The Hydrogen Spring
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Reminiscent of 2009′s Summer of Algae, when those technologies were coming out of the woodwork, we appear to be in the Hydrogen Spring. Every time we write about them, more pop up, like a Prairie
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Reminiscent of 2009′s Summer of Algae, when those technologies were coming out of the woodwork, we appear to be in the Hydrogen Spring. Every time we write about them, more pop up, like a Prairie
by Merle Anderson (Grand Forks Herald) Orrie Swayze from Watertown, S.D., and I have traveled many miles together as friends and American Coalition for Ethanol founding board members. We have gained a historical perspective on all that is called ethanol. ... First,
by Mark Peplow (Nature) Pioneering biofuel producers hope that US government largesse will ease their way into a tough market. ...Thousands of tonnes of corn stover — the leaves, stalks and husks left over after the maize harvest — are already waiting,
by Brad Shannon (The Olympian/The News Tribune) A consultant to Gov. Jay Inslee’s bipartisan work group on climate change is disputing Republican and oil-industry claims that a clean-fuels standard in Washington could tack $1 or more to the cost of
by Dave Kolpack (Associated Press/Star Tribune) Backers of a proposed project in North Dakota that would turn a variety of sugar beets into ethanol have preached patience for the last five years. Now they're looking for a commitment from farmers
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Sweetwater Energy and Proterro, two companies using widely different approaches, aim for low-cost sugar that may give today’s corn ethanol plants a glide path into advanced ethanol production. They're in different stages, but share
(Senator Susan Collins) U.S. Senator Susan Collins today introduced the "Clean Cookstoves Support Act," a bill that would reduce carbon pollution and improve public health by supporting a global market for clean and efficient cookstoves. "Replacing unsafe cookstoves with modern alternatives
by Geoff Cooper (Renewable Fuels Association) According to the Oil Price Information Service (OPIS) and other media organizations, 14 scientists and researchers submitted a letter to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) on March 6 urging the agency to meaningfully reduce its
by Ashwin Raman (Duluth News Tribune) I disagreed with the Feb. 18 commentary, “Ethanol mandate hurts environment,” by Annette Meeks of the Freedom Foundation of Minnesota. How Meeks came to the conclusion that, “Since its inception, the ethanol mandate had made neither
by Mike Bryan (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... At some point in the future, the ethanol industry may even have to accept the eventual transition from corn-based ethanol to cellulosic ethanol and, eventually, to an entirely new type of fuel altogether. It’s natural
(25 x '25) EPA’s release this week of the latest rule governing vehicle emissions and fuel standards is a reminder that while regulations can raise the profile of biofuels, there are no “silver” policy bullets that absolutely assure the growth of biofuels
by Don Scott (National Biodiesel Board/Biodiesel Magazine) When National Biodiesel Board CEO Joe Jobe addressed the biodiesel industry at the recent conference in San Diego, he reminded us of the importance of history in understanding how we got to where
by Michael Devine (AMERIgreen Energy/Biodiesel Magazine) ...As a veteran of biodiesel marketing and distribution over the past decade, my first suggestion for the current state of the biodiesel industry is to “get back on message.” Looking forward as we move into
by John Davis (DomesticFuel.com) ...Joe (Jobe, CEO of the National Biodiesel Board) is really perplexed at the cut to the share of biodiesel in the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) considering how biodiesel is able to make up a lot possible shortfalls
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Vitally interested in President Obama’s proposed 2015 budget and the 411 on grants, incentives, tax credits, loan guarantees and R&D support — but haven’t got the time to read all 1653 glorious pages? Try the
by Bill Chameides (Duke University) While the Highway Trust Fund did a fine job of funding infrastructure maintenance for decades, it now is sorely lacking. The taxes collected are nowhere near enough to fund what is needed. Last year the federal
by Christopher Doering (Des Moines Register) The White House proposed Tuesday nearly $24 billion in discretionary spending for the U.S. Agriculture Department in its fiscal year 2015 budget proposal, a decline of close to $2.5 billion from the prior year. ... The
(Deutche Welle) Back in 2009, at the G20 summit in Pittsburgh, leading heads of state decided that subsidies for oil, gas and coal would slowly have to be cut worldwide. The closing statement of the meeting reads: "The inefficient subsidization of
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) President Obama’s Fiscal Year 2015 budget proposal released March 4, calls for extending a tax credit for cellulosic biofuels and puts forward the idea of cutting billions in fossil fuel subsidies. ... The tax credit for cellulosic biofuels
(Associated Press/Columbia Daily Tribune) Expansion driven by ruling change. Missouri motorists could be able to buy a higher blend of ethanol gasoline as early as this summer because of a new policy pushed by Gov. Jay Nixon over the unsuccessful objections
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Algae has been touted as the ultimate platform for fuels, chemicals, nutraceuticals, proteins — even cancer therapies. There’s been a rate of progress that would impress any devotee of Moore’s Law — and a series of
by Scott Irwin (FarmDocDaily/University of Illinois) ... The purpose of today's post is to show that the recent behavior of prices in the RINs market suggests the odds of the EPA reversing the proposed write down of the renewable mandate for
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) It was five years ago that Growth Energy petitioned for the E15 waiver, attendees at the organization's fourth annual leadership conference were reminded in Phoenix, Feb. 27. "And finally, the blend wall has
by Al Costa (Biofuels Digest/Alkol) ... So, the idea I’m spreading here is that we should produce ethanol from many sources? No, that is only PART of the idea. And a small one, in fact. The larger part of the idea
by Robert C. Brown and Tristan Brown (The Gazette) In the face of criticism about ethanol, delays in the commercialization of advanced biofuels and the recent development of domestic supplies of fracked gas and petroleum, some people are asking, “Why are
by John Davis (DomesticFuel.com) It’s not always fact-based arguments proponents of ethanol are up against when battling Big Oil. But that’s why it’s all more important to make sure you have good facts on your side in the fight. Farmers
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Huge stock rallies in first-gen and next-gen biofuels last week — and tension over Ukraine with the potential for oil price spikes. Is this a turning point in the war over energy diversification? ... As Douglas
by Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuels USA) “It’s not the greatest thing since sliced bread; but at least there’s dough in the machine,” said Advanced Biofuels USA’s vehicle emissions expert, Robert Kozak upon reviewing the Environmental Protection Agency’s Tier 3 vehicle
by John Lppert and Mario Parker (The Washington Post/Bloomberg) ... Political challenges are piling up, too. Big Oil lists minimum ethanol requirements as its top policy concern for 2014 and wants to eliminate them. Government officials are already backtracking. A week
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack left no one in doubt regarding his commitment to the ethanol industry in Phoenix on Thursday, Feb. 27. The ethanol producers, farmers and industry representatives at Growth Energy's annual
(Senator Carl Levin) Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., today teamed with Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., to introduce a bill that would provide regulatory incentives for companies to produce alternative fuel vehicles and establish benefits for consumers who buy them. “Increasing the number
by Geoff Cooper (Renewable Fuels Association) It has been reported that chain restaurant executives and franchise owners are on Capitol Hill this week pushing for the repeal of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Despite the fact that wholesale food and
(NACS) Higher corn prices in 2012 forced the industry to “discipline” itself, which led to strong earnings in last year’s final quarter. Biofuel producers reported strong earnings for last year’s final quarter, attributing the gains to lower corn prices, strong exports, and
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) On Feb. 26, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman David Camp, R-Mich., released draft legislation to reform federal tax code. The draft, titled the “Tax Reform Act of 2014,” would alter, and in some
(UPM/GlobeNewsWire) UPM participated together with a coalition of technology innovators and green NGOs to a project which results were published today. Europe has a significant untapped potential for converting wastes from farming, forestry, industry and households to advanced low-carbon biofuels,
by Stefan Nicola (Bloomberg) AlgaEnergy SA, part-owned by Spain’s Iberdrola SA (IBE) and Repsol SA (REP), is in talks with potential partners to set up a plant in Mexico to supply the American markets with biomass made from algae. Chief Executive
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... In April, International Flavors & Fragrances and Amyris announced a collaboration to develop and commercialize a specific set of renewable fragrance ingredients. Under the terms of the multi-year agreement, IFF and Amyris will jointly develop
by Barbara Lewis (Reuters) * New research underlines benefits of new generation biofuel * Commission 2030 policy outline omits transport goals * Research has questioned credentials of first-generation fuels Projects to deliver a next generation of green transport fuel, which
by Robert Wilson (The Energy Collective) Various scenarios have been put forward showing that 100% renewable energy is achievable. Some of them even claim that we can move completely away from fossil fuels in only couple of decades. A world entirely without
by (Diesel Technology Forum/GE Ideas Lab) While natural gas enjoys a per-gallon equivalent savings over diesel today, chances are that advantage will be significantly reduced in the future ...(A)ccording to international and U.S. energy and transportation experts, the future of America’s
by Donnelle Eller and Christopher Doering (Des Moines Register) The future of the cellulosic ethanol industry depends on convincing investors that the market for its product will grow. The EPA has proposed cutting separate requirements for how much renewable fuel, mostly
by Nicholas Bergin (Lincoln Journal Star) ... Biofuel producers reported strong earnings for last year’s final quarter, thanks to lower corn prices, healthy ethanol exports and robust demand for byproducts like corn oil and livestock feed meal. It’s a drastic turnaround from
(Outdoor Power Equipment Institute/PRNewswire) -- As consumers head to retail stores this spring to purchase mowers, chain saws, generators, blowers, trimmers, power washers, and a host of other small engine equipment, they will see an important ethanol fuel message from the Outdoor
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Photobioreactor is a key innovation in Proterro’s patented sugar-making process now deployed at the company’s pilot plant in Orlando, Florida In New Jersey, the United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued a notice of allowance
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Flash-forward to today: the American Petroleum Institute rallies the Panzers to repel the landing of renewable fuels — bringing alternative choices for consumers at affordable prices, via a counter-assault on the Renewable Fuel Standard. And some
by Mark Dayton and Terry Branstad (Winona Daily News) We are governors from neighboring states and different political parties. We don’t agree on everything, but we stand united in our belief that our nation needs a robust Renewable Fuel Standard
by Chris Groobey and Taite McDonald (Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati) ... Since the changes surrounding the Section 9003 Biorefinery Assistance Program of Title IX (9003 Biorefinery Assistance Program or the program) are the most substantive and have been the most difficult for industry
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) After six years of debate — finally a database appears on actual indirect land use change. The Partners? Including Google, UNEP, Imazon, the Center for Global Development, the University of Maryland, OSFAC, the Jane Goodall
by Bill Jones (Fresno Bee/Pacific Ethanol) The Bee published a commentary on Feb. 14 by Tom Tanton titled "Making Ethanol is Wasting California's Water." The premise of the opinion piece was that the nation's Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) that sets
by Herman Wang (Platts) The US Environmental Protection Agency will finalize the 2014 Renewable Fuel Standard in about four months, a top official said Wednesday. "Our goal was to finalize [the rule] by spring," said Chris Grundler, who heads the EPA's
by Andrew Soare (Lux Research, Inc.) The 53.2 billion gallon biofuel industry has enjoyed capacity growth of 19.6% annually since 2005, but growth will slow to just 3.2% annually through 2017. Ethanol represents 65.9% of global biofuel capacity in 2013
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Massacusetts, Lux Research reports its forecast that bio-based material and chemical (BBMC) technologies “have reached an inflection point with companies scaling to commercial production levels and growing revenues”, according to Lux Research. The leading growth
by Robert Rapier (Biofuels Digest/Energy Trends Insider) ... Today, nine years after I began writing about energy, we have an ethanol industry that has undergone rapid growth, but it is an industry that still relies heavily on the hand of government
by Brent Erickson (Biotechnology Industry Organization/Biofuels Digest) ... The true good news is that the Senate conferees prevailed in getting $881 million in mandatory funding over the next ten years to renewable energy and biofuels initiatives and extending incentives for the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Reform, repeal or compete: the options laid out for ethanol by Big Oil by Marathon’s Product Supply & Optimization Director in a frank keynote at the National Ethanol Conference. The RFA’s Geoff Cooper and ISU’s
(National Journal/National Association of Convenience Stores) Gasoline will remain the dominant fuel powering light duty vehicles through 2040, but consumption will drop 24% and market share will shrink 14% as fuel efficiency improves and alternative fuels - led by diesel
by Jim Hendrix (The Coloradoan) ... First and foremost, ethanol does not receive federal subsidies. The oil and gas industry receives nearly $17 billion per year in subsidies, which flow from direct and indirect tax preferences embedded in the federal tax
by Tom Bryan (Ethanol Producer Magazine) It is rare that a conference panel needs to be truly moderated, but the rabble-rousing conversation that ensued between international ethanol industry representatives at the National Ethanol Conference kept Bliss Baker busy Tuesday morning.
By Juliet Eilperin (The Washington Post) President Obama announced Tuesday that the government will tighten fuel efficiency standards for medium- and heavy-duty trucks, part of an ongoing effort to use his executive authority to address climate change and spur domestic
by Samantha Jeffreys (WREX) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's proposal to reduce the amounts of ethanol that must be blended with gasoline could have a big effect on local farmers. ... "Locally, it will affect a number of us if this standard is
by Bob Dinneen (Renewable Fuels Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Ethanol enhances America's economy by creating jobs, raising the GDP, increasing incomes and contributing taxes. The positive economics are due to the hard work of community-based ethanol producers, hard-working employees and local
(Renewable Fuels Association) Bob Dinneen, president and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association, addressed more than 1,000 people at the National Ethanol Conference in Orlando, Fla. In his annual “State of the Industry” speech entitled “Falling Walls, Rising Tides”, the RFA leader
by Adam Monroe (Novozymes/The Hill) ...In our view, the fuels of the future are biofuels and they are already here. There’s only one problem: The very institution that set the wheels in motion to create the biofuels industry is now
(The Center for Public Integrity, InsideClimate News and The Weather Channel) ...With more than 50 wells drilled within 2½ miles of their home, the days when the Buehrings could sit on the deck that Shelby built and lull away an
by Lenny Bernstein (The Washington Post) The amount of the heat-trapping gas methane in the atmosphere is considerably greater than government estimates, a problem significantly fueled by leaks from the U.S. natural gas system, according to a study released Thursday. The leak rate probably
by Joseph Gerth (Courier-Journal) Two years ago, U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell took to the Senate floor to deride President Barack Obama for a speech that called for developing biofuel from algae — dismissing it as nothing more than a “pipe
by Mikkel Pates (Agweek) Crop farmers in the northern corn belt who have benefited from ethanol targets are putting on a push to save the current renewable fuel standard (RFS) from proposed cuts by the Environmental Protection Agency. The proposal would cut the
(WNAX) A new study by Informa Economics shows the original intended RFS level for 2014 blending of 14.4 billion gallons can be reached through increased consumption of E 85 and E 15. Iowa Corn Growers President Roger Zylstra of Lynneville
by Mike Bryan (BBI International/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Much of the consternation over corn ethanol, including the current debate on the renewable fuel standard, is rooted in America’s ability to produce sufficient corn to meet the needs of food and fuel. This, of
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) Dear Congress, Please keep our millions of dollars in tax breaks in place. We only make $93 billion in collective profit per year. This is not enough money to operate our businesses and overcharge our customers.
by Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) (The Hill) ... Now is not the time to slam the brakes on 21st century alternative, domestic energy breakthroughs that would increase U.S. productivity, opportunity and prosperity. ... Congress established the RFS as
(Renewable Fuels Association) As of today, approximately 40,000 Americans from all walks of life have submitted comments to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) voicing their opposition to the Agency’s proposed cut to the 2014 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Meanwhile, the
by John Davis and Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) Cellulosic ethanol is not just a fuel of the future; it’s here today. And at the recent 8th Annual Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit held in Altoona, Iowa, Steve Mirshak from DuPont’s cellulosic division talked with
(Congressman Dave Loebsack (D-Iowa) ) Congressman Dave Loebsack announced today that he introduced legislation that would establish a grant program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to invest in renewable and alternative fuel infrastructure. The Renewable Fuel Utilization, Expansion and
(4-Traders/National Biodiesel Board) National Biodiesel Board : Senators Introduce Bill to Reinstate Biodiesel Tax Incentive -- Tax Cut Expired Dec. 31 for Third Time in Five Years The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) called on Congress to move swiftly on tax legislation after
by Danilo Gusmão de Quadros* (Advanced Biofuels USA) Good news for mankind worried about getting a more sustainable world: it is expected that the next few years will be decisive for the future of advanced biofuels and bioenergy with the establishment
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) ... “Renewable chemicals are now defined in the farm bill, an important and long overdue change,” said Matt Carr, BIO Industrial and Environmental Director about that inclusion in the Biorefinery Assistance Program and Biomass Research and Development
(Chesapeake Climate Action Network) Independent study provides lawmakers and the public with first Maryland-specific risk assessment, coming on the heels of violent gas well explosion in PA Advocates call on the General Assembly to pass SB 745 to ensure that
(Khosla Ventures) To: 60 Minutes and CBS Attn: Lesley Stahl, Jeff Fager, David Rhodes, Leslie Moonves On January 5, 2014, CBS’ 60 Minutes aired a segment titled, “The Cleantech Crash” that grossly misrepresented the state of the sustainable energy industry. At
by Douglas L. Faulkner (“The Cleantech Conservative”/Biofuels Digest) ... It does not appear any of the experts are looking at the entire picture of the evolving and increasingly inter-connected agricultural-energy-transportation sector, let alone suggesting a plan with all, or even some, of
(The Energy Collective) The Energy Report: In your newsletter, What Is Chen Buying/Selling?, you make the argument that China is a potentially important market for ethanol. Why is that? Chen Lin: On my visit to China last summer, I experienced the air pollution problem
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Developers: is affordable project finance tough to find? Lenders: want to support green projects, but find that traditional deal structures defeat your best intentions? Help is on the way, via green bond principles and green
by Elizabeth Douglass (InsideClimate News) The American oil industry could be on the verge of winning its war on the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), as the Obama administration weighs changes that could severely undermine the nation's most successful—and most
by Jon LeSage (AutoBlogGreen) Hundreds of thousands of people are waiting for the US Environmental Protection Agency to issue its final ruling on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Over 110,000 signatures were collected by the group VoteVets.org (often politically
by Jane Norman (ABC) A report into the $100m a year ethanol subsidy program says a large part of the excise benefit is not being passed on to consumers via the E10 discount. The Ethanol Production Grants program was introduced
by Dale Hildebrant (Minnesota Farm Guide) Tuesday, Jan. 28, marked the beginning of a five-city tour for the steering committee of BeetsAll Biofuel in their search for a site for the first industrial beet plant site. The committee’s first stop was
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) E85 ethanol? Been stuck with low sales for years – with producers pointing to “no market access”. Yet, Tesla was faced with “no market access” — and built its own market. What lessons can be
by Robert C. Brown and Tristan Brown (The Gazette) In the face of criticism about ethanol, delays in the commercialization of advanced biofuels and the recent development of domestic supplies of fracked gas and petroleum, some people are asking, “Why are
by Robert J. Conrado and Ramon Gonzalez (Science Magazine) Efforts to use natural gas in transportation, either directly or by conversion to a liquid fuel, have been spurred by recent increases in available supply and a growing price spread between
(Global BioBusiness) The main problem in the biofuels industry is the lack of understanding about the market in general. The publications on biofuels being offered do not also tackle this problem, focusing too much on technical details. The end result is
(Baystreet.CA/AccessWire) Extreme Biodiesel, Inc. (PINK:XTRM) today announced that the Company wholly owned subsidiary XTRM Cannabis Ventures has just completed assembly of its first Mobile Hemp To Biodiesel Production Unit. XTRM Cannabis Ventures will begin marketing and posting specs for the Mobile
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) What’s going on – aren’t biofuels supposed to be dead, and fracking changing everything forever in oil & gas? Yet, tough times for growth at the public oil companies, while bellwether renewable fuel equities are
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...One of these days, someone might make a commercial in which the protagonists find a detour around some methane-reeking Mt. Garbage, crowning peak in a range of towering landfill mountains. In the foreground, impassable mountains
by Martin LaMonica (MIT Technology Review) The sell-off of synthetic biology pioneer LS9 goes to show that making biofuels from genetically engineered microbes has yet to deliver economically. ... LS9 had hoped to be selling diesel to refineries at least two years
by Peter Brown (Biodiesel Magazine/International Procurement Tools Inc.) We may already be over the tipping point where greenhouse gases (GHG) have so altered the delicate balance in nature that climate changes are irreversible. Two worlds have collided and what may
by Bill Chameides (Duke University) The Obama administration gave environmentalists little to cheer about last week, but the game is hardly over. When it comes to climate change, Obama’s rhetoric has been striking and unequivocal (for example here), but with congressional deadlock,
by Matt Kelley (RadioIowa) Legions of people lately have pleaded in public hearings for the federal Environmental Protection Agency to maintain the amount of ethanol required to be blended into gasoline, but Iowa’s top lawyer says there’s another better tactic. Iowa
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... More than 15,000 comments were received by EPA. What is the problem that led to a waiver petition? Why does EPA propose to act and how, and when, and in what way? Today, in the
by Michael Jacobson (NEWBio) Michael Jacobson, Professor of Forest Resources at Penn State, recounts his October 2013 visit and conversation with bioenergy entrepreneur and willow grower Stanislaw Dolata, whose willow business is located in northwestern Poland. Jacobson toured Eastern Europe
by Natalie Obiko Pearson (Bloomberg) Novozymes A/S (NZYMB), the biggest producer of enzymes used for biofuels, says Indian interest doubled in the past year as costlier oil spurs demand for alternatives. “India could be one of the biggest markets for us
by Ben Gose (The Chronicle of Philanthropy) Seventeen foundations with nearly $2-billion in assets have vowed to divest the fossil-fuel stocks in their endowments and invest at least 5 percent of their assets in clean-energy companies, and they are urging other foundations
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) President Barack Obama stressed the need for the nation to “double-down” on clean energy during his Jan. 24 State of the Union address, but neglected to include biofuels in his list of domestically available
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Draws fire from biofuels, environmental groups for emphasis on fossil fuels, back-off on renewables; 110,000 sign VoteVets.org petition in support of RFS ... Biofuels reaction: rhetoric nice, but reversal on RFS hits only clean energy, climate policy
by Robert Kozak (Advanced Biofuels USA) In regard to the determination of the Applicable Volume of ethanol and other biofuels allowed for Renewable Identification Number (RIN) credits in 2014, Advanced Biofuels USA finds that EPA has disregarded the intent of
by Todd Myers (Voice of the Valley) According to The Seattle Times, Governor Inslee is upset at a Republican claim that a Low-Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) would increase the price of a gallon of gas by $1. Recently, some have
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Minnesota, the Bioeconomy Coalition of Minnesota, who announced their 2014 Minnesota legislative agenda today at the Minnesota Green Chemistry Conference, is proposing the creation of a new production incentive program for renewable chemicals and
by Jonathan Coppess (FarmDocDaily) ...The heart of the matter is whether the waiver authority Congress provided to the EPA allows it to waive the specific RFS requirements on the basis of the infrastructural challenges posed by the E10 blend wall. EPA's
(25 x '25) The annual Global Forum for Food and Agriculture is currently underway in Berlin and those attending are grappling with a formidable challenge: finding ways to insure food security around the world as population surges by nearly 30
by Sally Bakewell (Bloomberg) Renewables will continue to be the fastest-growing energy source, supplying a bigger share of the world’s needs than nuclear by 2025, according to BP Plc. ... “While the OECD economies have led in renewables growth, renewables in the
by Kai Ryssdal (MarketPlace.org) ... Keith Alverson, a sixth generation ethanol corn farmer in Chester, South Dakota, says it’s all about supply and demand. Corn prices were up last year thanks to two years of drought that lowered supplies. That meant
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) As federal biodiesel policy uncertainty rises, low-cost biodiesel production with new technologies to allow processing of cheaper, lower quality feedstocks, is paramount. Biodiesel Magazine provides a cross-section of new technologies being deployed. ... If the final (EPA
by Barbara Lewis (Reuters) European Commissioners clashed on Friday over what the European Union's climate and energy policy goals for 2030 should be, with time for agreement running short ahead of their planned publication this month, EU sources said. The European
by Stephen Trimble (FlightGlobal) Boeing will seek approval by the end of this year to clear a green diesel blend as an alternative to Jet-A for turbine-powered aircraft. If approved, Boeing believes this emerging source of renewable fuel can kick-start the
by Meghan Grebner (Browfield Ag News) There’s just a few weeks left for farmers to submit comments on the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed cuts to the Renewable Fuels Standard. The Indiana Corn Growers Association and the Indiana Soybean Alliance are making
by Tom Bryan (Ethanol Producer Magazine) For all the media melodrama displayed at this time last year when the USDA released its tally on the drought-suppressed 2012 corn crop, there’s been predictably little ado over last week’s news that the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This past week, we’ve had the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Plenty of opportunities for new automotive technologies to strut their stuff — and they’ve
(AviationPros.com/PR NewsWire) Boeing [NYSE: BA] has identified "green diesel," a renewable fuel used in ground transportation, as a significant new source of sustainable aviation biofuel that emits at least 50 percent less carbon dioxide than fossil fuel over its lifecycle.
by Monica Becker and Amy Perlmutter (GreenBiz.com) ... Now 10 organizations from the Green Chemistry & Commerce Council (GC3), including Timberland, Valspar and Seventh Generation, will spearhead a one-year collaborative project aimed at bringing green chemistry into the mainstream. The development follows the growing awareness of green
by Anna Simet (Biomass Magazine) Recruiting employees isn’t currently a problem for advanced biofuel companies, but as the industry grows, a lack of engineers may pose problems. Despite being met with a number of hurdles including a challenging financial climate, the
(KTIC Blogs) The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposal to slash 2014 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) blending requirements is unwarranted and economically irrational, according to a new analysis released today by Iowa State University’s Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD).
by Ryan Randazzo (The Republic/AZCentral.com) Inside a greenhouse operated by Heliae Development, paddle wheels tranquilly push along green-tinted water in a large, oval raceway, gently churning the water and ushering it through a continuous loop used to grow algae. Once the
Senator Amy Kolbuchar (D-MN) (Post Bulletin) ... Unfortunately, a recent proposal from the Environmental Protection Agency to lower the biofuel targets for 2014 threatens the progress we have made. The EPA's proposed Renewable Fuel Standard rule would, for the first time, allow
by Dan Frosch (New York Times) Hundreds of abandoned drilling wells dot eastern Wyoming like sagebrush, vestiges of a natural gas boom that has been drying up in recent years as prices have plummeted. The companies that once operated the
by Mark Harden (Denver Business Journal) Americans' views toward clean and renewable energy improved in 2013 from a year earlier, following a few years in which support slipped, according to a new report from Boulder-based Navigant Research. The company surveyed 1,084 U.S.
by Ron Adams (The Energy Collective) On December 27, 2013, Matt Wald published a piece in the New York Times titled New Energy Struggles on Its Way to Markets that points to the predictable consequences of having too many energy options chasing
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Beta Renewables, Abengoa, Enerkem, Proterro among the winners for Project of the Year — as residues and waste are keys to the big wins. For Fuel of the Year, Renewable Chemical of the Year, Product
by Laura Barron-Lopez (The Hill E2Wire) ... 5. Retreat on Ethanol -- The debate over the country's renewable fuel mandate, which determines how much ethanol and biofuels refiners must blend into the nation's fuel supply, raged in 2013. All the way
by Xun Yao Chen (MarketRealist.com) The EIA’s proposal to cut use of ethanol in oil has also negatively impacted corn prices this year. A significant portion of corn is used to produce ethanol, so a cut could negatively affect current
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) ... Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) president and CEO Bob Dinneen takes a look back at 2013 for the ethanol industry and a look ahead to what 2014 may have in store. ...Among the topics Dinneen discusses in this end
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) The Missouri Corn Growers Association has produced a video that tells “the greatest story never told” – Quiet Revolution: The Ethanol Story. READ MORE WATCH VIDEO
by alana Fraga (RevistaGlobalRural) Petrobras and the state government invested over £ 10 million in cultivation for biodiesel production The castor production in Bahia should have an increase of over 560% in the 2013/2014 harvest in the previous season, according to
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In early December, The Digest undertook a voluntary survey on renewable fuels and pricing, inviting its global readership to answer four questions relating to the price of ethanol, biodiesel, jet fuel and drop-in fuels — and
(Nebraska Soybean Association/Biodiesel Magazine) As you can imagine, a lot goes into powering the city that never sleeps. Whether it’s helping to fuel America’s largest city fleet, clearing snow off the runway at JFK in the dead of winter, or
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) In a recent farmdocDaily post, Nick Paulson, assistant professor in the University of Illinois Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics, addresses renewable identification number (RIN) stocks and the implications of the U.S. EPA’s proposed 2014 volume requirements for
by Dr. Jeff Wright (ArborGen Inc./Renewable Energy World) Bio-energy forest plantations will supplement woody biomass from other sources such as logging residues. In the southern U.S., projections are for an increase of up to 25 million “new” tons of woody biomass
by Juan Forero (The Washington Post) ... The allure for these giants is Brazil itself, where most cars are built to run on the biofuel. An even bigger, largely untapped market awaits in the United States, where environmental standards favor cane-based ethanol
(GreenAir Online) The proposal by the European Commission to include international aviation in its ETS without any international consultation could re-open the threat of trade wars and distract States from focusing on working together to develop a global market-based climate
by Ramu Bhagwat (Times of India) Pune-based Praj Industries which is a pioneer in developing new technology for ethanol production from agricultural waste has signed an agreement with Nitin Gadkari-promoted Purti Sugar to set up a new generation ethanol plant. To be located
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In the annual poll, voters reward key fighters on the RFS2 front, companies reaching scale, and pioneers in renewable chemicals. Top 300 recognized. In Florida, US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack headed the “Top 100 People
by Javier E. David (CNBC) Ethanol requirements for U.S. gasoline appear to be losing friends and influencing the wrong people, with calls growing to reform or scrap the government mandates altogether. The Environmental Protection Agency in November proposed reducing the amount
(South Australia Department of Manufacturing, Innovation, Trade, Resources and Energy) Developing higher-value forestry products is the key to creating a sustainable future for the forestry industry. A new study into developing more sustainable and higher-value products from the Limestone Coast’s forestry
by Butch Fernandez (Business Mirror) ... A lawmaker has filed a resolution asking the House Committee on Energy to probe the performance and impact assessment of the Biofuels Act of 2006 and the development of alternative sources of biofuels, following reports that
by Brent Erickson (Biotechnology Industry Organization/Biofuels Digest) The Obama administration appears ready to give the oil refining industry the perfect gift this Christmas. If left unchanged, EPA’s proposed RFS rule for 2014 could result in codifying the so-called blend wall
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) A recent report authored by two University of California, Davis researchers examines the economics of the California low carbon fuel standard (LCFS) program. According to information released by the UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies,
by Lisa Deeney (Agriland) A new European research project seeks grass crops that could be grown and harvested on marginal lands, away from areas suitable for food crops. According to the researchers, grass could be used to produce biofuels. The advantage of
by Chris Hanson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... Researchers at the Energy Biosciences Institute at the University of Illinois evaluated woody and grassy biomass feedstocks for cellulosic ethanol production at Illinois. Twenty-one species of short-rotation woody biomass were included in the study.
by Rob Vierhout (ePURE/Ethanol Producer Magazine) At the yearly F.O.Licht's World Ethanol Conference, two speakers spoke about ethanol as a coproduct, focusing on front-end separation of high-value protein from the corn, or recovering the yeast to produce a protein concentrate. ... There were
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Illinois researchers reported results from a decade of field trials with miscanthus, the first plots to be planted in the U.S. The average annual yield of miscanthus grown in seven Illinois locations over
by Martiin Kidston (Missoulian) If 1 ton of woody debris can produce 50 gallons of fuel, how many gallons of fuel could 42 million acres of dead and dying forests produce? Funded by a $10 million grant from the U.S. Department
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Asia looks at petroleum reserves and exploration and concludes: our future is in biomass. As we wrote in 2012: “There’s only one complete region for biofuels where abundant feedstock, lack of oil & gas production, rising energy