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NOTES PAYABLE - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)
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0 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 69 Months Ended | 78 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 69 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Jul. 31, 2012
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Jul. 13, 2007
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Dec. 31, 2007
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Nov. 30, 2007
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Sep. 30, 2007
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Aug. 31, 2007
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Sep. 30, 2012
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Sep. 30, 2011
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Sep. 30, 2012
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Sep. 30, 2011
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Dec. 31, 2011
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Dec. 31, 2010
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Dec. 31, 2007
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Dec. 31, 2011
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Sep. 30, 2012
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Dec. 03, 2007
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Nov. 07, 2007
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Aug. 31, 2010
Bluefire Fulton Renewable Energy Llc [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2010
Us Department Of Agriculture [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2009
Us Department Of Agriculture [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
Us Department Of Agriculture [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2010
Department Of Energy
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Dec. 31, 2009
Department Of Energy
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Aug. 31, 2007
Class Warrants [Member]
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Dec. 03, 2007
Class Warrants [Member]
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Nov. 21, 2007
Class Warrants [Member]
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Aug. 21, 2007
Class Warrants [Member]
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Aug. 31, 2007
Class B Warrants [Member]
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Dec. 03, 2007
Class B Warrants [Member]
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Nov. 21, 2007
Class B Warrants [Member]
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Aug. 21, 2007
Class B Warrants [Member]
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Aug. 31, 2007
Senior Secured Convertible Notes Payable [Member]
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Nov. 21, 2007
Senior Secured Convertible Notes Payable [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2007
Minimum
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Aug. 31, 2007
Minimum
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Dec. 03, 2007
Minimum
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Dec. 03, 2007
Minimum
Senior Secured Convertible Notes Payable [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2007
Maximum
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Aug. 31, 2007
Maximum
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Dec. 03, 2007
Maximum
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Dec. 03, 2007
Maximum
Senior Secured Convertible Notes Payable [Member]
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Aug. 31, 2007
Warrant [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
Warrant [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2007
Warrant [Member]
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Aug. 31, 2007
Convertible Notes [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
Convertible Notes [Member]
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Jul. 13, 2007
Accredited Investors [Member]
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Jul. 13, 2007
Chief Financial Officer [Member]
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| Short-term Debt [Line Items] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Convertible Debt | $ 500,000 | $ 25,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number Of Accredited Investors | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Convertible note payable, interest rate | 8.00% | 10.00% | 10.00% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Warrants exercise price | 5.00 | 5.45 | 0.50 | 5.45 | 2.90 | 5.48 | 5.48 | 5.48 | 6.32 | 6.32 | 6.32 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Expiry Term Of Vested Warrants | 5 years | 3 years | 3 years | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt Conversion, Converted Instrument, Warrants or Options Issued | 200,000 | 1,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fair Value Of Warrants | 3,500,000 | 3,500,000 | 990,367 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Expected volatility | 118.00% | 118.00% | 113.00% | 118.00% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Risk-free interest rate | 4.05% | 4.05% | 4.94% | 4.05% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Annual dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Expected life (years) | 3 years | 3 years | 5 years | 5 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from convertible notes payable | 363,500 | 2,500,000 | 2,863,500 | 1,279,429 | 332,256 | 728,571 | 167,744 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amortization of debt discount | 332,256 | 92,404 | 182,657 | 9,851 | 686,833 | 869,490 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fair market value of the conversion feature | 0 | 332,000 | 728,000 | 167,744 | 1,679,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Repayments of Convertible Debt | 516,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Repayment Of Convertibel Debt Interest Amount | 16,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt Instrument, Increase, Accrued Interest | 800 | 33,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Conversion of senior secured convertible notes payable | 2,000,000 | 2,000,000 | 2,000,000 | 2,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt Conversion, Converted Instrument, Rate | 8.00% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Common shares issued (in shares) | 3,876 | 500,000 | 500,000 | 23,731 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt Instrument, Convertible, Conversion Price | $ 4.21 | $ 2.90 | $ 2.90 | $ 4.21 | $ 2.96 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt Conversion, Original Debt, Amount | 10,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Percentage Of Discount On Convertible Promissory Notes | 100.00% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amortization of Financing Costs and Discounts | 312,000 | 32,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Loss on extinguishment of debt | 1,688,000 | 2,818,000 | 2,818,370 | 2,818,370 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt Instrument, Convertible, Carrying Amount of Equity Component | 2,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt Conversion, Converted Instrument, Shares Issued | 700,922 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest Obligation | 20,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Common Stock In Lieu Of Cash Per Share | $ 4.48 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fair Value Assumptions Market Price Per Share | $ 3.26 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt issuance costs for rejected loan guarantees | 309,834 | 309,834 | 273,800 | 207,000 | 583,634 | 583,634 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash Payment Of Debt Issuance Fees and Expenses | 100,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Warrants and Rights Outstanding | 107,000 | 107,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt Issuance Cost | 10,132 | 123,800 | 298,000 | 150,000 | 114,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Loan Guarantee | 250 | 250 | 58 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Write off of Deferred Debt Issuance Cost | 150,000 | 583,634 | 123,800 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| General and administrative | $ 308,614 | $ 612,078 | $ 987,023 | $ 1,347,006 | $ 1,752,774 | $ 1,996,645 | $ 309,000 | $ 17,771,072 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||