Cellulosic ethanol

August 31, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC— U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced today that up to $21 million will be made available for the selection of five projects that will develop supply systems to handle and deliver high tonnage biomass feedstocks for cellulosic biofuels production. The awards announced today are part of the department’s ongoing efforts to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil, spur the creation of the domestic bio-industry and provide new jobs in many rural areas of the country.

“Biofuels will play an important role in America’s clean energy portfolio,” Secretary Chu said. “These projects will allow us to decrease our dependence on foreign oil, support the growth of the biofuels industry and create jobs here at home.”    » read more »

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 »

Sierra Club, Worldwatch Institute Outline "Smart Choices for Biofuels" in New Report

February 18, 2009 -- Washington, D.C.-The Sierra Club and Worldwatch Institute today released a report, Smart Choices for Biofuels, highlighting the need for important policy reforms at this critical juncture in America's effort to increase the use of biofuels. The report outlines the economic and environmental impacts of first-generation biofuels such as corn ethanol, proposes strategies to make the biofuels industry more sustainable, and offers specific policy recommendations in four broad categories:

* Developing sustainability standards
* Advancing biofuels production and new technologies
* Creating green jobs through biofuels
* Promoting policy coherence across energy sectors    » read more »

Funding for Wood-chip Plant Paves Way for Next Generation of Biofuels

WASHINGTON, Jan. 16, 2009 - Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer announced today that USDA Rural Development has approved the first ever loan guarantee to a commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plant. The $80 million loan to Range Fuels Inc., Soperton, Ga., comes from the Section 9003 Biorefinery Assistance Program authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill.    » read more »

June 10, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Barack Obama today released the following statement following the Senate's votes on the Consumer First Energy Act (S. 3044) and the Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act (H.R. 6049). Both measures were blocked today.

Wind turbine: Photo by Vik Walker (CC)    » read more »

Lab Contributes Scientific Foundation for Making Biofuel from Non-Food Sources

May 2008 -- Collaborative scientific research between the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and DuPont will be put to use to develop and commercialize technology to produce cellulosic ethanol from non-food sources.

Tractor cornfield

DuPont and its partner Genencor, a division of Danisco A/S, have announced that they will invest $140 million initially to integrate the pretreatment process and fermenting organism developed with NREL and enzyme technologies developed by Genencor in a joint venture to convert corn stover and sugar cane bagasse to ethanol.    » read more »

Sebelius praises Kansas company for landing federal grant for biofuels research project

January 30, 2008 -- Kansas continues to lead the nation’s evolution from grain-based ethanol production to ethanol derived from cellulosic sources, Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius said today when she learned that the U.S. Department of Energy will award up to $30 million to ICM Incorporated of Colwich, Kansas, for a demonstration-sized plant to make renewable fuels from nonfood plant matter.    » read more »

Plant to Produce Ethanol from Wood through Low-Impact, Environmentally-Friendly Approach

November 06, 2007 -- Soperton, Ga – Today Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue announced Georgia’s stake in renewable energy with Range Fuels’ groundbreaking of the nation’s first commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plant. Cellulosic ethanol is produced from pine trees and other plant matter. Colorado-based Range Fuels will create almost 70 new jobs and invest several hundred million dollars in the Treutlen County facility, which is expected to create an additional 350 indirect jobs.    » read more »