The 2009 World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing, is in full swing in Montreal, Quebec, Canada and I had the opportunity to listen in to a webinar sponsored by the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO). The session focused on the technical and commercial advances in the use of synthetic biology for next-generation biofuels. Four companies participated in the panel and …
Proposed Ethanol Pipeline to Extend into SD
f built, the route would begin in Davison County, S.D. — further west than O’Brien County, Iowa, as originally planned — and deliver the alternative fuel from plants in Iowa, South Dakota, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio to distribution terminals in the northeastern United States. Magellan has been working with the Association of Oil Pipe Lines for years on how …
BP to Focus on Ethanol Only
Just when ExxonMobil finally gets into the biofuels game with its announcement of $300 million in funding for Synthetic Genomics, BP quits its biodiesel efforts. BP has extracted itself from a jatropha biofuel project with D1 Oils to focus on production of ethanol in both the United States and Brazil. The company will also pursue the development of advanced biobutanol …
Lack of Capital Shelves Pickens Wind Plan
Plans to build the world’s largest wind farm have been put on hold, as billionaire oil man T. Boone Pickens cites a lack of capital and infrastructure. CNN reports that Pickens has announced that his 4,000 megawatt Pampa Wind Project planned for the Texas panhandle is on hold: “I had hoped that Pampa would be the starting point, but transmission …
“Pure Energy” Radio Show to Debut
The first national radio show dedicated to the business of renewable energy will make its debut from the Miami studios of 880 The Biz (WZAB) on Monday, July 13, at 6:00 pm Eastern time. Pure Energy is hosted by noted energy expert Sean O’Hanlon, Executive Director of the American Biofuels Council (ABC). “We’re going to talk about all forms of …
Pickens and Propane
Billionaire oilman and energy activist T. Boone Pickens says propane is an important part of the “Pickens Plan”, citing propane’s environmentally friendly profile and ample production in the United States. Pickens made that announcement at a recent propane industry event in Washington with the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC). “America has the opportunity today to reduce its dependence on …
Biodiesel Starts Shipping Out of Port of Milwaukee
Back in January, I told you about how a New York-based renewable energy company had announced plans to move biodiesel and ethanol out of the Port of Milwaukee. Now, this story from Milwaukee’s BizTimes.com says Innovation Fuels has started selling biodiesel to folks from around the world out of the port on Lake Michigan: The company’s 312,000-barrel (45,000 metric tons) …
Biodiesel Fuels Conservation Through Exploration Tour
It’s getting closer to that time of year when families across the country will pack up the kids, the dog and a couple of weeks of clothing and head out across the great expanse of America on a Griswold-family style summer vacation (Sorry folks, park’s closed. Moose out front shoulda told ya. — cracks me up every time!). But one …
Book Review – The Green Guide to Power
There is an advantage to self publishing because you can truly say what you want to say. And Ronald H. Bowman, Jr. does just that in his book, “The Green Guide to Power Thinking Outside the Grid”. I originally thought the book was going to be about the development of the “Smart Grid“. It wasn’t. Although he did talk a …
Book Review – The First Billion is the Hardest
With the economy in the toilet, I thought I’d get a little inspiration from T. Boone Pickens’ book, “The First Billion is the Hardest.” I don’t know about you, but for me the first million is still eluding me…. Pickens was originally known as an oil guy, but today is best known for his role in promoting wind energy and …