The Indiana Soybean Alliance is offering high school teachers free Soy Biodiesel Chemistry Kits. The kits were developed by Purdue University researchers in partnership with education professionals with funding from ISA and the Indiana soybean checkoff organization. Indiana science teachers can receive the kit free as part of ISA’s program. The kit was first released in 2005 and is now …
Congress Stands Behind Military
The House and Senate Armed Services Committees finalized the National Defense Authorization Act of 2013 (NDAA) yesterday and today Congress stood behind the military by passing the Act without including controversial proposals that would have banned the Department of Defense from expanding its use of advanced biofuels. In response to the passage, Jim Greenwood, CEO and president of the Biotechnology …
Ethanol Year in Review – 2012
In this Ethanol Report, Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) president and CEO Bob Dinneen provides his naughty and nice list for Santa, talks about a new progress report on cellulosic biofuels, and promises 2013 will bring one of the biggest fights for the future of energy policy. Dinneen says those who deserve coal include industries that have continued to relentlessly attack …
Cellulosic Biofuels Progress Report
The Advanced Ethanol Council has just released a detailed look at the progress made towards the commercial deployment of advanced cellulosic biofuels. The Cellulosic Biofuels Industry Progress Report profiles production facilities and projects across the country and producing nations around the world. According to the report, all countries that were profiled are working toward developing production capacity in the U.S. …
USDA Supports Sustainable Bioenergy Production
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded $10 million in research grants to help develop production of bioenergy and biobased products. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack made the announcement while visiting Michigan State University, one of the grant winners. While there, Vilsack mentioned the growth potential of biobased products as detailed in a recent study by Iowa State University …
Bioheat is Cool
The National Biodiesel Board has launched a new television advertising campaign in the Northeast to promote the use of Bioheat. Bioheat is heating oil blended with biodiesel and is a renewable option for consumers and businesses that use heating oil to heat homes and offices. The campaign is funded by the Nebraska Soybean Board, the United Soybean Board, the Iowa …
Solazyme Project in Iowa Achieves Milestone
Solazyme has confirmed they have completed several initial fermentation runs at ADM’s facility in Clinton, Iowa. According to the company, the runs achieved commercial scale production metrics, exhibited linear scalability of its process from laboratory scale, and demonstrated the ability to run at this scale without contamination. The fermentation process is one of the critical steps needed to convert feedstock …
Online Bioenergy Systems Class Set for Spring 2013
With the success of its online bioenergy classes, the Center for Advanced BioEnergy Research (CABER) in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) at the University of Illinois (U of I), is offering the online class Bioenergy Systems (ACES 409) for the Spring 2013 semester. The class begins on January 15, 2013 and ends on May 7, 2013 …
66 Projects Receive ARPA-E Funding
Sixty-six research projects were selected to receive funding from the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA-E), part of the Department of Energy’s “OPEN 2012” program. The projects, which show fundamental technical promise but are too early for private-sector investment, will receive a combined total of $130 million. The selected projects encompass 11 technology areas in 24 states and focus on a …
BioPro EX Gets GRA Endorsement
The Green Restaurant Association (GRA) has endorsed Springboard Biodiesel’s BioPro EX made in America alternative refueling station. The technology converts grease to ASTM standard biodiesel, which according to the California Air Resources Board, emits up to 90 percent less carbon dioxide and 50 percent less particulate matter than regular diesel fuel. “Innovative technology such as the BioPro EX has made …