In California, Promethean Biofuels and the US Energy Initiatives Corporation (USEI) have signed a biodiesel production agreement to expand Promethean’s current production to its 2.1 to 3 mgy capacity by next month. The plant, which has been in operation below name plate capacity for the last six years, is expected to bring in $6 million […]
In Colorado, Red Rock Biofuels has received a $4.1 million federal contract as a part of the Defense Production Act to produce military-grade fuels. The government hopes that the companies fuels will cost less than $4 per gallon by 2016. Red Rock will match the federal funding with $5m in private funds. More on the […]
In Washington, ABF Economics has released a study that finds no direct correlation between federal biofuels mandates and increasing food prices. The study found that the rate of food price inflation has decreased since 2007, when the RFS was last devised. The National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson lauded the study, claiming that the research […]
In Canada, Enerkem has closed a CAD $50 million financing round. Investissement Quebec joined Waste Management of Canada, among other investors, as the company’s equity investment raised in 2013 now comes in at USD $87 million. Said Vincent Chornet, president and CEO of Enerkem, “As we are finalizing the construction of the Enerkem Alberta Biofuels […]
In the EU, the transport and international trade committees of the European commission voted to raise the food crop-based biofuels limit to 6.5% of the target of 10% of transportation fuels generated using renewable energy by 2020, against the recommendation of the commission to limit the number at 5%.The commission also proposed to take into […]
In Wisconsin, researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are researching an enzyme produced by leafcutter ants. The team has been able to isolate and identify the enzyme used by these critters to break down leaves and plant matter. The research, which could have tremendous implications for cellulosic producers, has encouraged several private companies to approach […]
In Washington, Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Mark Pryor (D-AR), and Pat Toomey (R-PA) introduced the “Renewable Fuels Standard Repeal Act” (S. 1195) yesterday. The bill would repeal the entire RFS. “The Renewable Fuel Standard is fundamentally broken and beyond repair,” said Senator Barrasso. “Instead of delivering meaningful environmental benefits, it’s driven up food and fuel […]
In New York, CNBC published an article highlighting cellulosic biofuels, including the sector’s growth potential as ethanol fuel is projected to grow 40% over the next decade. Peder Holk Nielsen, CEO of Novozymes, was cited saying that the renewable fuels sector is “maturing…. is not phantom technology, it does exist.” The article did discuss the […]
In Nevada, Bently Biofuels has received $17,000 as a part of the $14 million of bonus payments announced last week by USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack. The company, which converts waste vegetable oil into biodiesel along with the local Biodiesel of Las Vegas, has seen an increase in production from prior years, to which the company […]
In Brazil, GranBio’s financing round is complete for Brazil’s first commercial scale second generation ethanol plant. The company’s subsidiary, Bioflex Agroindustrial, received a $149 million loan from BNDES, Brazil’s National Social and Economic Development Bank. The project will use Beta Renewables’s technology for the 22 mgy bagasse and sugarcane crop residue plant. The BNDES is […]
