Brazil’s GranBio Open US Operations

Joanna Schroeder

Brazil-based GranBio has announced plans to expand to the U.S. with an office in San Francisco and has name Vonnie Estes as the managing director. In this new role, Ms. Estes will lead GranBio’s efforts to access new technologies and establish key public and private collaborations for the company’s continued global expansion in advanced biorefinery development. Ms. Estes joins GranBio …

advanced biofuels, Brazil, Company Announcement

Bioenergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

World Energy Solutions, Inc. has named Martha Danly as its Chief Operating Officer, promoting her from Chief Product Officer. As COO, Danly will oversee company-wide operations, product strategy, product marketing, software development, IT and the ongoing delivery of the Company’s signature online energy platform, the World Energy Exchange. Mounting Systems has introduced the ground mount system Sigma II GO Kits …

Bioenergy Bytes

Florida Axes State Renewable Fuel Standard

Joanna Schroeder

Earlier this week, the Florida Legislature passed HB4001, a bill that repeals the state Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Senator Greg Evers was a huge supporter of the bill, that allows Florida consumers the ability to purchase gasoline that is ethanol free. In a statement, Evers said, “The bill eliminates the unnecessary power of the government to force Florida citizens to …

biofuels, Ethanol, Growth Energy, RFA

Mosaic Releases Large Solar Project for Investment

Joanna Schroeder

Mosaic, an online marketplace that connects investors to high-quality solar projects, has released its largest solar project to date with $700k in investment opportunities. This is the company’s second project in its Golden State Series, a $100 million series of solar investments available to residents of California. Mosaic’s first offering, a $153,000 project for a charity in San Diego, sold …

Alternative energy, Electricity, Energy, Solar

Facebook Blows Into Iowa with the Wind

Joanna Schroeder

According to a story from Radio Iowa, Jay Parikh, vice president of infrastructure engineering for Facebook, was in Altoona, Iowa earlier this week to officially announce they will be constructing a 476,000 square-foot data center. One of the reasons cited for the social media giant to choose Iowa: it’s commitment to renewable energy including wind energy. Parikh said the company …

Alternative energy, Electricity, Energy, Wind

Ski Area Powered by Renewables

Joanna Schroeder

It’s spring and most people are tired of the snow, but not Berkshire East, who has completed a solar installation that enables the Massachusetts family ski run area to be powered entirely from onsite renewable energy. The year-round resort recently developed a 500kW solar tracker farm that will produce 700,000kWh annually. The solar farm will supplement a 900kW wind turbine …

Alternative energy, Electricity, Energy, Solar, Wind

Heliae Reveals Volaris – Algae Production Platform

Joanna Schroeder

Heliae has revealed its latest microalgae production platform, Volaris, the result of five years of research and development. The technology was designed to produce high purity microalgae at competitive prices. According to the company, Volaris will enable large-scale production for diverse markets and provide a natural, sustainable and consistent supply of alage-based products to meet worldwide demand. “Good science takes …

advanced biofuels, algae

Who Knew? Morocco & Environment Go Together

Joanna Schroeder

I have this urge to travel to Morocco if nothing for the sheer desire to re-enact Casablanca as Ilsa Lund, played by Ingrid Bergman. (Who wants to come along and play my husband Victor Laszlo played by Paul Henreid and Rick Blaine, played by Humphrey Bogart? Apply to @jmschroeder) While many people will be mumbling to themselves this is the stupidest …

Alternative energy, Climate Change, Environment, Opinion, Solar

Ornicept: Wind Energy Technology for the Birds

Joanna Schroeder

Earlier this month, the winners were announced in the Clean Energy Challenge, and prize winner, Ornicept, has a unique technology that can aid in the mitigation of bird issues associated with wind turbines. The technology was developed last May by young entrepreneurs Justin Otani and his co-founder Russell Conard, who graduated from Indiana University. Early on they won a business …

Alternative energy, Audio, Energy, Environment, Wind

Neil Young Fills ‘er Up with Cellulosic Ethanol

Joanna Schroeder

Earlier this month, Hall of Fame recording artist Neil Young stopped by Sioux Falls, South Dakota to fill up his LincVolt with POET-DSM cellulosic ethanol. LincVolt is a hybrid-electric 1959 Lincoln Continental with onboard charging powered by cellulosic ethanol. He’s on a cross-country tour to highlight renewable energy. During his visit, Young said you don’t see much about what is …

advanced biofuels, Cellulosic, Climate Change, Electric Vehicles, Environment, Ethanol, Video