News

August 17, 2010
Congressman Harry Teague announced a new program designed to grow renewable energy education and jobs could be coming to southern New Mexico. 

Funding, secured by Harry Teague in the Labor Health Education Appropriations Act passed by the House, would allow Western New Mexico University (WNMU) to develop  a program that will train New Mexicans to fill coming jobs in the biofuel industry through the creation of a biofuel curriculum at area colleges.  

June 4, 2010
Congressman Harry Teague joined energy industry and academic leaders in the unveiling of the New Mexico State Plan For Biofuels Leadership.

The document, announced at the Re-Energize America Conference organized by New Mexico State University (NMSU) and Honorary Chairman Harry Teague, provides a step-by-step, comprehensive plan to bring green jobs to New Mexico.

December 15, 2009
NM, Other States Compete for Energy Development

Albuquerque, NM – New Mexico has invited dozens of scientists, industry experts and others from across the nation to help develop a strategy for growing the state's biofuels industry.

Decmber 9, 2009
New Mexico Leaders Announce Strategic Inititiative to Develop Sustainable Biofuels Industry

Santa Fe, NM (December 9, 2009) – Gov. Bill Richardson and the New Mexico congressional delegation today launched an initiative to develop a statewide strategic plan to make New Mexico a national leader in the emerging biofuels industry.

November 30, 2009
Camelina Cleared Another Hurdle for the Future Success and Adoption of the New Biodiesel Feedstock

Biodiesel Magazine (November 11 post) – Camelina cleared another hurdle for the future success and adoption of the new biodiesel feedstock. The North American Camelina Trade Association announced Nov. 10 that it received approval from the Center for Veterinary Medicine, a department of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, for the use of camelina meal in the diets of feedlot beef cattle up to 10 percent of the weight of the total ration.

August 10, 2009
SWBA Endorses Bipartisan Senate Push for Biodiesel Standards
Maria Zannes
Albuquerque, NM (Aug. 10, 2009) – The Southwestern Biofuels Association (SWBA) (www.swbiofuels.org) today announced its support for a bipartisan coalition in the U.S. Senate calling on President Barack Obama to keep the U.S. biodiesel industry alive by immediately implementing the biomass-based diesel mandate required under the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA).

June 22, 2009
NMSU Takes a Lead in Growing America’s Energy Future
M. Therese Shakra
Las Cruces Sun-News (June 22, 2009) – The green economy is quickly growing and NMSU and the College of Engineering’s Institute for Energy and the Environment (IEE) continue to fuel New Mexico’s instrumental role in the transformative ‘green age.’

June 10, 2009
Energy Future Tied to National Policy
Joan E. Price
Alamogordo Daily News (June 10, 2009) – This month, a national energy bill setting a national course for decades to come will be crafted. That may lead to a transformation of historically oil-rich New Mexican lifestyle especially if New Mexicans fulfill their unique fit in terms of solar radiation, marginal lands and saline ground water resources for cultivation of green energy fuels.

June 8, 2009
NM Research Powers Up Biofuels Industry
Out of the labs, into the markets. New Mexico-based laboratories and universities are front and center in the race to pwer ground and air vehicles with biofuels.

May 5, 2009
Secretary Chu Announces Nearly $800 Million from Recovery Act to Accelerate Biofuels Research and Commercialization
U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Public Affairs, Washington, D.C.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (U.S. DOE) — As part of the ongoing effort to increase the use of domestic renewable fuels, U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu today announced plans to provide $786.5 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to accelerate advanced biofuels research and development and to provide additional funding for commercial-scale biorefinery demonstration project.

May 5, 2009
Obama Gives Biofuels a Presidential Jumpstart
ENS
WASHINGTON, DC, May 5, 2009 – To spur biofuels research and commercialization, President Barack Obama today signed a Presidential Directive establishing a Biofuels Interagency Working Group. He announced his administration's notice of a proposed rulemaking on a national Renewable Fuels Standard and announced $786.5 million in additional Recovery Act funds for renewable fuel projects.

April 22, 2009
New Mexico Takes Leadership Role in Biofuels Industry
Maria Zannes
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., April 22, 2009 – More than 200 participants are expected to join top New Mexico public officials, government, education, environmental, and biodiesel industry leaders to discuss challenges and strategies for public policy and the development of environmentally beneficial biodiesel fuel at the Southwestern Biofuels Association Policy Summit, slated for May 27-28, 2009, at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Albuquerque. 
More than 30 experts in the biofuels’ political and scientific arenas including Senator Tom Udall (D-NM), U.S. Rep. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and U.S. Rep. Harry Teague, Gov. Bill Richardson’s Science Advisor, Tom Bowles, Sapphire Energy’s Chief Executive Officer Dr. Jason Pyle, and top scientists from New Mexico State University and America’s National Laboratories will address the Summit.

November 5, 2008
Ag Professors Urge EPA to delay indirect land use GHG regs under RFS
Rachel Gantz
EPA is poised in the near future, possibly as soon as Friday, to issue its
long-anticipated proposed rule for the expanded renewable fuels standard (RFS).
But in the second such warning this month, a group of agricultural academic
professors and technology developers is urging EPA to delay the indirect land
use requirement that is likely to be included in the proposed rule, saying the
provision is "premature."

September 30, 2008
Growing Camelina Could Bring $80 Million to Colorado's Economy
PR Newswire
Oil hit a record $147 earlier this month, further indicating the need to move away from reliance on the troublesome energy source. In a step toward U.S. energy independence, Blue
Sun Biodiesel has earned an ACRE grant from the state of Colorado to
commercialize a non-food energy crop, camelina, for use in biodiesel. The
crop could bring $80 million to Colorado's economy. Learn more »

September 29, 2008
Growing Sustainable Biofuels: Common Sense on Biofuels Part 2
Harvesting Clean Energy Journal - By Patrick Mazza
Biofuels received a fresh surge of bad publicity with recent publication of two studies in Science that looked at the greenhouse gas releases caused by land use changes connected to biofuels production. So it is crucial to line out exactly what the studies say, what they do not say, and what the critics are saying about the studies. Learn more »

September 29, 2008
Growing Sustainable Biofuels: Common Sense on Biofuels Part 1
Harvesting Clean Energy Journal - By Patrick Mazza
The future of the Earth could well hinge on the the soil beneath our feet. Learn more »

September 28, 2008
Old Plant Gives New Hope - Researchers Examine Fuel Potential From Camelina
McClatchy Newspapers - By Les Blumenthal
WASHINGTON -- A plant that flourished in Europe roughly 3,500 years ago could become a major source of biofuel. Researchers say that camelina, planted on millions of acres of marginal farmland from eastern Washington state to North Dakota, could help power the nation's drive for cleaner energy. Learn more »

September 27, 2008
Resolving the Biofuels Dilemma
Solar Today - By Carol Werner
Contrary to the media buzz, new research finds that biofuels have the potential to greatly outperform petroleum fuels – or to emit just as much greenhouse gases. Learn more »

September 2, 2008
NMSU prepares for biodiesel demo
las Cruces Sun-News - by Audry Olmsted
A little project to turn algae into biodiesel has become so successful, researchers believe they will be ready for a commercial demonstration within the next two years. Learn more »

August 19, 2008
Biofuel association forms to push industry forward
New Mexico Business Weekly - by Kevin Robinson-Avila NMBW Staff
Biofuel production in New Mexico and the Southwest could get a major boost from the newly formed Southwestern Biofuels Association. Learn more »

August 10, 2008
First Annual New Mexico Biodiesel Policy Summit
More than 100 participants joined top New Mexico public officials, government, educational, environmental, and biodiesel industry leaders to discuss challenges and strategies for public policy and the development of environmentally beneficial biodiesel fuel at the First Annual New Mexico Biodiesel Policy Summit, held March 27-28, 2008 in Albuquerque. Learn more »

August 7, 2008
Southwestern Biofuels Association Announcement
We are pleased to announce the formation of the Southwestern Biofuels Association (SWBA), a progressive trade association promoting the development of renewable biofuels in New Mexico and throughout the Southwest. The SWBA grew from your participation in the New Mexico Biodiesel Policy Summit, held last March in Albuquerque. It’s only fitting that you are the first to learn of this exciting development. Learn more »

August 3, 2008
SWBA to speak at 2008 Border Energy Forum
The Border Energy Forum’s central purpose is to emphasize the best use of energy possible in our fast-growing region, for economic development and least possible environmental impact. Learn more »