Biobits

From the February 2010 Forest2Fuel newsletter.

Range Fuels, long the great hope for the wood-based cellulosic ethanol industry, expects to start up gradually in the second quarter of 2010. According to the EPA, despite $150 million in federal grants and loan guarantees and anticipation that the facility would produce 10 million gallons of fuel in 2010, they are now expected to produce only a quarter of that total. See article in the Washington Post.

Oil and gas companies spent at least $154 million last year on lobbying efforts. This amount was 16 percent higher than the amount they spent in 2008, $132 million. The electrical utility industry spent at least $134.7 million in 2009. The largest legislative targets are believed to be climate legislation, taxes, health care and spending bills. By contrast, alternative energy companies spent just $29 million lobbying in 2009. See article at Greenwire.

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