Congress, Don’t Forget About Algae Biodiesel

DomesticFuel.com
Posted by John Davis – October 29th, 2009

As the folks who are making the next generation of ethanol made their pitch to Congress (see Cindy’s post from earlier), the people who are producing biodiesel from what could be the next great feedstock, algae, reminded members of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and Research not to forget about their truly green fuel.

Mary Rosenthal with the Algal Biomass Association told the representatives that despite some good progress for the algae biodiesel industry in recent years (not to mention the potential it holds), many of today’s federal biofuel policies simply ignore the role algae could play, limiting opportunities for funding and regulatory acceptance.

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US, Philippines to partner in biofuel research

ThaindianNews.com
October 27th, 2009 - 5:50 am ICT by IANS -

Manila, Oct 27 (IANS) Visiting US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has said his government is seeking partnership with the Philippines in biofuel research.

Speaking at a press conference Monday, Vilsack said both countries recognise the need to cooperate more intensively in energy security, especially in the development of renewable energy resources and alternative fuels, Xinhua reported Monday.

“We are looking at a relationship and partnership with the Philippines in terms of research on biofuels. We recognise and appreciate that you’re faced with the same challenges we’re faced with. You don’t want to be reliant on one form of energy,” Vilsack said.

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Second-generation producers plea for improved federal loan programs

Ethanol Producer Magazine November 2009
By Kris Bevill
Report posted Oct. 30, 2009, at 9:11 a.m. CST

The CEOs of several cellulosic ethanol production facilities testified before a U.S. House Committee on Agriculture subcommittee Oct. 29 to explain the challenges facing second-generation ethanol projects and to suggest Congressional improvements. Topics addressed included the ethanol blend wall, producer tax credits, and greenhouse gas emissions analysis, but the majority of comments focused on financing and the lack of adequate federal grant programs.

Mascoma CEO Bruce Jamerson offered the Representatives a first-hand account of how difficult it can be for second-generation projects to obtain funding, even with governmental support. “Earlier this year, Mascoma and its financial advisors contacted 174 commercial lenders seeking a bank partner to apply for a USDA loan guarantee,” he stated. “Only two lenders were willing to work with us. We selected one, but in the end were unable to move forward due to structural problems with the USDA loan guarantee requirements.”

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Governor wants alternative fuels (WI)

The Badger Herald
By Katherine Kehoe
Friday, October 30, 2009 12:55 a.m.

Doyle gives speech at Wisconsin Bioenergy Summit, says state needs new sources

Gov. Jim Doyle called for further incorporation and use of renewable energy sources by the state Thursday at the second day of the Wisconsin Bioenergy Summit.

Doyle outlined ways affordable renewable energy could become a vital part of Wisconsin’s economy through using the money provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Doyle also said that while the state had previously set a goal to generate 10 percent of its energy from renewable sources by the year 2010, he would like to increase the goal to 25 percent by the year 2025.

“We’ve done a lot, but obviously there’s a lot more to do,” Doyle said.

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Growing energy: The challenge and promise of biofuels

University of California

California Agriculture, October-December 2009
Volume 63, Number 4
Growing energy: The challenge and promise of biofuels

peer-reviewed research articles

Sustainable use of California biomass resources can help meet state and national bioenergy targets by Bryan M. Jenkins, Robert B. Williams, Nathan Parker, Peter Tittmann, Quinn Hart, Martha C. Gildart, Steve Kaffka, Bruce R. Hartsough, Peter Dempster
pp168-177, doi#10.3733/ca.v063n04p168


Plant and microbial research seeks biofuel production from lignocellulose
by Laura E. Bartley, Pamela C. Ronald
pp178-184, doi#10.3733/ca.v063n04p178

Cellulosic biomass could help meet California's transportation fuel needs
by Charles E. Wyman, Bin Yang
pp185-190, doi#10.3733/ca.v063n04p185

Biofuel policy must evaluate environmental, food security and energy goals to maximize net benefits
by Steven Sexton, Deepak Rajagopal, Gal Hochman, David Zilberman, David Roland-Holst
pp191-198, doi#10.3733/ca.v063n04p191

Model estimates food-versus-biofuel trade-off
by Deepak Rajagopal, Steven Sexton, Gal Hochman, David Roland-Holst, David Zilberman
pp199-201, doi#10.3733/ca.v063n04p199

Can feedstock production for biofuels be sustainable in California?
by Stephen R. Kaffka
pp202-207, doi#10.3733/ca.v063n04p202



editorial, news, letters & science briefs

Biofuels: Growing toward sustainability
by Bryan M. Jenkins, Chris Somerville, James J. Stapleton
pp155-158, doi#10.3733/ca.v063n04p155

Biofuels caught in changing regulations
From the Editors
pp162-164, doi#10.3733/ca.v063n04p162

Dozens of UC research projects pursue fossil-fuel alternatives
From the Editors
pp165-167, doi#10.3733/ca.v063n04p165

Read the full listing including links to summaries, expanded abstracts, html and pdfs

Future biotechnology may eliminate emissions

Alibaba.com
Published: 29 Oct 2009 07:02:02 PST
By Cong Mu

Industrial biotechnology has the potential to reduce between 1 and 2.5 billion tons of carbon dioxide equivalents per year by 2030, according to a report released at a WWF press conference on Thursday in Beijing.

John Bang, head of the Globalization Program of WWF Denmark, told reporters in a media briefing held with Novozymes, the world's leading maker of industrial enzymes, that there is still a limit to the ability to mitigate the negative climate impact of fossil-based industries.

Instead, Bang suggested the Chinese government take the development of biofuel to a strategic level and encourage continuous investment in research and development (R&D) so that the country can increase the reuse of carbon waste, such as green house gas (GHG) emission.

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Improved Adhesive For Products Like Transparent Tape Could Benefit Biofuels Economy

Science Daily

ScienceDaily (Oct. 30, 2009) — An adhesive used in products like laminate countertops may also help cement a place for economically viable biofuels, according to a Kansas State University researcher.

Susan Sun directs K-State's Bio Materials and Technology Laboratory, where she studies bio-based materials. Her research group is studying adhesives made from by-products of soybean, corn, sorghum and biomass fuels.

"There are two important forces driving this research," Sun said. "We're trying to develop these bio-based adhesives to replace environmentally hazardous materials," she said. "Also, we need high-value products to sustain the biofuels economy."

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Algal Biomass Organization`s Executive Director Mary Rosenthal Testifies Before Congress on Benefits of Algae-Based Fuels

Reuters
Thu Oct 29, 2009 2:15pm EDT

Publicly Available Testimony Highlights Algae`s Role as a Carbon-Reducing,
Sustainable Biofuel Feedstock and the Need for Financial and Regulatory Parity
to Support Development of Industry, Commercialization

WASHINGTON--(Business Wire)-- The Algal Biomass Organization`s (ABO) Executive Director Mary Rosenthal testified before Congress today on the economic and environmental benefits of
algae-based fuels, as well as on steps legislators can take to ensure algae receives benefits and financial incentives similar to those afforded to other biofuel feedstocks. As the leading trade organization representing the broad interests of the burgeoning algae industry, the ABO was asked to present testimony to the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy,
and Research, which has jurisdiction over energy and bio-based energy production, on the status of 2nd and 3rd generation biofuel feedstocks.

During her testimony to the Subcommittee, Ms. Rosenthal outlined the key benefits of algae-based fuels as compared to other feedstocks, including commercial scalability, carbon dioxide recycling, use of non-arable land for production, and the wide range of fuel products such as ethanol, biodiesel, and biojet that can be derived from algae. Ms. Rosenthal reinforced the position of
the ABO and its more than 170 members organizations that algae are a sustainable, renewable feedstock that will strengthen the United States` energy independence should be a key component of a national low-carbon energy policy.

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A full copy of Ms. Rosenthal`s testimony is publicly available on the Algal
Biomass Organization`s website at: http://www.algalbiomass.org/.

UK’s Aston University receives $5.53 million grant for diesel miscible biofuel development

Biofuels Digest
October 30, 2009 Jim Lane

In the UK, Aston University’s Bioenergy Research Group has received a $5.53 million research grant to transform residues from biofuel production processes into diesel miscible biofuel (DMB). The project will focus on utilising residues that do not require dedicated land, and thus avoid any ‘fuel versus food’ conflicts.

The 42 month project, coordinated by the University of Limerick in Ireland, includes partners from Europe (Denmark, Greece, Hungary, Ireland and UK) and South America (Brazil, Argentina and Chile).

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Pork industry fights ethanol blend increase

Ethanol Producer Magazine November 2009
By Craig A. Johnson
Report posted Oct. 28, 2009, at 4:18 p.m. CST

The U.S. pork industry is calling for Congress to study the effects of the increase in the ethanol blend limit to E15, according to the National Pork Producers Council. The group feels that the combination of subsidies for the ethanol industry and tariffs on imported ethanol are forcing pork producers to compete unfairly for grain.

That the pork industry is no fan of ethanol is nothing new. For several years, pork producers have been dealing with declining profitability due to stable demand, increases in production and increases in the cost of corn and soy meal in the form of dried distillers grains.

According to NPPC spokesman Dave Warner, “For pork producers, you can see the relationship directly. Sixty to 70 percent of the cost of raising a pig is feed grain. That cost has gone up. You can’t pass that cost onto a consumer if there is not a demand.”

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