Ever thought about putting in your two sense on the growth of biofuels? Well, here’s your chance. The UK-based Nuffield Council on Bioethics is asking people to submit their views on the potential of biofuels. In recent months, first generation biofuels have been under fire from groups supporting the position that the net greenhouse gas emissions may not be much …
Santa Monica Recipient of First All Electric Ford Ranger
The city of Santa Monica, CA is the first to receive the first light duty, all-electric Ford Ranger for use in its public works fleet. Santa Monica was selected due to its commitment to sustainability and will serve as a hub to highlight the benefits of electric vehicles including lower operational costs and a reduced carbon footprint. The Ford Ranger …
Brazil May Reduce Level of Ethanol Blends
With a shortfall of sugarcane due to excessive rain, Brazil’s Agriculture Minister Reinhold Stephanes announced that they are considering reducing the amount of mandatory ethanol blended with gasoline. Today, all stations are required to sell gasoline mixed with a minimum of 20-25 percent ethanol. If enacted, the change could take effect as soon as this week but Stephanes has not …
Novozymes Receives $28.4 Million To Advance Biofuels
Novozymes has received a $28.4 million tax credit to aid in the construction of the company’s new enzyme manufacturing facility in Blair, Nebraska. Specifically, Novozymes has received an Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit from the Obama administration. Once complete, the plant will produce enzymes used during the production of advanced biofuels and create more than 100 ‘green’ jobs. The tax …
Mascoma Appoints William Brady as CEO
Effectively immediately, William J. Brady has taken over the helm as the new CEO for Mascoma Corporation. In addition, Brady will also join the Boards of Directors of Mascoma and Frontier Renewable Resources. He brings to the organization 23 years of experience at Cabot Corporation in various positions including Executive Vice President and General Manager of several operating divisions. Brady …
In Touch With Solar
During the Copenhagen Climate Conference, President Obama announced findings from the Environmental Protection Agency that the six major groups of greenhouse gas emissions are “an endangerment” to public health and welfare. This could lead to stricter emission regulations for vehicles, manufacturing and power plant emissions. This also shines an even brighter light on low CO2 emitting technologies such as solar …
Book Review – The End of Energy Obesity
I thought it would be apropos to tie this week’s book review into a common New Year’s resolution -weight loss. Enter “The End of Energy Obesity,” by Peter Tertzakian. While this book has the same theme as most energy books these days, breaking America’s energy addiction, it varied from the most common used parallels and likened our country’s energy addiction …
Dyadic International’s Investors Win Big in ’09
According to an article in the Palm Beach Post, Dyadic International, based in Jupiter, Florida, made a huge comeback in 2009 when investors saw their stake increase by 1,253 percent during 2009. Dyadic was featured in the newspaper’s best and worst performers of 2009 for companies based in Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie counties Florida. In the biofuels space, …
Bunge to Expand Sugar Business in Brazil
There has been quite a bit of activity in Brazil during the last few months of 2009 and it looks like it will continue. Bunge Limited announced today that it will become the 100 percent owner of Usina Moema Participacoes S.A. Moema Par is a holding company that owns one sugarcane mill and has ownership in five others. Together the …
Ethanol Buses Gaining Ground in Sao Paulo
Ethanol-powered buses are gaining ground in Sao Paulo, the largest city in Brazil. While it is unusual to see ethanol used in replacement of diesel fuel in diesel engines in the States, it is not so uncommon in other areas. In 1993, a group of companies began working together to discover a solution for mass transport and its relationship to …