Researchers from the University of California Berkeley and the University of Maryland School of Medicine have discovered a microbe in a Nevada hot spring that enjoys eating cellulose (aka plant material) at temperatures above the boiling point of water, 109 degrees Celsius or 228 degrees Fahrenheit. This microbe could hold a key in developing technologies to improve the breakdown of …
Renewable Energy Production Surpasses Nuclear
Renewable energy production has surpassed nuclear energy production in the U.S. according to the latest issue of Monthly Energy Review published by the Energy Information Administration. Production of alternative energy is also beginning to close in on domestic oil production. During the first three months of 2011, energy produced from renewable energy sources (biomass/biofuels, geothermal, solar, hydro, wind) generated 2.245 …
Pilot Scale Waste-to-Energy Plant Operational
A pilot scale waste-to-energy facility is now up and running in Edmonton, Canada. The $12.5 million Advanced Energy Research Facility is comprised of both the plant and a full-scale lab. The project is a partnership between Alberta Innovates – Energy and Environment Solutions (AI-EES), the City of Edmonton and Enerkem. The province of Alberta is well known as an oil …
How Do Farmers Choose Bioenergy Crops?
Carolyn Hoagland was recently awarded the Volkswagen Distinguished Scholar for her work in learning about how farmers choose to grow bioenergy crops. Hoagland, an adult student, is an environmental science major at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC). She conducted her research while working as an intern at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Hoagland found that many aspects of …
Iowa 15% Ethanol Incentive Takes Effect
Iowa could become the first state in the nation with fuel pumps sporting the new 15% ethanol (E15) labels approved this week by the Environmental Protection Agency along with final rules allowing E15 to be used in all 2001 and newer passenger vehicles later this summer. Effective July 1, Iowa retailers are eligible for a three cent per gallon tax …
What Would Happen If Ethanol Tax Credit Extended?
There are several proposed amendments to current ethanol tax policy including the VEETC and tariff. Many believe that these incentives will disappear at the end of the year, but what would happen if they were extended? Today, the blender’s credit (VEETC) is 45 cents and the ethanol tariff is 54 cents. According to research conducted by University of Missouri economists, …
Oil Independence for a Stronger America Act Introduced
Today U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tom Carper (D-DE), Tom Udall (D-NM) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) introduced the Oil Independence for a Stronger America Act today in an effort to eliminate dependence on foreign oil by 2030 and create a National Council on Energy Security that would be charged with providing recommendations to the President and Congress to ensure America’s …
Biofuel IPOs On The Rise
The biofuels industry is making a come-back with several successful IPOs (initial public offering) over the past few months. Today, KiOR announced its initial public offering of 10,000,000 shares of Class A common stock at $15 per share. The company raised nearly $138 million of proceeds from the IPO which occurred on June 24. Other successful IPO’s include the much-awaited …
DDCE Selects Nevada, IA for Cellulosic Ethanol Plant
DDCE has selected Nevada, Iowa for its cellulosic ethanol biorefinery to be located adjacent to Lincolnway Energy, LLC’s corn-ethanol plant. The company has entered into an agreement to purchase land when completed, where the plant will be sited. The biorefinery will be one of the first commercial scale cellulosic ethanol plants producing fuel from corn stover, corn cobs and leaves, …
Sydney, Australia Home of New Algal Biomass Facility
Algae.Tec Limited in collaboration with Manildra Group have announced the construction of an algae demonstration facility in Shoalhaven One, in Nowra south of Sydney, Australia. Manildra Group is the country’s largest ethanol producer. Algae.Tec Executive Roger Stroud said the partnership contract has been signed and final logistical plans are being made and submissions for permits are also in the works. …