During a visit to a Massachusetts renewable energy company on Friday, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack highlighted USDA’s continuing efforts to invest in research and development projects that will help reduce America’s reliance on foreign oil. Vilsack toured Agrivida, a company that is developing technologies to reduce the cost of converting biofuel feedstocks into sugar, focusing on sorghum, corn stover, and …
Bill Encourages Domestic Fuel Use for Military
The “Domestic Fuel for Enhancing National Security Act” has been re-introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. Rep. Jay Inslee (D-Wash.), who introduced the bill at the end of the last Congress, once again put forth the bipartisan bill which will allow Civilian Agencies and Military Agencies to extend multi-year contracts from the current limit of 5 years to up …
Bullish on Biodiesel
Biodiesel is back, but it needs the tax credit to keep it going. At the 4th International Biomass Conference and Expo, Joe Jobe with the National Biodiesel Board, said they are very optimistic about the state of the industry right now. “Our plants are coming back on line and we’re very bullish,” Jobe said. “We believe that we’re going to …
First Mercedes Benz EV Delivered to Iceland
The first AMP electric Mercedes Benz, manufactured in Cincinnati, OH, has been delivered to Gisli Gislason, Chairman and CEO of Ireland-based Northern Lights Energy (NLE). This is the first in a contract worth $100 million to bring EV to Iceland. The car was “electrified” by AMP Electric Vehicles, a subsidiary of AMP Holding. This is the first EV delivered as …
Canada Fears Rising Gas Prices
I just returned from Toronto, Canada after attending the 2011 BIO World Congress (great stuff and check back as I post a series of audio interviews from the conference) and the country is feeling the impacts of rising gas prices. Consumers in Central Canada have seen gas prices rise nearly 30 cents almost overnight despite the drop in oil prices …
Air Force Tests Independence Bio-Products’ Algae Jet Fuel
The Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright Patterson Air Force Base is testing jet fuel derived from algae produced by Dublin, Ohio based Independence Bio-Products (IBP). The algae was grown in open ponds in Ohio and harvested with the company’s patent pending harvest system. The tests are part of federally funded project to examine Algae to Fuel (ATF) processing technologies. …
Waste Management Invests in Agnion
Waste Management (WM) has announced they have invested in Agnion Energy, a company developing gasification technology. WM joins other company investors including Kleiner Perkins, Caufield Byers, Munich Venture Partners, and Wellington Partners. Agnion’s allothermal gasification technology converts solid biomass feedstock into a hydrogen and carbon monoxide synthetic gas (syngas) with high heating value. The syngas can then be converted into …
350Green Installs 3 EV Charging Stations in Bay Area
The Bay Area is the home of three new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. 350Green, in partnership with Simon Property Group, will install one EV charging station at the Stanford Shopping Center, one at Santa Rosa Plaza and one at Coddingtown Mall. These are the first three major shopping areas to offer EV charging in the Bay Area while consumer …
AE Biofuels Re-Starts California Ethanol Plant
The AE Biofuels ethanol plant in central California is back in production. Subsidiary AE Advanced Fuels Keyes has restarted operations at the 55 million gallon per year ethanol production facility located in Keyes, California and hired about 50 full time employees. The company announced in March it was restarting the plant, which has been closed since 2009. The original $130 …
Iowa Corn Indy 250 Promotion
The Iowa Corn Growers got competitive with Indy today at the Iowa Speedway. In the photo Indy car driver Ryan Hunter-Reay competes on pedal tractors with Dick Gallagher, Iowa Corn Promotion Board Chairman. Waving the green flag to start is Shannon Textor, Iowa Corn Growers Market Development Director. Today was a promotional event that included Indy Car drivers, Iowa corn …