With the 2006 Philippine Biofuels Act yet to be passed, San Carlos Bioenergy has secured already the Php 1.78 Billion funding required to setup an ethanol distillery with integrated co-generation power-plant. The funding came from a consortium of Banks led by the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), Land Bank of the Philippines, Banco de Oro Universal, China Bank, and Equitable PCI.

DBP and Land Bank are both government banks. They are tasked to provide loans for biofuels producers, blenders and transporters in the Philippines as mandated in the the 2006 Philippine Biofuels Act.
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More on the hot topic of China halting Ethanol expansion due to soaring grain prices.

The Agriculture Ministry has stated that:

1. They are giving priority for food over biofuels.
2. They are encouraging farmers to grow sorghum, cassava and other non-grain crops on marginal land to supply biofuel processors.
3. Top priority is protecting arable land and ensuring adequate food supplies.
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Business 2.0’s Chris Taylor lists Thin Film Solar Panels as one of the significant innovations for 2007.

I would have mentioned also: a sudden conscientious effort of tech companies and the US government to lower power consumption of tech devices. Then again, that’s more of like an industry trend/movement than a physical item *snicker*

Original Article here

In celebration of the Enactment of the 2006 Philippine Biofuels Bill, SeaOil has slashed pump prices of it’s E10 Gasoline (10% mixture of Ethanol) by 50 Cents per liter (Philippine Peso)

SeaOil is the first local petroleum distributor to offer blended biofuels in the Philippines. Due to the lack however of Ethanol Distilleries in the Philippines, ethanol is currently being imported by SeaOil.

In the first phase of the 2006 Philippine Biofuels Bill, 5% (E5) is the mandated mixture of Ethanol with Gasoline at the Pump within two years of passage, then after four years the mandated mixture will go up to 10% (E10).

Original Article here from Inq7

Pertamina of Indonesia announced that they are going to start selling high octane E5 gasoline (with 5% ethanol) on monday. The price will be 4,750 rupiah (50 US cents) per liter. This new fuel blend will be marketed under the name Biopertamax E-5.

Earlier this year Indonesia had started mixing ethanol and biodiesel into their fuel supplies.

Original article here

Heard of Carbon Credits from the Kyoto Protocol?… the Japanese have taken it a notch higher by bringing it to the grass roots… plastic recycling will get you credits in the local department store…

From the Yomiuri Shinbun

My apologies to the said newspaper for lifting this, as there was no link to an article.