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The article focuses on the state of ethanol development as biofuel in the U.S. Despite the financial and political support provided by former U.S. president George W. Bush and current president Barack Obama cellulosic ethanol has not achieved commercial recognition compared with corn kernel-based ethanol's success. According to Craig Cox, Midwest vice president of Environmental Working Group, food and agricultural experts have raised issues regarding the competing use of corn as food and fuel.

The article discusses the market value and production of cellulosic biofuel industry which will under commercial-scale production in the U.S. It highlights the possibility of another five years for the industry to achieve the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) target which is set by the U.S. Federal Government biofuel production target. It mentions the view of Pavel Molchanov, research analyst at the Raymond James & Associates Inc. on high availability of capitals from the slow scale growth.

The article reports on the 564 million funds, from the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009, to be received by the U.S. biorefining industry for their fuels and chemicals production projects. It notes that the goal of the U.S. government is for the industry to produce biofuels from nonedible agricultural sources. Several of the winning companies include Algenol Biofuels, ClearFuels Technology, and Archers Daniels Midland.

The article reports on the biofuels action plan released by the Bush Administration to speed up the development of sustainable biofuels industry. Energy Secretary Samuel W. Bodman and Agriculture Secretary Edward T. Schafer said that the plan responds to the goal of U.S. President George W. Bush of reducing U.S. gasoline consumption by 20% over the next 10 years by investing in renewable and alternative fuel sources, increasing vehicle efficiency and developing alternative-fuel vehicles.

The article reports that ConocoPhillips and Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) will collaborate to develop biocrude, a nonpetroleum substance derived from agricultural waste and forestry products that can be processed into transportation fuels in the U.S. ADM will provide biomass from crops, wood or switchgrass. ConocoPhillips will convert the materials into biocrude, which will then be refined into gasoline, diesel and jet fuel.

The article reports that oleochemical manufacturers are concerned over the impact of a federal tax incentive on the industry. Oleochemical executives claim that the oil tax break meant to encourage the production of renewable biofuels is having the unintended consequence of threatening the continued existence of the industry. Oleochemical manufacturers and small biodiesel refiners have partnered to stop oil companies from taking advantage of the tax break.

The article reports on the highlights of a symposium to create sustainable research collaborations for improving biomass conversion into fuels and value-added chemicals and materials, held in Aguas de Lindoia, Brazil from May 30 to 31, 2007. A report from the meeting will be used to inform funding agencies and policymakers in Brazil and the United States on future needs in biofuels research. Brazilian Chemical Society President Antonio S. Mangrich comments on the purpose of the symposium.