Teaching Biofuels in School

Joanna Schroeder

Shane Robinson, associate professor in the Oklahoma State University Department of Agricultural Education, Communications and Leadership wants to teach students math and science through green energy and biofuels. He is partnering with the OSU Biobased Products and Energy Center (BioPEC), who has an objective to provide education about biobased products and energy through secondary education. “A focus of ours is …

Alternative energy, biofuels, Education, Environment, Renewable Energy, Wind

Ethanol Industry: Update GHG Analysis

Joanna Schroeder

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is calling for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to update their lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) analyses of corn and sugarcane ethanol for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The association made the request in a letter sent to the EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson. RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen wrote, “There have been literally dozens of …

Alternative energy, biofuels, Ethanol, Indirect Land Use, RFA

News of Senate Allowing Military Biofuel Use Welcomed

John Davis

The U.S. Senate repeal of a second provision in the military’s budget that would have blocked the developing the use biofuel alternatives is being welcomed by biofuel makers. Yesterday, The Senate voted 62-37 to pass an amendment by Senator Mark Udall (D-CO) repealing section 313 of the FY2013 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which prohibited DOD from procuring alternative fuels …

biofuels, Government, Growth Energy, Legislation, RFA

DoShort Review – Sustainable Transport Fuels

Joanna Schroeder

What do you do when you’ve got a frustrating case of insomnia? You read books about energy. Okay, maybe not something you would do but it always keeps me good and entertained. Last night I read the DoShort, “Sustainable Transport Fuels Business Brief,” by David Thorpe in less than two hours. That is part of the sell – learn about …

algae, Alternative energy, Biodiesel, biofuels, book reviews, Cellulosic, Electric Vehicles, Ethanol, Hydrogen

Bonanza BioEnergy Embraces Enogen

Joanna Schroeder

Another U.S. ethanol plant has signed on to use the Enogen trait technology developed by Syngenta North America – Bonanza BioEnergy of Garden City, Kansas. According to Syngenta, Enogen allows corn to express a robust form of alpha amylase enzyme, eliminating the need to use liquid alpha amylase enzymes during dry grind ethanol production. The company also says their trait …

Alternative energy, biofuels, corn, Ethanol

2012 State-by-State Resource for Renewable Energy

Joanna Schroeder

The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) has released its 2012 Renewable Energy in the 50 States, an online, interactive resource. The report compiles updated financial data, resource potentials, market, and policy information for the renewable energy sector for all 50 U.S. states. In 2011, the total installed base of renewable electricity exceeded 145 GW in the United States, with …

advanced biofuels, Alternative energy, biofuels, Geothermal, Renewable Energy, Solar, Wind

RFA Calls for Removal of Trade Distorting Policies

Joanna Schroeder

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is calling on the Obama Administration to help remove certain trade distorting policies in Brazil that they say have contributed to the dramatic decline in exports of ethanol to Brazil. The organization’s President and CEO, Bob Dinneen, sent a letter to US Trade Ambassador Ron Kirk asking for assistance on the matter. The letter seeks …

Alternative energy, biofuels, Brazil, Ethanol, Exports, RFA

Lallemand & NABC Create New Business

Joanna Schroeder

A new partnership has been formed in the biofuels industry. Lallemand Ethanol Technology and North American Bioproducts Corporation (NABC) have joined together to form a new business: Lallemand Biofuels & Distilled Spirits (LBDS).  According to a company statement, the name change reflects their continued commitment to both of these industries by combining the best elements from both companies to form a …

Alternative energy, biofuels, Company Announcement

Dyadic Receives 12th Patent

Joanna Schroeder

Dyadic International has received its 12th patent, U.S. Patent No. 8,304,212 entitled “Methods and compositions for degradation of lignocellulosic material”. The patent covers methods and compositions for using enzymes mixtures to convert plant biomass into fermentable sugars for the production of various products. The patent also covers novel combinations of enzymes including those that provide a synergistic release of sugars …

Alternative energy, biochemicals, biofuels, biomaterials, Distillers Grains

Global Biofuel Enzymes Industry to Grow

Joanna Schroeder

A new report, “Biofuel Enzymes Market – Global Industry Size, Market Share, Trends, Analysis and Forecast, 2012 – 2018,” published by Transparency Market Research, concluded that global biofuel enzymes demand was worth USD 1,021,9 million in 2011 and is expected to reach USD 1,653.1 million in 2018. This would be a CAGR growth rate of 7.6 percent during this timeframe. …

Alternative energy, biofuels, Research