Daily Archives: February 3, 2010

Plant waste turned into biodiesel

Read the full story in the Calgary Herald. Researchers have engineered a microbe that produces biodiesel directly from plant waste and grasses, according to a study published Thursday in the journal Nature.

Posted in Biofuels, Research | Leave a comment

Updated Life Cycle Analysis of Soybean Production and Products Show Environmental Improvements

Read the full post at Green Car Congress. An updated life cycle assessment (LCA) of soybean production and products commissioned by the United Soybean Board found multiple energy and environmental benefits of current US soybean farming and processing. Currently, the … Continue reading

Posted in Agriculture, Biofuels, Research | Leave a comment

EPA: Ethanol, biodiesel meet green standards

Read the full story in the Des Moines Register. Federal regulators say corn ethanol and soy biodiesel are greener than first thought, clearing the way for the fuels to meet new greenhouse-gas emission standards.

Posted in Biofuels, Regulation | Leave a comment

ABB Develops Cost-Effective Process to Clean Oily Produced Water

Read the full post at Green Car Congress. ABB has developed a water treatment technology that cleans oily wastewater — by far the largest waste product in oil and gas production — quickly, cost-effectively and energy-efficiently.

Posted in Manufacturing | Leave a comment

Bacteria May Affordably Turn Plants into Diesel by 2012

Read the full story from the Worldwatch Institute. Bacteria that convert plants into diesel could become a widely available method for creating alternative fuels at commercial prices within the next two years. U.S. researchers announced progress last week in converting … Continue reading

Posted in Biofuels, Research | Leave a comment

Mitsubishi Corporation, Weyerhaeuser to Explore Strategic Biomass-to-Energy Venture

Read the full post at Green Car Congress. Mitsubishi Corporation and Weyerhaeuser Company signed a Strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to explore the possibilities of collaborating in the biomass-to-energy business.

Posted in Biomass | Leave a comment

Amyris and University of Queensland Partner on Renewable Jet Fuel from Sugarcane

Read the full post at Green Car Congress. The University of Queensland, Australia (UQ) and US-based Amyris Biotechnologies Inc., a synthetic biology company focused on developing renewable hydrocarbon biofuels (earlier post), are partnering to explore potential business opportunities for the … Continue reading

Posted in Biofuels | Leave a comment

Evogene Establishing Castor Bean Biofuel Feedstock Field Trials in Texas and Brazil

Read the full post at Green Car Congress. Israel-based Evogene Ltd. is establishing field trials in Texas, USA and northeastern Brazil for the evaluation of its proprietary castor bean lines. These castor bean lines, designed for higher yield and growth … Continue reading

Posted in Biofuels | Leave a comment

Obama Announces Steps to Boost Biofuels, Clean Coal

President Barack Obama today announced a series of steps his Administration is taking as part of its comprehensive strategy to enhance American energy independence while building a foundation for a new clean energy economy, and its promise of new industries … Continue reading

Posted in Biofuels, Climate Change, Policy | Leave a comment

Students Learn from Sustainability

Read the full story at Green Building News. Educators often talk about teachable moments — opportunities to encourage students to think critically about and learn from a current event or issue. When planning a sustainable school, educators and designers can … Continue reading

Posted in Green Building, Schools | Leave a comment