BY Anna SimetFound In:Pellets, Power, Thermal, Biogas, Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsThe U.S. Senate passed its version of a new Farm Bill, leaving the ag energy industry satisfied with the inclusion of mandatory funding for energy title programs. The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on its version of the bill soon. READ MORE

BY BioAmber Inc. Found In:ChemicalsBioAmber Inc. has partnered with Brenntag in the Americas for distribution of its Bio-SA biobased succinic acid and derivatives, including bio-based 1, 4-butanediol. BioAmber currently supplies commercial Bio-SA from a European production facility. READ MORE

BY UMass Amherst Found In:Chemicals Chemical engineering researchers Wei Fan, Paul Dauenhauer and colleagues at the University of Massachusetts Amherst reported that they've discovered a new chemical process to make p-xylene, an important ingredient of common plastics. READ MORE

BY Synthetic Genomics Inc. Found In:Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsSynthetic Genomics Inc., a privately held company dedicated to developing genomic-driven solutions to address global challenges, has announced a new co-funded research agreement with ExxonMobil to develop algae biofuels. READ MORE

BY Evonik Industries AG Found In:ChemicalsOPX Biotechnologies Inc. and Evonik Industries AG have announced an agreement to jointly develop certain biobased specialty chemicals. The agreement calls for OPXBIO to use its proprietary EDGE technology to develop the bioprocesses. READ MORE

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Pellets, Power, Thermal, Biogas, Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsThe Senate has unanimously confirmed Ernest Moniz as the Secretary of Energy by a vote of 96 to 0. Moniz was nominated by President Obama in March. He will replace former Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, who announced his resignation on Feb. 1. READ MORE

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsChemical company BASF has announced new agreements with Dyadic International Inc. and Genomatica Inc. this month. The company also recently released financial results for the first quarter of 2013. READ MORE

BY Chris Hanson Found In:Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsU.K.-based Algenuity launched its newest lab-scale photobioreactor, Algem, in Europe and Middle East markets on May 15. The product allows researchers to run simultaneous and comparative algal growth studies in two 1-liter flasks. READ MORE

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Pellets, Power, Thermal, Biogas, Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsThe Biotechnology Industry Organization and Agriculture Energy Coalition have issued statements thanking members of the Senate Agriculture Committee for authoring legislation to reauthorize Farm Bill Energy Title Programs. READ MORE

BY Chris Hanson Found In:Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsResearchers at Spain's University of Alicante invented a system capable of washing, drying and compacting seaweed to produce biomass fuel. The method involves a three-hopper system that leaves up to 80 percent of seaweed water and sand on the beach. READ MORE

BY University of Wyoming Found In:Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsPlanktOMICS Algae Bioservices recently finalized a spin-out agreement with the University of Wyoming. The company has developed a service business that expedites the highly technical process of domesticating algae. READ MORE

BY Sen. Al Franken's office Found In:Pellets, Power, Thermal, Biogas, Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsU.S. Sens. Al Franken, D-Minn., and Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, have introduced the energy legislation to be included in the 2013 Farm Bill, which includes several provisions expected to create jobs throughout the country. READ MORE

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Pellets, Power, Thermal, Biogas, Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsCanadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has announced the government's ecoENERGY Innovation Initiative is providing funding to 55 innovative energy projects, including several that address biomass power and thermal, biobased chemicals and biofuels. READ MORE

BY Chris Hanson Found In:Pellets, Thermal, Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsA biomass mini-press and an algae production project were featured at the 2013 White House Science Fair in Washington, D.C. The science fair featured 100 students from more than 40 states. READ MORE

BY Toray Industries Inc. Found In:ChemicalsToray Industries Inc. has jointly announced with Genomatica Inc.that it has successfully made a partially bio-based PBT (polybutylene terephthalate) using 1,4-butanediol (BDO) made with Genomatica's bio-based process technology. READ MORE