-Include high octane/high ethanol Regular Grade fuel in EPA Tier 3 regulations.
-Use a dedicated, self-reducing non-renewable carbon user fee to fund renewable energy R&D.
-Start an Apollo-type program to bring New Ideas to sustainable biofuel and …
What are advanced biofuels? Click here for definition.
Political news and views from Capitol Hill.
Conferences and Events List in Addition to Coming Events Carousel (above)
by Jieyi Lu (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) Making Vehicles More Efficient Is Critical to Reduce Emissions — … Over the next 30 years, electric vehicles (EVs) will grow and fuel economy will increase, but conventional gasoline vehicles will continue to dominate the U.S. vehicle fleet. That was the conclusion witnesses came to at a recent Congressional hearing about the future of transportation fuels and vehicles, which underscored the complicated task of decarbonizing the diffuse and diverse transportation sector.
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According to the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Annual Energy Outlook of 2018 (AEO 2018), sales of new electric, plug-in hybrid electric, and hybrid vehicles are expected to jump to 19 percent of vehicle sales in 2050 compared to just four percent in 2017. … (T)he total share of conventional gasoline vehicles is estimated to drop from 95 percent in 2017 to 78 percent in 2050 because of the growth of electric vehicles. Despite the strong growth in EVs, conventional gasoline vehicles will likely still dominate the vehicle market with 71 percent of new sales in 2050, according to EIA projections.
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At the hearing, Dr. Jeremy Martin from the Union of Concerned Scientists testified, “Smart deployment of biofuels can support the progress of vehicle efficiency.”
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John Eichberger, Executive Director of the Fuels Institute, was confident that EVs would definitely play a major role in the market, but this process would take time. “If every vehicle sold today were equipped with a new technology, it would take about seven years before the new feature is present in more than 50 percent of the vehicles on the road—and that is assuming 100 percent immediate and persistent market adoption”.
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However, at the hearing, all witnesses agreed that stricter CAFE standards are necessary to improve fuel efficiency, increase U.S. automakers’ competitiveness, and drive consumer behavioral changes. According to the Annual Energy Outlook of 2018 report, with CAFE and advanced technologies, the average new light-duty vehicle fuel economy is expected to increase from 33.4 miles per gallon (mpg) in 2017 to 48.6 mpg by 2050. Using additional technologies, like renewable fuels, could also provide an immediate boost in vehicle efficiency. READ MORE
THE FUTURE OF TRANSPORTATION FUELS AND VEHICLES (House Energy and Commerce Committee)
Mr. John Eichberger
Executive Director, Fuels Institute
Dr. John Farrell
Laboratory Program Manager – Vehicle Technologies, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Dr. Joshua Linn
Senior Fellow, Resources for the Future
Mr. John Maples
Senior Transportation Analyst, U.S. Energy Information Administration
Dr. Jeremy Martin
Senior Scientist, Union of Concerned Scientists
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Growth Energy CEO Testifies on High Octane Ethanol (AgNewsWire includes AUDIO)
Role of Corn Farmers in High Octane Fuel Future (AgNewsWire includes AUDIO)
Speaking of resilience, Biofuels Digest’s Jim Lane described the danger in putting all our eggs into the electric vehicle basket, “Exchanging dependence on one set of scarce materials for another — petroleum for battery metals — that’s a solution only until the next cartel forms.” READ MORE
by D’lyn Ford (North Carolina State University/Phys.Org) A new systems biology model that mimics the process of wood formation allows scientists to predict the effects of switching on and off 21 pathway genes involved in producing lignin, a primary component of wood. The model, built on more than three decades of research led by Vincent Chiang of the Forest Biotechnology Group at North Carolina State University, will speed the process of engineering trees for specific needs in timber, biofuel, pulp, paper and green chemistry applications.
“For the first time, we can predict the outcomes of modifying multiple genes involved in lignin biosynthesis, rather than working with a single gene at a time through trial and error, which is a tedious and time-consuming process,” says Jack Wang, assistant professor in NC State’s College of Natural Resources and lead author of a paper about the research in Nature Communications.
Lignin, which forms in the plant cell wall, is an essential component for tree growth that imparts strength and density to timber. But lignin must be removed from wood during biofuel, paper and pulp production through costly treatments that require high heat and harsh chemicals.
“Having a model such as this, which allows us to say if you want this type of wood, here are the genes that you need to modify, is very beneficial, especially when you have an enormous number of possible combinations with 21 pathway genes,” Wang says. “It’s only possible through integrated analysis which allows us to look at this process at a systems level to see how genes, proteins and other components work together to regulate lignin production.” READ MORE Abstract (Nature Communications)
by Jieyi Lu (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) Making Vehicles More Efficient Is Critical to Reduce Emissions — … Over the next 30 years, electric vehicles (EVs) will grow and fuel economy will increase, but conventional gasoline …
Speaking of resilience, Biofuels Digest’s Jim Lane described the danger in putting all our eggs into the electric vehicle basket, “Exchanging dependence on one set of scarce materials for another — petroleum for battery metals …
The Iowa Biodiesel Board has developed a Food Safety Program for biodiesel producers, designed to assist producers who want to sell glycerin, a byproduct of biodiesel production, for use as an animal food ingredient. The …
(Iowa Biodisel Board) Iowa Biodiesel Board launches program to meet industry need; Webinar takes place May 10 — Biodiesel producers who want to sell glycerin that can end up as an animal food ingredient will soon be …
(World Business Council for Sustainable Development) Today, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development released its first below50 insights report, outlining key insights on the status of the low-carbon transport fuels sector. This report is a first …
(Dane County Wisconsin) Creates Economic Incentive for Development of Lakes Clean Up Efforts — Today (April 19, 2018), Dane County Executive Joe Parisi kicked off construction for an innovative project that will turn garbage and cow manure …
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ICM’s equipment and processes are already used in the majority of U.S. ethanol plants, and continues to develop processes to make ethanol production more efficient for customers.
Among the latest tech advances? ICM …
by Jonathan Saul and Libby George (Reuters) The International Maritime Organization said it approved on Friday an amendment that would ban ships unequipped to strip sulphur from carrying high-sulphur fuel from 2020 – when new sulphur-content …
(BBI-Europe) The BBI JU is the largest and most ambitious initiative ever launched in the EU to develop competitive and sustainable bio-based industries. The ambition that drove its creation was to bring about the systemic change …
by Mattie Hensley (Sandia National Laboratory) The United States could increase its domestic fuel supplies by 25 billion gallons per year while leveraging the nation’s existing $1 trillion fuel infrastructure according to a Co-Optimization of Fuels & …
by Dominique Patton (Reuters) Grain trader and processor China Beidahuang Industry Group has signed an agreement with the mayor of Inner Mongolia’s Baotou city to build an ethanol facility with annual capacity of 350,000 tonnes, it …
(Delaware Business Now) PBF Logistics LP will invest in ethanol loading infrastructure at the Delaware City refinery marine terminal.
An ethanol project at the refinery has been the target of a legal battle by environmental groups.
The logistics limited partnership is …
by Terry Anderson (Midwest Messenger News) … One day after President Trump told a group of governors and lawmakers invited to the White House that he supports sales of E15 — 15 percent ethanol and 85 …
by John Siciliano and Josh Siegel (Washington Examiner Daily on Energy) …The other big bailout concern is the Environmental Protection Agency’s waivers to big refining companies to let them off the hook from meeting the national …
by Jennifer MacKellar (ACS Green Chemistry Institute/Chemistry Community Online) Over the years, there have been many efforts to provide green chemistry resources and support for chemistry educators. We are pleased to announce another outstanding resource developed …
by Chuck Abbott (Successful Farming) … In May 2017, during his (Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue) first month as secretary, he created the post of undersecretary for trade, a longtime goal of farm groups, as part of …
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) … In a statement, House Ranking Member Collin Peterson, D-Minn., criticized the legislation, calling it “a flawed bill that is the result of a bad nontransparent process.” Cuts to …
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) With the launch of the Biochemical Technology Leadership Roundtable (BTLR), the ACS GCI seeks to provide a forum for pre-competitive industry collaboration. Building on the American Chemical Society’s roundtable model, the …
by Jim Lane (Biofuel Digest) … Clearly, meat isn’t going away very soon, the cow isn’t going away very soon. So, why not invest in sustainable transformation as well as replacement?
That’s an approach that was applied …
by Tim Albrecht (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The ethanol industry has polished its coproduction of distillers grains. Now, a handful of companies have found different uses for DDGS, or ethanol itself, that can provide new value-added coproducts …
by Evan Halper (Los Angeles Times) The Trump administration is embracing a curious — and some would say dated — argument as it builds its case to weaken federal rules championed by California that require …
by John Siciliano and Josh Siegel (Washington Examiner) A study showing that U.S. ethanol leader Iowa doesn’t use a lot of its own corn-based fuel is exciting some in the anti-ethanol crowd in Washington.
“Iowa — the number …
(Commission for Environmental Cooperation) The Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) is requesting proposals from prospective consultants to work in collaboration with youth organizations and government to empower and motivate youth (ages 5-23) to participate in …
Over the past decade, existing dry grind ethanol plants have sought to extract value out of the corn kernel through maximizing production and capture of ethanol, carbon dioxide, dried distillers grains, and oil. More advanced …
by Will LeRoy (CleanTech Canada) Canada’s Biojet Supply Chain Initiative (CBSCI) will on Earth Day mix 230,000 litres of biofuel into the airport’s multi-user fuel supply system — Air Canada says it will save 160 tonnes of …
(Clean Electricity Generation/PR Newswire) At several locations around the world, a partnership of international companies will start construction of facilities, where biocoal will be produced on a commercial scale. This biocoal can be used as sustainable …
by Tom DiChristopher (CNBC) Bipartisan senators on Tuesday asked the EPA to stop issuing waivers that allow oil refiners to avoid obligations to blend biofuels into gasoline. –EPA has reportedly issued 25 of the “hardship” …
by Stephanie Searle and Kristine Bitnere (International Council on Clean Transportation) Indonesia promotes biodiesel consumption through a blending mandate and a subsidy program. The current required biodiesel blend level in transport fuels is 20%, set to …
(National Non-Food Crops Centre) Today we have published the fifth edition of our annual ‘Anaerobic Digestion Deployment in the UK’ report. The publication provides a detailed breakdown of the UK AD sector on both a national …
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) LanzaTech has developed a fully sustainable integrative gas to fuels and chemicals platform that has no impact on food, water security or high biodiversity land use.
LanzaTech’s gas fermentation platform disrupts the …
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The pace of invention and change is just too strong, we’ve realized, to highlight annual or even quarterly or monthly rankings and summaries of significant product and service advances. For now, …
by Betsy Lillian (NGT News) Today, the California Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications advanced a pro-renewable natural gas (RNG) bill sponsored by the Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas (RNG Coalition).
S.B.1440, introduced by State Sen. …
by Bill Poteat (Gaston Gazette) … Walyak Energy has proposed building the $45 million facility on vacant land at the intersection of N.C. 27 and El Remarko Drive.
In an April 9 presentation to the council, Walyak …
by Lara Webster (ABC Rural) The Australian sugar cane industry is being told to look beyond biofuels due to the risk of future technologies wiping out demand.
Only a fortnight ago the Queensland University of Technology delivered a …
by Michael Bastasch (The Daily Caller) The federal biofuel mandate “has failed to achieve its policy goals while imposing significant other costs on consumers,” according to a new report.
Americans paid out nearly $77 billion in additional fuel …
(Clean Energy Fuels Corp./ NGV Journal) Clean Energy Fuels Corp. introduced ZERO NOW, a fueling solution that combines the world’s cleanest engine technology with the cleanest fuel at a price of $1 per gallon. Heavy …
(U.S. Department of Energy) Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced up to $39 million in available funding to support early stage research and development (R&D) of innovative hydrogen and fuel cell technologies. As …
(Brookhaven National Laboratory/Biodiesel Magazine) Scientists studying plant biochemistry at the U.S. DOE’s Brookhaven National Laboratory have discovered new details about biomolecules that put the brakes on oil production. The findings suggest that disabling these biomolecular brakes …
(National Biodiesel Board) The next generation of science thought leaders are gearing up to lead America’s energy efforts. And biodiesel, our nation’s only commercially available advanced biofuel, is front and center.
Managed by the National Biodiesel Board, the Next …
by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) A former co-chair of the Next Generation Scientists for Biodiesel has been selected to participate in the World Energy Council’s Future Energy Leaders (NGSB) program. Deval Pandya, who is a Data Scientist in Advanced Analytics at Shell, will …
(albawaba.com) ENOC Group, in collaboration with Dubai Municipality recently launched a pilot project using Biodiesel5 to fuel Dubai Municipality’s fleet of trucks at its Umm Ramool facility.
Biodiesel5 is an advanced alternative green fuel launched by ENOC …
(ASTM International/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Members of ASTM International recently revised a key test method (D1613) that has been used to measure the acidity of fuel ethanol and denatured fuel ethanol, including ethanol used for car gasoline …
(Detroit Zoological Society/Biomass Magazine) The Detroit Zoological Society will be number one at giving away number two when it hosts its sixth annual GreenFest at the Detroit Zoo on April 14, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. …
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) On April 12, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., introduced the Hemp Farming Act of 2018, bipartisan legislation that aims to legalize and clearly define hemp as an agricultural commodity and …
(BioFuture Platform) Several international initiatives and organizations met in Brussels to discuss the need and the ways to scale up low carbon fuels in transport. The international conference, titled “The role of low carbon fuels in …
(Biomass Magazine) BBI International and Biomass Magazine named its annual industry award winners at the 11th International Biomass Conference & Expo underway in Atlanta, Georgia.
The Groundbreaker of the Year Award is designed to recognize people, companies or organizations that …
(Massachusetts Institute of Technology/EurekAlert!) Several different carbon-pricing approaches would help reduce emissions, and some would be fair as well, researchers report — Putting a price on carbon, in the form of a fee or tax on the …
(European Investment Bank) New financing initiative targets investments by private cooperatives and companies in the agriculture and bioeconomy sector; The EIB financing will amount to EUR 400m and is expected to back close to EUR 1bn of …
(U.S. Department of Energy) While vehicles and fuels currently on the market get travelers from Point A to Point B, are there new options that could save fuel and money, while also delivering higher performance …
by Erik Shilling (Jalopnik) … Higher compression ratios, and thus higher octane, can have the additional benefit of greater fuel efficiency if the engine is built that way from the start, however. Which is why automakers are …
(4-Traders) Congressman King Pledges Continued Biofuel Support to Iowa Renewable Fuels Association — Congressman Steve King, a member of the House Agriculture Committee, released the following statement after meeting today with members of the Iowa Renewable Fuels …
(U.S. Grains Council) The U.S. Grains Council (USGC), the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), Growth Energy and their member organizations welcome the news Tuesday that the Japanese government’s new biofuel policy will allow imports of ETBE made …
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Sierra Energy has created what is billed as “the world’s most efficient gasifier,” FastOx, developed in conjunction with UC Davis, US Army and California Energy Commission. Gasification is the missing link …
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In the Netherlands and England, Shell released its most definitive statement yet on its low-carbon future and committed to 50% lower emissions by 2050 and net zero by 2070 in its …
by Francois De Beaupuy and Ania Nussbaum (Bloomberg) Global Bioenergies looks to extract fuels from non-food crops; Unlike ethanol, fuel works in any engine in high concentration — A German luxury carmaker and a French biotech company have joined …
by Benjamin Storrow (E&E News) … Transportation emissions threaten to undercut blue states’ climate goals, raising questions about their ability to lead U.S. climate efforts at a time when the federal government is rolling back …
(Viking Analytics/Seeking Alpha) REX consistently outperforms its peers in making ethanol profitably. REX has zero debt, a large cash position, and has announced plans to buy back more shares. Stuart Rose, the Chairman of REX, displays the characteristics …
by Paloma López Bermejo (The Parliament Magazine) We must establish concrete criteria for determining how sustainable growing, manufacturing, transporting and marketing biofuels is, says Paloma López Bermejo. — … Simply distinguishing between biomass, biofuels or bioliquids …
(The Telegraph/Associated Press) A company has received final approval to start building a renewable-biofuels plant in south-central Oregon.
The Herald and News reports the facility in Lakeview is expected to convert forestry waste into renewable fuels for …
(Ethanol Europe Renewables/EurActiv) The Energy Directive (RED 2) transport decarbonisation ambitions ostensibly promote major capital investment in truly advanced biofuels breakthrough technologies. However, the Directive will not generate meaningful advanced biofuels investment. Instead, it incentivises …
(American Coalition for Ethanol/Ethanol Producer Magazine) American Coalition for Ethanol board member and past board president Ron Alverson of Dakota Ethanol speaks today at Nebraska Ethanol Board’s 2018 Emerging Issues Forum in Omaha, Nebraska, about assessing …
(U.S. Grains Council/Ethanol Producer Magazine) As Mexico’s energy sector continues to evolve, the U.S. Grains Council is running a series of technical workshops there to answer questions from local service station owners about how to utilize …
(Renewable Fuels Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Renewable Fuels Association is excited to announce that E15 has debuted in the St. Louis area and will be available throughout the year.
Home Service Oil Co. now offers both E15 …
by Lisa Gibson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The winners of the first-ever Ethanol Producer Awards have been chosen.
Ethanol Producer Magazine collected nominations in five categories: The Good Neighbor Award, Board of the Year, Project of the Year, Collaboration …
(Global Bioenergies) Global Bioenergies (GBE), the company developing a breakthrough process converting renewable resources into isobutene, and SkyNRG, world market leader in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), will work together to accelerate the commercialization of Global Bioenergies’ …
Join over 200 biogas and RNG experts at the 2018 conference to learn how to develop profitable biogas projects using a variety of feedstocks and project configurations.
Secure finance and ensure your project’s profitability – Make the …
(JDSUPRA/McDermott Will & Emery) Transport fuel retailers are obliged to sell a minimum amount of biofuel annually, calculated as a percentage of the energy content of the transport fuel sold in the relevant year. Such obligation …
(FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO/EurekAlert!) The study focused three fungi species which produce enzymes with application in biomass degradation; scientists in Brazil reveal how these substances are regulated and how they …
(Phys.Org/Colorado State University) A Colorado State University project to grow and harvest ocean macroalgae for biofuel production has received support from the Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E).
ARPA-E has poured over $22 million into …
(Veolia) As part of the drive to increase the circular economy global resource management company, Veolia, is launching an online trading platform that makes it easier to sell and buy organic resources. Designed to save users …
(Chemical Online/Globe Newswire) Building on the success of current biofuel mandates, Renewable Industries Canada (RICanada) applauds Ontario’s leadership in increasing blending requirements for ethanol in gasoline to 10% by 2020. The expanded mandate is a made-in-Ontario solution to …
by Gregory T. Benz (Lee Enterprise Consulting/Biofuels Digest) There are many sources of organic fibers that can be used as feedstock for biofuels and renewable chemicals. The author has tested many lignocellulosic materials for fluid flow …
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Renewable chemicals are emerging at a fast pace, paving the way for new, innovative, and sustainable biobased products. A coalition of companies and trade associations committed to enhancing the legal and …
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In New York, XPRIZE announced the 10 teams advancing to the final round in the $20M NRG COSIA Carbon XPRIZE. The 10 finalists, each taking home an equal share of a $5 …
(Bioenergy Insight) The amount of biomethane injected into French gas networks almost doubled between 2017 and 2016, according to a new overview of France’s renewable gas sector.
Figures in the report from GRTgaz show that 406 million kWh of …
by Betsy Lillian (NGT News) Red and White Fleet, a San Francisco tour boat company, has switched its entire fleet of vessels from petroleum diesel to Neste MY Renewable Diesel.
Neste MY Renewable Diesel is a low-carbon …
by Betsy Lillian (NGT News) The California Energy Commission (CEC) has given the green light to a facility that will turn biogas into renewable natural gas (RNG) for transportation.
At a meeting on April 11, the CEC …
by Emily Rauhala (The Washington Post) China announced temporary anti-dumping measures Tuesday on U.S. sorghum, potentially hitting U.S. growers and exacerbating the brewing trade war between Beijing and Washington.
China’s Ministry of Commerce said that starting Wednesday, …
After an exciting & successful edition in Reykjavik last year, ACI’s 11th Carbon Dioxide Utilisation Summit is now heading to Manchester, UK on the 26th & 27th September 2018.
During this 6th European edition (11th of the global series), the conference will explore innovation developments and projects …
by Nina Chestney (Reuters) British biofuel targets coming into force this weekend will double the use of renewable fuels in the UK transport sector in 15 years and reduce reliance on imported diesel, the government said …
(National Wooden Pallet & Container Association/PR Newswire) Preliminary results of a research project conducted by Virginia Tech on the disposal of wood pallets at landfill sites reveal that 95% of wooden pallets are being recycled.
The landfill avoidance …
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Sometimes, what an engine needs to roar to life is a spark. Or a SPARC, as in this case.
As in the Southeastern Partnership for Advanced Renewables from Carinata (SPARC), a consortium consisting of …
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) With 195 countries on the planet today, an impressive 53 countries are Commonwealth countries, including countries in Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe and the Pacific. They include large, rich countries …
(Algae Industry Magazine) The University of Hawaii at Hilo announced that in affiliation with Duke and Cornell Universities, researchers have authored a study that suggests making croplands more efficient through algae production could unlock an important …
The 11th International Conference on Bio-based Materials is aimed at providing international major players from the bio-based building blocks, polymers and industrial biotechnology industries with an opportunity to present and discuss their latest developments and …
Presentation of results of the IEA Bioenergy Inter-task project on “Measuring, governing and gaining support for sustainable bioenergy supply chains”
Sustainability of liquid and solid biofuels production is under continued scrutiny, including topics such as iLUC, …
by Jeff Smith (Dragzine) Over the years we’ve seen all sorts of misinformation floating around the web on various forums and other social media interfaces with respect to E85 and ethanol fuels, so in the …
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) On April 12, House Agriculture Committee Chairman K. Michael Conaway, R-Texas, released a draft of the 2018 Farm Bill, officially titled the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018. The legislation …
by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment will be holding a hearing this morning (Friday, April 13, 2018) on “High Octane Fuels and High Efficiency Vehicles: Challenges and Opportunities.” The hearing will take …
by Jarrett Renshaw and Chris Prentice (Reuters) Global energy giants Chevron Corp and Exxon Mobil have asked U.S. regulators for exemptions to the nation’s biofuels policy that have historically been reserved for small companies in financial …
(National Biodiesel Board) NBB Submits FOIA Request to Ensure RFS Transparency — The National Biodiesel Board submitted a Freedom of Information Act Request aimed at shedding light on small refiner exemptions requested and issued under the Renewable …
by Joey Aguilar (Gulf Times) The Sustainable Development Centre (SDC) at Qatar University’s College of Arts and Sciences (QU-CAS) is now developing the techniques to produce bio-crude oil through its Qatar Biofuel Project, it was announced …
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Ensyn uses its patented and proprietary RTP fast thermal technology to convert wood residues and other non-food, cellulosic biomass to liquid biofuels. Ensyn has had continuous commercial operations for more than …
by Jeff Mason (Reuters) U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday his administration may allow the sale of gasoline containing 15 percent ethanol year-round, which could help farmers by firing up corn demand but faces opposition …
(Biofuels International) German renewable fuel producer Natural Energy West is to reduce its biodiesel output by 50%. According to Reuters, the company is making the cuts in response to surging biodiesel imports from Indonesia and Argentina to the …
by Jarrett Renshaw and Chris Prentice (Reuters) The Trump administration is considering allowing the sale of a higher ethanol fuel blend in the summer, a source familiar with the issue said, a move that would placate …
(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) Today (April 10, 2018), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it has approved the State of North Dakota’s request to implement and enforce its own Class VI Underground Injection Control (UIC) …
by Mark Warner (Warner Advisors LLC/Biofuels Digest) Funding for early stage advanced biotechnology is ramping up and companies commercializing fermentation-based technologies are faced with the decision to either build their own demonstration-scale facility or utilize existing …
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Gevo has two proprietary technologies that combine to make it possible to retrofit existing ethanol plants to produce isobutanol, a four carbon alcohol which serves as a hydrocarbon platform molecule. They …
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) … CHOGM (Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting) delegates will hear quite a bit about blockchain, gene editing and about proteins for the food chain and as an advanced material. There’s a …
(Research and Markets) The “The Future of Peru Biofuel (Ethanol) Markets to 2025” report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com’s offering.
Peru Biofuel (Ethanol) market is expected to witness a strong growth rate in the medium to long term future. …
(Phys.Org/CORDIS) … Some microbes have natural structures called cellulosomes that contain cellulases, enzymes that break down cellulose efficiently into sugars. The EU-funded CELLULOSOMEPLUS project developed designer cellulosomes (DCs) to achieve high yields of fermentable sugars from the organic …
by Henry Saker-Clark (Hull Daily Mail) Vivergo Fuels stopped production in November putting 150 jobs at risk — A £350m Hull-based biofuel facility has restarted production after a four month shutdown, but warns that government action is …
by Alyssa Danigelis (Environmental Leader) Each business day, FedEx serves over 220 countries and territories with more than 600 aircraft as well as more than 190,000 on-road and off-road vehicles, which includes around 132,000 company-owned vehicles. …
(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) Twenty students from Central High School in Norwood Young America toured Winthrop’s Heartland Corn Products today to learn more about clean renewable Minnesota energy.
During the tour, the students learned about the various processes …
(U.S. Grains Council/Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. Grains Council is now accepting applications for the organization’s advisory teams, known as A-teams, for the 2018-2020 term. A-teams are comprised of USGC member experts that provide insight and …
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) A coalition led by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and the California Air Resources board has announced plans to sue the U.S. EPA over its failure to enforce existing landfill methane …
by Mark Chediak, Ryan Beene, and John Lippert (Bloomberg) ‘Reason could prevail,’ chair of Air Resources Board says; State is considering a lawsuit to preserve its options — California’s top air-quality regulator sees hope for a deal with …
by Jarrett Renshaw (Reuters) The Trump administration will delay any moves to reform the nation’s biofuel policy for about three months, according to three sources briefed on the matter – a decision one of the sources …
(Urban Air Initiative) Ethanol blends reduce toxic tailpipe emissions by up to 50%, significantly improving air quality and protecting public health according to two new studies. The separate studies were conducted by the North Carolina State University (NCSU) …
The Biomass Carbonization & Torrefaction Summit is a one-day, intensive conversation about the promise of upgrading biomass streams via torrefaction or the production of biochar and the markets that await the developers and producers who …
by Greg Thompson (White Energy/Renewable Fuels Association) This past weekend in Emory, Texas, about 75 miles from Dallas, fishermen and women from across the country descended upon Lake Fork for a stop on the Crappie Masters …
by Sevil Erkuş (Hurryiet Daily News) A project initiated by Turkish experts to turn olive mill wastewater from olive production into industrial raw materials and products such as biodiesel and animal feed has received the support of …
by Sean Flynn (Newport Daily News) Newport Biodiesel LLC saw a big jump in demand for its product at the beginning of the year when a Massachusetts regulation took effect that requires a minimum 10 …
(U.S. Grains Council/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Constructing a national ethanol industry is a monumental task, but an effort that pays dividends economically and environmentally—as U.S. farmers and agribusinesses understand. The U.S. Grains Council is working alongside the …
by James Coulter (The Daily Ridge) Can the algae growing within Polk County’s lakes be used to fuel our gas tanks in the near future?
Students at Florida Polytechnic University (FPU) have been researching this question for …
by Emily Druckman (Renewable Fuels Association) For the sixth consecutive year, the Renewable Fuels Association has received a TRANSCAER® National Achievement Award for hosting a series of seminars last year on ethanol safety and emergency responders.
The …
by Mario Parker (Bloomberg) Change to biofuel mandate may mean destruction of corn demand; Growers already dealing with trade concerns, crop gluts — Based on his own back-of-the-envelope calculations, Minnesota farmer Kirby Hettver could lose tens of thousands …
by Todd Neeley (DTN The Progressive Farmer) Details have yet to emerge from a planned meeting at the White House on Monday between President Donald Trump and members of his cabinet regarding possible changes to the …
(OPIS) On January 1, Ontario became linked with California and Quebec’s carbon allowance program, prompting uncertainty about carbon reduction programs and pricing structures in this expanded market.
Download this free white paper and get an understanding of:
Carbon …
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) … Er, what are AHB, SUBI, BANR, SBAR, NARA, CENUSA, SPARC, IBSS and NEWBIO?
You’d be forgiven if you mistook Ahb Subi Banr-Sbar for a well-placed official in the Iranian government — but, in fact, it’s a 9-project …
(Green Car Congress) Benzene, an aromatic hydrocarbon, is a natural component of crude oil and is one of the elementary petrochemicals. It is used as a precursor to the manufacture of more complex chemicals, and, with …
by Hanh Ngoc Thi Le, Kiyoshi Imamura, Masakazu Furuta, Luu Van Boi, Yasuaki Maeda (Energy Today) … The authors evaluated the use of the non-edible oil derived from Vernicia montana Lour found in Laos and Vietnam for the production …
by Robert Rapier (Forbes) … Mr. Constantine (Tim Constantine, a spokesperson for Rethink Ethanol) believes that we will soon see an announcement from the White House on the nation’s ethanol program, and it’s probably not going to …
by Lauren Quinn (University of Illinois) Growing in its native Australia, the unobtrusive perennial vine Glycine tomentella could easily be overlooked. But the distant relative of soybean contains genetic resources that can substantially increase soybean yield, according to …
(Transparency International Secretariat) The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) is at risk of unresolved conflicts of interest due to shortcomings in its governance, according to preliminary key findings of a new study by Transparency International.
Private shipping-industry concerns could have …
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, an ASTM International Sub-Committee has voted in favor of revising specification D7566 (Standard Specification for Aviation Turbine Fuel Containing Synthesized Hydrocarbons) to include ethanol in addition to isobutanol; and …
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The pace of invention and change is just too strong, we’ve realized, to highlight annual or even quarterly or monthly rankings and summaries of significant product and service advances. For now, …
(GreenAir Online) The European Union has signalled its general acceptance of the ICAO CORSIA Package proposals that were sent to ICAO Member States for comment. The Package contains the Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) technical rules for the …
(GreenAir Online) Boeing is midway through its latest ecoDemonstrator flight programme that is testing more than 30 technologies aboard a FedEx-owned 777 freighter. Since 2012, the programme has tested more than 55 technologies using four commercial …
(GreenAir Online) The UN’s Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) is likely to be a primary source of carbon credits for airlines seeking to offset the industry’s growth in CO2 emissions post-2020 under ICAO’s Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for …
by Landon Hall (Fuel Freedom Foundation) The flex-fuel movement really began with the 1994 Ford Taurus, whose on-board computer told the engine how to distinguish between gasoline and higher ethanol blends. Pretty cool, right?
…
But FFVs have come …
(Ag Newswire) DuPont gave its new XCELIS™ fuel ethanol platform a colorful debut at the National Ethanol Conference last month in San Antonio, with a rainbow of pastel colored arches along the walkway to the meeting area.
“XCELIS is …
by Chris Lee (Ars Technica) Future biofuel production requires new catalysts—or better training for stubborn enzymes. … I thought New Zealand would offer some chemistry-minded contrast. The country makes a lot of money on timber exports, but this profit is …
by Sudheer Mopperthy (Asian Age) The EU adopted this new fuel with rigour and pledged that by 2020, 10 per cent of all transport fuels in EU nations would be biodiesel. … The EU’s palm oil ban …
(Green Car Congress) A team of engineers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) recently discovered that a naturally occurring bacterium, Thermoanaerobacterium thermosaccharolyticum TG57, isolated from waste generated after harvesting mushrooms, is capable of directly converting cellulose to biobutanol.
In an …
(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) The Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association (MBA) and KS95 FM teamed up today to reward drivers in Fridley who switched to E15 during a two-hour appearance at the Holiday on University Avenue.
From 12 pm to …
by Michael Eggleston* (Advanced Biofuels USA) With over 260 million cars on the road in Europe, industry leaders and governmental representatives alike are putting the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) under fire for its lack …
(Urban Air Initiative) In an effort to rebut erroneous assumptions about ethanol’s health effects in a lawsuit filed by the Sierra Club, the Urban Air Initiative submitted an amicus brief describing the health benefits of blending …
by Jessie Stolark (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) Since their inception in the 2002 Farm Bill, Energy Title (Title IX) programs have helped farmers, ranchers, small businesses, and rural communities generate thousands of jobs and millions in economic …
by Bruce Haring (Block Tribune) WaterChain is developing a blockchain solution for cleaning up the water industry. The company is working on an initial coin offering (ICO) that will allow investors to stake tokens and facilitate the funding …
(American Coalition for Ethanol/Ethanol Producer Magazine) A controversial new video was released today, addressing fuel retailer concerns about potential liability for vehicle damage from the new E15 fuel on the flexfuelforward.com website. The video features current E15 marketers talking openly …
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) It may be renaissance times for the Clean Fuels Development Coalition. Their long quest to upend proposed Obama-era vehicle efficiency rules that ignored the potential to improve efficiency and emissions via …
by Claire Stam (EURACTIV.com) The Brazilian Senate is considering lifting a ban on sugarcane production for ethanol fuel in the Amazon. The plan, supported by the country’s president, has sparked protests from environmentalists and the Brazilian …
(Univeristy of Illinois) The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture has announced a grant for $1 million to support research led by a University of Illinois scientist. The research will address the need for …
by Mark Dorenkamp (Brownfield Ag News) The White House plans to hold a Monday meeting to discuss possible changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).
Minnesota Corn Growers president Kirby Hettver says it appears EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt …
by Jarrett Renshaw, Chris Prentice (Reuters) Lawmakers spearheading efforts to reform U.S. biofuels regulations are considering a blanket waiver for all small refineries, according to four sources familiar with their draft legislation. The move would save some …
(Overseas Private Investment Corporation) Learn how hundreds of American small businesses have used the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) finance and insurance products to gain access to emerging markets overseas. Discover how you can take advantage …
by Kai Chen, Xiongyi Huang, S. B. Jennifer Kan, Ruijie K. Zhang, Frances H. Arnold (Science Magazine) Double rings made with heme — Cyclic organic structures with adjacent three-carbon rings—bicyclobutanes—are useful starting materials for chemical and materials …
(Argus Media) China faces several challenges to hit an ambitious 10pc (E10) ethanol blending target in its gasoline fuel mix by 2020, according to participants at the Argus China Ethanol conference in Beijing.
The government announced the …
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