Biofuels

Shell blends advanced biofuel into Shell V-Power gasoline race fuel at the 24 Hours of Le Mans race

11/06/2009 -- Shell is demonstrating its commitment to fuels innovation and the development of sustainable, low-carbon fuels with the blending of 10% cellulosic ethanol into its Shell V-Power race fuel at the 24 Hours of Le Mans race, in France on 13 June, 2009.

This will be the first time an advanced biofuel has been used in the gasoline at the 24 Hours of Le Mans race.

Cellulosic ethanol, as an end fuel, is identical to ethanol but it can offer up to 90% less lifecycle CO2 emissions than gasoline.

The biofuel is produced at Iogen Energy Corporation’s demonstration plant in Ottawa, Canada. Iogen and Shell are partners in the plant.    » read more »

Shell first to sell gasoline blended with advanced biofuel

10/06/2009 -- From today, customers at a Shell service station will become the first in the world to fill their tanks with gasoline containing advanced biofuel made from wheat straw.

For one month starting June 10, the regular gasoline purchased at a Shell service station in Ottawa, Canada will contain 10% cellulosic ethanol. The biofuel is produced locally from non-food raw materials at Iogen Energy Corporation’s demonstration plant, using advanced conversion processes. Iogen and Shell are partners in the plant, which now produces 40,000 litres of fuel per month.    » read more »

Webb Calls on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to Conduct Comprehensive Test of Ethanol Blend Impact

June 9, 2009 -- Senator Jim Webb (D-VA), along with 20 other Senators, today wrote to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to request more comprehensive testing on ethanol prior to raising the ratio that can be mixed into gasoline. The letter emphasizes that air quality and technical issues should be explored, as well as potential adverse effects on consumers and livestock and poultry producers during these hard economic times.

The letter was also sent to Steven Chu, Secretary of the Department of Energy; Tom Vilsack, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture; and Carol Browner, Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change.    » read more »

Programs Will Provide Critical Support to Nation's Biofuels Industry

WASHINGTON, June 8, 2009 - Responding to President Obama's directive to expedite and increase the production of biofuels, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA met its 30-day deadline to help produce more energy from homegrown, renewable sources.

"Further developing the biofuels industry helps create jobs and stimulates rural economies, an important part of getting our economy back on track," said Vilsack. "President Obama and I are committed to advancing clean and renewable energy as it creates jobs domestically and boosts tax revenues at all levels of government."    » read more »

June 8, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, applauded an announcement today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that action has been taken – under the directive of President Obama – to expedite the release of new money to promote the production and use of biofuels. These funds were mandated in the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008, the farm bill, under Harkin’s leadership.    » read more »

June 5, 2009 -- BISMARCK, N.D. - North Dakota Governor John Hoeven today spoke with Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson to request that EPA expedite his previous request to raise the ethanol blended gasoline variance to 15 percent from the current 10 percent blend.

The move would help to expand the market for domestically produced biofuels, according to Hoeven. The Governor, as chairman of the Governors Biofuels Coalition, made the formal request in February to President Barack Obama.

“The nation needs greater energy independence, and domestic ethanol producers need a boost under current market conditions,” Hoeven said. “Increasing the proportion of ethanol to 15 percent would move us closer to both goals.”    » read more »

New Biofuel Product Likely Would Contaminate Food Supply, UCS Says

WASHINGTON (June 4, 2009) - The U.S. Department of Agriculture today reopened the public comment period for its proposal to permit, for the first time, widespread cultivation of a food crop engineered for biofuel production. In the first round, USDA received more than 13,000 comments, the vast majority of which opposed the crop's commercialization.

The opposition included major trade groups and food companies that fear the enzyme could end up in breakfast cereals and snack foods and hamper their ability to export them. In response, USDA revised its risk assessment for the corn and is now seeking additional public input between today and July 6.    » read more »

June 4, 2009 -- (Washington, D.C.) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen today successfully strengthened energy legislation with an amendment that would boost New Hampshire's biomass industry, increase biomass efficiency and help create jobs. Shaheen's amendment unanimously passed the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and will be part of the 2009 Energy Bill, scheduled to come before the full Senate later this year.    » read more »

June 2, 2009 -- AUGUSTA – Maine Governor John E. Baldacci today ceremonially signed LD 389, “An Act to Facilitate the State's Existing Commitment to the Production of Liquid Biofuels.” Representative Steven Butterfield (D-Bangor), sponsor of the legislation, attended today’s bill signing.

The bill continues the State’s efforts to encourage the development and use of sustainable biofuels through the existing tool of the Clean Fuel Vehicle Fund. In addition, the Secretary of State may develop and administer an online, voluntary way for people to contribute to the Fund.    » read more »

June 1, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC — In his development of a comprehensive national biofuels strategy to reduce America’s dependence on imported oil, President Barack Obama invited Iowa Governor Culver and other members of the Governors’ Biofuels Coalition to partner with key members of his administration to achieve his vision for energy independence. Governor Culver and North Dakota Governor John Hoeven serve as the Coalition’s vice chair and chair respectively.    » read more »

COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 1, 2009 – American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) today issued a request for proposals (RFP) seeking long-term purchases of up to 1,100 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy resources.

Proposals must include commercially proven renewable energy technologies such as wind, certified low-impact hydro, commercial-scale solar, geothermal, biologically derived methane gas and certain biomass and biofuels energy projects. The generation must be interconnected to PJM Interconnection (PJM) or Southwest Power Pool (SPP) and be operational no later than Dec. 31, 2011.

Pre-bid webinars for potential bidders will be conducted June 16 for bidders in PJM and June 18 for bidders in SPP. RFP information can be found at http://www.AEP.com/go/rfp.    » read more »

LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa. -- May 26, 2009 – The 2009 Hydrogen Road Tour begins today, and Air Products’ (NYSE: APD) hydrogen fueling technology will be key to making possible the 1,700-mile start-to-finish hydrogen powered vehicle trek from California to Vancouver, British Columbia. Along the way, the touring vehicles from seven major automakers will make 28 stops over the next nine days in three states and Canada, with Air Products’ hydrogen, hydrogen fueling stations and mobile fueling technology helping to power the caravan of clean, efficient hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles.    » read more »

May 21, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – Senator Chuck Grassley today introduced legislation to ensure the biofuels industry is not penalized for the Environmental Protection Agency’s use of non-scientific data when determining greenhouse gas emissions. Grassley’s bill improves several provisions with the expanded Renewable Fuels Standard that were enacted in the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act.

Grassley’s bill is a companion to legislation introduced last week by Collin Peterson, the chairman of the House Agriculture Committee.    » read more »

CHICAGO, May 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) today released its 2009 Environment Report, highlighting reductions during 2008 in its energy and water consumption, carbon dioxide emissions and hazardous waste at its facilities, and efforts to pioneer environmentally progressive technologies, including the world's first demonstration flights powered in part by sustainable biofuels.

"Protecting our planet's environment and finding new ways to harness diverse energy resources continues to be a priority for Boeing," said Jim McNerney, Boeing chairman, president and CEO. "Over the past year, the pace of progress has accelerated even in the face of a global economic slowdown."    » read more »

5/11/2009 -- (HELENA) – Today, while biomass experts are meeting in Missoula at a Western Governors Association bioenergy workshop hosted by Montana, Governor Brian Schweitzer announced a new study conducted by the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of Montana. It reveals a substantial supply of biomass to meet existing utilization demands, and potentially much more.    » read more »