| Biofuels Image of the Month |
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| Using data at 17:00, 21 June 2010, from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), this image illustrates the proportional size of the 2010 BP oil disaster if it had happened in North Carolina. Click here to find out how the state's emerging biofuels industry is working toward replacing 600 million gallons of North Carolina's petroleum consumption with home-grown and -produced biofuels every year by 2017. |
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| Biofuels Company Spotlight |
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GrassRoots Biotechnology is a Durham-based agricultural biotech company that spun out of Duke University’s Center for Systems Biology to advance and commercialize technologies developed by Dr. Philip Benfey. Recently, the USDA recommended the company be awarded an SBIR Phase II grant to fund continued research to improve root architecture in bioenergy crops. The award is for $400,000 over two years, and will enable GrassRoots to ramp up its R&D to improve agronomic productivity of biofuels feedstocks.
Since 2007, the company's mission has been to employ cutting-edge expertise in agricultural biotechnology to create better biofuels, food, and industrial crops. Grassroots’ expertise is in plant genomics and plant root development. Focusing on plant roots—which are the chief means of nutrient and water acquisition—gives the company a distinct advantage, as most agricultural research focuses on above-ground traits. Plant roots also sequester carbon, remediating environmental impact and providing another advantage to Grassroots’ focus.
The company is in the second year of collaborating with major industrial partners. These alliances are directed toward the discovery of gene promoters and trait genes for agricultural row crops. Simultaneously, GrassRoots is conducting research to enhance biofuels feedstocks such as switchgrass and sorghum, which are high-potential biomass crops for the Southeast.
Currently, GrassRoots has 18 employees and recently moved into new offices in the Venable Center in Durham. The company views its move to downtown Durham and renovation of an old tobacco warehouse as contributing to the revitalization of downtown Durham.
Through successful feedstock enhancement programs, the company intends to help make biofuels an economically viable alternative to fossil fuels. In concert with companies working on processing and distribution systems, GrassRoots seeks to create a flourishing biofuels industry in North Carolina.
For more information, visit www.grassrootsbio.com.
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| Biofuels Center News |
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Governor Perdue presents inaugural Biofuelist of the Year award to Clean Burn Fuels (NCTechNews.com)
North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue presented the inaugural Biofuelist of the Year award to Hoke County-based ethanol facility Clean Burn Fuels...
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Center grants generate additional $3.46 million for North Carolina
Stemming from the Biofuels Center's first two years of grants and other programs, more than $3.46 million have been tallied in additional funding and other income for North Carolina....
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Center sponsors, attends NC Mobile CARE conference
The Biofuels Center sponsored and attended the NC Mobile CARE (Clean Air and Renewable Energy) conference in Raleigh....
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Several North Carolina General Assembly bills could impact biofuels sector
The North Carolina General Assembly is currently discussing several policy matters that could directly impact the biofuels sector...
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Center grantee in Pittsboro readies new enzymatic biodiesel technology for testing
The Chatham County Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC) is readying its Biofuels Center-supported mobile enzymatic pilot plant for initial production runs...
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Center provides "snapshot" of biofuels activity at North Carolina General Assembly
To better illustrate how the emerging biofuels industry sector is growing toward its 10% in 10 years' goal, the Biofuels Center of North Carolina produced a map of biofuels activity across the state in May 2010...
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| North Carolina Biofuels News |
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Duckweed, Extremophile research named among top 10 biofuels breakthroughs (Ecofriend.org)
With fossil fuels depleting fast, research work has been escalated to find new sources of fuel that are green as well...
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Novozymes partners on biofuel research (Raleigh News & Observer)
Enzymes producer Novozymes announced that it is teaming up with a developer of "energy crops" to create a better biofuel...
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Central Carolina Community College selected as energy sector lead for NCCCS (NCTechNews.com)
Central Carolina Community College has been selected by the North Carolina Community College System as the Energy Sector lead college for the system’s Code Green Super Curriculum Improvement Project...
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NC State study compares various biofuels (Raleigh News & Observer)
Biofuels are widely promoted as environmentally friendly sources of renewable energy, but it's unclear which ones actually burn cleaner or more efficiently...
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| News Around the Globe |
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Maryland researchers turn poplar trees into biofuel (iStockAnalyst.com)
In response to a national call for home-grown, earth-friendly fuels to fill Americans' gas tanks, a couple of University of Maryland researchers are planting trees....
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Ohio looks ahead to "farm-fresh fuel" (Columbus Dispatch)
In the not-too-distant future, Ohio's rural landscape might be dotted with small bio-refineries that turn residue such as stalks, cobs, wood chips, and yard waste into engine-running fuels....
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Scientists identify bacteria that improve plant growth, biofuel production (NewsGuide.us)
You might think bacteria that "invade" trees are there to cause certain destruction, but like the helpful bacteria that live within our guts, some microbes help plants thrive....
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National Alliance focuses on turning algal biofuels into viable industry (Xconomy.com)
It was just over a year ago that some of San Diego’s biggest life sciences research institutions announced the formation of SD-CAB, the San Diego Center for Algae Biotechnology...
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Southeastern Illinois College adds online biofuels courses
(Ethanol Producer Magazine)
Southeastern Illinois College will offer biofuel-based courses this fall, covering everything from indirect land use to the future of cellulosic ethanol...
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Honeywell Green Jet Fuel powers first helicopter flight on sustainable biofuels (Aero-News.Net)
A Royal Netherlands Air Force Boeing AH-64D Apache helicopter has been flown using Honeywell Green Jet Fuel produced using its Green Jet Fuel process technology, UOP LLC announced...
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Super-yeast generates ethanol from energy crops and agricultural residues (PhysOrg.com)
A new type of baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) has been developed which can efficiently ferment pentose sugars, as found in agricultural waste and hardwoods...
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Ethanol, biodiesel add $2 billion to Canadian annual economy (Marketwire.com)
The Canadian Renewable Fuels Association released the first-ever comprehensive third party economic impact assessment of renewable fuels investments in Canada...
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Ferrari Formula One race cars using cellulosic ethanol (Ethanol Producer Magazine)
Ferrari’s Formula One race cars are now using a cellulosic ethanol-infused fuel provided by Shell...
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| Biofuels Education Spotlight |
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Utilizing a 2009-2010 Biofuels Center grant and an old school bus, Craven County Schools (CCS) Career and Technical educators have developed one of the most innovative teaching tools in the country: a comprehensive mobile biodiesel classroom. The “BioBus” is complete with a bioprocessor, which is used to demonstrate and produce biodiesel from canola and other feedstocks. Complementing this tool, CCS coordinated with Beaufort County Schools (BCS) in developing the “Renewable Energy and Agriculture” course being taught in both school systems. The program also provides training for agriculture instructors to teach at West Craven High and Havelock High Schools.
Craven County Schools’ “Farms to Fuels Program” benefits the students as well as local farmers and community members with training in the development of renewable fuels. Students in agriculture and science classes receive instruction, participate in hands-on training, visit fuel production facilities, and produce the biofuel themselves that powers the renovated bus and school tractor.
These activities prepare students for the 21st century green economy and workforce that will positively impact eastern North Carolina in coming years. Instructors anticipate creating an interest in post-secondary training, college degrees, and other training opportunities in renewable energy fields.
For more information, contact Darlene Moss at darlene.moss@craven.k12.nc.us.
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| Biofuels Center Milestone Podcast |
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Biofuels Center vice president of sector development Mark Conlon talks about his team's business opportunity and economic impact project called, "The Business of Biofuels," with Biofuels Center communications manager Shane Reese. "The Business of Biofuels" project was completed with support from the Golden LEAF Foundation.
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| Biofuels Wiki Recent Updates |
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The Biofuels Wiki is a one-stop, collaborative site where reliable knowledge about liquid renewable fuels can be found—think of it as a biofuels encyclopedia on the Internet. To add or edit content on the site, click here to register.
Biodiesel Production Using Enzymes
Biodiesel can be produced from a wide variety of catalysts including enzymes...
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Global Renewable Fuels Alliance
The Global Renewable Fuels Alliance is an international federation representing over 60% of the world's renewable fuels production from 30 different countries....
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E85
E85 is a mix of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline, which is a common ethanol blend used in flex-fuel vehicles...
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25x'25
25x'25 is an organization aimed at rallying support for renewable energy with a goal for America to get 25% of its energy from renewable resources like wind, solar, and biofuels by the year 2025....
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Kuwait
Kuwait is one of the world’s top exporters of oil, with about 2.4 million barrels per day exported in 2008...
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The Biofuels Center of North Carolina is developing a sustainable, statewide biofuels industry to reduce North Carolina’s dependence on imported liquid fuels and to create jobs. The goal is to replace 10% of the state’s liquid fuel consumption with home-grown and -produced biofuels by 2017. Find out more at www.biofuelscenter.org |
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Did You Know?
Both Henry Ford and Rudolph Diesel built their first automobile engines to run on biofuels—ethanol and peanut oil, respectively—but the discovery of huge, cheap petroleum deposits, and later, Prohibition, pushed biofuels off their radars.
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Biofuels Crop Profile
A freshwater aquatic species native to North Carolina, Duckweed is capable of producing high quantities of starch for biofuels production while removing nutrients from agricultural and municipal wastewater...
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Biofuels Term to Know
Flex-fuel vehicles, or FFVs, are vehicles that can use a range of fuel options interchangeably, from 100% gasoline to 85% ethanol...
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27-30 June 2010 -
The World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology & Bioprocessing
Washington, D.C.
28 June-2 July 2010 -
2010 Biotechnology Workshops for Educators
Asheville, North Carolina
12-16 July 2010 -
2010 Biotechnology Workshops for Educators
Charlotte, North Carolina
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