Growing biomass in space? That’s right. Right now an experiment is underway on the space station to see if microgravity can affect the growth of Jatropha curcas, a tropical flowering plant.

According to Popular Science ,

“This first-ever experiment to test a possible biofuel in microgravity aims to improve cell structure, growth and development in the Jatropha curcas plants. An identical set of samples that represent the experimental control are located at the University of Florida’s Tropical Research and Education Center in Homestead.

Crops grown in space have already been used to produce space beer, courtesy of the Sapporo brewery company. But the possibility of improving biofuel stock courtesy of a space ride might have far greater implications for the world, assuming that the crops do respond well to microgravity.”

What does this mean for the future? Space farms aren’t right around the corner. Popular Science concludes,

“Sadly, we won’t see any space farms really get going until launch costs go way down. Perhaps the new era of commercial spaceflight might also help usher in that future vision.”

A Colorado-based firm with a planned biorefinery located near Soperton, Georgia is the recipient of a loan guaranteed by USDA Rural Development to make cellulosic biofuel from wood chips, according to a USDA announcement. The finalized deal with Range Fuels was first announced last year and represents the first ever loan guarantee by USDA to a commercial-scale cellulosic biofuel plant. This project is expected to provide biorefinery jobs, construction jobs and support the timber industry.

“USDA’s investment in the construction of Range Fuels’ commercial facility, which will produce cellulosic biofuel from non-food biomass, such as wood chips, demonstrates the Obama Administration’s goal to make the United States a leader in renewable energy production and furthers the President’s ongoing efforts to bring jobs to rural communities,” said Under Secretary for Rural Development Dallas Tonsager. “USDA is proud to work with the lender and the private sector to bring economic opportunity to rural areas.”

The $80 million loan, being made by AgSouth Farm Credit to Range Fuels, Inc., is being guaranteed through USDA’s Biorefinery Assistance Program authorized by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 and administered by USDA Rural Development. When fully operational, the plant is expected to produce an estimated 20 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol per year. USDA announced a conditional commitment to provide the loan guarantee for Range Fuels in January, 2009.

Biodiesel tax credit would be restored by new Senate bill

The Old Town Fuel and Fiber mill in Old Town, Maine, opened in the spring of 2009 with a focus on biofuels and traditional logging. Photo from June 2, 2009.  Credit: Reuters/Brian Snyder

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The $1 a gallon biodiesel tax credit would be revived for 2010 under a jobs and tax-cut bill under consideration in the Senate, Finance Committee leaders said Tuesday.

A vote on the bill, which was unveiled on Monday and would be the second in a series of job creation legislation, is possible later this week.

The biodiesel credit expired at the end of 2009. About 12 percent of U.S. soyoil is used to make biodiesel. The American Soybean Association says production has virtually ceased since expiration of the credit.

Here again, we see the attempt to link biodiesel with jobs, and if that’s what it takes to stimulate support by politicians, that is fine with me. I am just glad some see the future of biodiesel as unstoppable.

Could this car in white gold be the ultimate luxury biodiesel Mercedes?

Getting back to the “solid gold Mercedes” it does have one redeeming quality; its 1,600 HP engine is designed to run on biofuels. But throwing in words and ideas like LEED-certified building and biofuel does not make a construction project or car environmental friendly. It’s just using the good deeds of the environment movement to get some good PR.

Want to convert your Mercedes to biofuel? No problem. Follow this handy resource “converting diesel mercedes to biofuel” and save yourself $2.5 million dollars.

This is the most beautiful photo of a car I’ve ever seen, whether it is real gold or not, and the fact that it runs on biodiesel is just icing on the cake. Wouldn’t you love to tool around in this number?

Portland, OR is not quite ready for B10 biodiesel–yet

Jay Dykeman of Jay’s Garage in Southeast Portland fills up a car with a biodiesel blend. The city has decided to wait on a mandate that all diesel fuel sold in Portland have at least a 10 percent biodiesel blend by July 1. (Photo by Dan Carter/DJC)

Portland isn’t ready for B10 biodiesel. Or at least that’s the impression being given by the Portland Water Bureau, which has decided to delay implementation of a new Renewable Fuels Standard to meet goals for 2010.

The city’s policy requiring all diesel fuel sold within the city of Portland to have a blend of at least 5 percent biodiesel (B5) would have changed July 1 to require a blend of at least 10 percent.

But according to Anne Hill, program manager for Portland’s RFS, the city has decided to hold off on the policy adjustment due to industry concerns about quality standards and engine warranties. Also, a requirement for all diesel fuel sold in the state to have a minimum blend of 2 percent biodiesel went into effect this year, as did a qualifying feedstock rule that requires 50 percent of biodiesel to come from canola and other specific feedstock.

We all know their love of nature in Oregon, and perhaps they were too ambitious in shooting for B10 biodiesel, but I know they will soon lead the country in % of biodiesel blend if it continues to be their will.

Brazil’s state-owned Petrobras goes forward with biodiesel plant expansions

Brazil state-run oil company Petrobras has begun work on raising capacity at its Candeias biodiesel plant.
Petrobras aims to double capacity to 217.2 million litres a year from its current capacity of 108.6 million litres.
The Candeias plant is located alongside a Petrobras refinery near Salvador, Bahia State in northeast Brazil.
Candeias is sited on Todos Os Santos Bay and benefits from favourable logistics to receive raw materials and distribute the biodiesel along Brazil's coast.
The plant capacity increase will cost $36.5 million (€26.9 million) and will be completed by the end of 2010.

Brazil is totally committed to biodiesel, and if we don’t make the same commitment here in the USA, we will simply end up buying our biodiesel from Brazil. Let’s show the world we mean biodiesel business.