Prices headed higher across the U.S. spot ethanol market the week ending May 20.

On the equity market the week ending May 20, Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) and The Andersons (ANDE) declined and Bunge Ltd. (BG) rose. ADM fell 1.06% (34¢), ANDE lost 1.25% (54¢) and BG rose 1.14% (83¢).

U.S. fuel ethanol inventories were flat the week ending May 13, while production was higher.

Ethanol and biodiesel RINs were higher the week ending May 20.

NYMEX crude oil and refined product futures were lower the week ending May 20.

NYMEX No. 11 sugar futures were higher the week ending May 20.

Brazilian anhydrous and hydrous ethanol prices fell the week ending May 6.

U.S. cash corn and soybean prices plunged the week ending May 6.

Monthly U.S. ethanol production dropped in February 2011, while inventories (stocks) moved higher, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

U.S. renewable diesel inventories (stocks) continued to rise in February 2011, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Nine partners from seven countries have joined in an innovative project to show that ethanol, biodiesel and bioproducts can be produced from algae on a large scale. The BIOfuel from Algae Technologies (BIOFAT) project, largely funded by the European Commission’s Seventh Framework Program, aims to demonstrate that biofuels made from microalgae can offer energy efficiency, economic viability and environmental sustainability.

According to a May 18 report from the Kyiv Post (Ukraine), the Ukrainian parliament (the Verkhovna Rada) is looking to regulate the country’s biofuels market.

German plant and oilseeds organization UFOP (Union zur Förderung von Oel- und Proteinpflanzen e.V.) this month welcomed the European Commission’s resolution expanding punitive duties on imports of subsidized biodiesel.

Abengoa Bioenergy has signed an agreement with gas supplier and producer Messer to sell 65,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) per annum generated by Abengoa’s ethanol production plant in Lacq, France, during the cereal fermentation process.

On May 18, Biodiesel New Zealand reported that it is establishing a bulk distribution facility in Nelson to supply upper South Island customers with both its Biogold NZ20 renewable fuel blend and Biogold NZ100 pure biodiesel.

On May 23, ZeroPoint Clean Tech, Inc. reported that it has completed the initial field commissioning of its biomass gasification renewable combined heat and power (CHP) solution at a project site in Schwarze-Pumpe, Germany.

Calgary-based AMG Bioenergy Resources Holdings Ltd. has entered a definitive purchase agreement with China Zhejiang Biodiesel Co., Ltd. to acquire a 133-hectare jatropha plantation and a 201-hectare eucalyptus plantation in the People's Republic of China.

Truck maker Iveco announced earlier this month that it’s launching tests of a bi-fuel ethanol/diesel truck in Brazil, where cane-based ethanol is relatively abundant and cheaper to produce than almost anywhere on the planet.

On May 23, World Health Energy Holdings, Inc. issued a letter to its shareholders, providing an update on several new projects.

China Integrated Energy, Inc. on May 20 announced the company has appointed Jeff Chan to serve as chief financial officer. Jeff replaces Albert Pu, who resigned as CFO on April 28, 2011.

A new study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has examined the carbon footprint of biofuels and found that when a biofuel’s origins are factored into that footprint, fossil fuels may actually be a “greener,” less carbon intensive choice.

ZeaChem, Inc. announced May 17 that it has signed a long-term binding term sheet with GreenWood Tree Farm Fund (GTFF) – managed by GreenWood Resources (GWR) – to supply hybrid poplar woody biomass for its first commercial cellulosic biorefinery.

Syngenta on May 20 announced its plans to construct a new state-of-the-art biotechnology research facility adjacent to its existing research campus in Research Triangle Park, N.C. The US$71 million investment is scheduled to start in June 2011 and will focus on discovering and developing new agronomic traits to bring innovative solutions to growers across the world.

UPS has now installed a 30,000 biodiesel fuel tank as well as a fueling station at its 686,000 square feet Worldport Freight Facility in Louisville, Ky.

OriginOil, Inc. reported May 23 that it received a firm order for a large-scale algae extraction system from Australia-based industrial carbon dioxide (CO2) waste management company MBD Energy, Ltd.

BookMerge Technology, Inc. through its wholly owned subsidiary Extreme Biodiesel has been selected to produce biodiesel for two major supermarkets, the company noted May 19.

Propel Fuels on May 17 celebrated the grand opening of its first renewable fueling station on the Peninsula, located in the company's hometown of Redwood City, Calif.

EQM Technologies & Energy, Inc. on May 17 announced that it has raised an additional US$500,000, completing the second and final closing of its previously announced $3 million private placement of 10% subordinated convertible notes (the “Notes”).

Dallas-based oil refiner Holly Corp. will partner with Houston-based Endicott Biofuels on a 30 million-gallon-per-year fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) biodiesel plant under construction in Port Arthur, Texas.

Waste Management has made a strategic investment in Agnion Energy, Inc. (Agnion) to advance Agnion's allothermal gasification technology, the company reported earlier this month.