News and Notes - Sept. 25, 2008

Feature Article

Chernobyl clean up to be helped by biofuels sector
http://www.biofuelreview.com/content/view/1725/1/

An interesting article on the Belarus government’s plan to use biomass production to reduce the radioactivity of the Chernobyl site. It is projected that the project could remove radioactivity from 50,000 square kilometers in 20-40 years, while producing biofuels on land that does not compete with food crops.

UTBI-related News

Transportation center eyed in Tennessee valley
http://timesfreepress.com/news/2008/sep/24/transportation-center-eyed-tennessee-valley/?local

US News

Duke developing biomass plants
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/business/story/212832.html

RISI biomass study finds government mandates could lead to over-harvesting of forests
http://www.risiinfo.com/technology/pulp-paper/news/RISI-biomass-study-finds-government-mandates-could-lead-to-over-harvesting-of-forests.html?source=rss

Brasher: Corn, soybean supply on brink of shortages
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080921/BUSINESS03/809210324/1030/

High corn prices create huge losses in ethanol industry
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/09/23/verasun_corn_prices/

Lawmakers to Let Offshore-Drilling Ban Expire
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122230324593473611.html?mod=dist_smartbrief

ACE proposes temporary E15 waiver
http://www.ethanolproducer.com/article.jsp?article_id=4803

U.S. Senate extends renewable energy tax credits
http://www.biomassmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=2035

EPA releases Google Earth-based interactive web database of solar, wind, biomass opportunities on contaminated land
http://www.epa.gov/renewableenergyland/

Algenol takes fresh approach to ethanol production
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/algenol-takes-fresh-approach-ethanol/story.aspx?guid={E36349E5-0713-4468-A8BA-FE5DBA1ADF0C}&dist=msr_2

Tyson exec: Ethanol to blame for rise in food
http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Business/238205/

Minnesota's biofuel pioneers learn about cellulosic ethanol
http://news.tradingcharts.com/futures/6/1/114013416.html

New Research Supports Ethanol Production
http://www.hoosieragtoday.com/wire/news/01502_energy_study_180658.php

Avoiding Ethanol
http://www.redorbit.com/news/business/1564476/avoiding_ethanol/

DOE energy official: Ethanol benefit 'not insignificant'
http://farmweek.ilfb.org/viewdocument.asp?did=12050&r=0.9603998&r=0.730221

Snohomish County dedicates new biodiesel facility (WA Canola)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008199030_biodiesel24m.html

International News

Austrian study: heating with biomass remains two-thirds cheaper than heating oil – households save 1800 Euros per year, sector creates thousands of jobs
http://biopact.com/2008/09/austrian-study-heating-with-biomass.html

B.C.'s ethanol standards for gasoline a mistake: scientists
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2008/09/23/ethanol-fuel-standards.html

Maple Energy ups Peru ethanol project budget to around $222 million
http://www.forbes.com/afxnewslimited/feeds/afx/2008/09/23/afx5457416.html

Gushan Resumes Beijing Operations Following Completion of 2008 Olympics
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/gushan-resumes-beijing-operations-following/story.aspx?guid={BD7B53D9-B20E-4B02-8283-4D2B7FEF3A94}&dist=hppr

India BPCL JV to invest $480mln in biodiesel-paper (jatropha)
http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssEnergyNews/idUSDEL10754820080924