Advanced BioFuels USA

Proposed Rule: Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Program: Extension of Compliance and Attest Engagement Reporting Deadlines Public Comment DEADLINE: January 3, 2022 PUBLIC HEARING: December 3, 2021

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to modify certain compliance dates under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program. First, EPA is proposing to extend the RFS compliance reporting deadline and the associated attest engagement reporting deadline for the 2019 compliance year for small refineries only. Second, EPA is proposing to extend the RFS compliance reporting deadline and the associated attest engagement reporting deadline for the 2020 and 2021 compliance years for all obligated parties. Finally, EPA is proposing to change the way in which future RFS compliance and attest engagement reporting deadlines are determined.

DATES: Comments. Comments must be received on or before January 3, 2022. Public hearing. EPA will hold a virtual public hearing on December 3, 2021. Please refer to the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for additional
information on the public hearing.

ADDRESSES: Comments. You may send your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2021–0793 ….

…

Public hearing. The virtual public hearing will be held on December 3, 2021. The hearing will begin at 10 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) and end when all parties who wish to speak have had an opportunity to do so. All hearing attendees (including even those who do not intend to provide testimony) should register for the public hearing by November 30, 2021.

Information on how to register can be found at https://www.epa.gov/renewable-fuel-standardprogram/proposed-extension-renewablefuel-standard-compliance-deadlines.
Additional information regarding the hearing appears below under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

…

Entities potentially affected by this proposed rule are those involved with the production, distribution, and sale of
transportation fuels, including gasoline, diesel, and renewable fuels such as ethanol, biodiesel, renewable diesel,
and biogas. Potentially affected categories include:
Category NAICS1
code
Examples of
potentially
affected entities
Industry …. 324110 Petroleum refineries.
Industry …. 325193 Ethyl alcohol manufacturing.
Industry …. 325199 Other basic organic
chemical manufacturing.
Industry …. 424690 Chemical and allied
products merchant
wholesalers.
Industry …. 424710 Petroleum bulk stations and terminals.
Industry …. 424720 Petroleum and petroleum products merchant wholesalers.
Industry …. 221210 Manufactured gas
production and distribution.
Industry …. 454319 Other fuel dealers.
1 North American Industry Classification
System (NAICS).
This table is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides a guide for readers regarding entities likely to be
affected by this action

…

I. Background and Proposed Extension of Deadlines
A. Extension of the 2019 RFS Compliance Reporting Deadline for Small Refineries
B. Extension of the 2020 and 2021 RFS Compliance Reporting Deadline for All Obligated Parties
C. Corresponding Attest Engagement Reporting Deadlines
D. Annual Compliance and Attest Engagement Reporting Deadlines Based on Effective Date
II. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews
A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review and Executive Order 13563: Improving Regulation and
Regulatory Review
B. Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)
C. Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)
D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)
E. Executive Order 13132: Federalism
F. Executive Order 13175: Consultation and Coordination With Indian Tribal Governments
G. Executive Order 13045: Protection of Children From Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risk

H. Executive Order 13211: Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use
I. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA) and 1 CFR Part 51
J. Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions To Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations
III. Statutory Authority READ MORE

EPA Plan to Delay RFS Requirements Pt 2

(AgInfo/Washington State Farm Bureau Report) I’m Bob Larson. The ethanol industry claims the Biden administration could secure lower gas prices “almost immediately” if it allowed higher blends of corn ethanol, YEAR-ROUND, into the nation’s fuel supply.

All eyes are on the President’s decision to release 50 million barrels of oil, a three-day U.S. supply, from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, but Renewable Fuels Association chief Geoff Cooper says there’s a faster, more efficient way to cut gas prices …

COOPER … “If you allow more ethanol into the blend, it’s going to reduce the price, it’s going to extend our supply of domestic fuel, and that’s going to help put downward pressure on pump prices.”

President Biden has asked the Federal Trade Commission to probe gas prices, but Cooper complains Biden is wrong to open the Strategic Petroleum Reserve …

COOPER … “This administration should be relying on its ‘Strategic Biofuels Reserve’ that we have in this country, rather than tapping into the SPR.”

Something Cooper says could be done quickly …

COOPER … “If this administration took the steps to allow the year-round sale of E15, which they could absolutely do, and took other steps to approve the compatibility of underground storage tanks to really reenergize the production of flex-fuel vehicles, we could have an immediate impact on fuel prices.”

Cooper says ethanol’s been about 40 cents a gallon cheaper than gasoline over the last ten years, while the oil industry stepped up its fight against the Renewable Fuel Standard cutting into oil profits.

Year-round E15 use was struck down by the courts and is now on appeal to the Supreme Court. READ MORE; includes AUDIO

EPA plan to Delay RFS Requirements Pt 1 (Washington State Farm Bureau Report; includes AUDIO)

Your Views: Readers discuss ethanol (Daily Nonpareil)

RFS ON THE RADAR: (Politico’s Morning Energy)

U.S. Biofuel Blending Proposals to Come in Days, Sources Say (Reuters/GrainNet)

RFA to EPA: Stop the RFS Delays, Resist Oil Refiner Pressure (Renewable Fuels Association)

Excerpt from Daily Nonpareil: Now that gas prices have hit a seven-year high, I sleep better knowing that Iowa biofuel producers like my employer, Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy, are out there helping to soften the blow. Higher ethanol blends in our fuel, like E15, can save drivers anywhere from 5 to 20 cents a gallon at the pump, without the sacrifice to our fuel economy.

Unfortunately, due to an oil industry lawsuit, June 1 of 2022 marks end of E15 unless immediate action is taken. Thankfully our governor, Kim Reynolds, is working on behalf of biofuel producers like SIRE, and all Iowans to ensure that E15 will be available year-round before the June 1 deadline.

Because of the refinery lawsuit, right now E10 (10% ethanol) and E15 (15% ethanol) have different volatility regulations. Unsurprisingly, refiners only provide gasoline through the pipeline that will accommodate E10. They intentionally freeze E15 out of the market, reducing demand for Iowa-made ethanol.

American ethanol plants have billions of gallons of capacity and they are more than ready to meet higher demand should the E15 blend be available year-round and nationwide. While I still hold on to the belief that there is a national solution from Congress or the EPA, there’s no sign that D.C. will fix this problem in time. Governors however have the option under the Clean Air Act to request E10 and E15 be regulated equally in their states. This would require gasoline that is sent through pipelines from refineries to Iowa, to allow for both E10 and E15 year-round blends. Last week Governor Reynolds and six other Midwest governors sent a letter to EPA signaling interest in taking this action.

Governor Reynolds is laying the groundwork to ensure Iowans will not lose access to the highest quality and lowest cost fuel on the market today. She is boldly standing up to oil refiners and leading the way toward a Midwest solution for year-round E15. She knows E15 is too important to Iowa’s drivers and economy to be held back by lawsuits and D.C. inaction. — Justin Schultz, SIRE regulatory manager Council Bluffs READ MORE

Excerpt from Politico’s Morning Energy: RFS ON THE RADAR: The long-awaited biofuel blending targets are slated to come out in the coming days, Pro’s Kelsey Tamborrino reports, possibly dropping early next week or even today. The proposed blending volumes have long been the center of attention across the agriculture and refinery sectors, with both competing for the Biden administration’s ear on whether to raise or lower the standards.

A document leaked in September hinted that the agency planned to reduce blending mandates for 2020 and 2021 below the previously finalized 2020 level. If that holds true, prepare for a bitter fight from ethanol groups and farm-state lawmakers, just as the Senate is wrapped in a smorgasbord of legislative must-dos by year’s end.

Ethanol backers have leaned on the president’s own campaign trail comments as a promise that he’d support the industry, but the administration also needs to keep an eye toward refineries, particularly in the Northeast, that have argued the current RFS has been too costly to keep up with and harms unionized labor.

Keep in mind, EPA is already over a year late in setting 2021 blending volumes and missed this week’s deadline for 2022. The agency will hold a virtual public hearing today on a proposal to extend compliance deadlines for refiners and tie future deadlines to the promulgation of the subsequent year’s standards. Read more on the latest on RFS from Kelsey. READ MORE

QUOTE OF THE WEEK — Monte Shaw

“It is absolutely perplexing why the Biden EPA would delay and potentially plan to undermine the only federal law that is designed to reduce carbon emissions. To do so now, at a time of high gasoline prices, makes this action doubly confounding.” — Monte Shaw, executive director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association READ MORE

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS Renewable Resources and Biorefineries (RRB) Conference — June 1-3, 2022 — Bruges, Belgium DEADLINE: January 15, 2022

The 18th edition of the International Conference on Renewable Resources & Biorefineries will take place in Bruges, Belgium from Wednesday 1 June until Friday

December 3, 2021 Read Full Article

Farmers Have Been Burned by Agtech Too Often. Here’s How to Win Back Their Trust

by Michael Gilbert (Semios/Ag Funder News) … There are a number of reasons why farmers have been leery when it comes

December 3, 2021 Read Full Article

Central High School Students Learn about Ethanol Production

(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) he Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association (MN Bio-Fuels) and Heartland Corn Products hosted a virtual plant tour for 15 students

December 3, 2021 Read Full Article

Ethanol Giant Bets on Low-Carbon Corn with Eye on Markets

by Kim Chipman (Bloomberg/Yahoo!) Top U.S. ethanol maker Poet LLC is looking to encourage greater production of climate-friendly grains in

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Oregon Finalizes E15 Rule, to Take Effect in January

(Growth Energy) Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor applauded the State of Oregon for finalizing its rule to allow the sale of a fifteen

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New Technique Improves Conversion of Carbon Dioxide Into Liquid Fuels

(Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) A copper surface coated with layered thin films helps to create useful chemicals from a polluting

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GEFCO France and Gardien Transports Test Biodiesel Fuel in Car Transporters

(GEFCO) In November, GEFCO France and Gardien Transports started testing synthetic biodiesel made from waste oil and fat as an alternative

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HUL Becomes Coal-Free across Its Operations

(Hindustan Unilever Limited) Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) has eliminated coal usage across its operations, replacing it with green alternatives such as

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Bloom Energy, Conrad Energy and Electricity North West Construction & Maintenance Bring Hydrogen-Ready Power to the United Kingdom

(Bloom Energy) Reliable, future-proof and cost-predictable technology platform helps commercial and energy-intensive organisations meet net-zero carbon goals — Bloom Energy

December 3, 2021 Read Full Article

“K” LINE Conducts Trial Use of Marine Biofuel for Decarbonization on Car Carrier

(Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha) Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE) is pleased to announce that we have conducted a trial use

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4.25 Barrels of SAF per Biomass Ton: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to DG Fuels

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Converting 850,000 tons of dry cellulosic biomass to 3,613,000 barrels of zero CO2 life cycle

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Competitive Edge: Nzyme2HC’s Hydrogen Tech

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) … There was no existing way to produce Hydrogen that was simultaneously renewable (no CO2

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CMA CGM, Shell Perform First Bio-LNG Bunkering in Rotterdam

by Surabhi Sahu, Piers De Wilde and Britt Russell-Webster (S&P Global) Containerships Aurora receives 44 cu m of Bio-LNG; Bio-LNG reduces GHG

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Indonesia Prepares Strategic Plan for Developing Biodiesel

(AntaraNews.com) Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Arifin Tasrif has said that his ministry is currently preparing a strategic plan for

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Biologists Find Genetic Variation that Can Improve Ethanol Production

by Richard C. Lewis (Iowa Now) Single-celled fungus yeast is essential to humans, a linchpin in the production of bread, beer,

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Proposed Rule: Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Program: Extension of Compliance and Attest Engagement Reporting Deadlines Public Comment DEADLINE: January 3, 2022 PUBLIC HEARING: December 3, 2021

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to modify certain compliance dates under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program. First,

December 3, 2021 Read Full Article

Opinion: Helping Retailers Diversify to Weather Gas Price Debates

by Robert White (Renewable Fuels Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) … What is clear, however, is that true energy security and resilience lies

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Advancing the Bioeconomy in TX, CA, and OH: Comprehensive Geospatial Biomass Feedstock Inventories for Potential Conversion to Biofuels, Biochar, Co-products

by : Richard J. Brenner, Wes Jurey and Todd Campbell (Agricultural Technology Innovation Partnership) Introduction. The ATIP Foundation (Agricultural Technology Innovation

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Biofuels Policy Battles Happening All over the World

by Mark Dorenkamp (Brownfield Ag News) The director of global ethanol market development for the U.S. Grains Council says the tug-of-war

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FTC: US Ethanol Industry Remains Unconcentrated

by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Federal Trade Commission on Dec. 1 released its annual report on ethanol market concentration.

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Minnesota Farmers Union President Calls for Biofuels Policy with Farmers in Mind

by Mark Dorenkamp (Brownfield Ag News) The president of Minnesota Farmers Union wants to see biofuels policy that accounts for farmers

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EPA Plan to Delay RFS Requirements Pt 2

(AgInfo/Washington State Farm Bureau Report) I’m Bob Larson. The ethanol industry claims the Biden administration could secure lower gas prices

December 2, 2021 Read Full Article

UFOP Chairman Welcomes Coalition’s Ambition on Climate Protection and Calls for Inclusion of Biofuels

(Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Plants (UFOP)) The Chairman of the UFOP, Detlef Kurreck, welcomes the aim

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Air bp Announces NEtJets Europe to Purchase Certified SAF

(Biofuels International) Air bp has announced its first sale of ISCC PLUS certified sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in Spain. Air

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Neutral Fuels and GAC Bunker Fuels Partner to Reduce Maritime Carbon Emissions

(Biofuels International) GAC Bunker Fuels has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Neutral Fuels to market its marine gasoil

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Moto GP Races towards Fossil Free Fuels by 2027

(Biofuels International) Moto GP has revealed that all its classes will run on 100% fossil free fuels by 2027. The

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PGNiG Agrees to Develop Poland’s Biogas Sector

(Bio Market Insights) Polish state-controlled oil and gas company, Polskie Górnictwo Naftowe i Gazownictwo (PGNiG), signed an agreement this Tuesday (Nov 23)

December 2, 2021 Read Full Article

PNNL Bioenergy Team Releases Report on Path to Sustainable Aviation Fuel

by Mary Ann Showalter (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory) Bioenergy experts identify critical areas, opportunities for bringing technology to aviation industry

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BAE Systems Provides Propulsion System for First U.S. Marine Vessel with Zero-Emission Fuel Cell Technology

(North American Clean Energy) BAE Systems, a leader in electric propulsion, successfully installed its zero-emission propulsion system in the first U.S. hydrogen

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Auburn Projects Receive $1.6 Million in Latest Round of State Research Development Funding

by Mitch Emmons (Auburn University) Auburn University has been awarded $1.6 million in research grants from the state of Alabama through

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Summit Carbon Solutions Announces Significant Carbon Storage Project Milestones

(Summit Carbon Solutions/PR Newswire) Summit Carbon Solutions is pleased to announce it has commenced drilling multiple stratigraphic test wells, a key

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Severstal Increases the Share of Renewables in Its Energy Portfolio

(Severstal) Severstal, one of the world’s largest vertically integrated steel and mining companies, has taken a strategic decision to increase the

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Viking Energy Signs Agreement to Acquire Renewable Diesel Facility

(Viking Energy Group, Inc./Globe Newswire) Facility Designed to Produce ~ 43,000,000 Gallons/yr. of Renewable Diesel — Viking Energy Group, Inc. (OTCQB: VKING)

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Tidal Transit Sails on 100% HVO Bio Diesel!

(Work Boat 365) Having been fully utilised this year working for Ørsted and James Fisher Marine Services supporting offshore wind farms

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Net Zero Fuels and Products: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to Gevo

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Gevo’s Chief Carbon and Innovation Officer, Paul Bloom, shared this illuminating slide guide at ABLC

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Separation Solutions Designed to IMPRESS – Sulzer’s Tech Is Central to Plant-Based Platform Chemical Manufacturing

(Sulzer Chemtech/Biofuels Digest) A broad range of Sulzer’s leading separation technologies are playing a key role in the EU funded project

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Avantium’s Bioasphalt Road Update, IKEA’s Biopackaging, Shark Tank Winning Plant-Based Laundry Sheets and More: The Digest’s Top 8 Innovations for the Week of December 2nd

by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) Can you hear Willie Nelson singing “On the road again, Just can’t wait to get

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Larger Deficit Seen in Global Sugar Supply as India Boosts Ethanol

by Marcelo Teixeira (Reuters) The world’s sugar supply balance is expected to deteriorate in the 2021/22 season that started in October

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SAF Is Key to Decarbonising Aviation, Says Heathrow CEO

(Biofuels International) The CEO of Heathrow airport said the only way to get to net zero aviation by 2050 was

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Live Online CC-P® Prep Programs

(Association of Climate Change Officers) ACCO offers recurring programs enabling participants to leverage live online training (supplemented by on-demand study resources)

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CC-P® Summit — December 8-9, 2021 — ONLINE

Plenary sessions featuring national and international government officials responsible for the ACE (Actions for Climate Empowerment) provisions of the Paris

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Corn Ethanol Is an Immediate Climate Change Solution, NCGA Says

(Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network/KIWA Radio) The National Corn Growers Association says renewable fuels, such as corn ethanol, are an immediate climate

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EPA Misses Statutory Deadline to Release Renewable Volume Obligations under RFS

by Mark Dorenkamp (1430WCMY) The EPA will miss its statutory deadline of November 30th to release Renewable Volume Obligations under the

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How Close Are Hydrogen Planes, Really?

by Sabri Ben-Achour (MarketPlace.org) … These days, there are two ways one can use hydrogen to fly planes. First, you can

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Celebrate United Airlines’ First Passenger Flight Using 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel

(U.S. Department of Energy) The first United Airlines passenger flight to fly using 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) will depart today

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Sustainable Aviation Fuel Pilot Program Receives Additional $350,000 Funding

(U.S. Department of Energy) The Bioenergy Technologies Office has awarded an additional $350,000 in funding to scientists at the National Renewable

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Facility Design: Food Waste Preprocessing

by Jim Miller and Craig Coker (BioCycle Magazine) When installing a preprocessing system, considerations include storage of incoming food waste,

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The Problem with Plastics and Fuel Decarbonization Policies: Could Nonbiodegradable Plastics Be Better for the Environment in the Short Term than Biodegradable Plastics?

by Shashi Menon (EcoEngineers) … The latter material eventually emits carbon — contributing to higher levels of greenhouse gases (or

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FUELS2021 — December 14-16, 2021 — Dallas, TX

FUELS2021, the annual conference of the Fuels Institute, is the transportation energy event to explore the critical issues facing the

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RNG 2021 – North America’s Renewable Natural Gas Conference — December 13-16, 2021 — Dana Point, CA

Executives from each industry sector will gather for RNG 2021 Conference – the North American Renewable Natural Gas industry’s premier

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Brazil Energy Council Keeps Biofuel Requirement at 10% for 2022

(Nasdaq/Reuters) Brazil’s National Energy Policy Council (CNPE) has decided to maintain the minimum biofuel content level in diesel at 10%

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New IEAGHG Report: 2021-02 CO2 as a Feedstock: Comparison of CCU Pathways

(IEAGHG) A range of carbon dioxide capture technologies have been developed, including amine-based routes and calcium looping methods, some of which

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Monash University Exclusively Licence Green Ammonia Technology to New Start-up, Jupiter Ionics

(Monash University) Inspired by a vision for a future economy powered by carbon neutral ammonia, new start-up Jupiter Ionics Pty Ltd

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The Renewable Era

by Matthew Choi (Politico’s Morning Energy) RENEWABLES ON THE UP: The world is getting more renewables, but it won’t be

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Pratt & Whitney and Embraer Partner on 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel Flight Demonstration Program

(Pratt & Whitney/Public Now) Pratt & Whitney today announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Embraer to

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Brussels Airport’s Stargate Project for Greener Aviation Officially Launched

(Brussels Airport) Brussels Airport’s Stargate project, which has received a grant within the European Green deal, has been officially launched. In

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Aemetis Signs MOU’s with Eight Airline Members of the oneworld Alliance for 350 Million Gallons of Sustainable Aviation Fuel

(Aemetis) Aemetis, Inc.(NASDAQ: AMTX), a renewable fuels company focused on negative carbon intensity products, announced today that memorandum of understanding’s have

December 1, 2021 Read Full Article

Aemetis Signs Agreement with American Airlines to Supply Sustainable Aviation Fuel

(Aemetis) Aemetis, Inc.(NASDAQ: AMTX), a renewable fuels company focused on negative carbon intensity products, announced today that an offtake agreement has

December 1, 2021 Read Full Article

First Twin-Engine, 100 Percent SAF Test on Commercial Passenger Jet Shows Promise

by Thom Patterson (Flying Magazine) Airbus and Rolls-Royce report positive initial results using all-sustainable aviation fuel in an A350 with

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Mission to Wipeout Energy Demand: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to E-Fuel

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The “most dangerous threat to energy demand” is Rejected Energy Reactor or RER, according to

December 1, 2021 Read Full Article

New International Collaboration Aims to Start Large-Scale Production of E-fuels in Sweden

by Tony Harrington (GreenAir Online) A major partnership has been formed by SAS Scandinavian Airlines, Swedish energy company Vattenfall, Shell