biofuels

How much do you know about Rutabagas, the Hecate Strait, Taiwan, the smart charging system, or "green" beer? 

We're betting you are going to know a lot more about all these things and how they fit into renewable energy after you see what EnergyBoom has been upto this week.

So, let's jump right in.

Washington's mandate that by 2022, U.S. annual fuel consumption must include 21 billion gallons of advanced biofuels—those that do not compete with the food chain like corn, sugarcane, or other crops—has oil companies partnering with smaller cutting-edge green energy outfits to meet that goal.

Nothing comes as a surprise anymore--at least not in the world of biofuels. When not back-pedaling from yet another controversy, the industry appears to be in a perpetual state of discovery.

For every step forward the biofuel industry seems to make, they take at least three back.

Renewable technologies and energy is penetrating society at all levels. 

For instance, this week EnergyBoom reported about companies that are producing carbon negative cement, electric motorcycles, biofuel generated from algae-eating fish.  At the same time EnergyBoom highlighted efforts by governments and organizations to promote clean technology and green jobs. 

Verenium Corporation (Nasdaq: VRNM) a developer of next-generation cellulosic ethanol from biomass and high-performance specialty enzymes, reported significant second quarter losses.

The University of California, Berkeley, has proposed a new site to house their Energy Bioscience Institute (EBI). 

CONNECT is a non-profit organization that assists in the formation and development of companies in the San Diego region focusing on emerging technologies. 

Another week has come and gone.  And, what a week it was.  Some may say renewable energies and technologies are expensive, insignificant, or a waste of money.  However, no one can ever claim renewable energies are not exciting.  Once again this week was littered with unusual, spectacular, wildly creative, and downright crazy inventions and ideas for generating clean energy.&

Renewable energy is supposed to do it all. Why then, after all the promotion and funding and research, does the US only draw a meager 4% of its energy from renewable sources?