BETO Announces $10 Million to Support Advanced Bioenergy Development

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE's) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) is working to make biofuel from non-food biomass feedstocks (such as algae and crop residue like corn stalks) more affordable for U.S. consumers. To advance this goal, seven projects were selected to receive up to $10 million to develop innovative technologies and solutions to help advance bioenergy development: Metabolix, Inc.; Pacific Northwest National Laboratory; The Ohio State University; The University of California, Riverside; OPX Biotechnologies; Kiverdi Inc.; and the Gas Technology Institute.

FY 2016 Budget Request

BETO was recommended for a budget increase of $21 million in President Obama’s fiscal year (FY) 2016 budget request. The additional funds would impact each of BETO’s program areas for a total FY 2016 budget of $246 million.

FY 2016 Budget Hearings

On February 11–12 and 25–26, Energy Secretary Moniz spoke at hearings with four House and Senate committees and subcommittees about DOE’s FY 2016 budget request. He emphasized BETO’s focus on drop-in fuels and cellulosic and algae-based feedstocks, as well as BETO’s joint work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Defense to build commercial-scale biorefineries for military-specification fuel.

Sustainable Transportation Webinar

Join Deputy Assistant Secretary for Sustainable Transportation Reuben Sarkar for a free interactive webinar on the proposed Sustainable Transportation sector budget on Tuesday, March 3, from 2:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Webinar participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about DOE’s priorities in each of its Sustainable Transportation sector offices, including BETO.

Innovative Bioenergy Process Recognized for Excellence in Technology Transfer

Congratulations to Pacific National Northwest Laboratory (PNNL) for winning a 2015 Excellence in Technology Transfer Award from the Federal Laboratory Consortium! PNNL scientists received the award for developing an innovative process that converts whole algae into crude oil in just minutes. This BETO-funded technology is one of the many ways DOE is working to secure our energy future by reducing our dependence on foreign oil, providing more sustainable fuels for U.S. consumers, and driving economic growth.

Advanced Biofuels Industry Report Released

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory released a report on the status of the non-starch ethanol and renewable hydrocarbon biofuels industry in the United States. The report—2013 Survey of Non-Starch Ethanol and Renewable Hydrocarbon Biofuels Producers—provides publicly available, open-source documentation on the state of advanced biorefinery production. As the first in what is anticipated to be an annual survey of the industry, this initial report will establish an industry baseline to compare growth and trends.

BETO Director and Staff Featured in Biofuels Digest’s Top 125 in the Advanced Bioeconomy

BETO made headlines this month with four staff members ranking in the top 20 of Biofuels Digest’s Top 125 People in the Advanced Bioeconomy! The list is compiled through nominations and votes by the publication’s readers and its editorial board. Congratulations to BETO Director Jonathan Male, Deputy Director Valerie Reed, Technology Manager Joyce Yang, and Lead Analyst Zia Haq.

BioenergizeME Infographic Submission Deadline Approaching

The deadline for submissions for the Spring 2015 BioenergizeME Infographic Challenge is approaching! Please submit all infographics by March 20 at 5:00 p.m. Central Time. The BioenergizeMe Social Media Campaign will take place April 13–23. Check out the BioenergizeME Map to see submissions from the fall session.

Register for BETO’s 2015 Project Peer Review

Don’t forget to register to attend BETO’s 2015 Project Peer Review on the Peer Review website. BETO is hosting the biennial review from March 23–27, at the Hilton Mark Center, in Alexandria, Virginia.

Past and Upcoming Events with BETO Representation

• BETO Advanced Supply System Validation Workshop; February 3–4; Denver, Colorado
• 6th Annual Next Generation Bio-Based & Sustainable Chemicals Summit; February 3–5; Jim Spaeth; New Orleans, Louisiana
• 2015 NASEO Energy Policy Outlook Conference; February 3–6; Jonathan Male, Washington D.C.
• ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit ; February 9–11; Jonathan Male, Joyce Yang; Washington, D.C.
• Renewable Fuels Association’s National Ethanol Conference; February 18–20; Mark Elless; Grapevine, Texas
• Agricultural Outlook Forum; February 19–20; Jonathan Male; Crystal City, Virginia
• FY 16 EERE Budget Webinar—Sustainable Transportation Sector; March 3; Online
• Consortium for Plant Biotechnology Research 2015 Annual Symposium; March 3–4; Jonathan Male; Washington, D.C.
• Automotive Energy Storage Systems; March 4–5; Alicia Lindauer; Novi, Michigan
• Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference 2015; March 11–13; Jonathan Male; Washington, D.C.
• Food and Fuel for the 21st Century; March 12–13; Daniel Fishman; La Jolla, California
• BETO 2015 Project Peer Review; March 23–27; Alexandria, Virginia

To view past Monthly News Blasts, visit the BETO Newsletter page.