• ‘Walk Among Giants’: Ceres Field Day Sheds Light on Bioenergy Crops, Issues

• U.S. Spot Ethanol: Movement Mixed
• Ethanol Equities: ADM, ANDE, BG Gain
• Weekly U.S. Fuel Ethanol Inventories and Production
• Renewable Identification Numbers
• NYMEX Crude Oil/Refined Product Futures
• NYMEX No. 11 Sugar Futures
• Brazilian Anhydrous Ethanol Prices
• U.S. Cash Corn and Soybean Prices
• Monthly U.S. Ethanol Inventory/Production Numbers and Ratio
• U.S. Renewable Diesel Inventory

• API Study: Concerns About Rapid E15 Introduction
• Environmentalists Seek to Side with EPA in Texas Permit Battle
• Think Tank Tracks Climate Aid Pledges

• ‘Walk Among Giants’: Biopower and Transportation
• DOE-USDA Program Aims for Better Bioenergy Plants
• Rutgers Researcher Alters Genes of E. Coli to Produce Biodiesel
• First New Chlorophyll Discovered in 60 Years; Potential Impacts on Biofuels Production
• Daihatsu, Toyota Develop Hydrous-Ethanol-Tolerant Vehicle

• Verenium Closes Sale of Cellulosic Biofuels Business to BP
• Rialto Project Embraces UOP Clean-Fuel Technology
• Valero Offers E85 at Texas Gas Station
• REG Biodiesel Powers New Belgium’s Midwest Beer Tour
• Mississippi Pledges US$75 Million for Five Biofuel Facilities
• Propel Fuels to Build/Operate 75 Alternative Fuel Retail Stations
• Mascoma Acquires SunOpta BioProcess Inc.
• Solazyme Adds Bunge as Strategic Investor
• OriginOil Delivers Second Product to Customer
• Alleged Biodiesel Fraudsters Get Prison Sentences
• Green Star Auction Cancelled

• Canadian Government Releases Final Renewable Fuel in Gasoline Regs
• CORE BioFuel Inc. Enters Agreement with Elbow River Marketing
• UNICA President: Brazil-India Cooperation Key to Global Ethanol Advancement
• Argentine Algae Biofuel Producer Opens Processing Plant
• Russia Wants to Export Biofuels to EU
• Capital Markets Crucial to Combating Climate Change
• Komatsu Looks for Biodiesel Customers
• US$19.7 Million Loan to Mumias Sugar for Kenyan Ethanol Plant

API Study: Concerns About Rapid E15 Introduction

A new report commissioned by the American Petroleum Institute (API), conducted by Sierra Research, titled “Identification and Review of State/Federal Legislative and Regulatory Changes Required for the Introduction of New Transportation Fuels,” multiple regulatory and legal requirements remain and must be met before higher ethanol blends can be legally marketed for commercial introduction.

Environmentalists Seek to Side with EPA in Texas Permit Battle

Two private environmental activist groups announced on August 30 that they are seeking to join the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as defendant in the skirmish with the state of Texas over 126 so-called flexible air permits granted by the state. And the EPA itself added another missive, announcing August 31 that it has disapproved “components” of the Texas permitting plan.

Think Tank Tracks Climate Aid Pledges

The World Resources Institute has launched an online tool that allows visitors to its Web site to track climate aid pledges stemming from the 2009 Copenhagen climate conference, according to an August 25 story published by The Hill.

‘Walk Among Giants’: Biopower and Transportation

Energy crop developer Ceres, Inc., hosted energy industry executives, investors and policymakers at a bioenergy field day in late August at the company’s 200-acre College Station, Texas, research facility (see feature, this issue). A number of topics were discussed in relation to bioenergy crops, and the applications of these plants are far reaching beyond just biofuels, as several other speakers at the Ceres event pointed out. Transportation and biopower are two of those additional areas.

DOE-USDA Program Aims for Better Bioenergy Plants

On September 2, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced research awards of US$8.9 million under a joint Department of Energy (DOE)-Department of Agriculture (USDA) program aimed at improving and accelerating genetic breeding programs to create plants better suited for bioenergy production.

Rutgers Researcher Alters Genes of E. Coli to Produce Biodiesel

Rutgers University–Camden announced September 2 that one of its researchers, Desmond Lun, an associate professor of computer science, is looking into how to alter the genetic makeup of E. coli to produce biodiesel fuel derived from fatty acids.

First New Chlorophyll Discovered in 60 Years; Potential Impacts on Biofuels Production

An Australian professor has discovered the first new chlorophyll pigment in more than 60 years, according to his published findings in the international journal, Science.

Daihatsu, Toyota Develop Hydrous-Ethanol-Tolerant Vehicle

While Brazilian automakers have built flex-fuel car engines and fuel systems that can tolerate consumer switching between commercial gasoline-ethanol (anhydrous) blends and hydrous ethanol, as well as cars dedicated exclusively for hydrous ethanol, such technology is a rarity elsewhere.

U.S. Spot Ethanol: Movement Mixed

Prices varied across the U.S. spot ethanol market the week ending September 3.

Ethanol Equities: ADM, ANDE, BG Gain

Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), The Andersons (ANDE) and Bunge Ltd. (BG) all rose the Friday before the Labor Day holiday in the United States.

Weekly U.S. Fuel Ethanol Inventories and Production

U.S. fuel ethanol inventories fell the week ending August 27, while production rose.

Renewable Identification Numbers

Ethanol and biodiesel RINs were up the week ending September 3.

NYMEX Crude Oil/Refined Product Futures

NYMEX crude oil and refined products futures were mixed the week ending September 3.

NYMEX No. 11 Sugar Futures

NYMEX No. 11 sugar futures were higher the week ending September 3.

Brazilian Anhydrous Ethanol Prices

Brazilian anhydrous and hydrous ethanol prices rose the week ending September 3.

U.S. Cash Corn and Soybean Prices

The U.S. cash corn price rose the week ending September 3, while the cash soybean price slipped.

Monthly U.S. Ethanol Inventory/Production Numbers and Ratio

Monthly U.S. ethanol production and inventory (stocks) figures were down in June.

U.S. Renewable Diesel Inventory

U.S. renewable diesel inventory (stocks) figures declined in June.

Canadian Government Releases Final Renewable Fuel in Gasoline Regs

On September 1, the Canadian government announced that regulations requiring an average renewable fuel content of 5% in gasoline have been finalized and will come into effect starting December 15, 2010.

CORE BioFuel Inc. Enters Agreement with Elbow River Marketing

Canadian biofuel company CORE BioFuel Inc. announced September 7 that it had entered into an agreement with Elbow River Marketing Ltd. Partnership for the purchase and distribution of 100% of the gasoline produced by CORE BioFuel’s wood-to-gasoline production facility to be built in Houston, British Columbia.

UNICA President: Brazil-India Cooperation Key to Global Ethanol Advancement

The Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA) reported on September 2 that the joint efforts of two Brazil and India, the world's largest sugar cane producers, is crucial to making ethanol a global commodity and a sustainable, low carbon energy alternative to replace oil, according to a presentation given on September 1 by UNICA President Marcos Jank at the Kingsman consultancy's 2nd Indian Sugar Summit, in New Delhi, India.

Argentine Algae Biofuel Producer Opens Processing Plant

An Argentine algae fuel company that plans to use pond scum as a replacement for soy in making biodiesel opened its biodiesel processing plant on Aug. 27, according to recent Reuters article.

Russia Wants to Export Biofuels to EU

A September 6 report from RIA Novosti (Russia) noted that Russia wants to begin supplying oilseeds and biofuels to the European Union, Deputy Agriculture Minister Alexander Petrikov said the same day.

Capital Markets Crucial to Combating Climate Change

The U.K. Department of Energy and Climate Change reported on September 7 that Climate Change Minister Greg Barker launched the Capital Markets Climate Initiative (CMCI) at the London Stock Exchange that day. According to the agency, the vital role of capital markets in tackling climate change has been ignored for too long.

Komatsu Looks for Biodiesel Customers

Bloomberg reported September 1 that construction and mining equipment manufacturer Komatsu Ltd. plans to seek additional customers for biodiesel fuel from a joint venture pilot project in Indonesia scheduled to begin production this year.

US$19.7 Million Loan to Mumias Sugar for Kenyan Ethanol Plant

According to an August 30 report from the Daily Nation (Kenya), local sugar and power company Mumias Sugar Co. Ltd. has received a KSh1.6 billion (US$19.728 million) loan for an ethanol plant, which will be commissioned next year.

Verenium Closes Sale of Cellulosic Biofuels Business to BP

Verenium Corp. on September 2 announced the closing of the sale of its cellulosic biofuels business to BP Biofuels North America for US$98.3 million, subject to the additional financial terms of the transaction announced on July 15, 2010.

Rialto Project Embraces UOP Clean-Fuel Technology

A proposed renewable energy center in Rialto, Calif., will utilize technology by U.S. multinational UOP LLC to convert biomass to transportation fuels, according to a September 2 UOP statement.

Valero Offers E85 at Texas Gas Station

U.S. refiner Valero started selling E85 ethanol at one of its Valero Corner Stores in San Antonio, according to a recent report by CSP Daily News.

REG Biodiesel Powers New Belgium’s Midwest Beer Tour

Ames, Iowa-based Renewable Energy Group (REG) announced on September 1 that New Belgium Brewing of Ft. Collins, Colo., recently called on the biodiesel producer to provide sustainable, clean-burning B100 to power the Midwest portion of the brewing company’s renowned 13-city, national bicycle festival.

Mississippi Pledges US$75 Million for Five Biofuel Facilities

Next-generation energy company KiOR, Inc. announced August 30 that the company reached an agreement on August 27 with the state of Mississippi to build five commercial-scale renewable crude oil production facilities in return for a state assistance package that includes a US$75 million loan.

Propel Fuels to Build/Operate 75 Alternative Fuel Retail Stations

A California-based ethanol and biodiesel producer will utilize grants totaling US$11 million to build and operate the 75 retail alternative fuel stations throughout the state over the next two years, the San Jose Business Journal reported on August 31.

Mascoma Acquires SunOpta BioProcess Inc.

Mascoma Corp. on September 1 announced its acquisition of SunOpta BioProcess Inc. (SBI), a division of SunOpta Inc. Mascoma’s announcement noted that the acquisition combines the bio-chemical platform companies in Canada and the United States, resulting in a company that is well-positioned to achieve the industry’s objective of low-cost, sustainable production of transportation fuels from non-food biomass.

Solazyme Adds Bunge as Strategic Investor

U.S. synthetic biology company Solazyme said Bunge Ltd. has joined its Series D round as a strategic investor, according to an August 26 Solazyme announcement.

OriginOil Delivers Second Product to Customer

OriginOil, Inc. announced September 2 that it has notified MBD Energy Ltd. that it is ready to ship a Single-Step Extraction System, the second product to be delivered in its multi-phase commercialization agreement.

Alleged Biodiesel Fraudsters Get Prison Sentences

H. Max Speight and William T. "Tommy" Tacker II of Okolona, Mississippi, last week received prison sentences following a 10-count indictment charging them with filing false statements to secure a US$2.88 million subsidy from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's bioenergy subsidy program.

Green Star Auction Cancelled

U.S. alternative energy company Green Star Products, Inc. has cancelled an auction involving its proprietary algae growth biotechnology national licensing rights, according to an August 19 press release.

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