Mendel Biotech raises fourth round for biofuels
Hayward, Calif.’s Mendel Biotechnology, an agricultural biotech, raised an undisclosed sum in a fourth round of funding, VentureWire reports (subscription required). The funding accompanied a development deal with the U.K. energy giant BP; Monsanto, a major developer of genetically modified seeds and a longtime Mendel… Continue Reading
Big Oil and UC Berkeley supporting cellulosic research
There’s a notable story in the SF Chron about miscanthus, a tropical “superweed” so tough and prolific that it looks to be a promising source for cellulosic ethanol — good for the environment and potentially translating into bundles of cash for farmers.
This is ironic,… Continue Reading
Feds add fuel to fire of cellulosic ethanol trend
Range Fuels, the Broomfield Colo., company racing to build the first commercial plant for producing a more efficient form of ethanol, got closer to that goal after being awarded a $76 million grant by the U.S. Department of Energy.
This is significant because cellulosic ethanol, made… Continue Reading
Ethanol use causing corn shortages, spiking price of tortillas
Tortilla prices are going up, causing hardship for the poor in Mexico, apparently because of all the use of ethanol in the U.S.
The U.S. is making lots of ethanol out of corn, to use as an alternative to gasoline — creating a shortage of corn… Continue Reading
Mascoma gets $14.8M to produce ethanol from biomass
Mascoma, a Cambridge, Mass. start-up that is trying to become the first commercial developer of cellulosic ethanol — something some environmentalists see as the most promising prospect for alternative, anti-global warming fuel — has won $14.8 million more in financing.
This comes after the company raised… Continue Reading