Korean renewable energy developer, Eco-Frontier has signed a non-binding offtake agreement to purchase biocrude produced through Florida-based PetroAlgae's micro-crop technology.

The U.S. ethanol industry is nearing a major deadline. The industry's primary subsidy mechanism, the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC), is set to expire on December 31, 2010. Federal ethanol subsidies were worth roughly $5 billion in 2009, a figure large enough to create vigorous debate over their renewal. Some call the credits a boondoggle, others a vitally important lifeline for an industry still in its formative years.

The Biomass Thermal Energy Council (BTEC) extends its praise to Sens. Al Franken (D-MN.) and Kit Bond (R-MO.) and Reps. Betty McCollum (D-MN.), Jay Inslee (D-WA.) and Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.) for introducing the Thermal Renewable Energy and Efficiency Act of 2010 in the U.S Senate and House of Representatives (S. 3626 and H.R. 5805, respectively). The legislation would assist in developing renewable heating and cooling projects nationwide.

U.S. state and local efforts to create feed-in tariff (FIT) programs will not work as well as those in Europe unless regulators adopt the key principles that have made FIT programs so successful on the Continent, analysts say.

Facing opposition from the entire Republican Senate Delegation, Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) has revealed plans to put comprehensive energy legislation, including cap and trade and renewable portfolio standard provisions, on hold, choosing instead to introduce a scaled back version tackling less controversial issues.

Ameresco’s IPO, cleantech innovation in China and India receives a funding boost, while a smart power management firm delays its Series C round, among 25 deals in the past seven days.

Wind technology provider CleanTech Innovations applies to list on the Nasdaq amid a slow week of venture capital investment in cleantech.

Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) and Mitsubishi sign a strategic agreement to develop low-carbon energy technologies, while two VC deals are announced.

China- and U.S.-based venture capitalists close funds with plans to apportion some of it to cleantech innovation in India and China.

If you're looking for a comprehensive resource for renewable energy installation figures, look no further: The Renewables Global Status report was released last week, and it provides a great snapshot of where and how renewables are being developed around the world.

San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) has received approval to move forward with construction of the approximately US $1.9 billion, 120-mile Sunrise Powerlink transmission line from the Department of Agriculture's United States Forest Service (USFS).

Renewable Energy Group (REG) announced two acquisitions and assumption of a used cooking oil supply agreement that helps the quick-service restaurant industry and the entire nation move closer to achieving clean energy goals.

As with the rest of the global renewable energy sector, China's renewables policy has evolved considerably over recent years. Here are the latest major developments and market trends.

The 2010 Algae Biomass Summit, the official conference of the Algal Biomass Organization (ABO) and the algae industry's premier global conference, today released the event's newly-expanded agenda featuring more than 70 speakers and seven new sessions, reflecting an unprecedented number of abstract submissions and a growing interest in the algae industry. The 4th annual event will be held September 28-30 at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge in Phoenix, Arizona. The full agenda, including a list of current speakers, is available at: http://www.algalbiomass.org/events/2010-algae-biomass-summit/agenda/.

Gestamp Biomass and Clean Power Development LLC announced the signing of an agreement under which they will work together to develop, finance and operate biomass energy projects across the Northeast region of the United States.

BP and Verenium Corporation have reached an agreement for BP Biofuels North America to acquire Verenium's cellulosic biofuels business, including the company's facilities in Jennings, Louisiana and San Diego, California for US $98.3 million.