by Cathy Proctor (Denver Business Journal) Investment in a new wave of biofuel technologies is expected to total $69 billion over the next 10 years, and revenues from the new fuels are expected to hit $7.6 billion by 2023, according
by Zack Colman (The Hill E2Wire) The White House on Thursday doubled down on its support of a biofuel-blending rule that’s drawing intense attacks from the oil industry and lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Heather Zichal, President Obama’s top energy and climate
by Brooke Coleman (Advanced Ethanol Council/Biofuels Digest) In case you missed it, a skirmish broke out last week between AAA South Dakota and AAA National over AAA’s position on ethanol and the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The catalyst for the disagreement
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Advanced biofuels – mirage or reality? In January we wrote: “When these 12 projects open for business (or not) in 2013, you’ll know for sure.” So, what do we know? ... We identified 12 “Bellwether projects” in
by Juliet Eilperin (The WashingtonPost) After fielding an unprecedented number of questions and coming under sharp attack from several Republicans, Environmental Protection Agency official Gina McCarthy won Senate confirmation to head the agency in a 59 to 40 vote. McCarthy, who
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... In fact, ethanol actually reduces gas prices, as multiple analyses from a variety of sources have shown in the last few years. A 2008 government study showed, for example, that ethanol saved drivers
by Julian Hattem (The Hill Reg Watch) A group of House Republicans are urging an end to the federal program that calls for gasoline to be mixed with renewable biofuel like ethanol. ... The lawmakers heard from industry representatives who argued that
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) ...(NCGA President Pam ) Johnson says a gas station in her little community of Floyd, Iowa boasts the lowest price of fuel in the United States right now. “And it’s E85 and the price is $2.24 a
by Keith Wagstaff (The Week) Despite skyrocketing domestic oil production, petrol prices are unlikely to drop any time soon This has been a painful week at the pump. The national average gas price hit $3.64, up from $3.29 on Jan. 1,
by Sarah Brown (Creston News Advertiser) E85, a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 10 percent gasoline will be available this fall in Creston, according to Darin Schlapia, Farmers’ Cooperative location manager in Creston. Farmers Cooperative will open an unmanned fuel
by Brady Mallory (KELOLAND.com) A new television ad that slams ethanol is fueling some controversy. The 30-second TV commercial, paid for by the American Petroleum Institute, features someone dressed as a mechanic criticizing the increased use of ethanol as a motor
by Zain Shauk (Fuel Fix) Amid the oil industry’s all-out blitz to kill a government mandate for corn-based ethanol, biodiesel producers say they have a solution that could help everyone involved. It goes like this: Buy more biodiesel. That proposal may not be so
(The European Biodiesel Board/Biodiesel Magazine) On July 11, the European Parliament’s committee for environment, public health, and food safety (ENVI) adopted its opinion on the European Commission’s legislative proposal on biofuels and ILUC. Although in past months some members of the
by Jim Lane (BioInvest Digest) Interested in the renewables sector, but want to heavy-up on pure-plays, or keep your exposure light? Our four-quadrant matrix can help. In looking at investing in the biobased sector, a four-quadrant matrix — of the type
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) American Petroleum Institute (API) has launched a new campaign featuring print and TV ads taking aim at E15 and the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The ethanol industry responded and Bob Dinneen, President and CEO of the
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) I heard some interesting and fun E15-related stories recently, about what the fuel has done for a South Dakota station owner as well as some on-track testing of what happens when water and E15
by Gregory Meyer (Financial Times) ...The credits, known as renewable identification numbers, jumped to a record $1.25 per gallon early on Monday, surpassing previous levels reached in March, according to Starfuels, a broker. US federal law requires refiners and wholesalers to
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) Both the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and Growth Energy submitted comments to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this week on pathways forward for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The comments highlight the importance of next generation
by Lars Peter Lindfors (ScienceOmega.com) A more level playing field is required if the true potential of biofuels is to be realised, argues Lars Peter Lindfors, Senior Vice President of Technology at Neste Oil Corporation… Biofuels have already helped the world achieve
(American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers/PR NewsWire) The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) highlight the testimony of Valero Energy Corporation Chairman of the Board and Chief Operating Officer William R. Klesse who testified before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
by Darcy Henton (Calgary Herald) Programs may have increased emissions Alberta handed out $200 million in biofuel incentives that may have actually increased — rather than reduced — greenhouse gas emissions, says the auditor general. Merwan Saher said Alberta Energy failed to
by Brent Erickson (Biotechnology Industry Organization/Biofuels Digest) The United States is beginning a domestic energy boom and could become a net energy exporter within the next two decades. But U.S. consumers don’t expect to see a benefit – they still
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...The financing of biofuels is founded, to put it as simply as possible, upon the economics of substitution. On the one hand, there’s the price of energy currently locked inside biomass; on the other hand,
(Global Renewable Fuels Alliance/Biodiesel Magazine) Today (July 12, 2013) the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance slammed a new study by Friends of the Earth for its glaring omissions and use of a controversial theory on land use impacts of biofuels. The
by Cezary Podkul (Reuters/CNBC) Importing cheap Brazilian ethanol into the United States could become much less profitable next year if a proposal by the Environmental Protection Agency to expand tough documentation and transportation rules to non-U.S. producers takes effect. The proposal,
by Mike Bryan (Ethanol Producer Magazine) I see article after article pertaining to world hunger and how biofuels are one of the root causes. It is time to stop this nonsense. Biofuels are not causing world hunger, they never have
(Union zur Förderung von Oel- und Proteinpflanzen e.V./Biodiesel Magazine) With 53 percent raw material content, rapeseed oil remains the most important raw material source for the production of biodiesel in Germany, followed by palm oil with 25 percent, and coconut
by Marianne Lavelle (RoiloGolex/National Geographic) What inventions and technical innovations are needed for biofuels to become a true challenge and sustainable alternative to petroleum-based transportation? This is one of the questions we put before two dozen experts from industry, universities, and
by Mica Rosenberg (Reuters) Biofuel producers will be subject to rules regulating carbon emissions, a U.S. appeals court ruled on Friday, in a decision hailed by environmental groups. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit vacated a
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The European Environment Agency has published a report that says bioenergy production should comply with E.U. objectives to use resources more efficiently. The report, titled “E.U. bioenergy from a resource efficiency perspective,” stresses that
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A new report published by World Growth argues that the E.U.’s proposal regarding indirect land use change (ILUC) carbon emissions under the Renewable Energy Directive represents a futile effort to curb productive land use
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A recent vote by the EU Parliament’s Environment Committee prompted comment by ePURE, which represents the EU ethanol industry, and UNICA, the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association. On July 11, the committee voted 42 to 26
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... In Washington, the House and Senate have now passed their respective versions of the proposed 2013 farm bill, which would take effect for fiscal 2014 through fiscal 2018. Both bills have energy titles — meaning that,
by David Malakoff (Science Magazine) The Department of Energy's 17 national labs, which spend some $12 billion annually on a wide range of research, are considered a crown jewel of U.S. science. But as federal budgets tighten, lawmakers and others are
by Mario Parker (Bloomberg) Renewable Identification Numbers for ethanol rose to record levels on concern the U.S. won’t adjust consumption targets. RINs, the credits that help the Environmental Protection Agency track whether refiners are meeting federal biofuel-use mandates, jumped 10 cents
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Despite negative press from Bloomberg, biobased investing is surging, both direct and via strategics. The Digest has the data and the scoop. After we profiled, last April, 17 biobased ventures who raised $434 million in new
by Lacey Koontz (BrownfieldAgNews) The Illinois Corn Growers Association is opposed to the current discussion in Congress to split the farm bill. According to Rodney Weinzierl, the Executive Director of the Illinois Corn Growers Association, House conservatives supporting the split are also
by Joseph Morton (World-Herald bureau/Omaha.com) The ethanol industry is again under fire from critics who want to eliminate the federal mandate that oil companies blend biofuels into the gasoline supply. ... The American Petroleum Institute recently gathered refining executives in Washington, D.C.,
(Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel) ...But since petroleum companies use a 10% blend of ethanol in gasoline to comply with the federal government's Renewable Fuels Standard, Briggs has created its own fuel additive that it says offsets some of the negative
by Ali Morrow and Alex Plough (Thomas Reuters Foundation) U.S. policy to boost the use of fuel from renewable sources is generating additional greenhouse gas emissions due to rising trade in ethanol between the United States and Brazil, rather than lowering emissions
by Isis Almeida (Bloomberg) Sugar millers in Brazil’s center south, the main growing region of the largest producer, will use more of this year’s crop to make ethanol than previously forecast because of unseasonal rain, Datagro Ltd. said. ... “The fact that it
by Yuxing Zheng (The Oregonian) The Senate on Saturday rejected a "clean fuels" bill that was the environmental lobby's top priority to combat global warming. ... Senate Bill 488 would lift a 2015 sunset date for Oregon's "clean fuel" program, which
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) ...Kelly Davis, RFA Director of Regulatory Affairs, says they support the timely implementation of the Tier 3 standards especially the proposal to establish E15 as the certification test fuel beginning in 2017. “We really hope that
by Gerard Wynn (Reuters) Biodiesel could in future ease so-called ethanol "blend wall" concerns facing the U.S. transportation fuel industry, whose capacity to blend corn ethanol in gasoline is nearing its physical limit. The biodiesel industry has ample production capacity and
by Robert Kozak (Advanced Biofuels USA) As part of Ford Motor Company’s comments submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency docket on proposed Tier 3 regulations regarding higher octane higher ethanol fuels, they provided an up-to-date literature review of the benefits
by Jon LeSage (AutoBlogGreen) Congress is considering a revised version of the Open Fuel Standard Act, an Act that was originally introduced two years ago but failed to pass. Representatives Eliot Engel (D-NY) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) introduced a bipartisan bill that would require more
by Bob Dinneen (Renewable Fuels Association/Chron) ...We can provide our motorists and military with stable, domestically produced fuel. Since 2011, American-made ethanol has contributed more to the U.S. fuel supply than gasoline refined from oil imports from OPEC. ... Americans don't need
by Leon Kaye (SustainableBrands.com) Whether one believes corn-based ethanol is a viable long-term solution for the United States’ energy portfolio or not, the reality is that 280 plants across the country will continue to produce biofuels. And with the constant
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...(W)hat H. J. “Bill” Haynes (at the time the chairman and CEO of the Standard Oil Company of California) described, a generation ago, as the driving force behind the petroleum business: “We are not in it
by Carlo Hamelinck (Euractiv.com/Ecofys) ...By effectively decreasing the ambition on biofuels, as it is currently debated in the European Parliament and the Council, we walk away from concerns without solving them. There are a few key issues in the debate that
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...The Environmental Protection Agency is issuing a supplemental final rule, containing a lifecycle greenhouse gas analysis for renewable fuels made from giant reed (Arundo donax) and napier grass, and a regulatory determination that such fuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) For every 5% in global shift to aviation biofuels — create 72,000 jobs and avoid 3 million tons of carbon emissions. How to get from available field to affordable fuel in 14 steps In Illinois, the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) How to get from available field to affordable fuel in 14 steps. The MASBI report is out, and that’s good. ... Last week, the Midwest Aviation Sustainable Biofuels Initiative, led by United Airlines, Boeing, Honeywell’s UOP, the
by Ozzie Zehner (IEEE Spectrum) ...Some states offer additional tax incentives. California brings the total credit up to $10 000, and Colorado to $13 500—more than the base price of a brand new Ford Fiesta. West Virginia offers the sweetest
by Mike Bryan (Ethanol Producer Magazine) There should no longer be any question that Big Oil is out to destroy biofuels. Anyone who thinks otherwise is simply not looking at the facts. This is no longer a little uprising here
by Scott McDermott (Ethanol Producer Magazine/Ascendant Partners Inc.) ...Historically, ethanol processing margins were driven by supply and demand fundamentals in ethanol, energy and corn, plus feed and policy impacts. As more ethanol companies diversify, the economic incentives to expand or
by Susanne REtka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Bruce Dale urges careful thought about energy and agriculture. A 1-ton-per-day pilot facility on the campus of Michigan State University geared up this spring to produce pretreated biomass for feed trials. It’s part of
by Erin Baldissari (Wicked Local Cambridge) Facing pressure from legislators and residents, representatives from Global Partners LP said they would withdraw their proposal July 1 to ship ethanol by train through some of the region’s most densely packed cities, according to state
by Richard Van Noorden (Nature) Key vote could signal withdrawal of support from biodiesel. The European Union (EU) has spent the past 10 years nurturing a €15-billion (US$20-billion) industry that makes transport fuel from food crops such as soya beans and sugar
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Texas, KiOR announced that its Columbus, Mississippi facility made its first shipment of cellulosic gasoline on June 28, which represented the first fuel shipment since March, 2013. The company added that it has “commenced regular
by Kon Thueanmunsaen (J.D. Power Global Auto Blog) In looking at the future of alternative fuel vehicles—principally electric vehicles (EVs)—in the Thai market, it appears that the only push for promoting EVs is coming from the Electricity Generating Authority of
(Advanced Biofuels USA) As part of the recently proposed Tier 3 motor vehicle fuel and emission regulations, EPA included a very forward looking idea that could bring higher octane, higher ethanol gasoline to the marketplace. However, Advanced Biofuels USA recommends the
(Midwest Aviation Sustainable Biofuels Initiative) MASBI found that a coordinated effort by both private and public interests would be one of the most effective ways to move the Midwest biofuels industry forward and take a pivotal step toward diversifying the
by Mark Drajem (Bloomberg BusinessWeek) Refiners may be forced to exceed 10 percent ethanol in their fuels next year in order to meet congressionally mandated renewable-fuel standards, according the Environmental Protection Agency. ... In his testimony today, Grundler (Christopher Grundler, director of
by Rudy Ruitenberg (Bloomberg BusinessWeek) Production of vegetable oils and fats will probably exceed demand in 2013-14 on rising output of sunflower-seed oil and soybean oil combined with “sluggish” biodiesel demand, Oil World forecast. ...Unchanged biodiesel mandates in the European Union and
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...LCFS = Low Carbon Fuel Standard Less Coal, For Sure What’s up? What’s the 6-point plan – what does it mean for you, and for biofuels? ...The problems, as the President sees them, are two-fold. First
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Solazyme and Roquette dissolve their nutritionals JV; Solazyme to accelerate under its own flag; stock plunges. What’s up? Who said “sorry?” on the way out the door? It was a terse announcement that crossed the wire
by Spencer Richley (Clean Energy Fuels/Sustainable Business Oregon) Time is running out for the Oregon Legislature to lift the sunset on the Clean Fuels Program, a practical program that would greatly benefit Oregon consumers’ pocketbooks by boosting development of less-expensive
(ACORE) A new study was released today by the American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE), California Clean Energy Fund (CalCEF), and Climate Policy Initiative at the Renewable Energy Finance Forum-Wall Street where hundreds of leaders from the renewable energy industry
(National Biodiesel Board/Biodiesel Magazine) ...As this plan makes clear, a key part of the equation in addressing climate change is breaking our dependence on fossil fuels. Biodiesel can help do that in a practical, cost-effective way. Used in today's clean,
by Robert Kozak (Advanced Biofuels USA) While attending the Detroit Grand Prix races earlier this month, we had the opportunity to spend some time with racing legend Bobby Rahal. Bobby is the 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner, a three-time IndyCar series
by Bob Dinneen (Bay Area Citizen/Renewable Fuels Association) Natural gas is not renewable, nor is it the future of ethanol. But let’s start at the beginning. Congressman Pete Olson recently penned an op-ed to Houston Community Newspapers claiming the Renewable Fuels
by Mark Drajem (The Washington Post/Bloomberg) As Congress considers scaling back or abolishing U.S. rules that mandate the use of renewable fuels, it has the full-throated support of the petroleum industry — with one major exception. BP, one of the world’s
by Juliet Eilperin (The Washington Post) ... In Saturday’s statement, Obama emphasized the economic opportunities that could come from tackling carbon emissions. “We’ll need scientists to design new fuels, and farmers to grow them,” he said. “We’ll need engineers to devise new
by Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuels USA) Robert E. Kozak, Advanced Biofuels USA founder and board member began his remarks at the Congressional Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency EXPO + Forum in Washington, D.C June 12, with the unpleasant reminder of the
by Aino Siirala (Advanced Biofuels USA) The 21st European Biomass conference and Exhibition was held in Copenhagen on June 3-7, 2013, gathering almost 2000 attendees. Denmark, one of the world’s leading countries in the green energy sector, was an optimal location
by Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuels USA) Advanced Biofuels USA, an internationally respected nonprofit educational organization dedicated to promoting the understanding, development and use of advanced biofuels as an energy security, economic development, military flexibility and climate change/pollution control solution announced
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The EPREINC scenario---One chart was prepared by the Energy Policy Research Foundation for its Congressional testimony on the Renewable Fuel Standard yesterday. ... EPRINC’s scenario foresees a big shortfall between the production of renewable fuels and the
by Geoff Cooper (Renewable Fuels Association/The Energy Collective) ...Incredibly, the American Petroleum Institute’s anti-RFS “training center” (yes, Big Oil has a “training center” apparently intended to spawn an army of certified RFS haters) has the audacity to claim, “If you
(WiseGEEK) In an effort to find a viable alternative to foreign oil, many politicians and environmental groups have been heavily promoting the advantages of ethanol fuel. Ethanol is a primarily plant-based fuel which can be produced from such sources as sugar
by Bob Dinneen (Renewable Fuels Association) I’m writing in response to the guest opinion piece that ran on May 18 by Stephen Buck. It was addressed to Congresswoman Bustos and entitled “Stop Using E15 Fuel Until Further Study is Performed.” I can assure
by Geoff Cooper (Renewable Fuels Association/The Energy Collective) ...Big Oil’s PR machine regurgitates these myths via conference calls with reporters, meetings with editorial boards, sham studies, paid advertising, social media and many other channels. Their goal, of course, is to
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) On June 5, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Energy Policy, Health Care and Entitlements held a hearing on the federal renewable fuel standard (RFS). The hearing, titled “Up Against
by Robert Kozak (Advanced Biofuels USA) The car racing carnival came to Detroit this past weekend. The venue was Belle Isle, once a beautiful island park in the Detroit River that served as a verdant escape for the residents of
(US Department of Energy) On July 31–August 1, 2013, the Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) and Advanced Biofuels USA will co-host the Office's sixth annual conference, Biomass 2013: How the Advanced Bioindustry is Reshaping American Energy, at the Washington, D.C. Convention Center. This
by Maxx Chastko (Motley Fool) ... It doesn't have to be so complicated. Controversy aside, there is one calculation that can bring everyone together to support ethanol. The calculation is so simple that you can do it on the back of
by Javier E. David (CNBC) Imagine a world where leftover corn, wheat and wood chips could power your car. That's the aim of cellulosic ethanol, a budding sector of the renewable fuel industry that finds itself struggling to reassert itself in a
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) ... At the annual National Association of Farm Broadcasting Washington Watch issues forum on Monday, Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen said the dramatic changes in farm programs expected are actually being made possible by the increased
(The Oil Palm) Spanish MEP and Draftsman for the influential Industry, Research and Energy Committee (ITRE), Alejo Vidal-Quadras, has dismissed the European Commission’s proposal to introduce Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC) factors as part of therevision of the Renewable Energy
Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Is the ultimate industrial fuel system going to be based on electricity, waste CO2 and brackish water – to return society to the days of energy abundance? It will take a mighty production microorganism, but R&D
by Bob Dinneen (Renewable Fuels Association) In an interview published on May 22, Charles Drevna, President of the American Fuels & Petrochemical Manufacturers, disparaged the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and claimed it negatively effects consumers. He couldn’t be more wrong, and left
by Geoff Cooper (The Energy Collective/Renewable Fuels Association) Anyone with even a casual interest in energy policy knows that a full frontal assault has been launched against the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Big Oil has gone on the offensive, using
(Southeast Agriculture & Forest Energy Resources Alliance) “We’re the nation’s only comprehensive biofuels agency, and I say that more out of surprise than for the purpose of touting North Carolina,” said Steven Burke, President and CEO of the Biofuels Center of North Carolina, drawing attention to opportunities in the
(U.S. Grains Council/Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. Grains Council, along with the National Corn Growers Association, MAIZAR, representing Argentina producers and the maize supply chain and ABRAMILHO (Brazilian Association of Corn Producers) have signed a memorandum of understanding to form
by Fred Cannon (The Hill's Congress Blog/KiOR) More than one-third of the world’s total energy usage relies on liquid fuels – primarily from fossil fuels. In the first quarter of 2013 consumption outpaced production, and the consumption trajectory is only
by Tim Landis (State Journal-Register) Ethanol supporters in Illinois want to trade a 20 percent sales tax break on E10 fuel sales in Illinois for a 10 percent break on E15, arguing it would mean jobs, cleaner air and more
by Paul Kenney (KAAPA Ethanol/Kearney Hub) Opinion: ...Ethanol blends are becoming a staple at pumps across the nation, and ethanol accounts for more than 10 percent of the country’s motor fuel supply. It’s a higher-octane alternative to gasoline and costs less. In
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) The House and Energy Commerce Committee has released its third white paper on the Renewable Fuel Standard, “Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Environmental Impacts.” Executive Vice President of the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), Brian Jennings, responded with written
(European Commission/Ethanol Producer Magazine) The European Commission can confirm that on May 14, 2013, commission officials carried out unannounced inspections at the premises of several companies active in and providing services to the crude oil, refined oil products and biofuels
(ePURE/Ethanol Producer Magazine) ePURE, the European Renewable Ethanol Association, has asked the European Commission to investigate if EU customs legislation is properly applied in Finland. Evidence from several sources indicates that ethanol blended with gasoline coming from the US and
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Reps. Pete Olson, R-Texas, and Jim Costa, D-Calif., have introduced legislation that would allow ethanol produced from domestic natural gas to meet the volume requirements of the renewable fuel standard (RFS). The bill, titled
(News Press) A bio-energy company on the Treasure Coast has joined Fort Myers-based Algenol Inc. in calling for Gov. Rick Scott to veto a measure that would repeal the state law requiring most gasoline sold in the state to include
(Iowa Renewable Fuels Association) Passage of Retailer “Bill of Rights” Shows Commitment to Local Retailers and Consumer Fuel Choice The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) today applauded the Iowa Legislature’s passage of H.F. 640 as a big step in supporting fuel choice
by Ryan Tracy (The Wall Street Journal) Instituting a carbon tax could help reduce the deficit and “produce incremental benefits” for the environment, but could also raise the cost of many goods and services, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said in a report Wednesday. The
by William C. Holmberg (Physicians for Social Responsibility) Asthma, $16 billion. Premature births, $26 billion. All cancers, $227 billion. Autism, $126 billion. Heart disease, $272 billion. Obesity, incl. Type 2 diabetes, $190 billion. These are government estimates of the annual
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) According to a recent survey conducted by SRI, 65 percent of retail investors and 53 percent of institutional investors are currently expressing interest in fossil fuel-free portfolios in reaction to climate change. More than 2,000 SRI
by Brent Erickson (Biotechnology Industry Organization/Biofuels Digest) ...Renewable chemicals offer cost-competitiveness with petrochemicals or new properties and features that add value to innovative consumer products. In that way, they’ve captured some market share and created demand. But many renewable chemical
by James Stafford (OilPrice.com) ... Mark Thoma is a macroeconomist and time-series econometrician at the University of Oregon. His research focuses on how monetary policy affects the economy, and he has also worked on political business cycle models. Mark is
(Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining) The Renewable Energy Directive (RED) has set a general binding target for the European Union to derive 20% of its final energy and 10% of its transport fuels from renewable sources by 2020. It is expected
by Sandra I. Erwin (National Defense Magazine) ...Although the Pentagon consumes just 1.5 percent of the nation’s fuel, biofuel investors and green-energy advocates have looked upon the military as a catalyst for a massive expansion of alternative fuel production in the
by Javier E. David (CNBC) Imagine a world where leftover corn, wheat and wood chips can be used to power your car. That's the aim of cellulosic ethanol, a budding sector of the renewable fuel industry that finds itself struggling to reassert
by Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuels USA) What used to be known as “The New York Sugar Conference” has become “The ISO and Datagro Sugar & Ethanol Conference” with a record-setting number of attendees (350 from 25 countries) demonstrating the growing
by Enos Shumba, et al (World Wildlife Fund for Nature) The bio-fuel debate has largely focused on large feedstock plantations that produce products for the export market. It has not acknowledged and seriously considered the existence of considerable small scale
by Barry Cohen (National Algae Association/PR Log) The DoE has spent $2.5 billion on algae research but to date nothing has been commercialized. Why? Because their mission is to develop technologies. It's not their problem or concern what happens to them
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... In an exclusive Digest interview, Shell’s VP for Alternative Energy, Matthew Tipper, reveals the company’s thinking about RFS2, their increasing re-focus on North America and the EU. Plus, Shell’s ambition to “build, own and operate”
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Canada, around 200 delegates from 44 countries are meeting in Montréal today, in a meet-up organized by the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG), to explore: the commercialization of aviation biofuels ... READ MORE
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, BIO begins the week with applause for Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) and other members of the Senate Agriculture Committee for including mandatory funding for Energy Title programs and eligibility
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Biofuels’s Montagues and Capulets were at it again last week — with a flurry of press releases about court decisions and commercial timelines regarding their respective isbutanol technologies. At the heart of it — a dispute
by RP Siegel (Industry Market Trends Green & Clean Journal/ThomasNet.com) Four years ago, American LeMans kicked off its first green racing season. The program, which requires teams to use alternative fuels such as ethanol blends (E10 or E85), clean diesel, or isobutanol
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Oil refiners have been waging a well-funded war on California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard, which requires oil companies to reduce the carbon pollution from gasoline and diesel by 10 percent by 2020. Centerpiece in their strategy
by Vicki Ekstrom (Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change/Renewable Energy World) ...Their study, recently released in Geophysical Research Letters, found that land-use changes caused by a major ramp-up in biofuel crops — enough to meet about 10 percent
by William La Jeunesse (Fox News) ..."We just feel that it is not safe for the consumer. It's not safe for their engines," said Charles Drevna, executive president of American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers. ... "Look, this is pretty simple," said (Bob) Dinneen
(EurActiv) Leaders of the EU and their partners in the G8 nations are under mounting pressure to reconsider their support for biofuel targets amid concern that plant oil production competes with food output in poor countries. Britain, which chairs the G8 this
Christopher Doering (Des Moines Register) President Obama’s choice to head the Environmental Protection Agency, Gina McCarthy, vowed to take a more active role in working with the agriculture community. During her confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public
by Tim McDonnell (Mother Jones) ... In mid-March, in a speech at Illinois' Argonne National Lab, Obama pitched an Energy Security Trust, which would collect $2 billion in additional revenues by 2020 from oil and gas companies that drill on federal
(25 x '25) With global demand for food, feed, fiber and energy on the rise, the need for critical ecosystem services like flood control, water filtration, biodiversity and carbon sequestration is even greater. The development of new, renewable energy resources
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) Legislation to reauthorize the Farm Bill energy title was introduced in the Senate Monday. Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Al Franken (D-MN) introduced the Rural Energy Investment Act to “help farmers, ranchers, and rural communities by encouraging the
(Tallahassee.com) Having spent some time on the ground in Tallahassee and talking with several legislators over the past few years, it is clear the ethanol program the state has developed is not understood and certainly not appreciated for what is
(EurActiv) ...This conflict is not one between green ambitions and trade rules – it is a conflict between trade rules and a biofuels policy aiming to favour domestically produced biofuels at the expense of foreign competitors. The current proposal to reform
by Mark Green (The Energy Collective) ...What we see is that despite an aggressive push with promotions and massive state investment, the state has gone from recorded E85 sales of just under 18 million gallons in 2006, when there were 287
by Bob Dinneen (Renewable Fuels Association) Bob Dinneen, President and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association, penned the following letter in response to a recent Palm Beach Post ethanol editorial. Some say “where there is smoke, there is not always fire.” When reading
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) Biofuel opponents are crying wolf, so it would seem, claiming that the blend wall is insurmountable. However, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) today has published an infographic that busts the myths surrounding the blend wall. “This graphic perfectly captures
by John Davis (DomesticFuel.com) There’s some real negativity hanging over the biofuels industry these days. And while any industry has risks, it seems that the setbacks loom larger over the renewable energy sector compared to what their competitors in the
by Herman Wang and Matthew Kolhman (Platts) Aviation biofuel's newly minted ability to generate tradable US renewables credits, known as RINs, may be key to the industry's economics, according to market watchers. "The availability of RINs is a critical bridge to commercial
by Geoff Cooper (Renewable Fuels Association) As part of its ongoing review of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), the House Energy & Commerce Committee recently asked stakeholders to comment on the impact of the RFS on the agriculture sector. One of the
(European Geosciences Union) ...Attention has now turned to second generation biofuels, produced from non-edible sources such as wood or waste plant residual like straw. In the next decade, these biofuels are expected to replace three to five per cent of
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Is there bio-based relief for the harried taxpayer in sight? Could conservationists, growers and biofuels producers find common ground in adapting the Conservation Reserve Program for bioenergy? Could the US save $270M/year, and strengthen two
by Amy R. Remo (Philippine Daily Inquirer) The Department of Energy is set to issue a circular that will require the blending of 10-percent ethanol in all gasoline products. In the same order, the energy department will also detail the
by Ellyn Ferguson (Roll Call) A House panel’s decision to look back at mandates set in the 2007 renewable-energy law could be a pivotal moment for industries hoping to slow down growth in the ethanol industry. The Energy and Commerce Committee, which
by Matthew L. Wald (The New York Times) Faced with a crop of lemons — too much ethanol, a population of cars not tuned to burn it effectively and a driving public leery of the fuel’s properties — the Environmental
by Jessica Shankleman (BusinessGreen.com) ...Three campaign groups, backed by 12 organisations in the timber, paper and furniture industries, yesterday warned that a surge in demand for wood as a result of renewable electricity subsidies would increase prices, risking 40,000
by Mario Parker (Bloomberg) ...“The only thing that worries me is the gasoline demand category,” said Jason Ward, an analyst at Northstar Commodity Investments Inc. in Minneapolis. “It’s key because if you start fading on gasoline demand, you will be capped. You
by Tina Casey (TriplePundit) Just yesterday, we noted that auto manufacturers are beginning to shed their century-old love affair with petroleum, and now it seems that the agriculture sector is ready to move on, too. On Tuesday, a coalition of more
(25 x '25) ...It is interesting to see the advances in renewable energy being made in, of all places, nations with the largest oil reserves in the world. According to a recent report from Ernst and Young, Saudi Arabia, along
(Clean Energy Report) An initial split between some biofuels groups over EPA's 2013 renewable fuel standard's (RFS) production targets appears to be expanding divisions over other agency fuel policies. Advanced biofuels producers are opposing EPA's Tier III plan to make 15
by Jonathan Fahey (Fuel Fix/Associated Press) A decade ago, large investors in so-called clean technology had a straightforward goal: finance companies that would help eliminate the world’s dependence on oil, natural gas and coal. But as profits from wind, solar, biofuels
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) Last week the biofuel industry took a hit when Florida voted to repeal its Renewable Fuel Standard, HB4001, that required fuel retailers to blend ethanol into their gasoline. The charge against ethanol was led by Florida Senator Greg Evers,
by Kenneth Prewitt (Science Magazine) Editorial: This month, the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) will apply two criteria in its review of research proposals: intellectual merit and impact. One discipline, however, will have to meet a further test. In March, at the
(Advanced Biofuels USA) As part of the recently proposed Tier 3 motor vehicle fuel and emission regulations, EPA had included a very forward looking idea that could bring higher octane, higher ethanol (E-30) gasoline to the marketplace. Advanced Biofuels USA
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Several biofuel trade organizations have weighed in on white paper published by the House Energy and Commerce Committee on the impact the renewable fuel standard (RFS) has had on the U.S. agricultural sector. The report examines a
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