News and Notes - April 30, 2008

U.S.

American grocers, farmers face off over ethanol subsidies
http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5g77dUkPltIcIo2Re8wgFUUNZXOaw

Republicans Become Source of Opposition to Ethanol Mandates as Food Prices Rise
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,353249,00.html

Bush backs ethanol despite concern about food costs
http://www.guardian.co.uk/feedarticle?id=7491658

Farm Bill conference committee expected to vote this week; biodiesel tax break gone; ethanol tariff extended to 2010
http://biofuelsdigest.com/blog2/2008/04/30/farm-bill-conference-committee-expected-to-vote-this-week-biodiesel-tax-break-gone-ethanol-tariff-extended-to-2010/

Ethanol Industry supports Farm Bill changes
http://domesticfuel.com/2008/04/28/ethanol-industry-supports-farm-bill-changes/

Far from disaster, biofuels do good for state
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=743817

Future Fuels May Forever Be Under Media Attack
http://ethanolproducer.com/article.jsp?article_id=3941

Sen. Domenici aims to lift fuel restriction on military
http://www.ogj.com/display_article/327255/7/ONART/none/GenIn/1/Domenici-seeks-repeal-of-section-in-Defense-bill/

International

Fiat to launch ethanol truck engine in Brazil
http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssConsumerGoodsAndRetailNews/idUSN2934520620080429

Biofuel tech companies look for market niche
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/International_Business/Biofuel_tech_companies_look_for_market_niche/articleshow/2997057.cms

GM plants to provide plastic alternative
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/29/2230630.htm?section=australia

World food price crisis blamed on government neglect
http://environment.newscientist.com/channel/earth/dn13801-world-food-price-crisis-blamed-on-government-neglect.html?feedId=online-news_rss20

UP (India) govt. permits sugar mills to make ethanol from sugarcane
http://www.myiris.com/newsCentre/newsPopup.php?fileR=20080430143803179&dir=2008/04/30&secID=livenews

And a little humor for the day…

Stephen Colbert Breaks Down The Ethanol Debate. Which, incidentally, will help us defeat soccer.
http://www.ecorazzi.com/2008/04/29/stephen-cobert-breaks-down-the-ethanol-debate/

News and Notes - April 29, 2008

UTBI in the News:

Mascoma and UT join in $26 million DOE grant
http://www.oakridger.com/news/x170778935

Other News:

Senate proposes $1.01 per gallon ethanol tax credit; ethanol tariff 50/50 chance of expiring this year, analyst projects
http://biofuelsdigest.com/blog2/2008/04/29/senate-proposes-101-per-gallon-ethanol-tax-credit-ethanol-tariff-5050-chance-of-expiring-this-year-analyst-projects/

Biofuel production is ‘criminal path’ leading to global food crisis: UN expert
http://www.app.com.pk/en_/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=36701&Itemid=2

Bring on the right biofuel crops
http://canberra.yourguide.com.au/news/opinion/opinion/bring-on-the-right-biofuel-crops/1233084.html

Key farm-state lawmakers shifting support to cellulosic fuel
http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/2008/04/28/1/

A cleaner fuel print: Ethanol-blended fuels are coming to a gas station near you -- sooner than you might think (Florida preparing to mandate E10)
http://www.miamiherald.com/516/story/510253.html

Monsanto enters partnership to make biofuel from grass
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/business/stories.nsf/0/B96ABAEA7E180F9E8625743A000CB246?OpenDocument

Biotech execs say biofuels no threat to food supply
http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN2815629620080428

Testing the Water
http://www.ethanolproducer.com/article.jsp?article_id=3981

Flocks Or Feedstocks (CRP Land Debate)
http://www.ethanolproducer.com/article.jsp?article_id=3983

News and Notes - April 28, 2008

Farm bill boosts nutrition and cuts ethanol credit (by 6 cents, buts creates new credit for cellulosic ethanol)
http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN2540678920080425

Trade war brewing over US biofuel subsidies
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/apr/26/biofuels.oil

Coskata to build demonstration cellulosic ethanol plant in Pennsylvania
http://www.biomassmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=1625

Oklahoma to seed over 1,000 acres to switchgrass
http://www.biomassmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=1624

Analyst says end of ethanol oversupply in sight
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/04/25/ap4935452.html

Why biofuels have backfired
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/editorials/story.html?id=27faf0f6-9547-488f-ac83-385968fb6427

Lula to rich nations: 'Stop your hypocrisy,' buy Brazil biofuel
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5h2uh668bubJikiI0j8wYhWFfrmlg

E-Fuel Microfueler Saviour For Luxury Gas Guzzlers
http://www.lussorian.com/luxury/comments/e-fuel-microfueler-saviour-for-luxury-gas-guzzlers/2008-04-27/

Texas wants waiver from federal ethanol standard
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/energy/5732067.html and
http://www.canadiandriver.com/thenews/2008/04/27/texas-wants-waiver-from-federal-ethanol-standard.htm

USDA, DOE secretaries: Time article misses the mark
http://www.biomassmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=1622

The New Economics of Hunger
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/26/AR2008042602041.html

Brazil trip opens French lawmakers' eyes to biofuel vs. food debate
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hAK94VOY_vuqAsD5Fx48Qfv-6fyw

News and Notes - April 25, 2008

UTBI in the News:

Farmer says ethanol not to blame for rising food prices (One of UT’s switchgrass producers, text and video)
http://www.wate.com/global/story.asp?s=8223492

Other News:

Crop management strategies key to a healthy Gulf, planet
http://www.ornl.gov/info/press_releases/get_press_release.cfm?ReleaseNumber=mr20080421-00

More Americans Worry About Energy Issues, Poll Finds, Than Home Foreclosures, Jobs or Global Warming
http://sev.prnewswire.com/oil-energy/20080424/DC2040124042008-1.html

BP buys into Brazilian ethanol venture ($560 million)
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/natural_resources/article3811697.ece

Ethanol Maker Buys Exxon's Brazil Outlets
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120906245128342251.html?mod=dist_smartbrief

Biobutanol: The Next Big Biofuel?
http://www.biomassmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=1605

Coskata: Biomass choices are nearly limitless
http://www.biomassmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=1587

MSU releases third corn variety for cellulosic ethanol
http://www.biomassmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=1602

Ethanol facility not really ‘pork’
http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/news.php?viewStory=59786

Food Crisis Starts Eclipsing Climate Change Worries
http://www.nysun.com/news/food-crisis-eclipsing-climate-change

China meat consumption change uses more grain than US ethanol industry, Biofuels Digest study reports
http://biofuelsdigest.com/blog2/2008/04/25/china-meat-consumption-change-uses-more-grain-than-us-ethanol-industry-biofuels-digest-study-reports/

Hungry Like the Ethanol Wolf
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MjM2MjcxYTkxYzc1Nzk5YWM1YTAzODM0MmQ5YWVlZWQ=

Texas Gov Mulls Seeking Waiver From US Renewable Fuel Rule
http://www.cattlenetwork.com/Content.asp?ContentID=216460

News and Notes - 4/24/08

Upcoming Seminar: Discuss the Food vs. Fuel Bioenergy Debate Friday - http://www.utk.edu/tntoday/article.php?pk=760

Chattanooga: Mixed fuel for your tank (UTBI highlighted)
http://timesfreepress.com/news/2008/apr/24/chattanooga-encouraging-ethanol/

Networks Ignore Government's Role in Ethanol-Driven Global Food Crisis (ABC, NBC and CBS news networks ran 69 stories about corn ethanol since January 2007)
http://www.businessandmedia.org/articles/2008/20080423140642.aspx

Farm Income Up, but Subsidies Stay
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/24/washington/24farm.html?_r=2&hp&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

Thai PM lashes out at World Bank over biofuel criticism
http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2008/04/22/afx4916972.html

Newly Created Microbe Produces Cellulose And Sugars For Biofuels
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080423115917.htm

Goldman Sachs Says Window `Closing Fast' for Oil Drop
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601207&sid=ak.l581GZlBA&refer=energy

Praising petroleum
http://media.www.dailytexanonline.com/media/storage/paper410/news/2008/04/23/Opinion/Praising.Petroleum-3343202.shtml

Far from Middle East, U.S. farmland yields new oil
http://www.reuters.com/article/inDepthNews/idUSN1639518620080424

Ethanol Promotion and Information Council Director Nuernberg: Biofuels Not at Fault in Food Crisis
http://www.biofuelsjournal.com/articles/Ethanol_Promotion_and_Information_Council_Director_Nuernberg__Biofuels_Not_at_Fault_in_Food_Crisis-56176.html

News and Notes - April 23, 2008

U.N. expert: Food crisis 'a silent tsunami'
http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/04/22/food.biofuels/index.html
This was also featured on NPR last night - http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89850141

NCGA’s Ihnen Addresses the Sustainability of Biofuels
http://www.ncga.com/news/notd/2008/April/041808.asp

Ethanol’s Excedrin Headache: Where Have All the Good Sites Gone?
http://ethanolproducer.com/article.jsp?article_id=3854

The Risk of Biomass Invasion
http://ethanolproducer.com/article.jsp?article_id=3856

Transport energy now 'No. 1 issue' facing U.S
http://autos.canada.com/green/story.html?id=a9ab80d0-a2eb-4a55-ae0c-2e0007300c94&k=86617

Does Ethanol Deserve the Blame for Rising Food Prices?
http://seekingalpha.com/article/73420-does-ethanol-deserve-the-blame-for-rising-food-prices

(British PM) Brown sounds retreat on biofuels
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/latestnews/-Brown-sounds-retreat-on.4009080.jp

Study says ethanol saves money
http://columbiatribune.com/2008/Apr/20080422Busi004.asp

The rise of the new energy world order
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Global_Economy/JD17Dj04.html

Bush voices concern about record oil price
http://www.forbes.com/reuters/feeds/reuters/2008/04/22/2008-04-22T174449Z_01_N22361581_RTRIDST_0_BUSH-OIL-UPDATE-1.html

News and Notes - 4/22/08

Organizing Biomass Farmers (with Tennessee highlighted)
http://www.biomassmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=1528

Gulf Ethanol: ''We won’t burn your food''
http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20080421005830&newsLang=en

Cellulosic ethanol to surpass corn...in 14 years (so says Novozymes)
http://www.news.com/8301-11128_3-9924797-54.html

Leaders warn on biofuels and food (Bolivian president says capitalist system needs to end to save the earth)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7359880.stm

GM Chief Dismisses Panic Over Ethanol
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fpposted/archive/2008/04/21/gm-chief-dismisses-panic-over-ethanol.aspx

EU biodiesel group to seek duties on U.S. imports
http://www.guardian.co.uk/feedarticle?id=7471646

Study Shows Ethanol is More Efficient
(Argonne National Laboratory released a report, based on ethanol industry data from 2001 to 2006, concluding that ethanol plants used 26.6 percent less water, 15.7 percent less grid electricity, and 21.8 percent less overall energy in producing ethanol, per gallon.)
http://wallacesfarmer.com/index.aspx?ascxid=fpStory&fpsid=33379&fpstid=1

Gas Reaches $3.50, With Little Hope for Relief
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/22/business/worldbusiness/22oil.html?_r=3&scp=2&sq=energy&st=nyt&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

OPEC: Oil Market 'Detached' from Supply and Demand
http://rigzone.com/news/article.asp?a_id=60651

OPEC Lays It on the Line at IEF: 'Increase Security for Demand'
http://rigzone.com/news/article.asp?a_id=60649

Study Develops More Accurate CO2 Data
http://thefraserdomain.typepad.com/energy/2008/04/study-develops.html#more

BIOMASS 08: Tilman, Lynd, Greene discuss future of biofuels
http://www.biomassmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=1573

Managing Woody Biomass
http://www.biomassmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=1526

Developing Yeast Strains for Biomass-to-Ethanol Production
http://www.biomassmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=1533

Available Grant Programs

University Biomass Research
The U.S. Department of Energy requests proposals for University
Research in Biomass Technologies: Applied Research in Conversion of
Biomass to Advance Fuels. This initiative will support innovative
and unique approaches to addressing the needs of biochemical and
thermochemical processing of biomass as implemented in integrated
biorefinery operations. $4 million expected to be available, up to
12 awards anticipated. Letters of Intent to apply are optional and
are due 4/28/08, final proposals due 6/2/08. For more info, contact
Bob Kingsley at GO98017@go.doe.gov or go to:
https://e-center.doe.gov/iips/faopor.nsf/UNID/F9E991EBB53A1463852574260075ABFA?OpenDocument.
Refer to Sol# DE-PS36-08GO98017. (Grants.gov 3/31/08)

Biomass Engineering
The National Science Foundation requests proposals for
Biotechnology, Biochemical, and Biomass Engineering. This
initiative supports research that addresses problems involved in
economic processing and manufacturing of products of economic
importance by effectively utilizing renewable resources of
biological origin and bio-informatics originating from genomic and
proteomic information. Responses due 9/15/08. For more info,
contact Frederick Heineken at fheineke@nsf.gov or go to:
http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=501024.
Refer to Sol# PD-08-1491. (Grants.gov 4/17/08)

Bio-Oil Stabilization
The U.S. Department of Energy requests proposals for Biomass Fast
Pyrolysis Oil (Bio-oil) Stabilization. Through this initiative, DOE
seeks practical, cost effective methods for stabilizing biomass fast
pyrolysis oil. $7 million expected to be available, up to 7 awards
anticipated. Response due 5/29/08. For more info, contact
Melissa Wise at GO98018@go.doe.gov or go to:
https://e-center.doe.gov/iips/faopor.nsf/UNID/B30D021237DEB3068525742D0075A4D6?OpenDocument.
Refer to Sol# DE-PS36-08GO98018. (Grants.gov 4/16/08)

Energy Analysis and Technical Assistance
The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory
seeks proposal for energy related analysis and technical assistance
in support of NREL’s ongoing energy efficiency and renewable energy
programs. The overall objective of this solicitation is to
establish task ordering agreements with multiple organizations to
provide analysis and technical assistance as needed by NREL. Area
of interest include: Technology, systems and applications analysis;
market analysis; policy and benefits analysis; and program analysis
and evaluation. Responses due 5/5/08. For more info, contact
Laura Hughes at laura_hughes@nrel.gov or go to:
http://www.nrel.gov/business_opportunities/solicitations_rfps.html.
Refer to Sol# RCX-8-88280. (FBO 4/16/08)

News and Notes - 4/21/08

The biggest news of the day: Mascoma/UT awarded $26 million from the US DOE for the Biofuels Initiative!
http://www.doe.gov/news/6164.htm
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/apr/19/doe-taps-ethanol-site-in-et-for-funds/
http://www.rttnews.com/sp/breakingnews.asp?date=04/19/2008&item=23&vid=0

Don't Blame Ethanol For Soaring Food Prices (US Farm Bureau President Guest Column)
http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/commentary/hc-runoverstallman0420.artapr20,0,2345791.story

Corn-Based Ethanol Tied to Higher Food Costs (As said by Sec. of Energy Bodman)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120856165709227927.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Praj Industries researchers announce discovery of ethanol blend matching gasoline energy
http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage_c_online.php?leftnm=10&bKeyFlag=IN&autono=35944

Crash could follow farm boom: Ethanol cash boosts crop prices
http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1088539

Food miles don't feed climate change - meat does
http://environment.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn13741

Barreling Along: The Big Thirst (Population growth impacts on oil industry)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/weekinreview/20mouawad.html?_r=2&scp=1&sq=barreling&st=nyt&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

Emerging Market Oil Use Exceeds U.S. as Prices Rise
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601207&sid=a_YCEx7do3LQ&refer=energy

News and Notes - 4/18/08

Germany touts wood residue, straw and sour milk as biofuel sources (Daimler and Volkswagen)
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iHLzbIPNPyjjvbMH6dSzcR_QpaaQ

Ethanol incentives, farm payments may be cut (Continuing Farm Bill Negotiations)
http://uk.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUKN1721847220080418

Merkel, Like Lula, Rejects Biofuels as Root of Food-Price Rises
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601100&sid=axYK89HdsPTg&refer=germany

The Ethanol Apologists
http://www.counterpunch.org/bryce04172008.html

Brazil Region to Turn Record 58% of Cane Into Ethanol (Update2)
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601086&sid=aUFpETqrGucs&refer=latin_america

U.S. needs to add 3 million acres of corn
http://deltafarmpress.com/corn/crop-increase-0417/

Will biodiesel tax credit be extended?
http://www.biodieselmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=2264
Related: Troubled (US) biodiesel plants find market in Europe
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080402/NEWS05/804020308/1064/NEWS05

AAA says E85 is 8% higher in cost per mile than gasoline
http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080417/FREE/11443721/1024

According to a Virginia Tech study, the most water-efficient energy sources are natural gas and synthetic fuels produced by coal gasification. The least water-efficient energy sources are fuel ethanol and biodiesel.
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/539917/?sc=swhn

Brazilian Ethanol Imports May Increase: Market Analysts
http://www.biofuelsjournal.com/articles/Brazilian_Ethanol_Imports_May_Increase__Market_Analysts-56036.html

Biomass Plant Added to FSU's Master Plan
http://www.wctv.tv/home/headlines/17833724.html

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