A global biofuels organization is urging world leaders to recognize the environmental benefits of renewable fuels like ethanol and biodiesel. The Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA) is calling on delegates to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen December 7-18 “to seize the historic opportunity to recognize the environmental importance of biofuels and begin to develop …

CASE IH Developing Biomass Harvesting System
One of the companies exhibiting their developmental corn cob harvest/collection equipment at the POET Project LIBERTY Field Day was Case IH. Representing them again this year was Sam Acker, pictured sitting in their booth during the speeches. I first met him last year and got an update on what’s new from the company this year. Sam says they’re demonstrating an …
Lawmakers to Close Paper Biofuels Loophole
Paper companies that have been cashing in on an alternative fuels tax credit could soon see that loophole close. This story from Reuters says lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives say they will end those paper companies’ ability to collect a $1-a-gallon tax credit that the companies have getting by adding black liquor, a by-product of producing paper, to …
Ride Along With The Cob Harvest
I wasn’t the only one shooting video at the POET Project LIBERTY Field Day in Emmetsburg, IA. POET was too for POET TV. POET does a great job of using new media channels to communicate their activities. You can also learn more about the event by seeing their photos online and following along with their Project LIBERTY Blog. In this …
BP Looks to Start Ethanol, Biobutanol Production
A major oil producer is looking to get into the biofuels business. This story from Reuters says BP could start ethanol and biobutanol operations next year: BP could launch commercial production of grass-based ethanol in the United States in 2010 with partner Verenium, which already has a demonstration cellulosic ethanol facility, Philip New, Chief Executive of BP Biofuels, said. BP …
Project LIBERTY Receives Significant Support From IOWA
Corn growers heard from Iowa Lt. Governor Patty Judge at POET’s Project LIBERTY Field Day. She said, “We are seeing for ourselves that cellulosic ethanol is here, that it is viable and that it will transform renewable fuel as we know it today”. It was a cold, breezy day and she talked General Wesley Clark out of his jacket. She …
Work Is Not Done To Develop Ethanol Industry
One of the stars on hand to address the crowd at POET’s Project LIBERTY Field Day was former four-star General Wesley Clark. He spoke about the important role they would play in providing more homegrown fuel for the nation. “We are involved in something that is historic,” Clark said. “We are going to significantly reduce our dependence on foreign energy …
Biofuels Researcher Named Innovator of Year
An Iowa State University researcher has been named “Innovator of the Year” for his work on biofuels. This press release from the school says Hans van Leeuwen, whose research teams have been awarded back-to-back R&D 100 awards for biofuels developments, has also been named R&D Magazine’s 2009 Innovator of the Year: Lindsay Hock, the magazine’s managing editor, wrote that the …
Chevrolet VP Supports Biofuels in Rolling Stone
The latest issue of Rolling Stone magazine features an interview with Brent Dewar, vice president of Chevrolet Global, in an article titled “Detroit Goes Green.” In the article, Dewar is asked if biofuels will have a role to play in the future, and he answers: Absolutely. Biofuels have a large role to play in part because they displace the demand …