In China, China Petrochemical Company (Sinopec Group) is seeking to produce renewable aviation fuel from used cooking oil after completing production trials. The company has the potential to produce 20,000 tons of biofuel per year, according to a report from the Economic Observer. The report also notes that if biofuel-powered airlines continue to be exempted […]
In Massachusetts, New England Complex Systems Institute (NECSI) has issued a report warning that food prices may skyrocket this year because of the drought coupled with ethanol mandates across the globe. The report indicated that food prices may rise to the heights seen in 2008, when food riots broke out across the globe. “Reducing the […]
In Canada, researchers from the University of Ottawa have published a report on the use of microalgae in a number of different industries. The report identifies the design of photobioreactors that maximize solar energy capture and conversion as one of the key challenges in scaling micro algae biomass technology. Read more here.
In Washington, eight of the biofuel industry organizations have formed the Biofuels Producers Coordinating Council to advocate for national policy advancing biofuel technology. The council includes: Michael McAdams, Advanced Biofuels Association Brooke Coleman, Advanced Ethanol Council Mary Rosenthal, Algal Biomass Organization Brian Jennings, American Coalition for Ethanol Brent Erickson, Biotechnology Industry Organization Tom Buis, […]
In Washington, Mary Rosenthal, executive director of the Algae Biomass Organization, commended the Senate Finance Committee, particularly Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT), Ranking Member Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Senators Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), for the approval of the Family and Business Tax Cut Certainty Act of 2012. The bill extends the existing cellulosic […]
In Virginia, the Appomattox Bioenergy Plant has completed an agreement with Agra Industries to pay $4.1 million, an answer to a claim for over $25 million. Hopewell’s lawsuit over a $5 million letter of credit remains pending, much to the dismay of Hopewell’s Vice Mayor Wayne Walton: “I’m surprised at this. Why did Agra get […]
In Washington, governors from four different states are looking to renew their petition to EPA to waive the RFS mandate; these governors include Nikki Haley of South Carolina, Dave Heineman of Nebraska, Rick Perry of Texas, and Mike Beebe of Arkansas. While Perry has indicated his office intends to hold off, one of the others […]
In Alabama, Professor Sushil Ahikari, assistant professor of biosystems engineering at Auburn University received a $335,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to conduct a bioenergy research study, focusing on biomass gasification. His research will set up a program called Research Exerpeinces for Undergraduates, allowing 10 students from research universities to spend 10 weeks on […]
In Ireland, Research and Markets has added “Biofuel Consumption in South America” to their report offerings. The report indicates that the South American biofuel consumption market had total revenue of $42,529.7 million in 2011, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25.8% between 2007 and 2011. At the same time, the report predicts a […]
In Canada, Manitoba’s truckers have balked at the governments consideration of increasing the biodiesel mandate to 5%. Bob Dolyniuk, executive director of the Manitoba Trucking Association, said increasing the mandate to five per cent would mean a blend closer to 10 per cent would be sold in the summer. “The problem with that,” Dolyniuk said, […]
