Novozymes has received a $28.4 million tax credit to aid in the construction of the company’s new enzyme manufacturing facility in Blair, Nebraska. Specifically, Novozymes has received an Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit from the Obama administration. Once complete, the plant will produce enzymes used during the production of advanced biofuels and create more than 100 ‘green’ jobs. The tax credit will become available in 2012 and could save the company nearly $18 million per year in tax savings.
“We believe our selection for this tax credit is a reflection of the tremendous potential of advanced biofuels to create green jobs and contribute to meaningful reduction of greenhouse gases in the near-term,” said Adam Monroe, President of Novozymes North America. “Novozymes applauds the continued support of the Obama Administration to further the development of clean energy technologies like advanced biofuels.”
As part of the administration’s support for the development of clean technologies, monies were allocated as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to foster investment and employment for companies who are working to bring clean technologies to the marketplace.To date, a total of $2.3 billion has been awarded to 183 manufacturing facilities across 43 states.
Currently the blending facility went online in November 2009 and is currently shipping product throughout the world. Full production should begin mid-2012. Once the project is complete, Novozymes will have invested between $160-$200 million.
As the EPA gets closer to implementing the new Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS-2), those attending this year’s 
“Because oil is a limited commodity and it is my feeling that big oil sees the ‘handwriting on the wall’” says Lee. “They know that alternative fuels are here to stay” adds Mike Shook, partner in Agri Process Innovations. Shook adds that “just as government inaction made the smaller producers nervous, I look back at 2009 and note the massive investments that big oil has made in this industry”. Both Lee and Shook agree that the biodiesel industry is headed up in a big way. “This industry will continue to adjust to problems, and it will continue to grow” says Lee, “and just like many industries before it, the inefficient players will shake out and the efficient players will make money”. 
“Increasing the ‘digestibility’ of plant matter is one main approach to making plants a viable alternative energy source,” said Brookhaven biochemist Chang-Jun Liu. Plants with less lignin in their cell walls are easier to break down and convert to fuel products.
This week, the 
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ZimmComm New Media is the social media sponsor of AG CONNECT Expo. This is the new show being produced by the 
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A new report indicates there will be enough corn and soybeans for ethanol and biodiesel production, as well as the feed, food and export uses those crops are tasked with.
For 2009-10, the current corn crop estimate points to adequate corn supplies for feed, food, fuel, and export uses. Carryover stocks on August 31 of next year are expected to be about 1 and one-half weeks above minimum working stocks levels. Our early and very tentative normal-yield projections for 2010-11 show corn carryover stocks declining slightly by August 31, 2011 but still remaining marginally above minimum working stocks levels.