By Philip Brasher (Agri-Pulse) The Government Accountability Office says Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack had the legal authority to use the Commodity Credit Corporation to fund the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program, an initiative aimed at building markets for agricultural practices and
by Donnelle Eller (Des Moines Register) Builders of carbon capture pipelines stand to reap billions in tax credits. Will farmers also get a share?; Advocates say incentives to adopt less carbon-intensive farming practices also could be part of the equation; Whether
by Geoff Cooper (Renewable Fuels Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) In 2014, nine major auto manufacturers produced and sold more than 2.8 million flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs) capable of running on fuel with up to 85 percent ethanol (E85). In fact, one out of
(Growth Energy) Growth Energy, the nation’s largest biofuels trade association, welcomed its members from across the U.S. to Washington, D.C. last week for the 14th-annual Growth Energy Biofuels Summit—the American biofuels industry’s premier advocacy event. While in D.C., the attendees met with
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) SDI directly supports BETO’s strategic goal to decarbonize the transportation sector through R,D, &D to produce cost-effective, sustainable aviation and other strategic fuels – By 2030, SDI aims to support scale-up of multiple biofuel production pathways
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) today announced up to $17.2 million to evaluate the potential for unconventional oil production through a combined process that uses captured carbon dioxide
(U.S. Department of Energy) Funding From President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda Will Help Connect Sources of Carbon Dioxide to Locations for Geologic Storage and Conversion Through Multiple Transport Modes -- The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon
(Environmental Protection Agency) Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched $4.6 billion in competitive grants to fund state, local, and Tribal programs and policies that cut climate pollution, advance environmental justice, and deploy clean energy solutions across the country. As
(Inside EPA) EPA has agreed to a series of steps to improve its internal safeguards against fraud in the renewable fuel standard (RFS) compliance credit program, following a report from its Office of Inspector General (OIG) that found several deficiencies that
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) SDI directly supports BETO’s strategic goal to decarbonize the transportation sector through R,D, &D to produce cost-effective, sustainable aviation and other strategic fuels – By 2030, SDI aims to support scale-up of multiple biofuel production pathways
by Seth Borenstein (Associated Press) As a record-smashing and deadly hot summer draws to a close, the United Nations and the city that hosts it are focusing on climate change and the burning of coal, oil and natural gas that causes it. It features a
by Joe Heinrich and Rick Terven Jr. (Agri-Pulse/Smart Carbon Network/Illinois Pipe Trades Association) ... Thanks to carbon capture technology, we can increase demand for Illinois corn and ethanol while spurring job creation, investment, and value-added agriculture. Carbon capture is a method of
by Michelle Rook (AgWeb) Environmental and fossil fuel organizations have launched a series of lawsuits against the RFS which establish annual volume targets for various renewable fuels for 2023 through 2025. Nine cases have been consolidated in the D.C. Circuit
(Agri-News) During the Farm Progress Show, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski of central and southern Illinois stood alongside farmers and biofuels experts to confirm ethanol’s role in lowering carbon and supporting rural economies. The congresswoman in Illinois’ 13th Congressional District joined a panel of
by Chris Clayton (DTN Progressive Farmer) Trying to Craft a Farm Bill, IRA Climate-Smart Dollars Are Object of GOP Affection -- With two weeks left until the current farm bill expires, key players are still floating ideas about what should be in
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The DOE Bioenergy Technologies Office seeks in its separations strategy to support scale-up of sustainable aviation fuels and other biofuels with >70% reduction in GHG emissions relative to petroleum; enable commercial production of 10+ renewable chemicals
(Inside EPA) Liquid fuels groups and Republican state officials appeared to face tough questioning from appellate judges during Sept. 14 oral arguments in their case challenging EPA’s latest round of vehicle greenhouse gas standards, including whether the rule illegally “mandates” greater
(WVU Today) Researchers at West Virginia University have taken the first steps toward developing technology that can capture carbon dioxide in the air and use it for eco-friendly manufacturing of methanol. The process they have begun modeling — which involves pulling air from
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The DOE’s Feedstock Technologies program focuses on challenges and barriers crucial to reaching program goals, including: Feedstock Availability and Cost Production; Feedstock Genetics and Variety Improvement; Sustainable Harvesting; Feedstock Quality; Biomass Storage Systems; Biomass Physical State
by Rhonda Brooks (AgWeb) When the Inflation Reduction Act was signed into law last August, it unveiled an opportunity for farmers to see substantially increased value for their grain crops, says Ken Ferrie, Farm Journal Field Agronomist. At the heart of the
by Peter Ehrhard (Missouri University of Science and Technology) Missouri S&T researchers have received a $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to further study the effects of sustainable aviation fuels on the environment. S&T
by Leah Douglas (Reuters) The U.S. Department of Agriculture will spend up to $400,000 to adjust a federal greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions model to ensure that aviation fuel made from corn-based ethanol is eligible for hefty subsidies, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium is led by DOE as a collaborative effort among researchers from 9 National Labs. The key ideas? 1. Biomass feedstock properties are variable and different from other Commodities. 2. Empirical approaches to
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) today announced $18.6 million in funding for eight university and industry projects to develop biomass feedstocks to produce affordable biofuels and bioproducts that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Located in eight states, the
(U.S. Energy Information Administration/Biobased Diesel Daily) In January 2023, U.S. production capacity of renewable diesel and other biofuels reached 3 billion gallons per year, surpassing U.S. biodiesel production capacity for the first time. Rising targets for state and federal renewable fuel programs
by Mike Lee (E&E News Climatewire) The EPA rules would apply to trucks built in model years 2027 through 2032, and it requires companies to steadily reduce their emissions. -- Truck manufacturers have been working to weaken EPA’s greenhouse gas regulations on
(Neste) The recently published USDA Biofuels Annual Report (1 September, 2023) suggests that Neste may have received fraudulent used cooking oil (UCO) volumes at its renewable products refinery in Singapore, specifically virgin palm oil from Indonesia exported fraudulently as UCO via
by CJ Evans (American Diversified Enterprises/ Alternative Fuels & Chemicals coalition/Biofuels Digest) ... First, every project being developed – every one that is needed to mitigate the climate crisis – only can advance with infusions, sometimes large infusions, of development capital. For example, a typical $1
by Lesley Clark (E&E News Climatewire) A powerful federal appeals court will hear arguments this week in three challenges to the Biden administration’s efforts to curb the largest source of planet-warming pollution in the United States — and the battles have
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The DOE Bioenergy Technologies Office seeks to decarbonize the U.S. economy by developing efficient and economical biological and chemical technologies to convert renewable carbon resources into bioenergy and renewable chemicals and materials. Good news? CO2 represents
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The DOE’s goals are >54% upgradable products from Lignin by 2030, including an emphasis on Deconstruction and depolymerization, conversion of lignin oils to liquid fuels, opportunities for lignin to SAF, and valorization of lignin-derived monomers to
by Regina Rae Weiss, Brooklyn (New York Times) Re “America Is Using Up Its Groundwater Like There’s No Tomorrow” (“Uncharted Waters” series, Sept. 2): Back in the 1960s, geologists studying the Ogallala Aquifer — the United States’ largest aquifer, which lies under
by Jean Chemnick (Politico Pro Climatewire) The agency has seen a large increase in the number of companies that want to bury carbon dioxide. But it has only approved two permits. -- EPA is buried under a mountain of permit applications from
by Stephanie Kelly and Jarrett Renshaw (Reuters) - President Joe Biden's administration likely will delay until December a decision on whether to make it easier for sustainable aviation fuel made from corn-based ethanol to qualify for subsidies under the White House's
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) High-value chemicals and materials have the clearest near-term path to market; accordingly, the program is encouraged to increase its focus on ancillary technologies for producing high-value chemicals alongside core technologies that focus on producing high-volume fuels.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Agile BioFoundry is a consortium of seven U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratories that operate as a distributed biofoundry in collaboration with industry and academia. They partner with the biomanufacturing industry to accelerate bioproduct
by Byron Dorgan (Bipartisan Policy Center/RealClear Energy) Farmers must play a major role! -- The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) – signed into law one year ago – created aggressive goals to reduce carbon emissions. One of those goals included furthering the growth
by Mark Phelps (AvWeb) The fiscal future of producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) could depend on how the tax codes associated with crop-based biofuels are written. That was the message delivered at a recent SAF conference in Minneapolis by Todd
(Gevo) Gevo, Inc. (NASDAQ: GEVO) announced today it has finalized and executed a Notice of Grant and Agreement Award with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for a Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities grant of up to $30 million for Gevo’s Climate-Smart
by Todd Neeley (DTN Progressive Farmer) Federal Judge Stays Minnesota Lawsuit Challenging State's EV Mandate -- A federal judge in Minnesota has stayed an ongoing lawsuit to prevent the state from adopting California's electric-vehicle mandate as a similar case continues in a
by Camille Von Kaenel (E&E Daily) Dozens of Democrats on Monday asked EPA to tighten its sales requirements for zero-emission trucks. The request from Sens. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and others is aimed
by Lauren Sforza (The Hill) Former President Trump is vowing to end the “madness” of the Biden administration’s push for electric vehicles — a likely appeal to voters in the swing state of Michigan. In a pair of Truth Social posts Monday evening, Trump
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Technology is great — but energy is made by systems that integrate technology at scale. So, a critical part of the DOE Bioenergy Technologies Office is its Systems development and integration programs. Who’s on the team,
(Advanced Biofuels USA) As Congress begins work on the upcoming Farm Bill, Advanced Biofuels USA is well aware of the fiscal restraints that might not allow for increased funding levels for renewable energy or crop development R&D at Land Grant Schools,
by Cristel Zoebisch (Carbon 180) The ARACI Act will tackle hurdles to scaling land-based carbon removal -- ... Senators (Tina) Smith (D-MN) and (Todd) Young (R-IN) introduced the Advancing Research on Agricultural Climate Impacts Act (ARACI), a critical roadmap to scaling monitoring, reporting,
by Mark A. Rumizen (Federal Aviation Administration/Frontiers in Energy Research) Historically, the commercial aviation industry has relied on a very limited number of well-proven, conventional fuels for certification and operation of aircraft and engines. The vast majority of today’s engines and
by William Orts (USDA Western Regional Research Center) USDA Projects: 1. Bioproducts and Biopolymers from Ag Feedstocks 2. Zero Waste Agricultural Processing 3. Domestic Production of Natural Rubber and Resins ... • Building biorefineries does not require us to build from scratch • Biorefineries are originally grain mills, but
by Karthikeyan K. Ramasamy (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory) In the world of biofuels over the past decade, the eyes of industry have increasingly focused on the potential for domestic microalgae to provide alternative energy with reduced carbon emissions. However, to use these
(Renewable Fuels Association) Following the opening of the most recent tranche of funding for higher blends infrastructure incentives via the Inflation Reduction Act, the Renewable Fuels Association is off to a solid start in assisting fuel retailers. Due to its prior
by Riley Smith (Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network) Today (August 30, 2023), at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Illinois, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack defended the Biden Administration’s approach to supporting family farmers and the biofuels industry. Vilsack touted the department’s Climate
by Susan Glairon (University of Colorado Boulder) The University of Colorado Boulder’s Weimer Lab has introduced an efficient and economical method to use renewable energy to produce fuel, opening doors to clean and sustainable energy sources for a wide array of industries,
by Margy Eckelkamp (AgWeb)A provision in the Inflation Reduction Act, Section 45Z, provides biofuel producers (ethanol, biodiesel and sustainable aviation fuel) with a tax credit incentive to produce low-emission fuels. Here are the FAQs for farmers who are exploring carbon’s next chapter
(U.S. Department of Energy) Biotechnology and biomanufacturing continue to offer vast opportunities to advance science and engineering, support a growing U.S. bioeconomy, and provide solutions to our nation’s climate change challenges. To help accelerate innovation and develop new biomanufacturing approaches, three
by Jake Anderson and Alex McLoon (KETV) Sen. Pete Ricketts is shedding light on alternatives to gas other than battery electric vehicles with his Flex Fuel Fairness Act. The bipartisan bill gives credits to automakers for producing vehicles that reduce carbon output. "One
by Scott Richman (Renewable Fuels Association) Holiday Travelers Expected to Save $155 Million Thanks to Ethanol - As temperatures have heated up this summer, so have gasoline prices. Regular unleaded gasoline rose to $3.87 per gallon during the week ending August 21—the
by Todd Taylor (SAF Magazine/Avisen Legal) The pivot to SAF is not just a matter of overcoming technical and logistical roadblocks—it requires navigating an intricate financial labyrinth. ... Notably, equity and debt financing play pivotal roles in shaping the financial landscape of SAF
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (establishes partnerships with key public and private stakeholders to develop technologies for producing cost-competitive advanced biofuels from non-food biomass resources, including cellulosic biomass, algae, and wet waste (e.g.,
(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) The Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association (MN Bio-Fuels) commends Minnesota Department of Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen for his leadership advocating for the participation of agriculture and biofuel producers in decarbonizing the aviation sector in a recent letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture
(U.S. Department of Energy) AREA OF INTEREST 4 — ADVANCED AIR SEPARATION FOR LOW-COST H2 PRODUCTION VIA MODULAR GASIFICATION An Advanced Modular Redox Air Separation System for Cost-Effective, Net-Zero Hydrogen Production — North Carolina State University (Raleigh, North Carolina) intends to develop a redox-based, radically engineered modular
by Katie Schroeder (SAF Magazine) The market opportunities around sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) have attracted the attention of the ethanol industry. In June, at the National Biodiesel & Renewable Diesel Summit—colocated with ethanol industry’s largest conference, the Fuel Ethanol Workshop, held
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (establishes partnerships with key public and private stakeholders to develop technologies for producing cost-competitive advanced biofuels from non-food biomass resources, including cellulosic biomass, algae, and wet waste (e.g.,
(Inside EPA) Small refiners have abandoned their lawsuit against EPA’s revised timeline for compliance with renewable fuel standard (RFS) biofuel blending volumes, following their loss in a closely related case that addressed many of the same arguments over the allegedly compressed
(Renewable Fuels Association) In a letter today to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan, the Renewable Fuels Association blasted EPA’s Science Advisory Board (SAB) for its recent report making “specious” and unfounded claims about corn ethanol’s impact on greenhouse gas emissions. In a
Kick off the new school year with cutting-edge bioenergy resources that help students explore clean energy careers and build critical thinking skills! Join the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO), in collaboration with Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) and Idaho National Laboratory (INL), for a professional development
(American Carbon Alliance) The American Carbon Alliance (ACA) today called on the U.S. Treasury to adopt the U.S. Department of Energy’s Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Technologies (GREET) model in the evaluation of the life cycle emissions impact of
by Nancy W. Stauffer (MIT Energy Initiative) MIT researchers are converting the plant material lignin into hydrocarbon molecules that could help make jet fuel 100 percent sustainable. ... Aviation fuel is a combination of two large classes of chemical compounds. Some 75 to
by Joshua Baethge (Farm Progress) Crocket, Miller co-sponsoring Farm to Fuselage Act -- Reps. Jasmine Crockett, D- Texas, and Max Millier, R- Ohio, filed a bill on Friday to increase federal support for sustainable aviation fuel. The Farm to Fuselage Act aims to
(U.S. Department of Energy) Industry and University-Led Projects Across the Country Will Develop Technologies and Infrastructure for Efficient Hydrogen Production, Transport, and Storage -- The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today (August 17, 2023) announced the award of nearly $34 million to
(Bioenergy International) August 19 marks the birthday of Orville Wright, an American inventor credited for flying the world’s first successful motor-operated airplane in 1903. Marking the occasion on National Aviation Day 2023, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) celebrates the partnerships
(Solutions from the Lane) Change is not easy, especially when it involves financial risk. That’s the situation farmers and ranchers find themselves in when considering innovative, climate-smart agricultural practices. Sure, in the long run, many farmers find that adopting practices like
by Zia Abdullah (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) We are witnessing a renaissance of innovation in sustainable fuels. Established corporations and small startups around the world are proposing novel solutions for turning abundant renewable carbon resources into energy-dense, low-carbon fuels that are key
by Dan Crummett (No-Till Farmer) An upcoming tax credit for ethanol producers could translate to payments to no-tillers who document their practices & verify carbon intensity scores No-Tillers who are growing corn have an excellent opportunity to cash in on government demands
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. EPA’s Science Advisory Board is scheduled to discuss draft commentary on the agency’s recently finalized Renewable Fuel Standard “set” rule during a public meeting scheduled to be held Sept. 21-22 in Washington, D.C. The
by Geoff Cooper (Renewable Fuels Association) Last year’s Inflation Reduction Act created tax credits meant to stimulate the production and use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), a critical tool in the aviation sector’s decarbonization strategy. To qualify for the tax credits, SAF
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (establishes partnerships with key public and private stakeholders to develop technologies for producing cost-competitive advanced biofuels from non-food biomass resources, including cellulosic biomass, algae, and wet waste (e.g.,
by Tim Matthews (KRWC1360) ... Brian Werner of the Minnesota Biofuels Association says two dozen renewable fuel and corn organizations recently sent a letter to federal officials with specific requests. A coalition led by Midwest governors is urging federal officials to approve
(Inside EPA) Biofuels groups and refiners are sparring over the legality of EPA’s biofuel blending volumes for 2020 through 2022 under the renewable fuel standard (RFS), after criticizing other aspects of EPA’s volumes rule, as biofuels groups seek to maximize volumes
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) is committed to strengthening its relationships with aviation industry partners, including fuel producers, biofuel crop growers, researchers, academia, state/local/tribal governments, and others. The mission of this continued collaboration is to accelerate the growth
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Surface Transportation Board is soliciting nominations to fill six vacancies on its Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee. One of those vacancies is to be filled by a biofuel producer or feedstock provider. The STB, which
Later this week, the United States is conducting a webinar to describe in detail the U.S. National Clean Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap, including an explanation of the benefits of clean hydrogen and its role in the clean energy transition. Leaders from
The webinar will include an introduction and overview of the U.S. National Clean Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap, including an explanation of the benefits of clean hydrogen and its important role in the clean energy transition. Leaders from DOE and the
by Paul Winters (Clean Fuels Alliance America/Biobased Diesel Daily) Buried in the Renewable Fuel Standards for 2023, 2024 and 2025, as finalized in June, is an unexpected change to the obligated fuel volume calculations. The change has the same effect as
(Oak Ridge National Laboratory/Newswise) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), the Department of Energy’s largest multidisciplinary laboratory, and Fairbanks Morse Defense (FMD), a portfolio company of Arcline Investment Management, have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on the development and integration
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) today announced $2.5 million in funding, with an industry match of $2.5 million, for four projects selected from the Base Annual Appropriations Technology Commercialization Fund (TCF). The TCF is administered
(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) EPA is hosting a public webinar to discuss the implementation of the new regulatory provisions promulgated as part of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) final rule for 2023–2025 (the “Set Rule”).[1] These regulatory provisions include updated
by Minho Kim (Politico Pro Climatewire) The Forest Service faces criticism for projecting that forests could become carbon emitters by 2070 instead of continuing as carbon sinks. -- Activists are condemning a recent Forest Service report to Congress, saying one of its
(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) U.S. EPA launched two notice-of-funding opportunities (NOFOs) for $20 billion across two grant competitions under the $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, an Inflation Reduction Act program. These competitive grant opportunities will mobilize private capital into clean-technology projects. “The
by David Ioconangelo (Politico Pro Energywire) The guidance is highly anticipated as it could influence the industry's emissions and growth trajectory into the 2030s.-- The Treasury Department will miss its Aug. 16 deadline to issue guidance on the Inflation Reduction Act's first-ever
(U.S. Department of Energy) The maritime industry set a goal to transition to net-zero emission fuels by 2050. This transformation requires coordination among all aspects of the shipping supply chain including feedstock supply, alternative fuel production, ship and engine manufacturers, port
by Erin Voegele (Biodiesel Magazine) U.S. firms working with clean energy fuels, such as corn ethanol, woody biomass/cellulosic biofuel, and other biofuels, added 1,962 jobs in 2022, growing by 1.7 percent when compared to the previous year, according to the U.S.
by Evan Harper (Washington Post) Texas and Louisiana will become a global testing ground for giant machines that suck carbon from the air -- The Biden administration is betting big on giant carbon-sucking vacuums as a climate solution, announcing that it will
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) awarded $2.18 million in funding to three projects as part of the 2023 Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) Call by the Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium (FCIC). Funded and led by BETO,
(Mote/Business Wire) The biomass-to-hydrogen startup is partnering with Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) to expand its operations to a second location supported by $1.2M in grants from the US Forest Service, the California Department of Conservation, and the California Department of
(AgNewsWire) The 2022-2023 National Cover Crop Survey Report was released today that challenges assumptions on the role of incentive payments in cover crop adoption. According to the survey, nearly half of the cover crop users participating in the survey reported receiving some sort of
(PCC Hydrogen/Business Wire) PCC Hydrogen Inc. (PCCH2) is pleased to announce that the company has been awarded a highly competitive Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase I Award of $175,000 from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of
by Joe Jobe (Sustainable Advanced Biofuel Refiners Coalition/Biobased Diesel Daily) The agency has acknowledged it uses a flawed equivalence value for renewable diesel fuels, but the final rule reaffirms this faulty modeling that credits fossil-fuel greenhouse-gas emissions and results in higher
(Swedish Biofuels) Swedish Biofuels AB announced today that the ASTM International Committee has accepted the use of C2 to C5 alcohols as feedstock for the alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) pathway as well as a new specification for fully formulated aviation fuel with aromatics. The
(American Farmland Trust/Morning Ag Clips) The world needs agriculture to reduce emissions to avoid the worst effects of climate change, farmers need carbon market programs to work for farming -- Carbon market programs could be key to emission reductions, but agricultural carbon
by Emily Skor (Growth Energy/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Launched in 2021, the Biden administration’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge aims to produce enough low-carbon jet fuel to slash aviation emissions in half by 2050. Thanks to new incentives created by the Inflation Reduction Act,
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Aemetis Inc. released second quarter financial results on Aug. 3, reporting progress with the development of its dairy renewable natural gas (RNG) project and its proposed renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) biorefinery. The
by Benjamin Zycher (American Enterprise Institute/The Hill) The Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) has launched a new regulatory effort to force a massive transportation shift to electric vehicles (EVs) with its proposed “multi-pollutant emissions standards” for light- and medium-duty vehicles beginning with model
(Scripps News/ABC10News) Even with tighter proposed emission standards and a broad push for EVs, most cars on U.S. roads will still be gasoline-powered in 2030. -- ... But new analysis suggests it's not likely to happen as quickly as expected — combustion engines
by Galen Bacharier (Des Moines Register) Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird is suing the Environmental Protection Agency, as Iowa and Nebraska try to force the agency to issue final rules allowing the year-round sale of gasoline blended with 15% ethanol. The Republican
(U.S. Department of Energy) The United States (U.S.) envisions green shipping corridors as maritime routes that showcase zero- and near zero- emission lifecycle fuels and technologies with the ambition to achieve zero greenhouse gas emissions across all aspects of the corridor
Co-processing of biogenic feedstocks within the existing petroleum infrastructure represents an opportunity to incorporate large volumes of bio-carbon into transportation fuels. However, upgrading intermediate liquids from biomass and waste to final products efficiently and economically, while minimizing impacts to existing
by Eric Vettel (Energy Today) ... Replacing lead with MTBE reduced emissions almost overnight. By 1995, the Sierra Club celebrated MTBE as the “innovation of the year,” and George H. W. Bush considered the reform one of the most notable accomplishments
by Tom Krisher (Associated Press) The U.S. government’s most ambitious plan ever to slash planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions from passenger vehicles faces skepticism both about how realistic it is and whether it goes far enough. The Environmental Protection Agency in April announced
by Dave Austgen (BioVeritas/Biofuels Digest) It may not be the stupidest idea ever postulated, but it is unequivocally one of the most dangerous. Direct Air Capture or DAC! To the average person it sounds like a fantastic solution to climate change driven
(ASTM International/Biobased Diesel Daily) As part of its 125th anniversary celebration, ASTM International invited case-study submissions from committee members around the world, highlighting standards that have made a significant impact in society—and that have bettered the world around us. Numerous exceptional
(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced proposed updates to the Agency’s Air Emissions Reporting Requirements rule, including proposing to require reporting of hazardous air pollutants, or “air toxics.” Air toxics are known or suspected to cause cancer
(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) Grant funding prioritized for areas already overburdened by air pollution -- Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of $115 million in grant funding for projects that cut harmful pollution from the nation’s existing fleet
(Yield10 Bioscience) Findings demonstrate a key advancement in the development of proprietary Camelina varieties tolerant to application of broadleaf weed control as well as to Group 2 soil residual herbicide chemistries; Yield10 RSR filing pending under USDA-APHIS’s SECURE Rule for stacked herbicide tolerant Camelina Yield10 Bioscience,
(Renewable Fuels Association) In a letter sent today (August 1, 2023) to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan, the Renewable Fuels Association urged the agency to quickly finalize its regulations accepting the petition of eight Midwest governors that would reduce evaporative emissions and allow summertime
by Jarrett Renshaw, Stephanie Kelly and Leah Douglas (Reuters) The Biden administration is divided over whether to grant a request from the U.S. biofuel industry that would make it easier for sustainable aviation fuel made from corn-based ethanol to qualify for
(Green Car Congress) A team of researchers from the Chemistry Division of the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division in China Lake has demonstrated that fuels with both high energy densities and excellent low temperature properties can be generated from bio-based
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A bipartisan group of 21 federal lawmakers on July 28 sent a letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen urging the Treasury Department to adopt the U.S. Department of Energy’s GREET model as the secondary
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Here’s the State of Biomass Feedstocks and Supply-Chains presentation from the ABLC CONNECT series episode. Available supply, conventional crops, new crops and trees, cover crops, R&D initiatives, consortia — a comprehensive but compact look at the industry in
by Todd Neeley (DTN Progressive Farmer) A bill introduced in the U.S. Senate on Monday would provide new incentives for automakers to produce more flexible-fuel vehicles, which are vehicles that can burn any blend of ethanol up to E85. The Flex Fuel
by Larry Elder (Inside Sources/Prescott eNews) ... The Biden administration says electric vehicles are a solution to decarbonizing the transportation sector while also making driving more affordable. However, its “electric vehicle revolution” operates in an alternate reality where billions of dollars
by David Shepardson (Reuters) General Motors (GM.N) warned the Biden administration's planned changes to vehicle emissions rules could cost the auto industry hundreds of billions of dollars in penalties by 2031, which the Biden administration said on Thursday was wrong. GM executive David Strickland
(Office of John Joyce (R-PA 13)) Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13), announced that his legislation, H.R. 1435, the Preserving Choice for Vehicle Purchases Act, was passed by the Energy and Commerce Committee and will next be considered by the entire U.S.
by Tom Krisher (Associated Press) The U.S. government wants to raise the fuel economy of new vehicles 18% by the 2032 model year so the fleet would average about 43.5 miles per gallon in real world driving. The proposed numbers were released
by Jonathan Weisman (New York Times) Liberal environmentalists and conservative landowners, led by the former congressman Steve King, are pressuring Republican candidates to oppose three Midwestern pipelines. -- Emma Schmidt, a lifelong environmental activist in Rockwell City, Iowa, had long searched for potent
by Allyson Finch Wilson (NBC News) ... The Biden administration took a step to address that chicken-and-egg problem Monday with the announcement of a $100 million grant program aimed at subsidizing carbon recycling purchases by state and local governments, as well
(West Biofuels) Federal Grants will Increase Forest Sustainability, Promote Innovation, and Bolster Local Economies -- West Biofuels, LLC (“West Biofuels”) announced $1.5 million in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to increase the sustainable use of forest products while
by Jennifer LeRow (Lee Enterprises Consulting/Biofuels Digest) ... EPA was faced with a significant challenge, as it was statutorily required to consider numerous factors when using its “set” authority, including the impacts of the program on cost, air and water quality, climate
by Brian Werner (Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) One of the most overwrought narratives in energy and transportation policy today is the idea that liquid biofuels and Electric Vehicles (EVs) are battling “American Gladiator-style” in a zero-sum game over the future of the
by Ari Natter, and David Welch (Bloomberg) The Biden administration is poised to issue a proposal as early as Friday ordering automakers to increase the average fuel economy of their vehicles, according to people familiar with the matter. The proposed rule, expected
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium (FCIC) recently published eight new technical reports and case studies. The publications examine the environmental and economic impacts of a variety of feedstock characteristics and processing techniques. Life-Cycle Greenhouse
(U.S. Department of Agriculture)– U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Utilities Service Administrator Andy Berke today announced that USDA will begin accepting Letters of Interest (LOI) on July 31, 2023, from rural cooperatives seeking financial assistance to deploy renewable energy systems
by Katie Schroeder (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Utilization technologies are stimulating interest in ethanol producers’ constant coproduct, carbon dioxide. An initiative from the U.S. Department of Energy has formed the CO2 Reduction and Upgrading for E-fuels Consortium—or CO2RUe—made up of labs across the
(U.S. Geological Survey) Recent shifts from small grain agriculture to biofuel feedstocks affected grassland birds more negatively than did oil and gas development -- A new study from U.S. Geological Survey biologists shows that grassland birds in North Dakota have responded more negatively
(Growth Energy) Growth Energy, the nation’s largest biofuels trade association, filed an amicus brief this week in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in The San Antonio Refinery, LLC, et al. v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The case pertains
by Chris Clayton (DTN Progressive Farmer) Environmental Working Group is touting six farming practices in the Corn Belt the group says could greatly reduce nitrous oxide emissions in crop production. EWG also wants to ensure $19.5 billion in funding for USDA conservation
by Jana Rose Schleis (Agri-Pulse) America’s airlines have ambitious plans for using more biofuel, and the feedstocks in their sights include obscure oilseed crops such as camelina. However, crop insurance policy stands in the way. READ MORE
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Reps. Mike Flood, R-Neb., and Nikki Budzinski, D-Ill., on July 25 introduced the Sustainable Aviation Fuels Accuracy Act of 2023, a bipartisan bill that aims to identify the standards required to meet the definition of
by Paul Bertorelli (AvWeb) The just-passed House FAA Reauthorization Bill would prevent airports from removing 100LL or offering unleaded fuels in lieu of leaded avgas under penalty of losing airport improvement grants. If the language remains in the Senate version of
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) often requires funding opportunity announcement (FOA) award recipients to comply with technical and economic validation of their novel chemical, biological, and thermochemical technologies at the R&D, pilot, demo, and
(Optimus Technologies) Optimus Technologies, a diesel engine decarbonization company focused on the largest and most challenging sectors of the transportation industry, announced today that DC Water (District of Columbia Water Authority) recently took delivery of their first off-the-assembly-line Optimus Technologies/B100 powered vehicle
(Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. EPA on July 7 opened a public comment period on its intent to issue Class VI permits for a carbon capture and storage (CCS) project that would sequester CO2 produced at a proposed fertilizer production facility.
(Clean Fuels Alliance America) Data demonstrates high level of quality for BQ-9000 biodiesel users leading to improved specifications for OEM approvals. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) released its Assessment of BQ-9000 Biodiesel Properties for 2022 with more data collected than
by Marc Heller (Politico Pro) The Wyoming Republican proposes a mathematical tweak to the renewable fuel standard, giving small refineries a break on credits they buy to show compliance. -- A Wyoming senator dissatisfied with the renewable fuel standard's treatment
by Rhonda Brooks (AgWeb) When the Inflation Reduction Act was signed into law last August, it unveiled an opportunity for farmers to see substantially increased value for their grain crops, says Ken Ferrie, Farm Journal Field Agronomist. At the heart of the
(Protec Fuel/CISION) Protec Fuel, a leading ethanol fuel solutions firm, is ready to aid retailers and fleets in obtaining a portion of a $450 million grant from the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Vietnam has lowered Most-Favored-Nation tariff rates on ethanol from 15 percent to 10 percent, according to a report filed with the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service’s Global Agricultural Information Network. The Government of Vietnam issued a decree
(Inside EPA) Environmentalists are strongly criticizing EPA modeling suggesting that combustion vehicles’ efficiency will erode under the agency’s light-duty vehicle emissions proposal, findings that are bolstering their calls to strengthen the plan, though the dynamic could also enable less ambitious electric
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The USDA on July 13 announced it is making $21.25 million in technical assistance grants available through the Rural Energy for America Program to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses access federal funds for
by Shawn Feikema (Minn Post) Requiring U.S. farmers to comply with an international scheme favoring European regulations and norms is a burdensome process most farmers cannot afford – both in time and money. ... Crop-based biofuels offer significant opportunities to decarbonize flight using
by Doug Durante (Clean Fuels Development Coalition/Biofuels Digest) The final “set” rule for the volume obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard released recently has sent the biofuel world into a tizzy and once again reveals the Administration’s misguided obsession with EVs
by Cheri Bustos & Brian West (Real Clear Energy) ... Despite recent polling by the Pew Research Center that found most Americans oppose ending the production of gas-powered vehicles, aggressive new rules by the EPA aim for two-thirds of new passenger cars sold in
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