Tag Archives: Biofuel Technology

Biotechnology on the Ballot: Scaremongering vs. Progress

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Microbiologist and science writer Alex Berezow writes for the Wall Street Journal that Prop 37 is a “scaremongering California initiative” that would be “another green blow to progress.”  Berezow is quick to point out the many benefits of biotechnology (ringspot-resistant  papayas; high-yielding cotton crops; food crops that fight pests without insecticide; “Arctic apples,” which don’t turn brown after they are sliced; drought-resistant corn) and biotech’s promises that are currently waiting in the technology pipeline (a Read More >

Farmer Gene  |  3 Comments  |  Email This Post
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Business Confidence with the RFS Under Attack

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This week, Biofuels Digest and BIO launched the quarterly Bioenergy Business Outlook Survey. Results from the first quarter of 2012 showed that industry optimism remained high earlier in the year, even though companies still reported difficulty in raising the capital needed for ongoing research and development and construction of demonstration and commercial biorefineries. Now that the petroleum refiners have launched a multi-million dollar pr campaign against the biofuel industry, it will be interesting to take Read More >

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When Did Tree Huggers Become Tree Haters?

Vandals destroped genetically engineered pine trees in New Zealand.

As we celebrate Arbor Day 2012, I want to personally chew out any of the “activist” ilk whose agendas are so extreme, it results in destruction.  I’m talking about eco-terrorism, agri-terrorism, crop vandalism, etc. – basically, killing trees and plants. This destruction becomes especially horrific when it kills not only the plants and trees themselves, but holds back research and scientific progress aimed and healing, fueling and feeding the world. In recent weeks, The New Read More >

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ARPA-E Helps Early Stage Companies Commercialize Energy Innovations

Cheryl Martin

Q&A with ARPA-E Deputy Director for Commercialization Cheryl Martin Q: What is the mission of ARPA-E, and how do you work to further that mission? ARPA-E’s mission is to develop advanced energy technologies that can reduce U.S. energy consumption, emissions, and our reliance on foreign energy sources.  At the core, we are a technology funding agency, with a focus on next-generation, game-changing energy advances.  We award funding for research and development, with the goal of Read More >

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National Academies Rehashes Controversies Over RFS

PNNL Research Scientist Heather Brown

The National Academies this week released a Congressionally mandated study estimating the potential economic and environmental effects of producing the 36 billion gallons of biofuels required under the Renewable Fuel Standard. The conclusions of the report are 1) that cellulosic biofuels are highly unlikely to meet their mandate of 16 billion gallons by 2022 and 2) biofuels overall are unlikely to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as required. Because the report stopped short Read More >

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