Biofuels venture promises not to touch food

How many times does something need to be said before it sinks in? Let’s try.

Send Greenbang a bunch of flowers.
Send Greenbang a bunch of flowers.
Send Greenbang a bunch of flowers.

No? Three times evidently won’t cut it.

But it seems the repeated suggestions that increased biofuels development will put pressure on food sources has had some effect: a new biofuels venture has been inaugurated by Chevron Corporation and Weyerhauser Company and they’re very keen to stress they won’t be using food sources.

Et voila:

The joint venture, Catchlight Energy LLC, will research and develop technology for converting cellulose-based biomass into economical, low-carbon biofuels. The formation of Catchlight Energy is the first milestone of a biofuels alliance announced by Chevron and Weyerhaeuser in April 2007 and reflects the companies’ shared view that nonfood biofuels will play an important role in diversifying the nation’s energy supply.

Both Chevron and Weyerhaeuser will contribute resources — including funding, background technology and employees — to Catchlight Energy. Catchlight’s initial focus will be on developing and demonstrating novel technologies for converting cellulose and lignin from a variety of sources into biofuels.

Chevron and Weyerhaeuser already have separate research partnerships under way with universities, national laboratories and technology-based companies to advance the development of nonfood biofuels.