by Hiroko Tabuchi and Brad Plumer (New York Times) Here’s a guide to the main issues and how they might be addressed. -- ... But a lot depends on how much coal is being burned to charge up those plug-in
by Matthew Choi (Politico's Morning Energy) Despite procedural objections from states and environmentalists, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday granted the Biden administration's request to pause litigation over federal auto emissions and fuel economy standards. That will give
(U.S. Department of Agriculture) U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Justin Maxson today announced that USDA is accepting applications for grants to improve rural transportation systems. USDA is making the grants available under the Rural Business Development Grant
(U.S. Department of Agriculture) Agency to Host Public Listening Session on April 22, 2021 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it is requesting public input from interested parties, including potential customers and interested stakeholders, to help create a
by Cassie Mullen (Renewable Fuels Association) ... At the same time—flying under the radar—has been the latest round of grants approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture under its Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program, also known as HBIIP. This is an
by Andrew Quinlan (Center for Freedom and Prosperity/Washington Examiner) Plummeting demand due to reduced travel during the COVID-19 pandemic compounded the many flaws with the Renewable Fuel Standard and strained some in the petroleum industry to the breaking point. ... The RFS
by Andy Knight (The Herald Bulletin) Legislation that opponents say would limit consumers’ access to a promising blend of ethanol fuel is on its way to becoming law. Senate Bill 303 has passed through both chambers of the Indiana General Assembly with overwhelming
by Matthew Choi (Politico's Morning Energy) Airlines for America, the main U.S. trade group for the industry, is pushing for more fuel credits to be added to Biden’s multitrillion dollar infrastructure plan. The group is backing a sustainable aviation fuel
(Algae Biomass Organization) ... Algae, encompassing photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic aquatic organisms including microalgae and seaweeds (macroalgae), create a highly versatile and tunable platform for the development of fuels and products. In most cases, large scale algae production can be done
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) The U.S. Energy Information Administration on March 31 issued the first edition of its monthly Biofuels Capacity and Feedstocks Update, reporting that 20.431 billion gallons of operable U.S. biofuel production capacity was in place as of
by Lara Seligman and Bryan Bender (Politico) "Where the military goes, the civilian world often follows," says one influential player helping to shape the policy. -- The Pentagon is weighing a series of proposals to make the military more energy efficient,
by Jarrett Renshaw, Stephanie Kelly (Reuters) The White House has directed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to study how using renewable fuels to power electric vehicle charging could generate tradeable credits under the nation’s biofuels program, two sources familiar with
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Advanced Biofuels Association, Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas, the National Biodiesel Board and a group of eight states on March 31 filed amicus briefs with the U.S. Supreme Court urging the court to
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) President Biden on March 31 released a $2 trillion infrastructure and jobs plan, officially titled the American Jobs Plan. Biofuel/bioproducts and carbon capture and storage (CSS) are each briefly addressed in the plan. One provision of
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) The USDA on March 30 announced it is seeking public input on a new rural energy pilot program that was authorized in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, a bill signed by former President Donald Trump on Dec.
(CHS) High ethanol blend E15 gasoline is available at about 50 Cenex locations and that number is expected to grow. -- In early 2021, CHS announced it had taken steps to make E15 fuels more accessible to the company’s Cenex® branded
by David Shephardson (Reuters) ... “Neither the current trajectory of consumer adoption of EVs, nor existing levels of federal support for supply- and demand-side policies, is sufficient to meet our goal of a net-zero carbon transportation future.” The White House did not
by Matthew Choi (Politico's Morning Energy) The Biden administration is facing skepticism on one of its most ambitious climate change initiatives: A multibillion-dollar bank to pay farmers to capture carbon. While some environmentalists view it as a positive sign of
"Holy moly. How on Earth are you going to get people not coming with pitchforks and tar to these siting meetings?" Brian Ross, a vice president at the St. Paul, Minn.-based Great Plains Institute upon reviewing a map representing the
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Legislation introduced by the 32 democratic members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee on March 11 could provide federal funding to support the development of alternative fuel infrastructure and expanded use of alternative fuel
by Karyn Hede (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory) Sewage and food waste biocrude conversion process reaches major milestone -- A large-scale demonstration converting biocrude to renewable diesel fuel has passed a significant test, operating for more than 2,000 hours continuously without
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) announced today that it will release expanded monthly biofuels data through a new report—the Monthly Biofuels Capacity and Feedstocks Update. On March 31, 2021, EIA plans to publish the first edition of
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) From switchgrass, sorghum or sugarcane, feedstock development, genomics, and crops improvement abound with USDA’s help at the Biomass Research Center. Rob Mitchell, Research Leader and Research Agronomist at USDA ARS, shares all about the latest
by Peter Behr and Jeffrey Tomich (E&E News) Picture an area of land equal to the combined territories of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. That's the space that could be required to site the massive
by David Blackmon (Forbes) With electric vehicles making up just 2% of U.S. auto sales in 2020, achieving a rapid “energy transition” to an all-electric vehicle fleet in the coming 15 years will be a huge endeavor, one that President Joe Biden
by Todd Neeley (DTN Progressive Farmer) One day after EPA granted deadline extensions to refiners to comply with the Renewable Fuel Standard, EPA Administrator Michael Regan said the Biden administration will be working to get the RFS back on track this
by Natasha Lasky (Our Daily Planet) A new report, published Wednesday found that the world’s largest commercial and investment banks have altogether put $3.8 trillion into fossil fuels from 2016 to 2020. This report — a collaboration between the Rainforest Action Network, Bank Track,
by Laura Mullane (Los Alamos National Laboratory) Helping to strengthen the economic viability of biorefineries in the production of alternative fuels derived from biomass is critical to decreasing the use of fossil fuels and mitigating carbon dioxide emissions. To that end,
(OPIS) On Jan. 1, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Fuels Regulatory Streamlining Rule went into effect, and while some impacts are already being felt in east of the Rockies markets, others are on the horizon as gasoline markets continue
by Steven Ashby (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory) ... As part of advancing sustainable energy solutions, scientists at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory are converting food waste into clean, renewable fuel that could power our planes, trains and
(Biogy/PR Newswire) Byogy Renewables Inc., the original architect of the "Alcohol to Jet" (ATJ) process for the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), has built, and is now commissioning, one of the world's largest ATJ demonstration facilities converting cellulosic bioethanol into
by Zippy Duvall (American Farm Bureau Federation) As homegrown fuels, ethanol and biodiesel have helped reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower gas prices, increase demand for corn and soybeans and decrease our dependence on foreign energy sources. But the road to success
by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) The first decision by the new administration that impacts biofuels is a disappointment to the industry. Late Tuesday afternoon, the Environmental Protection Agency extended compliance deadlines for the Renewable Fuel Standard, a move proposed under the Trump Administration that
by Courtney Rozen (Blooomberg Law) ... President Joe Biden’s call for the federal government to stock up on electric vehicles is running headlong into two harsh realities: the marketplace and the bureaucracy. The president, in an executive order aimed at combating climate
by Josh Siegel and Abby Smith (Washington Examiner) ... Natural gas companies, utilities, and labor unions are joining forces to lobby the Biden administration to invest in developing hydrogen as it pursues a historic federal clean energy spending program. The Clean Hydrogen
by Bill Tomson (Agri-Pulse) A priority for the USDA in the coming years will be judging the feasibility of setting up, executing and paying for a federal carbon bank to help farmers reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reward them for their
(Consumer Reports) The Biden-Harris Administration has committed to getting the U.S. on a path to a low-carbon economy by 2050, bringing back the Obama-Biden vehicle standards, and setting new, ambitious ones. Meeting those commitments will require steady progress on gasoline vehicle
A post-fossil carbon world will rely on four things: Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry (including wastes and residues), Waste Management (circular economy) and Minerals/Chemicals (like hydrogen, captured carbon, rare earth metals). On National Agriculture Day, we bring attention to the people
by Lynne Roeder (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory) Novel bimetallic catalyst also yields valuable solid carbon co-products for manufacturing industries -- ... Researchers from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and West Virginia University (WVU), in collaboration with industry partners Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas)
(Environmental Protection Agency) As part of the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to action on climate change and restoring science, EPA is taking the first step in a relaunch of its climate change website. For the first time in four years, EPA now
(Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts Process Development Unit (ABPDU)/CISION) Collaboration deploys the TeselaGen AI-enabled operating system to close the gap between promising research and large-scale fermentation-based production of renewable bioproducts -- TeselaGen Biotechnology and the Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts Process Development Unit (ABPDU) of the Lawrence
(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) Your project--or one you are sponsoring--could be an award winner. Apply or encourage a student you know to apply for PEYA and see what a difference they can make for the environment with an award-winning project. Applicants
by Yu Yunfeng (Independent Commodity Intelligence Services) China has been easing its nationwide implementation of vehicle-use ethanol gasoline since 2020 due to tightening supply of feedstock stale grains. Ethanol gasoline in the country is currently a combination of 90% gasoline and 10%
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Sens. Chris Coons, D-Del., and Bill Cassidy, R-La., and Reps. Marc Veasey, D-Texas, and David McKinley, R-W.V., on March 17 introduced the Storing CO2 and Lowering Emissions (SCALE) Act, a comprehensive CO2 infrastructure package. The bill
(Renewable Fuels Association) The Renewable Fuels Association on Wednesday asked newly confirmed EPA Administrator Michael Regan to “stay the course” on the Renewable Fuel Standard, as the important policy faces renewed attacks from oil refiners. In a letter to Regan, RFA responds
by Darrell Proctor (PowerMag.com) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the agency has awarded $2 million to four research and development (R&D) projects aimed at advancing clean-hydrogen production technologies. The DOE’s awards on March 15 are part of a push by
by Han Chen (NRDC) NRDC and hundreds of other organizations around the world have just submitted a letter calling on the Biden Administration to immediately end all US public financing for fossil fuels, including “natural” gas. The letter asks the Biden Administration to
by Steven Mufson and Juliet Eilperin (Washington Post) The Commodity Futures Trading Commission aims to create a new Climate Risk Unit, joining initiatives at Treasury, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Federal Reserve -- A growing number of federal
by Burl Haigwood (Clean Fuels Development Coalition) ... Imagine it is 2050 and Texas gets hit by another winter storm, flood, heat wave, or God forbid, a physical or cyber terrorist attack on a vulnerable electric power system. As news cameras
by Matthew Choi (Politico's Morning Energy) A bipartisan bill being unveiled today calls for pouring billions in carbon capture and storage to bolster the technology that sponsors say will be crucial to meet climate goals. -- FIRST IN ME — CO2
by Jane Nakano (Center for Strategic & International Studies) As clean energy technology becomes the latest frontier for geoeconomic rivalry, the security of supply chains for rare earths and critical minerals—essential materials for clean energy—has become a global strategic issue. The
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... McAfee (Eric McAfee, CEO of Aemetis Inc.) provided an update of the many improvement projects underway at the Keyes plant that will reduce the carbon intensity (CI) of the fuel it produces, including the
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The USDA on March 15 announced it is opening a 45-day public comment period to gather input on its climate-smart agriculture and forestry strategy, including several topics focused specifically on biofuels, bioproducts and renewable energy. The
by Julie Harker (Brownfield Ag News) A reset of the Renewable Fuels Standard will take place in 2022 as part of the original law. Gary Marshall, former CEO of the Missouri Corn Growers, tells Brownfield the EPA Administrator will have to
by Larry Lee (Brownfield Ag News) An ethanol court case over Small Refinery Exemptions will be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court April 27th. Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper says he is confident the Supreme Court will review the
by Alexander Richter (Think Geoenergy) A new job office within the U.S. Department of Energy is to support fossil fuel workers find jobs in the clean energy sector, particularly in geothermal energy. -- With continued announcements on a clean energy drive
by Matt McGrath (BBC) A new approach to making jet fuel from food waste has the potential to massively reduce carbon emissions from flying, scientists say. -- Currently, most of the food scraps that are used for energy around the
(Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory/SciTechDaily) Microbes found in the goat gut microbiome could help humans convert plant material into valuable, eco-friendly commodities. Converting the tough fibers and complex sugars in plants into biofuels and other products could be humanity’s ticket to smarter materials,
(Our Daily Planet) The Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission wants to know what you want to know about how corporations are dealing with climate change and other environmental risks. In a speech yesterday to the liberal think tank the Center
(NewsWise) Microbiome and soil chemistry at long-term bioenergy research sites challenge the idea that switchgrass increases carbon accrual in surface soils on marginal lands. -- In this study, researchers characterized the influence of crop and site on fungal and bacterial
Co-Optimization of Fuels & Engines Capstone Webinar Series: How Can Co-Optimized Fuels and SI Engines Enhance Efficiency while Reducing Carbon Emissions of LD Passenger Vehicles? While electric cars are coming off the assembly line in ever-growing numbers, vehicles with internal combustion
Co-Optimization of Fuels & Engines Capstone Webinar Series: How Can Co-Optimized Fuels and SI Engines Enhance Efficiency while Reducing Carbon Emissions of LD Passenger Vehicles? While electric cars are coming off the assembly line in ever-growing numbers, vehicles with internal combustion
Co-Optimization of Fuels & Engines Capstone Webinar Series: How Can Co-Optimized Fuels and SI Engines Enhance Efficiency while Reducing Carbon Emissions of LD Passenger Vehicles? While electric cars are coming off the assembly line in ever-growing numbers, vehicles with internal combustion
Co-Optimization of Fuels & Engines Capstone Webinar Series: How Can Co-Optimized Fuels and SI Engines Enhance Efficiency while Reducing Carbon Emissions of LD Passenger Vehicles? While electric cars are coming off the assembly line in ever-growing numbers, vehicles with internal combustion
Co-Optimization of Fuels & Engines Capstone Webinar Series: How Can Co-Optimized Fuels and SI Engines Enhance Efficiency while Reducing Carbon Emissions of LD Passenger Vehicles? While electric cars are coming off the assembly line in ever-growing numbers, vehicles with internal combustion
Co-Optimization of Fuels & Engines Capstone Webinar Series: How Can Co-Optimized Fuels and SI Engines Enhance Efficiency while Reducing Carbon Emissions of LD Passenger Vehicles? While electric cars are coming off the assembly line in ever-growing numbers, vehicles with internal combustion
by Todd Neeley (DTN Progressive Farmer) EPA will allow year-round E15 sales in the Kansas City metro area, the agency announced in a news release on Friday. The Trump administration opened up year-round sales of E15, by granting a Reid vapor pressure,
(Renewable Fuels Association) In comments submitted today (March 11, 2021) to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Renewable Fuels Association opposed a proposal to extend the deadlines for demonstrating compliance with the Renewable Fuel Standard for 2019 and 2020. “This proposal is
by Matthew Choi (Politico's Morning Energy) Automakers are proposing a vehicle emissions standard lower than both the Obama administration's rates and the deal that California set with five automakers, the Associated Press reports. The standards would be above the Trump administration’s
by Brad Plumer, Nadja Popovich and Blacki Migliozzi (New York Times) These vehicles represent the 250 million cars, S.U.V.s, vans and pickup trucks on America’s roads today. The vast majority run on gasoline. Fewer than 1 percent are electric. Automakers are now shifting
by Jeff St. John (GreenTech Media) The latest test at the Utah mega-project marks the third U.S. entry into electrolysis, storage and the use of carbon-free fuel. -- ... Take the Intermountain Power Project, the coal-fired power plant in Utah converting to
(Clean Fuels Development Coalition) The Clean Fuels Development Coalition called the pending revision of the nation’s fuel economy rules one of the most immediate and tangible actions the Biden Administration can take to address a range of issues impacting climate, health,
by Stephanie Kelly (Reuters) The Environmental Protection Agency is considering issuing proposals for U.S. biofuel blending obligations for both 2021 and 2022 at the same time, two sources familiar with the matter said, after the coronavirus pandemic delayed rulemaking. The proposals
by Brady Dennis and Dino Grandoni (Washington Post) The 44-year-old North Carolina regulator, the first Black man to head the agency, has vowed to fight climate change and environmental injustice -- The Senate confirmed Michael Regan on Wednesday as the
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy announced its intent to issue three sustainable transportation technologies funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) in Spring 2021. These potential funding opportunities seek innovative research, development,
(U.S. Department of Energy) Removing CO2 from the Atmosphere will Help America Achieve Net-Zero Emissions, Create Jobs -- The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today (March 5, 2021) announced up to $24 million for research into technology that captures carbon emissions
by Iacovos Vasalos (Center for Research and Technology-Hellas/Biofuels Digest) This report summarizes highlights from the ABLC 2020 Biofuels Digest Virtual Conference, which took place in July 7-10, 2020. (And if you haven’t already registered for this year’s ABLC Digital on May 3-7,
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts on March 8 announced that ground-breaking research conducted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with support from the Nebraska Department of Administrative Services clearly demonstrates that E30 is safe for long-term use
by Karl Plume and Stephanie Kelly (Reuters / NASDAQ) The U.S. departments of agriculture and energy plan to change two closely watched monthly reports to account for the rapid growth of renewable diesel, a clean burning fuel made from soy and
by Andrew Restuccia and Timothy Puko (Wall Street Journal) The administration is enlisting agencies across the government as it aims to unveil in April a revised target for U.S. emissions reductions -- The Biden administration is racing to complete a wide-ranging
by Matthew Choi (Politico's Morning Energy) A bipartisan group of 10 senators is pressing the Biden administration to use authority under the CARES Act to provide targeted relief to the biofuels industry, which is still reeling from the pandemic that collapsed fuel demand. In
(Clean Fuels Development Coalition) The Clean Fuels Development Coalition (CFDC) today applauded the work of the State of Nebraska following the release of a report that found higher ethanol blends are safe, efficient, and cost effective when used in conventional vehicles. The
by Casey Knopik (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory) New facility will foster research collaborations to accelerate scientific discovery and technological innovation -- A new research facility on the Richland campus of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is set to open fall 2021. The Energy Sciences
by Matthew Choi and Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) The commission is setting up a climate and ESG task force in its enforcement division as the financial industry faces growing pressure to be more proactive on ESG disclosures, particularly regarding
(USDA/Ethanol Producer Magazine) USDA and the Department of Commerce decided in December 2020 to change the way they define “agricultural products” when reporting international trade data. Beginning with the release of the January 2021 monthly trade data on March 5, USDA
by Cassie Mullen (Renewable Fuels Association) ... ”Our main concern is the policymakers’ stance on electrification and putting all their eggs in that basket,” said Greg Jones, director of business development at Pearson Fuels. “E85 can be that bridge between now
by Jennifer A Dlouhy and Leslie Kaufman (Bloomberg) The American Petroleum Institute may come out in favor of a carbon price, a sign of Washington’s dramatic move toward climate-friendly policy. ... But the policy itself has a number of silver linings for
by Jacqui Fatka (Farm Progress) House climate proposal includes RFS integrity provisions and Adopt GREET Act recognizes ethanol’s improved environmental benefits. -- Legislators are looking to expand access and acceptance of biofuels with the introduction of several bills this week on
(Bernstein Liebhard/Globe Newswire) Bernstein Liebhard, a nationally acclaimed investor rights law firm, announces that a securities class action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of investors who purchased or acquired the securities of Renewable Energy Group, Inc. (“Renewable Energy ”
by Rod Nickel, Stephanie Kelly and Karl Plume (Reuters) ... Refiners can produce renewable diesel from animal fats and plant oils, in addition to used cooking oil. Production capacity is expected to nearly quintuple to about 2.65 billion gallons (63 million barrels)
(CNN/ABC 17 News) John Kerry had some tough talk for the leaders of Big Oil. The message: embrace clean energy or get left behind. “You don’t want to be sitting there with a lot of stranded assets. You’re gonna wind up on the wrong
by Gary Polakovic (USC News) Using a “kelp elevator,” researchers at the USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies were able to grow the biofuel crop in large quantities in the open ocean. ... Scientists at the USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies on Santa Catalina
(Aken Gump) On Tuesday, March 2, Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce (E&C) Committee introduced a sweeping climate proposal—the Climate Leadership and Environmental Action for our Nation’s (CLEAN) Future Act—an amended version of draft legislation released last year in the
by Andrea Shalal and David Lawder (Reuters) President Joe Biden’s U.S. trade representative nominee, Katherine Tai, said on Monday she would work to fight a range of “unfair” Chinese trade and economic practices and would seek to treat Chinese censorship as
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Today we look at paths to leverage your next project using USDA programs and funds, with former acting USDA Undersecretary Bill Hagy, No Project will be Left Behind! Check out this illuminating slide guide covering
by Nick Weig (CBS2Iowa) America is in the early stages of a shift from combustion engine cars and trucks to all-electric vehicles, or EV. Electric cars are quiet, sporty and cost a fraction to charge than it costs to gas
by Rachel Frazin (The Hill) An increasing number of states are looking to follow the precedent set by California and adopt stricter vehicle emissions standards as the Biden administration appears poised to green light those efforts. The Virginia legislature this past week
by Will Englund (Washington Post) ... Will Englund: This country is going to have more electric cars and trucks, and by 2035, it won’t be universal, but it is happening quickly. What is the oil sector in America going to look like when
(National Renewable Energy Laboratory) A foundational study conducted by scientists at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) shows for the first time that white-rot fungi are able to use carbon captured from lignin as a carbon source. The research confirms a hypothesis
by David Shepardson and Tracy Rucinski (Reuters) The CEOs of American Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines and other airline officials met virtually with White House officials Friday to discuss tackling aviation pollution and urge U.S. support for greener aviation fuel. United
(GreenAir Online) US aircraft and engine manufacturers have called on the new Biden administration to provide sustained government support to help achieve its climate goals. In an open letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, FAA Administrator Steve Dickson, Climate Envoy John
by Juliet Eilperin and Brady Dennis (Washington Post) President Biden on Friday dramatically altered the way the U.S. government calculates the real-world cost of climate change, a move that could reshape a range of consequential decisions, from whether to allow new coal
by Tom Daschle (Roll Call/The Daschle Group) Smart agriculture policy that has a role for ethanol can help advance Biden’s agenda on all fronts -- Growing up in South Dakota, agriculture has always been in my blood. For nearly three decades, I
by Amy Lupica (Our Daily Planet) Yesterday, the Senate voted to confirm former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm as Secretary of Energy. Granholm, who has positive relationships with both Democrats and Republicans, has committed to implementing science-based policy as part of President Biden’s “Build Back Better” plan. In
by Avery Ellfeldt (E&E News) The acting head of the Securities and Exchange Commission is expanding the agency's efforts to push public companies to be transparent about the threats they face from climate change. Acting SEC Chair Allison Herren Lee announced yesterday
(University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment/Phys.Org) ... (A)llocating CRP land for high-yielding energy biomass might eliminate the need for bioenergy crops and food crops to vie for space. A team led by CABBI Sustainability Theme Leader
by Julie Harker (Brownfield Ag News) Ethanol, distilled spirits and tobacco products will be included in the USDA’s ag products definition in its monthly trade reports. USDA says it’s adopting the World Trade Organization definition of ag products which will make its
(Brownfield Ag News) Ethanol industry leaders say the EPA’s recent change of policy on Small Refinery Exemptions is a start, but there is still a lot of work to do. Geoff Cooper with the Renewable Fuels Association tells Brownfield the
by Steven Ashby (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory/Phys.Org) When we eat, our bodies convert food into energy that fuels our lives. But what happens to the energy stored in the 80 billion pounds of food thrown away annually in America? As part
by Sean Hill (U.S. Energy Information Administration) The prices of renewable identification number (RIN) credits—the compliance mechanisms used for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)—have been steadily rising in recent months and
(U.S. Postal Service) ... Under the contract’s initial $482 million investment, Oshkosh Defense will finalize the production design of the Next Generation Delivery Vehicle (NGDV) — a purpose-built, right-hand-drive vehicle for mail and package delivery — and will assemble 50,000 to
by Bill Hagy (Lee Enterprises Consulting, Inc./ Biofuels Digest) ... One of President Biden’s Clean Energy initiatives includes partnering with farmers, ranchers and businesses engaged in livestock production to implement environmentally sound agriculture practices and deploy methane digesters that generate new sources of
by Laura Reiley (Washington Post) The Senate voted 92 to 7 Tuesday to approve President Biden’s nomination of Tom Vilsack as agriculture secretary. Vilsack had been expected to have a smooth path to confirmation after the Senate Agriculture Committee voted unanimously earlier this
(National Renewable Energy Laboratory) From Passenger Cars to Commercial Trucks, Aircraft, Marine, Rail, and Mobility Systems, NREL’s Whole-System Approach Ensures a Sustainable, Resilient, and Equitable Climate Future -- The transportation sector is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the
(Office of Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)) Just last month, President Biden raised eyebrows when he took executive action to begin transitioning federal government vehicles to electric vehicles. It followed a similar move spearheaded by California Governor Gavin Newsom, who last September,
by Marc Heller (E&E News) A backlog of applications for advanced renewable fuels at EPA is spurring a new debate in the biofuel industry: Should the agency catch up on proposals related to electric vehicles first? That's a possibility, a biofuel industry
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) Reps. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., and Angie Craig, D-Minn., on Feb. 19 reintroduced the Renewable Fuel Standard Integrity Act, which aims to ensure transparency and predictability in the U.S. EPA’s administration of the small refinery exemption (SRE)
READ MORE Draft Agenda
by Tyne Morgan (Ag Web) Renewable Fuels groups are celebrating an EPA win. More than a year after the 10th Circuit Court issued its initial ruling on the small-refinery provisions within the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS), EPA announced Monday it’s supporting
(Grainnet) In testimony presented during a virtual Minnesota Senate Agriculture and Rural Development Finance and Policy Committee hearing on S.F. 944, American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) Senior Vice President Ron Lamberty used his fuel retailing experience and expertise to share insights on E15 equipment compatibility
(Renewable Fuels Association) The Renewable Fuels Association today filed comments with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in response to earlier requests from oil refiners and the governors of six oil-producing states seeking a general waiver from 2019 and 2020 renewable volume obligations under
by Zack Coleman (Politico's Morning Energy) The White House is expected to sharply raise the government’s calculation of how much greenhouse gases will cost the U.S. in the future, a policy change that will make it easier for his administration
(Biofuels International) POET has urged the new Biden administration to embrace E15. The world’s largest biofuels producer, based in Sioux Falls in South Dakota, has also welcomed the new President’s leadership in making climate a top priority. ... Rob Walther, vice president of
by Zach Coleman (Politico's Morning Energy) Even if Biden's regulations fall short of environmentalists' wishes, the U.S. is poised for success reducing greenhouse gas emissions given the trajectory of "market forces" in the power and utility sectors, Senate Environment and
(White House) White House Forms Climate Innovation Working Group, Outlines Innovation Agenda; U.S. Department of Energy Announces $100 Million Climate Innovation Research Opportunity -- ... As the opportunity for American leadership in climate innovation is vast, the Administration is outlining key planks
(Environmental Protection Agency) Per an announcement in the Federal Register (FR) FRL-10019-87-OAR, the Draft Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory is now available for public comment. To ensure your comments are considered for the final version of the document, please submit your comments
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, sent a letter to White House National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy on Feb. 16 inviting her to visit Iowa and learn about the state’s leadership in renewable fuel production and sustainable
(Renewable Fuels Association) Just as ethanol has played an essential role in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, the low-carbon fuel will also serve as essential energy for combatting climate change, Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper said today at the
by Steve Melink (Melink Corporation/Biofuels Digest) ... The economic aspect of the new administration’s climate-change plan focuses on generating millions of well-paying jobs in renewable energy fields. Though much work remains to be done in that regard, Biden is creating
by Annie Snider (Politico's Morning Energy) President Joe Biden has revived the idea of a carbon tax, but climate hawks on Capitol Hill hope he will give them time to work through the tricky politics of the issue. -- ... THE
(U.S. Deprtment of Energy) The Advancing the Bioeconomy: From Waste to Conversion-Ready Feedstocks Workshop, coordinated by the Bioenergy Technologies Office, gathered experts in the fields of waste management, solid materials handling, and biofuel and bioproduct development and production to give
by Rhiannon Branch (Brownfield Ag News) Interest and growth in carbon market programs is booming. A recent ecosystem markets webinar hosted by the Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership had more than 1600 participants registered with more than 600 questions submitted ahead of time. Speaker Kari Hernandez,
by Jan Lewandrowski (US Department of Agriculture) Over the past two decades, the demand for renewable fuels — including corn-based ethanol — has helped drive a strong domestic market for corn, and supported rural America by generating jobs (PDF, 1.5 MB). New research
(Environmental Health & Engineering Inc.) Research from EH&E shows that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for ethanol, a biofuel made from corn, are 46% lower than gasoline. Conventional wisdom based on a prior analysis done by EPA had pegged the difference to
(Renewable Fuels Association) A new analysis from a renowned carbon accounting firm finds that the greenhouse gas emission reductions achieved under the Renewable Fuel Standard far exceed the reductions originally projected by EPA. Between 2008 and 2020, the use of
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) USDA’s Bruce Dien shared this illuminating slide guide at ABLC 2020 focusing on the National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research in Peoria, Illinois and recent success of NCAUR research. From biorefineries, advanced ethanol and biobutanol,
by Holman W. Jenkins, Jr. (Wall Street Journal) No matter how you slice the data, the car in your driveway is an emissions asterisk. -- The Joe Biden administration will be piling a lot of chips on electric cars, the most
(Red River Farm Network) Minnesota Governor Tim Walz sent a letter to President Biden on Wednesday asking him to support the biofuels industry and reverse the Trump administrations actions in supporting small refinery exemptions. Walz wants the Biden administration to
by Stephanie Kelly (Reuters) U.S. President Joe Biden’s pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency said he will confer with legal and policy teams to understand the options available for setting mandates to blend biofuels into the nation’s fuel mix beyond
(Brookhaven National Laboratory/EurekAlert!) Research solves longstanding problem and opens path for growing crops to produce industrially important high-value fatty acids -- Hundreds of naturally occurring specialty fatty acids (building blocks of oils) have potential for use as raw materials for making
(National Renewable Energy Laboratory) Researchers developing renewable plastics and exploring new processes for plastics upcycling and recycling technologies will now be able to easily baseline their efforts to current manufacturing practices to understand if their efforts will save energy and reduce
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Representatives of the biofuels industry testified against the U.S. EPA’s proposed extension of the 2019 and 2020 Renewable Fuel Standard compliance deadlines during a Feb. 9 virtual hearing. Public comments on the proposal can be
(Office of Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to create a renewable fuel infrastructure grant program and streamline regulatory requirements to help fuel retailers sell higher blends of ethanol. The Renewable
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) A coalition of congressional Democrats on Tuesday wrote to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg urging him to reinstate a Federal Highway Administration regulation that required state planners to measure and report annual changes in greenhouse gas
(Office of Congresswoman Brownley (D-CA-25)) Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) introduced the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Act, legislation to incentivize the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and help the aviation sector reduce carbon emissions. “We are facing an existential threat to the future
(LanzaTech/LanzaJet) British Airways is investing in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) technology provider and SAF producer LanzaJet as the company builds its first commercial scale plant in Georgia, USA •British Airways will purchase SAF from LanzaJet’s US plant to power a number of
by Joe Annotti (ACT News/GNA) ... While there is clear momentum mounting in support of electrified fleets by the incoming administration, the commercial maturity for zero emission vehicle technologies is still developing, leaving CapEx costs higher than conventionally fueled vehicles. Therefore,
by John Eichberger (Fuels Institute) ... Fuels Institute recently published “The Impact of Transportation-related Environmental Initiatives” which provides an objective assessment of 37 global efforts and a deep dive into 14 of the most prominent initiatives affecting transportation. As we embark upon
(U.S. Department of Energy) The United States will likely take years to return to 2019 levels of energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions following the impact of COVID-19 on the U.S. economy and global energy sector, according to projections in
(Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy Bioenergy Technologies Office funded researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and collaborated with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the National Institute of Standards and Technology to address a significant challenge
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