Filed under: Biodiesel, Ethanol, Legislation and Policy, USA



Those keeping score of the pro vs. against biofuel camps can add another point for the advocates since the federal government has agreed to divert more funds towards the expansion of biofuels. Specifically, the US Department of Energy (DOE) will award more than $10 million to five products designed to speed up technology related to converting biomass to fuel.

The largest grant, at $2.5 million, will go to California-based Novozymes, which (for you chemistry buffs out there) finds enzymes that can "deconstruct" biomass into fuel-worthy material. Washington State-based Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Texas-based Texas AgriLife Research will each get as much as $2.4 million for their biofuels projects. California-based Lygos and Maryland-based J. Craig Venter Institute will also get DOE funds. Read the DOE's press release below.

Earlier this week, the US Senate agreed on a temporary budget pact to avoid the so-called "fiscal cliff" that will extend many of the biofuel initiatives from 2008's Farm Bill to the end of the year. Biofuel advocates praised the agreement as a job-saver, while the Union of Concerned Scientists were among those to say the incentives are being misappropriated away from what it called "smart, sustainable farming practices."Continue reading DOE puts up another $10m for biofuels

DOE puts up another $10m for biofuels originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 06 Jan 2013 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.



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