DOE Official: Algae and Biomass Future of Biofuels

John Davis

Oil from algae and the biomass from the green microbes could be the future for advanced biofuels… that word from a top U.S. Department of Energy official. Biomass Magazine reports that Valerie Reed of the U.S. DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy said at the Pacific Rim Summit on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy held this week in Honolulu, …

algae, BIO, biomass, Cellulosic, Ethanol, Ethanol News, News

Algae to be Focus of BIO’s Pacific Rim Summit

John Davis

Leading researchers and companies looking to turn algae into biofuels will meet in Hawaii next month to talk about progress and challenges with the green-slime-into-green-fuel process. The Biotechnology Industry Organization’s (BIO) 2009 Pacific Rim Summit on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy will be held Nov. 8-11, 2009 in Honolulu: Brent Erickson, executive vice president of BIO’s Industrial and Environmental Section, said, …

algae, BIO, biofuels

BIO to Congress: Don’t Put Biofuels in Double Jeopardy

John Davis

The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) is trying to head off any possible efforts to subject biodiesel and ethanol to another set of greenhouse gas emission regulations that would effectively put the green fuels under a double jeopardy situation. Arguing that biofuels are already regulated under the Renewable Fuels Standard, BIO has sent a letter to Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), chair …

BIO, Biodiesel, biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government, Legislation, News

BIO Calls for EPA to be Fair on RFS2

John Davis

The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) has joined the chorus of renewable fuel advocates who are calling on the EPA to give biodiesel and ethanol a fair shake in the proposed Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS2). BIO’s remarks come as a growing number of green fuels backers say the EPA has to acknowledge the full extent of the uncertainty in its estimation …

BIO, Biodiesel, Ethanol, Ethanol News, News

Webinar Features Talk on Algae for Fuels & Chemicals

John Davis

Last time, we told you about how researchers are working on ways of making algae into a viable feedstock for Midwest biodiesel production. In this edition of the Domestic Fuel Cast, we continue the conversation on algae and it’s potential as a fuel… and the chemical by-products and processes it can bring to the table. During the recent 2009 World …

algae, Audio, BIO, Biodiesel, Domestic Fuel Cast

Synthetic Biology for Next-Generation Biofuels

Joanna Schroeder

The 2009 World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing, is in full swing in Montreal, Quebec, Canada and I had the opportunity to listen in to a webinar sponsored by the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO). The session focused on the technical and commercial advances in the use of synthetic biology for next-generation biofuels. Four companies participated in the panel and …

BIO, Biodiesel, biofuels, conferences, Ethanol

Charles Holliday Wins George Washington Carver Award

Joanna Schroeder

“Think boldly. Act Responsibly. And don’t give up too easily.” Wise words from Charles (Chad) O. Holliday, Jr., DuPont Chairman of the Board, as he received the George Washington Carver Award for Innovation in Industrial Biotechnology given today by the Biotechnology Industry Organization during the 2009 World Congress. The award was given at a plenary lunch of the sixth annual …

Agribusiness, BIO, Biotech

DOE Announces $85 Million for Algal and Advanced Biofuels

Joanna Schroeder

Last week, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced that they would offer up to $85 million in funding for the development of algae-based biofuels and advanced, infrastructure-compatible biofuels. The funding comes as part of the funds released from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The goal of the monies is to bring together a group of leading algae and …

algae, BIO, Government, News

DF Cast: Making the Case for Biofuels to the EPA

John Davis

Members of the biofuels industries, including those growing the feedstocks to make the green fuels of ethanol and biodiesel, made their way to Washington, D.C. this week to try to stop the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from implementing rules that the biofuels folks will hurt their industry. The biggest point of contention is the EPA’s Indirect Land Use proposal that …

Audio, BIO, Biodiesel, Domestic Fuel Cast, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government, Indirect Land Use, NBB, NCGA, News, POET, RFA

Corn Ethanol Done Right

Cindy Zimmerman

Corn growers and ethanol producers have joined forces for a new ad campaign stressing how corn-based ethanol gets biofuels right. The campaign includes a full-page ad running in Politico, a Capitol Hill newspaper. The print ad stresses important facts about corn and ethanol, such as the increase in yields over the last 20 years, the decrease in the amount of …

ACE, BIO, corn, Ethanol, Growth Energy, RFA