News

June 25, 2008

USDA Awards $2.55 Million for Efficiency, Renewable Energy Projects

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is awarding $2.55 million in loans and grants for renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements at 39 farms and rural businesses. The agency has also awarded $11 million for such projects under its High Energy Cost Grant program. More

May 28, 2008

New Farm Bill Speeds Commercialization of Advanced Biofuels

The newly passed Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 will provide incentives for building advanced biorefineries, growing energy crops, and producing biofuels. It also expands and renames the USDA's Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Program. More

May 23, 2008

New Studies Portray Unbalanced Perspective on Biofuels: DOE Committed to Environmentally Sound Biofuels Development

DOE response based on contributions from Office of Biomass Program; Argonne National Lab, National Renewable Energy Lab, Oak Ridge National Lab, Pacific Northwest National Lab; USDA More

April 24, 2008

DOE Responds to TIME Magazine's Criticism of Ethanol

In the April 28 issue of TIME magazine, Energy Secretary Samuel W. Bodman and Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer rebutted the magazine's recent article about the use and development of ethanol. In their response, the Secretaries noted that second and third generation biofuels have the potential to reduce greenhouse gases, and that modern agriculture has the capacity to manage land use responsibly—balancing our nation's needs for both fuel and food. More

April 23, 2008

Oklahoma set to plant first-ever 1,000 acre switchgrass field

The Oklahoma Bioenergy Center (OBC), a state-initiative championed by Gov. Brad Henry, secured land to enable the planting of more than 1,100 acres of production-scale demonstration fields for cellulosic energy crops, such as switchgrass and sorghum to contribute to the United States’ bioenergy effort. Planting will take place within the next 45 days. More

April 23, 2008

DOE Offers $7 Million for Biomass Pyrolysis Research

DOE is offering up to $7 million over the next 2 years to support research into improved methods of biomass pyrolysis. More

April 23, 2008

DOE to Offer $10 Billion in Renewable, Efficiency Loan Guarantees

DOE will issue a solicitation in June offering up to $10 billion in loan guarantees for energy efficiency, renewable energy, and electric transmission projects. But DOE wants input before then about which technologies to support. Responses to DOE's Request for Information are due by May 2. More

April 23, 2008

Three New Cellulosic Biorefineries to Receive $86 Million from DOE

DOE will invest $86 million over the next 4 years in three new small-scale cellulosic ethanol biorefineries, to be built by Ecofin, LLC; Mascoma; and RSE Pulp & Chemical, LLC. More

April 21, 2008

Biomass 2008: Fueling our Future Conference Considers Federal Strategy for Sustainability, Collaboration

The Department of Energy's Biomass 2008: Fueling our Future conference was held April 17-18, 2008. In-depth discussions of current biofuels issues throughout the event were augmented by Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) highlighting the Department's support for cellulosic biorefining to achieve national goals for environmentally- conscious energy security. More

April 18, 2008

Three New Cellulosic Ethanol Biorefineries to Receive $86 Million in Funding

DOE announced on April 18 that it will invest $86 million over the next four years into three cellulosic ethanol biorefineries, located in Washington County, Kentucky, Old Town, Maine, and Vonore, Tennessee. More

2008 | 2007