Senators from ethanol producing states are asking the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) not to propose regulations assuming that greater U.S. biofuels use would increase carbon dioxide emissions. Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA) spoke on the Senate floor about the issue on Monday, following a letter sent by 12 senators to EPA administrator Lisa Jackson last week. Grassley expressed fears that EPA …
World Congress Focuses on Biofuels Progress
Progress toward next generation biofuels will be a focus of the 2009 World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing, to be held July 19-22, 2009 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Now in its sixth year, the conference will move to its largest venue to date, the Palais des congrès de Montréal (the Montreal Convention Centre). The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) has …
North Carolina Funds Biofuels Projects
The Biofuels Center of North Carolina is giving the emerging biofuels sector in the state a $2.77 million jolt. The Center has approved a total of 18 grants to accelerate the technologies and feedstocks needed to develop the state’s biofuels sector. “The Midwest has corn and Brazil has sugarcane. North Carolina needs to develop conversion technologies for the types of …
Canadian Cellulosic Ethanol Company Gets Grant
Canadian company Lignol Energy Corporation has received additional funding for the completion of an industrial scale cellulosic ethanol facility in British Columbia. Lignol Energy Corporation announced that the project led by its wholly-owned subsidiary, Lignol Innovations was awarded up to $1.82 million in additional funding contributions from Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC). This award is in addition to the $4.42 …
Canadian Firm Plans Cellulosic Ethanol Plant in Mississippi
A Canadian biofuels and green technology company has announced plans to build a second-generation ethanol production facility in Mississippi using wood residue and municipal waste as feedstocks. Enerkem Inc. of Montreal plans to build the plan in Pontotoc, Mississippi and has contracted with Three Rivers Solid Waste Management Authority to supply approximately 189,000 tons of unsorted municipal solid waste (MSW) …
Senate Bill Would Change Biomass Definition
Senators John Thune (R-SD), Jon Tester (D-MT), and Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) have reintroduced legislation that would fix the flawed definition of renewable biomass in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.
Energy Goals Include Biofuels Research
Energy Secretary Steven Chu says for the sake of our children and grandchildren, the United States “must decrease our dependence on oil, use energy in the most efficient ways possible, and lower our carbon emissions.” Chu told the House Science and Technology Committee this week that in order to make that happen, the government needs to increase funding and “support …
DOE Conference Focuses on Biomass Future
With appropriate policies to help overcome current fiscal constraints, the advanced biofuels industry can meet environmental goals, create new green jobs and contribute to economic growth, according to industry leaders who met this week at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of the Biomass Program’s Biomass 2009: Fueling Our Future conference. During the conference opening plenary session, titled “Dispelling …
Oil Company Buys Ethanol Plants
When the dust finally settled yesterday, oil company Valero came out with the winning bid of $477 million for seven ethanol plants owned by bankrupt producer VeraSun Energy. According to a release from VeraSun, Valero Renewable Fuels was selected as the successful bidder for assets contained in the “VSE Group”, in addition to ethanol production facilities in Albion, Neb., and …
ACE Thanks EPA Administrator for Support
The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) sent a letter this week to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson thanking her for EPA’s consideration of the application for approval to use ethanol blends up to E15. Just a few days before the waiver petition was filed, Administrator Jackson met with a group of 30 ethanol supporters who traveled to Washington DC …