U.S. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson has announced she will resign following President Obama's State of the Union address, which is scheduled for Jan. 24. Jackson did not cite a reason for her departure.
Late Dec. 20, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the $633 billion National Defense Authorization Act for 2013 in a 315-107 vote. The version must now be approved by the Senate.
OriginOil Inc. has announced that its algae harvesting process reduces bacterial concentrations by as much as 99 percent. This could extend the shelf life of liquid algae concentrate from hours to days, addressing a key problem in the algae industry.
Lux Research has published top-10 lists of 2012's top emerging technology companies, as well as emerging companies to watch in 2013. Biorefining companies, including Solazyme, Itaconix and Beta Renewables, top this year's lists.
On Dec. 17, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit dismissed a lawsuit filed by the American Petroleum Institute against the U.S. EPA challenging the 2011 cellulosic requirements of renewable fuels standard.
The fiscal year 2013 National Defense Authorization Act is one step closer to becoming law. The Armed Services Committees of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate announced completion of conference reports for the legislation Dec. 18.
The Advanced Ethanol Council on Dec. 19 released a nearly 20-page report profiling U.S. and Canadian cellulosic biofuels facilities and development projects. In addition, it contains information about efforts in other countries.
Under contract with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Harris Group has completed a comprehensive review of biomass gasifier technologies, titled "Biomass Gasification Technology Assessment."
With new funding in hand, Proterro Inc. is poised to take its sucrose-producing process to the pilot stage, using full scale-bioreactors. The company expects the process can produce fermentation-ready sugar at a cost of less than 5 cents per pound.
Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber believes energy is the issue of our time, and to address the issue, he has released a 10-year Energy Action Plan. The 48-page plan includes a recommendation section on bioenergy and biomass-based thermal energy development.
Woodland Biofuels is on track to begin producing cellulosic ethanol early in the year, CEO Greg Nuttall said. The company has made progress as well on the financial front, announcing an investment from the MaRS Cleantech Fund LP.
Solazyme Inc. has announced the successful completion of multiple initial fermentations at Archer Daniels Midland Co.'s Clinton, Iowa facility. The fermentations were conducted in approximately 500,000-liter vessels.
Algae biofuel research being completed at Qatar University was toured by Roberto Kobeh Gonzalez, president of the council of the International Civil Aviation Organization, during his trip to the United Nations Climate Change Conference.
The U.K. has committed to sourcing 15 percent of its energy from renewable resources by 2020, and biomass is expected to pay a crucial role in this goal by delivering low carbon sources of heat, power and liquid fuels.
Patriot Bioenergy Corp. joined the Kentucky Hemp Growers Cooperative Association and sees value in industrial hemp for biomass blending with bituminous coal for power generation as well as a possible cellulosic feedstock for biofuels.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced $10 million in research grants to spur production of bioenergy and biobased products that will lead to the development of sustainable regional systems and help create jobs.
Funded by a $650,000 grant by the U.S. DOE Office of Biomass Program, Adeniyi Lawal of Stevens Institute of Technology will be leading a team investigating microalgae as a biomass fuel source.
On Dec. 7, the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission elected to begin implementation of the state's Clean Fuels Program. A spokeswoman for the Oregon DEQ confirmed the commission voted four to one to implement the the proposed rules for phase one.
The World Bioenergy Association released a new biomass fact sheet at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in December. The document asserts that theories on carbon debt and "payback time" of biomass are not credible.
A Colorado State University team has received a $2 million grant from the U.S. DOE to produce a biological control system for bioenergy crops. The work will develop technology that allows rapid and precise improvement of bioenergy crops.
The U.K. Department for Business, Innovation & Skills recently declared the U.K. Green Investment Bank plc open for business. The entity is the world's first investment bank dedicated solely to green investments.
Researchers at the University of Maine at Fort Kent's Center for Rural Sustainable Development have been granted more than $62,000 to gauge farmer interest in growing energy grass on a large scale, and evaluate economic and market feasibility issues.
The Pew Project on National Security, Energy and Climate has created a video to explain the benefits of advanced biofuel use in military applications. The U.S. Department of Defense consumes approximately 375,000 barrels of oil per day.
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