by Victoria Mtomba (News Day) Zimbabwe is set to have a cassava ethanol producing plant to boost ethanol output as the country moves to accelerate mandatory fuel blending. In an interview on Tuesday on the sidelines of the National Energy Efficiency Audit,
(Department of Energy) ... We know many of you are interested in some of the presentations from our great lineup of speakers. We have posted select presentations from the conference to our Bioenergy 2015 presentations website. They include: Breakout Session 1-C: Bringing Biorefineries
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Heard dire comments like “POET expects to stop all future U.S. cellulosic investments if EPA’s proposed base renewable fuel requirements are not strengthened.” Want to understand the substantive concerns on the Renewable Fuel Standard, but
by Geoff Cooper (Renewable Fuels Association/The Hill) Sofie E. Miller may have left the Charles Koch Institute in 2012, but she clearly continues to do the bidding of her former employer and the rest of the oil industry (“RFS hurts
by Joern Huenteler and Henry Lee (Belfer Center Programs or Projects) The promise, prospects, and public policy trade-offs related to second-generation biofuels in road transport were addressed in an executive session convened at The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan,
(Wisconsin Ag Connection) Wisconsin Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner introduced legislation this week that requires the Environmental Protection Agency to limit the volume of cellulosic biofuel to be blended into the nation's fuel supply to what is commercially available until a comprehensive
(Algae Biomass Organization) The Algae Biomass Organization, the trade association for the algae industry, applauded U.S. Reps. Scott Peters (D-CA) and Matt Salmon (R-AZ) for introducing a bill designed to amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 that would spur
by Andy Extance (Chemistry World) Hope and expectation surround the chemical industry’s increasing adoption of biotechnological manufacturing – but today, their lengthy development times and complex processes mean frustration is a major by-product. ‘The process of developing industrial biomanufacturing [IB] processes
( The Office of Mayor Edwin M. Lee/Biodiesel Magazine) San Francisco Mayor Edwin M. Lee announced July 21 that his city will leapfrog its efforts to protect the climate from harmful effects of diesel emissions by phasing out the use
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Maine, the Board of Selectmen for the township of China are looking at supporting the Fiberight waste-to-energy project planned for Hampden, Maine, when their trash contract with Penobscot Energy Recovery Company expires in 2018.
(SMEFunds/PR.com) Today, SMEFunds, Africa’s foremost Social Enterprise based in Nigeria is first to receive N50 million (approx. $300,000) from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) through Ecobank Ltd. into its Cellulosic Bio Ethanol Gel for Clean Cook Stoves and Pay-As-You-Go
by Chris Prentice (Reuters) Independent oil refiners and a former White House official have urged U.S. regulators to tweak the U.S. biofuels program to shift responsibility for complying from refiners to fuel blenders, according to public comments on a government
by Osaretin Omorodion* (Advanced Biofuels USA) Biobased products are a new innovation that are gradually contributing more to the U.S. economy in the forms of alternative fuels, packaging, plastic substitutes and more. An Economic Impact Analysis report was recently submitted
by Tom Neeley (DTN/The Progressive Farmer) Though odds are slim Congress will take up legislation to reform the Renewable Fuel Standard anytime soon, a combined hearing of the House subcommittees on energy and oversight Thursday kept that possibility alive by
(Office of Senator Tom Udall (D-NM)) In a letter this week to Office of Management and Budget (OPM) Director Shaun Donovan, U.S. Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and U.S. Reps. Ben Ray Luján and Michelle Lujan Grisham called for
by John Fritze (Baltimore Sun) ... Former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, who is running for the Democratic presidential nomination, is winning praise from corn farmers in Iowa for his support of a federal mandate to blend biofuels into gasoline. But the
by Katherine Bagley (InsideClimate News) Four percent of the facilities surveyed accounted for 23 percent of the leaked natural gas, worth about $240 million -- About 80 billion cubic feet of the potent greenhouse gas methane escapes into the air each
(Algae Biomass Organization) Latest bill to encourage using carbon dioxide as a feedstock for valuable products -- The Algae Biomass Organization, the trade association for the algae industry, hailed language included in the energy reform package released last Wednesday by the Senate
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, representatives from Fuels America and other advocates for “clean, secure, American energy” delivered over 200,000 comments to the EPA in support of a strong final rule under the Renewable Fuel Standard. This show
(Agrimoney.com) The European biofuels industry is to stagnate next year, according to a report from the US Department of Agriculture's bureau in The Hague, unless import tariffs are relaxed. The bureau noted that the EU has "effectively separated itself from the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... For a decade, it’s (UOP's) been an unquestioned leader in renewable fuels and chemicals development. Technologies like its HEFA jet fuel conversion (the first certified renewable jet fuel), its Ecofining technology that produces both jet
(American Council On Renewable Energy) Calls for EPA to revise 2014-2016 renewable volume obligations to more accurately reflect the production capabilities of the biofuels industry. -- Today (July 27, 2015), the American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE) submitted comments to the U.S. Environment
by Chris Prentice (Reuters) U.S. farmers, biofuel makers, and oil companies have mounted last-ditch efforts to push regulators to overhaul a controversial plan for biofuel use, homing in on the price Americans pay for gasoline mixed with such fuels as
(National Biodiesel Board) Calls for Additional Growth in Biodiesel Sector -- The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) on Monday called on the EPA to strengthen its proposal for biodiesel volumes under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). In extensive comments submitted to the agency
by Russell Hubbard (Omaha World-Herald) In a seldom-seen cross-border stand in support of ethanol, the governors of Nebraska and Iowa on Friday urged an embrace of the corn-derived motor fuel as a crucial local industry with vast economic development prospects
(SkyNRG) Things are coming together for sustainable jet fuel in Sweden; co-funding mechanisms, political buy-in, development of regional supply chains, engagement of key stakeholders in the aviation sector and even involvement of single end-users. First of all the Fly Green Fund
by Jonathan Fahey and Scott Mayerowitz (Associated Press) The number of global fliers is expected to more than double in the next two decades. In order to carry all those extra passengers, airlines are turning to a technology very few can
(National Corn Growers Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) The National Corn Growers Association took another big step toward providing the driving public with lower gas prices and more fuel choice including better access to higher blends of home-grown American Ethanol. NCGA announced the
(PetrolPlaza) Spain´s government is setting an increased national target for biofuel or ethanol composition of gasoline and diesel fuels to 8.5% by the year 2020, the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism -- In an effort to meet new European
by Michael Bastasch (Daily Caller) A University of Minnesota scientist told lawmakers Thursday that mandating ethanol be blended into fuel supplies is leading to more deaths from poor air quality in the Midwest and along the East Coast. “The Renewable Fuel
by Todd Nealey (DTN/The Progressive Farmer) ... Both biofuels and oil industry officials offered hints as to the direction potential lawsuits could take once EPA finalizes the rule that would provide a bump to biomass-based diesel volumes while still cutting the
by Corinne Young and Michele Jalbert (Biofuels Digest/Renewable Chemicals and Advanced Materials Alliance (re:chem)) ... Buoyed in wake of our successful Farm Bill expansion of USDA 9003 loan guarantees to renewable chemicals/bioproduct manufacturing and progress toward bipartisan TSCA reform, re:chem remains
by Carol Hunter (Des Moines Register) Three retired military officers made the case Wednesday that development and use of renewable fuels is a key component of national security. Specifically, the officers argued that Congress should leave in place the current
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Already, biogas as a renewable fuel is accounting for 90% of all cellulosic RIN production under the Renewable Fuel Standard. Food and paper manufacturers, ethanol & biodiesel plants, cities, landfill operators, and animal feeding operations
(Downstream Today/The CRUDE Coalition) Exporting U.S. crude oil would raise gasoline, diesel and home heating prices, cutting into the vast benefits Americans are enjoying from lower crude oil prices, according to a new report by Alan Stevens of Stancil &
(National Corn Growers Association) ... Fans will also be able to learn more about American Ethanol or show their support of the clean burning fuel by visiting the Biofuels Mobile Education Center in the fan midway at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on
(American Energy Alliance) The American Energy Scorecard educates lawmakers about the most important energy votes of the year and empowers the American people to hold their elected officials accountable for the decisions they make in Washington. ... Eliminating the Wind Production Tax Credit
by Bruce Dorminey (Renewable Energy World) As the world’s fastest growing temperate tree species, poplar can add a dozen feet annually and reach maturity in as few as four years. One of its hybrids, populus x generosa, has the widest
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The 10 Biggest Advanced Bioeconomy stories of the year we reported from the world’s second-biggest economic region. 1. DuPont, New Tianlong Industry Co. ink Cellulosic Ethanol pact; China’s first Advanced Renewable Fuel Project on the way In
(City of Raleigh) Deep in the southeastern corner of Wake County are a series of rolling fields that look like they are more suitable for a Van Gogh painting than part of the Raleigh landscape. Nestled among the corn, soybeans,
by Philip Weyhe (Janesville Argus) First District Congressman Tim Walz, D-Mankato, stopped by Guardian Energy in Janesville Friday morning with his sights set on highlighting ethanol production as an “all-American” and efficient energy solutions service. After the Environmental Protection Agency’s recent
by Austin DuVall (Arkansas Business) Arkansas’ biodiesel industry has failed to live up to its early promise, and Troy Hornbeck says he knows why. Hornbeck, who with his two brothers, Jon and Jeff, founded Arkansas SoyEnergy Group LLC of DeWitt in
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The man who led the effort to form ACE was 67 years old when he took on the project. Today, the organization is still fighting for farmers and all people of the ethanol industry The
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, a group of biofuel trade organizations sent a letter to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) encouraging extension of critical advanced biofuel tax incentives — the
by Mark J. Riedy and Ben Snowden (Kilpatrick Townsend/Biofuels Digest) The USDA has completely overhauled what used to be known as Biorefinery Assistance Program and now is called the Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance Program. The Program provides loan
(National Biodiesel Board) Republicans and Democrats Urge EPA to Strengthen RFS Proposal -- Thirty-six U.S. senators from across the country urged the Obama administration Monday to strengthen biodiesel volumes in a pending Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) proposal from the EPA. “While the
by Jeff Donn (Associated Press/Los Angeles Daily News) Five years after the Obama administration promised to move swiftly to permanently plug unused oil and gas wells in the Gulf of Mexico, even more shafts are lingering for longer periods with
by William Saletan (Slate) The war against genetically modified organisms is full of fearmongering, errors, and fraud. Labeling them will not make you safer. They Want You to Be Overwhelmed ... Hundreds of organizations, including Consumers Union, Friends of the Earth, Physicians
(KIOW Radio) Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa secured the inclusion of tax incentives for wind energy, biodiesel and cellulosic ethanol in the bipartisan tax extenders bill the Finance Committee will consider on Tuesday. The bill also contains long-time Grassley-sponsored provisions on tax
by Dave Eckhardt (Colorado Corn Growers Association/Pueblo Chieftan) ... Perhaps the EPA has forgotten the RFS is working. It’s helped reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Last year, ethanol lowered CO2-equivalent GHG emissions from transportation by 39.6 million metric tons — akin to
by Leticia Phillips (UNICA/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Brazil and the U.S. have a responsibility to collaboratively build a global biofuels market, writes Leticia Phillips of UNICA, following a visit between Brazilian President and President Obama. In late June, Brazilian President Dilma
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) Speaking to members of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) meeting in Washington DC this week, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy defended her agency’s proposed volume obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) while at
(Environmental Protection Agency) The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is inviting comment on its analysis of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions attributable to the production and transport of Gossypium spp. seed oil (“cottonseed oil”) feedstock for use in making biofuels such
by Olatomiwa Bifarin* (Advanced Biofuels USA) Around 770,000 BC, it was fire, at some point – wood, dung and coal, to the now-ominous fossil fuels. This is the evolution of energy, and today the evolution must be accelerated to save
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) Hundreds of corn farmers from across America were in Washington D.C. today (July 15, 2015) to rally for the cuts to corn ethanol in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFs) to be overturned. The Environmental Protection Agency
by John Siciliano (Washington Examiner) A federal appeals court slammed the ethanol industry on Tuesday for suing the Environmental Protection Agency, and then slammed the EPA's defense even though the agency won the case. The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals threw
by Jose Graziano DA Silva (UN Food and Agriculture Organization/AllAfrica.com) Over the past several years, biofuels have become a bone of contention. For some, a renewable energy source produced from organic matter amounts to a magic wand in the fight
by Menna Samir (Daily News Egypt) ... A protocol agreement to activate the reuse of cooking oil and transform it into biodiesel was signed between the Ministries of Petroleum and Supply, as well as the Alexandria Company for Petroleum Additives (ACPA),
(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) The E15 Dispenser bill, which was signed into law by Gov. Mark Dayton, goes into effect July 1 and will help up to 100 fuel retailers in the state make minor modifications to offer E15. The bill, part
by Janelle Atyeo (Tri-State Neighbor) South Dakota groups are pushing the Environmental Protection Agency to set higher standards for renewable fuels, highlighting what ethanol has done for the rural economy and for the environment. Rural development coordinator Erin Wilcox testified at
(Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Plants (UFOP)) With an average greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction of 60 percent, the competition for the highest GHG efficiency is starting. This was confirmed in the first quarterly report by the German Federal
(OurEnergyPolicy.org) The question is: How can U.S. policymakers best support energy security and GHG emission reduction, considering the need for both biofuels and low-carbon electric vehicles? What fraction of transport energy can be supplied by each source, and what policy options
(Environmental Expert/ePURE) EU Ministers have today officially rubber-stamped new rules to address indirect land use change (ILUC) impacts associated with biofuels. The new rules, which have been discussed by the EU institutions for 3 years, must now be transposed and
by Alister Doyle (Reuters) Governments should treat climate change as seriously as threats to national security or public health, partly by focusing more on the worst scenarios of rising temperatures, an international report said on Monday. Crop failures, extreme heat waves
by Chris Prentice (Reuters) Valero Energy Corp, one of the biggest U.S. oil refiners, is preparing to sell ethanol for export for the first time, the company said, betting on the $2 billion overseas market as U.S. demand remains plagued
by Iván Martén (Wall Street Journal) Global production of biofuels has surged over the past decade or so, with annual production climbing from approximately 10 billion liters in 2000 to nearly 80 billion liters in 2012. Much of this growth
by Bret Hayworth (The Globe Gazette) Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush on Monday again asserted a position that could give him trouble with some Iowa voters, as he supports an end to a federal rule that helps the ethanol industry. Asked
“If we’re serious about reducing Climate Change caused by Green House Gases, then we need serious actions,” said Joanne Ivancic, Executive Director of Advanced Biofuels USA on Capitol Hill in Washington DC. “The first steps are including the price of
by Ben Riley-Smith (The Telegraph) Millions of British drivers could be forced to spend more filling up their cars after oil companies came under renewed pressure from Brussels to roll out environmentally friendly petrol. The European Commission wants Shell, BP and
by Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuels USA) Advanced Biofuels USA introduced a new idea for capturing externalities of non-renewable fuels at the Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EXPO + Forum held in the Caucus Room of the US House of
by Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuels USA) This year’s CREEE EXPO + Forum brought together 46 organizations showcasing a cross-section of renewable energy (biofuels/biomass, geothermal, solar, water, wind) and energy efficiency technologies, including at least three organizations representing advanced biofuels (Advanced
by Howard Shelanski and Maurice Obstfeldb (The White House) ... The social cost of carbon (SCC) is a tool that helps Federal agencies decide which carbon-reducing regulatory approaches make the most sense—to know which come at too great a cost and
by Damian Carrington (The Guardian) ‘The age of carbon is over’ and a transition to a greener economy is inevitable, says Hans Joachim Schellnhuber, adviser to the German government and Pope Francis ... Professor Hans Joachim Schellnhuber, an adviser to the German government
by Milsa Vijayadharan* (Advanced Biofuels USA) Hybrid Electric-Biodiesel Buses used in California, Washington and Michigan Model Lower GHG Emissions Options for Cities Everywhere Public transportation plays an important role in green and sustainable practices. Public transportation use means fewer cars on the road and a cleaner environment.
(Press Trust of India) The government has notified norms for use of bio-CNG for vehicles running on it, in a bid to promote green fuel. "The Road Transport and Highways Ministry has notified norms for the use of bio-CNG for testing
by Sean Lin (Taipai Times) The EPA said more than 100,000 tonnes of biodiesel per year are made from recycled cooking oil, which have an estimated total value of about NT$3 billion The Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) yesterday showcased the manufacturing
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) On July 2, a group of two dozen biofuel trade groups and companies issued a letter to members of the U.S. House of Representatives urging them to reject an proposals that amend, repeal, defund
(WNAX) Nebraska Ethanol Board leaders are working with various city officials in the region to find ways to make EPA’s proposed Ozone regulations more workable. Nebraska Ethanol Board Administrator Todd Sneller says there’s a great opportunity for ag and biofuels
by David Roundtree (Total Landscape Care) ... The makers of gasoline-powered equipment are confident their products can perform well and last as long as they’re supposed to when landscapers fill them with the E-10 found at virtually all U.S. gas stations
by Johannes Escudero, Tim Cremins and Jose Mejia (The Sacramento Bee) Despite California’s leadership in green energy promotion, our state is a woefully lopsided net importer of clean biofuels. State lawmakers have a golden opportunity to correct this unfortunate paradox by
(EFE/Fox News Latino) Brazil's ethanol producers called at the Ethanol Summit 2015 in Sao Paulo for bolstering sales of the biofuel, which has lost market share to petroleum derivatives in recent years, in an effort to have a more balanced
(Jamaica Observer) The country is looking to produce its own biofuel and increase the current mix of ethanol in petrol to about 20 per cent. This is according to Principal Director, Policy, Planning, Development and Evaluation Division, in the Ministry
by Rachita Prasad (Economic Times/India Times) Gulf Petrochem will set up a Rs 1,000-crore ethanol manufacturing plant in India, according to a top company executive, as the UAE-headquartered entity seeks to leverage on the government's mandate to blend ethanol with petrol. It
(Canadian Renewable Fuels Association) According to a new, national survey, more than three quarters (88%) of Canadians believe more renewable fuels should be produced in Canada and that government should do more to promote the industry. The poll of 1,750
by Brent Erickson (Biofuels Digest/Biotechnology Industry Organization) ... Stakeholders are all well aware of the RFS (Renewable Fuel Standard) waiver provision that allows EPA to rewrite the statutory volumes after 2016, if it is required to waive volumes by more than
by Ken McCauley (Garden City Telegram) ... American farmers stepped up when called upon, increasing production levels of corn ethanol to meet the growing standards. We restructured our production plants and ways of life to help wean the United States off
(Global Commission on the Economy and Climate) The new report Seizing the global opportunity: partnerships for better growth and a better climate, released today by the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate, provides 10 practical recommendations that will boost economic
by Anna Simet (Biomass Magazine) After a House vote of 44-9, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has signed a bill that exempts biomass-derived carbon dioxide emissions from regulation under certain air pollution laws. The bill defines biomass as nonfossilized and biodegradable organic
(Thanh Nien News) Ho Chi Minh City has announced a plan to make all government offices and state-owned companies switch to a locally-produced biogasoline product that has not been selling well. Six months after it was introduced, the 5-percent ethanol
(Renewable Energy World) A consortium of biofuel companies sent a letter to members of Congress, urging them to reject proposals that would repeal or “reform” the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The were particularly concerned with the amendment put forth by
(US Department of Energy) The Department of Energy announced several new and expanding initiatives as part of the Administration’s Clean Energy Investment Summit, including the launch of a Clean Energy Impact Investment Center (CEII), which will work to make the
by Jeffrey Ball (The Atlantic) ... Saudi Arabia produces much of its electricity by burning oil, a practice that most countries abandoned long ago, reasoning that they could use coal and natural gas instead and save oil for transportation, an application
by Nigel McNay (The Border Mail) Several dozen jobs have been saved at Barnawartha’s biofuel plant. That follows the amendment of federal legislation last week to change the excise rules for biodiesel. ARfuels managing director Andrew White said 12 months of
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) UNICA, the Brazilian sugarcane association, has announced the country has made changes to its tax policy on imported ethanol. According to a statement issued by Elizabeth Farina, president of UNICA, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff
(Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.) With little fanfare or advanced notice to the general public, on July 2, 2015, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the U.S. Trade Representative, and
(American Coalition for Ethanol/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Station owners who offer ethanol blends above 10 percent are gaining increased sales and higher customer counts, contrary to assumptions made by the U.S. EPA in its recent proposal that would reduce the amount
(Bio-based Industries Consortium/Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking, a public-private partnership between the EU and the Bio-based Industries Consortium, has approved the funding of 10 projects totaling €120 million ($132.66 million) to boost the EU capacity to stimulate
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Clean fuel standards under development in Oregon and Washington have been under attack by their respective state legislatures in recent weeks. The Oregon Clean Fuels Standard continued moving forward in March when Gov. Kate Brown
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The White House Office of Management and Budget has published a statement of administration policy that details its opposition to several components of an appropriations bill pending the in the U.S. House of Representatives,
(Las Vegas Review-Journal) ... Although auto manufacturers have longed warned against using gas containing more than 10 percent ethanol, the Environmental Protection Agency — along with misguided renewable-fuel advocates, the big agriculture lobby and their friends in elected office — pushed
by Walter J. Palmer (Ashgate) While international negotiations to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have been less than satisfactory, there is a presumption that a significant level of multi-lateral commitment will be realized at some point. International air and marine travel
by William Petroski (Des Moines Register) ... (Rand) Paul said the federal government is needed to provide national defense, build some roads, and do some other things. But many other matters can be handled at the state and local government level, the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington state, state lawmakers passed a $15B transportation package by a 27-22 vote that includes a provision that “effectively prohibits a Clean Fuel Standard for Washington state,” according to the Low Carbon Fuels Coalition.
by Mark Muro and Reed Hundt (The Brookings Institution) ... While the federal government has not been able to lead on the design of modern clean energy and infrastructure finance entities, it now has the opportunity, with its billions of underutilized
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Brussels, International Renewable Energy Agency released three reports today for Fiji, the Marshall Islands and Vanuatu, concluding that a combination of solar, wind, geothermal, marine, biomass and biofuel could meet domestic energy needs while
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Oil price predictions are all over the map. So, how are biobased businesses coping when no one quite knows what’s up with the incumbent? Amyris, Cellerate and Propel Fuels are three ventures showing the way(s) forward. If
by Barry Blitstein (Oklahoman) ... Calling the Renewable Fuel Standard a farce is an unfair assessment. It’s true that fracking has impacted the domestic energy picture but it’s only temporary. The IEA projects the Middle East as “the major source of
by Chris Prentice and Michael Hirtzer (Reuters) ... Betting on exports and robust domestic fuel demand, four companies are finalizing expansions and projects that will add 375 million gallons of corn-based ethanol capacity this year. ... Oil refiners have threatened legal action to overhaul
by Grant Rodgers (Des Moines Register) Democratic presidential hopeful Martin O'Malley strongly backed renewable fuel producers on Thursday, calling on the Obama administration to rethink its controversial proposal to lower standards for the amount of ethanol that will be mixed
(Bernama/The Malay Mail Online) Some 1.22 million tonnes of crude palm oil (CPO) from the country’s stockpile will be utilised annually upon the implementation of the B10 biodiesel programme, said Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas. The
by Jose Graziano da Silva (United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization/Project Syndicate) ... But this is a false dichotomy. The choice cannot be between food and fuel. We can make good use of both. Given the right conditions, biofuels can be an effective means
(Green Car Congress) A study by researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Michigan State University colleague has concluded that even with a relatively high rate of electrification of the US light-duty fleet (40% of vehicle miles traveled and
by Erich Parpart (The Nation) The Energy Ministry has been assigned by the government to help off-load around 5.89 million tonnes of deteriorated rice held in stockpiles with the plan at the first stage to convert around 1.3 million tonnes of
by Marcia McNutt (Science Magazine) ... 2°C above the preindustrial level. This is a target viewed as the boundary between climate warming to which we can perhaps adapt and more extreme warming that will be very disruptive to society and the ecosystems
by Nichola Groom (Reuters) Fifteen years ago, California led the way to cleaner transit buses with strict tailpipe emissions standards that effectively ushered out diesel as the primary fuel for buses in the state and replaced it with natural gas. Now,
by Julie Harker (Brownfield Ag News) Missouri Governor Jay Nixon tells Brownfield everyone needs to step back and look at 2003 when gas prices were going up and foreign countries were dictating to the U.S. how much people were paying
by Chisaki Watanabe (Bloomberg) Japan will draw up a plan to introduce biofuels to power commercial flights by the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games as part of efforts to shift to cleaner fuel. A task force set up by the Ministry of
(SciDev.net) At least 500 million hectares are available for growing biofuel crops; This is after considering rising food demand and growing urbanisation; Only up to 200 million hectares would be needed to slash fossil fuel use Converting grazing land into fields to grow
by Robert Wright (ePURE/EurActiv) As the debate kicks off on transport within Europe’s 2030 climate and energy framework, policymakers and industry must not lose sight of the challenges, says Robert Wright (secretary general of the European Renewable Ethanol Association (ePURE)). Today,
by Megan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, nearly half of the US Senate has written to the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Energy and the EPA administrator strongly urging the agencies to streamline support of biomass for energy across all
(Malaysian Digest) Barely two weeks after casting doubt on the viability of Malaysia’s B10 biodiesel fuel for car engines, Mercedez-Benz Malaysia today said the fuel is fine after all. In a statement, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia said: “After having initially stated that the
by Michael Dukes (Imperial Valley Press) The Imperial County Board of Supervisors approved California Ethanol + Power LLC's proposal to build an ethanol plant in Imperial County back in 2013, but at the time, significant funding hurdles remained in place
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Seen a number of high-profile cellulosic projects open in recent years, and not much ethanol being produced? Wondered why? Here are answers to your questions. As Jack Webb used to say on Dragnet, just the facts,
by David Shepardson (Detroit News) Sales of hybrid and electric vehicles fell sharply in the first half of 2015, hurt by low gas prices, fewer incentives and a broader market shift away from cars. This is shaping up to be the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Brussels, a new interactive website “www.BiofuelsforEurope.eu” launched today in the European Parliament to summarize the latest science on key biofuels issues using fact-based, understandable information. BP, Novozymes, Scania and Shell have sponsored the initiative in
By Timothy Cama (The Hill) A new Republican bill introduced Tuesday (June 16, 2015) would completely repeal the federal mandate to blend ethanol into the nation’s gasoline supply. Sen. Bill Cassidy’s (R-La.) legislation would completely do away with the renewable fuel
by Daniel Gallas (BBC) ... It is widely available in gas stations across the country. The majority of new cars are able to run on either petrol or sugarcane-based ethanol. The government played a key role in boosting this alternative. Ethanol prices
by Paul Alexander (Huffington Post) ... For the first time since it was conceived a decade ago, the Obama Administration has proposed weakening the RFS -- a blow to the green movement, the biofuels business, and especially the ethanol industry. The reduced
(ACORE) Policy Pack recaps ACORE’s 2015 Renewable Energy Policy Forum recommendations; warns of a serious market cliff for new investments absent policy action by Congress As the Obama administration announces a 20 percent national goal for renewable electricity generation by 2030,
by Drew DuBois (DuPont Pioneer/MLive) In a recent guest column in the Kalamazoo Gazette, Michael Miller thanked Congressman Fred Upton for working to allow exports of oil drilled in the United States. Rather than looking for new ways to make money by
Eric Atkins (The Globe and Mail) The crash in oil prices will be felt at the farm gate as demand and prices moderate for biofuel crops corn and soybean, says a new report from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and
(Vinton Newspapers) Truckers, motorists and biodiesel producers alike will soon benefit from a tax savings in Iowa on one of the state’s most beneficial products. As of July 1, diesel blended with at least 11 percent biodiesel (B11) will enjoy
(Thompson Reuters) An Oklahoma woman who was injured when an earthquake rocked her home in 2011 can sue oil companies for damages, the state's highest court ruled on Tuesday, opening the door to other potential lawsuits against the state's energy
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The USDA’s Rural Business Cooperative Service and Rural Utilities Service has published an interim final rule for the Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance Program, formerly known as the Biorefinery Assistance Program.
by Michael McAdams (Biomass Magazine) ... For the next-generation biofuels industry, this proposed rule represents a solid improvement, especially for those in the advanced and biomass-based diesel pool, as well as those in the cellulosic pool seeking a concrete signal of
by Tom Portz (Biomass Magazine) ... Ours is an industry looking to take market share, often in declining markets, from well-entrenched incumbents who can only be expected to rabidly defend their enviable market position. In nearly every category, industry groups are
by Ron Kotrba (Biomass Magazine) The Golden State has borderline personality disorder regarding promotion and discouragement of dairy biogas projects. -- California is by far the No. 1 dairy state in the U.S. with roughly 1.8 million head, concentrated mostly
by Stephen Tsoroti (Financial Gazette/All Africa) Hamstrung by debilitating liquidity challenges, Zimbabwe is missing the chance to improve its revenue position by neglecting the development of biofuels, a renewable energy expert has noted. Clement Shonhiwa, a renewable energy expert and consultant at
by Conrad Wilson & Tony Schick (Northwest Public Radio) ... A Texas-based energy company wants to site a combined crude oil and biofuel refinery in Longview, Washington. The company’s goal is to capitalize on low carbon fuel standards championed by West
(Etihad Airways/Trade Arabia News Service) UAE’s Etihad Airways, in collaboration with Boeing, Takreer, Total and the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, has launched a joint industry roadmap for the sustainable production of aviation biofuels in the UAE. The BIOjet Abu
(US Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office has released a Request for Information (RFI) seeking stakeholder input on the following topics related to the use of advanced biofuel
by Jon C. Ogg (24/7 Wall Street) ... The EPA is now seeking public input to inform future steps by the agency regarding emissions from the commercial airline sector. While the effort is new, this has been coming for years. One
(Ukrainian Biofuel Portal) According to the decree №319 from May 20, 12 distilleries owned by the state have been excluded from the list of companies eligible for the production of bioethanol. This document change the decree "On approval of lists of companies
by Duane Shimogawa (Pacific Business News) Hawaii Gov. David Ige said that he intends to veto a bill passed by the State Legislature that would repeal the ethanol facility tax credit and establish a renewable fuels production tax credit. ... Ige reasoned
(RealEstateRama) Legislation sponsored by Assembly Republican Holly Schepisi paving the way for new jobs for New Jersey workers in the expanding biodiesel industry earned approval from the General Assembly today. “New Jersey’s geographics makes it a perfect fit for the development
(Global Rail News) Swedish operator Inlandsbanan AB has said it hopes to convert its entire fleet of passenger and freight vehicles to bio-diesel by 2020. Inlandsbanan AB has received funding from the EU to assess the feasibility of converting its diesel
by Anna Simet (Biomass Magazine) After a House vote of 44-9, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has signed a bill that exempts biomass-derived carbon dioxide emissions from regulation under certain air pollution laws. The bill defines biomass as nonfossilized and biodegradable organic
by Trinh Theresa Do (CBC News) Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau has unveiled myriad environmental promises in Vancouver, including hundreds of millions of dollars in clean technology investment and a continued focus on climate change. ... Within 90 days of the conference, a
by Geoff Cooper (Renewable Fuels Association/The Hill) Sofie E. Miller may have left the Charles Koch Institute in 2012, but she clearly continues to do the bidding of her former employer and the rest of the oil industry (“RFS hurts
by Maija Sihvonen* (Advanced Biofuels USA) The 23rd European Biomass Conference and Exhibition (EUBCE) held in Vienna 1-4 June was a massive event with nearly 1300 participants from 76 countries and some 800 presentations. The event consisted of multiple parallel
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