Tuesday, May 27, 2008

News and Notes - May 27, 2008

US News

Farm bill attracts criticism at WTO talks
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080526/pl_nm/trade_wto_farm_usa_dc_2;_ylt=AuN4X4xLE9u.9uSDeLKmt6QE1vAI

U.S. Military Launches Alternative-Fuel Push
http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB121134017363909773-lMyQjAxMDI4MTIxMTMyNDEwWj.html

Corn-ethanol not the ‘answer’ to energy needs
http://xeniagazette.1upmonitor.com/main.asp?SectionID=17&SubSectionID=452&ArticleID=159545&TM=32672.43

ISU economist says corn farmers getting "bad rap"
http://www.radioiowa.com/gestalt/go.cfm?objectid=17A0EFCE-9E12-7F93-0A22532DD717A77A

Supply-demand imbalance boosts oil prices
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/05/26/BUHH10S61B.DTL

Cost of oil only start of what's behind price of gasoline
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/energy/5799891.html
Fledgling U.S. biodiesel industry facing tough times
http://es.quote.com/news/story.action?id=KNS146g4196

National Biodiesel Board: Don't Give Up on Energy Independence
http://www.biofuelsjournal.com/articles/National_Biodiesel_Board__Don_t_Give_Up_on_Energy_Independence-57674.html

Palm Coast wary of ethanol plant
http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Flagler/flaFLAG11HEAD02052608.htm

Sugar may be stirred into the ethanol mix (Imperial Sugar looking to build a large plant)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5799692.html

Nation’s largest biodiesel facility commences production
http://biofuelsdigest.com/blog2/2008/05/26/greenhunter-stars-production-at-105-mgy-biodiesel-plant-nations-largest/

Monroe (MO) City ethanol plant update (Ed. - Cancelled due to feedstock costs)
http://www.khqa.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=138715

Hopewell on verge of ethanol facility (Ed. – Company wants to build 4 facilities in the southeast, starting in VA)
http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-05-25-0230.html

International News


WWF urges Brazil biofuel projects (Ed. – Their report says ethanol production is not having a significant impact on food production, and that it is not contributing to deforestation in the Amazon.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7420770.stm

Oil price mocks fuel realities
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Global_Economy/JE24Dj02.html

Ethanol boom brings change to Brazil cane growers
http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN26342117

Sweden announces “verified sustainable” ethanol
http://www.canadiandriver.com/thenews/2008/05/26/sweden-announces-“verified-sustainable”-ethanol.htm

Friday, May 23, 2008

News and Notes - May 23, 2008

US News

Problems with Congress override of farm bill (Ed: Title III, dealing with trade and food aid was the part left out of the package sent to the White House. The debate now is whether or not the remainder of the bill will go into effect or if the whole thing will need to be resubmitted.)
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/05/22/farm.bill/index.html
and http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=amLpoRc81U8Y&refer=home

Release from oil reserve rejected
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/energy/5797594.html

Sen. Lugar Op-Ed: Energy & Food Security Both Necesssary
http://www.agweb.com/get_article.aspx?pageid=143223

BlueFire sees big cellulosic growth in five years
http://www.checkbiotech.org/green_News_Biofuels.aspx?infoId=17996

Ethanol and Food Prices - Preliminary Assessment
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/ageconfacpub/49/

Baylor Awarded $492,000 to Study Ways to Make Ethanol Cheaper to Produce
http://www.baylor.edu/pr/news.php?action=story&story=51031

General Motors, Discovery Communications Form Media Partnership on First-Ever 24/7 'Green' Network, Planet Green
http://www.autospectator.com/cars/general-motors-corporate/0040621-general-motors-discovery-communications-form-media-partnership-firs

Ethanol group responds to criticism with statewide radio campaign
http://www.madison.com/tct/news//287767

UT research into cheap fuel breakthrough (Univ. of Toledo)
http://www.nbc24.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=136169

BIO analyzes farm bill provisions for advanced biofuels
http://www.biomassmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=1651


International News


Evidence that Ethanol Works (Brazil)
http://domesticfuel.com/2008/05/22/evidence-that-ethanol-works/

UN climate chief says biofuels necessary in future
http://www.pr-inside.com/un-climate-chief-says-biofuels-necessary-r604112.htm

Husky turns to corn at Minnedosa ethanol plant (due to rising wheat costs)
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/subscriber/business/local/story/4176483p-4765242c.html

Huge hidden biomass lives deep beneath the oceans
http://environment.newscientist.com/channel/earth/dn13960-huge-hidden-biomass-lives-deep-beneath-the-oceans.html?feedId=online-news_rss20

Canadian biofuels help economy, don't have negative impact on food prices
http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/article/303172

UN rights council targets trade, biofuels in food crisis debate
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080522/sc_afp/unrightsinflationfoodpoverty_080522164949

Thursday, May 22, 2008

News and Notes - May 22, 2008

US News

House Overrides Veto of Farm Bill: Glitch May Force Repeat of the Process (Ed: Apparently the House Clerk left off a section of the Farm Bill when it was sent to the President, so they will likely have to start the whole process over again. Since he did not see the whole bill, the veto apparently does not count.)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/21/AR2008052101313.html?hpid=topnews
and http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/05/21/bush.farmbill.ap/index.html

Crude sets new mark above $135
http://money.cnn.com/2008/05/22/markets/oil.ap/index.htm

Global pulpwood prices reached new records in 1Q 2008, according to the Wood Resource Quarterly
http://www.timberbuysell.com/Community/DisplayAd.asp?id=2602

Clearing the Air: Outdoor Wood Boilers Face Regulation
http://timberbuysell.com/Community/DisplayNews.asp?id=2584

Ethanol turmoil a serious threat to some companies
http://www.suntimes.com/business/964699,CST-FIN-ethanol22.article

Sununu backs freeze on corn ethanol
http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Sununu+backs+freeze++on+corn+ethanol&articleId=01e39d26-5872-49ab-9ecb-2076f7f5541e

Switchgrass varieties currently on trial at four locations in California
http://westernfarmpress.com/news/switchgrass-varieties-0521/

Riding the rails
http://ethanolproducer.com/article.jsp?article_id=4143

The Genetics of Ethanol Production
http://ethanolproducer.com/article.jsp?article_id=4147

1 more biodiesel plant up, running: Annual capacity 10 million gallons at state’s 3rd site (Arkansas)
http://www2.arkansasonline.com/news/2008/may/22/1-more-biodiesel-plant-running-20080522/?subscriber/national

Corn grown for ethanol feeds feud over food: Detroit automakers may have to shift focus as voices rise against biofuel
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080522/BUSINESS01/805220385/1002/BUSINESS

Skyrocketing Oil Prices Stump Experts
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/21/AR2008052100386.html?hpid=topnews

And in a true, but humorous story…..
Molson Coors will fuel DNC vehicles with ethanol from waste beer
http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2008/05/19/daily30.html


International News

Raven Partners With Spectrum Energy to Develop Biofuels in British Columbia, Canada
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/marketwire/0399429.htm

Energy crops take a roasting (A new process to improve combustion)
http://www.alphagalileo.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=readrelease&releaseid=529455

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

News and Notes - May 21, 2008

US News

Wall Street Journal’s “Khosla's Conspiracy”
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121123877696104955.html

Vinod Khosla’s letter regarding Wall Street Journal article
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10787_3-9949134-60.html

Khosla’s Food Vs. Fuel Presentation Script
http://khoslaventures.com/presentations/FOODvFUEL.pdf

Anti-ethanol Lobby Launches "Food Before Fuel Campaign"
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/05/20/politics/politico/thecrypt/main4111889.shtml

IA Sen. Grassley Urges GMA Member Company Workers to Voice Disappointment With Ethanol Smear Campaign
http://www.biofuelsjournal.com/articles/IA_Sen__Grassley_Urges_GMA_Member_Company_Workers_to_Voice_Disappointment_With_Ethanol_Smear_Campaign-57526.html

New Ethanol Legislation Could Hit Hard
http://investerms.com/top_news/382.html

More research needed on cellulosic ethanol: Borlaug
http://www.commodityonline.com/news/topstory/newsdetails.php?id=8494

New Trend in Biofuels Has New Risks (Invasive Plants)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/21/science/earth/21biofuels.html?_r=3&hp&oref&oref=slogin

Crude's Price Surge Attracts Oil-Field Thieves
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121132645628208717.html?mod=dist_smartbrief

Athena Recieves DOE Grant for Ethanol Microbe Research
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=52520

Minnesota Passes Statewide B20 Mandate
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=52535

Our opinion: Biofools
http://www.timesrecordnews.com/news/2008/may/20/our-opinion-biofools/

AU researchers show off way to turn wood to watts
http://nrmdi.wordpress.com/2008/05/19/wood-to-watts-biomass-gasification/


International News

Don’t blame biofuels for food shortage
http://theland.farmonline.com.au/news/nationalrural/grains-and-cropping/general/dont-blame-biofuels-for-food-shortage/774581.aspx

EU defends biofuels policy amid rising food prices
http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90856/6415190.html

Indonesia considering mandatory use of biofuel
http://in.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idINJAK14435720080521?sp=true

Angola: Portuguese investors want to produce sugar cane in Zaire province
http://www.macauhub.com.mo/en/news.php?ID=5398

First Draft of Oil Palm Genome Completed by Synthetic Genomics Inc and Asiatic Centre for Genome Technology
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/05-21-2008/0004818112&EDATE=

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

News and Notes - May 20, 2008

US News

Administration allies strike against ethanol critics
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/administration-allies-strike-against-ethanol/story.aspx?guid=%7B7707E9FB%2D2ABF%2D45B0%2D9152%2DFA723939225E%7D&dist=hplatest&dist=dist_smartbrief&dist=dist_smartbrief

Bush: Saudi oil move won't fix problem, U.S. must aid self
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/world/5787377.html

U.S. presidential candidates’ views on biofuels
http://www.biomassmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=1645

When cars compete with people for food
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/05/17/IN3R10MGP4.DTL

US, Brazil blame soaring food prices on trade restrictions
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200805200950.htm

US March Ethanol Imports Down, According To Early EIA Data
http://www.cattlenetwork.com/Content.asp?ContentID=221641

So You Think Gas Costs a Lot? (Commentary on Diesel prices)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/18/automobiles/18PRICE.html?_r=3&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

U.S. stops filling oil reserve: Move fails to halt rising crude prices, which hit record $126.29 a barrel
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/05/17/BUN510O3MC.DTL

Termites hold clue to replace corn in ethanol
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-mon-tech-notebook-miscanthusmay19,0,4954773.story

Ethanol plants alter farming landscape
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2008/05/18/planting_season.ART_ART_05-18-08_D1_JOA7GFL.html

Is Florida's big ethanol investment worth the risk?
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/food/orl-ethanol2808may19,0,7556324.story

Farm Bill Promotes Cellulosic Ethanol
http://domesticfuel.com/2008/05/18/farm-bill-promotes-cellulosic-ethanol/

Ethanol Regains Some Luster
http://www.forbes.com/markets/2008/05/19/pacific-ethanol-corn-markets-equity-cx_ra_0519markets27.html

What Hoosiers Think About Ethanol
http://www.hoosieragtoday.com/wire/news/00886_What_hooisers_think_191955.php

International News

Big Oil Steps Into Brazilian Ethanol
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=52475

Can biomass clean China’s air?
http://www.biomassmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=1646

U.S. Wants China to Enter IEA
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121127520932506675.html?mod=dist_smartbrief

MEP seeks Europe-wide ban on 'splash and dash' biofuel trading (shipping B100 to US, adding a splash of diesel and shipping it back to the UK to get the $1.00 gallon blending credit from US)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/may/19/biofuels.alternativeenergy

Mexico President Calderon Cautious On Using Food For Biofuels
http://www.cattlenetwork.com/Content.asp?contentid=222775

Brazil's Sao Paulo state suspends new ethanol plants pending environmental study
http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2008/05/16/afx5019776.html

WEF: 'Biofuel production is driving up food prices'
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/article3964943.ece

PvT Capital and Greenfield JV on Chernobyl ethanol plan
http://biofuelsdigest.com/blog2/2008/05/20/pvt-capital-and-greenfield-jv-on-chernobyl-ethanol-plan/

Key lawmaker urges EU to scrap 10 pct biofuel target
http://in.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idINL1651093020080516

Ghana: food or biofuels
http://environmentdebate.wordpress.com/2008/05/15/ghana-food-or-biofuels/