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by Matt Thompson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Stephen Censky, deputy secretary of the USDA, delivered a keynote address during the second day of the Global Ethanol Summit on Tuesday in Washington, D.C. … He also spoke to the efficiencies that U.S. ethanol producers and farmers have achieved, and what that may
Opinions
(Renewable Energy Group/Transport Topics) As a diesel technician with 15 years’ experience, Joe Siadak knows truck engines well. But biodiesel taught him something new. When Mahoney Environmental, where he is lead technician, decided to run its fleet of Class 7 and Class 8 trucks on biodiesel blends, Siadak thought his team would
October 18, 2019
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(Diesel Technology Forum) When Rudolph Diesel patented his engine over a century ago, it was designed to operate on vegetable oils. Today, most diesel engines are still capable of operating on high quality fuels derived from vegetable oils. Whether it is biodiesel or renewable diesel fuel, the use of high
October 18, 2019
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(NGV Journal/Iveco) Iveco Bus has won a record order to supply 409 Urbanway Natural Power (NP) buses to the Parisian Transport Authority, Ile-de-France Mobilités. The buses, which will run on renewable natural gas, will be deployed on the public transport network which covers both the inner and outer suburbs of the
October 18, 2019
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by Noah Fish (Post Bulletin/AgriNews) High-level officials from Middle Eastern and African countries were in Minnesota this week to learn more about the U.S. ethanol production process. The state tour, which kicked off in Eyota at the Kwik Trip fuel blending site on Wednesday, was hosted by the U.S. Grains
October 18, 2019
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by Brian Dabbs (National Journal) … Now, though, two retiring Republican House members want to carve out a new future for U.S. liquid transportation fuel policy. Rep. John Shimkus of Illinois, who represents some of the most prolific corn-producing counties in the U.S., and Rep. Bill Flores, a petroleum-backing Texan,
October 18, 2019
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by Donnelle Eller (Des Moines Register) Angry over proposed ethanol changes, Iowa agriculture leaders warned Wednesday that President Donald Trump will lose rural voters next year unless he makes good on a deal to restore millions of gallons of lost renewable fuel demand. “No more Iowa nice. Now, it’s Iowa pissed,” said Craig Floss, CEO
October 18, 2019
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by Raj Shah, David Forester, Philip Iaccarino and Kareem Mehdi (Biofuels International) Bioenergy and biofuels are of increasing public and private interest as the world stands at a crossroads of rising energy demand and concerns over climate change. Biofuels are under an ever-brightening spotlight and touted as an ostensibly “cleaner”
October 18, 2019
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(Biofuels International) Greenfield Global, the largest producer of ethanol in Canada, has taken steps to expand production at its Varennes biorefinery following the introduction of draft regulations on the minimum renewable fuel volumes in the province of Quebec. … The company added that it is currently considering the adaptation of
October 18, 2019
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by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In the Philippines, the Department of Energy is seeking to crack down on anti-competitive behavior when it comes to fuel pricing nationwide, an issue it is looking at even more closely since the drone attacks on a Saudi oil facility in September. The proposed oil deregulation
October 18, 2019
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(The Nation) Cassava has the capacity to generate N10 trillion and save Nigeria over N1.2 trillion from import of derivatives such as ethanol, starch and sweetener, Nigeria Cassava Growers Association (NCGA) said on Monday. Its President, Mr Segun Adewunmi, who spoke in Abuja, lamented that the huge potential in cassava
October 18, 2019
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(University of Manchester/Phys.org) Researchers from the University of Manchester are using synthetic biology to explore a more efficient way to produce the next generation of biobased jet fuels—partly made from seawater. — The Manchester research group, led by Professor Nigel Scrutton, director of the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology (MIB) and supported
October 18, 2019
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by Shayne Willette (Navigant) … Even fewer know the benefits of renewable natural gas (RNG)—closely related to biogas—or what it is. Absent a complete shift to electrification, biogas has significant potential to be a core piece of the climate change puzzle. This is because biogas uses waste that would have been
October 17, 2019
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(South Dakota Farmers Union) Following yet another disappointing announcement by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on their management of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), South Dakota Farmers Union President Doug Sombke said it’s time to recognize the RFS Is broken. “The “big beautiful deal” EPA announced last week raised more
October 17, 2019
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) From Washington state we have news that the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency has issued its Low Carbon Fuel Standard rule for consideration. This is the first economic region to attempt a Low Carbon Fuel Standard, and follows on from the failure of the Washington State
October 17, 2019
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by Sherell Jeffrey (Daily Express) Sabah’s biomass is grossly underutilised and industry players don’t seem to be very enthusiastic despite the State having what it takes for them to take full advantage of the situation, from raw materials, infrastructure and government support, according to Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie
October 16, 2019
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) “EPA Reneges on Trump’s Biofuels Deal”, said the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association in reacting to the US Environmental Protection Agency’s new plans for fulfilling federal renewable fuel requirements. EPA released a proposed supplemental rule for the Renewable Fuel Standard today, and the bioeconomy is up in arms, and
October 16, 2019
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by Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuels USA) Maryland’s Commission on Climate Change advises the state’s Governor and General Assembly “on ways to mitigate the causes of, prepare for, and adapt to the consequences of climate change.” The MCCC is chaired by Maryland Department of the Environment Secretary Ben Grumbles and consists
October 16, 2019
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(Bioenergy Insight) An Irish logistics company has become the first haulier to complete a zero-carbon HGV delivery to Europe. Virginia International Logistics transported processed beef from County Cavan, Ireland to Caen in northern France. The 1,121km trip was fuelled by renewable gas. The lorry was fuelled by bio-compressed gas purchased
October 15, 2019
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(aireg e.V.) On the occasion of the international aireg conference on sustainable aviation fuels in Berlin on October 17th and 18th 2019, aireg proposes the introduction of a GHG reduction quota through sustainable aviation fuels. On a global scale, about 70,000 tons of sustainable synthetic kerosene are available today, which
October 15, 2019
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by Matt Thompson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Miguel Ivan Lacerda Oliveira, director of biofuels for the Brazil Ministry of Mines and Energy, said during the Global Ethanol Summit in Washington, D.C., that the future of transportation is electric vehicles, but ethanol will still have a role as a transportation fuel. Oliveira was
October 15, 2019
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by Matt Thompson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The first Global Ethanol Summit, sponsored by the U.S. Grains Council, Growth Energy and the Renewable Fuels Association, kicked off in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 14 with presentations from Ryan LeGrand, president and CEO of USGC, and Mike Dwyer, chief economist of USGC. LeGrand gave
October 15, 2019
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(The Climate Change Project) … While the need to act on climate has never been more clear, the good news is that candidates are responding to urgent need and public desire for serious action. They are participating in historic climate town halls and forums, releasing ambitious and comprehensive climate plans, and
October 15, 2019
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by Tan Xue Ying (The Edge Markets) Concerned by the impact of low commodity prices on livelihoods of Malaysians in the plantation sector, the government has proposed a palm oil replanting loan fund of RM550 million. In the budget speech 2020 in parliament today, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said the
October 15, 2019
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(Greenfield Global/Oil and Gas 360) Province’s largest ethanol producer says the policy could result in a major expansion of the output of its production in Quebec. — Greenfield Global Inc., Canada’s largest ethanol producer and a world leader in high-purity specialty alcohols, welcomed the Government of Quebec’s pre-publication of draft regulations on the minimum
October 15, 2019
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Atmospheric CO2 levels have hit, er, stratospheric levels. The levels measured today were last recorded in 3 million B.C., and given the global concern about climate impact, a major industry is in the process of being born — namely, the Carbon Reduction Industry. Afforestation, bioenergy
October 15, 2019
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) … Lately the amines, which in the simplest description are compounds with a bunch of nitrogen stuffed inside, have improved their reputation. For one, a number of Direct Air Capture technologies have been receiving big publicity as climate fighters for their CO2-scrubbing prowess. … “various
October 15, 2019
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(Columbia Law School/Sabin Center for Climate Change Law) Access the Climate Change Laws of the World database here and search for legislation or litigation in your selected country or countries. The countries of the world are taking action domestically as well as through the negotiation of international agreements to address climate change. The
October 14, 2019
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Michael B. Gerrard and John C. Dernbach, Editors (Environmental Law Institute) Legal Pathways to Deep Decarbonization in the United States provides a “legal playbook” for deep decarbonization in the United States, identifying well over 1,000 legal options for enabling the United States to address one of the greatest problems facing this country
October 14, 2019
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(Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Plants (Union zur Förderung von Oel- und Proteinpflanzen e. V. (UFOP)) Human-caused climate change is already visible and is especially evident in agriculture, as the “drought year” of 2018 clearly demonstrated. Agriculture, however, is not only affected. It is also part of
October 14, 2019
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by Geert De Clercq and Gus Trompiz (Reuters) France’s constitutional court on Friday upheld a law excluding palm oil from the country’s biofuel scheme, rejecting an appeal by energy company Total (TOTF.PA) which says the measure puts at risk its production site in southern France. The legislation will remove palm
October 14, 2019
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) … 4. For emissions, it depends by region. Coal is a big part of the electricity mix in China and still in the Eastern US, and oil is the source of electrons in the Middle East. The best way to get overall emissions down at this time
October 14, 2019
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) It matters of course, what people think about bioenergy, not just the makers and political folk or offtakers, but the broader groups as well in what is called elsewhere ‘civil society’, amongst pressure groups, and ordinary customers at the pump or retail store. The measurement
October 11, 2019
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Mississippi, Velocys’ Bayou Fuels project has signed with Oxy Low Carbon Ventures to capture carbon dioxide from Velocys’ planned Bayou Fuels biomass-to-fuels project in Natchez, Mississippi, and securely store it underground in a geologic formation. OLCV, a wholly owned subsidiary of Occidental, will take,
October 11, 2019
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(Solutions from the Land) National Farmer’s Day, an acknowledgement of the hard work that goes into feeding and supplying a nation, will be observed this Saturday, Oct. 12. The day acknowledges and thanks farmers for the hard work they do every day to supply safe and abundant food, feed, fiber
October 10, 2019
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(Biobased Products News and Policy Report) On October 2, 2019, the government of Quebec, Canada, published in its Official Gazette a notice of a draft regulation setting standards for the integration of renewable fuels into gasoline and diesel fuel. Under the draft regulation, the standards will apply on July 1, 2021, and will
October 10, 2019
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(Antara News) The Indonesian government will prepare to take legal action at the World Trade Organization (WTO) to challenge the European Union (EU) over its Renewable Energy Directive II (RED II) and Delegated Regulation (DR). The lawsuit plan was rolled out over concerns of the regulation directly impacting the Indonesian
October 10, 2019
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by Lynne Roeder (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory) Assessment identifies top ten blendstocks for efficiency in turbo-charged engines — … This environmental benefit could be maximized with biofuels suitable for use in turbocharged engines that pack more horsepower in a smaller, more efficient package than traditional combustion engines. The Co-Optimization of Fuels
October 10, 2019
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by Todd Campbell (ACT News/California Natural Gas Vehicle Partnership) The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) recently awarded more than $67 million to 43 dairy digester projects across California, making significant strides toward achieving the state’s climate protection policy goals. The projects represent a total of over $300 million in
October 10, 2019
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by Chris Mooney and Andrew Freedman (Washington Post) A global agreement to make fossil fuel burning more expensive is urgent and the most efficient way of fighting climate change, an International Monetary Fund study found on Thursday. The group found that a global tax of $75 per ton by the
October 10, 2019
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by Nadja Popovich and Denise Lu (New York Times) Transportation is the largest source of planet-warming greenhouse gases in the United States today and the bulk of those emissions come from driving in our cities and suburbs. The (interactive) map … shows a year’s worth of CO2 from passenger and freight traffic
October 10, 2019
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by Josh Siegel & Abby Smith (Washington Examiner’s Daily on Energy) New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and eight other U.S. mayors released a policy “playbook” Thursday for how cities can cut emissions from the transportation and building sectors. The mayors say if the largest 100 U.S. cities took these recommended actions, total combined emissions
October 10, 2019
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(National Biodiesel Board) The National Biodiesel Board released results Oct. 9 of an annual national poll of registered voters designed to measure awareness of and attitudes toward biodiesel and federal policies that support the industry. The results show a candidate’s support for policies to promote clean energy, including biodiesel and renewable
October 10, 2019
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by Jonathan Watts, Jillian Ambrose and Adam Vaughan (The Guardian) Projected production surge in next 12 years to be led by Shell despite climate crisis; Video: why we need political action to rein in the fossil fuel industry; Timeline: Half a century of dither and denial — The world’s 50 biggest oil companies
October 10, 2019
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by Todd Neeley (DTN Progressive Farmer) First and foremost, the group asked Trump to expedite any new rulemaking process aimed at the waivers issue. … As part of the biofuels announcement last week, the Trump administration also directed EPA and USDA to take steps to address barriers to the use
October 10, 2019
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House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis Request for Information DEADLINE: November 22, 2019 and Science and Technology Policy Office Request for Information on the Bioeconomy DEADLINE: October 22, 2019 Send your ideas today.
October 10, 2019
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by Craig Willis (Global Markets) Since the inception of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) in 2007, Canada has been the most consistent destination for exports of U.S. ethanol – standing as a beacon for free trade and acting as a global leader in combating climate change through biofuels. During a time
October 9, 2019
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(Bioenergy Association of Ukraine) SEC Biomass experts Tetiana Zheliezna, Oleksandra Tryboi and Olha Haidai took part in the second BIOPLAT-EU (Promoting Sustainable Use of Underutilized Lands for Bioenergy Production through a Web-Based Platform for Europe) project meeting that was held in Kyiv on 26 of September, 2019. The project partners presented
October 9, 2019
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(Bioenergy Association of Ukraine) Prospects for biomethane production and consumption in Ukraine were reviewed on October 01 by the State Agency for Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving. Discussion participants: Head of the Agency Sergiy Savchuk, Head of the Bioenergy Association of Ukraine Georgii Geletukha, representatives of Ukrtransgaz, biogas producers and other
October 9, 2019
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(Maritime Executive) Norway has released an action plan for green shipping, saying that its maritime industry is a world leader in the development of low- and zero-emission solutions. The Government’s ambition is to reduce emissions from domestic shipping and fishing vessels by half by 2030. The report notes that with current
October 9, 2019
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(Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking/Politico) The Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking delivers substantial socio-economic and environmental benefits to Europe, actively contributing to the European Green Deal — Did you know that renewable biological resources such as waste, agricultural and forestry residues, and aquatic biomass can be used to produce greener everyday products, from
October 9, 2019
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by Kate Proctor and Lisa O’Carroll (The Guardian) Adjustments made for duties on trucks, bioethanol and clothing in effort to keep prices down — The government has announced changes to British tariffs on lorries, bioethanol and clothing in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Revisions to the temporary tariff schedule are an
October 9, 2019
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) First comes the techno-economic assessment, then comes the deployment, as perhaps someone once said, or should have. For the road to bioeconomy passes through the graces of a successful evalutation of the inputs anf the outputs and the costs and values thereof. Those thoughtful assessors
October 9, 2019
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This is such Top Secret stuff that every announcement was, we surmise, buried in the hardest-to-find hole, on the loneliest street, of the most out-of-the-way town on Planet Neptune. Just shows what you might find down a rabbit hole. Share this at your peril, it rocks the
October 9, 2019
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by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico’s Morning Energy) A group of large investors is calling on GM to join a voluntary emissions deal struck between California, Ford and three other automakers — a deal that’s currently the subject of a Trump administration antitrust investigation, Pro’s Alex Guillén reports. “Joining the agreement with California
October 9, 2019
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by Cassandra Profita (Oregon Public Broadcasting) Zenith Energy says it wants to add renewable fuels and what it calls “a liquid intermediate” to the list of products it handles at its crude oil terminal in Portland. The Houston-based energy company moves crude oil from rail cars to storage tanks and outgoing ships at its
October 8, 2019
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(Diesel Technology Forum) Oakland’s equipment and services manager, Joey Williams, chats about the difference using renewable diesel fuel has made for the city’s diesel-powered vehicles. WATCH VIDEO
October 8, 2019
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“Industry, NHTSA, EPA, and other relevant agencies should promote the use of biodiesel and renewable diesel in MHDV engines…,” advises the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine in a new study, Reducing Fuel Consumption and Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles, Phase Two. READ MORE
October 8, 2019
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(National Academies of Science Engineering Medicine) Tractor-trailers, buses, commercial trucks, and other heavy vehicles are significant contributors in the transportation sector to energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, accounting for approximately 22 percent of energy use by U.S. transportation. The fuel consumption of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (MHDVs) has
October 8, 2019
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by Nick Savvides (American Shipper Freight Waves) … Madadh (pronounced Maddy) MacLaine, CEO of Zero Emissions Maritime Technology, Ltd. believes that hydrogen’s time has come. MacLaine is also a founding member of the Zero Emissions Ship Technology Association, which was established in 2018 to accelerate the transition from fossil fuels.
October 8, 2019
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by Patrick Molloy and LeeAnn Baronett (Rocky Mountain Institute) … There are four major sources for commercial production of hydrogen, three of which require fossil fuels: steam methane reformation (SMR), oxidation, and gasification. The fourth source is electrolysis, which separates water into its constituent elements (hydrogen and oxygen) using electricity. When
October 8, 2019
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by Tristan R. Brown (Seeking Alpha) Summary — The “giant package” that President Donald Trump had promised to the U.S. biofuels sector back in August was finally unveiled late last week. While the plan’s details continue to be scarce, those that have been provided suggest that the plan won’t do
October 8, 2019
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(Office of Representative Cindy Axne (D-IA-3) Axne, Klobuchar express concern regarding recent EPA statement claiming “zero evidence” that biofuel waivers are hurting ethanol producers, request USDA conduct an economic impact report — Today (October 3, 2019), U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne (D-IA-03) and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) sent a letter to U.S.
October 8, 2019
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(Targray) Targray has announced the full opening of its Antwerp Biodiesel Terminal, a 24/7 biofuel storage and blending center serving fuel producers, distributors, traders and retailers in markets throughout Europe. Strategically located at the heart of Europe’s largest petrochemical center, Targray’s Antwerp location connects to EU customer bases via rail,
October 8, 2019
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Several of the better known IEA Bioenergy rock stars — there are four and possibly five in this set, from the US and Canada, so we’ll put them sort of on a par with Neil Young and Crazy Horse for representing somethng tuneful, must-know and
October 8, 2019
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(GreenAir Online) Emissions from international aviation and shipping must be included in the country’s net-zero emissions by 2050 climate target, says the UK government’s advisory Committee on Climate Change (CCC). However, the body accepts that even with improvements to fuel efficiency and the use of sustainable and novel fuels, zero-carbon aviation
October 7, 2019
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by Amy Mayer (High Plains Public Radio) …Lee Tesdell is all-in for reducing his carbon footprint. He began installing solar panels on his farm in Polk County, Iowa, in 2013. “And all the time I was thinking that I would like to drive an electric car,” he said, “so that
October 7, 2019
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by Craig LeMoult (WGBH) This is the first story in a three-part series on transportation-related air pollution in the Boston area. Read Part 2 here and Part 3 here. Highways are crucial arteries of our transportation system, but the air pollution from all those vehicles could pose a serious health risk to anyone
October 7, 2019
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(Natual Resources Solutions) Reg Modlin is a senior NRS Advisor and a veteran of 40-plus years in the automotive industry. In the following posts, he examines the steps that have been taken – and need to be taken – to attain the transportation fuel that best serves our nation for
October 7, 2019
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(Biofuels International) A new nationwide US survey conducted by Morning Consult has found strong support for ethanol and the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Support for the latter has reached its highest level since the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) began polling on RFS support in 2016. The survey additionally found that
October 7, 2019
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(Air Transport Action Group) Governments meeting at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) 40th Assembly in Montreal have supported the prioritisation of work on developing a long-term goal for aviation CO2 emissions, with that work to be completed for presentation at the next ICAO Assembly in 2022. They also re-affirmed support
October 7, 2019
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Pacific Ethanol is a leading producer and marketer of low-carbon renewable fuels and high-quality alcohol products, and in some ways more importantly, they are a beacon for us to understand the future of pure-play ethanol and protein companies, going forward. Among the major players are
October 7, 2019
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In today’s Digest, the 4-Point Agreement, the backstory, the Glad Tidings, the Unfinished Business, and reaction from the stakeholders as we parse out the impact on future volumes, waivers, backfills, RINs, E15, blender pumps and more, …. The 4-Point Agreement The Administration announced that the
October 7, 2019
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by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico’s Morning Energy) A National Academies of Science panel on Friday called for EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to conduct an “interim evaluation” of federal fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas regulations for medium- and heavy-duty trucks by 2022 “to ensure and improve their effectiveness
October 7, 2019
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by Chuck Abbott (Successful Farming) The U.S. appeals court in Washington unanimously ordered the EPA to reconsider its Renewable Fuel Standard for 2018 because it failed to account for the potential impact of full-throttle corn production on endangered species and habitat. Even though the decision was directed at agency deliberations
October 4, 2019
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(Biofuels International) The Government of Québec in Canada has released a draft regulation that requires the increased use of renewable fuels in the province. The new renewable fuels standard, which has been applauded by industry association Advanced Biofuels Canada (ABFC), proposes a market-based mechanism to incentivise low-carbon biofuels. Ethanol in
October 4, 2019
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by Rebecca Beitsch (The Hill) The White House removed language calling climate change a “serious challenge” from a proposal that limits California’s ability to set tougher vehicle emissions standards, according to reporting from E&E News. A draft of the document obtained by E&E shows the White House striking the phrase “while global climate
October 4, 2019
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(Environmental Protection Agency) Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue issued the following statements after President Donald J. Trump successfully negotiated an agreement on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS): “President Trump’s leadership has led to an agreement that continues to promote
October 4, 2019
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by Betsy Lillian (NGT News) Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-Calif., is making moves in support of reducing California’s transportation emissions. Newsom signed an executive order to leverage the state’s pension investment portfolio and assets to “advance California’s climate leadership.” The executive order directs multiple state agencies and departments to review and update overall
October 3, 2019
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by Stephanie Manuzak (Yale Climate Connections) The newest farm bill offers support for algae growers. — …”Currently companies in the industry are producing plastics, and recyclable foam, and animal feed for cows and chickens and pigs, and aquafeed for shrimp,” Mark Allen says. Allen is board chair of the Algae Biomass
October 3, 2019
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(Latin American Herald Tribune) Brazil will reopen its main biodiesel production plant to harness the energy contained in soybeans, the government of the northeastern state of Piaui announced on Sunday. In a statement, the regional government said that the automated plant – located in the city of Floriano, some 1,350
October 3, 2019
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(Renewable Fuels Association) Registered voters oppose the Trump administration’s actions to exempt oil refineries from renewable fuel blending obligations by a margin of nearly two to one, according to new polling data released today by the Renewable Fuels Association. The nationwide survey, by Morning Consult, also found strong support for ethanol
October 3, 2019
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by Ashley Hanley (KTOE) Applications are now open for all 15 seats on the Governor’s Biofuels Council, established by Governor Tim Walz to advise the Governor and Cabinet on how to best support the Minnesota biofuels industry. On September 16, 2019, Governor Walz signed Executive Order 19-35, establishing the Governor’s Biofuels Council to
October 3, 2019
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by Candace Krebs (Ag Journal) … “What people don’t realize is that shale provides a particular very light type of oil, and we can’t use that exclusively with the way our refineries are configured,” explains Scott Richman, chief economist for the Renewable Fuels Association. “Total imports of oil into U.S. have
October 3, 2019
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(Sudbury.com) Party says there will be no food-based biofuels in transition to zero-carbon economy — The Green Party of Canada says it supports the use of biofuels as the nation switches to a zero-carbon economy, but only if it’s made from plant waste, not food. In a news release ahead of
October 3, 2019
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by Yuthana Praiwan (Bangkok Post) Practice run before biodiesel switch — The Oil Fuel Fund Administration Office (OFFO) plans to lower the retail price of diesel B10 on Tuesday by two baht per litre to promote biodiesel. The state will use oil funds to subsidise the price of B10 by 1.80
October 3, 2019
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by Dave VanderGriend (Urban Air Initiative/Biofuels Digest) … (A)nyone who owns a blender pump woke up one day in June to find out they were a refiner! Actually, a “fuel manufacturer” to be exact, with all the numbing, strangling regulations that go with it. While the fire is raging throughout the
October 3, 2019
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(EBA/NGV Journal) The decarbonization of transport is a major concern to limit the environmental and climate impact of the sector. The European Environmental Agency (EEA) has warned against the increase of CO2 emissions of new passenger cars since 2017 and recalls that the transport sector remains a significant source of air
October 2, 2019
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by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) The California Council on Science & Technology hosted an expert briefing at the California State Capitol Sept. 19 focused on the beneficial uses of wood biomass from wildfire mitigation. The briefing was the fourth in a series on wildfires hosted by CCST. … Forests treatments,
October 2, 2019
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by Betsy Lillian (NGT News) Nine environmental advocacy groups are suing the Trump administration over its attempt to prevent California and other states from setting their own vehicle emission standards. The complaint challenges a final rule recently issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which claims that all state programs
October 2, 2019
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by Todd Neeley (DTN Progressive Farmer) Two small refiners not receiving exemptions to the Renewable Fuel Standard in EPA’s latest round of waivers announced on Aug. 9, continue to fight the agency’s rejection in federal court. At the same time, agriculture and biofuel interests continue to wait for a potential biofuels
October 2, 2019
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by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) A series of unfortunate events this summer—all caused by U.S. government action or inaction—has led to a precarious situation in the biodiesel sector, but there may be a silver lining. — … The volume of SREs (small oil refinery exemptions) granted has exploded during the
October 2, 2019
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by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) Sens. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and Pat Roberts, R-Kan., reintroduced the Agricultural Environmental Stewardship Act on Sept. 24. The bill aims to expand the biogas market by providing a 30 percent investment tax credit to help offset the upfront costs associated with building biodigester systems. “Ohio farmers
October 2, 2019
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by Thomas Mulloy (C Store Decisions) …“Successfully Retailing Biofuels” sorted through the misconceptions and logistics of selling biofuels alongside non-renewable fuels. Doug Berven, vice president for corporate affairs for Poet Ethanol Products, made a strong case for growing the use of ethanol in America’s vehicles. Berven said that ethanol is good
October 2, 2019
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by Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuels USA) “Nothing has been decided yet about the treatment of biofuels” or renewable fuels in the proposed program to cap transportation emissions in 13 Northeastern US jurisdictions, according to the chair of the Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI) Leadership and Workgroup, Kathleen Theoharides, Secretary, Massachusetts Executive
October 2, 2019
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(National Biodiesel Board) Letter says Commerce must make the right decision, rather than a hurried decision — Today (September 30, 2019), the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) and American Soybean Association (ASA) sent a letter to Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, requesting he meet with the groups before the U.S. Department of
October 2, 2019
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(Internal Revenue Service/Federal Register) … The Internal Revenue Service (IRS), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The IRS is
October 2, 2019
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by David J. Lynch (Washington Post) … After two decades, Siouxland (Energy Cooperative) this month halted operations following the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to exempt 31 small oil refiners from a federal law requiring them to blend ethanol in their gasoline. The waivers, which the Trump administration has approved almost
October 2, 2019
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by Vicky Just (University of Bath/Phys.org) Synthetic fuels, made using carbon captured from the air, farm waste or biomass, could help the transport sector reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and meet “net-zero” greenhouse gas emission goals. A policy briefing by the Royal Society, published on 16 September, set out the
October 1, 2019
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(Airports Council International) On the occasion of the UN Global Climate Action Summit taking place in New York today, the trade association for Europe’s airports, ACI EUROPE provided an update on the industry’s response to the Climate Emergency. In June of this year, ACI EUROPE announced a landmark resolution committing
October 1, 2019
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by Faisal Yunianto and Sri Haryati (Antara News) State-owned railway company PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) Persero is working with private logistical railway service firms Servo Railway and Progress Rail for designing locomotives run on B100 biodiesel. The cooperation is a follow-up of the government’s plan to step up palm
October 1, 2019
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by Scott Waldman and Benjamin Storrow (E&E News) Ukraine, now at the center of a rapidly accelerating impeachment inquiry against President Trump, has been central to the president’s efforts to increase U.S. exports of fossil fuels. The Eastern European nation sits at the crossroads of Europe and Russia. Today, roughly
October 1, 2019
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(Transportation and Climate Initiative/Georgetown Climate Center) Jurisdictions participating in the Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI) have made available a framework for a draft regional policy proposal to reduce greenhouse gas pollution from transportation, and are encouraging interested individuals and organizations to provide feedback on the draft framework through the TCI portal. This high-level framework
October 1, 2019
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(U.S. House of Representatives Science, Space and Technology Subcommittee on Energy) STATEMENTS: Chairman Conor Lamb (D-PA) of the Subcommittee on Energy Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) WITNESSES: Ms. Ann M. Schlenker, Director, Center for Transportation Research, Argonne National Laboratory [Truth in Testimony] Mr. James Chen, Vice President of Public Policy, Rivian Automotive LLC [Truth
September 30, 2019
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(Safe Gasoline Campaign) In a wide-ranging interview on a popular South Dakota Business Radio program, Sombke and Daschle stressed that moving to high octane gasoline is a way to build on the success of the Renewable Fuel Standard. The path to get there is through the Safe Affordable Fuel Efficiency (SAFE) rule currently
September 30, 2019
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by Ben Lefebvre (Politico) At a closed-door meeting this summer, oil and gas industry lawyers criticized the Trump administration’s failure to recruit enough qualified people to secure policy victories that would outlast this presidency, according to a recording of the gathering. The audio from an Independent Petroleum Producers of America meeting
September 30, 2019
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(NORDEN) NORDEN has signed up to become a member of the Getting to Zero Coalition. Launching at the United Nations Climate Action Summit this week, the Getting to Zero Coalition seeks to create awareness of the need for transition to zero emission vessels as part of the global shipping sector’s ongoing
September 30, 2019
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by Dave Blower Jr. (The News Gazette) The Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA) and the Indiana Corn Growers Association (ICGA) along with 12 other Indiana farm, ethanol and biodiesel plants and allied industries wrote to Indiana’s congressional delegation expressing frustration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and to compel the
September 27, 2019
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by Ken Anderson (Brownfield Ag News) Leaders in the renewable fuels industry say it’s urgent that President Trump fix the demand destruction and “economic crisis” created by RFS waivers. Ron Heck of Perry, Iowa, secretary of the National Biodiesel Board, says there’s no time to wait. “Many farmers are losing patience with
September 27, 2019
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by Stephanie Russell-Kraft (Bloomberg) More than 20 law firms join pro bono effort led by two law school professors; Draft laws and regulations will be publicly available to local, state and federal lawmakers — More than 20 Big Law firms have signed on to a pro-bono project developing model laws and
September 27, 2019
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by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico’s Morning Energy) Led by Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), a group of House lawmakers introduced a bipartisan carbon pricing measure — the MARKET CHOICE Act — that would fund infrastructure investments by pricing carbon and eliminating the gas tax. “We are at a crossroads with regard to infrastructure and climate
September 27, 2019
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The National Farmers Union envisions a world where farm families and their communities are respected, valued and enjoy economic prosperity and social justice and climate is a big part of that. Check out what Roger Johnson, President of National Farmers Union had to say about
September 27, 2019
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(Our Daily Planet) The IPCC Oceans report released on Wednesday painted a dire picture of the health of the ocean today. The ocean is a carbon sponge absorbing 93% of the carbon emitted thus far, and it is reaching a breaking point according to the IPCC. But another panel that was formed last
September 27, 2019
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(Air Transport Action Group) As the world’s aviation community gathers in Montreal for the 40th session of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Assembly, the aviation industry is demonstrating its commitment to climate action every day across its global network, this week surpassing 200,000 passenger flights using sustainable aviation fuels. Through
September 26, 2019
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by Steve Vander Griend (Ethanol Producer Magazine/Urban Air Initiative) … While we are all glad Reid vapor pressure (RVP) relief for E15 was finalized, limiting us to E15 makes this a small victory rather than the game-changer it could have been. While the RVP issue, waivers and the renewable volume
September 26, 2019
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(Growth Energy) Growth Energy, the nation’s largest association of biofuel producers, released a new report examining the potential impact of a growing role for U.S. biofuels in America’s clean energy future. The report was authored by Ramboll, a global research and management firm specializing in sustainable development, at the request of Growth Energy.
September 26, 2019
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(Air Transport Action Group) Organisations from across the air transport sector today reminded governments of the important role that air transport development can play in national and regional sustainable development planning. Governments are meeting in Montreal for the 40th session of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Assembly. Presenting a joint
September 26, 2019
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by Stephanie Mercier (Farm Journal AgWeb) … While supporters of the U.S. biofuel industry will no doubt continue to advocate for some remedial action by the administration on the SRE/RFS issues, they should not overlook the fact that the U.S. market for fuel for surface vehicles, like cars, light trucks,
September 26, 2019
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by Mario Parker (Transport Topics/Bloomberg News) … Japan will reduce tariffs in stages on U.S. farm goods, such as beef and pork, USTR said in a statement Sept 25. The country will eliminate tariffs on $1.3 billion of U.S. agriculture products, including almonds, blueberries, sweet corn and sorghum, it said.
September 26, 2019
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by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Renewable Fuels Association sent a letter to U.S. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler Sept. 25 criticizing statements he made during a Sept. 19 congressional hearing where he claimed small refinery exemptions (SREs) are not impacting the ethanol industry. Wheeler appeared before the U.S. House of Representatives
September 26, 2019
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) At the hot and happenin’ Algae Biomass Summit in Orlando, Florida,Steve Mayfield, Director at UCSD California Center for Algae Biotechnology and Martin Sabarksy, CEO of Cellana, gave this illuminating introduction of some of the latest policy highlights from the 2018 Farm Bill and how it
September 26, 2019
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(Solutions from the Land) … Climate Week is an annual event – first launched in 2009 and held alongside the United Nations General Assembly – that puts heightened emphasis on the commitment needed from all to address the ongoing escalation of dangerous climactic conditions. Among those facing the biggest risks are
September 25, 2019
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(Sierra Club) Today, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced that New Mexico will join 14 other states in adopting clean car standards requiring new cars sold in the state to emit fewer greenhouse gases. They also mandate an increasing percentage of cars sold in the state to be zero emissions. The governor
September 25, 2019
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(Stay Grounded Network/Biofuelwatch) Planned protests in Montreal at International Aviation Assembly (24th of September to 4th of October) // New briefing exposes plans for palm oil in the airplane tank & aviation emissions scheme (CORSIA) as set to fail to reduce aviation emissions — In the upcoming days, major decisions
September 25, 2019
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by Kim Wynn (Grand Forks Herald) The Department of Transportation aims to tackle vehicle pollution in an attempt to bolster use of electric cars and increase biofuels infrastructure. — As Minnesota has failed to meet its goal of a 15% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 2005 to 2015, the Department
September 25, 2019
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(Our Daily Planet) Looking to take further action against the State of California, the Environmental Protection Agency under the guise of enforcing the state’s non-compliance with the Clean Air Act (CAA) says it will take away billions in federal funds provided to the state of California to implement low carbon transportation
September 25, 2019
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by Allen Schaeffer (Diesel Technology Forum/The Morning Call) … Even more emissions reductions could be possible through a switch to high-quality advanced renewable bio-based diesel fuels, instead of using conventional petroleum diesel fuel. Both new and existing diesel engines of all kinds can immediately lower the carbon footprint of their
September 24, 2019
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(Diesel Technology Forum) … Among Secretary-General Guterres’ policy proposals is the idea that only “radical changes” – such as a “full shift towards electric vehicles” – are acceptable “climate-smart practices” that will “improve the health and save the lives of millions of people around the world.” We respectfully disagree. The
September 24, 2019
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by Lisa Gibson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Projections for E15 have been inconsistent since the May 31 Reid vapor pressure waiver. Ethanol Producer Magazine explores some of the factors that will influence the blend’s trajectory in the coming years. … Before the waiver, retailers selling E15 had already planned to increase
September 24, 2019
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by Betsy Lillian (NGT News) Gov. Kate Brown, D-Ore., recently gathered with NW Natural and other renewable natural gas (RNG) stakeholders to ceremoniously sign a bill that will allow Oregon utilities to acquire RNG on behalf of their customers. NW Natural, a subsidiary of NW Natural Holding Co. and a natural
September 24, 2019
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by Monica Evans (Forests News) Open-access atlas a boon for monitoring and transparency — In a welcome “good news” story for the world’s carbon stocks and biodiversity, the felling of old-growth forest for oil palm plantations on the island of Borneo has tracked a steady decline since its 2012 peak. That
September 24, 2019
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by Carrie Muehling (Energy.AgWired.com) The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is applauding lawmakers for support of the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS). RFA thanked a bipartisan group of 25 members of the U.S. House of Representatives for asking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to prospectively restore RFS volumes lost to small refinery exemptions. In a
September 24, 2019
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(North American Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance) State-level climate smart ag groups are growing, evidenced by wide media attention drawn by a forum held last month by the Florida Climate Smart Agriculture (FL CSA) Work Group, and an early meeting of a robust new work group of ag and forestry leaders
September 23, 2019
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(North American Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance) NACSAA Steering Committee Chairman Fred Yoder, Committee Member Ray Gaesser and Alliance Coordinator Ernie Shea held a series of courtesy briefings and listening sessions in Washington last week, meeting with USDA officials, top farm trade group leaders and key lawmakers, sharing updates on the government’s
September 23, 2019
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by John Cumbers (Forbes) When it comes to action on climate change, what’s good for the planet must also benefit the economy and the livelihoods of people, which are more often than not at the forefront of the minds of voters and can make or break a government. When oil and
September 23, 2019
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by Emma Gilsenan (AgriLand) Biorefinery – which converts biomass to energy and other beneficial by-products – could potentially add more value to an outside block of land, according to UCD lecturer, Bridget Lynch. Speaking to AgriLand at the National Ploughing Championships this week, James Gaffey, a researcher in IT Tralee along with his
September 23, 2019
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(TradingCharts.com/Market.us) The key contributing factors of biodiesel fuel market are fast increasing Sales Strategy, Revenue Generation, Valuable Growth Prospects, and Cost Structure Analysis. Top-Vendor landscape of biodiesel fuel market report, which focuses on the major industry growth drivers, threats, opportunities and constraint for the top key players. biodiesel fuel market also
September 23, 2019
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(Air Transport Action Group) The aviation industry, alongside environmental groups, will request governments to set a timeframe for agreement on a long-term target to reduce CO2 emissions from air transport at a meeting of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) starting this week in Montreal. The aviation sector – including the
September 23, 2019
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by Todd Neeley (DTN Progressive Farmer) With a reported big deal for biofuels in flux, an economist at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign put forward a plan on Thursday to account for more than 4 billion gallons of biofuels exempted to small refineries from the Renewable Fuel Standard from 2016
September 23, 2019
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by Tim Mullaney (CNBC) President Trump is planning an ethanol deal to please U.S. farmers angry that many oil refiners have been freed from obligations to use oil-based fuel. The deal, still not yet reduced to a written bill, is likely to make oil companies that have been given permission
September 23, 2019
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(Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) Taxing polluting sources of energy is an effective way to curb emissions that harm the planet and human health, and the income generated can be used to ease the low-carbon transition for vulnerable households. Yet 70% of energy-related CO2 emissions from advanced and emerging economies
September 23, 2019
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(Our Daily Planet) Here is a quick recap of the highlights of Day 2 of the Climate Forum on Friday — five hours of candidate interviews and it even got bi-partisan by the end. Two candidates — Booker and Buttigieg — made the argument in moral terms — referencing how future generations will judge us
September 23, 2019
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(Our Daily Planet) What a day! Here are just a few highlights! We will have some special exclusive content for you fin the days ahead including interviews with the candidates. Senator Bernie Sanders had a standing room only crowd. We had a chance to talk with him after his interview with Chris
September 20, 2019
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by Stephanie Kelly (Reuters) President Donald Trump on Thursday discussed biofuels policy with senators from U.S. oil states, including Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy, who said the president was engaged on the issue that has pitted Big Oil and Big Corn against each other. The oil industry is opposed to the
September 20, 2019
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(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) President Trump promised the American people that his Administration would address and correct the current fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions standards, and today (September 19, 2019), his Administration is taking steps to fulfill this promise. Today, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
September 20, 2019
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) … We’ve managed to get a hold of three presentations that really were the bomb at ABS 2019. Jonathan Male, director of the Bioenergy Technologies Office and one of the original Pyromaniax himself, gave this one on the algae R&D priorities and actions for fuels and
September 20, 2019
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(NGVAmerica/NGV Journal) NGVAmerica members hosted a facility tour and policy roundtable with Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) to discuss the importance of parity for natural gas powered vehicles.VIA Metropolitan Transit, San Antonio’s public transit agency, joined with NGVAmerica to host Senator Cruz at its CNG fueling station, the largest in North America.
September 20, 2019
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Proposed Volumes for 2020 and Biomass-Based Diesel Volume for 2021: Supplemental Notice COMMENT DEADLINE: November 29, 2019
(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) On October 15, 2019, EPA issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking seeking additional comment on the recently proposed rule to establish the cellulosic biofuel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel volumes for 2020 and the biomass-based diesel volume for 2021 under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program.