Solar Generated Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

Bioengineering firm Joule Biotechnologies of Massachusetts recently unveiled a new technology that uses sunlight to directly convert carbon dioxide into ethanol. The process, called Helioculture™, produces what the company is calling SolarFuel™ liquid energy. According to Joule, the conversion requires no agricultural land or fresh water, and leverages a highly scalable system capable of producing more than 20,000 gallons of …

biomass, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Solar

Biofuel System Follows the Crop

Cindy Zimmerman

A Maryland-based biotech/biofuel company is working on the development of a portable biofuel production system called “Follow the Crop.” Atlantic Biomass Conversions president Bob Kozak recently explained the concept to Congressman Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD 6th) at his Go Green Energy Expo in Frederick, Maryland. According to Kozak, instead of bringing biomass to biorefineries, the bioconversion technology will go to the …

biomass, Cellulosic, Ethanol News, Research

BYO Ethanol Initiative Launched

Cindy Zimmerman

Corn growers and the ethanol industry are uniting to provide consumers with more choices at the pump, gas station owners with more product flexibility, and the nation with the ability to achieve its renewable fuels targets with a new campaign to increase the number of ethanol blender pumps nationwide. The campaign is a partnership between leading corn-producing states, the American …

ACE, corn, Ethanol News, Flex Fuel Vehicles, NCGA, RFA

Hawaii Commission Deals Blow to Biodiesel Deal

John Davis

A deal that would have provided biodiesel to a Hawaiian Electric Co. plant has been dealt a tough blow that in all intents and purposes kills the project. The Honolulu Star-Bulletin reports that the state Public Utilities Commission has denied HECO’s request to change where it would have gotten the green fuel for its plant: According to the contract terms, …

Biodiesel

Grassley, Cantwell Introduce Bi-Partisan Biodiesel Bill

John Davis

A bill that would extend the biodiesel tax incentive by five years, as well as changing the way the program is administered, has been introduced. SustainableBusiness.com reports it is a bi-partisan measure from Democrat U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington state and Republican Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa: The Biodiesel Tax Incentive Reform and Extension Act is expected to provide …

Biodiesel, Government, Legislation

Rhode Island Students to Show Off Fuel Cell Model T

John Davis

A group of Rhode Island students who drove a biodiesel-powered truck 3,000 miles cross-country last summer are showing off their latest green energy project. A fuel-celled powered Model T from Ponaganset High School, put together by teacher Ross McCurdy and his student, is going to be on display at GovEnergy 2009, the premier energy training workshop and tradeshow for Federal …

Miscellaneous

Ethanol Group Proposes Biofuels Road Map

Cindy Zimmerman

Growth Energy today introduced a renewable fuels road map desigened to “help America reduce our dependence on foreign oil, create new green collar jobs and reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases.” Growth Energy co-chairman, retired General Wesley Clark announced the five-point plan at the National Clean Energy Summit in Las Vegas, NV. The five main points of the road map …

Ethanol, Growth Energy

Congress Takes Cash for Clunkers from Loan Program

Cindy Zimmerman

“Cash for Clunkers” has another $2 billion to get less fuel-efficient vehicles off the road – but the renewable energy loan guarantee program has $2 billion less for research into alternative fuels. Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen says Congress should replace those borrowed funds as soon as possible. “While the cash for clunkers idea has merit, it …

Ethanol News, Government, RFA