by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Uncertain the future may be, but the immediate past was no bed of thorns for biodiesel and renewable diesel. NBB policy guru Anne Steckel said that the industry produced 2.6B gallons of renewable diesel and
(National Biodiesel Board) Clean air champions, policy drivers, fleet influencers highlighted with industry awards -- The biodiesel industry saw record market growth in 2016 and this year’s National Biodiesel Board industry awards highlight champions who have had a major
by Anthony Adragna (Politico's Morning Energy) Railroads and truckers are joining the fight to leave refiners as the obligated party under the Renewable Fuel Standard. As ME readers are keenly aware, a few independent refiners, led by Valero and Carl
by Chris Kahn (Reuters/Ipsos) More than 60 percent of Americans would like to see the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's powers preserved or strengthened under incoming President Donald Trump, and the drilling of oil on public lands to hold steady or drop,
(Argus Media) Recently appointed secretary of the European renewable ethanol association (ePURE) Emmanuel Desplechin told Argus the continent's ethanol industry is facing a crucial battle for survival. He said the EU should reverse European Commission (EC) proposals for a gradual
by Scott Goss (News Journal/Delaware Online) A legal fight over Delaware City Refinery's plans to expand its ethanol operations officially began this week. Two groups filed fundamental challenges Friday to a recently issued state permit that – for the first time – allows
by Todd Neeley (DTN Progressive Farmer) A USDA report this week showing corn ethanol reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 43% compared to gasoline, came with a silver lining for a Washington, D.C., group that has been pressing the U.S. Environmental
by Jonathan Lee (Paultan.org) The Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities (MPIC) has released a statement clarifying the facts regarding the oft-delayed B10 biodiesel. The fuel, which uses a blend of 10% palm methyl ester and 90% diesel, was supposed
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Last week we reported that Toray Industries has teamed with Mitsui to produce cellulosic sugars from bagasse leftover from the sugar production process at Thai sugar mills. The companies will invest up to $51 million to build
by Lauren Tyler (Next-Gen Transportation News) The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has announced its support for the EPA administrator’s determination that the adopted light-duty vehicle greenhouse-gas (GHG) emission standards for model years 2022-2025 are appropriate. In 2012, CARB agreed to a
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In the EU, energy experts told members of the European Parliament in hearings this week that the European Commission’s proposed phase-out of conventional biofuels by 2030 threatens to remove one of the EU’s best options
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Honeywell’s UOP has developed a renewable jet fuel processing technology, a renewable diesel process, as well as a joint venture, Envergent Technologies, that will market technologies and equipment for generating power, transportation fuel and heating
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... This week, a company known as Oberon Fuels running a DME technology is coming Straight Outta New York City with the idea that you can make it out of the the boutique world of
(Transport & Environment) Food-based biofuels can still be counted towards the EU’s renewable energy target, the European Commission has proposed – in a stunning U-turn on its commitment to phase-out first-generation biofuels that are worse for the climate than fossil
(Growth Energy) A new post-election survey released today shows that decisive voters in the 2016 presidential election are staunch supporters of American ethanol. The survey of 3,000 Trump voters in the Midwestern battleground states of Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Iowa, Indiana
by Bernard Cooker (Lee Enterprises Consulting/Biofuels Digest) The use of catalysts, both living entities, such as microorganisms, and otherwise inert synthetic and biologically-derived materials, such as supported transition metals and enzymes, are frequently key to the development of technically efficient and
by Gerald Kutney (Lee Enterprises Consulting/Biofuels Digest) A myriad of biofuel technologies exist, but which ones are truly industrial processes? The question is not always easy to answer. And one must define what is meant by an industrial process. To facilitate
(Iowa Department of Agriculture) Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey announced that Charlie Good from Good & Quick in Nevada and Richard Weiner from Cartersville Elevator, Inc. in Nora Springs are the 2017 winners of the Secretary’s Ethanol and Biodiesel
by David Williams (The Gilmer Mirror) Incoming President Donald Trump's promise to "drain the swamp" is getting an early test from one of his closest friends. Billionaire investor and Trump confidant Carl Icahn is requesting changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard,
by Chelsea Harvey (The Washington Post) How we view the costs of future climate change, and more importantly how we quantify them, may soon be changing. A much-anticipated new report, just released by the National Academy of Sciences, recommends major
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the Competitive Enterprises Institute has put forth proposals for the next session of Congress including freezing the Renewable Fuel Standard below the blend wall while setting a sunset period for 2022. The CEI
by Elisa Raffa (Sioux Land Matters) Sioux city is moving ahead with plans to sell a methane product similar to what big ox produces, but city leaders contend that's where the similarities end. Methane is a biofuel byproduct produced at the
(My Sunshine Coast/Queensland Renewable Fuels Association) Renewable Developments Australia Pty Ltd (“RDA”) is fast approaching the delivery of the first of its planned five large scale bio-ethanol farms and production facilities to supply ethanol for the Australian and export markets. The fully integrated
by Matthew Appleby (Horticulture Week) The active ingredient in herbicide Roundup has been cited as a cause of liver disease after experiments on rats, but Monsanto has refuted the claims as "bad science". -- The study, published in Nature Scientific reports,
(U.S. Department of Agriculture) Analysis finds that U.S. corn-based ethanol reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 43 percent compared to gasoline, with additional benefits projected through 2022 -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the release of a report studying the
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) On Dec. 28, the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers filed a petition with the U.S. EPA asking the agency to waive the 2016 renewable fuel standard (RFS) cellulosic volume obligation, citing a shortfall in
(Environmental Research Web) Cultivating algae for food and biofuel could make a serious dent in our greenhouse gas emissions, as well as helping to save freshwater resources and reduce deforestation. Currently the emissions associated with land-use change and agriculture account for
(National Algae Association) 2016 Algae Year in Review – Nothing has Changed -- 2016 (U.S. Department of Energy) Funding Opportunities: ... • Global Algae Innovations (San Diego, California)— ... • Algenol Biotech LLC (Ft. Myers, Florida)-- ... • MicroBio Engineering, Inc. (San Luis Obispo,
by Jon Leu (Daily Nonpareil) At a time when Iowa farmers produced a second consecutive record corn crop amid falling prices for their commodity, the state’s growing ethanol industry remains a stabilizing factor. National crop production reports released in mid-December showed
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Massachusetts we have had more signs of the pivoting underway in the advanced bioeconomy with the news that Metabolix is changing its name to Yield10 Bioscience and will focus on developing disruptive technologies for
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) The U.S. EPA has denied a petition for reconsideration of its finding that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from aircraft cause or contribute to air pollution that may be reasonably anticipated to endanger public health and
by Chelsea Harvey (The Washington Post) ... Two bills under consideration in Congress, each expected to go to a swift vote, could help expedite the process of undoing recent regulations — or even make it more difficult to pass them in the
by Jan Rocha (Climate News Network) A sharp increase in the predicted global number of EVs prompts Brazil to rev up its promotion of low-carbon biofuels. -- By 2040, the number of electric cars in the world could have reached
by Michael Bastasch (The Daily Caller) The U.S. Navy’s biofuels program has “failed to demonstrate any operational or strategic advantages over petroleum and have actually increased costs” for the military, according to a new report by defense experts. Navy Secretary Ray
(EIN PressWire/Market Research Future) Market Scenario -- Biodiesel is the only form of renewable fuel that can be utilized across all energy segments namely electricity, heat and transportation which is one of the major contributing factors in the growth of the
by Laura Blewitt (Bloomberg Markets) Need high-octane for that BMW? New sulfur curb boosts the cost; Seven U.S states pile on with higher tax rates for 2017 -- A new federal rule cuts the amount of sulfur in gasoline by two-thirds,
by Bob Dinneen (The Hill/Renewable Fuels Association) In the flurry of post-election punditry and analysis, much credit was given to disenfranchised factory workers and coal miners in the Rust Belt and Appalachia for delivering Donald Trump’s surprising swing state victories
by Donnelle Eller (Des Moines Register) Midwest Republican senators got reassurances from EPA chief nominee Scott Pruitt that he will "follow the law" that requires ethanol and biodiesel to be blended into the nation's fuel supply, Sens. Joni Ernst and Chuck
(Nikkei Asian Review) Japanese company's tech can cut costs at planned processing plant -- Toray Industries looks to tap sugar cane waste in Thailand to produce raw materials for biofuel, a revenue source that fits with the company's expansion plans. The Japanese
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In New York, Raymond James released its Clean Tech Primer 2017, arguably the most cogent and concise summary of activity and prospects across the gamut from solar power through to water technology, including all biofuels,
by Douglas Durante (Clean Fuels Development Coalition/Midwest Producer) ... No issue has received more early scrutiny than the Renewable Fuel Standard as pundits speculate how Mr. Trump can honor campaign promises to fully support ethanol while some of his well-heeled oil supporters
by Spencer Chase (Agri-Pulse) American Petroleum Institute CEO Jack Gerard sees 2017 as a big moment in the life of the energy industry, and he hopes he has allies in the incoming administration. Speaking at API's annual state of American energy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) We are making our list of the Top 100 People in Bioenergy together, but as with all Digest rankings and lists, we’d like you to participate. The nominations link is here. We’d like you to suggest
by Liz Gyekye (Biofuels International) The ‘climate protection rate’ in Germany is set to rise this year from 3.5 to 4% and biofuels is set to benefit from this, according to Germany’s biofuels trade association Verband der Deutschen Biofuelindustrie (VDB). According
by Andy Eubank (Hoosier Ag Today) ... “One that comes readily to mind is the disparate treatment of E10 and E15 and other high level blends with respect to evaporative vapor control, RVP. Right now E10 and E15 are treated differently
by O. Kay Henderson (Radio Iowa) Iowa’s governor says President-elect Donald Trump has reassured him the Trump Administration will be pro-ethanol. Governor Terry Branstad was concerned initially when he heard Trump asked the attorney general from oil-rich Oklahoma to be head
(PR Newswire) Coalition of 12 organizations set to launch FurtherWithFood.org, an online hub for information and solutions to cut food waste -- Today, The Rockefeller Foundation announced its collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. Environmental Protection
by Liz Gyekye (Biofuels International) The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) has sent a petition to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requesting that it waives its 2016 cellulosic biofuels volumes “due to an inadequate domestic supply of such
by Brian Dabbs (Bloomberg) Recent criticism of secrecy and alleged manipulation in biofuel credit trading, delivered by a top adviser to President-elect Donald Trump, is striking a chord among ethanol and other renewable fuel producers. Those producers suggest insufficient credit trading oversight
(Oil & Gas 360/OilPrice.com) The global energy mix will not look that much different for oil and gas in 2040, according to Exxon Mobil’s (ticker: XOM) recently released 2017 Outlook for Energy: A View to 2040. ... Both the middle class and
by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) With the presidential campaign getting all the attention this year, it may have gone relatively unnoticed that 2016 was a very good year for the ethanol industry. Actually, Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen
by Roger Johnson (National Farmers Union/Argus Leader) ... The truth is, the markets created for agriculture have been a tremendous economic boon for our nation’s family farmers and rural America. At the same time, food price inflation has continued a downward trend
(Sydney Morning Herald) Queensland fuel outlets will be required to meet the state government's new ethanol mandate from Sunday, as part of a raft of legislative changes taking effect in the new year. Large fuel retailers will be required by
by Fernando Bertello (La Nacion (Google translation)) The Ministry of Agroindustry of the Nation works in a resolution so that the agricultural producers can make own use of biodiesel by means of a system to fason with the industries. The initiative
by Robin Booker (The Western Producer) There are many innovative products and services available to Canadian crop producers that could help improve sustainability. However, the global food sector is struggling to find ways to reward growers who adapt sustainable technologies and
by John D. Forcier (Lee Enterprises Consulting, Inc./Biofuels Digest) Most trash and recycled waste materials are being processed on a regional basis to maximize the economy of scale. There have been various attempts to gather and process organic waste materials
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A mere “The Year in Rewind” as we sail into 2017? Not the good ship Digest! Instead, we dust off our crystal ball and offer our predictions for the year ahead. As the sunset of 2016 gives way
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) “Why Animal-Free? We wanted a way to enjoy the dairy products we love – with zero compromise,” says Perfect Day Foods on its website. Bottom line, using biotech they have created milk crafted without the help of
Just before New Year’s Eve, Swedavia received its first sustainable aviation fuel at Stockholm Arlanda Airport. It marks the start of deliveries of sustainable aviation fuel through the Fly Green Fund and demonstrates Swedavia’s commitment to sustainable aviation. The fuel
(Fly Green Fund) Together with Swedavia, Fly Green Fund arranged a seminar ... at ”Aktuell Hållbarhet Arena” entitled ”How do we obtain fossil free aviation?”. Participants on the panel were Maria Fiskerud, MD at Fly Green Fund, Lena Wennberg, Sustainability and Environmental
by Ann Bailey (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Iowa Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds has released to the public the Iowa Renewable Energy Plan, which establishes priorities and provides strategic guidance for Iowa’s energy future. ... “IRFA appreciates Lt. Gov. Reynold’s recognition
by David M. Hart (Information Technology and Innovation Foundation) ... This paper describes four forms of magical thinking about the energy transition that are prevalent in the United States. “Climate-change denial” wishes away the need for any transition at all.
(GreenAir Online) The UK aviation industry has welcomed a proposal by the government to extend one of its main policies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transport to include aviation, which could provide a major boost for future production of
(Bangkok Post) Biofuel gains to back core sugar business -- SET-listed Kaset Thai International Sugar Corporation Plc (KTIS) expects seasonal rising petrol demand in the last quarter of this year to boost its ethanol business and help lift its revenue
(Algae Industry Magazine) Marine algae have the power to simultaneously fuel vehicles, recycle carbon dioxide, and provide nutrition to animals and humans,” said Ira A. Levine, a tenured Professor of Natural and Applied Sciences at the University of Southern Maine
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Oberon Fuels is facilitating the growth of the DME transportation industry by converting biogas and other hydrocarbon rich waste streams to higher valued commodities such as DME. Using its proprietary small-scale process, Oberon makes DME
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As the old Irving Berlin song put it, Let’s Start the New Year Right. By looking into something gone wrong. USASpending.gov launched with a certain amount of brouhaha back in 2007, after the enabling legislation sailed
by Joe Petrie (AviationPros.com) At Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac), Alaska Airlines is forging ahead with plans to implement a biofuel supply for its commercial jets. ... Carol Sim, director of environmental affairs for Alaska Airlines, said the company’s move
by Kieron Monks (CNN) Croton nut may be ideal fuel with high oil and protein concentration; Leading producers are expanding rapidly; Analysts say croton avoid ethical issues of other biofuels -- The Croton megalocarpus tree is common throughout much of East and Central
by Samar Niazi (Platts) The palm oil and PME story in 2016 was dominated by acute drought across Southeast Asia, caused by the most severe El Nino event since 1997-98. ... The after-effects of the El Nino caused a sharp drop
by Chip Bowling (U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance/Washington Post) I consider myself an environmentalist, a conservationist and a farmer. This is an identity I share with many farmers in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, which spans more than 64,000 square miles
by Scott Goss (The News Journal) PBF Energy won state approval Wednesday to ship unblended ethanol by barge from its Delaware City refinery. DNREC Secretary David Small signed an order affirming the refinery’s proposed $7 million Ethanol Marketing Project is consistent
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Belgium, following on from the November release of their joint publication “The Black Book of Bioenergy”, Birdlife Europe and Central Asia has again teamed with Transport & Environment on a documentary set for release
by Emilia Terzon (ABC News) Former chef-cum-Darwin's "biodiesel warrior" Greg Henderson was elbow-deep in an industry of second-hand grease when the global price of crude oil started to tumble in 2014. Within weeks the humble entrepreneur was contemplating a price
by Mario Parker (Bloomberg) Icahn picked as special adviser to Trump on regulations; RINs market is a ‘black cesspool of trading,’ Icahn says -- Billionaire Carl Icahn, a special adviser to Donald Trump and a skeptic of the U.S. ethanol mandate,
by Nolan Pinto (India Today) The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has decided to imbibe Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pet project 'Make in India' by utilizing biofuel in a big way. It has inducted 25 Scania buses that run
(Lux Research/Biodiesel Magazine) Biomass-based diesel and conventional electricity lead the race to meet new emissions reduction goals, and diversified energy companies are well-placed, according to Lux Research. Traditionally policies to promote greener transportation fuels have focused on mandating volumes of specific
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... the most innovative public-private policies are likely for some time to proceed out of regions, provinces and states. In some ways, in the United States the forces arrayed against the Renewable Fuel Standard will end up
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) With the Agile BioFoundry project, the National Lab consortium, in partnership with academia and industry, aims to achieve a 40% decrease in the energy intensity of current manufacturing processes. Plus, a 60% decrease in the carbon
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) On any list of 10 Colossal Failures of the Finance sector in this century, we’d put the failure of bankers and commercial-scale investors to get behind the advanced bioeconomy in a more timely fashion. “It
by Julien Hall, Samar Niazi, and Gao Xiaojuan (Platts Commodity Pulse VIDEO) China's corn stockpiles, built up over the past couple of years, have reached problematic levels. In this video, S&P Global Platts Agriculture editors Julien Hall, Samar Niazi and Gao
by Mark Griffin (Pro Petroleum/Real Clear Energy) ... Moving the point of obligation eliminates our ability to compete and gives major refiners a significant unfair advantage over small businesses in small markets across the country. Liquidity and competition are what keep fuel
by Chuck McCutcheon (Scientific American) Despite concerns over Scott Pruitt’s record of opposing ethanol, experts say the renewable-fuel program is on safe ground -- ... Ethanol advocates, however, do not seem to worry that Pruitt will make similar waves involving their
by Bob Dinneen (Renewable Fuels Association/NewsOK) Regarding “Flaws in Renewable Fuel Standard aren't going away” (Our Views, Dec. 16): The Renewable Fuel Standard, which requires that refiners blend an increasing amount of ethanol and other biofuels into petroleum, has been
(MoneyControl) Amid demand from the industry to allow retail sugar prices to rise up to Rs 45/kg, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari today said the rates should be reasonable for consumers as the government has a difficult job to balance interest
by Dave VanderGriend (ICM/Urban Air Initiative/Ethanol Producer Magazine) We need to prioritize and devise a plan utilizing all the talents in the ethanol industry to overcome the roadblocks to greater market access. -- Last November, I flew to India, a country
(NFU Online) The NFU has met with ministers to urge the Department for Transport to keep biofuel markets as open as possible for UK farmers to remain competitive with their European neighbours. NFU North East combinable crops board chair Brett Askew
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Syngip talked here about the possibility of producing liquid hydrocarbons from waste feedstocks at costs as low as €100 per ton. ... What’s this deal all about? In two words, cheaper carbon. The Global Bioenergies story is
by John Campbell (Ocean Park Advisors) The RINs market would be improved with timely blend targets and compliance reporting, increased transparency and trading limits. -- ... Although it might reduce undesirable trading practices, moving the point of obligation would not
by Margo T. Oge (Huffington Post) ... Businessmen are always looking for a good return on investment. America’s environmental protections are a steal. The public health benefits of a cleaner environment and a healthier workforce are far greater than the
by Gene Lucht Lee (Agri-Media/Midwest Producer) Midwestern agricultural leaders have been watching President-elect Donald Trump’s criticism of trade - with China, in particular - with some concern. But their hopes were lifted Dec. 7 when it was announced Iowa Gov.
by Mike Dorning and Beth Jinks (BloombergPolitics) $20 billion net worth makes him one of richest men in America; Trump says Icahn will advise on ‘strangling regulations’ -- Trump often spoke admiringly of (Carl) Icahn during his presidential campaign and cited
by Vivek Wadhwa and Mark Muro (The Washington Post) ... The assumption they are making is that economic growth depends upon increasing carbon emissions. Trump and Pruitt seem to believe that because energy is essential for economic development, increasing its production by
by Chelsea Harvey (The Washington Post) ... It seems increasingly likely that the Trump administration would either alter, or attempt to stop using entirely, an Obama-era metric known as the “social cost of carbon” in its federal rule-making processes. And that could have have
(Environmental Protection Agency) On December 20, 2016, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued extensions of the comment periods for two actions: the Renewables Enhancement and Growth Support (REGS) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, and the Proposed Denial to Change the Point
by Meghan Gordon (Platts) A US appeals court Tuesday dismissed a challenge by American biodiesel producers to the Environmental Protection Agency's decision allowing Argentinian biodiesel to qualify for US renewable fuel credits. The National Biodiesel Board trade group had argued that EPA
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) California, the land of milk and honey when it comes to markets for biofuels. What’s up now, what’s coming, what’s working? Low Carbon Fuels Coalition chief Graham Noyes gave this illuminating overview at ABLC Next
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) News of high-level appointments have been streaming out of Trump Tower all this week and last, and two trends are already clear: it’s a group mostly out of the business and military communities, and there’s
(Argus Media) US ethanol producers may never hit the 15bn USG target federal regulators included in biofuel blending mandates next year as they run into infrastructure, demand and regulatory hurdles. ... Stores can only sell higher-ethanol blends through authorized dispensers and may
by Erik Cafarella (Wall Street Journal) Regarding Jeff Broin and Delayne Johnson’s letters (Dec. 8): I find it difficult to take CEOs of companies whose existence is predicated on legally enforced mandates seriously. ... Home Depot and Lowe’s have large areas devoted
by Tom Thoma and David Williams (Taxpayers Protection Alliance/Globe Gazette) ... (Carl) Icahn’s proposal centers on the definition of “obligated parties,” which is the official government term for the entities required to blend in renewables. ... Icahn didn’t launch this campaign
(AAP/Yahoo! News) Queenslanders are increasingly filling up their vehicles with E10 ahead of a New Year ethanol mandate. A fuel sales data analysis by the RACQ shows that 35.6 million litres of E10 was sold in Queensland in October, an 11
by David DeGennaro (National Wildlife Federation) Since Congress passed into law in 2005 a federal mandate to blend corn-based ethanol and other renewable fuels into conventional gasoline, the increased demand for corn – which has supplied nearly all of these mandated
by Phusadee Arunmas (Bangkok Post) Ethanol makers have agreed to buy 10,000 tonnes of cassava root a day from farmers at 1.9 baht a kilogramme in a bid to raise farm income and stabilise fresh cassava prices. ... Massive supply of fresh cassava
by Mary Karugaba (New Vision) Staggering the commencement date would help government build capacity. -- ... Presenting the opposition’s views on the Biofuels Bills, 2016 to the parliamentary committee on Natural Resources, MP Simon Oyet argued that right now the country has
(The News) Pakistan State Oil (PSO) has taken an initiative towards alternative fuels by launching a pilot project for production of bio-diesel. For this purpose, the PSO has developed Jatropha Model Farm at Marshalling Yard, Pipri, Karachi. Federal Minister for Water
(World Petroleum Council) ‘Biofuels’ will be the 6th in the series of the WPC’s educational guides and will focus on the use of biofuels and their role in our current and future global energy supply. It is essential for the petroleum
by Bob Dinneen (Renewable Fuels Association/The Intelligencer Wheeling News-Register) ... Food price inflation has averaged just 2.6 percent annually since 2005, compared to the 3.5 percent average from 1980-2004. It is important to note that one-third of every bushel of
by Marc J. Rauch (The Auto Channel) ... For a guy who grew up primarily in Brooklyn and Queens, farming was as alien to me as the dark side of the moon. Nevertheless, the story was riveting because it presented economic possibilities
by Amy Harder and Jacob Bunge (The Wall Street Journal) President-elect backed the federal biofuels rules as a candidate, but his EPA pick opposes them -- ... Mr. Trump’s pick to run the Environmental Protection Agency, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt,
by Tammy Klein (Future Fuel Strategies/OurEnergyPolicy.org) Citizens and policymakers in many countries have never been more committed to combating climate change across all sectors. One high-emitting sector that is often overlooked, when compared to industry and manufacturing, is transportation. Transport
Story by Todd C. Frankel and Peter Whoriskey; Photos and videos by Michael Robinson Chavez; Video editing by Jorge Ribas (The Washington Post) In the thin air of the salt flats here, nearly 13,000 feet above sea level, the indigenous Atacamas people
by Liz Gyekye (Biofuels International) Denmark has agreed plans to implement a 0.9% advanced biofuels blending mandate by 2020 for use in transportation. This news will provide a boost to second-generation biofuels. For example, biofuels made from waste materials. This puts
By U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (Duluth News Tribune) Back in 2009, I had the opportunity to attend the grand opening of Ever Cat’s biodiesel plant in Isanti, Minn. The company, started by a feed-supplement supplier for farmers, uses innovative technology
(Biofuels Journal) Today, Growth Energy, along with other members of Fuels America, sent a letter to President-elect Trump congratulating him on his successful election, and expressing a desire to work with the new administration to ensure that the Renewable Fuel
by Anthony Adragna (Politico's Morning Energy) President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday formally selected fierce fiscal conservative Rep. Mick Mulvaney to lead the Office of Management and Budget, POLITICO's Ben Weyl reports . That would also put him in charge of overseeing
by Anthony Adragna (Politico's Morning Energy) Defense Secretary nominee James Mattis may be a rare ray of hope for environmental advocates that the coming administration won't completely walk away from clean energy initiatives, Pro's Eric Wolff reports . The
by Brian Kahn (Climate Central) Investing heavy weights are moving their assets and funds out of fossil fuels at a record pace. A network of local governments, pension funds, faith organizations, philanthropies and wealthy individuals representing $5.2 trillion in assets have
(American Coalition for Ethanol) The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) issued a call-to-action to its grassroots membership today, urging ethanol supporters to contact their U.S. Senators about the nomination of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to lead the Environmental Protection
by Tim Sklar (Sklar and Associates/Biofuels Digest) Take-aways from Rana Foroohar’s Article Titled “Saving Capitalism” (Time Magazine, May 23, 2016) and her book titled ”Makers and Takers, The Rise of Finance and the Fall of American Business”. ... Although we still believe
by Tristan R. Brown (Seeking Alpha) President-elect Donald Trump nominated Iowa governor Terry Branstad to be America's ambassador to China last week. China's government was quick to praise the pick, having developed a strong relationship with Mr. Branstad thanks to a
by Scott Irwin and Darrel Good (FarmDoc Daily/University of Illinois) In the farmdoc daily article of November 30, 2016, we examined the magnitude of the "push" in production and consumption of biofuels implied by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
(Vermont Business Magazine) ... Welch (Representative Peter Welch (D-VT)) will reintroduce the bipartisan Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Reform Act, which will reform the corn ethanol mandate while continuing to promote advanced biofuels, as well as the bipartisan Food and Fuel
by Dick Roche (EurActiv/Pannonia Ethanol) A response delivered by Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete in the European Parliament last week demonstrates just how dangerously out of touch with reality the executive is on a policy that impacts on the lives of
by Juliet Eilperin (The Washington Post) President-elect Donald Trump has tapped Republican Rep. Ryan Zinke, who has represented Montana’s at-large congressional seat for one term, to serve as secretary of the Department of the Interior, according to an individual with firsthand
by Mario Parker (Bloomberg) Icahn refiner wants $15 billion renewable-fuels market changed; Cost of credits surged as U.S. mandates on biofuels at record -- Six weeks before he becomes U.S. president, Donald Trump is already disrupting an obscure, $15 billion corner of
by Brent Martin (Nebraska Radio Network) ... Congressman Adrian Smith says the move helps the ethanol industry, but he adds more can be done. “I’m continuing to work on a bill that I introduced some time ago that would allow, not mandate,
(Estonia Public Broadcasting) The Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure submitted a bill amending the Liquid Fuel Act which would require liquid fuel suppliers to add fuels produced from renewable sources, known as biofuels, to their gasoline and diesel fuel.
by Alexander A. Koukoulas0 (ANL Consultants LLC/Biofuels Digest) ... The pursuit of 2nd Gen fuels has been motivated by several factors including: their inherently low-cost, at least from a theoretical standpoint; their potential for drastically reducing carbon emissions relative to 1st Gen
by Juliet Eilperin and Steven Mufson (The Washington Post) President-elect Donald Trump has picked Rick Perry to head the Energy Department, said two people familiar with the decision, seeking to put the former Texas governor in control of an agency whose
by Anthony Adragna (Politico's Morning Energy) Squeezed budgets from low oil prices since mid-2014, combined with rising energy demand, will boost demand for renewable energy and efficiency technologies across the Middle East, according to a white paper published Monday following
by Nick Cunningham (OilPrice.com) ... Speaking at the National Oil-equipment Manufacturers and Delegates Society (NOMADS) in Houston a few months ago, IHS Markit’s associate direct for Plays and Basins, Reed Olmstead, poked holes in the notion that the industry has dramatically
(Austrian Network Biofuels Newsletter) The European Biogas Association (EBA) has published a new brochure aiming to serve as an introduction to biomethane in transport, going through its benefits and the challenges that lie ahead. Different chapters are dealing with Europe’s
(UFOP) “The 7% cap for biofuels made from cultivated biomass, first established in 2015, must be maintained beyond 2020.” With this position, the Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Plants (UFOP) rejects the proposal made today by the
by Bobby Magill (Climate Central) U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a sixth-term Republican from Washington State who is a climate change denier and an ardent opponent of regulations for greenhouse gas emissions, has been nominated by President-elect Donald Trump for
by Piyachart Maikaew (Bangkok Post) ... "The US is weighing its support for ethanol fuel, aiming to promote E30 blends in lieu of the E10 it supports now, indicating its interest in alternative energy for conventional-engine vehicles," said Mr Thanawat
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Two central questions arise when considering biofuels consumption through 2022, write University of Illinois ag economists Scott Irwin and Darrel Good: “When will domestic consumption of ethanol reach the statutory RFS mandate ceiling
by Rick Fox (The Clermont Sun) Letter to Editor: Commissioner Uible’s recent letter “Fixing the RFS Pothole” was full of myth and inaccuracies regarding the ethanol industry and the Renewable Fuel Standard. Uible claims ethanol is raising the price of corn
by Jim Talent (Washington Examiner) I am old enough to remember the first energy crisis in the early 1970s. That episode was a tremendous shock for two reasons: Gasoline prices spiked, and Americans realized just how vulnerable our nation had
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Gevo has two proprietary technologies that combine to make it possible to retrofit existing ethanol plants to produce isobutanol, a four carbon alcohol which serves as a hydrocarbon platform molecule. They have developed an industrial
by James Konstantin Galvez (The Manila Times) Despite rising fuel prices, the state-run Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) has dismissed calls by independent oil players to allow increased imports of ethanol products to effectively lower gas pump prices. Rosemarie Gumera, planning and
by Todd Neeley (DTN The Progressive Farmer) Just two days after President-elect Donald Trump's transition team announced Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt was the nominee to head the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Governors' Biofuels Coalition reminded Trump about his
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Iogen says it has has “one of the world’s largest and most experienced teams in developing, designing, de-bugging, scaling-up and deploying cellulosic biofuel technology. We’re using innovative thinking and disciplined engineering to transform cellulosic biofuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Bottom line, Abengoa Bioenergy Biomass of Kansas closed the sale of its cellulosic ethanol plant located in Hugoton, Kansas under the US Bankruptcy Code. Ocean Park was the sell-side advisor to Abengoa. This follows from
by Rebecca Chillrud (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) “Agricultural research must shift from measuring farm ‘performance’ by single indicators such as yield and profit, to evaluating success using a multidimensional approach that incorporates the three dimensions of sustainability: environmental, social
(BIOtech NOW) A number of mainstream media outlets reported over the weekend on the Pew Research Center report released last week examining the differing views on organic foods and GMOs. NPR: A lot of Americans don’t care what scientists think about GMOs. For
(The Wall Street Journal) Letters to the Editor -- Rewriting the RFS could undermine years of progress toward U.S. energy security. by Jeff Broin (POET) Carl Icahn’s proposal to rewrite the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) (“If Oil Refiners Crash, So Will
by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) The Environmental Protection Agency held a public hearing in Chicago yesterday to hear testimony the agency’s proposed Renewables Enhancement and Growth Support (REGS) rule. The rule includes several actions that would help allow the market to
by Joanna Schroeder (Energy.AgWired.com) At the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) CSS & Seed Expo this week, noted agricultural economist Dan Basse with Ag Resource Company once again provided his global outlook for agriculture, which includes the outlook for biofuels. Basse
by Scott Weybright (Washington State University) When it comes to second generation biofuels, Washington State University research shows that consumers are willing to pay a premium of approximately 11 percent over conventional fuel. “We were surprised the premium was that significant,”
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