The Biofuels Center joined more than 60 other North Carolina organizations and companies to showcase North Carolina as a global biotechnology leader at the BIO 2010 International Conference in Chicago on 3-6 May 2010.  The conference is one of the largest on the international biotech calendar, with approximately 13,000 delegates attending from all over the world.  It provides unique opportunities to network and create economic development opportunities as well as showcase the business case for North Carolina as an ideal location for biofuels research, development and commercial-scale projects.

The Biofuels Center partnered with the North Carolina Biotechnology Center and the North Carolina Department of Commerce, as well as higher education and industry in a joint North Carolina pavilion at the conference.  Tracks on renewable fuels, climate change, industrial biotechnology and biofuels saw representatives from many of the top companies speaking about technology developments alongside officials from USDA and DOE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Caption: BIO 2010 panelists discuss the emerging biofuels sector.

The Biofuels Center sponsored and attended the NC Mobile CARE (Clean Air and Renewable Energy) conference on 26 May 2010 in Raleigh. The conference, "Mobilizing NC: Where Air Quality, Energy, and Transportation Meet," was organized by NC State University's North Carolina Solar Center, and promoted alternative fuels and advanced transportation technology solutions.

The event featured exhibits, presentations, and a "ride-n-drive" of alternative transporation vehicles. North Carolina Senator Josh Stein opened the event by addressing the need for a broad range of energy solutions in the state and the significant role the Biofuels Center was playing in developing new homegrown transportation fuels. Other speakers included Biofuels Center staff member Dr. Egle Thomas, who discussed biofuels business development and recruitment opportunities in North Carolina.

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. North Carolina has made a commitment to replace 10% of the 5.6 billion gallons of petroleum it imports each year with home-grown and -produced biofuels. To accomplish that goal of approximately 600 million gallons a year of North Carolina biofuels by 2017, a range of needs must be met statewide for a new industry sector to fully develop.

Since the Biofuels Center staff started work in January 2008, a considerable amount of progress has been made in fostering this new sector. To illustrate this progress, a placemat with a county-by-county snapshot of current biofuels activity across North Carolina was printed for the General Assembly cafeteria to help share information with legislators and members of the public visiting the legislature.

The map picture is a small-scale version of the full-size PDF of the placemat. The PDF can be opened and downloaded here. (Note: This is a large file and the page may be slow to load.)

The General Assembly is currently discussing several policy matters that could directly impact the biofuels sector. North Carolina Representative Pricey Harrison introduced House Bill #2009 that would establish a Wood and Crop Biomass Strategic Working Group. The bill charges the 16-member working group with developing policies to coordinate North Carolina’s renewable power and biofuels initiatives. The legislation includes the Biofuels Center of North Carolina as one of the primary conveners, and also provides staff assistance to the working group. The working group is directed to report back to the General Assembly with recommendations for legislative proposals by May 2011.

Another bill relevant to the biofuels industry that is working its way through the legislative process is House Bill #1973, Keeping North Carolina Competitive Act. The bill, sponsored by North Carolina Representative Bill Owens, is a comprehensive economic incentives and jobs package that includes an extension of the state’s renewable fuel construction tax credits and biodiesel production credits until 1 January 2014. The renewable fuel tax credits are set to expire on 1 January 2011, while the biodiesel production credits expired earlier this year.

Finally, a bill that would require the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to regulate the collection of waste grease may be considered this session. The proposal has drawn initial concerns from some producers of biodiesel about its potentially adverse impact on their industry.