Competitive landscape, innovative technologies and emerging energy policy were hot topics as a diverse group of nearly 150 thought leaders, industry representatives, researchers and suppliers convened at the Energy Conference in Iowa Sept. 11-13.
Velocys plc has released financial results for the first half of 2017, providing an overview of key milestones and a discussion of its new strategy as a renewable fuels company that aims to produce jet fuel and diesel fuel.
A bipartisan group of 38 senators have sent a letter to EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, asking him to ensure the 2018 Renewable Fuel Standard blending requirements promote growth in the U.S. biofuels sector and the U.S. economy.
Researchers at Michigan State University will use a $1.1 million U.S. Department of Energy grant to fight disease in switchgrass by identifying regions of the genome that cause disease resistance.
Colorado State University scientists are partners in a three-year grant of up to $3.5 million from the Department of Energy, aimed at improving how algae-based biofuels and bioproducts are made.
The technology group Wärtsilä has reached an agreement to acquire Puregas Solutions, the Sweden-based provider of turnkey biogas upgrading solutions. Puregas utilizes a unique process to convert biogas to biomethane and renewable natural gas.
On Oct. 4, the U.S EPA published a proposal that that could reduce 2018 and 2019 blending obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard in the Federal Register, officially opening a 15-day comment period. Comments are due Oct. 19.
On Oct. 4, the Senate Committee on Environmental and Public Works held a hearing to consider President Trump's nominations to fill several government posts, including those at the U.S. EPA. The RFS was among the topics discussed during the hearing.
Michigan State University scientists will explore new algae-based technologies to capture power plant emissions and sustainably turn them into valuable products. The research project is funded by a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.
Gevo Inc. recently announced that it expects to supply its renewable alcohol-to-jet fuel (ATJ) to the Virgin Australia Group. The Virgin Australia Group will be responsible for coordinating the purchase, supply and blending of the ATJ .
On Oct. 3, a group of biofuel supporters sent a letter to President Trump expressing concern over the U.S. EPA's recent proposal that could reduce 2018 and 2019 blending obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard.
Researchers from the Cornell-affiliated Boyce Thompson Institute and Texas A&M University report in Plant Direct exciting new technology that may revolutionize the search for the perfect algal strain: algal droplet bioreactors on a chip.
On Sept. 28, the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry held a hearing on the 2018 Farm Bill focused on rural development and energy programs. The committee has now held nine hearings this year focused on Farm Bill development.
In a new study at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory, scientists show that retaining sugars in plant leaves can make them get fat. That extra fat could help turn plants into factories for making biofuels and chemicals.
Washington State University researchers have developed a process for synthesizing dense jet fuel from mint, pine, gumweed, eucalyptus or other plants.The research is helping to make high-energy density biofuels affordable in the aviation industry.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture recently announced six grants totaling nearly $21.1 million to support the development of new jet fuel, biobased products and biomaterials from renewable sources.
The U.S. Department of Energy's Bioenergy Technologies Office recently published the Algae Cultivation for Carbon Capture and Utilization Workshop Summary Report. This summary report shares the results of stakeholder discussions held in May.
The U.S. Department of Energy has announced the selection of one additional project, for up to $3.5 million, as part of the Bioenergy Technologies Office's Advanced Algal Systems Program funding opportunity announcement.
On Sept. 26, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, delivered a floor speech to the U.S. Senate expressing his disappointment in action taken by the U.S. EPA that could reduce 2018 and 2019 renewable volume requirements under the Renewable Fuel Standard.
The U.S. EPA has published a NODA concerning potential reductions in RVOs for 2018 and 2019 under the RFS. The reductions primarily concern RVOs for biomass-based diesel, but could result in corresponding reductions in advanced and total biofuels.
Trestle Energy LLC has announced that two new studies show that generating energy from corn stover can fuel a billion-dollar business opportunity for the farm economy by replacing coal in power plants.
Michigan State University has announced it will lead a $10 million U.S. Department of Energy grant to explore ways to boost the yield of camelina, a crop that shows potential as a feedstock for biobased jet fuel.
The U.S. EPA has released renewable identification number (RIN) generation data for August, reporting that nearly 1.76 billion RINs were generated during the month, including nearly 20.4 million cellulosic RINs.
An enzyme discovered at the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory proves adept at breaking down cellulose fibers regardless of whether their crystalline structure is simple or highly complex.
U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry recently announced that the U.S. Department of Energy has selected eight projects to negotiate for up to $15 million in total DOE funding to optimize integrated biorefineries.
Velocys plc recently announced it has entered into a partnership with British Airways, Suez and Norma to prepare the business case for a commercial-scale waste-to-renewable-jet-fuel plant in the U.K.
The U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry held a hearing on the nomination of Stephen Censky at deputy secretary of agriculture and Ted McKinney as under secretary of agriculture for trade and foreign agricultural affairs.
The U.S. Department of Energy recently announced $22 million in funding through the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy for 18 innovative projects as part of the Macroalgae Research Inspiring Novel Energy Resources program.
Neste and Geneva Airport are working together to make flying more sustainable by targeting renewable jet fuel to account for at least 1 percent of the annual jet fuel consumption at Geneva Airport by late 2018.
On Sept. 7, Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., introduced a package of legislation he hopes will serve as the basis for a new energy section of the next Farm Bill. The legislation increases investments in popular energy programs.
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