Low-cost cellulosic sugar maker announces $100 million in financing; name change from HCL CleanTech, support from Mississippi. The race for leadership in low-cost sugars heats up. In California, Virdia, formerly HCL CleanTech, a leading developer of cellulosic sugars, today announced major company milestones, including a new brand and CEO, its latest funding round, and a […]
In Colorado, Itouchu announced that it has acquired shares in ZeaChem. Together, ITOCHU and ZeaChem will acquire partners in each region to investigate the expansion of the technology worldwide, in second generation bioethanol business sectors that use ZeaChem’s technology, and in the future in chemicals business sectors that produce from biomass (green chemicals industry), with […]
In California, Verenium announced 2011 revenues of $61 million, an increase of 18 percent over 2010, with product gross margin of $21 million. CFO Jeffrey Black said “We continue to pursue a number of alternatives to raise capital to enable us to fund both the April put and our ongoing operations, and we are also […]
In Spain, Aqualia said that it plans to launch a €12 million algal biofuels and biogas project, based on conversion of waste water, on a 10-hectare footprint. The company said it will collaborate with partners that bring experience in Germany, the UK, Holland, Austria and Turkey. The European Commission with contribute €7.1 million towards project costs. […]
In France, Arkema and Elevance announced a global partnership for the development and production of renewable specialty polymers. Elevance will provide novel, differentiated, functionalized renewable starting materials, including the company’s 9-decenoic methyl ester, from their bio refineries. Both companies will work on the development of a range of specialty bio-based polymers based on Elevance specialty […]
In Washington, the EPA withdrew the direct final rule to allow camelina, energy cane, napiergrass, and giant reed to meet the RFS2. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said: “EPA published a direct final rule on January 5, 2012 (77 FR 700) to amend the Renewable Fuel Standard program regulations. The amendments would have expanded Table 1 […]
The Biofuels Digest Index™ (BDI), a basket of public biofuels stocks, fell 1.29 percent to 72.14 as biofuels generally retreated. For the day, Solazyme (SZYM) tumbled 4.67 percent to $12.44, while KiOR (KIOR) dropped 9.57 percent to $7.65. Among other equities, Gevo (GEVO) shed 6.58 percent to $7.67. Overall, declines led advances 11 to 3 […]
![[LL] Cool Planet Rocks the Bells](http://www.biofuelsdigest.com/bdigest/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/rockthebells.jpg "[LL] Cool Planet Rocks the Bells")
Our 3-part series, “Shake It Up, Baby”, turns to the mysterious world of Cool Planet Biofuels. What are Google, BP, Conoco, and GE investing? Is 3,000 gallons per acre of renewable gasoline possible? In the past few weeks, news has begun to circulate around the industry – and expanded by Twitter and other social media […]
In Washington, Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan is expected to present her “Grow it Here, Make it Here” bill today to support the development of bio-based renewable chemicals. The Digest offers a first-look exclusive at the proposed bill, here. The Stabenow Act would amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to promote […]
In New York, the law firm Levi & Korsinsky have started a class action lawsuit on behalf of investors who purchased Metabolix common stock between March 10, 2010 and January 12, 2012. The complaint alleges that between those two dates, Metabolix and certain company officers made materially false and misleading statements and omissions regarding Metabolix’s […]
