News and Notes - 4/16/08

Ethanol plant builder ICM lays off 105
http://www.kansas.com/business/updates/story/374151.html

The biofuel factor in rising food prices: Those who say it's all the fault of biofuels are wrong and those that say that none of the fault belongs to biofuels are wrong.
http://www.news.com/8301-11128_3-9918741-54.html

Biofuel Rule Will Do More Harm Than Good, Oxfam Says
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601102&sid=ahQazSamU6vA&refer=uk

300-Bushel Corn is Coming
http://ethanolproducer.com/article.jsp?article_id=3330

Corn Primed for Making Biofuel: Researchers design a crop that can break down its own cellulose
http://www.technologyreview.com/Energy/20608/?a=f

Blow to introduction of greener fuel as oil firms face production delay (UK)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/apr/15/biofuels.renewableenergy

Fueling Bioenergy Endeavors (Highlights several Biofuels Projects Around the Nation, including the UT Biofuels Initiative on Page 26 and it also includes an article by Al Womac on page 30)
http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/BIOH0308/index.php?startid=14

Forest Service Chief Touts Ethanol to Power Cars

An AP article describes how the U.S. Forest Service chief is proposing replacing 15 percent of the nation's gasoline with ethanol made from wood, while doubling the amount of carbon dioxide emissions absorbed by public and private forests. See more here.

Biomass Gas & Electric to Build Largest Wood-Fired Power Generating Plant in U.S.

Biomass Gas & Electric Company LLC, working with Progress Energy Florida, will be constructing a 75 megawatt waste wood fired electricity plant in Florida. IT will be the largest of its kind in the country. More here.

Wyoming plant set to produce 1.5 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol per year

A plant operated by Western Biomass Energy Co. in Upton, Wyoming is set to begin scaling up its ethanol production to a pilot scale. The plant uses primarily wood residues and other forest debris. The Rapid City has a nice report on the plant.

From Business Tennessee....

Crop Formations? Will the current national focus on alternative energy research last, and if so, how much does Tennessee stand to benefit from it? Article Here