Solazyme Testing BlueFire Ethanol Cellulosic Sugars

Joanna Schroeder

Solazyme, Inc., a company that develops technologies for renewable oil production, is in the process of testing sugars that are produced through a patented process designed by BlueFire Ethanol Fuels, Inc. The goal of the technology is to test the compatibility with Solazyme’s renewable oil process to produce the oil cost effectively and at commercial scale production. The sugars used …

biofuels, biomass, Cellulosic, Company Announcement

Organization Promotes Advanced Biofuels

Cindy Zimmerman

A Maryland-based organization is promoting the education, acceptance and use of advanced biofuels. “The goal of Advanced Biofuels USA is to show the American people, decision-makers and opinion leaders that US farmers and researchers together can produce sustainable and economical biofuels that will directly replace all types of transportation fuels including gasoline and jet fuel.” said founder Joanne Ivancic. Advanced …

biofuels, biomass, Cellulosic

Advanced Biofuels Workshop Agenda Announced

Joanna Schroeder

Don’t miss out on the Advanced Biofuels Workshop during this year’s Fuel Ethanol Workshop (FEW). This dynamic one-day event will focus on technology, feedstock management, market challenges, R&D activities, and near-term policy developments supporting advanced biofuels. In addition, the workshop will emphasize the provisions of the RFS and current efforts to commercialize, low-carbon, advanced biofuels technologies. The workshop takes place …

Biodiesel, biofuels, Cellulosic, conferences, Ethanol

New Fuel Economy Rules Applauded by Industry

Joanna Schroeder

A new National Fuel Efficiency Policy was passed today adding to recent efforts to curb America’s dependence on foreign oil while spurring development in new clean transportation technologies that will help curb greenhouse gas emissions. This new policy, which sets the toughest fuel economy requirements in the country’s history, speeds up, by four years, the fuel economy standards that were …

biofuels, Environment, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government, Legislation, RFA

House Bill Seeks to Improve Renewable Fuels Standard

Cindy Zimmerman

The House Agriculture Committee last week introduced a bill to change provisions in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) that are “limiting the potential for clean, homegrown renewable biofuels to meet our nation’s energy needs.” The Renewable Fuel Standard Improvement Act (H.R. 2409) was introduced by House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-MN) and Ranking Member Frank Lucas (R-OK) along with …

Biodiesel, biofuels, Ethanol, Government

Alternative Fuel Projects Win EPA Awards

John Davis

A big rig running on natural gas… a propane-fueled trimmer… gas from a wastewater treatment plant burned to make electricity… these are just some of the projects the Environmental Protection Agency has recognized in its annual Clean Air Excellence Awards Program. For the ninth year, EPA is honoring 15 recipients from across the United States for their environmental achievements in …

biofuels, Government, Propane

NREL Recipient of Recovery Act Funding

Joanna Schroeder

“The goal is to set America on a course for a secure and sustainable energy future.” DOE Energy Secretary Steven Chu The alternative energy industry is already receiving the monies set aside to help spur the economy and reduce America’s dependence on fossil-fuel based energy sources. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory was the recipient of $110 million in funding, announced …

biofuels, Energy, Government, Legislation, News, Wind

“Super-Organism” Leads to Cellulosic Breakthrough

Joanna Schroeder

The golden dream may have become reality today as Mascoma Corporation announced a major technological breakthrough in the process strategy for production of biofuels from cellulosic biomass known as consolidated bioprocessing, or CBP. The major advantage of CBP is that is significantly reduces the cost to produce cellulosic ethanol by combining several steps into one through the use of a …

biofuels, Cellulosic, Company Announcement, Research

President Clinton to Speak at Ethanol Summit in Brazil

Joanna Schroeder

Lay down the red carpet. Former President Bill Clinton will be a headliner at this year’s Ethanol Summit in Sao Paulo, Brazil June 1-3, 2009. The conference is hosted by UNICA,vthe Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA), and is touted as one of the most important gatherings focused on biofuels in the world. After eight years in the white house, President …

biofuels, conferences, politics

Agencies Work Together for Biofuels

Cindy Zimmerman

Three government agencies have been given a presidential directive to aggressively accelerate the investment in and production of biofuels. The U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Energy, together with the Environmental Protection Agency will make up the the new Biofuels Interagency Working Group. “The president has directed us to create a comprehensive biofuel marketing development program to focus on the infrastructure …

Biodiesel, biofuels, Energy, Ethanol, Government