News and Notes - Sept. 3, 2008

Feature Article

Ford testing ethanol injection with Ecoboost
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-10030963-48.html

This gives a more in-depth review of the new Ford engines (as reported earlier http://utbionews.blogspot.com/2008/08/news-and-notes-august-11-2008.html) that are under development. Apparently a new generation of the Ecoboost uses ethanol directly injected into the fuel/air mixture, cooling the chamber and making combustion more efficient. Ford says the injection/turbo engine gets better gas mileage than the earlier Ecoboost. This would be a potential boon for the struggling automaker.

US News

SD senator: GOP call to end ethanol mandate wrong
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/09/02/ap5380675.html

U.S. Republicans break with Bush on ethanol
http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKN0133790420080902?sp=true

Brazil sees WTO ethanol case against U.S. soon
http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN0245084720080902?sp=true

Novel Fungus Helps Beetles to Digest Hard Wood
http://www.gantdaily.com/news/43/ARTICLE/29349/2008-09-01.html

Ethanol: Can it blend in?
http://www.hpj.com/archives/2008/sep08/sep1/Ethanol-Canitblendin.cfm?title=Ethanol-%20Can%20it%20blend%20in

Assessing the Alternatives
http://autospeed.com/cms/A_110155/article.html?popularArticle

From missteps on biofuels and wind, it's clear a lack of leadership is the nation's real energy crisis
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/currents/20080831_From_missteps_on_biofuels_and_wind__it_s_clear_a_lack_of_leadership_is_the_nation_s_real_energy_crisis_.html

Commercial biodiesel, the nation's cash
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iYG8SUnUOR9NfNAI-ZFekXsmN5GwD92S6ERG0

Ethanol plan scrapped, but biodiesel may replace it (FL)
http://tampabay.com/news/business/energy/article788854.ece

Tweaking corn genes to boost biofuel yields
http://media.cleantech.com/3328/tweaking-corn-genes-boosting-biofuel-production

Ethanol producer has burning ambition (SC)
http://www.charleston.net/news/2008/sep/01/columbia_firm_seeks_millions_fund_biofue52617/

Want fries with that fuel? City zoners OK biodiesel company (PA)
http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-b5_5fuel.6564027sep02,0,124088.story

Kansas corn growers, EPIC, serve up new ethanol blends
http://www.hpj.com/archives/2008/sep08/sep1/kansascorngrowersepicserveu.cfm

New algae fuel alchemy gets $3M
http://media.cleantech.com/3350/new-algae-fuel-alchemy

Alternative fuel refinery eyeing site on Miami River
http://southflorida.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2008/09/01/story1.html?ana=e_ph

Changing Locomotion in Midstream: California’s Ethanol Mandate (Part 1)
http://gas2.org/2008/09/01/changing-locomotion-in-midstream-californias-ethanol-mandate-part-1/

International News

Saving trees first in the fight to reduce emissions need not cost the earth
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2008/09/03/ccview103.xml

German bioethanol firm cuts output on (due to) imports
http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKL131829620080901