The Washington International Energy Conference wrapped up Thursday after three days of discussions, presentations and networking between more than 7,000 representatives from over 100 countries. The United States pledged to continue its leadership in renewable energy through efforts coordinated by multiple agencies. For example, USDA will work on the development and cultivation of switchgrass for the production of cellulosic ethanol, …
Recycling Beverage Waste into Fuel
A Minnesota company has developed a process to convert waste beverages into fuel. Diversified Ethanol, a subsidiary of Greenbelt Resources Corporation, is focused on producing valuable renewable energy from waste substances that are produced by breweries and soft drink manufacturers. According to a company release, Diversified Ethanol designs and builds small scale, modular ethanol plants that utilize existing waste as …
Bush Urges US to “Get Off Oil”
As crude oil jumped to new record highs on the New York mercantile exchange due to falling oil inventories, trading over $104 a barrel, President Bush renewed his support for ethanol as a means toward energy independence. Speaking at the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference 2008 (WIREC) Wednesday, Bush said, “America has got to change its habits. We’ve got to …
E20 Passes Minnesota Testing
A new study by the State of Minnesota finds that increasing the amount of renewable ethanol blended into gasoline from 10 percent to 20 percent will work in current vehicles and fuel dispensing equipment and provides similar power and performance. Using 40 pairs of vehicles commonly found on American roads, a year-long research effort found that increasing ethanol blends from …
Bentley Maps Future with Ethanol
Legendary British carmaker Bentley says it is it will look to ethanol, lighter construction and more efficient gasoline engines… instead of diesel and hybrid motors… to meet the green demands of the future: This story in AutoWeek says the changes will help the company reduce carbon emissions in its vehicles by 15 percent: “We don’t think our customers, particularly in …
Sustaining the Faith
A group is trying to combine their faith with its desire to live a life that will allow everyone to enjoy the Earth before they have to head off to Heaven. FUSE… Faiths United for Sustainable Energy… is a collection of scientists, religious leaders, government officials, and more which wants to become a catalyst to rid our society of its …
Deere Provides Look at Ethanol in 2015
One of the most well attended learning sessions at the 2008 Commodity Classic in Nashville was “Starch and Cellulose as Ethanol Feedstocks” sponsored by John Deere. Deere’s principal scientist for renewable energy John Hickman told the crowd that by the year 2015, most ethanol will still come from starch – or corn – but the growth to cellulosic ethanol will …
Corn Genome Map Opens New World
Mapping of the corn genome opens up a new world of possibilities for producing more food, feed and fuel from maize. The announcement was made last week that scientists at Washington University in St. Louis have completed the first ever mapping of the corn genome, only the second crop after rice to have its genome sequenced. The genetic data is …
Biomass Grants Announced at WIREC
The federal government will invest a total of $18.4 million over three years for 21 new biomass research and development and demonstration projects. Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer and Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman made that announcement today at the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference 2008 (WIREC). “These grants help fund the innovative research needed to develop technologies and systems that lead …
VeraSun and Enterprise Promote E85
Enterprise Rent-A-Car and VeraSun Energy today announced the first “VE85™/FlexFuel” rental branch location in South Dakota. The Sioux Falls location is the newest Enterprise branch to receive the E85/FlexFuel designation as part of a nationwide effort to promote the expanded availability and use of E85, a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. Enterprise will commit to fueling …