A new research paper involving researchers from North Carolina State University (NC State) offers insights into how biofuel chemicals react when burned. The study, “Biofuel combustion chemistry: from ethanol to biodiesel,” was conducted as an effort to help pave the way for the development of new biofuels and technologies to maximize energy efficiency while minimizing environmental and human health risks. …
BioSolar Launches Bio-Based Solar Technology
One of the criticism of alternative energy has been that it takes petroleum to produce the alternative energy. Today, BioSolar, a developer of technology to produce bio-based materials from renewable plant sources, has announced that it has begun commercial production and sales of its bio-based backsheet for solar panels. BioBacksheet is a protective backing for photovoltaic (PV) solar modules that …
How to Spend BP’s Profits on Alt Energy Programs
The pressure continues to mount as BP attempts to ebb the flow of oil in the Gulf of Mexico. As of today, oil has reached Florida and now four states have been affected: Louisiana, Alabama, Florida and Mississippi. BP has responded in part by offering $70 million to the four states to help promote tourism – an effort to offset …
Ohio Ethanol Supporters Visit DC Lawmakers
A delegation of four ethanol supporters from Ohio were welcomed today in our nation’s capital by Growth Energy. The visit is the most recent in a series of fly-ins organized by the ethanol association to show lawmakers the depth of support for federal policy that encourages the growth and continued development of ethanol. The delegation includes: Mark Borer, GM of …
RFA’s Bob Dinneen to Address World Leaders
The World Biofuels 2010 conference will kick off in Seville, Spain, tomorrow and Bob Dinneen, President and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association, will address world leaders. In anticipated remarks, Dinneen will challenge the claims that American ethanol production can’t cost compete with other producers such as Brazil. In addition, Dinneen will address misperceptions about indirect land use. “Despite claims …
Oklahoma House Passes Renewable Energy Bill
The Oklahoma Energy Security Act, House Bill 3028 sponsored by House Speaker Chris Benge of Tulsa, was passed yesterday by the House, 91-2. The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration. If the bill passes the Senate, Oklahoma will become the 32 state to have passed state renewable energy legislation. The bill would require 15 percent of all electricity generated in …
Ask POET Video Series Debuts
Consumers. We all have questions about ethanol and oftentimes don’t know where to go to find the answers. Now, you have a new resource for information – the monthly video series “Ask POET,” hosted by Nathan Schock. The idea is that for each episode, Nathan will take a question from the public and then identify and interview the most appropriate …
Alliance AutoGas Launches Propane Conversion Program
Alliance AutoGas, with the support of the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC), have received $8.6 million in funding from the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009 to fund a Southeast Propane Autogas Development Program. The program will help to build at least 17 propane refueling stations as well as convert 1,200 vehicles to propane in nine southeast states. …
Book Review – No Impact Man
So you’re a bit frustrated with the state of the climate and pretty concerned with our fossil fuel use. So what do you do? You become the No Impact Man. Colin Beavan, a writer from New York who was struggling with how to deal with climate change, decided that he, along with his wife, two year old daughter and dog, …
Biotechnology to Expand Use of Biomass In China
Novozymes continues to lead the way in biomass technologies with their new announcement that they are partnering with Dacheng Group, a major starch processing company based in China, to develop technologies designed to produce household cleaning products and plastics from agricultural waste. Both plastics and cleaning products typically have petroleum as one of their ingredients. As part of the partnership, …