Governors' Biofuels Coalition

Governors drill deep on energy in annual addresses

Amanda Peterka • E&E • Posted January 30, 2012

When President Obama focused heavily on energy issues in his State of the Union address earlier this week, he echoed themes many governors have been pushing forward in their annual “state of the state” speeches this month. Governors from resource-rich states like Alaska, Virginia, West Virginia and Colorado all have devoted substantial sections of their annual addresses to traditional energy this month. The governors — both Democrats and Republicans — have called for increases in traditional and renewable energy development, and many have taken jabs at the federal government for stifling development. [ read more … ]

Minnesota Biomass projects burned by low natural gas prices

DAVID SHAFFER • Minneapolis Star Tribune • Posted January 30, 2012

Rock-bottom natural gas prices are undercutting Minnesota’s taxpayer-supported efforts to expand home-grown energy sources like wood chips and cornstalks. Minnesota has spent more than $11 million in taxpayer and utility funds to advance technologies that burn biomass for heat and electric generation or convert it to a synthetic gas. Now, it’s getting difficult for the technology to compete. [ read more … ]

Iowa Biodiesel plant reopens after four idle years

Dan Piller • Des Moines Register • Posted January 30, 2012

Folks in Kossuth County are feeling good now that the biodiesel plant east of Algona has emerged from bankruptcy, has reopened and is employing 30 workers putting out 60 million gallons of biodiesel per year. The old East Fork plant sat idle for four years, a poster boy for the difficulties of biodiesel. Unlike its cousin ethanol, biodiesel has known mostly struggle as it tries to establish itself as the renewable biofuels alternative to diesel in the truck/heavy equipment market. [ read more … ]

Battery maker’s bankruptcy is ill-timed for White House

John McArdle • E&E • Posted January 30, 2012

Just days before a White House-appointed auditor is set to deliver a report on the Department of Energy’s troubled loan guarantee program, another of the department’s stimulus-funded endeavors made headlines this week at a particularly bad time for the Obama administration. Ener1 Inc. — which received more than $118 million in the form of a DOE grant to make electric-car batteries — filed for bankruptcy yesterday. The announcement threatened to undermine the administration’s offensive on its investments in renewable energy. [ read more … ]

Note: News clips provided do not necessarily reflect the views of coalition or its member governors.

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NEWS UPDATE	January 30, 2012
Governors drill deep on energy in annual addresses Amanda Peterka • E&E • Posted January 30, 2012 When President Obama focused heavily on energy issues in his State of the Union address earlier this week, he echoed themes many governors have been pushing forward in their annual “state of the state” speeches this month. Governors from resource-rich states like Alaska, Virginia, West Virginia and Colorado all have devoted substantial sections of their annual addresses to traditional energy this month. The governors — both Democrats and Republicans — have called for increases in traditional and renewable energy development, and many have taken jabs at the federal government for stifling development. [ read more … ] Minnesota Biomass projects burned by low natural gas prices DAVID SHAFFER • Minneapolis Star Tribune • Posted January 30, 2012 Rock-bottom natural gas prices are undercutting Minnesota’s taxpayer-supported efforts to expand home-grown energy sources like wood chips and cornstalks. Minnesota has spent more than $11 million in taxpayer and utility funds to advance technologies that burn biomass for heat and electric generation or convert it to a synthetic gas. Now, it’s getting difficult for the technology to compete. [ read more … ] Iowa Biodiesel plant reopens after four idle years Dan Piller • Des Moines Register • Posted January 30, 2012 Folks in Kossuth County are feeling good now that the biodiesel plant east of Algona has emerged from bankruptcy, has reopened and is employing 30 workers putting out 60 million gallons of biodiesel per year. The old East Fork plant sat idle for four years, a poster boy for the difficulties of biodiesel. Unlike its cousin ethanol, biodiesel has known mostly struggle as it tries to establish itself as the renewable biofuels alternative to diesel in the truck/heavy equipment market. [ read more … ] Battery maker’s bankruptcy is ill-timed for White House John McArdle • E&E • Posted January 30, 2012 Just days before a White House-appointed auditor is set to deliver a report on the Department of Energy’s troubled loan guarantee program, another of the department’s stimulus-funded endeavors made headlines this week at a particularly bad time for the Obama administration. Ener1 Inc. — which received more than $118 million in the form of a DOE grant to make electric-car batteries — filed for bankruptcy yesterday. The announcement threatened to undermine the administration’s offensive on its investments in renewable energy. [ read more … ] Note: News clips provided do not necessarily reflect the views of coalition or its member governors.
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