News and Notes - July 17, 2008

Feature Article

Recent Study by ARS Researchers Suggest That Switchgrass May be Better for Your Soil
http://www.biofuelsjournal.com/articles/Recent_Study_by_ARS_Researchers_Suggest_That_Switchgrass_May_be_Better_for_Your_Soil-60541.html

This article takes an interesting look at an ARA study relating the amount of glomalin, a sugar-protein, in switchgrass to the potential erodibility of soils. The more glomalin a soil contains, the less likely that soil is to erode. The study found that as plants formed a symbiotic relationship with fungi in the soil, glomalin levels rose. This increase was most pronounced under native warm season grasses like switchgrass. Glomalin also stores carbon and adds to soil fertility. The article also links to the ARS study.

US News

Switchgrass as fuel touted for energy, cost benefits
http://www.madison.com/tct/top5/296280

Dow and NREL Partner to Convert Biomass to Ethanol and Other Chemical Building Blocks
http://news.dow.com/dow_news/corporate/2008/20080716a.htm

Biofuel Subsidies to More Than Double to $25 Billion, OECD Says
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=axhQZCggy1SA

Long energy crisis ahead, former policymakers warn
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/energy/5889608.html

Speculating About an Oil "Bubble"
http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/postglobal/energywire/2008/07/speculating_about_an_oil_bubbl.html#more

North Dakota ethanol industry having rough year
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080716/nd_ethanol_woes.html?.v=1

International Institute for Ecological Agriculture Finds Motorists Across the Country are Switching to Ethanol
http://www.biofuelsjournal.com/articles/International_Institute_for_Ecological_Agriculture_Finds_Motorists_Across_the_Country_are_Switching_to_Ethanol__-60501.html

EPA’s Answer to Governor Perry’s RFS Waiver Request Already on the Books
http://cleanfuelsclearinghouse.com/?p=31

More corn seen increasing 'dead zones'
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nation/bal-te.zones16jul16,0,7935679.story

Homegrown corn flows as ethanol at GPRE facility (Iowa)
http://www.esthervilledailynews.com/page/content.detail/id/501249.html?nav=5003

International News

World Biofuel Leaders to OPEC: Who Are You Trying to Kid?
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/7/prweb1115304.htm

World Bank biofuel report is part of a position paper
http://www.ethanolproducer.com/article.jsp?article_id=4494

FAO plans new Global Forest Resources Assessment; will monitor deforestation and forest growth with gateway to imagery and data
http://biofuelsdigest.com/blog2/2008/07/17/fao-plans-new-global-forest-resources-assessment-will-monitor-deforestation-and-forest-growth-with-gateway-to-imagery-and-data/

Brazilian Sugarcane Industry: OECD Report Confirms Overall Benefits of Brazilian Sugarcane Ethanol
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/brazilian-sugarcane-industry-oecd-report/story.aspx?guid=%7B9624265E-4AE0-43DF-9B22-858D6EB02473%7D&dist=hppr

Mozambique gov't approves giant ethanol plant (planting 18,000 hectares of sugarcane)
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-07/17/content_8558182.htm

Canadian Green Fuels announces potential $20M deal (biodiesel)
http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/story.html?id=be7f4be0-21de-4614-add0-ad66765f5f7b

Special Biofuels Digest Report on the new $2500 Tata car (India, Biodiesel ready)
http://biofuelsdigest.com/blog2/2008/07/16/special-biofuels-digest-report-on-the-new-2500-tata-car/