Oil prices are heading skyward again with U.S. prices soaring past $100 a barrel. The average cost of a gallon of gasoline rose 7.5 cents nationwide in less than one week and there is growing concern that gas prices will continue to rise due to escalating political turmoil in the Middle East. “Here we go again. With domestic oil now …
Syngenta Pledges Support for Renewable Fuels
During the American Ethanol 200 presented by Enogen this past Saturday held at the Newton Speedway, Syngenta announced a three-year commitment to contribute $1 to the renewable fuels industry for every acre planted with Enogen trait technology. The initiative, that began with this year’s growing season, will help support America’s Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and promote the benefits of renewable …
Carbo Analytics Recieves DOE Grant
Carbo Analytics, developers of sugar analysis systems, has received a Department of Energy (DOE) grant for the development of a biofuels sugar analysis system. The company was awarded a $150,000 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant for FY 2013. Their application “Simple and Rapid Determination of Total Accessible C5 and C6 Content of Biomass Samples” was one of 79 that …
BioEnergy Bytes
The 33rd Alcohol School, hosted by the Ethanol Technology Institute, is scheduled for September 15-20, 2013 in Montreal, Quebec. The school is designed to educate delegates on proven technology and advances in fuel ethanol and distilled beverage production, and delegates have the opportunity to attend either Fuel or Distilled Beverage lectures. The Interstate Renewable Energy Council, Inc. (IREC) has received …
New FOE Study Slams Biofuels
A new study by Friends of the Earth slams biofuels and bases many of its conclusions on indirect land use change (ILUC) a hotly debated theory. The report, “Understanding the Biofuel Trade-offs between Indirect Land Use Change, Hunger and Poverty,” authored by Timothy Searchinger, relies on ILUC theory and leaves out several underlying causes of global hunger when making an …
Propane Road Tour Hits the Road
The Propane Road Tour is hitting the road today sponsored by Blue Bird, a manufacturer of propane autogas powered school buses and ROUSH CleanTech. The single-bus tour will stop at iconic American landmarks on its way to deliver the last bus from the largest single order of 434 propane-fueled buses to Student Transportation of America’s (STA) new terminal in Omaha, …
St. Louis Scientists Invited to the White House
The White House invited Dr. Terry Woodford-Thomas, director of science education and outreach at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center along with Dr. Cindy Encarncion, director of life sciences at the St. Louis Science Center to D.C. during a recent Champions of Change award program event. The event recognized American citizens’ contributions to their communities and highlighted “citizen science” projects …
Houses Passes Revised Version of Farm Bill
The House has voted to pass a partisan, revised version of its farm bill, H.R. 1947, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 (FARRM) 216 to 208. The version does not include food stamp authorization but keeps in tact current agricultural programs. The debate over the bill has been long and drawn out and took up most …
EU Votes to Cap Biofuel “Food” Feedstock Use
This week the European Parliament Environment Committee voted for the European Union (EU) to cap the amount of food used as biofuels at 5.5 percent. Groups opposed to the measure want to see an end to biofuels created from “food” crops. The EU’s Renewable Energy Directive requires EU member states to use 10 percent of the road transport fuel from …
BioEnergy Bytes
POET-DSM Advanced Biofuels has hired Michael Nealon as the new Corporate Controller. Nealon will be responsible for planning, organizing, directing, and controlling the consolidated accounting and financial reporting function for POET-DSM Advanced Biofuels, LLC. Omnitek Engineering Corporation has been selected by the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency for a pilot project to demonstrate its diesel-to-natural gas engine conversion technology for …