Experts are expressing doubts the U.S. will meet targets for cellulosic ethanol production required under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, but the need remains to make it happen as soon as possible. The legislation calls for the production of 4.3 billion gallons by 2015, but during a House Agriculture Subcommittee hearing this week, Dr. Howard Gruenspecht with …
Advanced Biofuels Industry Calls for More Funding
A major federal investment in the entire value chain of advanced biofuels and biobased products commercialization is needed to move advanced biofuels and emerging biobased materials to market, according to the executives of companies who are working to make that happen. During a teleconference today hosted by the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), representatives from cellulosic ethanol and other advanced biofuels …
Biofuels Globally Topic of Farm Foundation Conference
Today and tomorrow I’ll be covering the Farm Foundation, Transition To A Bio Economy Conference: Global Trade and Policy Issues. Biofuels is the main topic of discussion. Wally Tyner is an energy economist with the Dept. of Agricultural Economics at Purdue University. He’s one of the first speakers on the program. I was able to speak with him before things …
Alt Energy Studies Becoming More Popular at Technical Colleges
As some segments of the economy continue to take a downturn, much of the renewable energy sector is still experiencing an uptick. In fact, for some areas, they can’t get enough of qualified workers. That has prompted more and more technical training colleges to turn their efforts to teaching the skills becoming more and more in demand. This story from …
Gulf Ethanol Changes Name to Encompass Added Company Focus
With their main office in Houston, Texas, Gulf Alternative Energy develops cellulosic ethanol pre-processing and production technologies for the ethanol producers in North America. The Company plans to use its patented, exclusive technology to retrofit existing corn-based ethanol plants for cellulosic ethanol production and also for use in the design and construction of its own cellulosic ethanol production facility. Gulf …
New Partnership for Cellulosic Ethanol Technology
California-based AE Biofuels is partnering with Merrick & Company to commercially implement its enzyme-based technology for the production of cellulosic ethanol. Merrick provides engineering and architectural design-build, procurement, construction management, and geospatial services. According to a press release, the companies will work together “to rapidly deploy AE Biofuels’ next-generation biofuels technology to address the significant demand for cellulosic ethanol created …
World Congress Focuses on Biofuels Progress
Progress toward next generation biofuels will be a focus of the 2009 World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing, to be held July 19-22, 2009 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Now in its sixth year, the conference will move to its largest venue to date, the Palais des congrès de Montréal (the Montreal Convention Centre). The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) has …
Cellulosic Firms Urge EPA to Approve 15% Ethanol
Nine cellulosic ethanol companies have sent a letter to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson in support of the Green Jobs waiver that would increase ethanol used with gasoline from 10 percent to up to 15 percent.
Canadian Cellulosic Ethanol Company Gets Grant
Canadian company Lignol Energy Corporation has received additional funding for the completion of an industrial scale cellulosic ethanol facility in British Columbia. Lignol Energy Corporation announced that the project led by its wholly-owned subsidiary, Lignol Innovations was awarded up to $1.82 million in additional funding contributions from Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC). This award is in addition to the $4.42 …
Canadian Firm Plans Cellulosic Ethanol Plant in Mississippi
A Canadian biofuels and green technology company has announced plans to build a second-generation ethanol production facility in Mississippi using wood residue and municipal waste as feedstocks. Enerkem Inc. of Montreal plans to build the plan in Pontotoc, Mississippi and has contracted with Three Rivers Solid Waste Management Authority to supply approximately 189,000 tons of unsorted municipal solid waste (MSW) …