Lux Research has recently released a new report, “Ranking Biofuel Startups on the Lux Innovation Grid, which analyzes a number of key criteria to indicate which companies are more likey to succeed as the market matures. One of the companies given top honors is Mascoma Corporation. “We are proud to be considered a top biofuels company by Lux,” said William …
U of Illinois Sponsors Biofuels Seminars
The University of Illinois is sponsoring a series of seminars focusing on biofuels and renewable energy. The school’s Center for Advanced BioEnergy Research (CABER) is holding the presentations, which are open to the public, Mondays at 4 pm at the U of I Urbana-Champaign campus: “This bioenergy seminar series provides a broad range of topics from different perspectives – academia, …
Has Gas Use Peaked?
It appears as if two things peaked in 2007…our economy and our thirst for driving. According to an article in McClatchy Newspapers, U.S. gasoline consumption peaked in 2007 and has not only not recovered, but never will – even after the recession ends. According to Steve Everly, the author of the article, there are several reasons why. 1) Federally mandated …
Propel Launches $20 Mil Biofuels Stations Expansion
Sacramento-based Propel Fuels has announced it is investing $20 million into an effort that will put its biofuels, as well as hydroge and electric vehicle charging areas, into stations in every major market in California. This company press release says the move supports California’s emissions reduction goals while stimulating jobs: “California has the largest fleet of alternative fuel vehicles in …
EPA Deems Sugarcane Ethanol an Advanced Biofuel
Yesterday, the Environmental Protection Agency confirmed in its expanded rules of implementation for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), that ethanol made from sugarcane is considered an advanced biofuel that lowers greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) by more than 50 percent. Specifically, EPA’s calculations show that sugarcane ethanol from Brazil reduces GHG emissions compared to gasoline by 61%, using a 30-year payback …
Obama Announces Steps to Boost Biofuels
It’s a busy day for the federal government. Here is what has happened today. The EPA has released its expanded rules for the Renewable Fuel Standard, The U.S. Department of Agriculture has proposed a rule on the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) that would provide financing to increase the conversion of biomass to bioenergy, and the President’s Biofuels Interagency Working …
Corn Ethanol Gets Boost Under Expanded RFS
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) made an upwards revision today when releasing the expanded Renewable Fuels Standard. They gave corn-based ethanol a 21 percent advantage over conventional gasoline, more than what was originally slated. This new revision also qualifies all corn ethanol, including existing and new production, for the conventional biofuels targets in the RFS. “While we’re pleased that the …
Ethanol Poised to Create Jobs in Expanded RFS
This afternoon, Growth Energy responded to the Environmental Protection Agency’s expanded Renewable Fuels Standard, that will create the platform for reaching 36 billions gallons of biofuels by 2022, and specifically praised the Obama administration and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson. “Growth Energy commends the Obama White House and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson for recognizing the value of domestic ethanol both as …
EPA Rules Confirm Ethanol’s Environmental Advantages
The ethanol and agriculture industry have a few things to celebrate today, one of which is EPA’s acknowledgment that ethanol, including corn-based ethanol, has greenhouse gas emission advantages over conventional gasoline. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its new released regulations for the implementation of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2) which in part outlines the country’s move to 36 …
Evogene Researching Castor Bean for Biofuels
There is no shortage of potential feedstocks for biofuels and yesterday, Evogene Ltd based in Rehovot, Israel announced that it will be conducting field trials in Texas and Brazil of its proprietary castor bean lines. The trials will be conducted in conjunction with Texas AgriLife Research in Texas, which is part of the Texas A&M System, and South Cone Agriculture …