The U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Energy Wednesday announced a $41 million investment in 13 projects designed to drive more efficient biofuels production and feedstock improvements. “If we want to develop affordable alternatives for oil and gasoline that will help reduce our dependence on foreign oil, we need investments like these projects to spur innovation in bioenergy,” said Agriculture …
Biofuels Play Major Role in Great Green Fleet Exercise
Biofuels are playing a significant role in the biggest maritime exercise in the world. About 450,000 gallons of biofuels made from non-food stocks have been used to fuel the ships and aircraft, known as the “Great Green Fleet,” taking part in the U.S. Navy’s and allied nation’s Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC). “Yesterday, off the coast of Hawaii, was …
USDA, GE Combine Efforts for Biofuels for Jets in Ohio
The USDA and General Electric are a couple of the key collaborators on a biofuels for jets program at GE Aviation’s Cincinnati-area facilities. During remarks at an event today, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack highlighted the work, along with the Ohio Aerospace Institute, air carriers and producer groups, to develop a Midwest-regional strategy to provide renewable-jet fuel in Ohio: “We …
Brazil Boasts Successful Biofuels Flight
Amyris, Inc. provided a renewable jet fuel blend derived from Brazilian sugarcane to Azul Brazilian Airlines who boasted a successful test flight. The Embraer E195 jet took flight from Campinas Viracopos Airport, flew over Rio De Janeiro, where the U.N. Conference for Sustainable Development (RIO +20), and landed at Rio’s Santos Dumont Airport. Known as Azul+Verde (“a greener blue” in …
Biofuels Take to the Skies in Brazil
Renewable jet fuel will be taking flight during the upcoming Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Brazil on June 19, 2012. Azul Airlines, powered with renewable fuel produced from sugarcane by Amyris, has scheduled a demonstration flight on an Azul E195 aircraft powered by GE’s CF34-10E engines. The flight is being coined “Azul+Verde,” which means “a greener blue”. Amyris’s renewable …
Vote to Cut Military Biofuels Disappoints Ag Secretary
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack is “disappointed” in recent Congressional action that would cut the use of biofuels by the military. “We are extremely disappointed in that vote because I think it fails to recognize and appreciate the enormous potential of this industry to revitalize the rural economy,” said Vilsack during a conference call today when asked specifically about a …
Sustainable Aviation Biofuels Initiative Launched
Aviation and clean technology leaders have joined together to launch the Midwest Aviation Sustainable Biofuels Initiative (MASBI). United Airlines, Boeing, Honeywell, the Chicago Department of Aviation and the Clean Energy Trust formed the initiative with the goal of advancing aviation biofuel development in a 12-state region of the central United States. MASBI will deliver “a comprehensive evaluation of the region’s …
Vilsack Announces Advanced Biofuels Roundtable
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack addressed the 2012 Advanced Biofuels Leadership Conference, presented by Biofuels Digest, Tuesday in Washington D.C. and announced an upcoming Advanced Biofuels Industry Roundtable to be held next month. Vilsack said the Roundtable will be a joint effort between USDA, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Navy and will be held on May 18 “as …
Virent and Virdia Make Jet Fuel From Trees
Under a joint energy project, Virent and Virdia (formerly HCL CleanTech) this week announced the successful conversion of cellulosic pine tree sugars to drop-in hydrocarbon fuels. The development is part of the BIRD Energy project, a joint program started in January 2011 and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, the Israeli Ministry of National Infrastructure and the BIRD Foundation. …
USDA and Airline Companies to Discuss Aviation Biofuels
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is hosting a media roundtable with aviation business leaders today to discuss the important role of American-produced biofuels in the civilian aircraft and airline industry, and in the military. Participants in the discussion with Vilsack will include John Tracy with The Boeing Company and Billy Glover of Boeing Commercial Airplanes; Alex Marren with United Continental Holdings …