Advanced biofuels can be commercialized rapidly for military use, on military timelines, with adequate support and coordination of efforts by the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Defense and Energy, according to comments submitted by the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) to the Air Force’s Request for Information on the commercial status and market for advanced drop-in biofuels. “The U.S. military and the …
Farm Foundation Hosts Renewable Energy Webinar
The use of anaerobic digesters for livestock operations in the Southwest is the focus of the Renewable Energy Education Field Day webinar planned for later this month. The webinar will be presented on Wednesday October 26 and will examine technical, environmental and financial factors to consider when installing an anaerobic digester on a livestock operation and specifically the use of …
Southeast Partnership Formed for Biomass Development
Development of biomass for energy in the southeast was also included in the USDA grants announced this week in the Pacific Northwest. Among the grants is $15 million for research to be led by the University of Tennessee to develop sustainable feedstock production systems using switchgrass and woody biomass that will “produce low-cost, easily converted sugars for biochemical conversion to …
SunPower Opens Biodiesel Fueling Station in Duluth
SunPower Biodiesel has announced the opening of their first biodiesel fueling station in Minnesota. The company’s original prototype FuelMaster® biodiesel station is located at SunPower’s production facility, based in Cumberland, Wisconsin. The newest addition is located in Duluth, MN and offers B99 (99% biodiesel and 1% petroleum diesel, the first station in Northern Minnesota to offer a B99 blend. Jamie …
Indiana Corn Growers Offer Ethanol Blender Pump Grants
Hoosier consumers will soon be seeing new flex fuel pumps at fuel retailers across the state thanks to a new program launched by the Indiana Corn Marketing Council (ICMC). The Flex Fuel Pump Program, unveiled during the Indiana Ethanol Forum in Indianapolis earlier this summer, awarded cost-share dollars to Indiana fuel retailers looking to install flex fuel pumps. Recipients of …
Renewable Energy Group Transitions Leadership
The board of Renewable Energy Group (REG) today announced the succession plan for a seamless transition of the company’s leadership positions. The board offered unanimous approval of Jeff Stroburg’s request to transition from the dual position of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer to the sole role of Chairman of the Board. Daniel Oh, currently President and Chief …
Sorghum Could be Aviation Biofuel Feedstock
Louisiana State University is getting $17 million from USDA to study how to turn sugar cane and sorghum into biofuels. The project is one of the five announced yesterday by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, focused on developing aviation biofuels from various types of biomass. “We have an incredible opportunity to create thousands of new jobs and drive economic development in …
USDA Announces New Aviation Biofuels Projects
At the Seattle-Tacoma Airport on Wednesday, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced five major agricultural research projects “aimed at developing regional, renewable energy markets, generating rural jobs, and decreasing America’s dependence on foreign oil.” Altogether, the five-year program will deliver more than $136 million in research and development grants to public and private sector partners in 22 states. University partners from …
New DOE Report Asseses Energy Technology
The U.S. Department of Energy has released a brand new report that recognizes the importance of renewable energy for the nation’s future. The inaugural Quadrennial Technology Review report (DOE-QTR) is billed as “an assessment of the Department’s energy technology research and development portfolios” establishing a framework for energy technology activities and priorities. “Innovation in energy technology is going to be …
Global Biofuels Group Calls Qatar Comments “Self-Serving”
The Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA) is calling comments made this week by a Qatari government advisor about biofuels contributing to world hunger “self-serving.” At a global grains summit in Turkey on Monday, Quatari food security program advisor Mahendra Shah was quoted as saying, “Biofuels will trigger an increase in agricultural prices. Biofuels will result in another 120 million people …