/>iEPA
EPA Small Business Innovation Research Program Provides Eight $300,000 Contracts
On February 29, 2016, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced eight small business contracts through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program. The eight Phase II contracts provide the companies with $300,000 each to develop and commercialize innovative products that address environmental and public health issues. Phase II funding is typically made available to companies that have already been granted Phase I funding through the SBIR Program. This round of funding included two biobased businesses, Environmental Fuel Research, LLC, a company that is developing a system to produce biofuel from grease trap waste, and Sustainable Bioproducts, LLC, a company that is developing a low-cost, simple, and scalable microbial process for the conversion of organic municipal solid waste to fuels using fungus. The SBIR Program is open to for-profit U.S. businesses with fewer than 500 employees. Open solicitations for applicants are listed on the SBIR website, but applications for this specific program are currently closed.
DOE
Bioenergy Research Centers Reach 500th Invention Milestone
On March 3, 2016, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Research Centers (BRC) announced the 500th invention disclosure since 2007. The BRCs, which consist of the BioEnergy Science Center (Oak Ridge National Laboratory), the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (University of Wisconsin-Madison and Michigan State University), and the Joint BioEnergy Institute (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory), work to develop advanced biofuels technologies to bring to the marketplace. Created in 2007, the BRCs have brought together a diverse group of ecologists, economists, engineers, plant biologists, microbiologists, computational scientists, and chemists to collaborate with a focus on producing biofuels from cellulosic biomass.
DOE Extends Biofuel And Bioproduct Facilities Request For Information Deadline
DOE's Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) has announced the extension of the response deadline for a request for information (RFI) about public and private sector capabilities in pilot scale verification of biofuels and bioproducts processes. The RFI, originally posted on February 12, 2016, with a due date of March 4, 2016, requests information on facilities that have the "capability to perform process verifications for biomass conversion pathways to biofuels, bioproducts, or intermediates that integrate multiple unit operations on a scale of approximately 0.5 or greater tons of dry biomass input per day." Responses to the RFI can now be submitted electronically to PilotVerificationRFI@ee.doe.
DOE Announces Dates Of Bioenergy 2016: Mobilizing The Bioeconomy Through Innovation Conference
On March 7, 2016, DOE's BETO sent out a save the date for the upcoming Bioenergy 2016: Mobilizing the Bioeconomy through Innovation conference. The ninth annual conference is co-hosted by the Clean Energy Research & Education Foundation (CEREF) and will focus on future feedstock opportunities and technology innovations in pursuit of a stronger bioeconomy. The event will take place on July 12-14, 2016, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. For more information about Bioenergy 2016, contact bioenergy2016@ee.doe.gov and for more information about exhibiting or sponsoring, visit the CEREF website.
OSHA
OSHA Fines The Renewable Energy Group Over Hydrogen Gas Explosion
On March 3, 2016, The Advocate reported that the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) fined a biodiesel plant run by The Renewable Energy Group (REG) $70,000 over a September 3, 2015, hydrogen gas explosion. The explosion injured four workers and resulted in three willful safety violations from OSHA. According to The Advocate, OSHA's citation stated that REG failed "to ensure a hazardous and flammable chemical was no longer in a plant pipeline that was under repair." A separate State Police investigation into the incident determined that the explosion occurred as a result of a failure in "lockout/tagout" procedures which should have made it clear that the flow of hydrogen gas through the pipeline had not been shut off. A spokesman for REG stated: "[w]hile we have been working with OSHA throughout its investigative process, we respectfully disagree with its findings and the classification of the citation and will contest it. We expect to meet with OSHA in the coming weeks to discuss its findings, the safety measures already in place at the Geismar facility and our commitment to continuous improvement." The OSHA citation gave REG through March 18, 2016, to correct the safety violations that led to the explosion occurring.
Industry
Bridges To Biofuels: AHB Initiative Supports Education And Opportunities For Hardwood Bioproducts
Advance Hardwood Biofuels Northwest (AHB) is a consortium of Pacific Northwest University and industry partners. AHB's new initiative, led by the University of Washington, supports a sustainable hardwood bioproducts and biofuels industry in the Pacific Northwest with a long-term goal of developing poplar-based biofuels and high value chemicals. Ken Zarker and Northwest Green Chemistry (NGC), a Biobased and Renewable Products Advocacy Group (BRAG®) member, have been working with the group to promote green chemistry opportunities, including producing a new video on Renewable Biofuels and Biochemicals. The video outlines innovative ways to produce biobased high value chemicals using sustainably grown poplar trees. This includes the production of acetic acid, ethylene, and ethanol, which are all produced during the first stages of the biobased jet fuel.
AHB's National Working Forum will meet in Portland, Oregon on April 11-13, 2016, to discuss opportunities for poplar and willow in environmental applications and as a feedstock in developing renewable fuel industries.
