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Jul 3, 2009
South Africa looks to promote biodiesel GREEN REVOLUTION : The Greenhouse Project is transforming an urban park into a seedbed for sustainable living by integrating green building and design, efficient and renewable energy, recycling and organic farming. SOUTH African motorists could in the near future drive vehicles that run on cooking oil and peculiarly “smell of fried chips”. This will be made possible by the use of biofuel, particularly biodiesel, say enthusiasts. Biofuel is a form of fuel derived from “recently living” organisms, replacing fossil fuels such as those derived from coal. It is usually produced using crops such as mielies, sugar beet and sunflower seeds, though the recycling of used cooking oil is the favoured option. I enjoy reading articles like this one which view biodiesel as a totally new concept, as though we never heard of it. That’s OK. Everyone has to start somewhere, and just think how much biodiesel S.Africa can grow. Northwest biodiesel troubles based on misinformation, according to John Plaza John Plaza, CEO of Imperium Renewables The president of Seattle-based refiner Imperium Renewables John Plaza despairs at what he calls rampant “misinform..
BioDieselNow - Renewable biodiesel fuel
Nation’s First Wastewater Biodiesel Plant Being Planned
Jul 3, 2009
In what's being touted as a first of its kind for the country, a city in Georgia says it will use its wastewater to grow algae to make into biodiesel. The Daily Citizen of Dalton, Georgia reports Dalton Utilities plans to build a pilot project to use with its land application system along the Conasauga River: “We are working on the design now,” said Mark Marlowe, Dalton Utilities’ vice president of water and wastewater engineering. “We hope to start construction in the fall or winter of this year, and complete construction in fall or winter. The startup will take several months. But it should be fully operational by the spring of 2010.” The pilot facility will be about an acre in size, capable of treating roughly 200 to 500 gallons of wastewater a day with algae that will feed on the nutrients in the water. The utility has partnered with the University of Georgia in the effort. And K.C. Das, director of the university’s Biorefinery and Carbon Cycling Program, says the facility will be the first of its kind in the nation… Das said they expect to get about 430 to 450 gallons of biodiesel per acre per year to start. And larger facilities may be able to make even more. “The targ..
Florida to Get Jatropha, Algae Biodiesel Plant
Jul 3, 2009
A Southern Florida biofuel refiner has plans to build a 15 million-gallon-a-year biodiesel plant that will use oil from the jatropha plant and algae as its feedstocks. This article from the Miami Herald says Ag-Oil, based in Delray Beach, is putting up the $20 million pilot-scale biodiesel production facility thanks to some federal stimulus dollars: Teri Gevinson, CEO of Ag-Oil, said the company has planted 20 acres of jatropha, a fast-growing plant with seeds that contain oil, to make biodiesel. The biorefinery will use a patented technology to convert jatropha seeds, algae and related by-products into fuel. The company, the recipient of a $2.5 million state renewable energy grant, is working with United Environment and Energy, Horseheads, N.Y.; Argonne National Laboratory, a federal energy lab in Argonne, Il., the University of Florida and the University of Southern Illinois. It has also applied for federal American Recovery and Investment Act funds. Once operational sometime in 2011, the facility and plantation on 103 acres will maintain an estimated 128 direct jobs and 915 indirect jobs, the company said. Other farmers in South Florida will also be growing jatropha for the pla..
Upcoming Event: Next Generation Biofuels Conference
Jul 2, 2009
Update your passport and book your ticket for Green Power's 5th Next Generation Biofuels conference being held September 28-30, 2009 in Amsterdam. This event will bring together key players from around the world who are pioneering the development of advanced biofuels. The conference will address the latest developments in creating cost competitive, industrial scale production of next generation biofuels technologies. In past years more than 720 biofuels professionals from 40 countries have participated in the forum. This year the line-up includes: • Dr. Jos Van Boxtel, Arcadia Biosciences • Prof. Bruce Dale, Office of Biobased Technologies, Michigan State • Michael Dennis, Chairman, Enerkem • Jim Flatt, Developments and Operations, Mascoma • Bill Haywood, LS9 • Arnold Klann, Bluefire Ethanol • Joseph Skurla, DuPont Danisco • Dr. Rick Wilson, Cobalt Biofuels To learn more about the Next Generation Biofuels conference and to register, click here .
Jul 2, 2009
The World Bank received a failing grade this week for its lack of support to developing countries trying to implement biofuels project. The “F” comes from the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA) representing over 65 percent of the world's biofuels production from 44 countries. In a letter t o Robert Zoellick, President of World Bank, from Bliss Baker, President of the GRFA, Baker wrote, “I am writing to you to express our deepest concern that the World Bank is failing developing countries in their desire to develop sustainable biofuels industries and relieve their crippling reliance on imported crude oil. Your Bank remains on the sidelines without any commitment to investing in biofuels projects while many developing countries look for scarce capital to build local projects.” The GRFA continues to call on the World Bank to support the development of biofuels in regions that are in desperate need of relief from their dependence on foreign oil. However, despite pleas from various organizations, the World Bank remains indifferent. Baker noted that, ”Thirty-eight of the forty-five poorest countries on earth are net importers of crude oil yet many of these un..
Ethanol Industry Welcomes EPA Comment Extension
Jul 2, 2009
The Environmental Protection Agency today formally announced a 60 day extension of the comment period on the proposed rule revising the national Renewable Fuel Standard program, commonly referred to as RFS2. The original comment period was to end on July 27, 2009 and will now end on September 25, 2009. “With the 60-day comment period extension, EPA seeks to provide the public adequate time to provide meaningful comment while finalizing and implementing the standards in a timely manner,” the agency stated in a release . Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy , said he was not surprised by the action. “They only had a 60 day beginning comment period and this is between 1000 and 2000 pages of scientific and technical data,” said Buis in an interview this week. “You don't want to get a bad rule because people didn't have the time to thoroughly analyze it.” Buis says he believes the agency will still have enough time to implement the RFS2 rule by the January 1 target date, “even if they have to do what they did when they implemented the original RFS, which was announce the volumetric level for each of the fuels and then fill in the details later.”..
Venture capital investment in cleantech bounces back in Q2
Jul 2, 2009
Investment in the clean technology sector bounced back in the second quarter of 2009, following two consecutive quarterly declines according to preliminary results released by The Cleantech Group. The turnround was lead by the transportation sector specifically, vehicles, biofuels and advanced batteries — reflecting attention on the automotive sector and significant government stimulus.
Bache Commodities launches Green Commodity Index
Jul 2, 2009
The Bache Commodity Green IndexSM (BCGISM) was launched earlier this week (30th June) by Bache Commodities Group, part of Prudential Financial. The new Index, says the company, gives investors a tool to invest in commodities with an environmental focus. Bache's Green Index will allow investors to participate in the markets for these commodities, which are of growing importance in the global economy, said Stephen Ilnitzki, senior vice president, Bache Commodities Group.
Fuel Efficiency and Performance Drive Diesel Comeback
Jul 2, 2009
With revived concern over the cost of gasoline and the desire for increased fuel economy, clean diesels are proving to be a tempting choice for the American consumer. Volkswagen can testify to the selling power of clean diesel vehicles–June brought in the highest sales of TDIs since the release of the current lineup. According to a [...]
EPA Official Wrong on Ethanol and Biodiesel Yields
Jul 2, 2009
A YouTube video of EPA official Margo Oge testifying before a House panel in May reveals her providing radically incorrect information about the amount of corn and soybeans it takes to make biofuels. The blunder occurred when Rep. Aaron Schock (R-IL) asked Ms. Oge, who is responsible for regulating all emissions within the United States, about the indirect land use issue. “It's my understanding that the EPA's Renewable Fuels Standard 2 methodology assumes that for every acre of soybean crop that is used to produce biofuel, an equal acre of ground is used in the Brazilian rainforest to replace that acreage, is that correct?” asked Schock. “Obviously we know that it takes about 64 acres for a gallon of soy biodiesel,” she begins, and then corrects herself, even more incorrectly. “It's actually the opposite. It takes 64 acres for corn ethanol and over 400 acres for a gallon of biodiesel.” Actually, one acre of soybeans makes 64 gallons of biodiesel and one acre of corn makes over 400 gallons of ethanol. This may have been just a simple mistake - or maybe she really doesn't know - but it is now possible that members of the U.S. House Small Business ..
Minnesota: Biomass Feedstock Tour in Wadena & Staples Area
Jul 2, 2009
Jul 2, 2009
Biodiesel researchers nominated for 2009 World Technology Award Two Arizona State University researchers working on biodiesel projects have been nominated for the 2009 World Technology Award, which recognizes individuals and corporations from 20 technology-related sectors. They’ll be headed to New York for the World Technology Awards gala ceremony on July 16, 2009 at the conclusion of the two-day World Technology Summit : Scientists Qiang Hu and Milton Sommerfeld in the College of Technology and Innovation at ASU’s Polytechnic campus, have been selected as nominees for the award for their work with algal feedstocks and biodiesel fuel. In November 2008, TIME magazine selected the researchers’ work as one of the top 10 best innovations for 2008. You can find more information at www.wtn.net . Who are the stars of biodiesel science? Here are two of them, nominated for this prestigious award. Don’t forget that we are in the infancy of biodiesel science and engineering, and we don’t exactly know where all this will go, just that it will be part of the future of fuel. Biodiesel Board launches new web site to fight RFS-2 Joe Jobe photo from: http://www..
BioDieselNow - Renewable biodiesel fuel
Jul 2, 2009
"'We've ensured a role for coal," said Rick Boucher, Democratic Congressman from West Virginia, regarding the federal climate change "mitigation" bill that recently passed the House. I'm forced to use quotation marks around "mitigation" because this "deal with the devil," as Ted Nordhaus, of the Breakthrough Institute, described it, confirmed my worst suspicions: even under a progressive and popular President the chance of an effective federal climate change mitigation bill passing through Congress is minimal to none.
Bioenergy News - RenewableEnergyWorld.com
Ox Mountain Landfill Gas Project Begins Operation
Jul 2, 2009
One of the San Francisco Bay Area's largest renewable energy projects, a landfill gas-to-energy station at Republic Services' Ox Mountain Landfill in Half Moon Bay, began operation this week. Owned and operated by a subsidiary of Ameresco Inc., the landfill gas to energy plant will supply enough renewable energy to customers in Alameda and Palo Alto.
Bioenergy News - RenewableEnergyWorld.com
Nominations Open for Lifetime Leadership Awards
Jul 2, 2009
People who know worthy nominees for the Building Efficiency Lifetime Leadership (BELL) award are encouraged to visit http://bit.ly/BELLdoc to review the nomination criteria and download the award nomination form.
Bioenergy News - RenewableEnergyWorld.com
YouTube Videos Provide Ethanol Answers
Jul 2, 2009
Will corn crop meet demand of both food and fuel? Even before the USDA planted acreage report was released this week, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) had the answer to that question posted on YouTube . In one of three recent videos posted by the ethanol organization, RFA Vice President of Research Geoff Cooper says the 2009 corn crop is going to be another huge crop. “Probably the second or third largest crop in history,” Cooper says. “Which will be more than sufficient to meet very strong demand for livestock feed, for exports and what will likely be record demand for ethanol production. All of those demands will be met and there will still be a healthy surplus of corn left.” In another video , Cooper answers the question, what is international indirect land use and why is it controversial? The video is only two minutes long, which is hardly enough time to even begin to explain the controversial theory, much less refute it - but it does get the main point across. RFA also has another short video with Cooper explaining why ethanol is not to blame for higher food prices.
Biodiesel Researchers Nominated for World Tech Award
Jul 2, 2009
Two Arizona State University researchers working on biodiesel projects have been nominated for the 2009 World Technology Award, which recognizes individuals and corporations from 20 technology-related sectors. They'll be headed to New York for the World Technology Awards gala ceremony on July 16, 2009 at the conclusion of the two-day World Technology Summit : Scientists Qiang Hu and Milton Sommerfeld in the College of Technology and Innovation at ASU’s Polytechnic campus, have been selected as nominees for the award for their work with algal feedstocks and biodiesel fuel. In November 2008, TIME magazine selected the researchers’ work as one of the top 10 best innovations for 2008. Nominees for the 2009 World Technology Awards were identified based on an intensive, global process over a period of many months in which current individual WTN members — primarily elected WTN Fellows from previous awards cycles who now number over 1000, spread out over 60 countries — as well as others made their nominations based on who they think is doing the innovative work in their field of the greatest likely long-term significance. After the WTN gathers further information from nominees..
More Corn Could Support Higher Ethanol Blend Rate
Jul 2, 2009
The combination of more corn planted this year than expected and more corn stocks could mean a better chance of the ethanol blend rate being increased. According to Terry Francl, senior economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation , “For the 2009/2010, the greater availability of corn supplies makes it more likely that the EPA will increase the ethanol blend rate from the current 10 percent to 12 percent or 13 percent, effective Jan. 1, 2010,” Francl said. “That will in turn utilize some 400 to 500 million more bushels of corn in the 2009/2010 crop year and reduce corn ending stocks by 300 to 400 million bushels. It is also important to remember that about one-third of the corn that is utilized as ethanol comes back as distillers dried grain, which replaces corn and some protein meal.” USDA’s planted acreage report out this week estimated the second largest corn crop since 1946 at 87.0 million acres, and corn stocks were pegged at 4.27 billion bushels as of June 1, up 6 percent from June 1 of last year.
Biodiesel Board Rallies Troops in RFS-2 Fight
Jul 2, 2009
In a move to fight a proposed change that would basically shut out soy-based biodiesel… the bulk of the nation's biodiesel production… from the Renewable Fuels Standard, the National Biodiesel Board has launched a Web site to give people the tools to make comments on the Environmental Protection Agency's proposal. The RFS2 Action Center gives those who want to stop the change examples of comments, where and how to send the comments, and this letter from NBB CEO Joe Jobe himself: Dear Biodiesel Stakeholder: Today the National Biodiesel Board is launching our grassroots response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed rule on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS-2). We are calling on you and all supporters of clean, renewable energy to join us in urging the EPA to implement a workable RFS-2 program… The methodology employed by the EPA to determine biodiesel’s GHG emission profile under the RFS-2 program is based on questionable inputs and dubious assumptions about international land use changes that assign future carbon emissions to U.S. biodiesel resulting from hypothetical land clearing on other continents that have nothing to do with U.S. biodiesel p..
At the Pump . . . Sacramento State
Jul 1, 2009
Propel community members share their stories. Sacramento, CA – Folsom Blvd Clean Fuel Point – June 2009 We met Cacee filling up his rig at Propel's Folsom Blvd location. The Flex Fuel Chevy Silverado is part of Sacramento State's Parking Enforcement fleet. Cacee has fueled the Sac State vehicle with Flex Fuel E85 since Propel started pumping in [...]
Sustainable Oils Building Markets for Camelina Oil and Meal; Seeing Strong Momentum for New Crop
Jul 1, 2009
Bache Commodities Group Launches Green Commodity Index
Jul 1, 2009
Battelle Scientists Work with Plastics Made from Corn
Jul 1, 2009
PolyOne Introduces Resound™ Durable, Higher-Heat Biopolymer Compounds
Jul 1, 2009
Jul 1, 2009
Delray Beach, FL biodiesel plant planned at $20 million cost Photo of jatropha field: http://www.mydreamfuel.com/ DELRAY BEACH - Ag-Oil, a Delray Beach-based biofuel start-up, plans to build a $20 million pilot-scale biodiesel production facility in the Agricultural Reserve west of Delray Beach with the potential to produce 15 million gallons a year. Teri Gevinson, CEO of Ag-Oil, said the company has planted 20 acres of jatropha, a fast-growing plant with seeds that contain oil, to make biodiesel. The biorefinery will use a patented technology to convert jatropha seeds, algae and related by-products into fuel. Good biodiesel plant idea because it uses land which other farmers have given up on, and it looks for feedstock oil in algae and other plant sources. I wish AgOil well in this new startup company. State of Mass. builds biodiesel into the law of the land Green energy is set to take another big leap in Massachusetts as the state begins requiring blends of "bio fuels" into home heating oil and diesel fuel sold in the state. And that's giving new life to an old industrial site here that's being turned into part of New England's cleaner-energy future. If..
BioDieselNow - Renewable biodiesel fuel
Funding for a wide range of energy related projects
Jul 1, 2009
Bioenergy News - RenewableEnergyWorld.com
Renewable Energy Investors Are Cautiously Optimistic
Jul 1, 2009
In just five months, the U.S. government has gone from being a casual supporter of renewable energy to the one of world's biggest investors in the space. Now the private sector is trying to figure out what role it will play in this new era of government involvement.
Bioenergy News - RenewableEnergyWorld.com
The Facts of Life on Waxman-Markey
Jun 30, 2009
You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have … the Peterson amendment to the Waxman-Markey bill , formally known as H.R. 2454 , the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES). According to Grist contributor Meredith Niles , there are a number of positive inclusions in the amendment that were advocated by environmental groups. The good aspects, according to Niles, are those that will encourage improved agricultural practices. The bad part of the amendment is that the USDA – the agency whose mission is to promote both domestic agriculture (to keep it from moving overseas) and food safety – will oversee the implementation of these positive aspects. Niles laments that “industrial agriculture interests are overtaking environmental interests in a bill that, again, is fundamentally meant to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.” No doubt, the agricultural interests have a similar lament about implementation of the Renewable Fuel Standard , which was intended to reduce reliance on oil. There is an interesting comment to Niles’ article by ecoplasm , who says, “Selecting ‘scientific’ analytical tools to meet some influence group’s desired result was a hallmark of..
Advanced Biofuels and Climate Change Information Center
Jun 30, 2009
According to the Detroit News, Dow Chemical announced yesterday plans to build a biorefinery that would use algae to convert carbon dioxide into ethanol fuel. The company hopes to replace carbon dioxide in common plastic products like milk jugs if the technology is successful. Through a partnership with Algenol Biofuels — a startup in Bonita Springs, Fla. — Dow hopes to create a breakthrough process to produce ethanol, a building block for other chemicals. Ethanol is a key ingredient in polyethylene, the most widely used of all plastics, which is found in everyday products, from food packaging to pipes. The chemical also is used in runway deicers, polyester for textiles, and paints. The move could have significant implications for Detroit's automakers , according to Algenol Chief Executive Paul Woods. Woods said he already has met with representatives from Ford Motor Co. to discuss manufacturing more vehicles that would use ethanol. The algae-generated ethanol is compatible with technology in use. The article goes on to mention that the algae-based fuel's price would be more consistent, selling for $1 per gallon. Speaking about ethanol, Algenol Chief Executive Paul Woo..
Dow to join Algenol in the biofuels market
Jun 30, 2009
Plans to build and operate a pilot-scale algae-based integrated biorefinery that will convert CO2 into ethanol, were announced yesterday (29th June) by Algenol Biofuels, Inc and the Dow Chemical Company. The announcement follows Algenol's submission, last week, of a formal request to obtain a grant from the US Department of Energy for financial support to conduct the pilot programme.