DOE announce 786 million dollars for Biofuels
Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced a huge, 786 million program to speed development and commercialization of biofuels today. The money comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and is intended for the following specific projects:
- 480 Million Solicitation for Integrated Pilot- and Demonstration-Scale Biorefineries
- 176 Million for Commercial-Scale Biorefinery Projects
- 110 Million for Fundamental Research in Key Program Areas
- 20 Million for Ethanol Research
The stated goal of the money is to create "third-generation biofuels like green gasoline, diesel, and jet fuels." Full details available after the jump, but the highlights include million to create an algal biofuels consortium that will push hard to make things like algae biodiesel a reality and million that will be used, in part, to "evaluate the impact of higher ethanol blends in conventional vehicles." All signs point towards E15 becoming the new standard, don't they? A big step forward for biofuels will come from the new Biofuels Interagency Working Group that will be headed by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and Chu. The ethanol industry was quick to praise today's announcement.
If you don't remember, Chu was a biofuel researcher before becoming Energy Secretary and announced plans to fast track loans to get DOE programs started quickly. In mid-April, Chu announced .9 million for the fuel cell industry.
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