by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...It comes down now to three weeks, just three weeks. There will be high drama of energy, jobs, tax and carbon legislation moving at, by Washington standards, light speed. After that, legislators aim to get out
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel) Our country is quickly sliding down a slippery slope. Not too long ago, we were the leaders in renewable energy – wind, solar, biofuels. Today, not only have the major technological advancements come from overseas, our manufacturing
(Washington Post) Editorial ...What better time to revisit the enduring, maddening, illogical contrast between how little Americans actually pay to drive -- and how fiercely they resist even modest gasoline tax increases that would go a long way in addressing
(Washington Post) Editorial ...Many lawmakers want the government to require utilities to derive a certain percentage of their electricity from clean sources. And one of the sources that would probably qualify is so-called renewable biomass -- everything from forest debris
(The Grand Island Independent) With renewable fuel supporters upset with the EPA's continued delay of allowing E15 at gasoline pumps and with more and more E85 vehicles on the road, Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Neb., along with Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin,
(Journal Star) Editorial The environmental advantages of renewable fuels could hardly be more evident than now, when the consequences of risky deepwater oil drilling are fouling the water and shorelines of the Gulf of Mexico. Yet the federal government is not
by Vinod Khosla (Washington Post) If our goal is carbon reduction, a cap-and-trade or carbon-pricing bill, with its likely compromises, would be worse right now than no regulation. Pricing carbon below $40 per ton will not change how industry does
(E100 Group/Biofuels Digest) The recent oil platform blowout in the Gulf of Mexico shows the madness of the United States continuing to use 140 billion gals of gasoline/yr to power our light duty cars and trucks. The E100 Ethanol Group believes it
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, three ethanol industry groups have asked that legislators keep biofuels in mind. “It is likely that the Senate will take up an energy bill, heavy
by Anna Austin (Biomass Magazine) With their extreme versatility and often complicated nature, it isn’t easy for most people to wrap their brain around advanced biofuels, and the definitions in the renewable fuels standard 2 (RFS2) aren’t much help. ...Generally, there
by Michael O'Brien (The Hill) Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) will offer legislation next week that would allow states to opt out of federal law requiring a certain level of ethanol be blended into gasoline. Inhofe says he's crafting a measure he
(Advanced Biofuels Association) Advanced Biofuels Association President Michael McAdams briefed the House Agriculture Committee this afternoon, telling its members, "It's time to take politics out of renewable fuels and let sound science and sound energy policy govern biofuels policy moving
by Jeff Hage (The Fergus Falls Daily Journal) If there was ever a time in our history that the United States will not drill its way out of its energy problems, it’s now. That was the message Sen. Al Franken brought to
by Rep. Harry Teague (D-NM) (Politico) ...It turns out there are two immediate barriers to raising capital for commercial-scale production of algae-based fuel. The first is a quirk in our tax code that provides tax incentives for cellulosic biofuel production but
(St. Joseph News-Press, Mo) Editorial: ...A long-term solution, however, can be found in the farm fields of Northwest Missouri and Northeast Kansas. The environmental debacle in the Gulf emphasizes the need for the United States to have viable alternatives to
by Stephanie Dreyer (Growth Energy, RenewableEnergyWorld.com) The full scope of the environmental catastrophe due to the BP spill in the Gulf of Mexico will not be learned for some time – but one thing is certain: if we are ever
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Last week, BP committed $500 million in a ten-year year research program to study “the impact of the Deepwater Horizon incident, and its associated response, on the marine and shoreline environment of the Gulf of
By Carey Gillam (Reuters) The disastrous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico illustrates a pressing need for the United States to pass legislative incentives to drive investment dollars into cellulosic and algae-based biofuel facilities, biofuel industry leaders said on Thursday. "This
by Philip Brasher (Des Moines Register) That next generation of biofuels is still stuck in the lab, as the developers have been unable to attract investors or get loan guarantees out of the government. So now, those companies are asking Congress to
(Advanced Biofuels Association) The Advanced Biofuels Association launched a new online video series today. The Clean Fuels Forecast spotlights the top public policy issues and maneuvering in Washington affecting the advanced biofuels industry. In its first episode, now posted on the ABFA
by Leon Kaye (Triplepundit) ...Regardless of party affiliation, senators in the northern prairie states have a history of opposing any bill focused on energy independence or energy efficiency. These senators are good, however, in promoting legislation favoring local industries. Senate
by Cary Blake (Western Farm Press) Steve Kaffka paints an optimistic picture of the future of California biofuels production. Weather, water availability, and state and federal policies, Kaffka says, will help determine if California agriculture one day serves as a larger
(GreenAir Online) The American Power Act proposed by US senators Kerry and Lieberman represented the “wrong approach for aviation,” said Nancy Young, Vice President Environment of the Air Transport Association of America (ATA). She estimated the cost to airlines and
(SweeterAlternative.com) Sugarcane ethanol is a clean, renewable fuel that reduces greenhouse gas emissions by over 60% compared to gasoline and can save money at the pump. These are just a couple of the points delivered by various race drivers that compete
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, 90 US scientists wrote to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and US Senate Majority leader Harry Reid to fix accounting standards for greenhouse gas emissions associated with bioenergy projects. The scientists said they wanted to
by Joel Velasco (SweeterAlternative.com) ...One reason for higher fuel prices is a lack of competition in the market for ethanol. Economics 101 is pretty clear: consumers win when businesses compete in an open market, because competition produces higher quality products
(RenewableEnergyWorld.com) ...Including biomass power plants under the EPA’s tailoring rule is a clear policy shift and may imply a change in position for future policy. The lack of distinction between renewable biomass as an alternative fuel to traditional fossil fuels like
by Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) (Fosters.com) ...While ethanol does cut our use of fossil fuels and reduces some harmful air emissions, it also raises some serious concerns. It is a powerful solvent that can damage engines and fuel systems, break
by B.A. (Ben) Thorp and Masood Akhtar (Ahead of the Curve, TAPPI) ...The first question to ask is, why do I need to know any of this? Reasons can range from increasing one's knowledge to helping guide personal investment to evaluating
by Brian Jennings (The Hill) ...Today, conventional oil supplies are being tapped out and maintaining our current level of addiction forces us to hunt for scarce deposits in deepwater wells or in the Canadian tar sands. These unconventional sources of
by Mackinnon Lawrence (Biomass Intel) ...While aggressive with GHG reduction provisions, the American Power Act (APA) is short on biofuel-specific provisions... Some of the key strategies for incentivizing low carbon fuels under the bill include increasing fuel economy standards, incentivizing low
(PR Newswire) The Advanced BioFuels Association applauded the leadership of U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) as he recently introduced a biofuels tax incentive bill that extends the Investment Tax Credit to advanced biofuels. The Nelson bill, S. 3338, would make available the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...The invite-only meeting, which attracted more than 100 attendees, was structured around two panels, one focused primarily on policy and led by USDA Chief Economist Joe Glauber and featuring biofuels consortium head Jose Olivares (Los
(The Clean) With Uncertainty Mounting About Climate/Energy Bill, Major New Study for CSI Details Path for Breaking Away From "Business As Usual" in the Electric Power Sector. What happens if Congress fails to pass a climate or energy bill in 2010? Even
(Biodiesel Magazine) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack toured Middletown Biofuels in central Pennsylvania on May 7, where he highlighted biodiesel production as a critical component in America’s strategy to create jobs and revitalize the rural economy. But the hope of Congress
by Thom Gabrukiewicz (ArgusLeader.com) ...Tom Vilsack, the president's agriculture secretary, said Thursday that much progress has been made - but more must be done. "We're conducting the first national on-energy production survey to find out among 20,000 farms and ranches precisely
by Bryce Covert (New Deal 2.0) ...Fact #1: Burning oil to generate electricity makes up a tiny percentage of overall generation in the US. ...Fact #2: Electricity generation accounts for almost 40% of US greenhouse gas emissions-the largest source of
(AP, Bloomberg Businessweek) U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin says she will propose a tax credit aimed at encouraging investment in development of the next generation of renewable fuels. ...She says her bill would create a tax credit for those who
by Robert Pore (The Independent) The 2012 Farm Bill was the focus of attention Tuesday in Cheyenne, Wyo., as members of the House Agriculture Committee, including U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Neb., heard from farmers and ranchers on a variety of
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) On March 18, 2010, the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) held a briefing on the state of the cellulosic biofuel industry and its prospects for producing the volumes required by the federal Renewable Fuel Standard
by Jake Caldwell (Center for American Progress) ...There is no question that the United States must reduce its dependence on oil. One-fifth of the oil consumed in the United States is imported from nations that are “dangerous or unstable” for
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) Ethanol producers and corn farmers who were hoping for President Obama to make a strong show of support for the ethanol industry when he appeared at a POET plant in Missouri on Wednesday were probably a
U.S. Reps. Allyson Schwartz (D-PA), Mark Schauer (D-MI) and Brian Bilbray (R-CA) introduced bipartisan legislation yesterday that will encourage the next generation of biofuels or fuels made from living things such as plants and algae. The GREEN JOB (Grow Renewable Energy
by Mark Steil (Minnesota Public Radio) The idea of a biofuel made from something other than food was one of the stars of both the Bush and Obama administration's energy programs, but the future of cellulosic ethanol is in doubt. Cellulosic
(POET) Technology ready, CEO says, but loan guarantee, policy stability and market access still needed to achieve vision. POET plans to have a hand in producing 3.5 billion gallons of cellulosic ethanol per year by 2022, POET CEO Jeff Broin said
Nick Snow (Oil and Gas Journal) US senators from agricultural states introduced legislation on Apr. 20 that would extend the federal ethanol tax credit through 2015. Failure to do so would cost 112,000 jobs nationwide and reduce domestic fuel ethanol
by Robert Rapier (Forbes) ...In order to better understand the intricacies of the issues involved, I have been engaged in dialogue with a number of industry groups and economists. Here I will try to shed some light on the tariff
by Brent Erickson (Executive Vice President, Biotechnology Industry Organization) From a letter to Senators John Kerry, Lindsey Graham and Joe Lieberman: ...BIO urges, therefore, that any comprehensive climate change legislation include appropriate incentives for, and recognition of, biotechnology solutions that
by Darren Samuelsohn (New York Times) Key senators are weighing a request from Big Oil to levy a carbon fee on the industry rather than wrap it into a sweeping cap-and-trade system that covers most of the U.S. economy. If accepted,
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel) “When do we stop investing in OPEC and start investing in America?” That’s the question that oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens asked at a House Ways and Means committee hearing Wednesday (April 14, 2010) on “Energy Tax
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In New York, a battle royal has been joined on the comments page of the Natural Resources Defense League (sic) following posts on the economic and greenhouse gas benefits (or lack thereof, according to NRDC’s Nathanael
by Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuels USA) It doesn't make sense to exchange reliance on one kind of imported transportation essential for another. This is as true for foreign oil; fossil fuels; batteries and rare earth metals for electric cars; as
by Nick Chambers (Gas2.0) Calling themselves the “underdogs,” the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA) has today launched an advertising campaign and a new website, sweeteralternative.com, to bring awareness of the successes of the Brazilian ethanol industry to a U.S. audience. The
by Gal Luft (The Baltimore Sun) ...While both drilling and efficiency promise little relief, with growing instability in the Middle East and millions of Chinese and Indians moving from bicycles to cars, it is almost a given that we will
(Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News) Funding the existing cellulosic biofuel reverse auction program is a targeted, affordable way to assist pioneer cellulosic biofuel producers in the United States. The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) released a March 23, 2010, letter to House and Senate
March 29, 2010, Congressman Leonard Boswell (D-IA) and Congressman Lee Terry (R-NE) held a news conference to highlight a bipartisan effort to boost our country’s homegrown energy industry by improving infrastructure for moving ethanol from the Midwest to the rest
Under the Clean Air Act Section 211(o), as amended by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA), the Environmental Protection Agency is required to promulgate regulations implementing changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard program. The revised statutory requirements specify
Joined by advocates of America's renewable fuels industry, Congressman Earl Pomeroy (D-ND) and Congressman John Shimkus (R-IL) unveiled legislation that would extend tax incentives that are critical to the nation's ethanol industry and the preservation of hundreds of thousands of jobs. The
by Philip Brasher (DesMoinesRegister.com) The National Research Council is digging into the economic and environmental impact of biofuels, but the results of the congressionally mandated study won’t be known until next year. That means the results won’t be known until
by Alan Murray and Kimberley Strassel (Wall Street Journal) These days, giant oil companies find themselves trying to balance two big pressures on their business. Governments are trying to slash carbon emissions—but the world's thirst for oil is growing by leaps
Federal tax policies should incentivize commercial deployment of advanced industrial biotechnologies, which can create jobs, reduce reliance on petroleum, and achieve greenhouse gas reductions. The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) today released a white paper on the growth and jobs potential
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) BIO exec VP Brent Erickson ruefully noted in a conference with reporters that the biofuels industry was “very disappointed in the loan guarantee program. Biomass was mixed in with wind and solar, which have much
(New York Times) House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio and other key Republicans plan to unveil a formal resolution that would effectively veto EPA's "endangerment" finding. That determination, issued last December, finds that greenhouse gases threaten public health and
by Juliet Eilperin and Steven Mufson (Washington Post) Three key senators are engaged in a radical behind-the-scenes overhaul of climate legislation, preparing to jettison the broad "cap-and-trade" approach that has defined the legislative debate for close to a decade. The
by Clayton McMartin(Clean Fuels Clearinghouse) To say the RFS2 rule is complex would be a huge understatement. In reality this rule is much more complex than RFS1. Recognizing this, and the fact that thousands of companies throughout the industry will need
by Robert Kozak (Advanced Biofuels USA) Contemplating the continued inability of the US to meet the biofuels and advanced biofuels production and sales expectations codified in the Renewable Fuels Standard, the Advanced Biofuels USA board passed a resolution to introduce
by Robert E. Kozak (Advanced Biofuels USA) Since the provisions of the RFS were written into the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007 without a realistic funding provision, RFS and RFS2 are, as a practical matter, “Sense of
by Mark (Corn Commentary) ...The next issue can already be seen on the horizon and it can be seen clearly because it is not a “new” criticism. It is called the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC). This is the
In response to a paper published by two Cornell University professors – a paper that is critical of the Environmental Protection Agency’s calculations that grain ethanol emits far fewer greenhouse gas emissions than conventional gasoline – Growth Energy released the
A recent EPA announcement that corn-based ethanol achieves a 21 percent greenhouse gas reduction compared to gasoline is based on false accounting assumptions and could actually lead to more fossil fuel consumption, according to Cornell University economists whose research will
by Lisa Hare (Yankton Press & Dakotan) The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recent final ruling on the national Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) was met with mixed responses by farm state politicians and organizational leaders. “This is a good news/bad news announcement
(NASC Online) General Motors Co. is asking for more U.S. ethanol stations to help fuel its growing fleet of hybrid vehicles, Reuters reports. The car maker is producing more vehicles able to run on ethanol-gasoline blends. Tom Stevens, GM vice chairman
by Charles Zusman (NJ.com) Boating interests are on guard against a move by the ethanol industry to increase the ethanol content of gasoline from 10 percent to 15 percent, an action they fear might be harmful to marine engines. Boating
By Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The expected EPA approval of E15 later this year will be only the beginning. In order to bring E15 to market, the ethanol industry needs to support petroleum marketers in addressing the issues that
by Brian Baskin (SugarcaneBlog.com, Dow Jones) U.S. ethanol producers are facing their toughest fight yet to keep long-standing trade protections intact. Producers of ethanol, which in the U.S. is usually distilled from corn and then blended to make gasoline, have
Editorial (The Washington Post) ... Is there no alternative between simple do-nothingism and House complexity? In fact, there is. An alternative proposal increasingly capturing interest on Capitol Hill is the CLEAR Act, sponsored by Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Susan
by Paul Bollinger (The DOD Energy Blog) It appears that the Obama Administration is close to formally announcing a nominee for the Department of Defense (DOD) Director of Operational Energy Plans and Programs. The Director of this office will have
(Biofuels Digest) Roundup of reaction to the new Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2) and related announcements. Included are: Nathanael Greene, NRDC’s director of renewable energy policy; Bob Dineen, CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association; Joe Jobe, CEO of the National Biodiesel
Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin C. Peterson (MN) issued the following statement on Renewable Fuel Standard regulations announced by the Obama Administration today. "Typical of most decisions made in Washington, there is some good and some bad in the Renewable Fuel Standard
The United States can lead the world in deploying advanced biotechnology for biofuels and create thousands of new jobs by implementing policies to support the emerging industry. The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) today applauded President Obama’s call in the State
by Robert Kozak (Advanced Biofuels USA) The QDR (Quadrennial Defense Review), which sets the Department of Defense's priorities for the next four years, came out February 1, 2010. The QDR, because it is much more detailed than the FY 2011
by Robert Kozak (Advanced Biofuels USA) The FY 2011 US Budget request is so long, cumbersome and detailed, that we've read it and pulled out some salient points related to biofuels so you don't have to. But, if you want
by Will Thurmond (Biofuels Digest) As industry and governments enter a new decade and contemplate the outcome of the December, 2009 Copenhagen treaty, the ‘big picture’ on biofuels continues to get lost in the rhetoric of sustainability in Brussels and
by Ben Lefebvre and William Lemos (ICIS.com) US ethanol and biodiesel players have put a disastrous 2009 behind them, but many are wondering if they can survive 2010 without major government support. Biofuels producers are awaiting the roll-out of the updated
Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Q: Why is there a tariff on Brazilian ethanol? A. Under WTO rules the corn ethanol subsidy of 45 cents per gallon has to be made available to domestic and foreign ethanol. The tariff is designed
by Curt Rich (VanNess Feldman) Presentation from the Algae Biomass Summit, October 2009 reviews federal grant and loan programs, climate change legislative proposals from an algal biofuels perspective. READ MORE
Growth Energy’s request to Congressional tax writers to fix a program intended to promote the installation of fuel pumps that dispense mid- and high-level ethanol blends drew support from a total of 152 organizations – a national coalition that ranged
by Tom Doggett (Reuters) Two key Republican lawmakers asked the Government Accountability Office on Wednesday to study the impact of boosting the amount of ethanol that is blended into U.S. gasoline supplies. The request was made after the Environmental Protection Agency
by Grant Gustafson / Kate Cyrul (IowaPolitics.com) Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today wrote to Senators Max Baucus (D-MT) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Finance, urging them to prepare and introduce legislation to
by Ben Geman (The Hill) The broad $31 billion tax extenders package the House approved Wednesday afternoon includes a one-year extension of the $1-per-gallon tax credit for biodiesel that is set to lapse at year's end. The bill, approved 241-181, would
Reps. Harry Teague (D-N.M.), Brian Bilbray (R-Calif.) and Jay Inslee (D-Wash.) introduced H.R. 4168 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to expand the definition of cellulosic biofuel to include algae-based biofuel for purposes of the cellulosic biofuel producer
by Ian Talley (Wall Street Journal) Legislation under consideration on Capitol Hill, including a climate bill and renewable fuel mandate, may give the industry the financial boost it needs to jump from the research and development phase to the industrial commercial
by Brett Clanton (Houston Chronical) ... Losing the biodiesel tax incentive would be another blow to an industry that has closed many plants this year and slashed jobs amid rising costs of raw materials, weak domestic demand and on-again, off-again backing
by Paul Argryropoulos (EPA Office of Transportation and Air Quality) This presentation given at the Cellulosic Biofuels Summit November 2009, provides the EPA OTAQ perspective on issues pertinent to discussions related to the Renewable Fuel Standard and its proposed revisions. Of note is
... Unfortunately, many of the federal government’s existing policies exempt algae from receiving benefits similar to those enjoyed by other biofuels. Such oversight can be easily remedied if the government takes the following actions: 1. Financial parity – Algae should receive
by Mark Riedy, et al (Mintz Levin) This presentation focuses on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Stimulus Act) with emphasis on "green" energy elements. It dealves into US Department of Energy loan guarantee programs and tax credit extensions. READ MORE
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the Health Care Bill passed the US House of Representatives and included - as part of a 42-page "manager's amendment", a provision striking a biofuel tax credit used by pulp and paper firms
Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) issued the following statement on the Second Generation Biofuel Producer Tax Credit Act of 2009. Congressman Van Hollen introduced the legislation yesterday to improve and enhance the existing cellulosic biofuel credit. "The Second Generation Biofuel
by Christine Costello, et al. (Environmental Science and Technology) Many studies have compared corn-based ethanol to cellulosic ethanol on a per unit basis and have generally concluded that cellulosic ethanol will result in fewer environmental consequences, including nitrate (NO3−) output. This study
(Or, Why We Need More Public Education on Advanced Biofuels) by Scott Bittle & Jean Johnson (PublicAgenda.org and REnewableEnergyWorld) ... Right now, too many Americans are heading into this fight unarmed. Four in 10 Americans can't name a fossil fuel, according to
Tim Holden (D-PA) chair of the Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and Research, held hearings concentrating on the future of next generation biofuels. Dallas Tonsager, Under Secretary for Rural Development in the U.S. Department of Agriculture admitted in prepared testimony that
Prepared Floor Statement of Senator Chuck Grassley: Biofuels and the Environmental Protection Agency Thursday, October 29, 2009 ... The first issue I’m speaking about relates to the EPA’s proposal to penalize biofuels for greenhouse gas emissions from supposed changes in international
by Juliet Eliperin (Washington Post) More than a decade ago in the northeast corner of Bolivia, a group of polluters and environmentalists joined forces in the first large-scale experiment to curb climate change with a strategy that promised to suit
(Advanced Biofuels USA) A study published in Science magazine promotes a policy which would penalize American biofuels industries in US legislation and regulation and in international global climate change agreements. Advanced Biofuels USA would like to point out two items
by Juliet Eilperin (Washington Post) The world's policymakers and scientists have made a critical error in how they count biofuels' contribution to human-generated greenhouse-gas emissions, according to a paper published Thursday in the journal Science. ... (Steven P.) Hamburg, (chief scientist
Tom Buis (Growth Energy) “Ethanol is part of the natural carbon cycle. It has taken the lifetime of our planet to produce the oil that is in the ground. Biofuels come from the top of the earth, with emissions that
(Renewable Fuels Association) Biofuels produced from biomass feedstocks (i.e. plant matter) are, by definition, carbon neutral because carbon dioxide tailpipe emissions from the combustion of biofuels are readily absorbed by growing plants. As such, the tailpipe emissions resulting from the use
(Nitrogen News)... “The error is serious, but we can fix it,” said lead author Tim Searchinger, a research scholar at Princeton University and a fellow with the German Marshall Fund of the U.S. “The solution is to count all the
by Keith Johnson (Wall Street Journal) The law of unintended consequences strikes yet again. Global plans to tackle climate change, from the Kyoto Protocol to the recently-passed Waxman-Markey bill, have a fatal flaw: They essentially encourage large-scale deforestation, which pretty much
by Marshall Wise, et al. (Science Magazine) Limiting atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations to low levels requires strategies to manage anthropogenic carbon emissions from terrestrial systems as well as fossil fuel and industrial sources. We explore the implications of fully
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. EPA said 86 U.S. ethanol production facilities will qualify as “major” sources of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and be required to obtain Title V permits if the agency’s GHG regulation rule passes as
by Jessica Leber (New York Times Climatewire) The emerging cellulosic biofuel industry, stung by frozen credit markets, ineffective federal loan programs and lagging federal policies, will fall far short of mandated production volumes over the next few years. U.S. EPA is
The German Marshall Fund on September 25, 2009, sponsored a debate at the Cannon House Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on biofuels and indirect land use change. The debaters were Tim Searchinger, transatlantic fellow at the German Marshall Fund and co-author
Regarding international indirect land use change analysis: A recent report on biofuels from the General Accounting Office, a nonpartisan, watchdog arm of Congress, confirms what level heads have been advocating for more than a year: There is no scientific consensus
Manning Feraci, Vice President of Federal Affairs for the National Biodiesel Board (NBB), testified before the U.S. House Committee on Small Business regarding the pressing need to extend and reform the biodiesel tax incentive. The incentive is currently set to
Letter from EPA Administrator, Lisa Jackson to Senator Tom Harkin, former chairman of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee (below). Upon receiving these assurances, Senator Harkin and co-sponsors withdrew an amendment to the EPA's fiscal 2010 spending bill that
Representative Brian Bilbray (R-CA) and a bipartisan group of representatives introduced HR 3460, an amendment to the Clean Air Act to include algae as an eligible feedstock in the Renewable Fuel Standard (as amended by the Energy Independence and Security
by Anne C. Mulkern (New York Times/Greenwire) ... It is a big bet with high stakes. Venture capitalists, including Bill Gates' financing arm, infused Sapphire Energy with a combined $100 million. Exxon Mobil Corp. this summer invested $600 million in a
(25 x '25) As Congress continues its debate on comprehensive climate legislation, any measure adopted must adequately recognize and incentivize the extensive benefits biomass and the production of biofuels can provide to address global climate change. The 25x’25 Carbon Work
(Trade Only Today) Legislation designed to protect boaters and manufacturers from the problems associated with mid-level ethanol blends in gasoline was introduced Monday in the U.S. Senate. The Mid-Level Ethanol Blends Act of 2009, S. 1666, was introduced by U.S.
... We believe scientific data aren't available on a global basis to be able to accurately determine the extent to which biofuel production causes land use changes in remote locations or the greenhouse gas emissions that might exist. The possible
... The New Fuels Alliance submitted a letter co-signed by 20 leading advanced biofuel companies to Senators Boxer (D-CA) and Kerry (D-MA) asking for balanced carbon accounting in any upcoming climate legislation. The letter comes in the wake of the
The 25x'25 Carbon Work Group (CWG) has been engaged for more than a year in a process of identifying key policy options for delivering climate change solutions from the land and allowing the agricultural and forestry sectors to be rewarded
By Todd Neeley (The Progressive Farmer) Cattleman Bill Couser hit on the crux of the matter when it comes to the future of advanced biofuels like cellulosic ethanol, during a U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee field hearing on biofuels Tuesday. Couser, from
by Nicholas Zeman (Biodiesel Magazine) The National Biodiesel Board said last week that the Biodiesel Tax Incentive Reform and Extension Act, a piece of legislation introduced to the U.S. Senate last week by Sens. Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Maria Cantwell
From the report: ... Objective independent studies now emerging on the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 suggest that the costs to the agriculture and forestry sectors from its cap and trade provisions are on net modest. At
(Reuters) Makers of biofuels and plastics and chemicals made from crops want U.S. senators to change the climate bill to give them free pollution permits that would be needed to emit greenhouse gases under the legislation. Companies that make the alternative
by Cath Everett (BusinessGreen.com) Corn ethanol industry accuses EPA of influencing independent panel to boost support for controversial biofuel carbon life cycle regulations. An independent peer review of proposed US biofuel regulations has only served to intensify a long-running dispute
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the Center for Public Integrity released a report on lobbying over the impending Climate Bill, and reported that 13 bioenergy companies plus several trade groups registered to lobby Congress for the first time
In a letter to the US Environmental Protection Agency Administrator, the Renewable Fuels Association explains that stakeholders are unable to replicate or verify the analysis used by EPA in its international indirect land use change model. The best and most common way for
(25 x 25 REsource) Some stakeholders engaged in the climate change policy debate are expressing concern that carbon cap-and-trade legislation may lead to extensive tree planting and result in the conversion of valuable cropland to forests. Some even have suggested
“For Cap-and-Trade to truly reduce CO2 emissions, many promising lab-scale technologies will have to be prototyped, tested, and commercialized quickly,” says Bob Kozak, President of Atlantic Biomass Conversions. “With the current wording, the proposed Cap-and-Trade legislation does not have a
by Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) (Politico) ...(W)e envisioned a biofuels industry that would move beyond corn ethanol. Scientists, the environmental community and some cutting-edge entrepreneurs were confident that biofuels could come from a wide array of feedstocks and use an
by Senator John Thune (R-SD) (Politico) As Congress, the administration and the private sector look for ways to reduce our consumption of imported oil, we should not overlook the most readily available domestic alternative to imported oil: biofuels. The development
by Dr. James Hansen (HuffingtonPost) ... For all its "green" aura, Waxman-Markey locks in fossil fuel business-as-usual and garlands it with a Ponzi-like "cap-and-trade" scheme. Here are a few of the bill's egregious flaws: It guts the Clean Air Act, removing
by Allison Winter (New York Times, ClimateWire) ... Chairman Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and other members of his panel say they want to ensure any effort at wide-ranging climate legislation in the Senate will include all of the provisions that House Agriculture
by Nathanial Gronewold (Climatewire) Having helped companies explore the labyrinth of greenhouse gas regulation in Europe, the Big Four auditing and accounting firms are now moving quickly to build climate and carbon shops in the United States. Their goal is to stake
Woody biomass from forest management is a renewable, low-carbon feedstock that can substitute for fossil fuels in the production of energy and other products — a potentially important tool in the national strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and resist
In response to the climate change bill passed by the House on June 26, Senators Orin Hatch (R-Utah), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), David Vitter (R- La.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Bob Bennett (R-Utah), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) introduced the Clean, Affordable,
by Gal Luft (EnerPub) ... The bill's renewable electricity mandate, which requires utilities to get 20 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2020, would discourage the use of coal and natural gas, but since only 2 percent of
By a margin of 219 to 212, the American clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 passed the US House of Representatives on Friday evening, June 26. The next stop is the US Senate where, because it is significant legislation, it will likely
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin C. Peterson issued the following statement on an agreement with House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman on the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009. "We have reached an agreement that works for
Efforts continue to amend federal policy and widen the availability of renewable biomass resources that would be available from agriculture and forestry to meet the nation’s renewable energy goals. A number of advocacy groups and their allies in Congress are
by Dr. Robert Wisner, Biofuels Economist, Ag Marketing Resource Center, Iowa State University The Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007 (1) requires a gradual increase in the volume of various kinds of biofuels to be blended with U.S. motor
In Washington, National Biodiesel Board public affairs heard Manning Feraci said that the EISA Act required the EPA to conduct a lifecycle analysis of biofuels as part of the Renewable Fuel Standard’s implementation, but said that “This does not require
Large uncertainties in calculating international land use change effects and associated greenhouse gas emissions remain in the Environmental Protection Agency's life cycle assessment of biofuels for the Renewable Fuel Standard. The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) today asked EPA to maintain
by Dan Looker. Talking to reporters, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) said he doubts that the final rule from the Environmental Protection Agency on a new renewable fuel standard will have the same use of indirect land use that
Speaker Nancy Pelosi met the House Agriculture Committee chairman Collin Peterson to discuss the climate change bill that he opposes but which is a priority for House Democrats this year. ... Peterson announced opposition to the climate bill a month ago
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing revisions to the National Renewable Fuel Standard program (commonly known as the RFS program). Today’s proposed rule intends to address changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard program as required by the Energy Independence
May 15, 2009 - In recent years, the biofuels industry has made strides in breaking our nation's addiction to foreign oil. The production of ethanol has also generated strong demand for our crops and created many jobs in rural states
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