the World
May 19, 2015 Read Full Article
Quantifying the Emissions from a Large Ethanol Refinery
(National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Refining ethanol may release more of some pollutants than burning it in vehicles. After quantifying the airborne emissions from the nation’s third largest ethanol refinery, a team led by NOAA and University of Colorado–Boulder
May 08, 2015 Read Full Article
Scott Walker's Stance on Ethanol Prompts Concerns
by Jason Stein (Journal Sentinel) As likely presidential candidate Scott Walker has shifted his position on a federal ethanol mandate, some of the fuel's skeptics at home in Wisconsin are wary. At an Iowa roundup for White House hopefuls in March, the
May 05, 2015 Read Full Article
Big Ox Energy Breaks Ground in South Sioux City
by Bret Hayworth (Sioux City Journal) ... Big Ox Energy, a Denmark, Wis.-based firm, has begun construction on a $30 million plant that will take organic waste from industrial plants and turn it into methane. ... Big Ox's technology includes an anaerobic
April 29, 2015 Read Full Article
Engineered Softwood Could Transform Pulp, Paper and Biofuel Industries
by Krista Eastman (University of Wisconsin-Madison) Scientists have demonstrated the potential for softwoods to process more easily into pulp and paper if engineered to incorporate a key feature of hardwoods. The finding, published in this week's Proceedings of the National Academy
April 24, 2015 Read Full Article
University of Wisconsin Study Based on Shaky Foundation of Faulty Data and Conclusions
by Geoff Cooper (Renewable Fuels Association) A recent study published in Environmental Research Letters by authors at the University of Wisconsin uses error-prone satellite data to suggest that growth in U.S. corn and soybean production from 2008 to 2012 drove
April 13, 2015 Read Full Article
Biofuels Research Uncovers Natural Fungicide
by Krista Eastman (Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center) Scientists at the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC) reported today (March 9, 2015) the discovery of a chemical compound called poacic acid that could eventually be used as a fungicide in
April 09, 2015 Read Full Article
Daniel Amador-Noguez Engineers Better Bacteria for Biofuels
... (Daniel) Amador-Noguez’s lab focuses on understanding metabolism in biofuel-producing bacteria with the goal of engineering microbes that can more efficiently convert plant biomass to energy. It’s exciting research, but it’s also the kind of data-driven work that Amador-Noguez hungered
April 09, 2015 Read Full Article
Join Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center: Energy Institute for Educators
(Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center) GLBRC is partnering with the Wisconsin Energy Institute to offer the Energy Institute for Educators, August 10-13. This program provides the opportunity for educators to engage with cutting-edge energy research at UW-Madison and gain practical tools
April 09, 2015 Read Full Article
Join Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center: Bioenergy Institute for Educators
Bioenergy is an exciting area of research and development and can provide excellent opportunities for engaging students. Join us for an intensive 5-day program to learn about the latest developments in bioenergy research and hands-on materials to use with students.
April 09, 2015 Read Full Article
Telling the Biofuels Story to Students: Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center Teacher Resources
(Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center) Understanding role of biofuels in meeting our energy needs and mitigating global climate change is a complex task. Telling stories is an effective way to help students make sense of science ideas and important societal
April 09, 2015 Read Full Article
EPA Approves Efficient Producer Pathways for 5 Ethanol Plants
(Ethanol Producer Magazine) In March, the U.S. EPA approved five new corn ethanol pathways under the agency’s Efficient Producer petition process (EP3), including Heron Lake BioEnergy LLC, Heron Lake, Minnesota; United Wisconsin Grain Producers LLC, Friesland, Wisconsin; Guardian Lima LLC,
April 06, 2015 Read Full Article
AG Ventures Alliance, Cellulose Sciences Int'l form New JV Stover Ventures
(Ag Ventures Alliance Cooperative and Cellulose Sciences International/AgriMarketing.com) Ag Ventures Alliance Cooperative (AgVA) of Mason City, Iowa, and Cellulose Sciences International (CSI) of Madison, Wis., completed a financing agreement resulting in the formation of a new joint venture, Stover Ventures,
April 06, 2015 Read Full Article
Plowing Prairies for Grains: Biofuel Crops Replace Grasslands Nationwide, U.S. Study Shows
(Science Daily/University of Wisconsin-Madison) Clearing grasslands to make way for biofuels may seem counterproductive, but researchers show that crops, including the corn and soy commonly used for biofuels, expanded onto 7 million acres of new land in the U.S. over
April 03, 2015 Read Full Article
New 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
Ethanol Contributes to State's Record Ag Exports
(Wisconsin Ag Connection) The producers of Wisconsin's biofuels are taking some of the credit for the state's new record for total farm exports during 2014. Joshua Morby of the Wisconsin Bio Industry Alliance says export numbers from the Wisconsin Department
February 17, 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
Tulare County Collaboration Changing Cow Waste Into Clean Energy For Calgren
(Regenis) Sustainable energy production entered a new era in California today as a consortium of American companies joined together with state energy officials to launch the Calgren Ethanol Biodigester, which utilizes waste from dairy farms to power the production of
February 10, 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
Low Oil Prices Hurt Local Ethanol Plants
by Devin Bartolotta (KTTC) Many of us may be celebrating at the pump, but low gas prices are a sign of potential trouble for local ethanol plants, which are struggling to break even with such low prices. The sinking price
January 13, 2015 Read Full Article
Minnesota Boasts Some Pretty Awesome E85 Prices
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A few weeks ago, a reader question sparked an interesting search for answers. That one comment has led to several stories and blogs at our website. In mid-December, a reader asked me why, as opposed
January 13, 2015 Read Full Article
Sensenbrenner Introduces Legislation Requesting Redundant E15 Study
by Gary Truit (Hoosier Ag Today) On Tuesday, Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) once again introduced legislation – H.R. 21 – that would hinder the growth and expansion of E15. The legislation would revoke current approval of E15 and require additional
January 08, 2015 Read Full Article
Virent Announces World's First Demonstration of Full Range of Bio-Aromatics Production
(Virent) New Systems Enable Samples for Product Validation and Market Trials Virent announced that it has successfully produced bio-paraxylene, bio-toluene and bio-benzene at demonstration scale and has confirmed that all three chemicals meet typical industry specifications. Virent hasalso produced sample volumes of bio-Aromatic 100,
December 17, 2014 Read Full Article
WARF Grants License, Takes Stake in Biotech Company Xylome
by Kathleen Gallagher (Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel) The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, the technology transfer arm of the University of Wisconsin-Madison has granted a license to and taken a stake in Xylome Corp., a privately-held Madison biotech company. The agreement between WARF
November 11, 2014 Read Full Article
Virent and the PlantPET Technology Collaborative (PTC) Sign Expression of Interest to Access Commercial Quantities of Virent’s BioFormPX® Paraxylene
(Virent) Virent’s Bio-based Paraxylene, BioFormPX®, Will Allow PTC Members to Offer Customers 100% Renewable and Recyclable PET Resin and Polyester October 30, 2014 – Virent and the PlantPET Technology Collaborative (PTC) today announced that the parties have signed an Expression of
October 30, 2014 Read Full Article
Balancing Birds and Biofuels: Grasslands Support More Species than Cornfields
by Kelly April Tyrrell (University of Wisconsin-Madison) In Wisconsin, bioenergy is for the birds. Really. In a study published today in the journal PLOS ONE, University of Wisconsin-Madison and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) scientists examined whether corn and
October 17, 2014 Read Full Article
Energy Department Announces $13.4 Million to Develop Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts
(U.S. Department of Energy) The Energy Department announced today (October 9, 2014) up to $13.4 million for five projects to develop advanced biofuels and bioproducts that will help drive down the cost of producing gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel from
October 14, 2014 Read Full Article
Valero Officials Say Ethanol Business Is Booming
by Steve Sharp (Watertown Daily Times) Valero Renewables officials from San Antonio, Texas, presented an update Wednesday afternoon to the Daily Times during what has become a fairly frequent media briefing and visit to their firm's massive ethanol production facility
October 03, 2014 Read Full Article
Bacteria Found in Cow Rumens Could Be Harnessed to Process Biofuel
(University of Wisconsin-Madison) What do biofuels look like on the Wisconsin landscape? Some might think of corn or switchgrass. But what about that herd of cows? What you can’t see might fool you. Cows are walking natural biodigesters, says CALS
September 25, 2014 Read Full Article
Virent to Expand Demo Plant Capabilities to Scale Plant-Based Paraxylene
(Virent) Virent announced today that The Coca-Cola Company is making an additional investment in the company’s development and commercialization of its bio-based paraxylene, BioFormPX™. This investment will enable Virent to scale up separation and purification of BioFormPX™ material at their
September 08, 2014 Read Full Article
Wisconsinites Like Ethanol in the Gasoline
( Brownfield Ag News for America) The Wisconsin Corn Growers Association says a recent statewide opinion poll shows Badger State citizens support the use of ethanol in gasoline by a 2-to-1 margin. The poll conducted by Public Opinion Strategies for
August 28, 2014 Read Full Article
Past FEW Scholarship Winner Now Consultant
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... Nick Bowdish, currently an ethanol industry consultant, was one of six scholarship winners in 2006.The students, who came from Wisconsin, Minnesota and Missouri, all attended the event and posed for a picture with their
August 12, 2014 Read Full Article
Poll Shows Wisconsinites Support Use of Ethanol in Gasoline
(Wisconsin Ag Connection) Drivers in the Badger State say they favor the use of ethanol in fuel by a 2 to 1 margin. That's according to the Wisconsin Corn Growers Association, which said a recent statewide opinion poll shows that
August 12, 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
Boat Motor Makers Issue Warning on Gas with Higher Ethanol Content
by Rick Barrett (Journal Sentinel) Wisconsin now has a dozen gasoline stations selling fuel with a 15% blend of the fuel additive ethanol, second only to Iowa and ahead of 10 other states. Beaver Dam-based United Cooperative recently upgraded its
June 12, 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
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
Putting the Squeeze on Gasoline
by Kelly Taylor (Chronicle Herald Wheels) It’s a breakthrough that has eluded engine researchers for more than a century. Now, it might be as little as five years away. ... The dream of using diesel’s compression-ignition idea — where the air-fuel mixture
May 19, 2014 Read Full Article
Ten New E15 Stations Open in Wisconsin
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) Ten new E15 stations have opened in Wisconsin. Vehicles manufactured after 2001 and flex-fuel vehicles (FFV) can fill up at the United Cooperative Cenex convenience stores located throughout Wisconsin: Beaver Dam, Baraboo, Hustisford, Iron Ridge, Pickett, Poynette,
May 06, 2014 Read Full Article
Transgenic Trees Make Easy-Chew Wood for Biofuels
by Richard Van Noorden (Science Magazine) The poplars in the greenhouse near John Ralph’s laboratory show no outward signs of weakness, but they have a secret soft spot. Thanks to genetic engineering, their wood contains an artificial molecule that makes it
April 04, 2014 Read Full Article
Biofuel PR Firm Launched to Help Tell America's Biofuel Story
(Biofuel PR) Communications firm to bridge gap between national campaigns and local community Veteran biofuel experts Joshua Morby and Joanna Schroeder have launched Biofuel PR in response to the ethanol industry’s call for assistance in helping tell Americans the story about
March 25, 2014 Read Full Article
New Sugar Platform Shows Promise
(Biomass Magazine) Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have developed a process that uses gamma valerolactone (GVL) to deconstruct plants and produce sugars that can be chemically or biologically upgraded into biofuels. The team is expected to begin scaling up
March 17, 2014 Read Full Article
The Sugar Producers
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Sweetwater Energy and Proterro, two companies using widely different approaches, aim for low-cost sugar that may give today’s corn ethanol plants a glide path into advanced ethanol production. They're in different stages, but share
March 12, 2014 Read Full Article
E85 Fueling Station Availability Is Increasing
(US Department of Energy Energy Information Administration) The number of retail fueling stations offering motor fuel that can be up to 85% ethanol, known as E85, has grown rapidly since 2007. According to the Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC), Minnesota continues
March 10, 2014 Read Full Article
Farmers: On-Farm Biofuel Production a Viable Option
by Jim Massey (The Country Today) The idea of producing biodiesel or running straight vegetable oil through his farm machinery came to Jake Wedeberg about nine years ago in the form of a truck. “A truck made a delivery to our
February 28, 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
Effects of Genetic Modification on Non-Target Traits that Confer Defense in Hybrid Poplar (Populus tremula x Populus alba)
by Buhl, Christine, Ph.D., (University fo Wisconsin-Madison) Genetic modification may be utilized to enhance various traits in trees for forestry and biofuel applications. Among these modification targets are gibberellic acid and lignin. Gibberellic acid (GA) is a plant hormone that promotes
November 08, 2013 Read Full Article
Stanley Signs Draft Pact with Biomass Company
by Elizabeth Dohms (Chippewa Herald) A draft developer’s agreement between Stanley and a biomass company out of New York has been approved by the city council and is expected to bring more jobs to the area. Pending the finalization of paperwork,
October 29, 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
Lack of Soybean Crushing Facilities in Wisconsin Costly for Farmers
by Rick Barrett (Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel) It's a bountiful harvest, but every year Wisconsin soybean growers pay a hefty price to have their crop processed at out-of-state facilities because there isn't a bean crushing plant available to them here. ... Timing
October 16, 2013 Read Full Article
Virent Named Semifinalist for Prestigious Innovation Award: Online Public Voting Will Be Used to Determine Winners
(Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel/Virent) Virent has been selected as one of six semifinalists by the Washington, DC-based organization, Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE) for their Emerging Innovations Award. The Emerging Innovation Award will recognize three leading companies whose technologies are
October 03, 2013 Read Full Article
Biofuel Mimicry
by Dan Cossins (The Scientist) Could the fungus-gardening activities of leafcutter ants teach humans how to produce sustainable biofuels? In a humid room at the University of Wisconsin–Madison (UW), large Tupperware boxes hold thick beds of gray fungi, pockmarked with holes and
October 02, 2013 Read Full Article
Milwaukee Biodiesel Firm Pursues City-Owned Warehouse
by Jeff Engel (The Business Journal) A Milwaukee Common Council proposal would sell a warehouse and vacant lot on West National Avenue to Palko Energies LLC, a sustainable energy consulting company that also buys local restaurants’ used cooking oil for
September 27, 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
Plane Powered by Biofuels Makes Successful Trip
by Erica Sullivan (AgriNews) ...A faculty-and-student duo piloted the Purdue Embrarer Phenom 100 to the recent Experimental Aircraft Association AirVenture, one of the largest international plane shows. One of the airplane’s engines was filled with typical jet fuel, and the other
September 03, 2013 Read Full Article
Growing Energy the Holistic Way
(University of Wisconsin Foundation) Lady beetles and energy to power your car or your lights may not seem as if they belong in the same sentence until you visit Professor Claudio Gratton, an entomologist working in the Wisconsin Energy Institute (WEI) at
August 29, 2013 Read Full Article
Ethanol Production Benefits Farmers' Wallets, Officials Say
by Erik Tyger (KTIV.com) ...Ethanol plants tend to offer farmers a better price for their corn and use more of the plant, putting corn at a constant state of high demand. Once the alcohol has been removed from the corn
August 23, 2013 Read Full Article
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Research Fueling Start-Up Venture
by Natalie Johnson (UW Oshkosh Today) Tiny blue-green algae have big potential for using the sun’s energy to turn carbon waste into bio jet fuel, according to University of Wisconsin Oshkosh researchers. In July, UW Oshkosh microbiologist Toivo Kallas, along with
August 22, 2013 Read Full Article
Proposed Biomass Company Looking to Build Near Ace Ethanol
(Wisconsin Ag Connection) An unidentified company is looking to build a biomass plant in Stanely near where the Ace Ethanol factory is located. ...Once in operation, the company would make cellulosic ethanol from trees, then sell the sugar solution
August 20, 2013 Read Full Article
PSC Facing Key Decision on Solar Energy Incentives
by Mike Ivey (The Capital Times) Will Gov. Scott Walker’s Public Service Commission reverse course on renewable energy development in the state? Clean energy advocates hope so and are reporting a "massive outpouring" of support for continuing incentives for residential solar
August 19, 2013 Read Full Article
Rochester Institute of Technology Students Learn About Sweetwater’s Plant-Sugar Mixture for Production of Biofuels
(AZOCleanTech) A collaboration between Rochester Institute of Technology’s Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences and Sweetwater Energy Inc. will give students experience with the Rochester-based company that has a sweet and sustainable niche. Sweetwater Energy provides its industry partners with
July 26, 2013 Read Full Article
Leaf-Cutter Ants May Reveal Secrets to Creating Biofuels
by Jennifer Laaser (Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel) Look at a leaf-cutter ant colony, and it's a bustle of activity, with ants bringing pieces of leaves in, spreading them around on a honeycomb-like bed of fungus, and weeding the garden to remove
July 22, 2013 Read Full Article
“Tanks-a-Lot” Could Mean Free Gas for WI Flex-Fuel Vehicle Owners
(Public News Service--Wisconsin) Wisconsinites who drive a flex-fuel vehicle could get a free fill-up because of the Wisconsin Clean Air Choice program's "Tanks-a-Lot" promotion. "We thought it would be nice to recognize the people who actually use E85 on a
July 18, 2013 Read Full Article
Briggs & Stratton Develops Additive to Offset Ethanol's Effects on Small Engines
(Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel) ...But since petroleum companies use a 10% blend of ethanol in gasoline to comply with the federal government's Renewable Fuels Standard, Briggs has created its own fuel additive that it says offsets some of the negative
July 09, 2013 Read Full Article
NSF Grant Boosts Promising Biofuels Research
(JustMeans.com/Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Technology) Promising biofuels research at a Wisconsin biotech company and a partner university is getting a boost from a $224,967 National Science Foundation grant. C5.6 Technologies of Middleton, Wis., and the Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Technology (WIST)
July 05, 2013 Read Full Article
Energy Department Announces Investment to Accelerate Next Generation Biofuels
(US Department of Energy) Following last week's rollout of President Obama's plan to cut carbon pollution, the Energy Department today announced four research and development projects to bring next generation biofuels on line faster and drive down the cost of
July 02, 2013 Read Full Article
Virent Is Getting Another Federal Grant
by Judy Newman (Wisconsin State Journal) Virent, the Madison company working on non-petroleum fuels, will receive up to $4 million for a project designed to improve the efficiency of turning plant material into fuel, the U.S. Department of Energy said
July 02, 2013 Read Full Article
Court Nixes Appeal over Added Ethanol in Gasoline
(Associated Press) The Supreme Court has rejected challenges to Environmental Protection Agency decisions allowing an increase in ethanol content in gasoline. READ MORE and MORE (The Washington Post) and MORE (Renewable Fuels Association) and MORE (The Hill E2Wire) and MORE (Wisconsin State
June 24, 2013 Read Full Article
Renewable Fuels Association Disputes Study on Climate Change Impacts on Corn Production
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Renewable Fuels Association has spoken out to criticize a study published by Rice University and the University of California-Davis that claims climate change will increase irrigation costs for corn while reducing yields. In
June 06, 2013 Read Full Article
Biofuels Continue to Progress: The U.S. and Europe Are Making Strides to Advance Biofuels Technology.
by Seán Ottewell (Chemical Processing) Biotechnology efforts in the United States and Europe are on the rise. For instance, Algenol Biofuels, Ft. Myers, Fl., developer of direct-to-ethanol technology for the production of advanced third-generation biofuels, has surpassed one of its own important
May 30, 2013 Read Full Article
E15 Now Available in Wisconsin
(Renewable Fuels Association) The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) cheered RFA member Badger State Ethanol and the Wisconsin Ethanol Coalition for their efforts to bring E15 to Wisconsin. As of today, the SmartStation at 1290 Business Highway 151 in Platteville, Wisconsin
May 08, 2013 Read Full Article
Virent Delivers Plant-Based Jet Fuel to U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory for Testing
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Produces Drop-In Jet Fuel from 100% Renewable Plant Sugars In Wisconsin, Virent announced the delivery of 100 gallons of its bio-based jet fuel to the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) for testing purposes. Product testing will
May 02, 2013 Read Full Article
Method to Oxidose Renewable Chemicals from Biofuel Byproducts
by Ben Messenger (Waste Management World) A method of using oxygen to convert lignin, a byproduct of biofuel production, into a form that could replace fossil fuels as a source of renewable chemical feedstocks has been developed by chemists at
April 30, 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
Bioenergy Institute for Educators Now Accepting Applications for 2013! DEADLINE March 31, 2013
(Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center) Institute dates: June 24-29, 2013 Application dealdine: March 31, 2013, In this one-week summer program, teams of educators core areas of GLBRC research, get hands-on experience with our education materials, and delve into the development of
March 25, 2013 Read Full Article
Turning Cow Manure Into Brown Gold
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) In the heart of Wisconsin, a project is underway to produce energy from a resource that is in little danger of running low: cow manure, or “brown gold.” Thanks to a $7 million grant from the United
March 25, 2013 Read Full Article
Alternative Fuels on the Rise in Wisconsin
by Josh Lintereur (htrnews.com/Sheboygan Press Media) ...There are now about 250 Wisconsin retailers and other businesses offering alternative fuels, such as natural gas, biodiesel, E85, and electric, with more in development, according to Wisconsin Clean Cities, a Milwaukee-based nonprofit that
March 18, 2013 Read Full Article
Anellotech and the Advent of the Green ‘Enes
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Fast pyrolysis developer plans to rapidly expand green benzene and toluene production in 2013 for downstream product development purposes. Opens new pilot plant, R&D facility in New York; green BTX platform ready to emerge. ...In
March 12, 2013 Read Full Article
Bill Would Limit EPA's Ability to Increase Cellulosic RFS Volumes
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Pending legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives aims to limit the ability of the U.S. EPA to increase the cellulosic biofuel requirements its sets each year under the renewable fuel standard (RFS). The
February 19, 2013 Read Full Article
Sweetwater Energy, Ace Ethanol Sign Landmark Cellulosic Ethanol Deal
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) $4/gallon capex, low opex, $15 million upfront. Existing offtakers. Cellulosic RINs. Expandable. Product diversification. Operating next year. What’s not to like? ...There’s a side door opening into cellulosic ethanol. Costs you very little up front, payback
January 04, 2013 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
New Biofuel Conversion Process Cuts Costly Separating Step
(University of Wisconsin-Madison) Using a biomass-derived solvent, University of Wisconsin-Madison chemical and biological engineers have streamlined the process for converting lignocellulosic biomass into high-demand chemicals or energy-dense liquid transportation fuel. Their new method eliminates the need for costly pretreatment steps that
November 18, 2012 Read Full Article
Bioenergy in the High School Classroom: Bioprospecting Lab
(Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center) Bioprospecting Lab: In collaboration with 2011 Research Experience for Teachers participant Craig Kohn and GLBRC scientists in Cameron Currie's Lab at UW-Madison, we are developing a new lab sequence in which students search for cellulose-degrading
October 29, 2012 Read Full Article
New Biorenewables Technology Moves Closer to Marketplace Licensing Agreement between Startup Hyrax and WARF to Accelerate Commercial Development
(Hyrax Energy) A licensing agreement for a novel renewable chemical and biofuel production method between Hyrax Energy and the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation promises to accelerate commercial development of the technology and lead to high-quality U.S. jobs. Developed in the laboratory
October 24, 2012 Read Full Article
Ethanol Plant to Hold Open House on Oct. 20
(Beaver Dam Daily Citizen) Everything about ethanol will be discussed at the Friesland Renewable Energy Production facility on Saturday, Oct. 20, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. During the open house, members of the United Wisconsin Grain Producers will be providing
October 15, 2012 Read Full Article
Labeling Renewable Energies: How the Language Surrounding Biofuels Can Influence Its Public Acceptance
by Michael A. Cacciatore, Dietram A. Scheufele, Bret R. Shaw (Science Direct/Energy Policy) Despite growing interest and investments in biological fuels, little is known of how the public form opinions toward this alternative fuel technology. This study examines public opinion
October 02, 2012 Read Full Article
UMass-Amherst Team Solves Mystery of Cellulose Chains Breakdown
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) What exactly happens in depolymerization, as hydrogen bonds break down? How could that revolutionize the process of making fuels, solvents, thinners, lacquers or paints out of biobased materials? Before one is able to arrange a global
September 19, 2012 Read Full Article
Native Plants Fuel Ethanol Plant
(Yahoo! News) Applied Ecological Services, The Earth Partners, LP, and POET team up to apply science to industry: Cross-sector demonstration showcases the potential of conservation biomass as an alternative energy source. It’s a very good week for the United States alternative energy industry, and an even better
September 05, 2012 Read Full Article
Ethanol Offers American Drivers Relief at the Pump
(Renewable Fuels Association) ...Gas prices have been increasing as well. However, relief at the gas pump is possible thanks to America’s growing use of ethanol. According to updated research released by the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development and conducted by economics professors
September 04, 2012 Read Full Article
Engineers Pursue Flexible Electronics, Self-folding Structures and Controlled Photosynthesis on a Grand Scale
(National Science Foundation) The National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced 15 Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation (EFRI) grants for fiscal year 2012, awarding nearly $30 million to 68 investigators at 26 institutions. During the next four years, teams of researchers
August 30, 2012 Read Full Article
Biodiesel Powers Truck to Pulling Win
by John Davis (DomesticFuel.com) The power of biodiesel was on display in Wisconsin for all to see as Herb Blaser’s 2011 Dodge Cummins Diesel 3500 roared to a win at the 2012 Almena Fun Days Truck Pull. Blaser, a coordinator at SunPower
August 15, 2012 Read Full Article
Cow Manure Is Focus of Biofuel Research
The race to create a better, less controversial biofuel has spawned plenty of research into a variety of potential new sources - including switchgrass, cornstalks and algae. One goal behind the next generation of ethanol fuel is to end the debate
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
Seafaring Biofuels: Finding the Right Fuel for the Fleet
by Ysabel Yates (Renewable Energy World) ...For the next two years, Rolf Reitz and his team will be developing a model to work out the right mix of biofuel for the Navy’s fleet. Reitz’s work is critical because Navy Secretary Ray Mabus
July 24, 2012 Read Full Article
Designing Microbes that Make Energy-Dense Biofuels without Sugar
(R&D Magazine) With metabolically engineered microorganisms hungry for levulinic acid rather than sugar, a University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison) chemical and biological engineer aims to create more sustainable, cost-effective processes for converting biomass into high-energy-density hydrocarbon fuels. ...Brian Pfleger, a UW-Madison assistant
July 20, 2012 Read Full Article
Biofuels Patent Issued For Lignin-Solvent Process
(JustMeans.com) A patent that opens the door for the creation of biofuels from abundantly available plant fiber has been issued to researchers at the Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Technology (WIST) at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. WIST’s first patent is for
July 19, 2012 Read Full Article
Modeling Biofuel Fitness for the Sea
(University of Wisconsin-Madison) With the help of a $2 million grant from the U.S. Office of Naval Research, mechanical engineers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison will develop a tool to characterize the performance of a new class of alternative fuels
July 18, 2012 Read Full Article
Biofuels Patent Marks Milestone for Madison Research Hub
Thomas Content (Journal Sentinel) C5-6 Technologies of Middleton and the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center in Madison are celebrating a milestone - the awarding of the first patent from the center's next-generation biofuels research. The patent covers research into a heat-resistant
July 17, 2012 Read Full Article
Hey Kids! Grab Your Scissors and Glue! Fun, Transformative Things to Do with Bacteria!
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Of all the microbes we know – and, basically, the human body is a boutique hotel for hosting them, with researchers now estimating that for every human cell in a body, there are at least
July 05, 2012 Read Full Article
New Kids on the Block: 12 hot bio-based technologies worth watching (Parts 1 and 2)
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Yet, even in an era where venture capital has been harder to come by (Why? See these 42 article links under the rubric, “The VC Model is Broken” ) — some great technologies have been getting out
June 25, 2012 Read Full Article
New Early Career Awards Support Biofuels Research
by Jill Sakai and Renee Meiller (University of Wisconsin-Madison) A young generation of researchers are seeking biofuels in some unlikely sounding places: toxic algae blooms and cow stomachs. Two University of Wisconsin-Madison professors are drawing on these robust yet simple natural
June 04, 2012 Read Full Article
United Cooperative Fitting Cenex Sites for Flex-Fueling
(CSP Daily News) Installs ethanol blender pumps across southcentral Wisconsin United Cooperative has been selected to receive a $448,500 Rural Energy for America Program grant to assist with the installation of 36 ethanol flex-fuel blender pumps and seven biodiesel dispensers at
May 30, 2012 Read Full Article
United Cooperative Installs Ethanol Flex-Fuel Blender Pumps across South-Central Wisconsin
(Beaver Dam Daily Citizen) United Cooperative was selected to receive a $448,500 Rural Energy for America Program grant to assist with the installation of 36 ethanol flex-fuel blender pumps and seven biodiesel dispensers at 11 of United Cooperative’s Cenex convenience
May 25, 2012 Read Full Article
Sugar Rush: The Race Is on to Commercialize Low-Cost, High-Quality Sugars from Nonfood Sources
by Bryan Sims (Biorefining Magazine) The biorefining industry is hungry for a low-cost, high-quality and readily available supply of sugar feedstock from nonfood biomass sources. A number of pure-play sugar technology developers and manufacturers like Renmatix, Virdia (formerly HCL CleanTech),
May 02, 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
Virdia, Virent Pioneer New Super-Performing, Parity-Cost Renewable Jet Fuel Pathway
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Virent, Virdia debut super-performing drop-in aviation biofuels made from drop-in cellulosic pine tree sugars; “passed under conditions where conventional jet fuels would fail,” says Air Force. In Wisconsin, Virent and Virdia (formerly HCL CleanTech), announced the
March 27, 2012 Read Full Article
Cenusa Bioenergy Receives $25 Million Grant from USDA
by Kelly Madsen (IowaStateDaily.com) The Iowa State University-led Cenusa Bioenergy project works to develop a biofuel with both a Midwestern and environmental focus. Through a five-year, $25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture,
March 26, 2012 Read Full Article
Connecting Classrooms to Cutting-Edge Science
(Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center) Students in Craig Kohn’s biotechnology classroom are on the hunt for biomass degraders. Scavenging for unique samples in piles of leaves or compost bins, they can use a simple filter paper test to determine if
March 05, 2012 Read Full Article
Shell Busts a Move: Builds Drop-In Biofuels Pilot Plant in Texas
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) While confusion reigneth on Shell’s plans for cellulosic ethanol, the company quietly builds a drop-in biofuels pilot plant in Texas, based on Virent’s bioforming technology. ...After a stunning move to establish an $12 billion joint venture
February 28, 2012 Read Full Article
Brazilian Demand Gives U.S. Ethanol Producers a Big Boost
by Steve Tarter (The State-Journal Register) More U.S. ethanol was shipped overseas in 2011 than any year in history. The Washington, D.C.-based Renewable Fuels Association reported that 1.1 billion gallons of ethanol — worth about $2.5 billion — were exported to
February 16, 2012 Read Full Article
Sensenbrenner's Position Isn't Best for Wisconsin
by Bob Sather (Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel/Wisconsin Bio-Industry Alliance) This week, U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) once again failed to support Wisconsin, instead choosing to target an industry that generates more than a billion dollars annually for the state's economy. Sensenbrenner's
February 13, 2012 Read Full Article
Wisconsin Bioenergy Research Center to Open in Madison This Fall
by Bryan Sims (Biorefinery Magazine) The newest of three bioenergy research facilities in the U.S. is slated to come online this fall on the University of Wisconsin campus in Madison, as construction is progressing on schedule for the new 104,000
February 02, 2012 Read Full Article
Iowa State University-Led Group Awarded $25 Million Grant for Land Use, Biofuel Production Study
(Iowa State University) Now, an Iowa State University-based study over the next five years will examine whether a single, coordinated production system can address all of these concerns while making profits for producers. A multi-state, interdisciplinary team led by Ken Moore,