News and Notes - Sept. 30, 2008

Feature Article

ExxonMobil's Methanol to Gasoline (MTG) Technology Selected for Synthesis Energy Systems' Coal to Liquids Projects
http://www.biobasednews.com/node/18337

We have not seen much from ExxonMobil regarding biofuels and their interest in research. However this article may shed a little light on some of the things the company has been working on.

US News

POET to host grand opening for ethanol production facility near Marion, Ohio on October 24
http://www.poet.com/news/showRelease.asp?id=133

Xcel Energy Announces Largest Biomass Plant in Midwest
http://www.centredaily.com/business/story/873059.html

Lignol to Collaborate with Weyerhaeuser to Explore Commercial Development of Cellulose-based Products and Biochemicals
http://www.biobasednews.com/node/18339

RISI to produce Woody Biomass Market Report
http://www.risiinfo.com/risi-store/do/product/detail/wood-biomass-market-report.html

Idle Hawaiian coal plant to be converted to biomass
http://bioenergy.checkbiotech.org/news/2008-09-30/Idle_Hawaiian_coal_plant_to_be_converted_to_biomass/

RFA Applauds Recent Reports Showing U.S. Ethanol Producers Cut Energy Consumption
http://www.biofuelsjournal.com/articles/RFA_Applauds_Recent_Reports_Showing_U_S__Ethanol_Producers_Cut_Energy_Consumption_-63862.html

Norske Skog, Choren to work on biomass to liquids
http://www.cleantech.com/news/3589/norske-skog-choren-work-biomass-liquids

DOE Launches National Alternative Fuel Vehicle Odyssey Day
http://www.biofuelsjournal.com/articles/DOE_Launches_National_Alternative_Fuel_Vehicle_Odyssey_Day-63847.html

Pacific Ethanol expands production with Stockton operation
http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2008/09/29/daily9.html

Fraunhofer ISE Researchers Achieve 39.7% Solar Cell Efficiency
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=53699

World's First 100% Renewable Jet Fuel Created
http://www.undeerc.org/homearticle.aspx?id=95

NCERC Becoming Known on Global Stage for Training Strong Ethanol Workforce
http://www.biofuelsjournal.com/articles/NCERC_Becoming_Known_on_Global_Stage_for_Training_Strong_Ethanol_Workforce-63849.html

Lawmakers at Impasse on Incentives for Renewable Energy
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/30/washington/30energy.html?_r=3&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

Governor Schwarzenegger Signs Adams’ Bill Promoting Green Technology
http://www.bestsyndication.com/?q=20080929_bio_fuel_diesel.htm

SRI Consulting Issues Global 2008 Biodiesel Report Showing U.S. Poised to Become Largest Biodiesel Market by 2012
http://www.biofuelsjournal.com/articles/SRI_Consulting_Issues_Global_2008_Biodiesel_Report_Showing_U_S__Poised_to_Become_Largest_Biodiesel_Market_by_2012_-63878.html

Industry races to develop advanced biofuels
http://www.biomassmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=2078

Shell Contracts Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. to Provide Design and Construction of Ethanol and Biodiesel Blending Facilities Throughout Europe
http://www.biofuelsjournal.com/articles/Shell_Contracts_Jacobs_Engineering_Group_Inc__to_Provide_Design_and_Construction_of_Ethanol_and_Biodiesel_Blending_Facilities_Throughout_Europe_-63850.html

Utah State wins grant for biofuel research
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_10590152

Carbon Sciences Inc. Develops Technology to Convert CO2 Into Basic Fuel Building Blocks
http://www.biofuelsjournal.com/articles/Carbon_Sciences_Inc__Develops_Technology_to_Convert_CO2_Into_Basic_Fuel_Building_Blocks_-63883.html

Working at the Plant: Scientists Seek Breakthroughs in the Field of Cellulosic Ethanol
http://www.businesswest.com/details.asp?id=1725

International News

Southridge Enterprises, Hong Kong-based company sign $35 million ethanol sales agreement
http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2008/09/29/daily6.html

NZ firm to microwave forest waste into charcoal
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10534943

UK opposes green aviation target
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7636780.stm

PetroSun and Shanghai Firm Execute Agreement
http://biz.yahoo.com/iw/080929/0438445.html

Ireland lowers biofuel target
http://www.energycurrent.com/index.php?id=3&storyid=13408

Auto cos shift gears to comply with new biofuel policy (India)
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Automobiles/Auto_cos_shift_gears_to_comply_with_new_biofuel_policy/articleshow/3542922.cms

Basic Energy signs deal with German company (Philippines)
http://business.inquirer.net/money/breakingnews/view/20080928-163456/Basic-Energy-signs-deal-with-German-company

News and Notes - Sept. 29, 2008

Feature Article

Group to finance biofuels center (National Science Foundation)
http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080928/NEWS/809280306/1001

The NSF will be funding a consortium of universities and agencies to create The Center for Bioenergy and Development. The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology will be the host institution for the center. Other founding universities include South Dakota State University, Kansas State University, North Carolina State University, State University of New York Stony Brook and the University of Hawaii. The Center will focus on refining starch ethanol technologies while also working on cellulosic biofuels.

US News

Renewable Fuel Standard mandating ethanol has divided rural opinions
http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/nation_world/2008/09/28/ddn092808ruralprofiles.html

Everglades restoration buyout deal may not close door on U.S. Sugar
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-flpsugardeal0928pnsep28,0,6068806.story

Something’s Brewing: Mt. Hood instructors ready to light the fire on experiment in making ethanol from wood
http://www.theoutlookonline.com/news/story.php?story_id=122248031788358000

Credit crisis may delay biofuels development
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/feedarticle/7836446

Tulsa company helps public turn cooking oil into biodiesel
http://www.kjrh.com/mostpopular/story.aspx?content_id=3478f482-cc03-453e-9f4c-d8039969de09

Ethanol plant ‘shocked’ as Steelman pulls loan (MO)
http://www.columbiatribune.com/2008/Sep/20080927Feat001.asp

Dead Trees May Power Biomass Energy Plant
http://www.kesq.com/Global/story.asp?S=9091475

Diesel initiative on ropes: Congress may do away with project that uses animal fat (Conoco-Tyson JV)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6023808.html#

Company touts ethanol plant to farmers
http://www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080929/BUSINESS/809290323/-1/newsfront2

Jefferson Ethanol Plant Has Unplanned Waste Discharge (WI)
http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews+articleid_2654526.html

GreenHunter Biofuels Issues Update on Hurricane Ike Damage to Houston, TX Biodiesel Plant
http://www.biofuelsjournal.com/articles/GreenHunter_Biofuels_Issues_Update_on_Hurricane_Ike_Damage_to_Houston__TX_Biodiesel_Plant_-63806.html

Michigan Passes Renewable Portfolio Standard
http://www.lawofrenewableenergy.com/2008/09/articles/renewable/michigan-passes-renewable-portfolio-standard/

Switchgrass eyed as fuel to make ethanol
http://bioenergy.checkbiotech.org/news/2008-09-29/Switchgrass_eyed_as_fuel_to_make_ethanol/

International News

France plans to end biofuel tax breaks by 2012
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/feedarticle/7830387

U.N. report: Ethanol creates jobs
http://www.ethanolproducer.com/article.jsp?article_id=4812

China should not follow US and Brazilian biofuel development models – expert
http://www.interfax.cn/news/5825/

PGIB stepping back from Collingwood Ethanol campaign
http://www.theenterprisebulletin.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1221669

Scientists work with algae to see if it could become the fuel of the future
http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5gQ3sAwA4Lwa15Z-fIiZyWJejgRUg

Ontario won't increase ethanol content in gasoline
http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1222618&auth=ROMINA%20MAURINO,%20THE%20CANADIAN%20PRESS

BCTA raises biodiesel concerns ahead of fuel rule  (Canadian Biodiesel Mandates)
http://www.todaystrucking.com/news.cfm?intDocID=20388

CO2 emissions still booming
http://www.alphagalileo.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=readrelease&releaseid=532452

Commercialise GM oilseeds: Experts
http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?autono=335724

News and Notes - Sept. 26, 2008

Feature Article

Iogen begins delivery of Shell’s 180,000 litre purchase of cellulosic ethanol
http://www.iogen.ca/news_events/press_releases/2008_10_25.html

Iogen is shipping over 26,000 gallons to Shell for fuel applications and research. It’s not everyday that you hear about the shipment of cellulosic ethanol!

US News

Renewable Energy Tops 10% of U.S. Energy Production
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/infocus/story?id=53684

Forests may yield fuel alternatives, WVU researchers say
http://bioenergy.checkbiotech.org/news/2008-09-26/Forests_may_yield_fuel_alternatives,_WVU_researchers_say/

Researchers develop cellulose conversion catalyst
http://www.biomassmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=2073

Range Fuels receives fuels technology award
http://www.ethanolproducer.com/article.jsp?article_id=4808

McCain, Obama, Clinton share stage, focus on alternative energy
http://biofuelsdigest.com/blog2/2008/09/25/mccain-obama-clinton-share-stage-focus-on-alternative-energy/

Thune Hosts Ethanol Meeting
http://www.aberdeennews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080926/NEWS10/809260428

Senate Passes Renewable Extensions (a good summary)
http://www.lawofrenewableenergy.com/2008/09/articles/renewable/senate-passes-renewable-extensions/

Forest products industry studies biomass impact
http://www.biomassmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=2074

Nobel Prize winner speaks of biofuels' potential
http://www.capitalpress.info/main.asp?SectionID=94&SubSectionID=801&ArticleID=44749&TM=57270.11

New (US) bill to expand promotion of biofuels is a welcome boost for U.S.-Brazil relations according to Brazilian sugarcane industry
http://bioenergy.checkbiotech.org/news/2008-09-24/New_bill_to_expand_promotion_of_biofuels_is_a_welcome_boost_for_U.S.-Brazil_relations_according_to_Brazilian_sugarcane_industry/

PGE aims to turn Boardman coal-plant pollution into biofuel
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1222401314139020.xml&coll=7

Poet Looking to Buy Privately Held Ethanol Plants, CEO Says
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601072&sid=aCn4NfZ_L7tk

Poet CEO sings of greater ethanol potential
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/big-ethanol-maker-poet-ramping/story.aspx?guid={459318FD-DFED-4844-BE4D-7C2E7F034ECA}&dist=TNMostMailed&print=true&dist=printMidSection

Remarks of POET CEO Jeff Broin to the United Nations on 9/24/08 - “I’m confident that what POET has achieved in rural America can happen all over the world.”
http://www.rhapsodyingreen.com/rhapsody_in_green/files/jeff_broin_un_remarks.pdf

Ethanol use fuels fire worries
http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-b1_5buckeye-5r.6603661sep25,0,965807.story

Steelman rejects state loan for ethanol plant with connections to Andy Blunt (Show Me Ethanol)
http://primebuzz.kcstar.com/?q=node/14628

Access Dr. John R. Benemann’s New White Paper 'Opportunities & Challenges in Algae Biofuels Production' for FREE!
http://www.futureenergyevents.com/algae/whitepaper/

Boeing Joins Aviation, Energy and Academic Leaders to Accelerate Development and Availability of Sustainable Biofuels – Initial research includes assessment of jatropha and algae
http://biofuelsdigest.com/blog2/2008/09/26/boeing-joins-aviation-energy-and-academic-leaders-to-accelerate-development-and-availability-of-sustainable-biofuels/

International News

Brazil plans $25 bn ethanol investment
http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/1903317/

Tata Chemicals’ ethanol plant validates claims on sorghum
http://www.livemint.com/2008/09/24220413/Tata-Chemicals8217-ethanol.html

What Makes Large Scale Jatropha Projects Tick? Three Industry Experts Offer Insights
http://www.prweb.com/releases/jatropha/free-webinar/prweb1379384.htm

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

News and Notes - Sept. 23, 2008

Feature Article

TDOT Announces More Green Island Biofuel Pumps Now Online
http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_135662.asp

The Tennessee State Government’s program to establish biofuel stations across the state makes more progress. This article focuses on stations that have competed the additions of E-85 or B-20 pumps. More of each are on the way as other contracts have been signed. This program is helping the state become a leader in the southeast for biofuel availability.

US News

Switchgrass to power new ethanol plant (Abengoa to build in Oklahoma)
http://www.kansascity.com/382/story/808252.html

Cyanobacteria that Crap Ethanol
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/09/cyanobacteria_t.php

Sorghums offer unique opportunity for biofuels feedstock production
http://southwestfarmpress.com/energy/sorghum-biofuels-0922/

Government bailout, expiring contracts are behind commodity's biggest one-day gain (Oil’s big jump)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/energy/6016837.html

Inside Mascoma's ethanol-making bug lab
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10047209-54.html

Ethanol trade group spent $141,900 lobbying in 2Q
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/09/23/ap5460404.html

Supply issues may hobble state’s biodiesel strategy (MA)
http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/stories/2008/09/22/story6.html?ana=from_rss

US Senate Bill Kills Tax Credit For Clean-Diesel Project
http://www.cattlenetwork.com/Content.asp?ContentID=254559

Farm Vote Swings on Ethanol
http://www.redorbit.com/news/business/1562909/farm_vote_swings_on_ethanol__mccains_stance_on_renewable/

US Senate expected to consider taxes on oil, gas industry
http://www.ogj.com/display_article/340168/7/ONART/none/GenIn/1/US-Senate-expected-to-consider-taxes-on-oil,-gas-industry/

Gasoline Surges in Southeast in Ike's Wake
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122212948076365467.html?mod=dist_smartbrief

National Algae Association, Algal Biomass Organization stage conference same days, different towns; confusion reigneth
http://biofuelsdigest.com/blog2/2008/09/23/national-algae-association-algal-biomass-organization-stage-conference-same-days-different-towns-confusion-reigneth/

Ag brief suggests permanent, higher soybean prices
http://www.biodieselmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=2800

International News

Bunge, Itochu to invest $800 mln in Brazil ethanol
http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN2340465620080923

Rejecting biofuels 'a costly decision' for states (Austrailia)
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24387890-5013871,00.html

Special Biofuels Digest report on India’s new biofuels policy
http://biofuelsdigest.com/blog2/2008/09/23/special-biofuels-digest-report-on-indias-new-biofuels-policy/

Brazil Cosan eyes share swap in next ethanol deals
http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssConsumerGoodsAndRetailNews/idUSN2231933520080922