by Chuck Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) It was good to see former Missouri Governor Matt Blunt on stage today at the National Biodiesel Conference. Matt accomplished great things for the industry during his time in office. He is now the President of
by Reid Chandler (WHOTV.com) Governor Terry Branstad announced Thursday a new campaign promoting the Renewable Fuel Standard, aimed at potential presidential nominees visiting Iowa during the caucus season. ... The multimillion-dollar campaign, dubbed America’s Renewable Future, will be co-chaired by former State
by Joanne Ivancic* (Advanced Biofuels USA) Absent from President Barak Obama’s State of the Union Message and from remarks made by Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz at the DC Auto Show, the words “biofuel,” “ethanol,” “biodiesel,” “renewable jetfuel” or any variation
(Masdar Institute) Research puts UAE at forefront of global movement to create sustainable, alternative fuels that do not compete with food production Based on ground-breaking research at the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, the Sustainable Bioenergy Research Consortium (SBRC) today
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) New technologies, new markets, new research and most of the same policy challenges, as we look at the 14 top trends for 2015. ... 1. Falling oil prices – what’s the impact? The headlines in recent months
by Bob Dinneen (Renewable Fuels Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Predictive computer models have their place, writes Bob Dinneen of the RFA, but where concrete real-world data and observations exist, they should take precedence. Sound policymaking and regulation must be grounded in
by Catherine Rampell (The Washington Post) ... In recent weeks, West Virginia has snatched national headlines for its attempts to doctor school science standards to discredit climate change. The sixth-grade science curriculum, for example, was amended so that, rather than having
by Vincent Barone (SI Live) Conversation has begun between city officials and council members on legislation that would increase the amount of biofuel used in city-owned vessels, including the Staten Island Ferry. Legislation introduced by Queens Councilman Costa Constantinides would require the
(European Fat Processors and Renderers Association) Biodiesel made from animal fat reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 85% compared to fossil fuels. This exceptional figure has been confirmed by the findings of a recent study by the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research
(National Biodiesel Board) The National Biodiesel Conference and Expo opens with a fiery speech by the industry’s chief spokesperson. Arguing that federal policy makers must see through the false attacks by renewable fuels opponents and provide certainty for their advanced biofuel
by Vidhi Choudhary and Sayantan Bera (Live Mint) On Friday, the cabinet also decided to allow private manufacturers of bio-diesel to sell it directly to users such as Indian Railways, seeking to reinforce the supply of environment-friendly fuels in the
by Anindita Dey (Business Standard) The department calls meet to gather information on number of sugar mills supplying ethanol and supply position of ethanol blending programme The department of food has asked all sugar mills to expedite supply of ethanol to the
(Netzwerk Biotreibstoffe) This issue features a Biofuels country update from the Netherlands, an update on Task 39’s ongoing work, and a short summary of some of other relevant news in the Biofuels area (such as the expansion of cellulosic ethanol
by Roberto A. Ferdman (The Washington Post) Pew Research Center is out with a new survey and, for the first time in years, it actually bodes well for those hoping climate change will finally become a policy priority in the United
by Charlotte Malone (Blue and Green Tomorrow) Growth in renewable energy consumption is set to significantly outpace the growth seen in fossil fuels this year, according to a report. However, it also warns that non-fossil fuels lack the policy needed
by Tom Bryan (Ethanol Producer Magazine) After halting distillers grains imports late last year, the world's top DDGS buyer is poised to resume business, but on what terms? The prospect of China reissuing distillers grains import permits bodes well for the
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. Grains Council is teaming up with Growth Energy, the Renewable Fuels Association and the USDA Foreign Agriculture Service on a new four-way partnership in ethanol export market development. There’s a big difference
by Shadia Basheri (Sudan Vision Daily) The Ministry of Petroleum has inaugurated today in Khartoum at the station of Nile Company for Petrol the second experimental phase of producing biofuels (Ethanol) by a smart partnership with Kenana Sugar Company
(Bernama) A total of 366 petrol kiosks in Sarawak, Sabah and Labuan will be selling B7 palm oil biodiesel from the end of this month, Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said. He said the environmentally friendly
by Fawn Johnson (National Journal) Some lawmakers say there needs to be a rebate for low-income families. Others call it a "user fee." Lawmakers may have finally run out of arcane accounting options to fund the nation's highways and
by Amanda Peterka (E&E Publishing / Greenwire) Bioenergy production would boom and spur steep reductions in greenhouse gas emissions if a global price is slapped on carbon, Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers say in a report released today. Examining bioenergy production
(Environmental and Energy Study Insitute) On January 16, Sens. Feinstein (D-CA) and Toomey (R-PA) floated an amendment to the Keystone XL pipeline bill, the ‘Corn Ethanol Mandate Elimination Act of 2015,’ that would remove corn ethanol from the Renewable Fuel
by Keith Campbell (Engineering News) On October 19, 2004, the world’s first exclusively biofuel powered production aircraft received its certification, allowing it to be flown operationally. That aircraft was (and is) the Neiva (now Embraer) EMB-202A Ipanema crop duster. This
by Janell Thomas (Farm Futures) 2014 biodiesel production drops from record levels noted in 2013; National Biodiesel Board says Renewable Fuel Standard has impact Sluggish Renewable Fuel Volume announcements from Washington, D.C. are to blame in part for the lower biodiesel
(Renewable Fuels Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Renewable identification number (RIN) generation data released by the U.S. EPA shows that the statutory 2014 renewable fuel standard (RFS) requirements established by Congress in 2007 could have easily been met, and that the RFS
(WebWire) To aid U.S. policymakers and other stakeholders who make decisions about the nation’s food system, a new report from the Institute of Medicine and National Research Council offers a framework for assessing the health, environmental, social, and economic effects
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) BRAG tackles regulatory hindrances related to commercialization of biobased products and works to improve public awareness of the benefits of these products. ... ... BRAG will engage with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding our petitions
(Associated Press/The Washington Post) The Obama administration on Wednesday announced its latest move to combat global warming, this time trying to rein in heat-trapping methane gas that escapes from oil and gas fields. The plan relies on voluntary steps and new
(Algae Biomass Organization) Senators urge Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency to support carbon utilization throughout their programs. The Algae Biomass Organization, the trade association for the algae industry, applauded U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Joe Manchin (D-WV)
by Donna Funk (Ethanol Producer Magazine/K-Coe Isom) Ethanol producers exporting product may want to look into the Interest Charge-Domestic International Sales Corp. export incentive, which could qualify them for a 20 percent lower tax rate, writes Donna Funk of
(Omaha.com) After years of anticipation, cellulosic ethanol production has taken a major step forward, with Iowa leading the way. Plants in Iowa in 2014 became the first to produce cellulosic ethanol on a commercial scale. Production was centered at the Quad
by Mike Cronin (Citizen-Times) The Southeast's first biofuels testing lab will open Wednesday at the Enka campus of Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College. Researchers at the lab "will provide convenient, cost-effective testing of biodiesel to assure quality products are going to market,"
(AllAfrica) The Zanu-PF leadership here has given the Zimbabwe Bio-Energy the green light to set up a US$500 million ethanol plant at Nuanetsi Ranch in Mwenezi in a development expected to help the province attain targets set under Zim-Asset. The proposed
by Dana Milbank (The Washington Post) Tom Donohue, the longtime president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, sounded ebullient as he gave his annual report on the health of American business Wednesday. ... “It seems to be hard to make the case
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) Real farmers from around the country had a chance to ask Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack questions during an informal town hall-style meeting at the American Farm Bureau convention this week in San Diego. The last question he
by Amanda Peterka (E&E Daily) Joni Ernst's new office is about 1,100 miles from her hometown in rural southwest Iowa, but she's determined to keep her "Iowa way" in the halls of Congress. ... When it comes to legislation, her Iowa
By Nina Ying Sun (Plastics News) A new ban on non-biodegradable plastic bags and food service items is creating an unprecedented surge for bioplastics manufacturing in China. Unlike China’s nationwide plastic bag ban, which has been widely recognized as ineffectively
by Adrian Morrow (Globe and Mail) The Ontario government is closing in on a plan to put a price on carbon emissions after nearly seven years of delays. The Liberals have promised to make corporations and consumers pay for
by Michel Rose, Gus Trompiz, Barbara Lewis (Reuters) France's increased limit on food-based biofuels in transport fuel could raise logistic and supply costs as it threatens to split the European single market for fuels, lobby groups for the car and oil
(Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA 2nd)) New bill would ensure solvency of Highway Trust Fund, fully-fund public transportation -- Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) today introduced the Gas Tax Replacement Act of 2015, new legislation to stabilize the Highway Trust Fund— which
by Timothy Cama (The Hill) Republican voters are split on many issues surrounding climate change, and more than half want carbon dioxide regulated as a pollutant. The finding came from an analysis the Yale University Project on Climate Change Communications released Monday,
by Suzanne Goldenberg (The Guardian) Faculty members call on university to recognise urgency of climate change and divest from all oil, coal and gas companies Three hundred professors at Stanford, including Nobel laureates and this year’s Fields medal winner, are calling
(German Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Plants/google translation) "The course for a true inventory of hedging existing biofuels industry after 2020 must be made now." The European biofuel industry must be able to evolve from 7% based on
(AgriMoney.com) The United Nations highlighted the vulnerability of agricultural commodity values to the weakness in crude oil markets as it revealed a drop in food prices to a four-year low, led by declines in sugar – one of the main
by Nick Snow (Oil & Gas Journal) Crude oil prices below $50/bbl could force some producers to reduce capital expenditures if they go on for long, but are not likely to change US energy policies, according to US Sec. of
(Governors' Biofuels Coalition/Ethanol Across America) Innovations in conversion technology and energy use at ethanol facilities, coupled with enhanced efficiency fertilizers and corn production management have resulted in corn ethanol being significantly shortchanged in its value to reduce carbon emissions, according
(American Petroleum Institute) ... As part of this event, we publish our report on the State of American Energy, but this year’s report is different, because for the first time it includes contributions from all major sources of energy: solar, nuclear,
by Rob Nikolewski (Watchdog.org) It’s possibly the most controversial mandate on the books — a requirement under the Renewable Fuel Standard that billions of gallons of ethanol be mixed into the gasoline American consumers put into their tanks. But there’s a new Congress
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As a newly-closed venture fund opens for business with a distinctly Malaysian flavor, we look at the state of venture capital and the new role of integrated sovereign investment. From California and Malaysia comes the news
by Chris Mooney (The Washington Post) ... For environmentalists, it symbolizes the increasingly urgent need to keep fossil fuels in the ground. For Republicans, it symbolizes everything they hate about how environmentalists seek to block industrial projects. But when Congress focuses
by Steve Law (Portland Tribune) The Oregon Environmental Quality Commission voted Wednesday to approve operating rules for the state’s Clean Fuels Program, which mandates an overall 10 percent reduction in carbon emissions from gasoline and diesel fuel over the next
by Mario Parker (Bloomberg BusinessWeek) The biggest plunge in U.S. gasoline prices since 2008 is slowing as higher ethanol boosts the cost to make the motor fuel. Ethanol futures surpassed gasoline last month for the first time since March. Faced with
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... The E2 report is something of a hybrid — for one, it includes actual biodiesel production, but in the case of other fuels, it reports production capacity rather than production, and includes projects which are
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. EPA is requesting nominations for its Mobile Sources Technical Review Subcommittee, which provides the Clean Air Act Advisory Committee with independent advice, council and recommendations on the scientific and technical aspects of
by Gary Truit (Hoosier Ag Today) On Tuesday, Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) once again introduced legislation – H.R. 21 – that would hinder the growth and expansion of E15. The legislation would revoke current approval of E15 and require additional
by Allen Schaeffer (Progressive Dairyman/Diesel Technology Forum) ... Moving to ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel was the biggest change in diesel fuel in the last 50 years, and now it’s already been nine years since that happened. Next up is expanded use
by Bob Dinneen (Renewable Fuels Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... Ethanol production and blending broke records. Exports picked up. E15 and E85 sales increased. And the first cellulosic ethanol gallons were produced. So here, in satiric tribute to the year that wasn’t,
by Mike Bryan (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Renewable fuels like ethanol are part of the solution to global warming, writes Mike Bryan, of BBI International. Although some believe it is a hoax, science is not on their side. ... Australia’s Prime Minister Tony
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Ethanol Producer Magazine digs into the details of ethanol production in Iowa and how the industry got started. When Jerry Mohr, president of the Iowa Corn Growers Association board of directors, talks to politicians, he
by Jared Gilmour (Christian Science Monitor) US oil and gas production have boomed, but the country still lacks a coherent energy strategy, according to an International Energy Agency review. The report credits the US for reducing greenhouse emissions, and encourages
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) The U.S. EPA has published a notice in the Federal Register inviting the public to nominate scientific experts to be considered for appointment to its Science Advisory Board Agricultural Science Committee. According to the notice, the
(Augusta Free Press) Governor Terry McAuliffe on Thursday announced a Virginia Bioscience Initiative, kicking off the effort with a public and private sector roundtable discussion on the commercialization of university bioscience research at the State Capitol. University representatives and bio
( Environmental Entrepreneurs) Smart clean fuel policies in OR, WA, CA and at federal level could drive additional job growth, improve air quality, generate more homegrown energy North America’s advanced biofuel industry reached a production capacity of more than 800 million gallons in 2014,
by Wendy Culverwell (Portland Business Journal) Clean fuel policies in Oregon, Washington and California are helping drive the advanced biofuel industry. In its fourth annual report on the state of the advanced biofuel industry, Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2) reports the U.S. capacity
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Our top goal is securing a strong RFS including conservative growth in the RVO. We are also working on extending the biodiesel tax credit and developing sound state policies. We are expanding access to Bioheat
(Praj/PR NewsWire/CNBC) Sustainable Technology resulting in generation of 50-60% power requirement through captive cogen unit; Employs Praj's latest ECOSMART technology for multi-product distillery producing fuel ethanol as well as premium grade beverage alcohol; Biocompost from the plant to be used
by Editorial Board (The Washington Post) THE PRICE of crude oil dipped below $50 a barrel on Monday. National gasoline prices average a little over $2 a gallon. On principle and on politics, now is the best time Washington has
by Timothy Cama (The Hill) California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) proposed Monday to cut in half the gasoline and diesel fuel used by vehicles and get half the state’s electricity from renewable sources. Brown set out both proposals in his
by Sena Christian (EarthIsland.org) For a long time it seemed like turning the inedible parts of plants into a commercially viable biofuel, known as cellulosic ethanol, was nothing more than a pipedream. The enzymes needed to release sugars from cellulose
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. EPA is accepting public comments on its preliminary analysis of the lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with the growth and transport of biomass sorghum for use as biofuel feedstock through Jan.
by Jacob Bunge And Jesse Newman (First Enercast Financial) ... Falling profit margins for the $40 billion U.S. ethanol industry may cause some companies to scale back production in 2015, analysts and industry executives say. Still, many observers think ethanol
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Who mandates what in biofuels? 64 countries have targets or mandates — but how much where, and when, and what? In Florida, the Digest today releases its annual review of biofuels mandates and targets around
by Michael McAdams (Biomass Magazine) ... Sen. McConnell has promised a return to regular order. That means lots of votes on lots of potentially contentious issues. It will be interesting to see if he follows through on that pledge given
by Virginia France (Portalnoar/google translation) The factory, located in Guamaré functioned as technological basis of Petrobras Biofuel and will begin operations for the commercial segment The Rio Grande do Norte won the first biodiesel plant. With investments over $ 5 million from
by Carole Abourached* (Advanced Biofuels USA) This discussion about Emerging Technology and Global Energy Demand was hosted by the award-winning reporter, David Kestenbaum of NPR Planet Money. [caption id="attachment_58641" align="alignleft" width="300"] Panelists from left: David Kestenbaum,Dan Arvizu,Sarah Ladislaw,Bruce Logan, Grant Karsner.
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Nine ethanol producers received approval recently under the U.S. EPA’s efficient producer petition process. It allows those producers to generate renewable identification numbers (RINs) above the registered volume that was grandfathered in under the
by Lawrence Summers (The Washington Post) The case for carbon taxes has long been compelling. With the recent steep fall in oil prices and associated declines in other energy prices, it has become overwhelming. There is room for debate about the
by Robert E. Kozak* (Advanced Biofuels USA) In looking at ways to jump-start this country’s bogged down production of biomass based jetfuel (Jet-A, JP-5, JP-8) and rocket fuel (RP-1/2), the early history of the US space program should serve as a
by Rajeev Jayaswal & Madhvi Sally (Economic Times) The battle for alcohol between the liquor industry and oil companies is likely to end. The government plans to allow petrol blending with ethanol produced from non-edible plants. Currently, ethanol produced from sugarcane
(New Zimbabwe) Government has further reduced the mandatory fuel blending with ethanol to 5% from 15% owing to low sugar cane supply. Mid this year government increased the mandatory blending level to 15% [E15] from 10%. In a statement this week Energy
(live-PR.com) ... During 2006-2013, global biodiesel output grew rapidly from 6.5 billion liters in 2006 to 24.6 billion liters in 2013, at a CAGR of 20.9%. There are little changes in the global distribution of biodiesel production, mainly concentrated in Europe,
by Tim Rudnicki (Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) Historical GasBuddy.com price charts tell some contrasting stories about the average retail price of gasoline over the last eleven years. A gallon of gasoline skyrocketed from a low of $1.44, when a barrel of crude oil
by Joe Jobe (Biodiesel Magazine) As we put another year in the books, I am extremely proud of how the biodiesel industry came together to respond to the adversity faced in 2014. We have certainly seen more than our share
by Nick Miroff (The Washington Post) Long before the massacre, when Mapiripan was just a faraway little place not worth fighting for, Aida Gordilla and her family came to the wide-open grasslands outside town and fenced off a homestead. They
by Kyung M. Song (Seattle Times) U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell is set to take over her party’s top seat on the Senate Energy Committee. But Cantwell’s pro-environment agenda likely will find little traction under Republican control of the Senate ... Democrats
by Andy Eubank (Hoosier Ag Today) This year has been one of both good news and bad news for the ethanol industry. Renewable Fuels Association CEO Bob Dinneen says there was enough positive happening to call this an extraordinarily exciting
by Henry C. Jackson (Capital Press/Associated Press) The refinery in Hugoton, Kan., built by Seville, Spain-based Abengoa, is the largest cellulosic biorefinery in the world. At the RV Park he owns in a remote corner of southwestern Kansas, Jan Leonard is
by Ryan Holeywell (FuelFix) A new survey shows vastly more Americans think the country should prioritize developing alternative energy sources over expanding fossil fuel production. Survey respondents favored developing alternative energy sources like wind, solar and hydrogen over coal, oil and
by O. Kay Henderson (Radio Iowa) Owners of the state’s gas stations and convenience stores are asking Iowa lawmakers to set up a state grant program to replace aging underground storage tanks for gas and diesel. Dawn Carlson is president
by Elizabeth Hsu (Taipai Times) ... At a time when most industrialized countries have found bright solutions for dealing with waste cooking oil, Taiwan seems to be stuck in the dark ages, with unethical businesses showing that they are willing
by Joby Warrick (The Washington Post) The methane that leaks from 40,000 gas wells near this desert trading post may be colorless and odorless, but it’s not invisible. It can be seen from space. Satellites that sweep over energy-rich
(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) In January 2012, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published an analysis of the life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with palm oil–based biodiesel and renewable diesel. The results of the analysis indicate that, when compared with the
(Genscape/Biodiesel Magazine) After the U.S. EPA's final Quality Assurance Plan rule established a new, unified QAP program over the summer, Q-RINs have been successfully transferred in the RIN market. “[In December] we received confirmation from a RIN buyer that
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The East is Green. Asia is confirmed as “the new Brazil” as project developers head en masse to the friendly receptions in Asian countries — based on energy diversification and rural development opportunities. Whether you look
by Riza T. Olchandra (Philippine Daily Inquirer) Energy authorities are calling for more investments in biofuels as officials review a current program mandating the blending of biodiesel and ethanol in locally distributed diesel and gasoline. There has been market buzz that
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Aviation biofuels on the rise, in the skies” tops the trend list; drop-in and cellulosic ethanol projects; M&A and cap raises, and action from strategic investors and customers dominate the headlines this year. You might know
(Gevo) Multiple Test Flights Conducted on F/A-18 "Hornet" Using a 50/50 ATJ Blend The U.S. Navy, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), and Gevo, Inc. (Nasdaq:GEVO), the world's only commercial producer of renewable isobutanol, announced today the first successful "alcohol-to-jet" (ATJ) supersonic
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Feedstock costs and challenges come under the microscope as the DOE reports new data on algae-based feedstocks and terrestrial crops too. Can algae-based biofuels reach full commercial scale by 2030? The Digest investigates. Twice this year, the
(Finland Ministry of Employment and the Economy) The Ministry of Employment and the Economy granted 17/12/2014 Bioethanol Finland Oy, EUR 30 million to support energy Kouvola Myllykoski planned bioethanol facility investment. Neste Oil Corporation was granted, respectively, just under 3.3 million to
by Tony Bizjak (Sacramento Bee) The city of West Sacramento and a Texas-based gasoline company are battling over whether it’s riskier to ship large amounts of ethanol through city streets on trains or on tanker trucks – a dispute that
(Times of India Economic Times) The government is set to come out with policies to introduce clean fuels such as biodiesel, bioethanol and electricity for public transport vehicles and school buses in big cities to tackle air pollution, road transport
(China Daily/Ecns.cn) Yingding Biofuel Technology Co Ltd, the privately owned Chinese biodiesel producer, has won its monopoly case against the country's biggest oil refiner, China Petrochemical Corp Ltd. The company had accused the industry giant of blocked sales of its fuel
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) POET-DSM, Abengoa, Enerkem, GranBio, Raizen plant openings lead the list; REG’s M&A campaign, EPA’s RFS debacle, are other key trends. They said that cellulosic fuels were “five years away, and always will be,” but five major
(Powerdyne/PR NewsWire) Powerdyne Renewable Fuels ("Powerdyne") www.powerdyne.com, a frontrunner in the national renewable fuel industry, announces it will be investing hundreds of millions of dollars to construct a Sewage-to-Diesel Fuel Facility in Terre Haute, IN which will create hundreds of
(Ethanol Producer Magazine/Renewable Fuels Association) The Renewable Fuels Association has submitted comments to the Food and Drug Administration last on its supplemental rulemaking proposal outlining best practices for the regulation of animal food under the Food Safety Modernization Act. The FSMA lays
(U.S. Grains Council/Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. Grains Council recently led a delegation of industry leaders representing the USDA, Renewable Fuels Association, and Growth Energy to the Philippines to assess factors contributing to the large exports of U.S. ethanol to
by Mac Margolis (Bloomberg View) Brazilian airline Gol set out earlier this year to launch the world's first commercial flight powered partly by renewable fuel made from sugar cane. Fermenting ordinary sugar into jet fuel ended up being the easy bit.
by Esther Whieldon (SNL) The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee will feature a new subcommittee in 2015 dedicated almost entirely to energy issues and another that will examine cybersecurity, incoming Chairman Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, announced Dec. 17. The new Interior Subcommittee,
by Bob Dinneen (Renewable Fuels Association/PennLive) In a recent diatribe on Pennlive, ("Don't subsidize renewable energy; fossil fuels are the way to go," Dec 15), Merrill Matthews wrongly states that corn ethanol is more expensive than gasoline and receives subsidies.
by Dave Dreeszen (Sioux City Journal) Motorists in Sioux City now have another choice of ethanol-blended gasoline. The Murphy USA station next to the Walmart Supercenter at 3400 Singing Hills Blvd. recently became the first metro area retailer to sell
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) December 19, marks the seventh anniversary of the signing into law of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 which expanded the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). In this Ethanol Report, Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) president and
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Blend Wall Busters, R&D Bang for the Buck and Policy Stability rate slightly behind. Better Technical Readiness Assessment rates much lower. Readers come up with 63 alternative “calls to action”. A new Digest poll
by Paul Bledsoe (The Washington Post) A dramatic 40 percent drop in oil prices since June has prompted new discussion aboutraising the long-static federal gasoline tax and has many states considering gas tax hikes as well. At the federal level, Congress
by Jeff McMahon (Forbes) ... International Energy Agency director Maria van der Hoeven and U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz appeared together Thursday at the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington DC, where van der Hoeven presented the findings of IEA’s 2014 review
(Times of India) The government is set to come out with policies to introduce clean fuels such as biodiesel, bioethanol and electricity for public transport vehicles and school buses in big cities to tackle air pollution, road transport minister Nitin
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The government of Finland announced Dec.17 that it granted $36.8 million (€30 million) to help build a cellulosic ethanol plant. A separate project to produce biogasoline, biodiesel and smaller amounts of other renewable products
by Steve Law (Portland Tribune) Another showdown looms in Salem between Big Oil and environmentalists, but this time environmentalists appear to have the upper hand. Heavy lobbying last year by the Western States Petroleum Association helped stall the state’s Clean Fuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) After a year-long talk fest, the BPC emerges with a report on RFS reform, and lays an egg. Was the process doomed from the start by an insistence of “RFS reform” as a topic for
(Reuters America Latina) Cosan SA, Brazil's biggest producer of sugar and ethanol, said on Wednesday that two potential upsides in 2015 could brighten the outlook for the country's ethanol sector, which has struggled with government policy in recent years. Speaking before
(Roll Call) ... The legislation would allow the Defense Department to continue buying biofuels in bulk but raises the threshold for qualifying purchases. The department has to consider “the fully burdened cost” of the fuels and whether their price is competitive
(FarmEnergy.org) The big news from our nation’s capital this past week has been the passage of the appropriations bill for fiscal year 2015, which began on October 1st. The federal government had been operating on funding extensions and was facing
by Alicia Moulton (US Department of Energy) Going “over the river and through the woods to Grandmother’s house” this holiday season could require a significant amount of gasoline if you’re traveling by car. Before you hit the road to visit relatives
(US Department of Energy) On June 11–12, 2014, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) hosted a workshop in Lakewood, Colorado, to discuss research and development (R&D) opportunities related to the
by Katie Valentine (ThinkProgress) Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has big plans for carbon reductions in his state, as outlined in climate change and transportation proposals announced by the governor’s office this week. On Tuesday, Inslee announced a proposed tax on
(North Country Public Radio) New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's administration will move to prohibit fracking in the state, citing unresolved health issues and dubious economic benefits of the widely used gas-drilling technique. Acting Health Commissioner Howard Zucker said years of research
by Kevin Drawbaugh (Reuters) Dozens of temporary tax breaks, including big ones for business research, wind power and foreign profits, were renewed by the U.S. Senate late on Tuesday, putting to rest worries that further delays in dealing with the
by Godfrey Mtimba (Daily News) The new Zanu PF provincial executive here has promised to give businessman Billy Rautenbach the green light to continue his multi-million ethanol project in the vast Nuanetsi ranch in Mwenezi. Zanu PF acting chairman Paradzai Chakona
by Timothy Cama (The Hill) The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) published a report outlining 40 different options that it said could improve the country’s ethanol mandate. The BPC said it set out to find a “middle ground” for reforming the Renewable
(Denmark Climate, Energy and Building Ministry / google translation) The Danish energy industry today launches a new voluntary industry agreement on sustainable biomass. The agreement must ensure that we are now applying sustainable biomass in our energy system. This is
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced that greater protection is now available from the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program for crops that traditionally have been ineligible for federal crop insurance. The new options, created
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) The Minnesota ethanol industry is evolving even in the face of growth challenges including continued uncertainty around the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Since 2007 the industry has improved by leaps and bounds in terms of technological
by Tim Naumetz (The Hill Times Online) The federal government failed to spend a total of $321-million Parliament approved for “environmentally responsible” programs last year—nearly one-third of the money that was available for that purpose—while spending more than the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) There are times for TED Talks about wondrous advances in technology and the future that awaits us. Then, there are times for Teddy Talks: of practical progress, problem solving, and turning wondrous advances into
by Alister Doyle (Reuters) Falling oil prices show the "high risk" of fossil fuel investments compared with renewable energies, the U.N.'s climate chief said on Monday at the start of 190-nation talks on a deal to slow global warming. The Dec.
(Airbus/Biomass Magazine) Airbus Group Inc. continues its commitment to promote innovation and advance environmentally-friendly aviation initiatives by supporting development of sustainable fuels with the potential of reducing lifecycle carbon emissions. Airbus Group has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with
(UPM/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Leaders of Sustainable Biofuels, an industry coalition to promote advanced biofuels, met on Dec. 4 at the European Parliament with Members of the European Parliament, Commission representatives, and stakeholders in Brussels. LSB, chaired by UPM’s Marko Janhunen,
by Dina Cappiello (Associated Press/Seattle pi) When Republicans take control of Congress next month, top on their agenda will be undoing environmental regulations they claim will harm the economy, chief among them President Barack Obama's plans to limit
by Steve Shaffer (Capitol Weekly) ... More than two millennia later, Sacramento has its own version of the Flat Earth Society—the California Air Resources Board (ARB). Only this time, the debate isn’t over the shape of the Earth; it’s over
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Boom times for two-product strategies? Can feed markets offer relief for the challenges on the fuel side? ... A two-product strategy is no guarantee of good times during period of rapidly falling energy prices. But
by Timothy Cama (The Hill) Lawmakers vented their frustration at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Wednesday over its repeated delays of the annual ethanol mandate. The Wednesday hearing in the House Oversight Committee’s subpanel on energy came weeks after the
(Algae Biomass Organization) The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO) submitted comments to the House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Energy yesterday calling on Congress to ensure that the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) includes timely approval for advanced biofuel pathways as
by Dina Cappiello (Associated Press) Heat-trapping pollution released into the atmosphere from rising exports of U.S. gasoline and diesel dwarfs the cuts made from fuel efficiency standards and other efforts to reduce global warming in the United States, according
by Mitra Taj (Reuters) World leaders have a "golden opportunity" with plunging oil prices to put a price on carbon emissions since cheaper fuel makes the move less risky politically, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Tuesday. Crude prices have
by Matt Carr (Biomass Magazine/Algae Biomass Organization) ... To control carbon dioxide (CO2), the agency (Environmental Protection Agency) places a significant emphasis on burying emissions underground (carbon capture and sequestration or CCS), but I believe it should equally encourage the
(Renewable Fuels Association) The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) has again called on the California Air Resource Board (CARB) to adjust its current indirect land use change (ILUC) analysis to better reflect real-world land use patterns. In written comments submitted on
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The fate of the Chicago E15 ordinance is still unknown. Passed by the city council’s finance committee on Monday, a vote by the full council was deferred Dec. 10 for at least a month.
by Baroness Kramer (Department for Transport) £25 million advanced biofuels demonstration competition is launched to support the development of a domestic advanced biofuel industry. I have today (10 December 2014) launched the government’s £25 million advanced biofuels demonstration competition to support the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) US biodiesel leader heads for the EU – what’s up with used cooking oil, and what is REG’s path forward with the German-based biodiesel producer? In Iowa, Renewable Energy Group and IC Green Energy announced
by James C. Greenwood (The Hill/Biotechnology Industry Organization) The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) failure to issue a final 2014 rule for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and other missteps are being misinterpreted or misconstrued as a sign that the program is
(Office of Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt) Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt has asked a federal appeals court to block new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations that discourage the use of ethanol by requiring states to adopt conclusions about ethanol
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