Author Archive: Jim Lane

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‘Zero Net Energy Farm’ in California draws Midwest farmer interest 

‘Zero Net Energy Farm’ in California draws Midwest farmer interest 

February 19, 2017 |

In California, farmers from the Midwest are in California’s Central Valley touring the first-of-its-kind Zero Net Energy Farm, or “ZNEF,” to learn how to generate all electrical and heating power needs from on-site renewable resources, including solar, wind and biomass. Renewable energy company Biodico Inc. directs the ZNEF project, which is funded, in part, by […]

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Shadow Scottish Environment Secretary calls for more action on circular economy

Shadow Scottish Environment Secretary calls for more action on circular economy

February 19, 2017 |

In Scotland, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for the Environment Maurice Golden called for the Scottish Government to take more action on the circular economy at the Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association’s (ADBA’s) inaugural Scottish National Conference in Glasgow. Golden, who led the Circular Economy Program for Zero Waste Scotland prior to being elected to the Scottish […]

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Clean Energy Solutions taps Viaspace as partner for Hawaii biogas project

Clean Energy Solutions taps Viaspace as partner for Hawaii biogas project

February 19, 2017 |

In California, Clean Energy Solutions has retained VIASPACE as its agriculture feedstock resource and engineering expert for renewable energy projects being pursued in Hawaii. In Hawaii, CES is working with Hawaii Gas, the state’s only franchised gas utility, to assess the use of the VIASPACE Giant King Grass to produce biogas. “Giant King Grass grows […]

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ZEVs don’t have Zero Emissions: letter

ZEVs don’t have Zero Emissions: letter

February 19, 2017 |

In an unpublished letter to the Wall Street Journal, Don Siefkes, Executive Director of the E100 Ethanol Group writes: Regarding Mike Spector’s Feb. 13 article, “Biggest Driver of Cleaner-Car Rules …,” Ms. Mary Nichols, Chairwoman of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) is making a huge mistake when she says the future is electric cars. […]

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The Fountain of Youth, in convenient powder form: Evolva launches Veri-te

The Fountain of Youth, in convenient powder form: Evolva launches Veri-te

February 16, 2017 |

In Switzerland, news arrived that Evolva has at long last launched Veri-te — which is the brand for its high-purity, sustainably produced resveratrol. Resvera-what? I know, Resveratrol sounds like an app for dining and travel reservations, something that American Express or Visa might have dreamed up. But if you’ve read somewhere that red wine was […]

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AY-YI YI-YA AAAY, Gevo just can’t stop dancin’

AY-YI YI-YA AAAY, Gevo just can’t stop dancin’

February 15, 2017 |

So, feel the bioeconomy backbeat and let the music flow. AY-YI YI-YA AAAY, Gevo just can’t stop dancin’. (Whoops, that was Becky G‘s Can’t Stop Dancin’, not Gevo’s.) But there’s something so cool in that technology that we can’t take our eyes off the company and its progress, even though looking at the balance sheet can […]

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Ionic Liquids: A Key Enabler of Biomass Processing?

Ionic Liquids: A Key Enabler of Biomass Processing?

February 14, 2017 |

By Lorenz Bauer, Ph.D., Lee Enterprises Consulting Special to The Digest The explosion of interest in using biomass to produce chemicals and fuels has motivated a renewed search for improved methods for pretreatment that enable efficient conversion of the raw materials.   The molecules in cellulosic materials, and particularly lignocellulosic material, are intertwined and held together […]

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Avantium goes IPO: aims for €100 million in Amsterdam, Brussels Float

Avantium goes IPO: aims for €100 million in Amsterdam, Brussels Float

February 14, 2017 |

Here’s our 10-minute version of the filing, slightly re-organized to make sense to Earthlings instead of aliens from the Planet Prospectus. In the Netherlands, bioplastics maker Avantium is planning an initial public offering and listing of all shares on Euronext Amsterdam and Euronext Brussels. The company expects to raise up to €100 million (USD$106 million) […]

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Reverse Combustion and its prospects

Reverse Combustion and its prospects

February 13, 2017 |

Because burning fuels in an internal combustion engine produces CO2 and water as its byproducts, the idea of reverse combustion has been hanging around the halls of science for a long, long time. That is, recombining CO2 and water back into an energy carrier — a fuel. It’s a simple concept, but over the years […]

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Green Plains income surges to $18.7M for Q4 2016

Green Plains income surges to $18.7M for Q4 2016

February 12, 2017 |

In Nebraska, Green Plains reported net income of $18.7 million for Q4, or $0.47 per diluted share, compared with net loss of $(3.6) million, or $(0.09) per diluted share, for the same period in 2015. Revenues were $932.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2016 compared with $739.9 million for the same period last year. […]

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