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by David Kruse (The CommStock Report/Spencer Daily Reporter) President Donald Trump has had the worst biofuel and trade policies that I have ever seen and came with the most farm subsidies ever because of it. When elected I thought “well at least his ethanol policy would be better.” I was
Opinions
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico’s Morning Energy) The Trump administration on Thursday asked a court to block Ford, Honda, Volkswagen and BMW from becoming directly involved with litigation over the SAFE Vehicles rule (Reg. 2060-AU09). The automakers, which struck a voluntary emissions deal with California, last week moved to join the
July 10, 2020
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(U.S. Department of Energy) Today, Michael Berube, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation presented a keynote address during Bioeconomy 2020. During his address he announced the release of two Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) reports. Bioenergy Technologies Office 2019
July 10, 2020
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by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Morocco, Eco Actu reports the Economic, Social and Environmental Council is calling for an energy transition nationally based on environmental, social and economic sustainability. Part of the wider policy that is focused on significantly increasing investment in renewable energy sees the greening of transport through
July 10, 2020
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by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Lithuania, Bunkerspot reports that national terminal operator KN says biofuel throughput has been 37,000 metric tons this year so far compared to just 5,000 tons during all of 2019. KN Klaipėda Oil Terminal transships ethanol and biodiesel and is among only three ports in the
July 10, 2020
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by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) These days hanging out with friends online chatting about food, fuel, fiber, and more is certainly a great way to spend the day. Once again, a day full of content on day 3 of ABLC Digital from 29 speakers that shared the latest news and updates
July 10, 2020
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by Samuel Petrequin (Associated Press) The executive branch of the European Union unveiled plans Wednesday to boost the production of clean hydrogen as part of its goal to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 amid criticism from environmental activists and Green lawmakers pushing for a total exclusion of hydrogen produced from fossil fuels.
July 9, 2020
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by Todd Woody (Bloomberg Green) To reignite the industry, biofuels need the type of government incentives that allowed solar and wind companies to flourish, analysts say. — … Technology from Honeywell’s subsidiary UOP had refined the camelina into renewable jet fuel, and as we reached cruising altitude executives settled into wide
July 9, 2020
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(Sekab) ISO developing a global mass balance standard for the industry; New standard to help drive shift towards recycled and renewable materials; Call to include traceability and transparency for credibility — The International Organization for Standardization (ISO), has started work to establish a globally recognized mass balance standard for the industry.
July 9, 2020
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by Adam Aton (E&E News) Climate investment goals, green job targets and key decarbonization deadlines were missing from an environmental platform published yesterday by a joint team of Joe Biden backers and Sen. Bernie Sanders supporters. The gaps point to potential sources of liberal conflict next year if Democrats retake control
July 9, 2020
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(Renewable Fuels Association) In comments submitted today to the Environmental Protection Agency, the Renewable Fuels Association expressed support for the Agency’s proposal to determine that no additional measures are necessary to mitigate “potential adverse air quality impacts” associated with the Renewable Fuel Standard. However, RFA’s comments also challenged the flawed air
July 9, 2020
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by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) Biogas, carbon, renewable diesel, biodiesel, methane, hydrogen, and many new markets, innovations, technologies, novel crops, and more were the talk of the day. On day 2 of ABLC Digital it was chock full of content from 29 speakers that shared the latest content with 583
July 9, 2020
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(About Amazon/Day One) Amazon Air has secured up to six million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) supplied by Shell Aviation and produced by World Energy. — Amazon’s commitment to The Climate Pledge means that we are focused—first and foremost—on decarbonizing our operations and sending strong signals that we are in need
July 9, 2020
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(International Air Transport Association) The International Air Transport Association (IATA) emphasized the aviation industry’s commitment to its emissions reduction goals and called for the International Energy Agency (IEA) to prioritize investment in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to help power aviation’s contribution to the post-COVID-19 recovery. IATA’s call comes on the eve
July 9, 2020
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by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico’s Morning Energy) A bipartisan group of former EPA and Transportation Department chiefs filed a friend-of-the-court brief this week criticizing the Trump administration’s revocation of California’s fuel economy waiver as having no “no valid legal, factual, or logical basis,” Alex also reports for Pros. The Trump administration
July 8, 2020
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(Environmental Defense Fund) Exploring the relevance of ICAO’s Sustainable Aviation Fuels framework for the IMO — The international shipping industry will fail to tackle their global greenhouse gas emissions unless they put in place rules that truly reflect the climate impact of shipping fuels, according to a report released by Environmental Defense Fund
July 8, 2020
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(Neste/Yahoo! Finance/PR Newswire) From production through delivery, Neste’s sustainable aviation fuel created benefits for U.S. businesses and will enable the aviation industry to combat climate change. — Neste, the world’s largest producer of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) made from waste and residue raw materials, successfully delivered its
July 8, 2020
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Valero & Diamond Green Diesel Joint Venture: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Renewable Diesel
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Diamond Green Diesel is North America’s largest renewable diesel plant, Valero is the largest renewable fuels producer in North America, and Darling Ingredients is the world’s largest independent processor of animal by-products, according to this illuminating slide guide that dives into renewable diesel’s margins, mandates, blending,
July 8, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) What the delegates were saying about CNG, fuel cells, and hydrogen, biogas as a platform, new markets, including EVs and succinic acid, policy, methane, emissions, novel crops, and renewable diesel. In Florida, ABLC Digital opened for 583 registered delegates — and 774 additional viewers taking in the four hours of
July 8, 2020
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(McKinsey Global Institute) Advances in biological sciences, combined with the accelerating development of computing, data processing, and artificial intelligence (AI), are fueling a new wave of innovation that could have significant impact in sectors across the economy, from healthcare and agriculture to consumer goods and energy. This report describes the
July 7, 2020
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by Dane McFarlane (Great Plains Institute) The Great Plains Institute (GPI) is excited to announce the final results of more than two years of research and modeling on carbon capture and storage opportunities throughout the US. The white paper, Transport Infrastructure for Carbon Capture and Storage: Regional Infrastructure for Midcentury Decarbonization, summarizes our findings and
July 7, 2020
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by Monica Samayoa (Oregon Public Broadcasting) The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has approved a final permit for an ethanol terminal to begin transloading renewable diesel. That’s despite receiving thousands of comments arguing against the permit, which still allows the facility to process crude oil. On June 30, the DEQ approved a renewal for
July 7, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Key takeways from the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Annual Energy Outlook 2020 include a prediction that U.S. energy consumption will grow more slowly than gross domestic product throughout the projection period (2050) as U.S. energy efficiency continues to increase, and after falling during the first half
July 7, 2020
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(Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Plants (UFOP)) German Council Presidency must set the course for a sustainable biofuels industry — The semi-annual EU Council Presidency of the German government began on July 1, 2020. The German government has set a goal in its program that it wants to “work towards
July 6, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) You’ve heard of BioPreferred and Renewable Fuel Standard, but what about the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act? Find out all about EICDA in this slide guide from Business Climate Leaders that was shared at a recent DigestConnect webinar. From how EICDA works like carbon fees
July 6, 2020
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by Jennifer M. Latzke (High Plains Journal) … And still, shortly after Trump’s visit, the EPA granted 31 small refinery waivers from the Renewable Fuels Standard in the fall that would have wiped out any traction that year-round E15 approval had gained the industry. Looking back, that was one bump
July 6, 2020
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by Mikkel Pates (Ag Week) Ethanol proponents try to make some political hay with President Donald Trump when he visits Rapid City. They ask that he “tear down that wall” of 10% ethanol blends, and allow ethanol to climb to 30% blends. They say the Environmental Protection Agency should do
July 3, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)The Biomass Research and Development Board published a report that looks at how to address the constraints surrounding availability of biomass feedstocks for biofuels. Four questions guide the analysis: What feedstocks and at what price? What is the regional distribution of feedstock production? What are the
July 3, 2020
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(European Biogas Association/NGV Journal) The European Biogas Association (EBA) is launching a new paper providing a comprehensive analysis on the potential of biomethane for the fast decarbonization of the transport sector and policy recommendations to ensure the further scale-up of this green fuel. The paper has considered 11 comparative studies analyzing
July 3, 2020
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by Hans Nicholas Jong (Mongabay/EcoBusiness) Campaigners have blasted the move, noting that the fund is meant to empower small oil palm farmers and not subsidise the giant multinationals that produce biodiesel. — … The social and travel restrictions imposed in response to the pandemic have hit Indonesia’s economy hard, and small oil
July 2, 2020
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(Enagás/bp/NGV Journal) Enagás and bp Oil España have signed an agreement to promote projects to reduce emissions in Spain, which aims to support the development of projects in three lines of action: the promotion of infrastructure for LNG and CNG in the field of sustainable transport; the production and encouragement of
July 2, 2020
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by Tyson Keever (California Advanced Biofuels Alliance/Wall Street Journal) CARB data indicates that biodiesel provided over 41% of California’s total reduction of 47.1 million metric tons in climate-changing gases from fuel use, more than any other fuel. — Regarding your editorial “Wind, Fire and the Coronavirus” (June 15) on California’s emergency
July 2, 2020
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(U.S. Energy Information Administration/Biomass Magazine) U.S. imports of biomass-based diesel, which include biodiesel and renewable diesel, grew 26 percent in 2019 to more than 27,000 barrels per day (b/d), reversing three years of decline. Imports of biomass-based diesel increased in 2019 because of the increase in renewable diesel imports from
July 2, 2020
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by Jason Deign (GreenTechMedia) … According to the nomenclature used by market research firm Wood Mackenzie, most of the gas that is already widely used as an industrial chemical is either brown, if it’s made through the gasification of coal or lignite; or gray, if it is made through steam methane reformation,
July 2, 2020
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by Daniel Mackay (Argus Media) The European Commission has approved Sweden’s extension of tax exemption measures for certain biofuels used for heating or as motor fuel, until 2030. Under two different schemes, Sweden exempts biogas used in heat generation and biogas used in motor fuel from energy and CO2 taxation. The commission’s
July 2, 2020
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by Marc Rowe (ACT News/Trillium) One question we hear often from our customers is how can the use of renewable natural gas as a transportation fuel remove carbon from the atmosphere? This is a hard concept for many to wrap their heads around. Although difficult to comprehend, the use of “carbon-negative”
July 2, 2020
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by Elaine Kub (DTN Progressive Farmer) … During the eight weeks through March and April, while everyone in the economy was grappling with how best to limit human contact to slow the spread of a deadly disease, American ethanol production was steadily dropping at an average pace of 9% each week.
July 2, 2020
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by Chloé Farand (Climate Home News) EU member states will back an industry proposal to reduce airlines’ climate obligations in response to the coronavirus pandemic, at the UN aviation forum — The climate plan for aviation is losing its last shred of credibility, after the European Union confirmed it will back
July 2, 2020
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by Cassie Mullen (Renewable Fuels Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Believe it or not, we’re already at the halfway point in the 90-day application window for the USDA Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program, or “HBIIP.” Fittingly, this seemed like a good time to catch our breath and take stock of what we’ve learned
July 2, 2020
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by Robert Kozak* (Atlantic Biomass/Advanced Biofuels USA) I was sad to see an obituary today for the great engineer John J. Mooney. Who was John J. Mooney you ask? He was the co-inventor of both the 2-way and the 3-way motor vehicle catalytic converter. The “3-way cat,” as it is referred
July 1, 2020
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(Diesel Technology Forum) … California’s truck and bus fleet rule has disrupted the marketplace, effectively delaying regular fleet turnover rates, keeping older, higher emitting trucks on the road for longer, and in turn delaying emissions reductions and cleaner air. “California’s consideration of an Advanced Clean Truck Rule is principally about
July 1, 2020
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(Biofuels International) The Indonesian government approved regulations regarding the use of biodiesel as a substitute for fossil fuel across all economic sectors in 2018. Recently the South East Asian government mandated to mix 20% biodiesel with 80% fossil fuel (B20). And at the end of last year the country launched
July 1, 2020
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(The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)) Increased uptake of renewables, energy efficiency and related energy-transition measures represent far-sighted investment amid the crisis set off by the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of short-term stimulus and recovery plans, the energy transition provides a crucial link to medium- and long-term global climate and sustainability
July 1, 2020
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by Timothy J. Rudnicki (Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) … That is why it is imperative for the Senate to include the financial aid package for the ethanol industry that was introduced by Sen. Chuck Grassley and Sen. Amy Klobuchar in the next COVID-19 relief bill. While this aid package is much needed
July 1, 2020
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by Mei Mei Chu (Today) Malaysia, the world’s second largest palm oil producer, will take legal action against the European Union’s restrictions on palm oil-based biofuels with the World Trade Organization (WTO), calling the policy a “discriminatory action”. Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali said on Wednesday the
July 1, 2020
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(Trend/Azer News) Wind energy, biofuels or solar energy could be the potential spheres for cooperation between Poland and Azerbaijan, Press Office Director at Poland’s Foreign Ministry Andrzej Fąfara told Trend. “Poland has a strong potential for cooperation in the sphere of renewables and green technologies as well. Poland is successfully diversifying
July 1, 2020
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(Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health) Strengthening U.S. air quality standards for fine particulate pollution to be in compliance with current World Health Association (WHO) guidelines could save more than 140,000 lives over the course of a decade, according to a new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The study,
July 1, 2020
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by Amena H. Saiyid with assistance from Sylvia Carignan and Christina Brady (Bloomberg Law) Some who normally use mass transit seek safer commute option; State, local officials watch data for air quality impact — … More cars on the roads in congested urban centers like New York City—the virus epicenter
July 1, 2020
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by Robert Kozak* (Advanced Biofuels USA/Atlantic Biomass, LLC) Today the US House of Representatives Democratic Select Committee on Climate Change released their ideas for a “Clean Energy Economy.” Interestingly, this document is not proposed legislation. Instead, it is simply a compilation of potential government programs that are not organized in
June 30, 2020
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(Morning Ag Clips/South Dakota Farmers Union) Broad coalition challenges the Safer Affordable Fuel Efficiency Vehicle Rule; In response to EPA’s failure to credibly consider and advance mid-level ethanol fuel blends as an alternative to conventional fuels, the groups filed a petition for review in the Superior Court of the District
June 30, 2020
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by Jordan Godwin (OPIS/Governors Biofuels Coalition)EPA is expected to propose as early as next month a 250-million-gal increase in the 2021 Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) and another 250-million-gal boost in the 2022 RVO to comply with a remand order the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
June 30, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This slide guide offers a vision and roadmap — a ‘blueprint’ — for the Pacific Northwest to transform its increasingly outdated solid waste management system by 2040, at a time when waste leaders are grappling with the most profound set of challenges they have faced in
June 30, 2020
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by Russ Freeman (Biofuels Digest) Governments at all levels will face a double-edged economic recovery dilemma driven by business closures and job losses: (1) loss of income, sales and property taxes; and (2) a significant increase in demand for services such as food, shelter, and healthcare. One possible answer lies in
June 30, 2020
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(House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis) Plan Would Put Americans Back To Work, Save Lives, And Help the United States Reach Net Zero By 2050 — On Tuesday, led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Chair Kathy Castor (D-FL), members of the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis unveiled a comprehensive plan titled “Solving the
June 30, 2020
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by Michael Bates (NGT News) The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has adopted a first-in-the-world rule – the Advanced Clean Truck regulation – that requires truck manufacturers to transition from diesel trucks and vans to electric zero-emission trucks beginning in 2024. By 2045, every new truck sold in California will be zero-emission. …
June 30, 2020
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by Rhiannon Branch (Brownfield Ag News) The Chicago Park District, Illinois Soybean Association and American Lung Association have teamed up to create better air quality though biodiesel. By running 100% biodiesel in park garbage trucks, the team has improved air quality and reduced carbon emissions equivalent to planting 419 trees in
June 29, 2020
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(Mankato Free Press) … Here’s what rural Minnesota does need: It needs clean water and subsidized wastewater systems. It needs good government that gets state and federal subsidies to provide a life that provides a solid base of services but few luxuries. It needs good roads that can support more traffic and
June 29, 2020
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(City of Boulder/CGRS/NGV Journal) The city of Boulder has signed an agreement with Western Disposal for the sale of renewable natural gas produced by a new system at the city’s Water Resources Recovery Facility (WRRF). The biomethane will fuel up to 38 of the 56 commercial vehicles Western Disposal uses to
June 29, 2020
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(RTA) RTA’s Public Transport Agency, in collaboration with ENOC Group, embarked on a pilot to power its traditional Abras using Biodiesel5. Explaining the initiative, the CEO of RTA’s Public Transport Agency, Ahmed Hashim Bahrozyan stated that the initiative of using biodiesel to fuel traditional Abras was part of RTA’s endeavours to
June 29, 2020
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by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) … Macaúba is known for its high productivity and adaptability to the most adverse climate conditions and even better, the fruit’s shell, pulp, endocarp, and almond can be converted into a range of food products, fuels and hydrocarbons, and other biomaterials including chemicals and
June 29, 2020
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David Liepman (Disruptive Nation) … Strong commercial applications of bamboo include sustainable branded products such as pulp paper, timber, lumber and textiles. And, in line with tissue and textile major brand owner concerns, bamboo is twice as soft as cotton and doesn’t require pesticides and fertilizers in its crops. As a
June 26, 2020
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by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Advanced Biofuels Business Council, Algae Biomass Organization, Biotechnology Innovation Organization, Growth Energy, National Biodiesel Board and Renewable Fuels Association sent a letter to the House Ways and Means Committee on June 19 expressing support for the proposed extension of tax incentives for advanced biofuels.
June 26, 2020
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(The Edge Markets/Bernama) With demand for crude oil dropping sharply, leading to a steep fall in crude oil prices, the viability of the biodiesel business has also weakened significantly, putting both Malaysia and Indonesia’s biodiesel mandates under pressure. However, there is a silver lining in the dark clouds, as the world has seen
June 26, 2020
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by Robert Brelsford (Oil & Gas Journal) … Lara (Anelise Lara, Petrobras’s director of refining and natural gas) also said that, starting in July, Petrobras will begin carrying out production tests for renewable diesel at its 208,000-b/d Presidente Getúlio Vargas (REPAR) refinery in Araucária, Paraná. “The economic viability of renewable diesel
June 26, 2020
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(ePURE) Renewable ethanol from ePURE members reduced GHG emissions by more than 72% compared to fossil fuels in 2019, according to the latest audited producer data — Production and use of renewable ethanol from ePURE members delivered an average of more than 72% greenhouse-gas savings compared to fossil fuels in 2019,
June 26, 2020
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by Ricardo Della Coletta (Folha de Sao Paulo (Google Translation)) With sector in crisis due to coronavirus, Americans want to end barriers to sell more fuel to the country READ MORE
June 26, 2020
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by André Luiz Cançado Motta* (Federal University of Goiás for Advanced Biofuels USA) The President of the Legislative Assembly of the State of Goiás, Deputy Lissauer Vieira (PSB, the Brazilian Socialist Party), approved, on June 18, at the Remote Ordinary Session, with 25 votes in favor and none against, the new State Policy
June 25, 2020
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(FuelsEurope) The ambition of the European Union is to be climate neutral by 2050. The European refining industry supports the same ambition. Our industry is transforming, and we have developed a comprehensive potential pathway of how we, together with our partners, can contribute to meeting the 2050 climate neutrality challenge. This work
June 25, 2020
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by Marcelo A. Boechat Morandi (Embrapa Meio Ambiente/LinkedIn) Insights on how Brazil is innovating and investing in the low carbon economy, especially in agriculture and energy. RenovaBio is a market driven incentive mechanism, based on the economic theory of “Coase Market” for pricing externalities. It transfer the social/environmental costs of
June 25, 2020
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by Glenn Minnis (The Center Square) … The president was there to help industry executives celebrate his administration’s removal of a regulation that up until then prohibited companies from selling gasoline containing 15% ethanol year-round. “It was a terrific event for my company and the renewable fuels industry, drawing nearly
June 25, 2020
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by Laura Sanicola and Stephanie Kelly (Reuters) Refiners such as HollyFrontier Corp and CVR Energy are exploring opportunities to produce renewable diesel to save money on less profitable refineries and offset compliance costs associated with U.S. blending laws. The product, however, currently only occupies a tiny corner of diesel production – and
June 25, 2020
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(Office of Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison) Claims violations of state and common law regarding consumer fraud, deceptive trade practices, misrepresentation, failure to warn; seeks injunctive relief, restitution, and corrective public education campaign; Minnesota joins growing list of states and local governments holding fossil-fuel industry accountable for decades-long ‘campaign of deception’
June 25, 2020
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(Advance Fuel) Long-term policy support is crucial to the market rollout of RESfuels to remedy transport’s reliance on fossil fuels, leading European research institutes confirm. — Transport makes up one-quarter of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Europe and is the only major sector in the EU where emissions continue
June 25, 2020
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by Sarantis Michalopoulos (EurActiv) The European Commission does not have a “complete overview” of the origin of used cooking oils used for the production of biodiesel consumed in the EU, but appears set to tighten the rules, according to sources close to the matter. EURACTIV has learnt that this information is currently
June 25, 2020
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(Our Daily Planet) The State of California’s 7-year-old cap and trade system is an important component of how the state plans to achieve its ambitious climate goals: to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, 40% below 1990 levels by 2030, and 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. As C2ES
June 25, 2020
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(GreenAir Online) The UK government has released details on how it intends to incorporate aviation into a UK Emissions Trading System (UK ETS) and link with those of the EU and Switzerland, as well as the global CORSIA offsetting scheme. Following the withdrawal of the UK from the EU and the
June 24, 2020
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(Natural Resources Defense Council/OurEnergyPolicy.org) Averting the worst effects of climate change will require us to transition away from fossil fuels and replace them with renewable resources like wind and solar energy. Some argue that biogas (methane produced from organic sources such as food scraps or animal waste) and synthetic gas (methane
June 24, 2020
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by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico’s Morning Energy) REPUBLICANS BACK BILL TO HELP OIL SECTOR: Texas Sen. John Cornyn introduced legislation on Tuesday to help the hard-hit oil sector during the coronavirus pandemic by reducing the royalty rate for payments due from oil, gas, minerals and coal during a national emergency. The bill would also extend the
June 24, 2020
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(RFD TV) As producers worry that China is not fulfilling its phase one promise to buy nearly $40 billion dollars in U.S. exports, ethanol groups say that the country could easily make those numbers if they bought more renewable fuels. China is the second largest gasoline market in the world
June 24, 2020
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by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Japanese government has opened a public comment period on a proposal that will affect Japan’s policy on transportation biofuels by increasing the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission value for gasoline and expanding the list of conditions under which an unfulfilled ethanol target can be carried
June 24, 2020
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(Canadian Manufacturing/Canadian Press) The Clean Fuel Standard originally proposed that the intensity of gasoline be reduced by 4% starting in 2022 — Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson is scaling back the government’s planned Clean Fuel Standard in the short term to give the fossil fuel industry a bit more time to recover
June 24, 2020
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by Pierroberto Folgiero (NextChem/Biofuels Digest) … The challenge today is to plan an industrial recovery which must be rapid but durable at the same time and prepare the industry to reduce risks and economic losses deriving from pollution and climate changes, with their effects impacting on many sector industries. These risks are tangible,
June 24, 2020
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(Center for American Progress) … Urban sprawl, oil and gas extraction, and other industrial uses consumed more than 45,000 square miles of farms, ranches, and private working forests in a recent two-decade span.2 Overall, more than 75 percent of the natural areas lost to development from 2001 to 2017 in the
June 24, 2020
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(EBA/NGVA Europe/NGV Journal) EBA (European Biogas Association) and NGVA Europe have published a new leaflet, illustrating the current uptake of biomethane in the transport sector and its potential in the coming years. NGVs present the highest rate of emissions reduction compared to other fuels. This potential is much higher when coupled with
June 24, 2020
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(Bioenergy Insight) Three biomethane production plant projects involving Cadent Gas remain on track despite the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The firm said the projects are on course to start sending low-carbon “gas from trash” into Cadent’s network this year, as its teams “kept the wheel in motion” during
June 23, 2020
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(S&P Global Platts) Fossil fuels would shrink to roughly half of total primary energy supply in 2050, from about 77% in 2020, if the world meets the minimum Paris Agreement target of 2C warming, according to the latest projections by S&P Global Platts Analytics. The demand shock caused by the coronavirus pandemic
June 23, 2020
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by Peter Sopher (Clean Energy Ventures/Biofuels Digest) … BloombergNEF forecast shows that the 2040 market penetration of these EVs remains a relatively small proportion of the overall fleet, especially for heavy commercial vehicles. To meet our greenhouse gas mitigation goals and impending state and national emissions regulations, we need new solutions
June 23, 2020
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by Riley Snyder (Nevada Independent) Gov. Steve Sisolak and state environmental officials are proposing a set of regulations that would adopt California’s standards for low or zero-emission vehicles by 2024 as part of an effort to reduce carbon emissions and fight climate change. Sisolak made the announcement on Monday that the state’s
June 23, 2020
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(North America Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance) The North America Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance (NACSAA) submitted last week a detailed set of policy and program recommendations to the Senate Democrats’ Special Committee on the Climate Crisis. The submission, which was made in response to the Committee’s request for input from agriculture and
June 22, 2020
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by Myles McCormick (Financial Times) Rystad Energy says its estimate of recoverable barrels of crude has dropped by 282bn — An influential research firm has cut its estimate of potential oil production by an amount that exceeds the reserves of Saudi Arabia, as the coronavirus crisis accelerates longer-term structural changes
June 22, 2020
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by Ronald Langston (Clinton Herald) … To truly increase the sale of E-15, Iowa’s leaders should help bring this home-grown fuel to every community in Iowa – “rural” and urban. Fuel Iowa estimates 85% of the retail fuel facilities do not have dispensing systems compatible with the sale of E-15. There
June 22, 2020
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by Mark Dorenkamp (Brownfield Ag News) Biofuels groups are tired of ethanol being excluded from China’s phase one purchases.vGrowth Energy senior vice president of global markets Craig Willis says it’s been two years since the Chinese imported ethanol from the U.S. “It was our third-largest export market, so there’s a ton
June 22, 2020
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by Rebecca Beitsch (The Hill) House Democrats unveiled a $1.5 trillion infrastructure plan Thursday that calls for a huge increase in funding to repair roads and bridges while expanding broadband access in rural areas. Democrats described the bill as the biggest legislative effort to fight climate change, with Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) saying
June 19, 2020
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by Lidia Henderson (ACT News) … The webinar focused on renewable natural gas (RNG) and its benefits as a vehicle fuel. RNG is essentially biogas made by capturing and extracting methane emissions from our waste in landfills, large animal agricultural operations and wastewater treatment plants. It is also the lowest
June 19, 2020
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(CoBank/Associated Press) Excess production capacity and reduced demand will force the U.S. ethanol industry to transform its business model to create more value and improve its operational efficiency. Consolidation within the industry will lead to larger, more financially stable companies with diversified ethanol co-product offerings by 2025, according to a new report from
June 19, 2020
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by Rebecca Beitsch (The Hill) The Vatican on Thursday urged Catholics to divest from fossil fuels, a call made in church documents warning against the dangers of climate change. The 225-page encyclical, which is sent to all bishops within the church, also encouraged divesting from arms and monitoring sectors like mining to
June 19, 2020
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(International Energy Agency) Based on analysis conducted in cooperation with the IMF, new IEA report outlines energy-focused policies and investments to move the world towards a cleaner and more resilient future — The International Energy Agency is today presenting a Sustainable Recovery Plan focusing on a series of actions that
June 19, 2020
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by Halima Frost (Creamer Media’s Engineering News) The South African biogas sector can attract up to R250-billion in local and international investment and contribute to a 15% reduction in the total greenhouse-gas emissions generated by the country, says Southern African Biogas Industry Association (Sabia) general secretary Alberto Borello. “The local
June 19, 2020
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(John Lewis Partnership/NGV Journal) The John Lewis Partnership is stepping up its commitment to reducing carbon emissions by building a dedicated biomethane filling station to enable its largest heavy goods vehicles to use a low-carbon alternative to diesel. The new facility is expected to open in December 2020. Alongside this, the
June 19, 2020
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(Renewable Fuels Association/National Biodiesel Board/Farm Progress) Renewable Fuels Association, National Biodiesel Board critical of these petitions, say refiners are trying to circumvent court ruling. — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today disclosed that 52 new petitions have been received from small refineries seeking retroactive exemptions from their Renewable Fuel Standard requirements
June 19, 2020
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(S&P Global Platts) Following a formal public consultation and review, S&P Global Platts is proposing to amend the minimum greenhouse gas savings on fuel grade ethanol reflected in its Ethanol T2 FOB Rotterdam assessment to 60%, from a current minimum of 50%, effective January 4, 2021. This is in line with
June 19, 2020
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by Liz Gyekye (BioMarkets Insights) “The current crisis is creating an opportunity for real change. Yet, plastic-to-fuel is encouraging reliance on our current linear system – convincing consumers that this waste can be “recycled” when in fact it is getting burned. That’s not the idea of a cycle.” Ahead of a
June 18, 2020
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by Liz Gyekye (BioMarket Insights) … BBI JU (Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking) has launched a new publication entitled ‘BBI JU: a high-impact initiative for green recovery of Europe’. The booklet highlights the environmental, socio-economic and technological impacts of the initiative supported by facts and figures. BBI JU is a €3.7
June 18, 2020
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by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) Sen. John Thune (R-SD) has introduced legislation, together with Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), to approve some advanced biofuel pathways under the Renewable Fuel Standard, which have been delayed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Under the legislation, EPA would also be required to render a decision within 90 days on
June 18, 2020
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by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Several biofuel producers and trade groups are among the nearly 200 organizations that sent a letter to President Trump on June 16 calling on him to ensure the continued implementation of the U.S.-China Phase One Trade Agreement. The letter notes the agreement is critical to
June 18, 2020
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(RFD TV) … Both the oil and ethanol sectors are asking the federal government to step in as each one sees a sharp decline in prices and production. Oil groups say that the pandemic pushed the industry over the edge, while it was battling an already downward demand trend. …
June 18, 2020
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by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) Members of the Congressional Biofuels Caucus held a virtual town hall Wednesday to discuss the challenges currently facing the ethanol industry and what can be done to help. Participating in the meeting were caucus members including Reps. Collin Peterson (D-MN), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Dave Loebsack (D-IA), and Rodney Davis
June 18, 2020
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by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico’s Morning Energy) The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments on Sept. 25 in a case that could determine whether EPA must deeply curtail its program of exemptions from the RFS. The case mirrors a 10th Circuit case in which the court found that
June 18, 2020
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by Jeff Fick (S&P Global Platts) Temporary move cuts mandate until June 21; Increase to 12% in effect since March 1; Concerns that coronavirus could affect supplies — Brazil’s National Petroleum Agency, or ANP, temporarily reduced the volume of biodiesel blended with diesel sold at the pump to 10% from 12% for the
June 18, 2020
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by Russ Freeman (Modern Rotating Impact Mill Production Company, llc./Biofuels Digest) So how do we choose a GOOD PATH from many alternatives carbon sources? Repurposing carbon in Municipal Solid Wastes could be exceptionally attractive to local government facing a pandemic-driven loss of both income and property tax revenue while also facing a dramatic
June 18, 2020
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(Solutions from the Land) In response to a call for input from the Senate Democrats’ Special Committee on the Climate Crisis for input on tools, programs, and support useful to address the impacts of severe weather and climate change on their community and business, we have constructed a response …
June 17, 2020
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(Solutions from the Land) A blog posted on the World Resources Institute (WRI) website last month dismissed the potential for regenerative agriculture and related systems to contribute to large-scale emissions reduction and carbon dioxide (CO2) removal – cuts that will be necessary to hold global warming below the 2-degree Celsius
June 17, 2020
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by Marc Heller (E&E News) If the politics around ethanol seem charged today, just wait two years — that’s when Congress may really step into the fray. READ MORE Grassley discusses SRE gap filings, future of RFS program (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Excerpt from Ethanol Producer Magazine: In the legislation that
June 17, 2020
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by Jordan Godwin (OPIS) EPA is expected to propose as early as next month a 250-million-gal increase in the 2021 Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) and another 250-million-gal boost in the 2022 RVO to comply with a remand order the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued
June 17, 2020
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(Advanced Biofuels Canada/EIN Presswire) A study conducted by Advanced Biofuels Canada (ABFC) shows BC leading the nation in ‘shovel-ready, shovel-worthy’ clean fuel investment projects. “A recent study of our members’ and other firms’ plans to increase feedstock and advanced biofuel/synthetic fuel production capacity in BC show the province to be attracting 40%
June 17, 2020
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(BioCycle Magazine) A new report from Duke University’s Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions examines effective strategies to engage America’s farmers, ranchers and forestry stakeholders who are vital to solving climate change. “Rural Investment: Building a Natural Climate Solutions Policy Agenda that Works for Rural America and the Climate” by
June 17, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Ways2H shows us a third pathway towards energy decarbonization via waste to hydrogen. Check out this illuminating slide guide that looks at the need for hydrogen, renewable hydrogen production pathways, how biomass including municipal solid waste can be a third pathway to hydrogen, and more.
June 17, 2020
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by Steve VanderGriend (Ethanol Producer Magazine/Urban Air Initiative) While much of the industry’s energy has been focused on issues like Reid vapor pressure relief, a new technical paper demonstrates the need to focus on aromatics, and the fact that ethanol can reduce the need for other carcinogenic octane enhancers. …
June 17, 2020
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by Sam A. Rushing (Advanced Cryogenics Ltd./Etanol Producer Magazine) As the U.S. ethanol industry reduced production this spring, a vital supply of commercial and industrial carbon dioxide dwindled. It must return soon or buyers will be compelled to seek product from alternative sources, which could drive up prices. Carbon dioxide
June 16, 2020
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by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Ethanol producers are no strangers to computers and automation. Distributed control systems (DCS) have been in use for decades to monitor and control fermentation and distillation. Indeed, the needs of the ethanol industry drove innovation in computerized truck receiving and weighing to speed up
June 16, 2020
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by Luke Geiver (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Positioning into the low-carbon biofuels marketplace, ethanol producers are moving forward with sequestration strategies. A more lucrative federal tax credit, along with a reduced minimum production requirement, is making the economics attractive. After more than 20 years of research, sponsored largely by the U.S.
June 16, 2020
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(Bioenergy Insight) Bioenergy Europe has launched the second chapter of its Statistical Report 2020 focusing on biogas and biomethane. The report looks at biogas consumption and production in the European Union (EU) and provides an in-depth and current analysis of the sector’s state of play. According to Bioenergy Europe, the European
June 16, 2020
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by Johan Ahlander (Reuters) … Preem has said the extra capacity at the plant, on Sweden’s west coast, would be used to make biodiesel and would not mean more crude oil being processed at the plant. READ MORE
June 16, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Everyone wants to dominate the world, right? But Neste wants to do it in a nice way by becoming the global leader in renewable and circular solutions. There are 3 ways they are working on this lately – 1) expanding global reach with new offices in
June 16, 2020
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by Mike Newman (Parhelion Underwriting Inc./Biofuels Digest) … The focus was on renewable fuels in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RINs) and California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS credits). Stakeholders came from all corners of the market, from the refining industry, power utilities and renewable energy sectors, as well as the
June 16, 2020
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(U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure) Chair DeFazio: “The INVEST in America Act is our opportunity to replace the outdated systems of the past with smarter, safer, more resilient infrastructure that fits the economy of the future, creates millions of jobs, supports American manufacturing, and restores U.S.
June 16, 2020
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(Environmental Protection Agency) Today (June 4, 2020), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a proposal to improve the rulemaking process under the Clean Air Act by establishing requirements to ensure consistent, high-quality analyses of benefits and costs are provided to the public for significant rules. This proposal, when finalized, will
June 16, 2020
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by Josh Siegel & Abby Smith (Washington Examiner) ELECTRIC CARS’ EQUITY PROBLEM: Top energy officials from New York and Massachusetts are raising the fear that requiring increasing use of electric cars could impose financial hardships on poor people. That is especially if utilities bear the cost of building out charging infrastructure and
June 15, 2020
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by Nicolle Monteiro de Castro (S&P Global) Datagro conference bought 100 CBIOs; RenovaBio targets under review — The new Brazilian carbon credit, called CBIOs, had their first trade of 100 units at a cost of Real 50/CBIO ($10/CBIO) on June 12, in which the Datagro Conference company was the buyer and an
June 15, 2020
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by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico’s Morning Energy) REFINERS LATEST ETHANOL BLENDING BID: Small oil refiners — still reeling from the pandemic-driven collapse in fuel demand — have petitioned EPA to grant them economic hardship status dating back to 2013 in an apparent move to pave the way for the agency to free
June 15, 2020
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(Energy Vision) New Funding Offered for Clean Truck Technology and Fuels to Reduce Diesel Exhaust’s Impacts on Bronx Air Quality and Respiratory Illness — At a webinar this week sponsored by the non-profit Energy Vision, the NYC Department of Transportation and Empire Clean Cities, New York State Senator Alessandra Biaggi,
June 15, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Who’s making what, how, where and when? Find out why there are a zillian paths to sustainable aviation fuels and take a look at The Digest’s latest slide guide from last week’s DigestConnect webinar to get the latest on the growing renewable diesel and SAF
June 15, 2020
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by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) But there is a huge transformation happening with growth in the conversion of petroleum refineries to renewable diesel. Just look at how renewable diesel went from 78MMGY in 2010 to 397MMGY in 2018 and Fuels Institute’s latest reports estimates it will grow to 3,000MMGY by
June 15, 2020
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by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Energy may be just a block or two apart on Independence Avenue in Washington, D.C., but they are miles apart on their long-term outlook for ethanol. Seemingly disparate objectives make E30s future less clear. The good: The
June 12, 2020
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(Office of Senator John Thune (R-SD)) U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today introduced legislation that would extend for two years The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) “Temporary Policy for Preparation of Certain Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer Products During the Public Health Emergency.” Extending the FDA’s guidance will grant additional certainty for ethanol operations
June 12, 2020
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by Zheng Xin (China Daily) China Petrochemical Corp, the country’s largest oil refiner, vows to further step up its involvement in the biofuel market by continuing its B5 biodiesel project in Shanghai while accelerating research on B10 biodiesel. … The effort on B10 will likely exert a significant influence on
June 12, 2020
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by Stephanie Kelly (Reuters) A leading U.S. biofuel trade group said on Thursday it had started conversations with the campaigns of both Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and incumbent Donald Trump to discuss potential policy fixes for the ailing industry. The discussions come as the coronavirus pandemic crushes demand for ethanol
June 12, 2020
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(Biofuels International) Waste-based biodiesel producers and associations using lipid feedstocks such as used cooking oil (UCO) have reacted to the European Commission’s new legislative framework to promote sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) initiative. The organisations said they believed this would play a significant role in the much-needed decarbonisation of the air
June 11, 2020
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(European Automobile Manufacturers Association) … 3) Include infrastructure for all alternative fuels in investment plans The Commission should continue to respect the technology neutrality principle in all policy areas. The further decarbonisation of road transport through the use of lower‐carbon liquid fuels and alternative fuels will require different fuel options
June 11, 2020
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by Tammy Klein (Future Fuel Strategies) On this episode of the Fueling the Future podcast, I spoke with Ortwin Costenoble, senior standarization consultant with the Royal Netherlands Standardization Institute (NEN) about the recent research project commissioned by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) entitled, “Engine tests with new types of biofuels and development of biofuel
June 11, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) … We left the discussion with a hint about the potential conversion of methane to methanol, which can serve as a powerful chemical building block or, in China most prominently, as a fuel. We’ll pick up from that point today. Wolf Ron Cascone Here’s some background on methane
June 11, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Part 3 of today’s Hot Hydrogen slide guides, Southern Company’s Noah Meeks takes a look at how hydrogen mitigates multiple issues in a low-carbon transition, the valuation of hydrogen energy storage in a high marginal cost scenario, the value of energy storage in a
June 11, 2020
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(U.S. Energy Information Administration/Biodiesel Magazine) U.S. imports of biomass-based diesel, which include biodiesel and renewable diesel, grew 26 percent in 2019 to more than 27,000 barrels per day (more than 413.9 MMgy), ending two years in a row of decline. Imports of biomass-based diesel increased in 2019 because of the
June 10, 2020
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(aireg) The members of the Aviation Initiative for Renewable Energy in Germany e.V. welcome the National Hydrogen Strategy (NWS) adopted by the Federal Cabinet on June 10th 2020. It is quite rightly stated that aviation will be dependent on liquid fuels for the foreseeable future. Sustainable aviation fuels, for whose
June 10, 2020
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by Steve Vander Griend (Urban Air Initiative/Ethanol Producer Magazine) In a world intent on lowering carbon emissions, any positive steps lowering CO2 should receive credit. Instead, a recent Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) issued by EPA actually proposes to penalize low carbon ethanol in a convoluted approach that would add
June 10, 2020
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by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A 30-day public comment period is now open on the U.S. EPA’s proposal to determine that no additional fuel control measures are necessary to mitigate air quality impacts of required renewable fuel volumes under the Renewable Fuel Standard. The EPA released a pre-publication version of the
June 10, 2020
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Review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter on Behalf of the Urban Air Initiative (UAI)
(Urban Air Initiative) On behalf of the Urban Air Initiative (UAI), we appreciate the opportunity to comment on the above Proposed Rulemaking (Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2015-0072). UAI is a not for profit technical organization with a particular focus on automotive emissions and fuel composition. We are disappointed that EPA fails