News and Notes - August 4, 2008

Feature Article

USDA will not release CRP acres penalty free
http://www.biomassmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=1867

In a decision that has been anticipated for a while, the USDA decided not to allow CRP acres to be withdrawn from the program without penalty. The article gives a clear overview of how the decision was reached. Reasons for it included the new Farm Bill’s reduction in CRP acreage (cap down by almost 7 million acres), current size of corn crop, and a recent court case that cited the USDA for lack of environmental impact statements for changes made to hay and grazing lands. An EIS for CRP lands would be much more complicated.

US News

Ethanol industry looking up (corn futures are down)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-sd-ethanol,0,4924275.story

Gaps in the Research of 2nd Generation Transportation Biofuels (A report by IEA and DOE)
http://www.ieabioenergy.com/LibItem.aspx?id=5955

(North Carolina) Ethanol plant moving forward
http://www.fayobserver.com/article?id=300969

GM offers “seed-to-tank” look at biomass-based ethanol
http://www.ethanolproducer.com/article.jsp?article_id=4546

U.S. sugar trade says ethanol not a savior, Doha unhelpful
http://www.reuters.com/article/gc08/idUSN0148249720080803

Company May Build Facility for Algae Biofuel in Las Cruces
http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews+articleid_2468347&title=Company_May_Build.html

The cellulosic ethanol leaders of the future
http://www.cellulosicroundtable.com/

Tjiong grass, cross of elephant grass and sugar cane, seen as potential energy crop
http://www.theledger.com/article/20080803/NEWS/808030377/1410&title=Retired_Lakeland_Minister_Thinks_Grass_Can_Be_Used_for_Ethanol

Ford Offers New Flex-Fuel Vehicles in 2009
http://www.biofuelsjournal.com/articles/Ford_Offers_New_Flex_Fuel_Vehicles_in_2009_-61203.html

International News

What's the next stop after Geneva (trade talks failure)
http://www.ibnlive.com/blogs/vivianfernandes/1878/52529/whats-the-next-stop-after-geneva.html

Oil prices and climate change fuel green gold rush
http://www.edie.net/news/news_story.asp?id=15022&channel=0&title=Oil+prices+and+climate+change+fuel+green+gold+rush

India’s national biodiesel “mission” shelved
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Energy/Oil__Gas/Biodiesel_mission_set_to_pull_down_shutters/articleshow/3322496.cms

GreenGold Ray Energies Expands Jatropha Plantations for Increased Biodiesel Oil Productions
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/marketwire/0420849.htm