by John M. Broder and Marjorie Connelly (New York Times) Overwhelmingly, Americans think the nation needs a fundamental overhaul of its energy policies, and most expect alternative forms to replace oil as a major source within 25 years. Yet a
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...The Infinite Loop in financing cellulosic ethanol is the setting of conditions for loan guarantees by the Department of Energy which cannot be fulfilled; the insistence of project financiers that, without loan guarantees, project financing
by Jim Lane (Biomass Digest) In Washington, the Environment Working Group has released a study that claims the impacts of the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACESA)—which has already passed the House of Representatives—would require the equivalent of cutting
(Advanced Biofuels Association) Advanced Biofuels Association President Michael McAdams briefed the House Agriculture Committee this afternoon, telling its members, "It's time to take politics out of renewable fuels and let sound science and sound energy policy govern biofuels policy moving
(Prairie Star) Editorial Age and experience has its benefits. Many of us involved in agriculture have witnessed past oil spills and the devastation they cause and leave behind. Another result is that citizens become more driven to find alternative forms
by Louis Bergeron (Stanford University) Advances in high-yield agriculture over the latter part of the 20th century have prevented massive amounts of greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere – the equivalent of 590 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide – according
by Martin Mittelstaedt (Globe and Mail) The mania over ethanol as fuel didn’t play out so well for investors last time, but there might be a new way to profit from the renewable energy industry as companies rush to commercialize
by David Schwartz (Algae Industry Magazine) ... I’ve heard a lot of people say that developing algal biofuels is just an engineering issue, that is, all we have to do is engineer more efficient growth ponds and cost effective harvesting and
by Joelle Dent (Biofuels Digest Asia) As if the global trade in biofuels wasn’t already fragmented enough, last week Europe weighed in with draconian legislation that effectively bans Asian producers of biodiesel that use what many experts believe to be
(Union of Concerned Scientists) The Billion Gallon Challenge: Advanced Biofuels from diverse sources such as grasses and agricultural waste hold the promise of sustainably reducing U.S. oil dependence and global warming emissions. Unfortunately the advanced biofuels industry not been able to
(Renewable Fuels Association) The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), Growth Energy, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) today countered the tired claims of the Environmental Working Group (EWG) that American ethanol is not a
by Paul Drayson (Drayson Racing) ...Consider the first round of the American Le Mans Series at Sebring last month. Peugeot triumphed in the LMP1 category using bio-diesel power, and all 36 entrants ran on E10 or greater. Sebring witnessed the use
by Bob Dinneen (Renewable Fuels Association) ...The technology exists to process ethanol from cellulose feedstocks; however, the commercialization of cellulose ethanol remains a question of economics. The capital investment necessary to build cellulose facilities remain about five times that of
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Bottom line – if you make the ethanol blender credit go away, but stand behind the mandate and Shift the spending towards investment tax credits and loan guarantees, it is possible to do the following: 1.
(National Acadamies) Various combinations of commercially available technologies could greatly reduce fuel consumption in passenger cars, sport-utility vehicles, minivans, and other light-duty vehicles without compromising vehicle performance or safety, says a new report by the National Research Council. The technologies would
by Ezra Klein (Washington Post) ...Most of us would call the BP spill a tragedy. Ask an economist what it is, however, and you'll hear a different word: "externality." An externality is a cost that's not paid by the person,
by Deborah Gordon and Daniel Sperling (Washington Post) ...To hear President Obama tell it, the old 20th century economy, fueled by more than 1 trillion barrels of easily accessible and relatively cheap oil, will be bookended by these two gushers.
(Frederick News Post Editorial) ...Last week's Go Green Energy Conference at the Frederick Fairgrounds, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, R-6th, is further proof, judging by the crowd of visitors and the greater-than-expected number of exhibitors that showed up. The
(Tampa Bay Online) Low carbon ethanol and renewable power produced from Florida grown sugar - biomass crops can help displace off-shore drilling for oil in the Gulf of Mexico and contribute to energy independence, according to a press release distributed Friday. Highlands
by Ben Sills (Bloomberg.com) Fatih Birol, the International Energy Agency’s chief economist, called on leaders of the Group of 20 Nations to fulfill their pledge to end fossil-fuel subsidies, a move he said will cut oil demand and greenhouse-gas emissions. Stopping aid
by John M. Broder (New York Times) The United States is badly lagging in basic research on new forms of energy, deepening the nation’s dependence on dirty fuels and crippling its international competitiveness, a diverse group of business executives warn
by Pramod Chaudhari (Business Outlook India) Leadership isn’t a popularity contest. It involves taking tough decisions that may not go down well with other stakeholders. ...Green leadership comes with its share of brickbats as also rewards. Any green or clean-tech solution
(YouTube) Seaweed biofuel could be the largest renewable energy source of the the 21st century. This video by Mr. Kaare Bækgaard, Designer, demonstrates how. WATCH VIDEO
(Biofuels Digest) ... (A)n overview by Digest special correspondent Tim Sklar, "Supporting Biofuels Prices without Taxes or Subsidies," which examines the potential of subsidy-free programs to achieve the same price normalization goals as biofuels subsidies which will absorb more than 95
(New Hampshire Public Radio Earth Talk) Ethanol—a biofuel derived from corn and other feedstocks—is already playing a major role in helping to reduce emissions from many of the traditional gasoline-powered cars on the road today. According to the U.S. Department of
by Neil Winton (Detroit News) ...The only way that unaffordable, impractical, battery-only cars will sell is because of huge government subsidies, and a few early-adopter zealots with too much money who don't mind being stranded every couple of weeks. Germany,
by Joelle Dent (Biofuels Digest Asia) ...We’ve had enough of “tough oil” and the damage caused by leaks, spills and explosions as you risk your lives and ours for the a resource that’s already on the verge of exhaustion and
by Eric Wesoff (GreenTechMedia) With images of oil-drenched wildlife in the Gulf of Mexico fresh in our minds, we look at innovations in biofuels that might displace our petroleum habit. ...Joshua Kagan of Greentech Media Research reports on Third and Fourth Generation
by Patrick Westhoff (Huffington Post) When U.S. food price inflation hit 5.5 percent in 2008, a lot of people pointed to growth in biofuel production as the culprit. A lot has happened in the last two years, so it may
by Beth Gardiner (New York Times) Ubiquitous in products from cookies to cosmetics, and increasingly in European fuel tanks, too, palm oil is driving the destruction of some of Southeast Asia’s last tracts of untouched rainforest and leading to huge
by Kambiz Foroohar (Bloomberg) ...In Japan, the U.K. and the U.S., green energy advocates and some well-heeled investors are obsessed with perfecting a way to turn the scum that coats ponds, lakes and fish tanks into a substitute for gasoline,
(Renewable Fuels Association) The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) today continued to call into question accounting gimmicks and unproven theories used by environmental activists seeking to undermine the growth of biofuels as a way to displace fossil fuels. The latest iteration is a
by Mark Bünger (RenewableEnergyWorld.com) ...To date, most biofuels and biomaterials developers have focused on lab- and demo-scale studies to improve performance and reduce cost so they can compete with petroleum products, and those goals are coming within sight. But in order
by Timothy D Searchinger (Environmental Research Letters) Use of biofuels does not reduce emissions from energy combustion but may offset emissions by increasing plant growth or by reducing plant residue or other non-energy emissions. To do so, biofuel production must generate and
by Treena Hein (Australian Farm Journal/June 2010) Despite all the debate about negative climate change impacts on agriculture and rising world population increasing demand for food, the stark reality is that world grain stocks are finely balanced. Treena Hein discovers
(St. Joseph News-Press, Mo) Editorial: ...A long-term solution, however, can be found in the farm fields of Northwest Missouri and Northeast Kansas. The environmental debacle in the Gulf emphasizes the need for the United States to have viable alternatives to
by Candace Krebs (AgJournal.com) Despite ethanol’s pitch as a domestic replacement for imported oil — and one that may offer fewer environmental risks following the oil well explosion in the Gulf that continues to impact the southern coast — the
by Mary Nichols (California Air Resources Board, Sustainable Industries) When California Gov. Schwarzenegger cut the ribbon at the opening of the world’s first bio-butanol plant earlier this year, he credited California’s climate action law Assembly Bill 32. ... In the case of
by Martin LaMonica (CNET, ZDNet) Imagine if your country had an unlimited budget but a limited amount of land: what renewable energy has the most potential? Rutgers University professor Clinton Andrews and colleagues ran the numbers on this thought experiment and came
by Stephanie Dreyer (Growth Energy, RenewableEnergyWorld.com) The full scope of the environmental catastrophe due to the BP spill in the Gulf of Mexico will not be learned for some time – but one thing is certain: if we are ever
by Bill Paul (Seeking Alpha) In the wake of the massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill, it’s clear the U.S. needs to end its crude-oil addiction as much to protect its economy as the environment. To move the future forward, America needs
By Carey Gillam (Reuters) The disastrous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico illustrates a pressing need for the United States to pass legislative incentives to drive investment dollars into cellulosic and algae-based biofuel facilities, biofuel industry leaders said on Thursday. "This
by Sue Cischke (Ford Motor Company, Huffington Post) The short answer to that question is a simple yes. ...Opponents of bio-fuels claim billions of dollars have been wasted researching advanced bio-fuels, and that they will never be competitive with gasoline or
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuels.com) ...The blending of ethanol into America’s fuel supply is saving consumers approximately 10 cents per gallon as compared to straight gasoline prices. According to RFA, at the wholesale level, ethanol has been selling at a 50-70
(Biofuels Digest) ...Closely watched in Asia, the ongoing crisis is likely to be viewed in retrospect as an energy tipping point, emblematic of the case for biofuels and the decline of the world oil and gas industry, which like most
(AvoidedDeforestationPartners.org) Study Shows Rainforest Protections Would Net $200 Billion for US Soy, Beef, Timber and Oilseed Producers. Leading U.S. farm and forest products groups May 26, 2010, called on Congress and the administration to help end tropical deforestation. The groups cited a new report
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) Earlier this year Big Oil sued the EPA over the biodiesel requirement in the RFS2. Today (May 25, 2010), the Clean Air Task Force, on behalf of environmental groups including Friends of the Earth, filed suit
(Advanced Biofuels Association) The Advanced Biofuels Association launched a new online video series today. The Clean Fuels Forecast spotlights the top public policy issues and maneuvering in Washington affecting the advanced biofuels industry. In its first episode, now posted on the ABFA
by Leon Kaye (Triplepundit) ...Regardless of party affiliation, senators in the northern prairie states have a history of opposing any bill focused on energy independence or energy efficiency. These senators are good, however, in promoting legislation favoring local industries. Senate
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, 90 US scientists wrote to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and US Senate Majority leader Harry Reid to fix accounting standards for greenhouse gas emissions associated with bioenergy projects. The scientists said they wanted to
by Joel Velasco (SweeterAlternative.com) ...One reason for higher fuel prices is a lack of competition in the market for ethanol. Economics 101 is pretty clear: consumers win when businesses compete in an open market, because competition produces higher quality products
by David Zilberman, Gal Hochman, and Deepak Rajagopal (Agricultural and Resource Economics Update -- University of California) ...While including Indirect Land Use Effects in assessing the impact of biofuel seems appealing, we will argue here against an indirect land use in biofuel
(RenewableEnergyWorld.com) ...Including biomass power plants under the EPA’s tailoring rule is a clear policy shift and may imply a change in position for future policy. The lack of distinction between renewable biomass as an alternative fuel to traditional fossil fuels like
by Kevin Sullivan & Ronald Meijer, KEMA (EnergyWorld.com) ...Co-firing may indeed make sense, from cost and environmental perspectives, for many coal-based electricity producers. Co-firing makes use of existing power generation assets and infrastructure with the lowest cost of generation for
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) ... One of the industries most affected is the fishing industry that has been all but shut down. And while fisherman are out of work, seafood prices have already risen more than 20 percent. But, don’t
by Angie Chui (Manilla Bulletin) Biofuels should not be viewed as a threat to food security. Instead, it should be considered a boone to the industry if the Brazilian experience is any indication. According to diplomat Andre Amado, many perceive the cultivation
(Renewable Fuels Association) An industry founded in part on its ability to enhance national energy security is being forced to look beyond U.S. borders for new market growth opportunities. For three decades, the U.S. ethanol industry has contributed to a more
by William Coyle (Amber Waves) Next-generation biofuel companies are using a variety of strategies to overcome high initial capital costs, limited access to low-cost biomass, and other hurdles to remain financially viable during pre-commercial development. ...There are more than 30 U.S.
by Larry and Judy Kay (Des Moines Register) Letter to the Editor Bloomberg ran a story about the rising price of meat on April 26, suggesting that the demand for ethanol was to blame. This is ridiculous. We are cattle feeders,
by Roy Roberson (Southeast Farm Press) American farmers are producing enough corn to meet food needs, livestock feed needs and to provide a start for the country’s effort to develop a sustainable energy source to offset the high cost of
by Richard Black (BBC News) A major change of approach is needed if society is to restrain climate change, according to a report from a self-styled "eclectic" group of academics. ...The academics advocate concentrating first on short-term fixes for greenhouse gases
Dr. Robert Wisner (AgMRC) A fuel ethanol blending wall has been anticipated for the last three years. When reached, it would halt growth of the ethanol industry or initially would cause demand growth to fall short of the rate of
by Merle Anderson (Grand Forks Herald) ...Basically, three types of energy are used to produce ethanol: natural gas, electricity and fossil fuel. Most of the energy used to produce ethanol comes from natural gas and electricity. By using natural gas and electricity,
by Michael Vaughan (Globe and Mail) The ever worsening ecological disaster in the Gulf of Mexico and on U.S. shorelines has undermined political support for offshore drilling and is focusing attention on greater reliance on renewable fuels. “This shows that the case
(PRNewswire) The number of next generation biofuels projects reached 200 globally, a report from the Global Biofuels Center (GBC) recently announced, beyond the more than 100 Brazilian bioethanol facilities that will qualify as "Advanced Biofuels" in the U.S. These projects include
by Brian Jennings (The Hill) ...Today, conventional oil supplies are being tapped out and maintaining our current level of addiction forces us to hunt for scarce deposits in deepwater wells or in the Canadian tar sands. These unconventional sources of
by Wendy Lee (Star Tribune) With its university research, sources of biomass and track record of innovation, some people think Minnesota has the tools to become a major leader in the green economy. But will it live up to its potential? A
by Eduard Gismatullin (Bloomberg Business Week) Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Europe’s largest oil company, expects the share of renewable energy in transport fuels worldwide to double over the next 10 years. The portion of renewables is already approaching 10 percent because of
(The Clean) With Uncertainty Mounting About Climate/Energy Bill, Major New Study for CSI Details Path for Breaking Away From "Business As Usual" in the Electric Power Sector. What happens if Congress fails to pass a climate or energy bill in 2010? Even
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...It was the biochemist Dr. Ganesh Kishore, now the CEO of the Malaysian Life Sciences Capital Fund and formerly Chief Biotechnology Officer of Dupont, who raised the issue at a recent Burrill & Company Limited
by Anne Tazewell (NewsObserver.com) The ruptured well and unfolding catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico are reminders that we can't afford to wait for the perfect fuel to replace petroleum. The easy stuff is gone; U.S. oil production peaked in 1972. Not
by Thomas Friedman (New York Times) ...I’m sure like all such protest movements the Tea Partiers will get their 10 to 20 percent of the vote. But should the Tea Partiers actually aspire to break out of that range, attract
(Union of Concerned Scientists) The BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is a stark reminder of the true cost of America's oil dependence, the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) said today. The federal government's response to this crisis must
by David Schwartz (AlgaeIndustryMagazine.com) As pioneers go, in the modern business of algae biofuels and co-products, possibly no one has built a longer record of accomplishment than Dr. John Benemann. Involved in algae biofuels and related research since the early seventies,
(American Soybean Association) The American Soybean Association (ASA) provided comments today to the National Research Council (NRC) Committee on Economic and Environmental Impacts of Increasing Biofuels Production. ASA told the Committee that biodiesel made from soybean oil can play a vital
(Ecological Society of America) Analyzing biofuel sources and predicting effects on water, soil and the atmosphere: The promise of switchgrass, the challenges for forests and the costs of corn-based ethanol production: Ecological scientists review the many factors surrounding biofuel crop production
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) At the Advanced Biofuels Leadership Conference in Washington, the members of the Civil Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI) gave their Leadership Award to Jennifer Holmgren, Director of the Renewable Energy and Chemicals business unit at UOP
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...With respect to energy security, consider this: it is estimated that ten percent of all US military casualties come from the delivery of fuel. Even if it were true that none of the deployments of
by Jake Caldwell (Center for American Progress) ...There is no question that the United States must reduce its dependence on oil. One-fifth of the oil consumed in the United States is imported from nations that are “dangerous or unstable” for
(Farm Futures) A recently completed analysis from Purdue University concluded that the California Air Resources Board overestimated the indirect land use change impact of grain-based ethanol by a factor of two in developing its Low Carbon Fuels Standard one year
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In the Opening Address at the Advanced Biofuels Leadership Conference in Washington, BP Biofuels CEO Philip New said that advanced biofuels “will require partnerships if it is to succeed,” but described biofuels as “the new
by Mark Steil (Minnesota Public Radio) The idea of a biofuel made from something other than food was one of the stars of both the Bush and Obama administration's energy programs, but the future of cellulosic ethanol is in doubt. Cellulosic
(European Environment Agency) While technological advances produce cleaner vehicles, more and more passengers and goods are travelling further distances, thereby offsetting efficiency gains. Based on analysis of long-term trends, a new European Environment Agency (EEA) report calls for a clear
(POET) Technology ready, CEO says, but loan guarantee, policy stability and market access still needed to achieve vision. POET plans to have a hand in producing 3.5 billion gallons of cellulosic ethanol per year by 2022, POET CEO Jeff Broin said
by Robert Rapier (Forbes) ...In order to better understand the intricacies of the issues involved, I have been engaged in dialogue with a number of industry groups and economists. Here I will try to shed some light on the tariff
(CattleNetwork) ...U.S. ethanol industry exported 5.64 million metric tons (mmt) of distillers grains worth nearly $1 billion in 2009, which was 24 percent above 2008 levels. The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) touts the worldwide livestock feeding of distillers grains as displacing
by Brent Erickson (Executive Vice President, Biotechnology Industry Organization) From a letter to Senators John Kerry, Lindsey Graham and Joe Lieberman: ...BIO urges, therefore, that any comprehensive climate change legislation include appropriate incentives for, and recognition of, biotechnology solutions that
by Martin LaMonica (cnet News) The U.S. auto industry needs to "go green" in more than one way, says Bill Ford. Ford is committed to making its vehicles more fuel efficient by investing in a number of technologies, including electrification,
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel) “When do we stop investing in OPEC and start investing in America?” That’s the question that oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens asked at a House Ways and Means committee hearing Wednesday (April 14, 2010) on “Energy Tax
by R. James Woolsey (Wall Street Journal editorial) By using more electricity, natural gas and biofuels in our transportation fleet, we can quickly reduce our dependence on OPEC. ...About 95% of transportation fuel in the U.S. is derived from petroleum. And over three-quarters
by Terry Macalister (The Guardian) ...The US military has warned that surplus oil production capacity could disappear within two years and there could be serious shortages by 2015 with a significant economic and political impact. The energy crisis outlined in a
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...The ethanol cold war developed into a hot one this week when television and print advertising campaigns debuted both from Brazil’s UNICA and the US-based Growth Energy. ...The Growth Energy campaign is featuring six television spots
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In New York, a battle royal has been joined on the comments page of the Natural Resources Defense League (sic) following posts on the economic and greenhouse gas benefits (or lack thereof, according to NRDC’s Nathanael
by Nick Chambers (Gas2.0) Calling themselves the “underdogs,” the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA) has today launched an advertising campaign and a new website, sweeteralternative.com, to bring awareness of the successes of the Brazilian ethanol industry to a U.S. audience. The
by Hembree Brandon (Delta Farm Press) As Mid-South states continue to lose much of the traditional manufacturing-based industries that migrated to the areas beginning in the 1950s, new bio-based opportunities are emerging, says Pete Nelson. “We’re among the best in the
by Gary Chittim (King5News) The nation's largest boat owners' group wants the federal Environmental Protection Agency to slow down on plans to increase the ethanol content in the nation's gasoline supply. U.S. gasoline currently contains about 10 percent ethanol and most
by Eric Weshoff (GreenTechGrid) Integrating electric vehicles into the smart grid is an enormous and potentially explosive challenge. Erfan Ibrahim of EPRI has said that if electric vehicles reached a high level of market penetration and were to charge at night
by Patrick Westhoff (Washington Times letter to editor) The editorial "Stop 'Big Corn' " (Opinion, Monday) did not accurately describe the analysis of ethanol policy conducted by our institute. The editorial says we at the University of Missouri's Food and Agricultural
Growth Energy, the coalition of US ethanol supporters, announced today that it has filed papers to intervene on behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in a lawsuit filed against EPA by the petroleum industry challenging a key part
by Gal Luft (The Baltimore Sun) ...While both drilling and efficiency promise little relief, with growing instability in the Middle East and millions of Chinese and Indians moving from bicycles to cars, it is almost a given that we will
(Gerson Lehman Group) Needless to say, as the ethanol industry continues to grow, the level of opposition continues to increase and the battle has become much more visible. Historically anti-ethanol rhetoric has originated from the American Petroleum Association (API) and associated “Big oil” companies but
(The Economist) The renewable-fuel standard released in February by America’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) paints an ambitious picture of biofuels’ future. It wants the amount of the stuff used as transport fuel to climb from 13 billion gallons (49 billion
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) There is hardly an organization in the world that has done more of the heavy lifting and hard work for ethanol than Growth Energy, but it takes a fair bit of effort to find the
by Simone Pfuderer, Grant Davies, Ian Mitchell (Food and Farming Analysis, Defra) This paper is part of a larger body of work that aims to shed more light on what led to the high agricultural commodity prices in 2008. The
by Mackinnon Lawrence (Biofuels Digest) ...Genomics research can be applied to energy crops to select for sequencing based on relevance to the DOE missions. Projects focus on one of three key aspects: the development of biofuel feedstocks; the identification of
The Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA) March 21, 2010, released its 2010 production forecast for ethanol and the future continues to look positive for growth in the industry. Total fuel ethanol production for 2009 was 73.9 billion litres according to data assembled by
(Green Car Congress) A group of US and Canadian power grid operators, who manage most of the North American bulk electric grid collectively, studied the effect that plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) would have on the electric power grid. Their study, “Assessment
(Masami Kojima of the Oil, Gas, and Mining PolicyDivision of the World Bank/Scribd.com) Liquid biofuels are being increasingly used to substitute fuels derived from oil. A number of governments have provided incentives for the liquid biofuel industry, prompted by a desire
by Rowena Mason (Telegraph) The world's oil reserves have been exaggerated by up to a third, according to Sir David King, the Government's former chief scientist, who has warned of shortages and price spikes within years. The scientist and researchers from
by Joshua Kagan (GreentechMedia) ...While I am completely unapologetic in my belief that Congress and the White House are unwisely pursuing a biofuels policy in which corn ethanol, soybean biodiesel, and cellulosic ethanol have been chosen over radically transformative feedstocks
(ICIS news) Dow Chemical is minimising its exposure to the volatility of feedstock oil and gas prices through an emphasis on alternative energy sources and petrochemical joint ventures with government-run companies, the chief executive of the largest US producer said.
by Alan Murray and Kimberley Strassel (Wall Street Journal) These days, giant oil companies find themselves trying to balance two big pressures on their business. Governments are trying to slash carbon emissions—but the world's thirst for oil is growing by leaps
The Global Renewable Fuels Alliance responded today to a report produced for the International Energy Forum to be discussed this month at their meeting in Cancun, Mexico. The report, co-written by the former Secretary General of the OPEC oil cartel,
by Claude Mandil and Adnan Shihab-Eldin (International Energy Forum) Biofuels production, driven by the potential to contribute to energy security, climate change mitigation and rural development, has experienced rapid growth in recent years. Several countries have initiated policies to support
by Graham Warwick (Aviation Week) Airbus parent company EADS is backing algae as the best source of sustainable jet fuel, arguing that other feedstocks will not allow the airline industry to meet its carbon-footprint reduction goals. EADS Chief Technical Officer Jean Botti
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...(T)hough the biofuels industry should, and generally does, reacts with excitement when oil industry majors invest in biofuels ventures — such as Shell’s investment in cellulosic ethanol pioneer Iogen and in algal fuels pioneer Cellana
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Jack Oswald, CEO, SynGest: “One of the things worth pointing out about most algae approaches, is that they rely on large sources of CO2. These will come from our existing fossil fuel sources such as
Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Germany, Dr. Jurgen Ringbeck, Senior Partner of Booz & Co said “Fuel is strategic, and there is an argument that can be made that an energy monopoly will be dominating the aviation industry.” Dr. Ringbeck
by Johann Hari (The Nation) Groups like Conservation International are among the most trusted "brands" in America, pledged to protect and defend nature. Yet as we confront the biggest ecological crisis in human history, many of the green organizations meant
...Industrial biotechnology is one such sector. Even though the sector is still in it’s infancy, it globally avoids the creation of 33 million tonnes of CO2 each year through various applications, without taking ethanol use into consideration, whilst globally emitting
Federal tax policies should incentivize commercial deployment of advanced industrial biotechnologies, which can create jobs, reduce reliance on petroleum, and achieve greenhouse gas reductions. The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) today released a white paper on the growth and jobs potential
by Cole Gustafson (Prairie Business Magazine) ... In addition to problems on Wall Street following the collapse of the financial markets, cellulosic biofuel producers have lacked standard benchmarks of performance like those used in grain corn ethanol plants (1 bushel
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Strategic Fit: ...(I)t is important to remember that the original success of 1st generation biofuels stemmed from Brazil having an advantaged sugar industry that achieved scale and innovation benefits. This allowed diversification into biofuels when
At least 20% of the energy needs in Europe can be met by bioenergy from sustainable agriculture without compromising food safety and security. Key sustainability issues such as the use of water and maintenance of biodiversity can be respected. In
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) BIO exec VP Brent Erickson ruefully noted in a conference with reporters that the biofuels industry was “very disappointed in the loan guarantee program. Biomass was mixed in with wind and solar, which have much
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Starting off the call, BIO section EVP Brent Erickson compared the scale up of the advanced biofuels industry to the scale up and evolution of the oil industry which took place over 120 years as
by GTM Research in partnership with Enterprise Florida, Inc. In recent years, the growth in the U.S. biofuels production and consumption has been driven largely by policy measures. Mandates are requiring increasing amounts of biofuels to be blended into the
(ETA) The environmental impact of clearing forests to make way for biofuel crops is such that using fossil fuel in cars is better for the environment than biofuels made from crops such as palm oil. Under the minimum sustainability standard set
E. Detlef Schulze and Inge Schulze(Science) letter to editor It is commonly held that planting forests helps to mitigate climate change, because forests sequester carbon dioxide into long-lived biomass and soils. However, our personal experience shows that managed forests are unlikely
(European Bioethanol Fuel Association) “Meals per Gallons”, a publication against biofuels recently produced by ActionAid, is based largely on unfounded claims, disputed data and one-sided arguments says eBio, the European Bioehtanol Industry Association. “In particular, the report paints biofuels as the villain
(World Refining Association) We expect alternative fuels will have an important role to play as we look to diversify supply, improve energy security and reduce emissions. Looking at the alternative fuels produced today, biofuels account for an overwhelming majority. Although
by Robert M. Ames, Anthony Corridore, Edward Hirs, Paul W. MacAvoy (Yale Graduates Energy Study Group) The authors demonstrate that the United States profits handsomely in all circumstances by imposing an embargo on imports of foreign crude oil. The US removes its
by Brendan Coffey (Cabot Wealth Advisory) Lately, we're seeing increasing strength in the shares of ethanol-related companies. Commodity broker Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) has built up its position as an ethanol refiner, building its own plants and buying up other
In response to a paper published by two Cornell University professors – a paper that is critical of the Environmental Protection Agency’s calculations that grain ethanol emits far fewer greenhouse gas emissions than conventional gasoline – Growth Energy released the
A recent EPA announcement that corn-based ethanol achieves a 21 percent greenhouse gas reduction compared to gasoline is based on false accounting assumptions and could actually lead to more fossil fuel consumption, according to Cornell University economists whose research will
(DTN Ethanol Center) President Barack Obama will continue championing biofuels as a job creator, said Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack when he spoke to members of the Governors' Biofuels Coalition on Monday. Vilsack is hopeful for a positive decision on
by Joshua Kagan (GreenTechMedia) ...Although biodiesel has many positive attributes, it is not immune from the criticisms leveled at first-generation ethanol, specifically the "food vs. fuel" debate. Biodiesel production uses at least 10% of the U.S. soybean crop and 60%
by Oil Price (iStockAnalyst) ...additives and substitutes such as biofuels will play an ever-increasing role by stretching beleaguered production quotas. As market forces and rising prices drive this technology to the forefront, one of the richest potential production areas has
Palm oil from South-East Asia, sugarcane from Brazil and sweet sorghum in China are the most sustainable energy crops at present. Maize from the US and wheat in Europe have a much more negative environmental impact. This conclusion was drawn
Our industry produced a record 10.6 billion gallons of ethanol in 2009. Efficiency enhancements and innovations in production combined with improved farming techniques allowed us to achieve this record with existing corn acreage and reduced process water. As we look to
(EurActiv.com) Industry is on track to ensure "carbon-neutral growth" in the aviation sector from 2020, but strengthened European Union support for research and development (R&D) is vital to help manufacturers deliver the green technologies required, François Gayet, secretary-general of the
by Lisa Hare (Yankton Press & Dakotan) The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recent final ruling on the national Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) was met with mixed responses by farm state politicians and organizational leaders. “This is a good news/bad news announcement
by Gregor Heard (FarmOnline) THEY’RE back - after being flavour of the month in the middle years of the decade, renewable fuels were knocked out of the water over the past three years, and consigned to the scrap-heap by many. A
(New York Times) letters to editor Re “Sensible Rules for Ethanol” (editorial, Feb. 11): While American corn farmers are pleased the Environmental Protection Agency recognizes that corn ethanol offers significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions compared with gasoline, we disagree strongly
Jonathan Fahey (Forbes.com) It is becoming ever more apparent that there is one big squishy variable in the calculations that determine whether biofuels help the planet or help destroy it. That variable is called the indirect land use charge (sic),
by Douglas Fischer (Scientific American) The Obama administration last week gave the green light to corn ethanol as a low-carbon renewable fuel – in apparent contradiction to California's declaration last summer that the biofuel's carbon footprint was too big to
Garbrook introduced the 2010 Advanced Biofuels Resource (ABR), an upgraded version of its online knowledgebase that summarizes scientific, technical, commercial, environmental, and policy information on all generations of biofuels. The enhanced product features the US Ethanol and Biodiesel Mega Tables
(OPIS) The New York Times is praising U.S. EPA for including the international indirect land use change (ILUC) calculation in its lifecycle greenhouse gas reduction threshold as part of the finalized expanded renewable fuels standard (RFS2), issued last week. ...In response,
by James Kanter(New York Times)...In a memorandum, Jean-Luc Demarty, the top civil servant in the agriculture department at the European Commission, wrote to a colleague in December that “an unguided use of I.L.U.C. would kill biofuels in the E.U.” His words
by Joshua Kagan (GreenTechMedia) ...If we consider that the oil majors are not in the oil business, but rather, the infrastructure business --- and as long as they control the liquids that come out of the pumps, they won't care
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