BP to Invest $90 Million In U.S. Biofuels Producer
August 6, 2008; Page B3
LONDON — U.K. major oil company BP PLC will invest $90 million in a U.S. producer of cellulosic ethanol, underscoring the growing interest in biofuels made from nonfood feedstocks such as plant waste.
So-called second-generation biofuels are garnering support amid concerns that corn-based ethanol is driving up global food prices and putting pressure on land resources. But even backers of second-generation biofuel say commercial production is a long way off.
BP’s partner in the deal, Verenium Corp., produces cellulosic ethanol from bagasse, or sugarcane waste, and energy cane, an inedible cane-like grass.
Under an agreement to be announced Wednesday, BP will pay Verenium, of Cambridge, Mass., to access its technology platform and production facilities; BP also will co-fund Verenium’s scientific initiatives. At a later stage, the two companies hope to jointly start commercial-scale production of cellulosic ethanol.
“This deal puts us at the front of the cellulosic biofuels game,” said Sue Ellerbusch, president of BP Biofuels North America, in a statement.
The investment marks BP’s first venture into cellulosic ethanol. Its rival, Anglo-Dutch major Royal Dutch Shell PLC, has built a visible presence in the sector, investing in a Canadian biotech company that makes the fuel from wheat straw and in a German firm that creates diesel fuel from wood chips. Shell is also attempting to extract biodiesel from algae.
BP previously was more focused on ethanol production. In April, it took at 50% stake in Tropical BioEnergia SA, which is building an ethanol refinery in Brazil.
Some countries have already moved to back the development of second-generation biofuels with legislation: the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2008 requires the U.S. to produce 21 billion gallons of advanced biofuels such as cellulosic ethanol by 2022.
Write to Guy Chazan at [email protected]
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Royal Dutch Shell conspired directly with Hitler, financed the Nazi Party, was anti-Semitic and sold out its own Dutch Jewish employees to the Nazis. Shell had a close relationship with the Nazis during and after the reign of Sir Henri Deterding, an ardent Nazi, and the founder and decades long leader of the Royal Dutch Shell Group. His burial ceremony, which had all the trappings of a state funeral, was held at his private estate in Mecklenburg, Germany. The spectacle (photographs below) included a funeral procession led by a horse drawn funeral hearse with senior Nazis officials and senior Royal Dutch Shell directors in attendance, Nazi salutes at the graveside, swastika banners on display and wreaths and personal tributes from Adolf Hitler and Reichsmarschall, Hermann Goring. Deterding was an honored associate and supporter of Hitler and a personal friend of Goring.
Deterding was the guest of Hitler during a four day summit meeting at Berchtesgaden. Sir Henri and Hitler both had ambitions on Russian oil fields. Only an honored personal guest would be rewarded with a private four day meeting at Hitler’s mountain top retreat.
IN JULY 2007, MR BILL CAMPBELL (ABOVE, A RETIRED GROUP AUDITOR OF SHELL INTERNATIONAL SENT AN EMAIL TO EVERY UK MP AND MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS: 
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