BIOMASS AND BIOREFINERY DEALS 2007
March 26-28, 2007
Washington, DC
Investment opportunities and strategies in Biomass and Biofuels.  JOIN leading government officials, developers, equity and venture financiers, and technology providers to DISCUSS ways to advance the biomass industry.
Details: http://www.infocastinc.com/biomass07.html

GROWING THE MARGINS: ENERGY CONSERVATION AND GENERATION FOR FARMS AND FOOD PROCESSORS
April 11-13, 2007
London, Ontario
This conference has been designed with the interests of livestock and field & horticulture crop farmers, greenhouse operators, food and beverage processors, technology and service providers, governments at all levels, utilities, researchers, and financial institutions in mind.  GTM will be of particular interest to those who are attracted by the social, economic and environmental benefits of on-farm energy conservation and generation and how these benefits can be realized.
Details: http://www.gtmconf.ca/program_highlights.htm

ATLANTIC BIOENERGY CONFERENCE 200
MAY 9-11, 2007
The 2007 Atlantic Bioenergy Conference is intended to bring together, for the very first time in Atlantic Canada, all of the Canadian bioenergy stakeholders with the objective of gaining an appreciation and knowledge as to how to advance this industry in Atlantic Canada. This Conference will be the first step of many in developing and advancing a new opportunity for the agricultural and forestry sectors, and is aimed at setting the stage for future action.
Details: http://www.atlanticbioenergy.ca/english_home.html

BIOMASS '07: POWER, FUELS, AND CHEMICALS WORKSHOP
May 15-16, 2007
Alerus Center, Grand Forks, ND
EERC (ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH CENTRE), GRAND FORKS, ND
The Energy & Environmental Research Center, in Grand Forks, North Dakota, is conducting a 1.5 day workshop/conference pertaining to the utilization of biomass for power, fuels and chemicals. Biomass is the largest and most promising sustainable and renewable energy resource with true global applications. By attending the Biomass '07: Power, Fuels, and Chemicals Workshop, at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks, North Dakota, you will discover opportunities for economic development, network with researchers and potential partners, and learn how you can become a part of this growing multibillion dollar industry.
Details & Registration: http://www.undeerc.org/biomass07/

CREATING ETHANOL FROM TRASH
Kevin Bullis, Technology Review, 1/19/06
A new system for converting trash into ethanol and methanol could help reduce the amount of waste piling up in landfills while displacing a large fraction of the fossil fuels used to power vehicles in the United States.  Rather than incineration, the technology vaporizes organic materials to produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide, a mixture called synthesis gas, or syngas, that can be used to synthesize a wide variety of fuels and chemicals.
Read more: http://www.technologyreview.com/Energy/18084/

EERC DEVELOPING NEW BIOMASS TECHNOLOGIES TO ADVANCE THE FUTURE OF ETHANOL
E-Wire, 1/12/07
The Centers for Renewable Energy and Biomass Utilization at the University of North Dakota Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) are partnering with ICM, Inc., one of the lead companies involved in designing and building ethanol plants, to improve the production process for ethanol and further advance its use through nontraditional feedstocks that go beyond corn. The EERC is developing a new technology to produce ethanol from biomass materials such as grasses, wood, and straw.
Read more: http://www.ewire.com/display.cfm/Wire_ID/3610

FROM ZERO TO B20 IN A FEW YEARS?
D. Jensen
OEM Off-Highway, July 2006, p. 40
Engine and equipment OEMs are starting to support new B20 biodiesel blend, a diesel fuel containing 20% biodiesel.   New Holland and Daimler-Chrysler were the first manufacturers; and San Francisco became the first city to mandate that all city departments begin using a B20 blend as soon as possible with all city vehicles using the blend by the end of 2007.  Although ASTM has a standard for 100% biodiesel, there is still some concern over quality without a standard for blends.
Read more: http://www.oemoffhighway.com/publication/article.jsp?pubId=1&id=305

GERMAN CONSORTIUM TESTS NEW BIOMASS GASIFICATION TECHNOLOGY, OBTAINS RECORD HYDROGEN YIELD
Biopact, January 12, 2007
A new gasification technology has been developed for the production of an energy rich gas from biomass that can be used for the generation of electricity and heat, but also for the production of biohydrogen, biomethane and a series of next-generation synthetic liquid biofuels.  The new low-temperature gasification technology allows a much wider range of biomass feedstocks to be used, including wet feedstocks.
Read more: http://biopact.com/2007/01/german-consortium-tests-new-biomass.html

INDIA'S BIG PLANS FOR BIODIESEL
Michael Fitzgerald
Technology Review, December 27, 2006
Researchers are developing new methods for cultivating a plant called jatropha, which is considered by some to be the most promising source of biodiesel.  The plant can grow in wastelands, and it yields more than four times as much fuel per hectare as soybean, and more than ten times that of corn.  The commercial-scale cultivation of jatropha, however, has some challenges.
Read more: http://www.technologyreview.com/Energy/17940/

LOCAL ENERGY FARM DEMONSTRATION PROJECT
Post Carbon Institute
University of British Columbia
Post Carbon Institute has launched the Local Energy Farm Demonstration Project in collaboration with the Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at the University of British Columbia.  The Local Energy Farm aims to demonstrate the possibility of reducing and eventually eliminating community dependence on fossil fuels for energy.
For more information: http://www.energyfarms.net/

WHY TERMITE GUTS COULD BRING BETTER BIOFUELS
Emily Singer
Technology Review, 1/17/07
In Metagenomics, scientists are sequencing the genomes of entire microbial communities in the hope of uncovering new genes and organisms that can create fuel, mine metals, or clean up superfund sites.
Read more: http://www.technologyreview.com/Biotech/18073/

BP LAUNCHES $500M BIOSCIENCE ENERGY RESEARCH
Globe-Net
February 3, 2007
BP has launched a $500 million research program that will explore how bioscience can be used to increase energy production and reduce the impact of energy consumption on the environment. Joining the research project are the University of California Berkeley and its partners the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The Energy Biosciences Institute will perform research aimed at the production of new and cleaner energy, initially focusing on renewable biofuels for road transport. The EBI will also pursue bioscience-based research in three other key areas; the conversion of heavy hydrocarbons to clean fuels, improved recovery from existing oil and gas reservoirs, and carbon sequestration.
Read more: http://www.globe-net.ca/company_news/listing.cfm?ID_News=2593

CELLULOSIC ETHANOL TAKES OFF!
Earthtimes.org, January 24, 2007
Flambeau River Biorefinery, LLC of Wisconsin has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with American Process Inc. of Atlanta, Georgia to provide project management and engineering services for its cellulosic ethanol project at Park Falls, Wisconsin.    The new biorefinery will be constructed adjacent to the Flambeau River Papers facility in Park Falls, Wisconsin, which recently announced plans to replace its natural gas boilers with a biomass boiler or gasifier.
Read more: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/news_press_release,48886.shtml

NEXTERRA ENERGY ANNOUNCES CLOSING OF THIRD ROUND OF FINANCING
TechFinance.ca
1/24/07
Vancouver based Nexterra Energy develops, manufactures and delivers advanced gasification systems that enable industrial customers to self-generate clean, low cost heat and power using waste fuels.
Read more: http://www.techfinance.ca/m-topnews+news+tnid-1200-tnd-20070124.html, or
http://www.globe-net.ca/company_news/listing.cfm?ID_News=2595

OTTAWA LANDFILL ENERGY FACILITY LIGHTS UP
Globe-Net, February 12, 2007
The gas produced by a landfill near Ottawa will soon be used to generate power for city residents. A 5-Megawatt Landfill Gas to Energy Facility has been commissioned at the Trail Road Landfill.  Wells inserted into garbage mounds will collect the gas for combustion in five internal combustion reciprocating engines, each linked to a 1 MW generator. The installation will produce enough electricity to power approximately 5,000 Ottawa homes.
Read more: http://www.globe-net.ca/news/index.cfm?type=2&newsID=2607

PM UNVEILS ECOENERY RENEWABLE INITIATIVE
Government of Canada News Release, January 19, 2007
Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced more than $1.5 billion in funding for the ecoEnergy Renewable Initiative to boost Canada’s renewable energy supplies. The first component of the initiative, ecoEnergy for Renewable Power, will invest $1.48 billion to boost Canada’s supply of clean electricity from renewable sources like wind, biomass, small hydro and ocean energy.  A ten-year incentive program will be established to fund eligible projects to be constructed over the next four years.
The second component, ecoEnergy for Renewable Heat, will provide more than $35 million incentives and industry support to increase the adoption of clean renewable thermal technologies for water and space heating in buildings such as solar air and hot water heating.  In addition, projects for residential solar heating technologies will be explored with partners such as utilities and community organizations.
Read more: http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?id=1499

U.S. SENATE ENERGY PANEL GOES TO SCHOOL ON BIOFUELS
Environment News Service, February 2, 2007
Current government incentives focus too much on corn-based ethanol and must be retargeted toward technologies that produce ethanol from biomass like switchgrass and agricultural waste, energy experts told a Senate panel.  Without such a shift in support towards cellulosic ethanol, the country is unlikely to be able to boost its production of alternative fuels.
Read more: http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/feb2007/2007-02-02-10.asp

U.S. SUSTAINABLE ENERGY ANNOUNCES PATENT PENDING FOR NEW ORGANIC BIOFUEL
Grainnet, January 12, 2007
U.S. Sustainable Energy Corp. (USSE) has announced the official launch and availability of their new organic-based biofuel.  It is being promoted as the first 100% renewable and environmentally friendly fuel source able to serve as a permanent replacement to diesel fuel – with none of the negative traits associated with traditional biodiesel or other green energy alternatives.
Read more: http://www.grainnet.com/articles/U_S__Sustainable_Energy_Announces_Patent_Pending_for_New_Organic_Biofuel_-40658.html

ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY OF PEAK OIL AND GAS (ASPO CANADA)
One of the main purposes of establishing ASPO Canada is to focus attention on the finiteness/depletion rate of oil/gas and the consequences/linkage between fossil fuel depletion and CO2 emissions.  The association's web site contains relevant news items, articles, and links to other sites. ASPO will be putting out commentary which will highlight the opportunities for alternative sources of energy such as biomass.
Web site: http://aspocanada.ca/

BIOMASS TASK FORCE : REPORT TO GOVERNMENT
[Task Force]
Government of the U.K.
October 2005
The Biomass Task Force was launched on 15 October 2004 to assist the Government and the biomass industry in optimizing the contribution of biomass energy to renewable energy targets and to sustainable farming and forestry and rural objectives.  The object of this report is to shift the barriers which stand in the way of the greater use of the biomass resource and provide solutions which lead to their removal.
Full report: http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/crops/industrial/energy/biomass-taskforce/pdf/btf-finalreport.pdf

GREEN MANITOBA: BRINGING ECO SOLUTIONS TO YOU
Launched on April 1, 2006, Green Manitoba is a new provincial agency that will implement many of the activities outlined in the province's “Green and Growing” strategy document. As a delivery organization, Green Manitoba will develop and implement key programs that will foster environmental innovation and community development. This will include community based approaches to promote waste reduction and the efficient use of water and energy, and focusing in the immediate term on several waste minimization priorities: tires, blue box materials, household hazardous waste, waste from electronic products (e-waste) and paint.
Web site: http://www.greenmanitoba.ca/cim/1001.dhtm

KEY CHALLENGES REMAIN FOR DEVELOPING AND DEPLOYING ADVANCED ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES TO MEET FUTURE NEEDS
December 2006
GAO (United States Government Accountability Office) examined the (1) R&D funding trends and strategies for developing advanced energy technologies, (2) key barriers to developing and deploying advanced energy technologies, and (3) efforts of the states and six selected countries to develop and deploy advanced energy technologies. GAO reviewed DOE R&D budget data and strategic plans and interviewed DOE officials and scientists, U.S. industry executives, independent experts, and state and foreign government officials. GAO Recommends that the Congress consider further stimulating the development and deployment of a diversified energy portfolio by focusing R&D funding on advanced energy technologies.
Full report: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d07106.pdf