The U.S. DOE has announced more than $10 million to five projects in California, Washington, Maryland, and Texas that will develop new technologies to convert biomass into advanced biofuels and bioproducts like plastics and chemical intermediates.
The Biomass Crop Assistance Program may have been extended through 2013 with the passing of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, but the program's usefulness in the coming year is still uncertain.
President Obama is expected to sign the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 into law today. The legislation, also known as the "fiscal cliff bill," includes language to extend several biofuel-related tax incentives.
Gevo Inc. has announced that its board of directors has approved a stock repurchase program that authorizes Gevo to repurchase up to $15 million of its common stock over a one-year period.
The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers has petitioned the U.S. EPA to waive the 2012 cellulosic biofuel mandate provided in the renewable fuel standard (RFS), citing a lack of domestic supply available for domestic use.
Legislators have passed the "fiscal cliff bill," which extended the farm bill through Sept. 30 and several biofuel-related tax incentives through 2013. However, all mandatory funding for energy title programs was eliminated at the last moment.
A consortium consisting of BioMCN, Siemens, Linde, and Visser & Smit Hanab, have received EUR199 ($264 million) in NER300 grants. With these funds, a large-scale biomass refinery will be constructed.
The first ever 100 percent biojet-fueled flight has earned recognition from Popular Science magazine as one of "The Big Science Stories of 2012." The flight used Brassica carinata, a member of the mustard seed family.
Joint BioEnergy Institute researchers are exploring new ways to meet the challenge of recalcitrant cellulosic feedstocks and lower the cost of biofuels. They recently published two papers detailing their work to genetically modify xylan and lignin.
A series of articles published as a special issue on biofuels by the Forest Products Journal highlights the relative impact of 15 different uses of biofuels on reducing CO2 emissions and increasing energy independence.
Work to understand cellulose production at the University of Virginia School of Medicine that may help hospitals battle bacterial infections could also have a significant impact on advanced biofuel production.
Researchers at Clemson University's Pee Dee Research and Education Center and ArborGen Inc. have collaborated to plant thousands of poplars at the Pee Dee center to determine if certain varieties of the tree are suitable for bioenergy stock.
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.
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