by Juliet Van Wagenen (Avionics Magazine) The FAA and Indonesian Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) have signed an agreement to promote the development and use of sustainable, alternative aviation fuels, as well as additional environmental collaboration between the two
(U.S. Department of Energy) The DuPont cellulosic ethanol facility, opening in Nevada, Iowa, on October 30, will be the largest cellulosic ethanol plant in the world. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) Director, Jonathan Male, alongside
by former Senator Jim Talent (The Gazette) I’m old enough to remember when energy first became a national security issue during the original energy crisis in the early 1970s. That was the first time America realized that we were dependent
by Brian Jennings (Ethanol Producer Magazine/A,merican Coalition for Ethanol) ACE members will keep working to help the EPA get the RFS on track will also continuing to work on other strategies to increase ethanol use, writes Brian Jennings. -- ...
by James L. Pray (Ethanol Producer Magazine/BrownWinick Law Firm) ... Diesel-powered Volkswagen cars and ethanol plants share more than their common tie to the auto industry. Both must meet rigorous emission standards: For Volkswagen cars, it is the exhaust from the
by Joshua Belcher and David McCullough (Sutherland Asbill & Brennan/Biofuels Digest) Over the past decade, the market for carbon offsets has waxed and waned with the likelihood of a mandatory greenhouse gas reduction program being passed into law. Carbon offsets
(Oak Ridge National Laboratory) Ethanol's inherently high octane rating makes it attractive for meeting fuel economy and greenhouse gas targets and renewable fuel mandates, according to an Oak Ridge National Laboratory report. Although ethanol has two-thirds the energy density of
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) QTR 2015 describes the current energy landscape, the potential for improvement in systems and technologies, and a wide-ranging set of related RDD&D opportunities. Energy technologies are assessed with respect to their potential security implications, economic
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Electric cars and their $1600 cost per ton for CO2 reduction. And, yep, you’re paying for it. Electric cars have environmental benefits, no doubt about it, and anyone who drives one is making a contribution to
by Michelle Fredrickson (WSU News) A researcher at Washington State University has received a three-year $450,000 federal grant to develop computer models for using iron to more efficiently refine bio-oils and make better biofuels. Jean-Sabin McEwen, assistant professor in the Voiland
by Melody M. Bomgardner (Chemical & Engineering News) Researchers at the Joint BioEnergy Institute transform biomass into energy-rich fuel molecules -- .. JBEI researchers are zeroing in on concepts that others have decided are too difficult or would take too
by former Sen. Jim Talent (R-Mo.) (The Hill) On November 30, President Obama will join leaders from 196 nations in Paris for the COP 21 United Nations Conference on Climate Change. Ironically, that same day, his Environmental Protection Agency could
(HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology) Jeremy Schmutz, faculty investigator at the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, has received a grant from the National Science Foundation to study how switchgrass plants adapt to drought stress. Schmutz, who co-directs the Genome Sequencing Center at
by Jonathan H Harsch (Agri-Pulse) When President George W. Bush signed the law creating the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) in 2005 to support biofuels production, he explained that “Using ethanol and biodiesel will leave our air cleaner. And every time we use
by Doug Durante (Clean Fuels Development Coalition/Biofuels Digest) In the aftermath of revelations of how Volkswagen had their thumb on the scale as they cheated not just the EPA, but all of us who breathe the air, it raises serious
(25 x '25) The announcement by EPA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) that it will begin preliminary research on lifecycle impacts of the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) should be good news for the biofuels industry, providing the agency’s investigators
(Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory) Switchgrass, a perennial native to the tallgrass prairie, is one of the most promising bioenergy crops in the United States, with potential to provide high-yield biomass on marginal soils unsuitable for traditional agricultural crops. New research by
(Business Wire/Biodico) Biodico, a sustainable biofuel and bioenergy company, today announced that the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center presented the results of a five-year joint research and development project with Biodico to Assistant Secretary of the
by DuneLawrence, Benjamin Elgin, Vernon Silver (Bloomberg Business) ... From February through April 2013, they (researchers from West Virginia University's Center for Alternative Fuels, Engines and Emissions) tested three diesel cars: a Volkswagen Jetta, a Volkswagen Passat, and a BMW SUV. Besch took
by Mike Bryan (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The purpose of good government has gotten all tangled up in political posturing and a seemingly single focus on getting re-elected, writes Mike Bryan. It seems to me that governments work in conflict with their
by David Hasemyer and John H. Cushman Jr. (Inside Climate News) Collaborating with the Bush-Cheney White House, Exxon turned ordinary scientific uncertainties into weapons of mass confusion. ... No wonder: in the opening days of the oil-friendly Bush-Cheney administration, Exxon's chief lobbyist had
(US Department of Energy) ICM Inc. announced successful completion of two 1,000-hour performance runs of its patent-pending Generation 2.0 Co-Located Cellulosic Ethanol process at its cellulosic ethanol pilot plant in St. Joseph, Missouri. This is an important step toward the
by Elliot Levine (US Department of Energy) A five-company team led by Haldor Topsoe, and funded in part by the Energy Department, produced 10,000 gallons of gasoline from woody biomass, which included trees and wood waste. -- The purpose of
by Michael Bastasch (Daily Caller) Abengoa Bioenergy got nearly $230 million in federal loans and grants to build a massive cellulosic biofuel refinery capable of producing 25 million gallons of ethanol every year. The company, however, says it has paid back
by Monica Trauzzi (E&E TV) As the renewable fuel standard faces continued regulatory and legislative uncertainty, DuPont Biofuels is set to open the world's largest cellulosic ethanol biorefinery in Iowa at the end of the month. How will the uncertainty impact
by Plamena Tisheva (See News) A pilot contract for the supply of algae-derived biofuel to Hawaiian Electric Co by Ohio-based Phycal Inc has been terminated after the algae project was never finished, a spokesman for the utility told Pacific Business News
(Farmers Advance) Jeff Sandborn, a Portland farmer and member of the board of the National Corn Growers Association, highlighted a new nationwide study demonstrating the economic impact of ethanol production, noting that ethanol is tied to more than 22,000 Michigan
(UT News) A researcher at The University of Texas at Austin will receive two grants totaling $15 million to study a native prairie grass, including how it can become a sustainable source of bioenergy amid global climate change. Tom Juenger, a
(Green Car Congress) Based on its analysis of the production and transport components of the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions of biofuel made from jatropha oil, the US EPA anticipates that biofuels produced from jatropha oil could qualify as biomass-based diesel
by Emily Atkin (Think Progress) Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) wants ExxonMobil investigated by the Department of Justice. In a letter to Attorney General Loretta Lynch on Tuesday, Sanders charged the oil giant of engaging in a cover-up
by Lauren Klamm (Source) Colorado State University is one of 10 institutions in a $13.8 million research grant to improve sorghum as a sustainable source for biofuel production. ... Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, the five-year grant takes a
by Nichola Groom (Reuters) ... The visitor represented Clean Line Energy Partners LLC, a Texas company established to build transmission lines for carrying wind and solar power. He had come to tell (Dave) Ulery about a planned line that would cut
(Renewable Fuels Association) The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) released the following statement regarding an ad campaign that is being launched by Smarter Fuel Future to call on Congress and the administration to repeal the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). “The oil industry
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Sapphire is a venture capital backed company founded in 2007 for the purpose of growing and processing micro-algae into products that serve very large and diverse markets where the unique attributes of algae provide valuable
(Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute/PR Newswire) The Chesapeake Bay Seed Capital Fund has invested $150,000 into Manta Biofuel LLC, a company that produces crude oil from algae at a cost that is competitive with traditional petroleum, University of Maryland officials announce today. The
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) On October 9, the U.S. Department of Energy released a report about the threats posed by climate change to the U.S. electricity and fuels sector, U.S. Energy Sector: Regional Vulnerabilities and Resilience Solutions. Climate change
by Timothy Cama (The Hill) The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) internal watchdog is launching a project to analyze the environmental impact of the federal ethanol mandate. The EPA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) sent a letter to agency officials Thursday
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Transportation in the United States produces 1.8 gigatons of carbon dioxide-equivalent GHG emissions (27% of U.S. totals) and is a significant source of criteria pollutants, particularly nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter. Emissions have
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In the terrestrial world, oxygen is colorless, odorless, and try to get through an hour without some. In the Bioeconomy Cinematic Universe, oxygen is harder than steel, heavier than a black hole, and higher than
by Summer Barkley (DVIDS/Biodiesel Magazine) Three unrelated problems were solved by one simple solution devised by Logistics Civil Augmentation Program IV contract partner Fluor to convert used cooking oil into biodiesel to help power solid waste incinerators at Bagram Air
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... The biggest expansion of free trade in a generation, the Trans-Pacific Partnership could reshape world trade in food and agriculture. Here’s the need to know: What it is: The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is a new trade
by Tom Doran (AgriNews) ... “When it comes to growing corn, no one does it better than America’s family farmers,” National Corn Growers President Chip Bowling said at a Farm Progress Show press conference. “But our challenge today is two-fold: First, we must
(The Energy Report/Market Oracle) New proposed EPA requirements for the renewable fuel standard program, combined with challenging sugarcane harvests in South America, could increase demand for biodiesel, creating opportunity in a struggling energy sector. In this interview with The Energy
(Bergeson & Campbell, PC) On October 6, 2015, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) issued a Request for Information (RFI) to solicit relevant data and information, including case studies that may assist in the development of
by Nicole Heslip (Brownfield Ag News) The Corn Marketing Program of Michigan says a grant to increase blender pumps will save consumers money. Communications Specialist Angel Jenio tells Brownfield the Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership awarded grants to 21 states including Michigan. “That
by Devin Henry (The Hill) A group of senators is pushing the White House to issue a strong mandate for ethanol fuel. Fourteen senators — a mix of Republicans and Democrats, many from ethanol-producing Midwestern states — met with White House
(U.S. Department of Transportation/Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has announced grants totaling $5.9 million to provide hazardous materials training for volunteer or remote emergency responders. The Assistance for Local Emergency Response
by Seth Borenstein (Associated Press/Detroit News) Volkswagen’s pollution-control chicanery has not just been victimless tinkering, killing between five and 20 people in the United States annually in recent years, according to an Associated Press statistical and computer analysis. The software that the
by Tom Steever (Brownfield Ag News) The cost of biodiesel would be lower if more of the U.S. production capacity was put to use. National Biodiesel Board Sustainability Director Don Scott tells Brownfield the country could be producing three billion gallons
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) ... How do you create clean vehicles that consumers want to buy? All of the automakers are currently focused on this question. The Department of Energy’s Quadrennial Technology Review calls for the co-optimization of fuels and
(EurekAlert!/Algae Foundation) As industry grows, demand for trained algae researchers, scientists and engineers increases --- The Algae Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the public about the algae industry, has been awarded a multi-year grant from the Department of
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The US DOE Bioenergy Technologies Office’s Algae Program is carrying out a long-term applied research and development strategy to increase the yields and lower the costs of algal biofuels by working with partners to develop
(Michigan State University) A new $1 million relationship between Michigan State University and ExxonMobil will expand research designed to progress the fundamental science required to advance algae-based fuels. David Kramer, MSU’s John Hannah Distinguished Professor in Photosynthesis and Bioenergetics at the
(Joule/BusinessWire) Joule, the pioneer of liquid fuels from recycled CO2, today announced that its fuel grade Sunflow®-E ethanol has been registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for commercial use in E10 and E15 gasoline blends. “We are approaching commercialization
by Amanda Reilly (E&E/Governors' Biofuels Coalition) Biodiesel can contribute significantly to U.S. carbon dioxide reduction goals, according to a new analysis released by the industry’s main trade group. The report conducted by Bates White Economic Consulting found that boosting biodiesel production
(The Biobased and Renewable Products Advocacy Group (BRAG®)) On September 30, 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) held a workshop on genetically engineered (GE) algae to give stakeholders an opportunity to hear about EPA's plans for improving its risk
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) welcomes new ozone standards that will further protect public health from the negative respiratory, developmental, and other health effects of ozone exposure. The new standards, set at 70
by Amanda Reilly (E&E/Governors' Biofuels Coalition) Former Sen. Jim Talent (R-Mo.) today will launch a new group to boost the nation’s biofuel policy. The group, Americans for Energy Security and Innovation, will seek to mobilize elected officials in support of the renewable
by Bruce Peterson and Jeffrey Jackson (Owatonna People's Press) ... We all want to breathe cleaner air and save a few bucks when we put fuel in our vehicles. I am proud to say that Minnesota’s corn farmers are helping to
(US Department of Transportation) The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is announcing the availability of $22.5 million through the latest round of the Low or No Emission Vehicle Deployment Program (LoNo) that will help deploy the next
by Gillian Klucas (University of Nebraska-Lincoln) ... The University of Nebraska-Lincoln will lead a $13.5 million, multi-institutional research effort to improve sorghum as a sustainable source for biofuel production. Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, this five-year grant takes a comprehensive
by Mario Parker (Bloomberg/Renewable Energy World) Producers of motor fuels from plant waste say they have been left behind in President Barack Obama’s push to fight climate change. Executives from about two dozen companies that produce advanced biofuels say a proposal to
(US Department of Energy) What is biomass? Where does biomass come from? How are biofuels made? What is bioenergy? Participate in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) BioenergizeME Infographic Challenge to explore these questions and learn about how bioenergy affects
by Coral Davenport (The New York Times) A majority of Republicans — including 54 percent of self-described conservative Republicans — believe the world’s climate is changing and that mankind plays some role in the change, according to a new survey conducted by
(EurekAlert!/US Department of Energy) New technique removes barrier to development of biofuel cells with efficient performance -- With fossil-fuel sources dwindling, better biofuel cell design is a strong candidate in the energy field. In research published in the Journal of
(Federal Bureau of Investigation) Alex Jariv, 28, of Las Vegas, Nevada, was sentenced today in federal court to 30 months in prison and three years of supervised release for his role in illegal schemes to generate and sell fraudulent biodiesel
by Bill Brandon (Biofuels Digest) Fooling with computers to give false readings has happened before. It is important to recognize similarities to earlier cases and EPA’s role in them. The 1998 consent decree In October 1998, the DOJ and EPA entered into a
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) On September 22, Volkswagen Motors (VW) admitted that it had cheated on emissions testing in Europe and the United States, by installing a piece of software known as a ‘defeat device’ in diesel cars. The Environmental
by Sebastien Pouliot and Bruce A. Babcock (Iowa Farmer Today) ... Estimation of the demand for E85 requires data matching various E85 price levels with the corresponding amount of E85 sales. A rich source of data was provided to us that we
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Ethanol D6 RIN prices have stayed relatively stable over the summer while D4 biodiesel RINs prices plummeted, Illinois economists Scott Irwin and Darrel Good point out in a recent FarmDocDaily post, “Why Isn’t the
(National Biodiesel Board) In a fight to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, California's Air Resources Board has spent years looking for the cleanest, most efficient ways to cut carbon. Turns out, biodiesel is at the top of the list. Friday the board
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the Climate Trust received a $1 million Conservation Innovation Grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to launch their inaugural investment fund; structured to provide carbon finance to biogas, forestry and
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Senate democrats introduced a national energy bill Sept. 22 that they says offers a pathway to a cleaner energy future and economy. The American Energy Innovation Act of 2015 takes a multi-faceted approach,
by David Morgan (Automotive News/Reuters) Daniel Carder, an unassuming 45-year-old engineer with gray hair and blue jeans, appears an unlikely type to take down one of the world's most powerful companies. But he and his small research team at West Virginia
(Amyris) Anticipated to Expand Portfolio by Adding Hundreds of Molecules Across Multiple Development Platforms - Amyris, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMRS), the industrial bioscience company, today announced a multi-year, Technology Investment Agreement (TIA) worth up to $35 million with the Defense Advanced Research Projects
(Phys.Org) Researchers generated nearly 16,000 sequences of gene-containing regions for barley, mapping approximately two-thirds of all annotated barley genes. While researchers continue to work on a complete reference sequence for the barley genome, the determination of improved sequence assemblies for the
by Chris Reiter (Bloomberg/MSN.com) Volkswagen AG said irregularities on diesel- emission readings extend to 11 million vehicles around the world, forcing the German carmaker to set aside 6.5 billion euros ($7.3 billion) in an initial tally of the potential costs. Volkswagen
by Bobby Magill (Climate Central) Landfills may be emitting more methane than previously reported because the Environmental Protection Agency may be drastically underestimating how much garbage is being deposited in landfills across the U.S., according to a new Yale University
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) After scientists found that toxic lead particles in engine exhaust were accumulating in bodies and affecting brain health, amendments to the Clean Air Act 25 years ago prohibited the use of lead in gasoline. Children were
by Mike Bryan (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Instead of setting a blend wall for ethanol, why not set a fossil fuel pollution cap, writes Mike Bryan of BBI International. -- ... I have a crazy idea. Instead of setting a blend wall
(Vertimass/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Vertimass LLC announced the company has chosen Technip to provide pilot testing, scale-up, and initial plant design for their novel technology for converting alcohol to renewable gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel blend stocks that are compatible with
by Gary Truitt (Hoosier Ag Today) ... In 2006 Indiana was in the midst of a revolution, a revolution that would change the fabric of the Hoosier farm economy forever. Ethanol plants were popping up around the state like marestail. In
(Oak Ridge National Laboratory) A catalyst being developed by researchers at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory could overcome one of the key obstacles still preventing automobile engines from running more cleanly and efficiently. The mixed oxide catalyst could
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) Executives from the advanced biofuels industry are criticizing the Obama Administration for not adhering to its promise to support the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). They say the lack of adhering to mandates has undercut investment in
by Don Siefkes, Debbie Baron and Eileen Broderick (E100 Ethanol Group, Mendo Alcohol Fuel Group) ... California Governor Jerry Brown and other Governors, the California Air Resources Board (CARB), and much of the major media are continuing their unnerving habit
by Patrick George (Jalopnik) Yes, it’s a catastrophe. There’s no other way to describe the allegations from the Environmental Protection Agency that Volkswagen cheated on their emissions tests with nearly half a million TDI diesel cars. What’s at stake here?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, EPA issued a notice of violation of the Clean Air Act to Volkswagen AG, Audi AG, and Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. alleging that four-cylinder Volkswagen and Audi diesel cars from model years 2009-2015
by Thomas Richard (Examiner.com/Climate Change Dispatch) According to Politico's Morning Energy report published today, twenty climate scientists have sent a letter to President Obama urging him to jail climate skeptics using the RICO act. In a letter dated September 1
by Neela Banerjee, Lisa Song and David Hasemyer (Inside Climate News) Top executives were warned of possible catastrophe from greenhouse effect, then led efforts to block solutions. ... This untold chapter in Exxon's history, when one of the world's largest energy
(25 x '25) DOE late last week issued its second Quadrennial Technology Review (QTR), which department officials say examines the current status of clean energy technologies and identifies hundreds of clean energy research opportunities. ... So while the Obama administration would use
by Amanda Peterka (E&E/Governors' Biofuels Coalition) U.S. EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy today said that the renewable fuel standard is a “vital” tool for addressing climate change and that her agency is committed to building up the domestic biofuels industry. But she cautioned
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) A recasting of oil industry data from a recent NERA Economic Consulting study prepared for the American Petroleum Institute (API) found the oil industry would be economically harmed by more than $12.3 trillion in potential profits
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) ... One such initiative is working with key players in Chicago to get 150 E15 stations up and running in the city. A piece of legislation is sitting with the Alderman and the mayor and Hartman hopes
by Barry Blitstein (TribLive) Letter to Editor: Regarding the editorial “The ethanol racket: More perversion” : Calling the ethanol industry a “racket” as if it were a form of organized crime is nothing short of scandalous. ... Ethanol is the cheapest and safest
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Reports from the EIA, IRENA and Lux Research give key pointers for current trends and a look at “how long does it take to stand up a technology?” ... The US Energy Information Administration updated it’s
by David Shaffer (Star Tribune) ... Across the Twin Cities region, 19 independent gas station owners like Olson have become Minnoco retailers in the past two years, freeing themselves from big oil companies while cutting costs and launching group marketing efforts.
(American Energy Alliance) Today, the American Energy Alliance released a new survey examining voters’ attitudes toward transportation policy, specifically government support for electric vehicles. The results show that Americans are deeply skeptical of government making decisions for them with respect
by Chris Mooney (The Washington Post) Even as President Obama further amplifies his rhetoric about addressing climate change, a coalition of environmental organizations released a letter Monday seeking to push his administration much further still. Not content with recently announced curbs on emissions
(Algenol/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Offering ethanol made from algae for the first time commercially, Algenol Biotech LLC and Protec Fuel Management LLC have entered into an agreement to market and distribute ethanol from Algenol’s Fort Myers, Florida., commercial demonstration module. The two
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) USDA announces state finalists for the Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership. Will it move the needle? The Digest investigates. In Washington, US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that 21 states will receive grants through the Biofuel Infrastructure
(Urban Air Initiative/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Officials from the Urban Air Initiative called the recent effort by the American Petroleum Institute to discredit ethanol a smokescreen to hide the fact that the toxic components in gasoline are endangering the lives of millions
(US Department of Energy) The Energy Department today (September 10, 2015) announced $11 million in available funding to support development and demonstration of innovative alternative technologies for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, designed to help reduce U.S. reliance on gasoline, diesel,
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Meeting a court directed deadline, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration submitted the final rule for the Food Safety Modernization Act for publication at the end of August, releasing information on its website on
by Coral Didion (Renewable Fuels Association) Food versus fuel is the misconception that we are diverting farmland and crops toward biofuel production to the detriment of the food supply. Didion Milling, which has been in business since 1972, producing corn meal,
(US Department of Energy) Research Opportunities Highlighted in Report Lay Out Options for America’s Clean Energy Future -- Today (September 10, 2015), the Energy Department released its second Quadrennial Technology Review (QTR), which examines the current status of clean energy technologies
by Robert E. Kozak* (Advanced Biofuels USA) I, like many of you reading this, am working on a concept paper for the US Department of Energy/Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s recent Bioenergy Technologies Incubator 2 Funding Opportunity (DE‐FOA‐0001320). This
(US Department of Agriculture) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that 21 states will receive grants through the Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership (BIP) to add infrastructure needed to supply more renewable fuel to America's drivers. Since announcing the program in May
by Todd Neeley (DTN The Progressive Farmer) ... Biofuels interest groups denounced the study as a rehash of a similar effort in 2012 that made predictions that were provably false. ... Biofuels interest groups countered that the NERA study is just a
by John Sedbrook (Chicago Business) ... The Obama administration has taken laudable strides to reconcile fossil fuel dependence and climate change. In the past few months, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced new efforts to curb emissions from airlines, heavy-duty trucks
(Michigan State University) Michigan State University has earned a $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to better understand how biofuel crops acquire nitrogen, insights that could help maximize yields while minimizing fertilizer use. Sarah Evans, an integrative biologist
(US Department of Agriculture) China is a major producer of biofuels and production continues to increase. However, it is unclear how the government will meet its ambitious targets for continued expansion given its decision to limit grainbased biofuel production and the limited
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Tobacco’s been re-thought, re-engineered and re-invented as a platform for sustainable, low-carbon fuels, and green chemicals – who’s doing what, where and how? ... If tobacco’s reputation has fallen into disrepute on soil sustainability and smoking
(American Petroleum Institute) The statutory biofuel mandates under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) are infeasible to achieve in 2015 and beyond and could cause severe harm to consumers and the U.S. economy, according to a study by NERA Economic Consulting
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Unlimited oil production, no exploration risk, positive on environment, cheaper than unconventional US crude — what’s not to like about certain biofuels? This year, Joule Unlimited noted that a “10,000 acre plant represents a reserve value
by Brent Erickson (Biotechnology Innovation Organization/Biofuels Digest) The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has begun to examine boosting gasoline octane ratings to achieve greater greenhouse gas emission control standards for passenger vehicles after 2025. Higher octane ratings would enable increased fuel
by Kent Peppler (Colorado Statesman/Rocky Mountain Farmers Union) ... Rocky Mountain Farmers Union supports a strong RFS, and so should Colorado’s congressional delegation. ... Closer to home, the RFS has been a boost to Colorado farmers and our economy. According
by Will Buss (Belleville News-Democrat) Ethanol producers’ profit margins have been squeezed while gasoline prices have fluctuated and oil prices have dropped. However, the biofuels industry is holding to its firm belief in the clean and renewable resource. Crude oil prices
(Iowa State University) The National Science Foundation (NSF) has added three years and $8.48 million to the grant supporting the NSF Engineering Research Center for Biorenewable Chemicals based at Iowa State University. That brings NSF’s total funding of the center (known
(Edeniq) California Energy Commission provided funding for biofuels technology breakthrough -- – Edeniq, a biorefining and cellulosic technology company, completed a major upgrade of its cellulosic sugar and ethanol pilot facility. The company designed and operated new, proprietary equipment for feedstock
(US Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) has released a Request for Information (RFI) titled “High Yields through Productivity and Integration Research.” BETO is seeking input from
by Jayson Beckman (US Department of Agriculture) Global biofuel production rose tremendously over 2001-13, led largely by rapid growth in the United States and the European Union (EU). Brazil, the second largest biofuel producer, doubled its production in that span. A
(WNAX) Monday, the Fuels America Coalition took out the third advertisement in the last two weeks to pressure the President and EPA to raise the volume levels under the RFS. It’s based on his climate change goals. Nebraska Ethanol Board
(Office of Senator Heidi Heitkamp) U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today announced $250,000 in federal funding for research at the University of North Dakota (UND) to study biomass as a biofuel and solar energy absorption by nanoparticles. “North Dakota has a rich
by Tom Ewing (Renewable Energy World) In a July 1 Federal Register notice, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) presented plans to control greenhouse gases (GHG) from aircraft. In August, in Washington, D.C., EPA held a hearing on its proposal.
by Stephen Stromberg (The Washington Post) President Obama declared climate change to be the defining threat of the century in Alaska this week, before he literally hiked a melting glacier. But, once again proving that virtually nothing will be enough for
(Washington State University) Hanwu Lei, Washington State University Tri-Cities associate professor in biological systems engineering, was awarded a $494,000 grant this fall to research catalysts, which will be used to increase the energy output and performance of biofuels. Lei said he
by Marc J. Rauch (The Auto Channel) ... On an official basis, E15 is approved by the EPA to be used in all gasoline-powered passenger vehicles manufactured in or after 2001. The vast majority of gasoline-powered vehicles on the road in
(Fuels America/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Fuels America is sponsoring a full page ad Monday in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, aimed at President Obama during his appearance at the National Clean Energy Summit in Nevada, where he is the keynote speaker. The ad
by Matt Carr (Algae Biomass Organization/Industrial Biotechnology) Algae, with their ability to consume carbon dioxide and create oxygen, are widely credited with creating the environment for life as we know it on the planet. Today, they are increasingly being seen
by Michael McAdams (Advanced Biofuels Association/Biomass Magazine) ... As many of you know, the RFS was created to “reduce dependence on foreign sources of petroleum, increase domestic sources of energy, and help transition to alternatives to petroleum in the transportation sector”
by Abbie Fentress Swanson (National Public Radio) ... A growing number of biofuel producers are teaming up with farms, meatpackers and waste management companies to tap gassy waste to meet new demand for renewable jet fuel and diesel for vehicles. Lots of
(Ensyn/Advanced Biofuels Association) Dr. Robert Graham, CEO and Chairman of Ensyn Corporation (Ensyn), is pleased to announce that Ensyn has been granted a key regulatory approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its renewable diesel product, RFDiesel. This
by Douglas L. Faulkner (Biofuels Digest) Most liberals don’t hate biofuels. But most don’t love them either, mainly because of their underlying environmental concerns about first-generation biofuels, corn starch ethanol and soy biodiesel. The left’s deep ambivalence toward biofuels is thus
by Zia Haq (US Department of Energy) It’s been one year since we at the Energy Department ramped up our efforts to develop renewable jet fuel for the military and commercial aviation industry. The Department’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) joined
(US Department of Energy) BETO recently published a report summarizing the proceedings of the second Incorporating Bioenergy in Sustainable Landscape Designs Workshop, held June 24–26, 2014, in Argonne, Illinois. The workshop focused on agricultural landscapes and convened a discussion on the
(US Department of Energy) The Energy Department today announced two additional projects selected to receive up to $4 million to develop next-generation biofuels that will help reduce the cost of producing gasoline, diesel, and jet fuels from biomass. These projects—in
(US Department of Energy) The Energy Department today (August 26, 2015) announced up to $10 million in funding to advance the production of advanced biofuels, substitutes for petroleum-based feedstocks and bioproducts made from renewable, non-food-based biomass, such as algae, agricultural
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) Todd Gardner, CEO of Protec Fuel, has more than 30 years in the fuel business. As such, he has been able to launch an interesting model in how they bring more choice at the pump by
by Fran Flynn (Biofuels Digest/ Fleet Advantage) On the putting green, the golfer who putts last has the advantage of watching his predecessor ‘show him the line. ... On June 19, 2015 the Secretary of the Department of Transportation, Anthony R.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Bioenergy Technologies Office’s (BETO’s) Algae Program is carrying out a long-term applied research and development (R&D) strategy to increase the yields and lower the costs of algal biofuels by working with partners to develop
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) What is the Earth Room Problem and how is osmotic shock helping us to solve it? You may have wondered to yourself — at some point between 2009’s Summer of Algae and now, in 2015’s Summer of Where
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has been studying current gas retailer’s infrastructure to determine if the equipment is already certified for E15 and flex fuels such as mid-level ethanol blends (E30, E40, E85). If so,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) establishes partnerships with key public and private stakeholders to develop and demonstrate technologies for producing cost-competitive advanced biofuels from non-food biomass resources, including cellulosic biomass, algae,
(Avalara) ... The fuel industry is subject to one of the most complex tax structures in the U.S. and there’s little chance of that changing in the foreseeable future. Federal excise taxes are relatively straightforward. But on top of federal taxes,
by Jason W. Brooks (Newton Daily News) ... U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley spoke with the Newton Daily News about RFS issues in a recent conference call. Grassley said there are number of ways Congress can attempt to persuade the EPA to
by Wayne J. D'Angelo (Fracking Insider) On Tuesday, August 18, 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) issued proposed New Source Performance Standards (“NSPS”) under the Clean Air Act covering methane and volatile organic compound (“VOC”) emissions for certain equipment, processes,
by Gabe Corey (Battle Creek Enquirer) Michigan agriculture is driving our economy forward — and ethanol is a major factor in this success. Ethanol supports more than 22,000 jobs in Michigan, while pumping more than $4 billion into our state’s
by James L. Stewart (MSW Management/Biofuels Digest) When it comes to its progress in achieving zero waste to landfills, the United States is on a par with Slovenia and the Czech Republic. -- On average, the top eight countries in Europe
by Rob Nikolewski (Watchdog.org) ... Brooke Coleman, executive director at the Advanced Ethanol Council, counters by saying the industry is at an inherent disadvantage compared to oil companies and is ready for prime time. “Once cellulosic biofuel breaks through on a commercial
by Brian Jennings (Ethanol Producer Magazine/American Coalition for Ethanol) I’d like to introduce you to some of the people who are proof that good things come when the U.S. EPA and other policymakers in Washington have the courage to
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