Archives: October 2007
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31 October 2007
How Green is My Garden - NY Times October 20th
Op-Ed Contributor
IF the government wants to reduce its dependency on imported oil and, in the words of the Department of Energy, “foster the domestic biomass industry,” it has only to stop by my backyard with a pickup. The place is an unlikely but active biomass production center — especially at this season with countless autumn leaves eddying in every nook and cranny — and I’ll happily donate my production to the cause. Read the rest of the article here
19 October 2007
Energy Victory: Breaking Free of Oil, Nov. 12
4:00 Monday, November 12
Room 1106 Mechanical Engineering
Parking at Lot 17
World-renowned engineer and best-selling author Robert Zubrin lays out a bold plan for breaking the economic stranglehold that the OPEC oil cartel has on our country and the world, arguing that if all new cars sold in the USA were flex-fueled, this one action would destroy the monopoly that the oil cartel has maintained on the globe’s transportation fuel supply, opening it up to competition from alcohol fuels produced by farmers worldwide.
For more info visit http://www.energy.wisc.edu/energy-victory-breaking-free-of-oil/
19 October 2007
Manufacture, Availability and Benefits of Ethanol, Oct. 25
A discussion of the manufacture, availability and benefits of ethanol, presented by Dr. Mary Beth Stanek of General Motors.
3:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Thursday, October 25
Tong Auditorium, Room 1003 Engineering Centers Building (map)
Parking at Lot 17 (map)
http://www.energy.wisc.edu/manufacture-availability-and-benefits-of-ethanol/
Dr. Mary Beth Stanek has primary responsibilities in the area of bio-fuels and safety policy at General Motors. Dr. Stanek has been with General Motors twenty-five years and has had a number of assignments in several staffs including Purchasing, R&D and most recently in Public Policy located in Detroit, MI. Dr. Stanek is currently leading many of the co-marketing e85 partnership activities with fuel retailers and ethanol suppliers.
Hosted by: Engine Research Center and Energy Institute
For additional information, contact:
Paul Meier at pmeier@wisc.edu
19 October 2007
Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center Seminar, Oct. 30
Dr. Bruce Dale, from the Department of Chemical Engineering & Materials Science at Michigan State University, will give a seminar titled “Why Cellulosic Ethanol is Nearer than You Think: Creating the Biofuels Future” at 10:00 a.m. on Oct. 30. (Location: Ebling Symposium Center, Microbial Sciences Building). For more information contact host Robert Landick
17 October 2007
The Energy-Competitiveness Relationship Report
A new Council on Competitiveness study examines the linkages between the rising cost of energy and America’s international competitiveness. The report notes that few Americans are deeply examining the draining impact of U.S. energy use policies on our economic prosperity. According to the study, U.S. GDP growth was reduced by anywhere from 0.25 percent to 1 percent as a result of energy price increases since 2004. Moreover, high energy costs are leading some industries, such as steel and aluminum production, to move operations overseas. Some state governments are crafting innovative solutions, but, in general, US policymakers are not acting aggressively to respond to this changed environment. Meanwhile, other nations, such as European Union members, Brazil, China, and Japan, have announced extensive new investment programs to support sustainable energy. As energy costs become a more important factor driving international competitiveness, these investments are expected to generate great benefits for citizens and for innovative businesses, and for economic prosperity more generally.
Download the September 2007 Council on Competitiveness report, Provoke. Discussion Draft: The Energy-Competitiveness Relationship.
12 October 2007
Panel Sees Problems in Ethanol Production: New York Times October 11, 2007
Greater cultivation of crops to produce ethanol could harm water quality and leave some regions of the country with water shortages, a panel of experts is reporting. And corn, the most widely grown fuel crop in the United States, might cause more damage per unit of energy than other plants, especially switchgrass and native grasses, the panel said. (more…)
8 October 2007
Energy agriculture - farmer investment decisions
If I start a value-added agricultural business, will farmers invest in it? This is the uncertainty faced by many farmer entrepreneurs attempting to fund a value-added business. A long-time consultant friend of mine told me, “I can find business opportunities for farmers, but I can’t anticipate if they will invest the funds needed to capitalize the business.” (more…)
8 October 2007
Call for Papers for Transition to a Bioeconomy Conference February 2008
A call for paper has been issued for “Transition to a Bioeconomy: Integration of Agricultural and Energy Systems”. This conference will take place February 2008 and is organized by farm Foundation and USDA.
For questions, contact Steve Halbrook, Vice President, Farm Foundation, steve@farmfoundation.org
8 October 2007
Switchgrass Lecture by Ken Vogel: November 13th 3:30 pm
On Tuesday 13 November (3:30pm, room to be determined), Ken Vogel, one of the leaders in bioenergy feedstock research will come to Madison to give the Dale Smith Annual Lecture for the Agronomy Department. His title will be, “Switchgrass: Ecology, Genetics, Agronomics, Economics, and Feedstock properties of an Emerging Energy
Crop“.
2 October 2007
Virent receives $2 million federal grant
Virent Energy Systems Inc. said Monday it has received a $2 million federal grant for its research into making fuels from sugars found in wood and crops.
The Madison-based company said the grant was awarded from the National Institute for Standards and Technology, an arm of the U.S. Department of Commerce. (more…)
31 October 2007
How Green is My Garden - NY Times October 20th
IF the government wants to reduce its dependency on imported oil and, in the words of the Department of Energy, “foster the domestic biomass industry,” it has only to stop by my backyard with a pickup. The place is an unlikely but active biomass production center — especially at this season with countless autumn leaves eddying in every nook and cranny — and I’ll happily donate my production to the cause. Read the rest of the article here
19 October 2007
Energy Victory: Breaking Free of Oil, Nov. 12
4:00 Monday, November 12
Room 1106 Mechanical Engineering
Parking at Lot 17
World-renowned engineer and best-selling author Robert Zubrin lays out a bold plan for breaking the economic stranglehold that the OPEC oil cartel has on our country and the world, arguing that if all new cars sold in the USA were flex-fueled, this one action would destroy the monopoly that the oil cartel has maintained on the globe’s transportation fuel supply, opening it up to competition from alcohol fuels produced by farmers worldwide.
For more info visit http://www.energy.wisc.edu/energy-victory-breaking-free-of-oil/
19 October 2007
Manufacture, Availability and Benefits of Ethanol, Oct. 25
A discussion of the manufacture, availability and benefits of ethanol, presented by Dr. Mary Beth Stanek of General Motors.
3:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Thursday, October 25
Tong Auditorium, Room 1003 Engineering Centers Building (map)
Parking at Lot 17 (map)
http://www.energy.wisc.edu/manufacture-availability-and-benefits-of-ethanol/
Dr. Mary Beth Stanek has primary responsibilities in the area of bio-fuels and safety policy at General Motors. Dr. Stanek has been with General Motors twenty-five years and has had a number of assignments in several staffs including Purchasing, R&D and most recently in Public Policy located in Detroit, MI. Dr. Stanek is currently leading many of the co-marketing e85 partnership activities with fuel retailers and ethanol suppliers.
Hosted by: Engine Research Center and Energy Institute
For additional information, contact:
Paul Meier at pmeier@wisc.edu
19 October 2007
Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center Seminar, Oct. 30
Dr. Bruce Dale, from the Department of Chemical Engineering & Materials Science at Michigan State University, will give a seminar titled “Why Cellulosic Ethanol is Nearer than You Think: Creating the Biofuels Future” at 10:00 a.m. on Oct. 30. (Location: Ebling Symposium Center, Microbial Sciences Building). For more information contact host Robert Landick
17 October 2007
The Energy-Competitiveness Relationship Report
A new Council on Competitiveness study examines the linkages between the rising cost of energy and America’s international competitiveness. The report notes that few Americans are deeply examining the draining impact of U.S. energy use policies on our economic prosperity. According to the study, U.S. GDP growth was reduced by anywhere from 0.25 percent to 1 percent as a result of energy price increases since 2004. Moreover, high energy costs are leading some industries, such as steel and aluminum production, to move operations overseas. Some state governments are crafting innovative solutions, but, in general, US policymakers are not acting aggressively to respond to this changed environment. Meanwhile, other nations, such as European Union members, Brazil, China, and Japan, have announced extensive new investment programs to support sustainable energy. As energy costs become a more important factor driving international competitiveness, these investments are expected to generate great benefits for citizens and for innovative businesses, and for economic prosperity more generally.
Download the September 2007 Council on Competitiveness report, Provoke. Discussion Draft: The Energy-Competitiveness Relationship.
12 October 2007
Panel Sees Problems in Ethanol Production: New York Times October 11, 2007
Greater cultivation of crops to produce ethanol could harm water quality and leave some regions of the country with water shortages, a panel of experts is reporting. And corn, the most widely grown fuel crop in the United States, might cause more damage per unit of energy than other plants, especially switchgrass and native grasses, the panel said. (more…)
8 October 2007
Energy agriculture - farmer investment decisions
If I start a value-added agricultural business, will farmers invest in it? This is the uncertainty faced by many farmer entrepreneurs attempting to fund a value-added business. A long-time consultant friend of mine told me, “I can find business opportunities for farmers, but I can’t anticipate if they will invest the funds needed to capitalize the business.” (more…)
8 October 2007
Call for Papers for Transition to a Bioeconomy Conference February 2008
A call for paper has been issued for “Transition to a Bioeconomy: Integration of Agricultural and Energy Systems”. This conference will take place February 2008 and is organized by farm Foundation and USDA.
For questions, contact Steve Halbrook, Vice President, Farm Foundation, steve@farmfoundation.org
8 October 2007
Switchgrass Lecture by Ken Vogel: November 13th 3:30 pm
On Tuesday 13 November (3:30pm, room to be determined), Ken Vogel, one of the leaders in bioenergy feedstock research will come to Madison to give the Dale Smith Annual Lecture for the Agronomy Department. His title will be, “Switchgrass: Ecology, Genetics, Agronomics, Economics, and Feedstock properties of an Emerging Energy
Crop“.
2 October 2007
Virent receives $2 million federal grant
Virent Energy Systems Inc. said Monday it has received a $2 million federal grant for its research into making fuels from sugars found in wood and crops.
The Madison-based company said the grant was awarded from the National Institute for Standards and Technology, an arm of the U.S. Department of Commerce. (more…)
