Oregon State University researchers have outlined the latest findings on reduced height growth in trees through genetic modification, concluding that several advantageous growth traits could be achieved for short-rotation forestry and bioenergy.
Neill McKinstray is the new chairman of the Renewable Fuels Association's board of directors. He is president of the ethanol group at The Andersons Inc. The RFA chose new officers at its annual membership meeting last week in Omaha, Neb.
NREL produces ethylene via photosynthesis
By National Renewable Energy Laboratory
September 28, 2012
Scientists at the U.S. DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory have demonstrated a better way to use photosynthesis to produce ethylene, a breakthrough that could change the way materials, chemicals, and transportation fuels are made.
A research project at a demonstration plant in Sweden has concluded, successfully verifying an enzyme for use in the production of biofuels and bio-based chemicals.The enzyme is AlternaFuel CMAX, a trademarked product of Dyadic International Inc.
For the second time in three months, Pacific Ethanol Inc. raised more than $10 million in a public offering of common stock. Both times, the company raised the amount in less than a week. The latest public stock offering was announced Sept. 20.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration published its most recent monthly statistics on the ethanol industry on Sept. 26. The report is part of the EIA's Monthly Energy Review. The data shows a slight increase in production over last year.
The advanced biofuels community is taking the threat seriously of a possible waiver or opening the renewable fuel standard for amendment. A new coalition, Fuels America, has been announced along with the launching of a new advertising campaign.
Xiaowei Teng, assistant professor of chemical engineering at the University of New Hampshire, has received two National Science Foundation grants totaling nearly $1 million to improve the efficiency of ethanol oxidation fuel cell reactions.
Production equipment, lab equipment and other office furnishings and equipment owned by Massachusetts-based Qteros Inc. is set to be auctioned off on Sept. 28. The public auction is being handled by auctioneer and appraisal firm Aaron Posnik & Co.
Not long after conducting an executive swing through five of the 10 communities where it owns ethanol plants, Valero Corp. announced that the two plants that had been temporarily idled had been restarted at Albion, Neb., and Linden, Ind.
Renmatix opens new research and development facility
September 26, 2012
Cellulosic sugar manufacturer Renmatix Inc. has opened a new research and development center at its headquarters in King of Prussia, Pa. The facility will enable the company to expand its scope and investigate the use of additional feedstocks.
The Fuel Freedom Foundation has announced the winners of its first college video competition. The winning films are short segments produced by Chapman University Dodge College of Film and Media Arts students. Ethanol is mentioned in all three videos.
With Congress adjourned, fears that a 2012 farm bill wouldn't pass before the Sept. 30 deadline have now become a reality. Although there's no guarantee, lawmakers could still get it done after Election Day, commonly called the lame duck session.
Small American companies are directing the global algae industry's commercialization approach. With Big Oil, Big Food and big money behind them, U.S. algae startups continue to scale up, build out, and tap into the infrastructure of industrial hosts.
The Soros Economic Development Fund and the Industrialization Fund for Developing Countries recently announced investments of nearly $9 million in CleanStar Mozambique, with the option to invest more in potential pan-African expansion.
Gevo Inc. is taking advantage of a design feature to temporarily switch back to ethanol production after 17 weeks of isobutanol production while it corrects some technological issues identified during typical startup growing pains.
BioFuel Energy Corp., an ethanol production company, announced today that it has decided to idle its Fairmont, Minn., ethanol facility until further notice. The plant ceased ethanol production as of the end of last week.
The Renewable Fuels Association and Renewable Fuels Foundation will be offering six scholarships for students to attend the 18th Annual National Ethanol Conference: Driving Forward in Las Vegas, Nev., Feb. 5-7, 2013. Applications are due Nov. 23.
During each presidential campaign, the American Farm Bureau Federation asks the Democratic and Republican presidential nominees to address issues that concern the farming and ranching communities. Responses to this year's questions are now available.
Back to School, Alcohol School
September 24, 2012
I was back in school for a few days last week – the Alcohol School, held in Montreal and cosponsored by the Ethanol Technology Institute and Lallemand Ethanol Technology.
Today the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance criticized the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development senior counselor Carmel Cahill for making unsubstantiated comments targeting the role of biofuels mandates in food price inflation.
Coproducts are becoming an increasingly important factor in ethanol plant profitability, according to the third annual benchmarking report released Sept. 18 by Christianson & Associates PLLP. The report addresses 2011 and the first half of 2012.
Representatives of the biofuel industry are speaking out against a report, titled "Ethanol's Lost Promise," recently issued by the Energy Policy Research Foundation Inc., a non-profit organization that focuses on the petroleum industry.
A leaked proposal by the European Commission reportedly indicates that European governments are considering altering the Renewable Energy Directive to place more emphasis on advanced biofuel feedstocks, while capping crop-based biofuel consumption.
The Oshawa Port Authority in Ontario is planning an event to help answer questions its local community has with regard to a proposed ethanol plant. To help address public concerns, the OPA plans to hold a public information meeting on Sept. 25.
As predicted, the Sept. 15 expiration of EPA's summer volatility restriction has resulted in an increase in E15 offerings. This week five stations in Kansas begin offer E15, bringing the total in the state to seven.
Winners of Annual Brazilian Bioenergy Awards announced
September 19, 2012
Winners of this year's Annual Brazilian Bioenergy Awards include collaborations of companies developing algae biofuels and cellulosic ethanol. The awards were announced at the 2012 World Biofuels Markets Brazil conference and exhhibition on Sept. 18.
December futures prices for corn have declined to $7.40 a bushel from a high of $8.38 on Aug. 21. Distillers grains cash prices, which track corn prices, are down too, from an average of $299 per ton during the week of Aug. 10, to $286 on Sept. 14.
The 2012 National Advanced Biofuels Conference & Expo taking place Nov. 27-29 in Houston, Texas, announced its preliminary agenda this week, which includes three comprehensive program tracks focused on advanced biofuels and biochemicals.
If Purdue University researchers have their way, the term "biofuel plant" will take on a whole new meaning. A team received a $5.2 million U.S. DOE grant to develop a plant that can make substances that could be used directly as a biofuel.
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