USDA Agricultural Research Service scientists at the Eastern Regional Research Center in Wyndmoor, Pa., are investigating ways to avoid overburdening the corn market as ethanol production expands. Researchers David Johnston and Kevin Hicks are investigating new processes using protease enzymes from microbial and fungal sources to make ethanol more efficiently. Working with Vijay Singh, an agricultural engineer at the University …
Military Bio-Trash Becomes Biofuel
Interesting little article for a vet like me popped up in the International Herald-Tribune. According to the story, Richard Gross, a chemistry professor at Polytechnic University in New York is working on making plastics out of plant oils… and that plastic packaging would be used by the military and then converted to biodiesel out in the field: The process does …
Sorghum Growers Cellulosic Forum
This week, the National Sorghum Producers hosted a forum with representatives from Abengoa Bioenergy and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory, as well as sorghum researchers to discuss how the sweet crop fits in the ethanol industry. Participants shared research plans and findings in regard to sorghum biomass-to-ethanol and sweet sorghum-to-ethanol production. Researchers from Kansas State, Texas A&M, …
Thune Hosts Ethanol Hearing
Senator John Thune this week hosted a hearing in his state on the growing need for ethanol research and availability. The Senate Agriculture Committee’s energy subcommittee field hearing on “The Next Frontier of Biofuels Production: Cellulosic Ethanol and the 2007 Farm Bill” included testimony from representatives of VeraSun Energy, Poet (the company formally known as Broin), South Dakota Corn Growers, …
Energy Department Funding
The U.S. Department of Energy has announced just over $23 million in federal funding for five projects focused on developing highly efficient fermentative organisms to convert biomass material to ethanol. According to a DOE press release, Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Alexander Karsner said the projects will study ways to produce cellulosic ethanol cost-effectively. “Ultimately, success in …
Crops for Fuel
During a renewable energy roundtable discussion at Purdue University last week, the question was posed, why are we using food for fuel? USDA Chief Economist Dr. Keith Collins had the chance to respond to the questioner with an important point. “I first would say that I don’t think about using food for fuel. I think about using crops for fuel. …
Florida Needs Ethanol
An aerial promotion campaign for ethanol in the Sunshine State took off this past weekend over the racetrack at Sebring, the theme parks in Orlando and the beaches of Fort Meyers. The Ethanol Promotion and Information Council will be flying this banner over cities from Miami to Jacksonville in the next few weeks to get the message out that Florida …
University of Florida Seeking Biofuels Research Funding
Florida legislators are being asked to help fund biofuels research in the Sunshine State. Dr. Jimmy Cheek, Senior Vice President for Agricultural and Natural Resources at the University of Florida, says they are working to convince the legislature to support an alternative fuel initiative that would provide funding to help build a pilot plant in Gainesville and support cellulosic ethanol …
BP Funds Energy Biosciences Institute
BP has chosen the University of California Berkeley, the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to join in a $500 million research program that will explore how bioscience can be used to increase energy production and reduce the impact of energy consumption on the environment. According to a news release, the Energy Biosciences Institute will perform …
Purdue Scientist Honored by President
A senior research scientist from Purdue University was among those honored to attend the President’s State of the Union address last week, thanks to her groundbreaking work in cellulosic ethanol. According to BoilerStation.com, Nancy Ho was asked to attend the event by the White House and sat near First Lady Laura Bush. “I will treasure this all my life,” Ho …