The Week in CleanTech, Pt. 2: The EPA denies Texas’ request for more lenient ethanol rules; oil down, stocks up; and BP bets on cellulosic ethanol.

US EPA Denies Texas Waiver Request; Biofuel Mandates Remain 9B Gallons for 2008, 11.1B for 2009: Sorry, Texas. On Thursday, the EPA flatly turned down Texas governor Rick Perry’s request to reduce the state’s ethanol mandate by 50 percent. Perry contented that ethanol mandates have stressed animal feed prices and are hurting Texas’ cattle industry. In their refusal of the waiver, the EPA affirmed a 2008 goal of 9 billion gallons, with another increase in 2009.(Green Car Congress)

Stocks surge as Fed holds steady; oil extends drop : Crude oil dropped below $119 a barrel Tuesday — a far cry from the $140 prices a few weeks ago. The bursting of the petroleum bubble has been wildly encouraging to investors, who have been looking for a way to salvage an otherwise gloomy summer. The Dow and most major indexes closed higher yesterday, the dollar was up, and gold took a tumble. Meanwhile, gasoline prices are beginning to follow the price of crude. The U.S. Energy Department says the national average fell to $3.88 last week — its lowest level since May. (USA Today)

Green Games: Beijing’s Cleaning the Air–Indoors: The day has finally arrived, and Beijing is stepping out onto the world stage as an Olympic host city. The city continued under a pall of polluted air again Friday, despite China’s $20 billion effort bring back blue skies with factory shutdowns and almost a million idled personal vehicles. While outdoor air quality is likely to be an issue throughout the games, an American firm will be policing indoor breathability at 18 Olympic venues. Johnson Controls of Milwaukee was selected by Beijing to insure that 123 million square square feet of indoor air space remains clean and green. (WSJ.com)

Geoffrey Ballard, founder of fuel-cell firm Ballard Power Systems, dies: Fuel cell pioneer Geoffrey Ballard is dead at the age of 76. Often regarded as the “father of the fuel cell industry,” Ballard was responsible for the development of the world’s first hydrogen-fuel-cell-powered, no-emission bus. In 1999, Time Magazine named Ballard as one of its “Heroes for the Planet,” citing his environmental and alternative energy contributions. (AM 1150/The Canadian Press)

BP Invests $90 Million in Verenium’s Cellulosic Ethanol Technology: Even petroleum giant BP sees the potential the cellulosic ethanol conversion. BP is investing some $90 million into Verenium, a biofuel company that’s been working hard on ethanol produced from non-food stocks. The stake in Verenium gives BP quick access to cutting-edge cellulosic ethanol technology, which produces the biofuel from leaf cuttings, tree bark, and other inexpensive, readily available plant materials. (Gas 2.0)

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