1 min read

Is Cellulosic Ethanol Back on Track?

Picture of Suz-Anne Kinney Suz-Anne Kinney : November 16, 2009

Is Cellulosic Ethanol Back on Track?
After a long year in which cellulosic ethanol seemed to be fading from the renewable energy scene, there has been an uptick in activity this month.

The Department of Energy awarded grants totaling $564 million to 19 biorefineries (complete list). The final 19 were chosen from a group of 200 applicants. And this selectivity has many who received the grants hoping that the government's vote of confidence in their technologies will spur investor interest and help them raise additional funds. The CEOs of two companies whose joint project was successful in its bid for one of the grants said the process made this fact clear. According to Biofuels Digest, Eric Darmstaedter of ClearFuels said "I have been involved in these Funding Opportunity Announcements before, and this was different. There seems to be more of a sense of purpose at the Department of Energy (DOE) in terms of biomass." Hunt Ramsbottom, CEO of Rentech, added: "I don't see the White House or DOE backing down on biofuels. They are going to continue - it has to happen."

Eleven of these facilities use wood as all or part of their feedstock.

The news of government grants for biorefinery projects not gone unnoticed. There have been several announcements of new facilities this month. Renewable transport fuel developer, Evolution Resources, is in the process of sourcing a 60 million gallon wood biomass facility somewhere in the mid-South Delta region. The company is looking closely at closed pulp mills as a site. This strategy may signal the start of a trend. Bastrop, Louisiana, home to a closed International Paper pulp mill, will be featured in Ethanol Producer magazine as a town in search of a biorefinery.
Global Renewable Energy Industry Now Employs Over 10 Million

Global Renewable Energy Industry Now Employs Over 10 Million

Picture of John Greene John Greene : May 24, 2018

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) recently announced that the global renewables industry created more than 500,000 new jobs in 2017,...

Bioeconomy and Renewables
Read More

Framework for New BCAP Rules

Picture of Suz-Anne Kinney Suz-Anne Kinney : October 18, 2010

The final BCAP rule sets out a list of goals and principles governing the program going forward. These goals focus on new markets while protecting...

Bioeconomy and Renewables
Read More

Forest2Market Adds New Timber and Fiber Market Analyst–Javon Carter

Picture of Suz-Anne Kinney Suz-Anne Kinney : July 1, 2011

Forest2Market (F2M) recently welcomed Javon Carter, its newest timber and fiber market analyst. Javon completed his M.S. in Forest Biomaterials at...

Read More