In California, Wells Fargo has awarded Western Growers a $30,000 grant for the second year in a row. The grant was presented at a private luncheon at the Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology. This year’s grant will again be used to further assist entrepreneurs in bringing their technologies from development to market. Additionally, […]
A recent DOE project with MicroBio Engineering had the primary objective of a detailed techno-economic and life cycle assessment for a coal-fired power plant with two microalgae CO2 utilization and mitigation options. First, biogas production to replace coal for maximum CO2 mitigation, and second, commodity animal feeds production for maximum economic benefit. A secondary objective […]
“We are always in the forge, or on the anvil; by trials God is shaping us for higher things” – Henry Ward Beecher By now, Tom Boussie of Rennovia has been 20 years in the forge of the chemicals business, and 9 of those years being pounded on the anvil of renewable chemicals development. “People […]
In Canada, Royal Dutch Shell acquired exclusive development and licensing rights for SBI BioEnergy’s biofuel technology. Edmonton-based SBI has a patented process that can convert a wide range of waste oils, greases and sustainable vegetable oils into lower carbon drop-ins for diesel, jet fuel and gasoline. “SBI has a promising new Canadian biofuels technology,” says […]
In Italy, Novamont confirmed that its Bottrighe plant meets performance parameters including overall process performance and production volume to date for bio-based 1,4-butanediol (BDO). The plant is designed to use Genomatica’s licensed process technology to produce BDO from renewable feedstocks. Following startup in late 2016 the plant operations have been notably smooth. Genomatica also confirmed […]
In Washington, the draft House Appropriations Committee’s FY2018 Agriculture Appropriations bill was released, and cut the Rural Energy for America Program from $50 million to $9 million, cut the Section 9003 Loan Guarntee program by $65 million, leaving $31 million, and cencelled the Biomass Crop Assistance Program. “The biobased economy is boosting innovation in domestic […]
In California, Pacific Ethanol will acquire Illinois Corn Processing, LLC (ICP) from SEACOR Holdings and MGPI Processing for $76 million, which includes $15 million in working capital. adding 90 million gallons in capacity adjacent to the company’s Pekin, IL plant. The plant can produce gin/vodka, ethanol as well as proteins The acquisition will be funded […]
In Washington, American Oversight filed suit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to force the release of communications with investor and White House advisor Carl Icahn, along with calendars and phone logs for Administrator Scott Pruitt and other top agency officials. Icahn owns 82 percent of CVR Refgining and has been outspoken in radically re-shaping […]
In Tennessee, researchers from the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory and North Carolina State University used a a combination of X-ray and neutron scattering to revealed new insights into how a highly efficient industrial enzyme is used to break down cellulose. Their results are published in the journal Angewandte ChemieInternational Edition. Producing biofuels like […]
In Washington, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has propsoed to rescind the 2015 Clean Water Rule and with it, a series of Clean Water Act protections for wetlands, streams and other waters originally aimed at improving the drinking water supply. The EPA’s move prompted strong reaction from environmental and farmer interests. “The goal of the Clean […]
