In Washington, Businessweek asserted that Gevo, Syntroleum, and Solazyme are on the “inside track” to scoring supply contracts with the Department of Defense, given their already existing research relationships. The article also indicated that Cobalt Technologies and Sustainable Oils have similar research projects that may also place them in the running. “Winning one of the […]
In Mississippi, Bunge-Ergon will be suspending production at its Vicksburg ethanol plant amid financial pressures brought on by high corn prices. The company will shut down production by the end of November and will reassess in 2013 whether to resume operations after corn prices come down. The plant, which opened in 2008 and has provided […]
In Florida, FL Biofuels’ biofuel producing plant is finally online, after years of delays and red-tape issues. The plant uses waste vegetable oil as a biodiesel base, and can produce up to 6000 gallons per day. The company received a $500,000 grant from Lee County, FL in order to get the plant running. Read more […]
In Virginia, the town of Gretna and Piedmont BioProducts CEO Ken Moss are jointly applying for $1.48 million from the Southside Economic Development fund to develop a commercial biorefinery at the Gretna Industrial Park. The $10m project will use switchgrass and timber to produce oil for commercial and industrial boilers, with future upgrades possibly in […]
In the UAE, Lootah Biofuels and AlgaeOil Ltd have signed an MOU to merge their expertise and begin mass production of algae-based biofuels in Dubai. In the arrangement, Lootah Biofuels will contribute its engineering capability and local knowledge, with AlgaOil providing knowledge of infrastructure for algae cultivation. If the initial startup of the venture is […]
In the Philippines, biofuels blending is expected to reach 20% by 2020 for ethanol, and 20% for CME in diesel(coco methyl ester) by 2025. The biofuels industry is advocating for an earlier blending requirement for biodiesel, at least 5% by 2013, as production is already enough to meet that target. Said Chemrez Technologies managing director, […]
In Germany, industry groups are pressuring the European Commission to cut back on their efforts to cap on the use food crops in biofuels production from 10% to 5%. While lowering the cap has been in discussion since it was first set at 10% four yeas ago, the EU executive was set to formally propose […]
In Washington, The Hill recently featured an article slamming the RFS, written by biofuels policy campaigner Michal Rosenoer of Friends of the Earth. The article criticized the recent post by BIO’s CEO James Greenwood, and claimed that the RFS monopolizes 40% of the US corn crop. Rosenoer went on to argue that Congress needs to […]
In the EU, the biofuels industry serves to enrich the large industrial groups more than the environment, according to a recent study published by the International Journal of Environment and Health. Because of the emphasis placed on first-generation biofuels in the EU’s policies, Simone Vierri of the University “La Sapienza” of Rome argues that the […]
In Minnesota, Biofuel Energy has missed a $3.6m payment of principal and interest, and the First National Bank of Omaha has declared the company in default. The company currently holds a $170m loan that is due in 2014. Biofuel Energy has responded that it is continuing discussions with lenders about possible forbearance, reinstatement, or debt […]
