Feature Article April 2006 Biorefineries: Building the Road from Petroleum to Biomass Hiram Rogers BCS, Incorporated A recent article, "The Path Forward for Biofuels and Biomaterials"1 in the prestigious journal Science outlines how advances in genetics, biotechnology, process chemistry and engineering are leading to a new manufacturing concept for converting renewable biomass to transportation fuels and other useful products. In the article researchers at Georgia Tech, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Imperial College, London outline how the integration of agroenergy crops and new biorefinery technologies will converge in new manufacturing units called biorefineries. The recent renewal of interest in biofuels reflects the U.S. Department of Energy's goal of replacing 30% of the U.S liquid petroleum transportation fuel consumption with biofuels. The timely publication in Science on January 27, 2006 came just in advance of the President's State of the Union Address where he declared "America is addicted to oil," and announced his desire to break this addiction by funding new technologies. The President's 2007 budget request calls for an increase from $91 to $150 million in funding for the biofuels initiative.2 The Administration's interest in biofuels comes at a time when there are serious questions about the world's supply of recoverable oil. The importance of energy diversity is once again at the forefront of the public debate. In the Science article Arthur Ragauskas of Georgia Tech and the article's coauthors argue that the transition from an economy based on fossil fuel derived from petroleum to an economy based on renewable biomass needs to be accelerated. The engines for this change are biorefineries, which work like modern oil refineries to produce multiple fuels and chemicals from biomass feedstocks. "The Path Forward for Biofuels and Biomaterials" focuses on how the important changes will come from total integration of new plant resources, synthesis of biomaterials and the generation of biofuels and biopower. Plant Resources A recent DOE/USDA study determined that the U.S. has the potential to supply the estimated 1 billion tons of feedstocks needed annually to achieve the DOE goal of replacing 30% of current U.S. petroleum transportation fuel consumption with renewable biomass.3 Converting this potential to reality requires improvements in recovery, yields, and land management strategies. Ragauskas and his coauthors consider the main challenge for biomass production to be the development of feedstocks that can double biomass yields per acre. They show how recent advances in plant genetics are providing researchers the tools to reach that goal. Improved mechanisms for the capture of sunlight by photosynthesis using genetic modifications have already been demonstrated in both plants and photosynthetic bacteria. Manipulations of the genes that control a plant's nitrogen metabolism have also been shown to increase biomass yields. For example, trials of transgenic poplars show increases in growing height of 40%. Another path toward improving the productiveness of biomass is to increase the cellulose content of the plant, while reducing the content of less useful lignins. These genetic changes can also alter lignin structure so that more sugars are released during digestion. The article also points to other potential roles of genetic engineering in improving biomass production via improving resistance to disease and environmental stress, the delay or prevention of plant reproduction, and the delay or shortening of winter dormancy periods. The President's new Biofuels Initiative calls for resources intended to enable ethanol produced from sources other than corn starch to become cost competitive by 2012. This will require lowering the cost of feedstocks, as well as driving advances in conversion technologies. Synthesis of Biomaterials Just as modern petroleum refineries produce byproduct chemicals, so will biorefineries produce byproduct biomaterials. The diversification from petroleum to biomass provides the chemical industry with the opportunity to use chemical feedstocks that eliminate or reduce the need for some expensive oxidation processes, and reduce dependence on catalysts and complex synthesis processes. Bio-derived plastics, such as polyactic acid, which are currently in large-scale production for food packaging and in the apparel industry, are good examples of the applications of alternative feedstocks. A barrier to a greater use of biomass is the lack of developed efficient methods for separation, refining and conversion into chemicals and fuels. Separation is the dominant energy use in current chemical processing.4 While distillation is the most important unit operation of separation in petroleum refineries, biorefineries will depend more on solvent-based extraction methods. The authors envision biorefineries operating in a two-step process. In the first step operations will extract the high-value chemicals already present in biomass such as fragrances, flavoring agents, food products and high-value nutraceuticals. The second and the main stage of processing plant polysaccharides and lignins will require the development of innovative separation and depolymerization process chemistries. The authors mention the use of supercritical CO2, near critical water and gas-expanded liquids as potential solvents that could overcome these challenges. However, since only around 5% of the crude oil processed by a conventional refinery results in chemical products, biomaterials offer minimal opportunities for reducing petroleum consumption. According to one of the paper's co-authors, Jonathan Mielenz of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, "While chemical co-products are important to support the biorefinery, the real goal is displacement of petroleum with a liquid transportation fuel such as ethanol."5 The Generation of Biofuels and Biopower The main stage of biorefining will be the production of biofuels. Current U.S. bioethanol plants use fermentation of starch from corn. In Brazil, bioethanol made from sugarcane accounts for 20% of the country's transportation fuel, and is cheaper than gasoline per mile driven.6 However, the full potential of biofuels lies not in the use of grains or other food products, but in the use of lower cost corn stover, straws, and forest product residues. The processing of these high cellulose and hemicellulose materials is the key challenge for the development of efficient biorefineries. The authors outline several pathways toward cost-effective depolymerization of lignocellulosics, including pretreatment, combining cellulase/hemicellulase treatments with other process steps, or developing plants that can synthesize the enzymes needed. Another promising field of research is developing organisms that can convert all the sugars in particular plants to ethanol. Other workers are investigating nonbiological processes including the removal of oxygen from carbohydrates to produce oxygenated hydrocarbons. A second hurdle for biorefineries is finding uses for the lignin component of lignocellulosics. Lignin residues from paper pulping are currently burned for heat and power, but lignin thermal cracking offers the potential to generate feedstocks that can be upgraded to potential liquid biofuels. As with any industrial process, biorefineries will generate waste streams that will be difficult to convert to useful materials. Biomass residues have the potential to be converted to syngas by thermochemical conversion only if feeds can be kept clean of the components that could poison the noble metal catalysts involved in downstream refining processes. Tar and chlorides are the primary products that would require treatment. Conclusion A recent DOE solicitation will co-fund development of new biorefineries. A $160 million solicitation will fund up to three biorefinery projects (60/40 industry/government cost share) that will use non-food-based biomass. The goal of the awarded projects will be to show that once constructed, commercial biorefineries making cellulosic ethanol can be operated profitably.7 The authors of the Science article have shown that biorefineries are necessary for serving our transportation fuel needs, will be environmentally sustainable and are technically feasible. The next step is to take biorefineries into the mainstream. 1Ragauskas, A.J. et al., 2006, The Path Forward for Biofuels and Biomaterials, Science v 311 p. 484-489. 2President Bush Proposes Energy Initiative to Reduce Oil Imports. February 1, 2006, EERE press release 3R. D. Perlack et al., Biomass as Feedstock for a Bioenergy and Bioproducts Industry: The Technical Feasibility of a Billion-Ton Annual Supply (U.S.Department of Energy and U.S. Department of Agriculture, April 2005; available at http://feedstockreview.ornl.gov/pdf/ billion_ton_vision.pdf) 4Materials for Separation Technologies: Energy and Emission Reduction Opportunities, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and BCS, Incorporated, available at http://www.eere.energy.gov/industry/imf/pdfs/separationsreport.pdf 5Jonathan Mielenz, personal communication 3-17-06 6As Brazil Fills Up on Ethanol, It Weans Off Energy Exports, Wall Street Journal, 1-9-06> 7DOE Announces $160 Million for Biorefinery Construction and Highlights New Agricultural Program to Promote Biofuels, DOE Press Release, 2-22-06 BACK TO TOP State Spotlight: Montana   In 2001 the state of Montana consumed 500 trillion Btu of electricity. The majority of this energy was provided by coal power accounting for 37 percent and petroleum at 34 percent. Hydroelectric power and natural gas provided 13 percent and 12 percent respectively and biomass accounted for 3 percent. Other energy sources contributed less than 1 percent of the total amount of the energy consumed. (Fig.S.1).1 Approximately 6,761,444 annual dry tons of biomass is available in the state of Montana for energy production. Of this, urban wood wastes have the potential to supply 86,766 dry tons per year. Urban wood wastes include yard trimmings, wood packaging, and other miscellaneous household and commercial wood wastes. Forest residues, which consist of logging residues, salvagable dead wood, and small pole trees and saplings, have the potential to provide up to 1,316,700 annual dry tons in Montana. Up to 406,592 dry tons per year of agricultural residues are potentially available in the state, including materials such as corn stover and wheat straw. Finally, mill residues, consisting of bark and other residues from pulping mills, could provide up to 2,173,000 dry tons of biomass each year in Montana. There is an estimated 2,778,386 dry tons available of dedicated energy crops in Montana. Currently, dedicated energy crops are not produced in Montana, but could be if they could be sold at a price that ensures the producer a profit at least as high as could be earned using the land for alternative uses such as producing traditional agricultural crops. (Fig.S.2).2 Montana's state biomass energy program is currently being run by the the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). DEQ receives grant funds from the U. S. Department of Energy Pacific Regional Biomass Energy Program (PRBEP). There is currently no information regarding the current biomass projects in Montana, however, biomass projects from prior years can be viewed at the Montana State Energy Program Website.3 The state of Montana has numerous financial incentives that encourage the use of renewable energy some of which are corporate tax credits, private grant programs, and property tax exemptions.4 1Energy Information Administration. Table 7: Energy Consumption Estimates by Source, 1960-2001, Montana. Available: http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/states/sep_use/total/use_tot_mt.html 2Biomass Feedstock Availability in the United States: 1999 State Level Analysis. Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Updated January 2000. Available at: http://bioenergy.ornl.gov/resourcedata/index.html. *Note: $50/dry ton cost data was used in this article. 3Montana Biomass Energy Program. Available at: http://deq.mt.gov/Energy/bioenergy/index.asp 4DSIRE: Incentives by state: Montana. Available at: http://www.dsireusa.org/library/includes/map2.cfm?State=MT&CurrentPageId=1 BACK TO TOP   On the Hill Bill # Sponsor Description Last Action S. 2357 Sen Kennedy, Edward M. [MA] Right TRACK Act: This act would promote the use of biomass (and other forms of renewable energy) in electricity production. It states that all utilities that sell electricity to electric consumers will obtain at least 20% of the production from renewable sources. 3/2/2006:Referred to the Committee on Finance. S.2398 Sen Baucus, Max [MT] Energy Competitiveness Act of 2006: Legislation that will promote advanced energy research projects and extend energy tax credits, including the extension of excise tax provisions and income tax credit for biodiesel and alternative fuels. 3/9/2006: Referred to the Committee on Finance. S. 2401 Sen Grassley, Chuck [IA] Alternative Energy Extender Act: Legislation that will encourage investment and clean energy use by the nation. This bill would extend the credit to for electricity produced from renewable sources and alternative fuels (including ethanol, biodiesel and other alternative fuels). 3/13/2006: Referred to the Committee on Finance. S. 2446 Sen Obama, Barack [IL] American Fuels Act of 2006: The legislation proposes the creation of an Energy Security office to promote the energy security and stability of the United States by reducing the dependence of the United States on oil through the use of alternative fuels and new technology. This office would be responsible for overseeing all Federal energy security programs, including the coordination of efforts of Federal agencies, as well as the establishment of credits for fuel flexible vehicles, i.e. a credit for fuel flexible vehicles that are designed for E85. 3/16/2006: Referred to the Committee on Finance. H.R. 4897 Rep Udall, Mark [CO-2] Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program Act of 2006: This act will reauthorize the Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program of the Department of Agriculture through fiscal year 2011 ($46 million/year). These funds will continue to support the growing interest in the Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program. 3/16/2006: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture's Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry. H.R. 4990 Rep Israel, Steve [NY-2] Local Clean Energy Initiative Act of 2006: This legislation proposes the establishment of a federal program to provide up to 20 percent of the costs of implementing clean energy projects funded by the Clean Energy Bond Act, to local governments that establish Clean Energy Bond Act grants. Clean Energy Projects are defined to include alternate transportation fuels (i.e. methanol, ethanol, E85, biodiesel, or other fuels derived from biological materials) and replacement of local government fleets with fuel flexible or hybrid vehicles. 3/16/2006: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. BACK TO TOP Grassroots US Cargill Buys Into Biofuels Minnow Food and agriculture giant Cargill, which is a privately held company, has purchased Greenergy Biofuels, a small British concern dealing primarily in biodiesel. Greenergy's agreement with Tesco, a British supermarket chain, has increased consumer access to biofuel pumps. Greenergy has plans for at least two more biofuel plants in the UK. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main Farm Agency Looks To Crops For Energy The Florida Farm Bureau hopes to promote the growth of renewable energy crops for biofuel and biopower uses. The state which produces over 280 viable crops is looking for other applications to enhance energy security and farmer incomes. Nonfood crops such as trees, perennial grasses, and forest residues can fill in to augment the benefits local production. http://www.sun-herald.com/NewsArchive4/022806/tp6de6.htm?date=022806&story=tp6de6.htm DuPont Bets Big On Biotechnology DuPont Chief Executive Charles Holliday Jr. is pushing for public recognition of the possibilities for biobased products. These include carpet fiber, nail polish, hair dye, and bioglues, all built completely from organic materials. DuPont hopes its future business will evolve with clean energy production and petroleum-substitute products that are better than the original. http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/02/28/business/dupont.php American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) Forms Biomass Coordinating Council A Washington, D.C.-based non-profit, ACORE would like to promote mainstream acceptance of bioenergy and biobased products. The Biomass Coordinating Council (BCC) will support sustainable production, and promote the use of biofuels and biopower. Membership in ACORE is a prerequisite for BCC involvement, which will provide networking and policy development opportunities in biomass. http://www.acore.org/programs/bcc.php Ethanol Cooperative Installing Biomass Energy System For On-Site Energy Needs The Central Minnesota Ethanol Cooperative, a biofuel production facility, will move further towards complete renewable energy production with the construction of a biomass gasification system at its new Little Falls, Minnesota plant. The system will provide electricity and heat by burning locally contracted waste wood. Many ethanol production facilities burn coal for their electricity and heat needs. http://www.newrules.org/de/archives/000107.html Biodiesel Home Delivery Consumers in Connecticut can now get biodiesel delivered to their home in 55-gallon drums. Greenleaf Biofuels LLC has announced the availability of B100 "Biodezl" TM for home delivery. Greenleaf Biofuels delivers B100 "Biodezl" in 55-gallon drums that can be ordered with a Personal Fueling Station (pump). The drum and pump combo allows consumers to fill up at home with ASTM quality biodiesel or splash blend the biodiesel with diesel in the vehicle's fuel tank. www.greenleafbiofuels.com Construction of Idaho's First Commercial Biodiesel Production Facility A 10 million per year biodiesel plant is now under construction in New Plymouth, Idaho. The plant is designed for 10 million gallons of biodiesel production a year and the developers' goal is to produce 200,000 by the first of May. john.crockett@idwr.idaho.gov Iowa Biomass Partnership Activities The Iowa Values Fund ($325,000) for E85 stations and biodiesel facilities has been allocated for FY06. New money ($325,000) will be available July 1, at which time the selection committee will meet to review applications for the first round of FY07 funding. During FY06, 15 E85 stations and 2 biodiesel facilities were approved for funding. jim.bodensteiner@dnr.state.ia.us State Issues Biodiesel RFP The Commonwealth of Massachusetts issued a solicitation for biodiesel for blending with diesel D2 (ASTM 975). This is the first time the state has bid for biodiesel. The bid specifications call for biodiesel to meet ASTM D6751 with additional cloud and pour point requirements. The state plans to use the B20 in summer and B5 in winter. jan.e.gudell@state.ma.us Biomass Energy Education for Rural Sector; USDA Grant and Loan Outreach The Michigan Biomass Energy Program has been collaborating with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and Department of Agriculture in the planning of Michigan's first Harvesting Agri-Energy Conference, which was held on March 15, 2006 in Saginaw, Michigan. The conference was designed to reach out to farmers and rural Michiganders about the potential of biomass energy and biofuels as part of the agrarian based "bioeconomy." At this event, there was a table staffed by USDA Rural Development to help potential applicants with Farm Bill and VAPG information and forms. The larger objective of this inaugural event was to rally stakeholders for development of an agri-energy strategy for Michigan, and use subsequent agri-energy conferences to advance this strategy. www.michigan.gov/deqworkshops or www.michigan.gov/biomass Distributed Generation and EPAct 2005 The PUC of Ohio is reviewing provisions of the Federal Energy Policy Act of 2005 with regard to net metering, smart metering and demand response, cogeneration and power production purchase and sale requirements, and interconnection issues. The schedule for four technical conferences to be held in February-April is posted on the Web site. Staff of the Ohio Biomass Energy Program is helping to coordinate this series and involve speakers with regard to biomass and renewable energy sources. The March 9 conference included speakers on anaerobic digestion and diversifying farm energy portfolios. Staff also participated in the March 3 workshop "Initiatives for U.S. Energy Independence" hosted by Senator George V. Voinovich and the Ohio University Consortium for Energy, Economics and the Environment in Columbus, with regard to Ohio's efforts to reduce dependence on foreign energy sources. http://www.puco.ohio.gov/puco/docketing/DocketingInformation.cfm?doc_id=1683 Ethanol Cooperative Installing Biomass Energy System For Onsite Energy Needs The Central Minnesota Ethanol Cooperative, a biofuel production facility, will move further toward complete renewable energy production with the construction of a biomass gasification system at its new Little Falls, Minnesota plant. The system will provide electricity and heat by burning locally contracted waste wood. Many ethanol production facilities burn coal for their electricity and heat needs. http://www.newrules.org/de/archives/000107.html Clean Energy Fund Report The Vermont Clean Energy Fund has singled out biomass CHP and renewable energy generation on farms as key target areas for the state. "There is great demand for expansion of anaerobic digester technology in Vermont, not only for renewable energy generation, but also to address manure management requirements of mid-sized farms." The Clean Energy Fund was established by the Vermont General Assembly in 2005 to promote the development of cost-effective and environmentally sustainable electric power resources. http://publicservice.vermont.gov/pub/other/cleanenergyfundreport.pdf Passage of Biomass Legislation in Washington State The Washington State Legislature has now passed some key bioenergy legislation and funding as follows: Renewable fuels standard ESSB 6508. It has a 2% biodiesel and 2% ethanol standard effective 12/1/2008. Renewable diesel was not included. An Energy Freedom Program at the Washington Department of Agriculture E3SHB 2939. It provides a framework for funding bioenergy projects and research. The operating budget provides $23,000,000 for the new energy freedom account. $225,000 of initial funding from the Department of Ecology's Beyond Waste Program was provided for development of a technology matrix and economic assessment as a follow- up to the Washington Biomass Inventory and Bioenergy Assessment. In addition, initial funding was provided for research on a high solids digester. $98,000 was provided to the WSU Extension Energy Program for biofuels consumer education and outreach. http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Passed%20Legislature/6508-S.PL.pdf or http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Pdf/Bills/House%20Passed%20Legislature/2939-S3.PL.pdf BP to Fund Biofuel Production Study BP has announced that it will provide U.S. 9.4 million in funding for a study being conducted by the Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh into the feasibility of biodiesel production from Jatropha plantations. Renewable Energy World. March-April 2006. p. 16 Construction Begins on UK's Largest Biomass Plant Construction has started on the UK's largest biomass-fired power plant, following a ground-breaking ceremony on January 27. The plant is located near the Scottish town of Lockerbie and will have a peak capacity of 44 MW. It is expected to run largely on wood waste and specially grown fuel crops, such as willow coppice. Renewable Energy World. March-April 2006. p. 18 Pennsylvania Gets First Commercial Biodiesel Plant Governor of Pennsylvania, Edward G. Rendell, has announced the opening of the state's first commercial biodiesel production facility, the first of 11 that biodiesel production company AGRA is planning to construct. Renewable Energy World. March-April 2006. p. 20 BACK TO TOP Marketplace The Grain Prices graph shows the cost of soybeans, the main biodiesel feedstock, and corn, the main ethanol feedstock. The tables show actual grain prices, indicators which may affect gasoline prices, and the production of ethanol. Fuel prices come from OPIS Ethanol and Biodiesel Report. Ethanol and RBOB Unl New York spot prices and Biodiesel Rack, Chicago, March 2006. Grain Prices March 2005 March 2006 % Change Corn 2.02 2.01 0% Soybean 5.95 5.55 -7% Fuel Supply March 2005 March 2006 % Change Percent Refinery Utilization 91.4 86.3 -5.58% Production by Product - Finished Motor Gasoline (Million Barrels) 8,374.8 8,223.0 -1.49% Stocks - Finished Motor Gasoline (Million Barrels) 139.4 135.1 -3.12% Imports - Total Motor Gasoline (Million Barrels) 928.0 1,128.8 21.63% Oxygenate Production December 2004 December 2005 % Change Ethanol Production (Million Barrels) 232 280 17.14% MTBE Production (Million Barrels) 119 124 4.03% Data Sources: U.S. DOE-Energy Information Administration, "Weekly Petroleum Status Report", "Monthly Oxygenate Report" USDA-National Agricultural Statistics Service, "Agricultural Prices," "Grain Stocks" BACK TO TOP R&D Awards No R&D Awards were granted for this month. BACK TO TOP Solicitations Title: Continuing Solicitation for the Office of Science Description: Seeking grant applications for support of basic energy science fundamental research in the natural sciences and engineering leading to new and improved energy technologies and to understanding and mitigating the environmental impacts of energy technologies. Government Agency: Department of Energy's Office of Science Schedule: Applications may be submitted at any time. URL: http://www.science.doe.gov/grants/FAPN05-01.html Title: SARE Description: The program sponsors grants in research/education, professional development for agricultural educators and producer projects in sustainable agriculture Government Agency: USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Schedule: Grant programs, funding amounts and funding cycles vary by region. URL: http://www.sare.org/htdocs/sare/cfp.html Title: TIFIA Description: Provides credit assistance in the form of secured (direct) loans, lines of credit, and loan guarantees to public and private sponsors of eligible surface transportation projects. Highway, passenger rail, transit, and intermodal projects (including intelligent transportation systems) may receive credit assistance Government Agency: U.S. Department of Transportation's Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) Joint Program Office Schedule: Letters of interest are required and are accepted at any time. URL: http://tifia.fhwa.dot.gov Title: Energy Innovations Small Grant (EISG) Program Description: The EISG provides funding to small businesses, small non-profits, individuals and academic institutions for establishing the feasibility of new energy concepts. Qualifying entities outside of California are eligible. Projects must develop innovative and original energy concepts that address a clear market need, provide benefit for California electricity ratepayers and target one or more areas of interest: Industrial/agriculture/water end-use efficiency; building end-use efficiency; advanced generation; renewable generation; energy-related environmental research; strategic energy research. Government Agency: California Energy Commission Schedule: EISG has up to 4 cycles of grants a year URL: http://www.energy.ca.gov/research/innovations/index.html Title: Energy Performance Contracting in State-Owned Facilities Description: Funded by a System Benefits Charge (SBC) on electric transmission, this program offers energy efficiency, research and development, low-income and environmental disclosure funding and education to assist electric consumers as the regulated electricity market moves to more open competition. Government Agency: New York State Energy Research and Development Authority Schedule: Grant programs, funding amounts, and funding cycles vary URL: http://www.nyserda.org/Funding/funding.asp?i=2 Title: National Research Initiative Description: The U.S. Department of Agriculture requests applications for the National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program (NRI). NRI supports research, extension, and education projects that address key problems of national, regional, and multi-state importance in sustaining all components of agriculture. 29 program areas identified including Biobased Products and Bioenergy Production; Water and Watersheds; and Rural Development. Government Agency: USDA Schedule: Due dates range from November 30, 2005 go October 31, 2006. URL: http://www.grants.gov Title: Agriculture Innovation in TN Description: The U.S. Department of Agriculture request proposals for the Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) Program in Tennessee. The purpose of CIG is to stimulate agriculture-related conservation, environmental enhancement and protection. CIG funds innovative on-the-ground conservation, including pilot projects and field demonstrations. Areas of interest include but are not limited to efficient irrigation, carbon-sequestration in soil, and bio-based energy opportunities. Applications are accepted from eligible entities located in the state of TN. Government Agency: USDA Schedule: Responses are due April 28, 2006 URL: http://www.tn.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/CIG.html Title: Biorefinery Construction Solicitation Description: Description: Description: This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is being issued under authorization of the Energy Policy Act (EPAct) of 2005, Section 932. Amendments to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 within Title XIII, Energy Policy Tax Incentives cited in EPAct and sections 1345 and 1346 (renewable fuel and biodiesel credits) of EPAct provide additional impetus and credit enhancements for potential applicants to respond to this announcement. Approximately $53,000,000 is expected to be available in FY07 for new awards under this FOA. Additional funding is expected to be available in FY08 and FY09. In total, approximately $160,000,000 over three years is expected to be available for new awards under this FOA. Government Agency: DOE Schedule: Applications due by September 10, 2006 URL: https://e-center.doe.gov Title: Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Grants and Guaranteed Loans Description: Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) announced the availability of funds for fiscal year (FY) 2006 to purchase renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements for agriculture producers and rural small businesses in eligible rural areas. Government Agency: USDA Schedule: Applications must be completed and submitted to the appropriate USDA Rural Development State Office postmarked no later than May 12, 2006. URL: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/ Title: Biorefinery Construction Solicitation Description: This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is being issued under authorization of the Energy Policy Act (EPAct) of 2005, Section 932. Amendments to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 within Title XIII, Energy Policy Tax Incentives cited in EPAct and sections 1345 and 1346 (renewable fuel and biodiesel credits) of EPAct provide additional impetus and credit enhancements for potential applicants to respond to this announcement. Approximately $53,000,000 is expected to be available in FY07 for new awards under this FOA. Additional funding is expected to be available in FY08 and FY09. In total, approximately $160,000,000 over three years is expected to be available for new awards under this FOA. Government Agency: DOE Schedule: Applications due by September 10, 2006 URL: https://e-center.doe.gov BACK TO TOP Events April 3-4, 2006 Choctaw (Philadelphia), Mississippi Fifth Annual Southern Bio-Products Conference Organizer: Mississippi Biomass Council Contact: Lauren Michaud Email: sarora@technologyalliance.ms Tel: 601-960-3610 Website:http://ms-biomass.org/conference/2006/index.html April 4, 2006 Austin, Texas Practices, Policy and Innovation to Promote Renewable Energy Technologies Organizer: UK Trade & Investment Contact: Lizzy Lozano Email: lizzy.lozano@fco.gov.uk Tel: (713) 659-6270 Ext. 2136 Website:http://www.treia.org/pdf_files/uk_renewables.htm April 5-7, 2006 Washington, DC The Int'l Conference on Renewable Energy 2006 Organizer: Department of Electrical Engineering, University of the District of Columbia Contact: Dr. Wagdy Mahmoud Email: icredc@udc.edu Tel: (202) 274-5239 Website: http://securereg.udc.edu/icredc/ April 9-12, 2006 Chicago, Illinois BIO 2006 Organizer: Biotechnology Industry Organization Contact: N/A Email: bio2006@bio.org Tel: (202) 962-6655 Website: http://www.bio.org/events/2006/ April 10-12, 2006 Las Vegas, Nevada Power-Gen Renewable Energy: Phase II in the Mainstream Organizer: PennWell and ACORE Contact: Dick Rauner Email: pgreexhibit@penwell.com Tel: 918-832-9249 Website: http://www.power-gengreen.com April 16-18, 2006 Shanghai, China New Energy 2006 Organizer: Coastal International Exhibition Co., Ltd. Contact: N/A Email: general@coastal.com.hk Tel: (852) 2827 6766 Website: http://www.coastal.com.hk April 26-28, 2006 Dublin, Ireland Renewable Energy in Maritime Island Climates Organizer: Dublin Institute of Technology Contact: N/A Email: info@uk-ises.org Tel: +44 (0)7760163559 Website:http://www.dit.ie/remic2 April 30-May 3, 2006 Nashville, Tennessee 28th Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals Organizer: Society for Industrial Microbiology Contact: Christine Lowe Email: Chris@simhq.org Tel: 865-576-8522 Website: http://www.simhq.org/html/meetings/BioFuels06/BioBrochure.pdf or http://www.simhq.org/html/meetings.html May 1-5, 2006 Carbondale, Colorado Biofuels for Energy Independence Organizer: Solar Energy International Contact: Rachel Burton Email: sei@solarenergy.org Tel: 970-963-8855 Website:http://www.solarenergy.org/workshops/workshop.php?id=18 May 3-4, 2006 Brisbane, Australia Sustainable Energy 2006 Organizer: Australian Business Council for Sustainable Energy Contact: N/A Email: admin@bcse.org.au Tel: 03 9349 3077 Website:http://www.bcse.org.au/default.asp?id=50&articleid=311 May 5-7, 2006 Kassel, Germany ENBio 2006: International Conference for Energy from Biomass Organizer: erneuerbare energien Kommunikations- und Informationsservice GmbH Contact: Miriam Hegner Email: redaktion@energie-server.de Tel: +49 7121 30 16 - 0 Website: http://www.enbio.de/index.htm?/enbio.htm May 7-10, 2006 Phoenix, Arizona Clean Cities Congress & Expo 2006: Fueling Clean Transportation Organizer: Alternative Fuel Vehicle Institute Contact: Lara Corcoran Email: info@afvi.org Tel: (702) 254-4180 ext. 25 Website: http://www.afvi.org/PhoenixCongress2006/contact.html May 8-11, 2006 Brisbane, Australia Ethanol 2006 Australia Organizer: Queensland Government Contact: Skye Ridley Email: sridley@bbibiofuels.com Tel: +1-719-539-0300 Website: http://www.bbiethanol.com/calendar/ May 16-18, 2006 Richmond, Virginia Smallwood 2006 Organizer: Forest Products Society Contact: N/A Email: conferences@forestprod.org Tel: 608-231-1361, ext. 208 Website: www.forestprod.org May 22-24, 2006 Wageningen, The Netherlands EPOBIO - First International Workshop 'Products from Plants: the Biorefinery Future' Organizer: All-Energy Contact: Mrs. Judith Mitchell Email: workshop@epobio.net Tel: +44 (0) 1904 328752 Website: http://www.epobioworkshop2006.net/ May 24-28, 2006 Aberdeen, Scotland All-Energy 2006 Organizer: All-Energy Contact: Judith Patten Email: info@afvi.org Tel: +44 20 8241 1912 Website: http://www.all-energy.co.uk May 29-31, 2006 Beijing, China REAsia 2006 Organizer: Grace Fair International Limited Contact: Ms. Nicole Song Email: nicole@gracefair.com Tel: N/A Website: http://www.gracefair.com/reasia_home.htm May 29-June 2, 2006 Jönköping, Sweden World Bioenergy 2006 Organizer: Svenska Bioenergiföreningen SVEBIO Contact: N/A Email: info@svebio.se Tel: +46 8 441 70 80 Website: http://www.svebio.se May 30-June 1, 2006 Budapest, Hungary Eastern Biofuels Conference & Expo II Organizer: Biofuels Conferences Contact: Wendy Vincent Email: wendy@biofuelsconferences.com Tel: +01 605 338 6829 Website: http://www.easternbiofuels.com/ June 5-6, 2006 Bangkok, Thailand Biofuels Markets Asia Organizer: Green Power Conferences Contact: Sarah Ellis Email: sarah.ellis@greenpowerconferences.com Tel: N/A Website: http://www.biofuelsmarkets.com June 5-7, 2006 Dallas, Texas 2006 Corn Utilization and Technology Conference Organizer: National Corn Growers' Association Contact: N/A Email: events@ncga.com Tel: 636-733-9004 Website: www.corntechconf.org June 7-8, 2006 Seattle, Washington Energy Management Congress Organizer: Association of Energy Engineers Contact: Ashley Clark Email: info@aeecenter.org Tel: (770) 279-4392 Website: http://www.energyevent.com/ June 7-9, 2006 Rousse, Bulgaria Energy Efficiency and Agricultural Engineering 2006 Organizer: Bulgarian National Society of Agricultural Engineers Contact: Milena Popova Email: mivanova2001@ecs.ru.acad.bg Tel: +35982845536 Website: http://www.ru.acad.bg/baer/EE&AE-2006/conference.htm June 11-13, 2006 Whitefish, Montana EPAC Ethanol Conference Organizer: EPAC Contact: Shirley Ball Email: Shirley@ethanolmt.org Tel: 406-785-3722 Website: http://www.ethanolmt.org June 16-18, 2006 Onekama, Michigan Michigan First Renewable Energy Fair Organizer: Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association Contact: Allan O'Shea Email: N/A Tel: 1-888-624-1324 Website: http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/events/view?id=40764 June 20-23, 2006 Milwaukee, Wisconsin International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo Organizer: BBI International Contact: N/A Email: conferences@bbibiofuels.com Tel: 719-539-0300 Website: http://www.fuelethanolworkshop.com/ June 23-26, 2006 Detroit, Michigan Earth Race Organizer: EarthRace Charitable Trust Contact: N/A Email: N/A Tel: +64 21 415 342 Website: http://www.earthrace.net July 28-30, 2006 John Day, Oregon SolWest Renewable Energy Fair Organizer: SolWest/EORenew Contact: Jennifer Barker Email: info@solwest.org Tel: 541-575-3633 Website: http://www.solwest.org August 19-26, 2006 Florence, Italy 9thWorld Renewable Energy Congress and Exhibition Organizer: InterExpo Curacao N.V. Contact: Peter Email: peter@interexpo.biz Tel: 005999-8680196-5270177 Website: http://www.interexpo.biz August 28-29, 2006 Ames, Iowa 2006 Biobased Industry Outlook Conference Growing the Bioeconomy: Reimagining Agriculture for National Security Organizer: Iowa State University Contact: Krysta Nibe Email: krystajo@iastate.edu Tel: 515-294-7936 Website: www.bioeconomyconference.org September 11-13, 2006 Newcastle Gateshead, United Kingdom 5th European Motor Biofuels Forum 2006 Organizer: Europoint Contact: Ms Marieke Bouman Email: mbouman@europoint-bv.com Tel: +31 30 6933 489 Website: http://www.europoint-bv.com/biofuels2006 September 12-14, 2006 Brussels, Belgium European Conference for Renewable Energy Policy Organizer: European Renewable Energy Council Contact: N/A Email: conference@erec-renewables.org Tel: +32 2 546 1933 Website: http://www.erec-renewables.org/events/2006PolicyConference/default.htm September 13-15, 2006 Washington, D.C. 29th World Energy Engineering Congress Organizer: Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) Contact: Ted Kurklis Email: info@aeecenter.org Tel: (770) 447-5083 Website: http://www.energycongress.com/ September 18-22, 2006 Amman, Jordan Global Conference on Renewable Energy Approaches for Desert Regions (GCREADER) Organizer: University of Jordan/Renewable Energy Bureau (REB) Contact: Eng.Mohammad Ta'ani Email: mtaani@ju.edu.jo Tel: N/A Website: http://www.ju.edu.jo/confernces/gcreader/index.htm September 25-26, 2006 Syracuse, New York Empire Energy and Environmental Expo (E4) Organizer: Environmental Business Association of New York State, Inc. Contact: Donna Denley Email: deirdre@eba-nys.org Tel: (518) 432-6400 x224 Website: www.eba-nys.org September 26-28, 3006 Karlstad, Sweden RecAsh 2nd International Seminar: From Extraction of Forest Fuels to Recycling of Wood Ash Organizer: Skogsstyrelsen / Swedish Forest Agency Contact: Lars Andersson Email: lars.t.andersson@skogsstyrelsen.se Tel: +46 (0)54 14 56 27 Website: www.skogsstyrelsen.se Click here for additional bio-related events. BACK TO TOP The Biomass Initiative, formed as part of the Biomass R&D Act of 2000, is a multi-agency effort to coordinate and accelerate all Federal biobased products, biofuels, and bioenergy research and development. The Biomass Initiative distributes an online monthly newsletter to inform government institutions and the public, including private companies, about the Biomass Initiative and biomass-related activities. The newsletter’s contents include a feature article highlighting important biomass-related stories of the month, as well as grassroots information and a state spotlight recognizing important local activities. In addition, the newsletter includes biomass-related information on recent legislation, R&D awards, solicitations, and market trends. If you have any questions or comments about the Biomass Initiative Newsletter, please contact mmanella@bcs-hq.com.