News and Notes - July 28, 2008

Feature Article

Termite Bellies and Biofuels
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/25770269.html

This article is a nice in-depth look at some research underway looking at termite stomachs and the enzymes they contain. These “walking bioreactors” as the researcher calls them contain extremely efficient enzymes that release sugars from the materials these insects eat. These enzymes hold lots of potential for commercial development of efficient cellulosic technologies. We have some research underway here at the University of Tennessee that is also looking at termite enzymes. Dr. Juan Jurat Fuentes is heading that effort through a Sun Grant funded research program.

UTBI-related News

Tennessee Biofuels project Boosts Knoxville's Innovation Valley
http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/markets/industries/industrials/tennessee-biofuels-project-boosts-knoxvilles-innovation-valley/

VW Execs Impressed By Switchgrass Into Biofuel Effort
http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_132128.asp

National News

US presses ahead with biofuel law, despite opposition from Texas: New legislation would make 80 per cent of vehicles capable of being run on biofuels
http://www.businessgreen.com/business-green/news/2222604/presses-ahead-biofuel-boom

Ethanol carries huge costs to the environment, people
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/outlook/5908297.html

Boosting Cellulosic Biofuels
http://www.technologyreview.com/Energy/21134/

Sprucing Up Wood Waste
http://www.biomassmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=1834

USDA Expert Warns Against Harvesting Wheat Residue
http://www.biofuelsjournal.com/articles/USDA_Expert_Warns_Against_Harvesting_Wheat_Residue-60774.html

How Free Trade Can Help Solve the Energy Crisis
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121702724001286291.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

GMO Crops May Help End Food-Versus-Fuel Debate, Monsanto Says
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601101&sid=azk_XuQTuJ2s&refer=japan

Renewable Chemicals Corporation Will Use Sugar Cane Ethanol to Manufacture Renewable Chemicals
http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/markets/industries/industrials/renewable-chemicals-corporation-use-sugar-cane-ethanol-manufacture-renewable/

WATER: Oil companies see opportunity in another precious commodity
http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/2008/07/28/1/

Postal Service Wants To Green 90% Of Fleet
http://www.environmentalleader.com/2008/07/24/postal-service-wants-to-green-90-of-fleet/

Neighbor campaigns for LYCO 1 ethanol plan (Public support for ethanol project!)
http://www.dailyitem.com/0100_news/local_story_210000030.html

Dalton (GA) Utilities to Start Producing Biodiesel From Algae
http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews+articleid_2439195&title=BRIEF_Dalton_Utilities.html

Ethanol plant aims for October start-up (POET Ohio)
http://www.marionstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080727/NEWS01/807270330/1002/NEWS01

Liquid Maize halts ethanol plant construction, cites financing
http://biofuelsdigest.com/blog2/2008/07/28/liquid-maize-halts-ethanol-plant-construction-cites-financing/

Man uses canola seeds to produce biodiesel fuel (NC)
http://www.godanriver.com/gdr/news/local/danville_news/article/man_uses_canola_seeds_to_produce_biodiesel_fuel/5284/

International News

EU proposes annual import of 1.4 mln tons of ethanol from Brazil
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-07/28/content_8786249.htm

Petrobras Opens Biofuel Unit to Oversee $1.5 Billion Investment
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601086&sid=a9VdoR3lh0CM&refer=latin_america

India votes for national energy security
http://biofuelsdigest.com/blog2/2008/07/28/india-votes-for-national-energy-security-biofuels-digest-special-report/