Several chemists at the University of California, Berkeley have engineered bacteria for biofuels. More specifically, they have created bacteria that will churn out a gasoline-like biofuel at about 10 times the rate of competing microbes. The researchers believe this breakthrough could soon provide “green” gas. The research was published in the journal Nature Chemical Biology and authored by Assistant Professor …
GAO: Difference Between Policy & Practice on Alt. Fuels
A new report from the Government Accountability Office shows there seems to be a disconnect between what the U.S. government’s policy is regarding using alternatively fueled vehicles and what the actual practices are. This article from the Pittsburgh Business Times says the GAO has found that decision makers are faced with “confusing and, at times, contradicting mandates” that end up …
Volvo Unveils 3-Mode Hybrid
Volvo has introduce the first three-mode hybrid in the world during the 81st Geneva International Motor Show this week. During a media preview, the hybrid diesel V60 sedan was unveiled. It’s a plug-in electric vehicle concept car that the company hopes to have on European roads by 2012. The driver chooses the preferred driving mode via three buttons on the …
Ron Miller Wins RFA 2011 Membership Award
“To many of you, Ron Miller requires no introduction. He has been ethanol long before ethanol was cool,” began Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) Chairman Chuck Woodside during his introduction of Ron Miller who won the 2011 RFA Membership Award during the National Ethanol Conference that recently took place in Phoenix, Arizona. Miller has been the Chairman of RFA three times …
Jeff Lautt Named President of POET
Jeff Lautt has been named President of POET. He has been with the company since 2005 and prior to this promotion, served as Executive Vice President of Corporate Operations. Jeff Broin, the founder of POET, will remain as CEO and Chairman of the Board. “Over his six-year career at POET, Jeff Lautt has continually taken on more and more of …
Agricultural Marketing Considered A Profession
I thought we’d have a little fun with our latest ZimmPoll just to see what people really think about the nature of what many of our readers do – agrimarketing. I got a lot of comments like “I’ve never considered that it isn’t.” However, I was curious if we’d have any no votes and we did! So the question was, …
“Say No to OPEC” Campaign Launches
Just in time for Congressional lawmakers to return to work, Growth Energy launched a DC advertising blitz, “Say No to OPEC, Say Yes to America.” According to the organization, the campaign includes a display ad in Roll Call and online ads – including home-page takeovers – on TheHill.com and on the daily E&E Newsletter. Chris Thorne, Public Affairs Director for …
NextCAT to Commercially Produce Biodiesel Catalyst
A Detroit-based biodiesel technology developer will commercially produce a new catalyst designed to help produce biodiesel more cheaply. Biodiesel Magazine reports NextCAT Inc. will produce the catalyst developed at the National Biofuels Energy Laboratory at Wayne State University and integrate it into existing biodiesel plants: According to NextCAT President Charles Salley, NextCAT intends to leverage $800,000 in total funding that …
Solar Cell Developer Moving Toward Mass Production
The developer of a three-dimensional solar cell says it will be using the same low-cost processes for semiconductors to help them produce their energy cell on a mass scale. California-based Solar3D, who I profiled back in November, has announced it will use the semiconductor processes to build its unique solar cell design that traps sunlight inside micro-photovoltaic structures where photons …
2010 – Another Banner Year for Ethanol
According to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2010 was another record breaking year for American ethanol producers. Average daily ethanol production averaged nearly 863,000 barrels per day ( b/d). That represents 36.24 million gallons of daily production and nearly 13.23 billion gallons of production for calendar year 2010. 2009 ethanol production was 10.75 billion gallons. Imports for …