Introduction It succors and drowns human life. And for the last eight years, oil — and the people and places that make it — was my obsession. – Peter Maass Today a new book by […]
Book Review: Crude World
About That $72 Billion Subsidy
I am going to be pretty busy for the next few days, and probably won’t be able to put anything new up until at least mid-week. Until then, over the past few days there have […]
The API on Cap and Trade
Yesterday the American Petroleum Institute conducted a blogger’s conference call to talk about various energy issues that they are focused on. I used to regularly attend these calls, but things have been quite busy and […]
Another “New” Thermochemical Approach
Thanks to a reader for bringing this story to my attention: Segetis: Making a Brand New Biochemical The Minnesota-based startup turns cellulosic biomass into something called levulinic ketal, a brand-new molecule that can be made […]
Brazil Flexing Its Muscles
A couple of years ago I was thinking about the possible fates of various nations in a world in which depleting oil reserves begin to have a very strong impact on oil prices. I had […]
Corn Ethanol Breakthrough?
I just read an interesting story from Reuters courtesy of a reader: UK technology could turn U.S. ethanol industry green DUNSFOLD PARK, England (Reuters) – A compost bacteria bred by a British company could be […]
An Urban Legend Falls
Figure 1. Classical Outlier or Amazing New Discovery? On November 16, 2007 a study was released that stirred up a lot of excitement in ethanol circles. The study was titled Optimal Ethanol Blend-Level Investigation. The […]
The First Commercial Cellulosic Ethanol Plant in the U.S.
I received a two-week reprieve on the book chapter deadline, as some of the other contributors aren’t finished. So I now have time to pick a few other things back up. I have ended up […]
Soliciting Reader Input for Bioenergy Chapter
9/8 Update: Lichtblick/VW announcement is now in the English version of Der Spiegel: A Power Station in Your Basement Green-energy provider Lichtblick and German automaker Volkswagen are joining forces and promising to stir up the […]
Biofuel Niches
This is the final installment of a three-part series that examines some of the renewable energy options that are presenting themselves as possible contenders to step up as petroleum steps down the depletion curve. The […]