There are several new alternative energy grants available for wind energy and biomass energy. The first grant, “20% Wind by 2030: Overcoming the Challenges” was posted on February 27, 2009 and closes on March 5, 2009. The government is posed to award up to 99 grants for a total of $8 million. You can get more information and apply online …
Ethanol Debuts on the Fashion Runway
Ethanol debuted on the fashion runway last year…as a pair of jeans. Yes, jeans. Fashion meets environment with these stylish jeans that are made from cotton grown with less pesticides and sold in recycled packaging. The jeans are branded “ethanol” to the hilt with the buttons sporting a “e,” and an ethanol patch on the back. But possibly the best feature is …
AWEA Sets Its Sights on 2009 and Beyond
Wind energy celebrated its biggest year in 2008 with 8,000 megawatts being installed–that’s a lot of wind. I wanted to learn more about the industry so I caught up with Susan Williams Sloan, the Outreach Manager for the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) last week during Commodity Classic. . “2008 really was a banner year for the industry,” said Sloan. …
“2008 an Anomaly Year”
“When the history books are written, 2008 most likely will go down as an anomaly year, ” began John Urbanchuk, Director of LEGC, LLC. Housing market crash. Financial market crash. Global recession. Commodity boom and bust. Wave of bankruptcies. “We slipped into a recession in December 2007, ending a seven year run of economic growth.” But, he continued, President Obama, in his address …
NRDC’s Take on Indirect Land Use
Indirect land use has been a hot topic at this year’s 14th annual National Ethanol Conference. The ethanol industry has been working closely with many organizations on this issue including the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC). I caught up with Nathanael Greene, Senior Policy Analyst–Air and Energy, after he participated in the panel: The Impact of Lifecycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions …
Biofuels Industries Form Global Renewable Fuels Alliance
The Renewable Fuels Association, the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association and the European Bioethanol Industry Organization have joined together to form the Global Renewable FuelsAlliance. Their first initiative is to reach out to the World Bank, along with other organizations, to encourage them to make investments in developing countries’ biofuels infrastructure a top priority. While Brazil is not yet a part …
Novozymes Announces 2G Enzyme Family – Cellic
It is getting more difficult everyday for the cellulosic naysayers because the ethanol industry is several steps closer today to producing commercially viable cellulosic ethanol through the research and development efforts of the industry’s largest enzymes producer, Novozymes. Executive Vice President, Peder Holk Nielen, announced during the National Ethanol Conference that their new cellulosic enzyme family, CellicTM, has the best cost/performance …
New Corn Ethanol Land Use Study Released
Indirect land-use affects of corn-based ethanol would be “small” reported Thomas Darlington, with Air Improvement Resource, Inc., today during a special press conference as part of the National Ethanol Conference. Darlington has been working with RFA to help legislators, in particular the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) better understand Land-Use Change. Indirect land use research …
Book Review – The First Billion is the Hardest
With the economy in the toilet, I thought I’d get a little inspiration from T. Boone Pickens’ book, “The First Billion is the Hardest.” I don’t know about you, but for me the first million is still eluding me…. Pickens was originally known as an oil guy, but today is best known for his role in promoting wind energy and …
Book Review – Hot, Flat, and Crowded
The other week I was meeting with Suzanne Shelton, President and CEO of the Shelton Group (you should check out their Energy Pulse research) and we were ruminating over how difficult it is to get through a Thomas Friedman book. I’ve been trying to finish Hot, Flat, and Crowded for several months and I’m proud to say, I’m finished! The …