Fuels first

Certainly not all biofuels companies are targeting renewable chemicals first. Joule Unlimited announced last week a deal to secure 1,200 acres of land in New Mexico to grow a diesel-producing microorganism in its bioreactors. The company said that once at full scale, its process--which does not rely on sugars and fermentation--can make fuel at $20 a barrel or 60 cents a gallon, "including current subsidies."