Week of June 29, 2009 |
Editor: C.V. Clute editor@epoverviews.com $49,873 US for Wyoming Biofuel Crop feasibility study (Ind. Report - Funding) The Wyoming Business Council Agribusiness Division has received a $49,873 US grant from the Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program to explore the feasibility of sustainable biofuel crop production in the state. The funds will assist with the purchase of a demonstration mobile crushing processor to extract oil from biofuel crops such as camelina and will help fund test plots of oilfuel seed stock crops in Wyoming for plants such as canola, camelina and sunflowers. According to the Business Council's Donn Randall, the processor will be taken around the state as a demonstration for potential seed producers. (Source: Billings Gazette, June 24, 2009)
Ackermans & van Haaren enters Brazil Ethanol business (Int'l - G&C) Belgian real estate and financial services company Ackermans & van Haaren (AvH) has reached a preliminary deal to purchase a 30% minority stake in Alcofina SA from Sibco Holding SA. Alcofina holds 45.3% of Swiss trading firm Alcotra, which is active in the ethanol trade. Together with Sibco, AvH anticipates additional investments in Brazilian ethanol production from sustainable sugar cane. (Source: Reuters, June 25,, 2009)
Verenium, BP Cellulosic Ethanol project in Florida proceeds to next level (Ind. Report - G&C) Verenium Corporation and BP's jointly-owned commercial cellulosic ethanol project in Highlands County, Florida, has been selected by the U.S. DOE to enter the due diligence phase of its Title XVII Loan Guarantee Program. Under this program, the DOE may provide loan guarantees for project debt covering up to 80% of eligible costs. The project, most recently profiled in our February 20, 2009 edition, is scheduled to break ground in 2010. (PR Newswire, June 25, 2009)
Bioenergy's future on the map in Indiana (Ind. Report) Indiana Lieutenant Governor Becky Skillman has presented a roadmap for continued growth in Indiana agriculture which updates the Indiana State Department of Agriculture's strategic plan that will guide the Department's focus over the next four years. The plan includes a commitment to bioenergy economic opportunity initiatives that would maximize and encourage the use of bioenergy from Indiana derived agriculture resources. The state plans to attract a cellulosic biofuels production facility and to develop and disseminate a blueprint for communities to follow in becoming energy independent. (Source: Inside Indiana Business, June 26, 2009)
Dow Chemical and Algenol Biofuels to build Algae-Ethanol pilot in Texas (Funding - New Prod. & Tech.) The Dow Chemical Company and Algenol Biofuels, Inc. will build and operate a pilot-scale algae-based integrated biorefinery that will convert CO2 into ethanol at Dow's Freeport, Texas site.
Algenol submitted a grant request to the U.S. DOE for financial support to conduct the pilot project. Dow plans to develop the advanced materials and specialty films for the photobioreactor system and provide the technology and expertise related to water treatment solutions. Dow will also provide Algenol with access to a CO2 source for the biorefinery from its manufacturing facility. (Source: Dow Chemical Company, June 29, 2009)
Dayton Power and Light seeks Biofuel (Ind. Report) Dayton Power and Light has issued a request for proposals for biofuel to be delivered to its Ohio River and O.H. Hutching generation stations. The utility is seeking a maximum of 15,000 tons in the fourth quarter of 2009 and a maximum of 100,000 tons/year for the years 2010-2014. The deadline for proposals is July 10, 2009. (Source: Green Power Network, June 29, 2009)
Possible Legacy Act funding for Corn Plus Ethanol in Minnesota (Ind. Report) The state of Minnesota Legacy Act constitutional amendment for the outdoors and the arts includes a provision for $1,000,000 in the first year for grants "to ethanol plants that are within one and one-half miles of a city for improvements that reuse greater than 300,000 gallons of wastewater per day." Corn Plus Ethanol, which is located within a mile of Winnebago, has previously indicated an interest in reducing the plant's use of freshwater, as indicated in our April 1, 2009 edition, and has been exploring the use of waste water from the city of Winnebago. (Source: Mankato Free Press, June 28, 2009)
State Energy Program funding for California includes $15 mn US for Alternative Fuels training (Funding)
Continuing to roll out funds under the State Energy Program, U.S. DOE Secretary Steven Chu has announced more than $154 million in Recovery Act funding to support energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in California, Missouri, New Hampshire and North Carolina.
Initial funds of 40% have been authorized, with 10% of total funding previously available to states to support planning activities and the remaining funds will be provided to the states upon successful implementation of the programs. Of particular note is the $90.4 million provided to California. In addition to various energy efficiency measures, as part of California's State Energy Program, the California Energy Commission is investing $15 million through June 30, 2012, in building a workforce to meet alternative fuel and advanced vehicle technology needs through its Green Jobs Training Program. Additional funding available - $113 million.
(Source: U.S. DOE, June 26, 2009)
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