Recently in Tennessee Category

Alabama, Florida, Missouri, and Tennessee are partnering with the National Governor's Association, General Motors, and six other states to improve access to E-85 across the country. Under the partnership, GM will work with states and producers to identify preferred fueling sites and optimal supply. The states will convene and E-85 task force to identify target areas for refueling stations, seek various funding sources, and implement the task force's recommendations. The full press release can be found here.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory recently announced it will replace its steam plant with a wood boiler and will take additional efficiency measures to cut energy and water consumption at the lab. ORNL anticipates the improvements will cut energy consumption by 50 percent and water usage by 23 percent. Wood for the boiler will be provided by suppliers within a 50 mile radius of the lab consisting primarily of waste wood from timber mills and pallet manufacturers. Completion of the project will occur in the next 2-3 years. More on this story can be found here.

The Department of Energy will invest up to $86 million over four years to support small-scale cellulosic biorefineries in Old Town, Maine; Vonore, Tennessee; and Washington County Kentucky. The biorefineries are expected to be operational within four years and produce approximately 10 percent (2.5 MMGY) of a commercial-scale biorefinery. The facilities will produce not only liquid fuels, but also bio-based chemicals and bio-based products. Last year DOE funded six commercial scale biorefineries focused on near-term commercial processes, while these small-scale pilot plants will "verify integrated operations at a reduced size with diverse feedstocks using novel processing technologies." The three plants will be operated by RES Pulp and Chemical LLC, Mascoma Corporation, and Ecofin LLC. The full announcement can be found here.

In October 2006, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) released the report Energizing Appalachia - A regional blueprint for economic and energy development. The report focused on promoting energy efficiency, increasing the use of renewable energy resources, and supporting the development of conventional energy sources. The paper state that

The commission's objective was to provide a strategic framework for the promotion of new energy-related job opportunities through the stimulation of sustainable energy production, efficiency measures, and innovation efforts throughout the region.

The report reviews the energy landscape for the ARC region and identifies strategies for reaching their objectives.

The University of Tennessee Board of Trustees and the Mascoma Corporation have partnered to build a 5 million gallon per year cellulosic ethanol biorefinery. The September 2007 press release highlights the role the plant will play in the UT Biofuels Initiative and the Bioenergy Science Center at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

UT Executive Vice President David Millhorn said:

The partnership is a critical element in the Tennessee Biofuels Initiative, which has the potential to establish Tennessee as a national leader in ethanol production from cellulosic biomass. This, in turn, should lead to new business and economic development opportunities for our farmers throughout the state.

The plans is expected to be operational in 2009.