by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and a handful of bioenergy stakeholders were given the opportunity to present the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry with their opinions on the importance of the Farm Bill’s
by David McGee (TriCities.com) ...With about 100 city residents – nearly all opposed to the plan -- looking on Tuesday, the City Council took no action on a proposal to give the 13.8-acre former Crowley Foods site to MXI of
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) Last week as the National Biodiesel Conference took place in Orlando, a group of biodiesel producers and stakeholders in the Northwest U.S. came together in a joint statement to support the reinstatement of the $1
(Renewable Fuels Association/Advanced Ethanol Council) The Advanced Ethanol Council (AEC) today urged Senate Ag Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Ranking Member Pat Roberts (R-KS) to include two key tax extensions for advanced and cellulosic ethanol producers. In a letter to the committee
by Dr. Chad Hellwinckel (University of Tennessee/SustainableLearning.org) ...Permaculture may soon be looked upon as a potential big solution. So as we stand today on the threshold of increasing interest in permaculture, let us take a moment to discuss the potential pitfalls
(sys-con.com/Advanced Biofuels Association) In the third episode of Biofuel STAT, released today, BP Biofuels North America PresidentSue Ellerbusch rejects recent headlines describing the industry as "pixie dust" by declaring "the technology works." "There are lots of stories because it makes good media
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) The Coalition for E85 is calling on members and other supporters to urge Congress to give E85 credit for being an alternative fuel. The coalition is asking members of Congress to support the inclusion of E85 in the Alternative
(Americans for Informed Democracy) Biofuels were supposed to be the solution to global climate change. We could slowly reduce our dependence on crude oil by using fuels from corn or sugar cane instead. This fuel would be renewable, because we
by Michael McAdams (Advanced Biofuels Association/Biorefining Magazine) ...It has been four years since Congress passed the revised RFS2 legislation creating a 36 billion gallon mandate for conventional and advanced biofuels. For all you partisans out there, don’t forget this was
(Fox Business News) Independent refiners are destined to be in the driver's seat of the U.S. refining industry as integrated oil companies increasingly shed refining assets, according to analysts at Deloitte LLP. In a report released Wednesday, the consultancy said by the end of
(Neste Oil) Neste Oil and Raisio have worked together for a number of years on how by-products and sidestreams generated by Finnish agriculture and food manufacturing can be used as inputs for producing biofuels. The two companies held a joint
by Juliet Eilperin (The Washington Post) ...Rules aimed at curbing emissions from cars and light trucks are on hold because the White House has yet to give the Office of Management and Budget the go-ahead to review them. ...The fight over
by Dan Piller (Des Moines Register) He says diluting standards could hurt Midwest interests U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack warned an Iowa group Friday in Ankeny that “the Midwest could be damaged” if oil interests succeed in weakening the federal
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Around the halls of the Digest, we call him Rufus, the elephant in the room. Elsewhere, RFS, or the Renewable Fuel Standard, is the accepted descriptor. Under any name, there’s been an awful lot of talk
(Renewable Energy Magazine) Recent studies commissioned by NGOs Friends of the Earth and ActionAid claim that biofuels, including ethanol, will cost EU consumers €126 billion at the petrol pump between now and 2020. ePURE, the European Renewable Ethanol Association, considers the
(Los Angeles Times) The five so-called "super major" oil companies -- Exxon Mobil, Royal Dutch Shell, ConocoPhillips,Chevron and BP-- have just wrapped up their fourth quarter earnings reports, but not without inspiring disdain over how they made those billions in profits and over what they
by Jim Stewart (Biofuels Digest/BioEnergy Producers Association) ...In America’s quest for alternative and renewable energy, the “ball” is national security and energy independence. All other issues pale by comparison. Let’s not lose sight of a critical fact: America’s enemies are bleeding
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In this two-part series, we look at the IPO market for industrial biotech stocks. ... In Part I, today, we look at the performance of the six IPOs to date in the aftermarket, the Ceres IPO
by Ken Field (Financial Post) Ethanol reduces the price of gasoline Ethanol’s chief benefit is environmental. ...Last summer, there were no smog alerts in the GTA and 5.5 million Canadians breathed easier. Ethanol was a major factor in cleaning the air
by Gary Strauss (Chicago Sun-Times) Get ready for another round of pain at the pump: gas at $4 (or higher) a gallon. After rising 19 cents a gallon in the past four weeks, regular unleaded gasoline now averages $3.48 a
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The House Committee on Science, Space and Technology met Feb. 7 to markup H.R. 3199, a bill introduced last fall by committee Vice Chairman Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., that would require the National Academy of Sciences
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) A panel of petroleum trade association representatives gathered together for the National Biodiesel Conference’s opening general session on Feb. 6. While the group consisted of five oil association representatives, several of whom are outspokenly partial
by Ilene Grossman (CSG Midwest) The benefits of using biomass residuals — the byproducts from activities such as agriculture and forestry — as an energy source are clear for the Midwest. Both plentiful and a potentially low-cost source of fuel, biomass
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...In Florida, the National Biodiesel Conference — biodiesel’s grandest show — opened with exuberance over 2011 results, and resolve to meet the industry’s two major issues in 2012, defense of the Renewable Fuel Standard, and
by Rich Miller, Asjylyn Loder and Jim Polson (Bloomberg) The U.S. is the closest it has been in almost 20 years to achieving energy self-sufficiency, a goal the nation has been pursuing since the 1973 Arab oil embargo triggered a recession
by Barry Amundson (Tri-State Neighbor) Gregg Carlson doesn't like to hear the negative comments about ethanol. The SDSU Extension farm precision agronomist has been telling farmers at crop expos this winter and others he talks with that producers wouldn't have the prices
(Farm Futures) Hartwig says legislation is attempt to eliminate RFS altogether. Congressman Pete Olson, R-Texas, recently introduced the Domestic Alternative Fuels Act of 2012. The measure seeks to modify the renewable fuel standard to include ethanol and other fuels produced from
by Canadian Renewable Fuels Association (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Ethanol and grain producers in Canada reacted to a report by the George Morris Centre charging it misinterprets the connection between clean-burning, renewable ethanol and the livestock and meat markets. A
by Alex Morales (Reuters) European Union policies to promote the use of biofuels for transportation will cost consumers as much as 126 billion euros ($166 billion) between now and 2020, two environmental groups said. The fuels, gasoline substitutes derived from plants,
(Univerisity of Chicago/Energy Policy Institute at Chicago) By all outward appearances, former South Carolina Congressman Bob Inglis is a conservative’s conservative. ...At a lecture sponsored by the Energy Policy Institute at Chicago (EPIC), Mr. Inglis said he believed that in order
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Witnesses projected strong growth for renewable fuels use in both the power generation and transportation sectors over the next 20 years during a Senate energy committee held Jan. 31, but committee members, many of
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Looking for a middle ground where environmentalists and ethanol advocates could meet, the Minneapolis-based Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy released a paper by Julia Olmstead reflecting on the lessons learned regarding the debate over indirect
by Kent Misegades (General Aviation News) Mississippi State Senator Michael Watson has just introduced Senate Bill 2137, “An act to require retail dealers and distributors of gasoline to offer for sale or use nonethanol-blended unleaded premium grade gasoline.” When asked for his motivation,
(The Costa Rica News) ...Blame it on increased awareness of climate change or on the fact that humans have found this new appreciation for nature but biofuel production is the newest craze to hit Costa Rica! Renewable Energy Farms are by
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...The challenges? Well, there have been three grand ones. First, the development of economically feasible technologies. Second, the financing and construction of new capacity, including any bolt-ons, restarts or retrofits of existing capacity. Third, the
(Netzwerk Biotreibstoffe) As a potential substitute for fossil fuels, wood energy can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. FAO’s programme on wood energy promotes sustainable wood energy systems as a contribution to sustainable forest management, livelihoods and food security. To this
(EurActiv) Greenhouse gas emissions from biofuels such as palm oil, soybean and rapeseed are higher than those for fossil fuels when the effects of Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC) are counted, according to leaked EU data seen by EurActiv. The default
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) 2.4 million man-years of employment – from replacing 10 percent of gasoline consumption with ethanol made from agricultural waste? That’s the tale of the tape from the “Moving Towards a Next-generation Ethanol Economy” report. ...Based on
by Luke Geiver (Biorefining Magazine) Experts say it’s counterproductive, but biorefining firms continue on with government The government is a tricky organization to work with. At least that’s what Pamela Serino, director for the quality and technical support office at the
by John Mathews (The Globalist) ...Today it is no longer evil oil companies riding roughshod over ranchers in Texas, but shale gas prospectors riding over communities' rights wherever they drill — in the Antrim shale (Michigan), the Barnett shale (Texas),
(MSN Autos) New-vehicle buyers heavily influenced by a general feeling about a brand, but specific about fuel-efficiency ratings. ...Fuel efficiency, in fact, was found to be "the most influential reason for purchasing a particular vehicle model," outpacing considerations regarding reliability and
by Mary Rosenthal (Biofuels Digest/Algal Biomass Organization) ...We need to change our approach. Below are three things the biofuels industry in general, and the algae industry in particular can do in 2012 to help accelerate our role in “filling the
by Joanne Lipman (The Daily Beast) For more than three years, President Obama has been singing the praises of electric cars. He’s repeatedly called for 1 million plug-in and hybrid vehicles on the road by 2015. He’s ignored the skeptics who said
by Steve LeVine (Foreign Policy/Oil And Glory) In the new issue of Wired, Julie Eilperin writes that clean-technology investment is in the throes of going bust, at least in the United States. That includes solar, wind and biofuels. ...Citi Group analyst Edward Morse concludes
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) Like oil in World War II, U.S. Army Ret. General Paul J. Kern believes that biofuels are the “ammunition” for America today. ...The main focus of the highly decorated retired army general’s address was on the
by Rudy Ruitenberg (Bloomberg Business Week) Criticism of biofuels and their impact on commodity prices by the new director general of the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization is “simplistic and misinformed,” an industry lobby said. Higher energy prices are the “primary
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) In his State of the Union address Tuesday night, President Obama voiced strong support for renewable energy and an end to oil subsidies. “We have subsidized oil companies for a century. That’s long enough,” the president
Gov. Terry Branstad is quick to counterattack against any and all of Iowa’s critics and on Tuesday he included the nation’s largest business newspaper in comments to the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association annual meeting in Des Moines. The governor has been
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Colorado, Gevo has received a patent on its GIFT separation unit, addressing the separation technology used to produce propanols, butanols, pentanols, and hexanols. The claims also address how ethanol plants can be retrofitted to produce
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Bloomberg New Energy Finance launched its report “Moving towards a next-generation ethanol economy”. Commissioned by Novozymes, the report estimates the socioeconomic prospects of deploying advanced biofuels in eight of the highest agricultural-producing regions in the world, i.e.
by Robert E. Kozak (Advanced Biofuels USA) Here’s the President’s new energy policy. “This country needs an all-out, all-of-the-above strategy that develops every available source of American energy – a strategy that’s cleaner, cheaper, and full of new jobs”. Okay that sounds
by John Daly (OilPrice.com) ...While U.S. energy companies began fracking for gas in the late 1990s, there was a dramatic increase in 2005 after the administration of President George W. Bush exempted fracking from regulations under the U.S. Clean Water
by Robert E. Kozak (Advanced Biofuels USA) Retain Agricultural Land: Agricultural and forest lands are vulnerable to loss due to reduction of the dairy and pulp/paper industries and conversion to residential or commercial development. They could retain their agriculture and
by Gary Truitt (Hoosier Ag Today) American ethanol production is creating jobs, energizing rural economies, reducing oil imports, and helping all consumers save money at the pump emphasized the Renewable Fuels Association today in a letter to President Obama as he prepares
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In California, Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill denied the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) motion to stay the decision he issued on December 29, 2011 that had halted the enforcement of the California’s Low Carbon Fuel
(National Corn Growers Association) Ongoing media coverage on corn usage tends to sensationalize trends by pitting demand from the ethanol industry against that from livestock, but Corn Board member Wesley Spurlock, a Texas farmer, has been speaking to groups across
By Douglas L. Faulkner (Biofuels Digest) What should be the priorities for federal government support for bioenergy, in an era of fiscal austerity and a broken consensus on energy policy? My goal is develop interactively with you, bioenergy thought leaders, a
by Ezra Klein, Brad Plumer (The Washington Post) ...In 2010, the world spent $409 billion on fossil-fuel subsidies to artificially lower the price of coal, gas and oil. Eliminating those subsidies would curb fuel use and lead to half the
(National Petrochemical & Refiners Association/Yahoo!) The National Petrochemical & Refiners Association, American Petroleum Institute and Western States Petroleum Associationjointly filed a petition today requesting that the Environmental Protection Agency waive the 2011 cellulosic biofuel volume mandate in its entirety, because it appears no cellulosic
by Peter A. Letvin (Biomass Power and Thermal/Energy & Environmental Research Center ) Algae holds promise as a next-generation biofuel, both for heat and electricity and especially for transportation fuels. Algae could potentially be a game changer for biofuels in the
(Renewable Fuels Association) The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is rejecting the notion that greater efforts need to be made to include fossil fuels in the nation’s fuel supply. Specifically, the RFA is very critical of efforts by Texas Republican Rep.
by Robert E. Kozak (Advanced Biofuels USA) In last days of the 2011 session the US Congress, with a job approval rating of 11% , cancelled the VEETC ethanol subsidy and dropped the tariff on Brazilian ethanol imports. These major events
by Gal Luft (The Washington Times) ...At current oil prices, ethanol is more costly than gasoline while the alcohol fuel methanol, primarily made from natural gas, is cheaper than gasoline on a per-mile basis. But the comparative per-mile economics of
by Mario Giampietro (Cassandra's Legacy) ...(Y)ou may find a lot of help in the recent book "The Biofuel Delusion" by Mario Giampietro and Kozo Mayumi. If you are unsure about why exactly biofuels are the disaster that they are, this book
by Robert Vierhout (Ethanol Producer Magazine) One would think that a relatively easy way for governments to promote biofuels would be to tax biofuels less than fossil fuels—avoid lengthy debates on mandates and simply change the taxation structure in such
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...We cannot relax now; we must work harder. Because, in growing as fast as it has, the industry has frightened those who only believe in a failed yesterday of “fossil fuels alone, fossil fuels forever”. Whose
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Brooke Coleman, executive director of the Advanced Ethanol Council, turned attention to free market principles and market access, after the New York Timesran astory on cellulosic biofuels mandates, titled “A Fine for Not Using a Biofuel
(Chicago Tribune) ...Congress and the federal agencies responsible for managing the biofuel industry need to stop trying to artificially create a market for a high-tech product that may never exist on a commercial scale. ...At current market prices, ethanol doesn't need
by Bob Dineen (Renewable Fuels Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) ...The scientific community has better data, improved modeling tools, and a better appreciation of the uncertainty and complexity involved in ILUC analysis. But, above all, they have the benefit of some
by Richard G. Steiner (Los Angeles Times) OpEd: Not two years after the Deepwater Horizon debacle, the U.S. is proceeding with plans to expand oil drilling instead of pushing alternatives. ...And after making only modest reforms, many of which were cosmetic (e.g.
by Geoff Cooper (Renewable Fuels Association) ...In recent weeks, many headlines have trumpeted the argument that gas prices will be higher as a result of expiration of the VEETC. As is often the case, a quick review of the facts
by Damian Carrington (Government Online) For the first time in a decade, the vast biofuel industry has stalled. But with crude prices still high, charting a course towards biofuels that do more good than harm is more vital than ever. ... “The
by Don Siefkes (E100 Ethanol Group/Biofuels Digest) To The Editors of the Wall Street Journal: Cellulosic ethanol has been a debacle, but not for the reasons stated in your editorial “The Cellulosic Ethanol Debacle” of December 13. Cellulosic ethanol has not
by Gary Truitt (Hoosier Ag Today) Jay Berry, with Central Indiana Ethanol in Marion, says many stations do not have the equipment to handle higher ethanol blends. He told HAT there are no regulations that cover ethanol compliance, “We had
by Heather Thornstensen (AgriNews) While they had a leader from the National Cattlemen's Beef Association at their recent annual convention, the Minnesota State Cattlemen's Association brought together a panel to discuss whether the ethanol and cattle industries can co-exist. ..."As I
by Mark Steil (Minnesota Public Radio) A couple of key federal subsidies for the renewable fuel industry are about to end, cutting billions of dollars tax credits for the ethanol and biodiesel industries. Congress could renew the tax credits when it
by Robert Pear (New York Times) ...“We are in a fairly prosperous period for agriculture,” said Dean C. Taylor, a former president of the Iowa Corn Growers Association. “Agriculture has not been as much of a touchstone for presidential candidates this
by General Wesley Clark (U.S. Army, Retired) ...But without those 13 billion gallons of ethanol, motorists in the U.S. are all part of a captive market that is controlled by Big Oil. The alternative to ethanol is gasoline, nearly
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ZeaChem launches its 250,000 gallon per year core process. How could this possibly matter, in the context of a 500 million gallon cellulosic biofuels target for 2012, that was waived down to 10 million? As
by Doug Sombke (Rapid CityJournal/South Dakota Farmers Union) ...What the ethanol industry needs now is investment in improved infrastructure to get ethanol closer to being equal in the marketplace with regular gasoline. For decades, big oil companies have enjoyed billions of
by Brent Erickson (Biofuels Digest/BIO) ...To be clear, the bioeconomy is the total economic activity from all sectors of the biotechnology industry – pharmaceuticals, food and agriculture and industrial biotechnology. With biotechnology we can help, heal, fuel and feed the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...10. Advanced biofuels capacity surges to 1 billion gallons, globally. We see 570 million gallons in capacity from Neste Oil alone; 137 Mgy from Diamond Green, 75 Mgy from Dynamic Fuels, 62 Mgy from KiOR,
(IFP Energies Nouvelles) The numerous research programmes looking at new-generation biofuels that were initiated over the last ten years are now starting to bear fruit. Although no plants are producing and marketing biofuels yet, the large-scale, industrial feasibility of second-generation biofuel production at
by Nathanael Green (Energy Now/Natural Resources Defense Council) ...Our dependence on oil hurts our economy, helps our adversaries and puts our security at risk. Each day we send over $1 billion overseas for oil, often to hostile nations like Iran,
(Global Bioenergy Partnership) In November 2011 the GBEP Steering Committee endorsed the report The Global Bioenergy Partnership Sustainability Indicators for Bioenergy. It was developed by GBEP Partners and Observers through the GBEP Task Force on Sustainability that had been working since
by Jim Lane and Todd Guerrero (Biofuels Digest/Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.) Us federal judge rules that California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard interferes with the “maintenance of a national economic union unfettered by state-imposed limitations on interstate commerce.” Today, we look
(WRAL) Lack of action by state lawmakers and Congress is expected to raise gas prices in North Carolina by more than 8 cents a gallon, starting Sunday. Half of the increase comes from the state. North Carolina's gas tax is linked
(Orlando Sentinel) Editorial: ...This month a state House panel approved a bill to repeal the 2008 state law that requires most gasoline sold in Florida to include up to 10 percent ethanol. Sponsor Matt Gaetz, a Republican from Fort Walton
(FarmGateBlog.com) Many Cornbelt farmers are planning to deliver corn stover to the local ethanol plant to generate a new income stream. Others are planning to cultivate and harvest switchgrass, miscanthus, or other biomass crops also for ethanol production. Yet others
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) There were IPOs a go-go, a big comeback from biodiesel. The global ethanol fleet has acquired new popularity amongst advanced biofuels developers looking for capital light steel in the ground. Meanwhile, gasification got hot. Seemed
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack headed the “Top 100 People in Bioenergy” as voted by the readers of Biofuels Digest and the Digest’s editorial board, just edging out BP Biofuels chief Philip New, and
by Alex Philippidis (Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News) President Barack Obama’s administration has begun reviewing suggestions for a National Bioeconomy Blueprint detailing measures by which the Obama administration intends to apply biological research innovations toward national challenges that include health, food,
(ETC Group) New report on Corporate Concentration in the Life Industries From the UN Rio+20 preparatory meetings in New York, ETC Group today launchesWho Will Control the Green Economy? The 60-page report connects the dots between the climate and oil crises,
by Jeanne Roberts (Energy Boom) On Wednesday, December 14, representatives from the nation’s biofuels, renewable chemicals and biobased products industries provided written testimony to a U.S. Senate Finance Subcommittee aimed at insuring the smooth continuation of various biofuel tax incentives due
by Paul Stenquist (New York Times) The U.S. Coalition for Advanced Diesel Cars, a Washington-based advocacy group whose members include Bosch, Honeywell and BorgWarner, all major automotive suppliers, released a white paper on Monday to make the case for technology-neutral policy-making
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...1. The USDA’s crop land report. What: An in-depth analysis of U.S. land use patterns released this week by the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows total cropland decreased by 34 million acres from 2002 to 2007,
by Kevin Skunes (InForum) In response to Ross Nelson’s “Ethanol? I’ll supply the shovels” column on Nov. 27, we should take a look at these issues using current and correct information. ...Corn-based ethanol is a viable energy source and can replace
by Tyler Hamilton (OilPrice.com) ...This isn’t just about corn; it’s also about how we choose to use agricultural residues, municipal organic waste, wood waste, algae biomass, and non-food crops. Does it make sense to just burn this material for energy, or
by Neil Winton (Detroit News) Investment bank Morgan Stanley came up with a nasty surprise for Nissan-Renault and other cheer-leaders for battery powered cars when it cut its electric vehicle sales forecast by nearly 50 per cent for 2025. Europe’s economic
by Kim Clark (Nebraska Corn Board) ...Although you have increased horsepower when using ethanol blended fuel, fuel mileage may decrease as the amount of ethanol in your fuel increases. However, studies have shown the optimal ethanol blend to use before you begin
by Mike Bryan (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ...Between 2006 and 2011, the price of sugar, while having numerous peaks and valleys, has risen from about 18 cents per pound to as high as 29 cents per pound. Given the fact that
byJames C. Greenwood and Robert Johnson (The Hill Congress Blog/BIO/National Farmers' Union) Maintaining agricultural productivity in America is indispensable to our economic security, so a safety net for farmers is very important. But abundant affordable clean energy and a healthy
(The Wall Street Journal) Review & Outlook: Years before the Obama Administration dumped $70 billion into solar and wind energy and battery operated cars, and long before anyone heard of Solyndra, President Bush launched his own version of a green
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Your calls and emails are always the highlight of our days. Most questions can be answered johnny-on-the-spot. Some are still out there and well worth arguing over. Here are the Top 10 that are still
by Luke Geiver (Biorefining Magazine) ...In the letter, the group pointed out the need for programs like the 9003 Biorefinery Loan Guarantee Program offered through USDA. “Loan guarantees are the most cost-effective way to develop new jobs and create these
by Mike McAdams (Advanced Biofuels Association/Biorefining Magazine) As I write to you, I am witnessing history at 40,000 feet above the U.S., a rare privilege, as one of the first commercial passengers on board the Alaska Airlines flight from Seattle
by Joelle Brink (Biofuels Digest Asia) This week, while the world’s biofuel producers were busy ramping up production towards the 54.1 billion gallon global capacity predicted by 2015, the people who regulate biofuels and make biofuel policy were mired in
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) Brazilian and U.S. ethanol interests are challenging each other over ethanol trade policy. The U.S./Brazil Council and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce wrote a joint letter to Congress last week asking that the U.S. secondary tariff on imported
(Michigan Radio) ...A new advisory council is heavily weighted with voices from the timber industry, and there will be more emphasis on developing forest products to boost the state’s economy. Governor Rick Snyder says there’s a lot of potential to use
(25 x '25) Amid the political clamor surrounding congressional efforts to cut federal spending over the next decade and reduce the nation’s deficit, the ethanol industry has conceded that a seven-year subsidy benefiting the sector will end Dec. 31. ...Elsewhere, Congress
(Algae Industry Magazine) Capacity for alternative fuels such as ethanol, biodiesel, and renewable diesel is at 44.6 billion gallons a year in 2011, but systemic hurdles will constrain their growth to under 5% annually through 2015. But pockets of promising
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A coalition of livestock and poultry lobby groups submitted a letter to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee leaders on Dec. 7, requesting a hearing to evaluate the economic impact of the renewable
by Bret Korsgaard (SeekingAlpha) …Companies like Solazyme (SZYM), KiOR (KIOR), GEVO (GEVO), Amyris (AMRS) and Codexis (CDXS) were generally met with favorable terms in the public markets. The Street seemed to acknowledge that for a time, such public enterprises could
by Garry Niemeyer (National Corn Growers Association) Back in August, the Green Scissors Project identified ways the federal government could shave $380 billion from the federal budget over five years. But their $380 billion in proposed cuts included a major
by Philip Brasher (Des Moines Register) Programs the Obama administration has been pushing to promote next-generation biofuels are likely to have little funding in the next farm bill, according to the top Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee, Rep. Collin
by Louise Downing (Bloomberg) Governments need to make it “very clear” that jet fuel made from sources such as inedible plants and organic waste aren’t taxed like regular fuel, said Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd. A push by governments
by Ann Marie Edwards (DomesticFuel.com) The Renewable Fuels Association(RFA) has sent a letter to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee leadership refuting statements that were made in a Nov. 30th letter sent to the committee by ethanol critics. According to RFA, the
by Mary Rosenthal (Algal Biomass Organization) ...There are four key takeaways from these meetings that I think are critical for our industry as we close out 2011 and plan for 2012. 1. Support for renewable energy overall, and biofuels in particular,
(Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association/PR NewsWire) In response to the introduction of H.R. 3552, legislation sponsored by four members of the U.S. House of Representatives to extend the import tax on foreign ethanol, the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA) issued the
by Timothy Hurst (Earth & Industry) The commercial aviation industry could go from being one of the dirtiest to being one of the cleanest in ten years, according to one of the industry's best-known figures. Richard Branson says the world's 7,000
by Joelle Brink (Biofuels Digest Asia) Europe, I don’t know how to tell you this, but you’re not going to stuff the biofuels genie back in the bottle. And let’s face it, you’ve got much bigger problems to deal with
(The Boston Globe) Editorial: ...But Solyndra’s subsequent failure isn’t a sign that the administration has gone too far; rather, it’s a sign that Congress, which tolerates all manner of explicit and implicit subsidies for fossil fuels and corn ethanol, hasn’t
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Let’s talk about Range Fuels, the good and the bad. In Georgia, the AgSouth Farm Credit bank, which is the lender of record for an $80 million construction loan that Range defaulted on, is advertising a
by Martin LaMonica (CNET News) Even though it's supposed to be a time of federal fiscal austerity, Bill Gates says its time to double down on energy research. The software industry icon and philanthropist on Friday published an editorial in Science calling
by Arnold Schwarzenegger (The Washington Post) OpEd: More energy from the sun hits Earth in one hour than all the energy consumed on our planet in an entire year. In those terms, it is absurd that our federal government spends tens
(Environment and Energy Study Institute) A steadily rising tax on the carbon content of fossil fuels would be a powerful, market-based approach to addressing one of the greatest crises of our time – global climate change. It could also help
by Kris Bevill and Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ...The challenges for cellulosic ethanol developers are daunting, but the executives representing those firms see the opportunities far outweighing the challenges and are quite optimistic for the year ahead. Indeed, all
by Mackinnon Lawrence (Reuters) ...Coming off several years of steady industry growth but facing a difficult 2012, Advanced Biofuels Markets 2011 was tinged with exigency. With deficit reduction at the forefront of policy objectives for Congress, a reexamination of cornerstone
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Amyris and Total exemplify the trend, with their announcement of agreements to expand their current R&D partnership and form a joint venture to develop, produce and commercialize a range of renewable fuels and products. ...1. RMN.
(Biofuels International) Adair Turner, chairman of the Committee on Climate Change (CCC), has acknowledged that the aviation sector may be an area in which fossil fuels have to be used, highlighting that we are looking to achieve a 'low carbon
(Eurasia Review) The European Union renewable energy regulation may became a subject of dispute in the World Trade Organization (WTO), warned Monday the Globalization Institute, adding that lack of transparency and discrimination towards foreign biofuel suppliers cause the Renewable Energy
(Green Car Congress) A new study by economists at Oregon State University questions the cost-effectiveness of current biofuels and says they would barely reduce fossil fuel use and would likely increase greenhouse gas emissions. The researchers focused on the major mandated and
by Carey Gillam (Reuters) The U.S. biofuels industry has more than 14 billion gallons in annual production capacity for fuel ethanol, according to new industry and government data, but growth has hit a plateau and experts see steady but slow
by Dan Piller (Des Moines Register) Ethanol producers will lose about 25 to 30 cents per gallon on operating profits when the tax credit for blenders goes away after Dec. 31. ...(Walt) Wendland, who also is president of the Iowa Renewable Fuels
by Randy Krehbiel (Durant Daily Democrat) ...Ricin, which can be extracted from crushed castor beans, is so potent a toxin that a dose equivalent to a few grains of salt induces a slow, agonizing death marked by vomiting and diarrhea.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Should biofuels have its own reserve accounting system and accompanying balance sheet booster, just as the oil & gas industry has? Ceres CEO Richard Hamilton says “yes”, and explains why, and how. At the Advanced Biofuels
(Platts) Global economic output is set to double as the global population grows to 8.7 billion people by 2040, when global energy demand will be 30% higher than it was in 2010, ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson said Monday (November 21,
By Christine Stebbins (Reuters) Grain farmers in the Midwest may want to pinch themselves. In recent years they have been buoyed by a dream scenario. Record high prices. Record high profits. Record high farmland values. Near record production. Farm debts paid
by William Richards and Dennis McGinn (The Plain Dealer) Guest Columnists: The future of the government's role in U.S. agriculture remains about as uncertain today as it was before the 1933 enactment of the Agricultural Adjustment Act, the nation's first
(International Air Transport Association) The International Air Transport Association (IATA) called on stakeholders in the aviation and air transport fuel supply value chains to join together on three critical areas for innovation: safety, environment and commercial issues. “Air transport needs fuel
by Rachel Z. Arndt (Fast Company) "It's a really exciting time in biofuels and biochemicals," VC Marianne Wu says. "We're looking at massive markets, increased demand, and significant advances in biology and chemistry. A lot of people assume that green
(Conference Board of Canada) The Conference Board of Canada today released a study assessing the economic impact of the ethanol industry in Canada, its environmental and health effects, and the balance between the energy required to produce ethanol and the
By Kevin Skunes (INFORUM) As the thousands of North Dakotans whose livelihoods depend on the farming and energy industries know, this state is playing a critical role in decreasing our nation’s dependence on foreign oil. Unfortunately, in his Nov. 5 column,
by Louise Hutchinson (Credit Plus) ...The General Manager of fuel development strategy and alternative energies at Shell, Arthur Reijnhart, sees a landscape with a much more diverse energy supply emerging over the next few decades. This, he says, will be driven
(MarketWatch) ...When most people hear the words "fuel cell," they think of eco-friendly, hydrogen-powered cars that emit nothing more than water. And that, says Professor Eric Wachsman, director of the University of Maryland Energy Research Center (UMERC), is one of the
(PhysOrg.com) When biomass is combusted the carbon that once was bound in the growing tree is released into the atmosphere. For this reason, bioenergy is often considered carbon dioxide neutral. Research at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, however, shows that
(Reuters) A European Union target to promote the use of biofuels will accelerate global species loss because it encourages the conversion of pasture, savanna and forests into new cropland, EU scientists have warned. ...The scale of species loss in areas converted
by Brent Erickson (Biofuels Digest/BIO) Federal loan guarantees may be scuttled after the Solyndra affair – but should the baby really be thrown out with the bathwater? ...But the programs’ untimely end may coincide with the first commercial successes for advanced
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Here the Digest’s take: for bioenergy, S-Day is about Solyndra and Secretary Chu, but it isn’t really much about bioenergy. Out of an $80 billion authorization for clean energy loan guarantees, and over a six-year
(The National Non-Food Crops Centre) Renewable Waste Intelligence have published a free municipal solid waste to biofuel report, which explores the current state of the market in the US. Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) is increasingly being used to drive biofuels
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