By Adam Testa | The southern | November 8, 2009 HARRISBURG – Southeastern Illinois College officials hope to launch a new program focused on biofuels in the fall. Interim President Jonah Rice said the decision to pursue the coursework, which would focus on ethanol and biodiesel fuels, came from an internal survey of local industry potential and [...] [...more]

On 4-H National Youth Science Day – October 7, 2009 –millions of young people all across the U.S. will become scientists for the day as they explore the world of biofuels. This effort is part of the second annual 4-H National Youth Science Day and will feature “Biofuel Blast,” the National Science Experiment. Youth will [...] [...more]

Schools meet demand by offering an increasing number of majors and degrees focused on the environment. By JENNA ROSS, Star Tribune Students at the University of Minnesota-Morris could ride buses fueled by corn, sleep in dorms heated by a biomass furnace and eat food grown on nearby farms. But for years, they couldn’t major in the environment. “It [...] [...more]

Biomass is an organic matter that can be used to make fuels, chemicals and other products, as well as provide heat or electricity. For example, wood is one of the oldest and most commonly used examples of biomass. Burning it produces heat to give us warmth. Other sources include plants, aquatic plants, animal waste, organic compounds [...] [...more]

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[ November 5, 2009 6:00 pm to November 7, 2009 1:00 pm. ] MATC is offering their hands-on "Introduction to Biodiesel Fuel" course again this fall. Excellent course for anyone involved or thinking of getting technically involved with biodiesel fuel as equipment specialist or producer of fuel. This is a three day short-course, 1 credit. Click Here to download the flyer. [...more]

New National Research Council (NRC) book. (300+ pages & lots of subtopics covered.) National Academy Press’s description of book The transportation sector cannot continue on its current path: The volatility of oil prices threatens the U.S. economy, the large proportion of oil importation threatens U.S. energy security, and the massive contribution of greenhouse gases threatens the environment. [...] [...more]

Ethanol, as in beer and wine, is an alcohol modified to utilize it as a fuel and making it undrinkable. Ethanol is produced by fermentation through a method similar to beer brewing of any biomass containing carbohydrates. At the present time, ethanol is derived from starches and sugars however there have been constant research to [...] [...more]

Wisconsin’s technical colleges now have six associate degree programs in renewable energy up from none just a few years ago. The goal is to provide training for future jobs as paper industries move to manufacture next-generation biofuels from wood waste. Several paper mills have received federal energy grants to pursue these projects. Read Article. [...more]

Wisconsin Ag Connection – 03/18/2009 Mid-State Technical College will receive just under a half-million dollars in federal government funding to be used for its five renewable energy programs this year. According to Gannett Newspapers, the school recently received word that about $428,000 of President Barack Obama’s $410 billion stimulus package will be used to give MSTC [...] [...more]