Weekly Clean Energy RoundupFebruary 27, 2008

DOE to Invest $34 Million in Enzymes for Cellulosic Ethanol Production Western Governors to Speed Development of Alternative Fuels Arizona Utility to Buy Power from a 280-Megawatt Solar Power Plant Alaska Utility Wins Wind Cooperative of the Year Award New York Launches Clean Energy Workforce Training Initiative Natural Gas and Hybrid Vehicles Lead Annual Green Rankings Superconducting Cable Project Points to More Efficient Grid DOE to Invest $34 Million in Enzymes for Cellulosic Ethanol Production DOE announced yesterday its selection of four projects to develop improved enzymes for breaking down cellulosic biomass material into sugars, which can then be fermented into ethanol. The DSM Innovation Center, Genencor, Novozymes, Inc., and Verenium Corporation were all chosen by DOE for their proven ability to reduce the cost of ethanol by improving the performance of the enzymes. Among the many partners on the projects are four DOE national laboratories: Los Alamos National Laboratory, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and Sandia National Laboratories. For all four projects, DOE intends to invest up to $33.8 million over the next four years, subject to congressional appropriations, and when combined with the cost sharing from industry, up to $70 million will be invested […]

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