by Brent Erickson (Biofuels Digest/Biotechnology Industry Organization) After a painful and damaging two-year delay, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last week published Renewable Fuel Standards (RFS) for 2014, 2015 and 2016. Unfortunately, the agency finalized a rule riddled with contradictions and
(Argus Media) The Environmental Protection Agency expects sales of high-ethanol gasoline blends to climb next year but will not use federal mandates to compel retailers to offer the fuels. The distinction, laid out in a lengthy explanation of mandates finalized last
by Douglas Burns (Des Moines CityView) Governor’s son rips leading GOP presidential candidate over renewable energy -- Eric Branstad, leader of a fierce grassroots organization backing renewable-energy sources like ethanol, said last Thursday that Ted Cruz is far and away
by Taylor W. Anderson (The Bulletin) Environmental panel votes today on break for oil companies through 2018, new ethanol models -- Top environmental regulators are slated to finish rules today that include big changes for Oregon’s Clean Fuels program, three weeks
(Renewable Fuels Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) In a letter submitted Dec. 8 to the U.S. EPA, the Renewable Fuels Association urged the agency to take immediate administrative action to eliminate an arcane regulatory barrier that is impeding growth in the use
(Diesel Technology Forum) New York City Joins San Francisco and Oakland In Embracing New Blends Of Biodiesel & Renewable Diesel Fuels -- In light of the COP21 Paris Climate Conference, New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio announced a major initiative to reduce
(Business in Vancouver) With world’s focus on Paris, energy minister challenges other provinces to follow B.C.’s lead --- ... Alberta’s NDP government has pledged to introduce a $30 per tonne carbon tax, phase out coal power and cap oilsands emissions. But there’s
(Economic Times/India Times) Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL), a Government of India Public Sector Enterprises under Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Nagaland Bamboo Development Agency (NBDA), a state government undertaking, today inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for sourcing
(Global Renewable Fuels Alliance/Ethanol Producer Magazine) At the World Climate Summit under way in Paris, France, the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance in cooperation with (S&T)2 Consultants Inc., an internationally renowned energy and environmental consulting firm, released a new report “Green
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The release of the U.S. EPA’s final rulemaking for the renewable fuel standard (RFS) was a shock to the RINs market—the renewable identification numbers used by obligated parties to demonstrate compliance. Biodiesel, D4
by Gary Truitt (1010WCSI) ... Yet, the biggest indication that the President’s comments were flimflam came from within his own administration. Within hours of Mr. Obama’s remarks in Paris, the EPA announced the final rule on the blend levels of ethanol
by Douglas Burns (Daily Times Herald) Republican presidential candidate tours Coon Rapids POET plant --- ... America’s Renewable Future, a highly visible advocate at presidential campaign events in Iowa, scored Fiorina, a Republican, as “needs work” on the Renewable Fuel Standard,
by Rep. Krisit Noem (Argus Leader) ... Today, about one-third of the petroleum used in the United States is imported from foreign countries, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Most of this petroleum is refined into gas or diesel. Especially
(ScandAsia.com) Scania Malaysia (Scania) and Agensi Inovasi Malaysia or Malaysia Innovation Agency (AIM) are to collaborate in exploring viable commercial opportunities for biofuels from municipal waste in Malaysia; in line with the National Biomass Strategy 2020 (NBS 2020). ... Scania and AIM
by Bernard Mpofu (Zimbabwe Independent) Government has extended Hippo Valley Estates’ ethanol production licence as the company targets an annual output of 41 million litres, sources close to the developments have said. Hippo, a unit of South Africa’s Tongaat Hullett, has resumed
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Patiently, assuredly, one cluster at a time, Canada has amassed a potent armory of renewable fuel and biobased technologies, people and clusters of activity. Where’s it going? The Digest looks at a whole slew of
by Joseph Bebon (Next-Gen Transportation News) ... “Renewable natural gas, which provides even greater GHG emissions reductions, is gaining traction in some areas of the country like California,” he (Matthew Godlewski, president of NGVAmerica) notes. “And federal standards here in the
by Dave Eames, Ethan N. Elkind (Sacramento Bee/Kansas City Star) New federal rules issued last week will boost biofuel production nationwide; Biofuel comes from a variety of agricultural crops, algae, forest residue; California has not taken full advantage of low-carbon biofuel production We use
by Justin Ford (Las Vegas Sun) ... The U.S. military has long since decided climate change is a “threat multiplier.” Increasing global temperatures mean more dangerous situations around the world — stressing already-fragile states with resource shortages and mass migrations, for
by Jen Schwartz (Outside Online) Ending dependence on fossil fuels will require the movement to get better at one thing: compromise --- ... The problem? Many of those same environmentalists protest solar and wind projects because of the land they’d
by Anna Hirtenstein (Bloomberg) Spain approved a mandate for biofuels in its transportation sector with a target of blending at least 8.5 percent of the cleaner fuel in with gasoline and diesel by 2020. The mandatory minimum target will begin at 4.3
by Rob Nikolewski (Kansas Watchdog.org) ... “I think we have to see how this thing plays out. In the short run, of course, it’s a devastating blow,” said Neal Gillespie, Stevens County Economic Developmentdirector. “In the long run, I think there’s a
by Andy Balaskovitz (MiBiz) ... “Any reduction in the statutory amount is a roadblock to biofuels like ethanol,” said Jim Zook, executive director of the Michigan Corn Growers Association. “By failing to set (blend) levels at the statutory amount, it appears the
by Scott Canon (Kansas City Star) ... The discussion of ethanol policy puts conservatives in an awkward spot --- ...Yet even in Iowa this year, Grain Belt concerns now draw less attention than in the past. That could mean that expansion
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Are high prices good for renewable fuels? The hard data actually goes the other way. The Digest investigates. ... What we can see from the following chart is confirmation that fracking and other enhanced oil
by Scott Irwin and Darrel Good (FarmDocDaily) The EPA released the final rulemaking for 2014-2016 RFS standards on Monday, November 30. This release follows preliminary rulemaking released on May 29 of this year. Figures 1 and 2 are based on
(ePURE/Ethanol Producer Magazine) The global biofuels and industrial biotechnology sectors have united to call on world leaders attending the COP21 in Paris to support a global commitment to replace at least 15 percent of the world’s total oil use in
by Zahara Hirji (InsideClimate News) The list of institutions committed to ridding their portfolios of at least some fossil fuel interests has surged in recent months, organizers say. --- More than 500 institutions representing about $3.4 trillion in assets have
by Jeff Plungis (Bloomberg) Batteries generate power less efficiently as temperatures drop. --- ... The trouble is, except for Oregon, none of the states have California’s temperate weather. The batteries used by the greener cars generate electricity from chemical reactions that work
(Global Renewable Fuels Association) Today, at the World Climate Summit under way in Paris, France, the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA) in cooperation with (S&T)2 Consultants Inc., an internationally renowned energy and environmental consulting firm, released a new report “Green
by Alex Seitz-Wald (NBC News) Democratic presidential Bernie Sanders rolled out an expansive climate plan Monday that aims to cut U.S. carbon emissions 80% by 2050 and create 10 million clean energy jobs. To accomplish these goals, the 16-page plan takes
by Natalia Ramos (Yahoo! Finance/Agence France Press) Brazil thinks it has the sweet solution to ridding the world of reliance on fossil fuels for cars and other vehicles: sugar cane ethanol 2.0. Ethanol -- fuel derived from agricultural products -- is
by Lenore Taylor (The Guardian) Businessman and innovator says a scheme similar to the one Australia abandoned would make a huge difference in tackling climate change --- Addressing students at the Sorbonne University on the sidelines of the Paris climate
(The Daily Caller News Foundation) Rep. Mike Pompeo is demanding information on Abengoa, a Spanish green energy firm on the brink of bankruptcy that could leave U.S. taxpayers on the hook for billions of dollars. The Kansas Republican is worried Abengoa’s
(University of California Los Angeles) UCLA–UC Berkeley report finds that the state hasn’t taken full advantage of agricultural resources -- California has not taken full advantage of opportunities to increase its in-state production of biofuel, despite state policies that encourage
by Chris Arsenault (PlanetArk.org/Reuters) Wealthy nations spend 40 times as much money subsidizing fossil fuel production as they contribute to the Green Climate Fund to help poor countries adapt to global warming, a research group said in a study released on
by Ashley Ahearn (KUOW) A voter initiative that would put a tax on carbon emissions has gathered enough signatures to put it on the ballot in 2016. The measure would impose a tax of $25 for every ton of carbon emitted when
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Malawi, 24 cars have been fitted with conversion kits to allow any mixture of ethanol and gasoline up to 100% of either as part of a demonstration project in hopes the government will allow
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Kansas, Abengoa has decided to suspend production at its new cellulosic ethanol plant in Hugoton as well as its corn-based ethanol plant in Colwich as part of the recent financial troubles the company is
(Enalgae) EnAlgae has been about finding sustainable pathways for algal biomass. Initially the focus was all about energy, specifically as a biofuel. But our journey over the past four years shows that there's likely to be a different future ahead
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) As world leaders continue to meet in Paris for the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 21), the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA) is asking themto signal their support for biofuels as one of the tools to
(American Biogas Council) Rule falls short of recognizing biogas industry's full potential. -- The EPA released its long anticipated final rule for the renewable volume obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for the years 2014-2016. The action recognizes the
(Diesel Technology Forum) Underlying President Obama’s commitment for the United States to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 26 to 28 percent by 2025 at the COP21 climate convention in Paris, are reductions in emissions from power plants as well as advancements
by Danny King (AutoBlog) Washington, Colorado, Virginia And Oregon Also On Growing List -- These fees were put into place in order to offset the revenue shortfall from more fuel efficient vehicles, electrified powertrains, and the resulting lower gas
by Peter Zampa (KFYR TV) ... The RFS program comes up billions of gallons short of the ethanol consumption requirements laid out under the original RFS plan. "With corn prices being down as they are, with the ag economy in Iowa being in
by Timothy Cama (The Hill) An Iowa-based ethanol group is running advertisements against Sen. Ted Cruz, just as the GOP presidential hopeful's campaign is gaining steam in the Hawkeye State. The ads from America’s Renewable Future criticize Cruz’s position against the
(ABC News) Australia's biggest sugar milling company, Wilmar, says new legislation boosts the chances of bioethanol becoming a major contributor to the state's economy. The legislation passed through Queensland Parliament last night and sets a mandated level of 3 per cent
(Federation of German Bioethanol Industry, Google Translation) The Federation of German bioethanol industry (BDB e) informs that according to the Federal Agency for Agriculture and Food (BLE) which produced and certified biofuels in Germany have improved their carbon footprint again.
(Environment and Climate Change Canada /PR Newswire) On behalf of the Government of Canada, the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, congratulated Manitoba on its contributions to climate action in Canada. "Manitoba has placed great emphasis on green energy in
(25 x '25) It was with some ironic bemusement that biofuel advocates read the headlines from the mainstream media that said the Obama administration “raised’ the biofuel blending requirements under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) rule announced this week by
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... “In the old days, ethanol was a political commodity,” Informa Economics Senior VP Scott Richman told the crowd assembled at the Canadian Bioeconomy Conference in Vancouver this week, organized by the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association. “Now, it’s
by Brooke Coleman (Advanced Biofuels Business Council/Times Argus) In “Ethanol is a bad deal for Vt.” (online Nov. 21), a group called the American Council for Capital Formation argues that ethanol is a bad deal for Vermonters economically and environmentally. The allegations
(Oklahoma Farm Report) Leaders of the North American Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance (NACSAA) told policy makers and others attending climate talks here this week that agriculture can provide impactful and measurable contributions to global efforts to reverse climate change. Speaking at
by Pat Rizzuto (BNA) The federal approach to regulating bioengineered products is a confusing labyrinth, according to companies, trade associations, advocacy groups and scientists. Companies must follow a maze to identify which agencies may have jurisdiction over a bioengineered product and
by Robert Hackett (Fortune) ... Farmers and ethanol companies welcomed the change, according to the Wall Street Journal, since the cuts laid out earlier this year were originally more severe. But they were still dissatisfied that the requirement did not meet
by Sallese Gibson (ABC News) Australia's bioenergy industry wants the State and Federal governments to get behind the sector with supporting policies and subsidies to promote growth. About 300 people gathered in Launceston for the annual Bioenergy Australia conference to look at
by Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn (News Locker) Voluntary measures and government targets are great – but it is legislation that will push European palm oil users to true sustainability. The food sector could learn a lesson or two from biofuel here. READ MORE
by LeAnne Graves (The National) ... McDonald’s UAE fleet will complete 5 million kilometres this month, or the distance to Mars and back, fuelled entirely by biodiesel, thanks to a partnership formed four years ago between the world’s largest fast-food chain and
by Vonnie Estes (Biofuels Digest) ... But as the land, water, and fossil fuel resources those systems rely on become scarcer, biology is offering new ways to engineer solutions. Synthetic biology redesigns existing organisms for specific purposes to produce safe products
by Jason Nobel (Des Moines Register) Jeb Bush faulted the Environmental Protection Agency for failing to provide “clarity” with the updated ethanol mandate released on Monday, but was generally supportive of the levels prescribed. The Republican presidential candidate has targeted 2022
by Eric Roston (Bloomberg) ... The minority who remain skeptical of climate science—a group that includes presidential hopefuls and powerful lawmakers—can count on a dedicated network of several thousand professional supporters. ... A loose network of 4,556 individuals with overlapping ties to 164
by Jordan Chariton (The Wrap) Steve Coll disputes oil company’s allegations that postgraduate students’ story misled regarding Exxon ignoring risks of climate change Columbia University Journalism school’s Dean of Students Steve Coll fired back on Tuesday at Exxon Mobil’s allegations that
by Ashley Halsey III (The Washington Post) ... The long-sought bill protects funding for transit from those who argued it should be cut loose from the highway bill, increases money for pedestrian and bicycle programs that also have come under attack, and
by Mark Hensch (The Hill) Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Saturday called for Republicans to abandon the corrupting influence of the Koch brothers and other wealthy energy magnates. “This is a party that rejects science and refuses to understand that climate
by Carol Werner (The Hill/Environmental and Energy Study Institute) Sometimes, a solution is so blindingly obvious it is hard to see. What if the United States and the rest of the industrialized world stopped subsidizing coal, oil and gas, and
by Timothy Cama (The Hill) Two-thirds of Americans want the United States to join an international agreement to fight climate change, a new poll found. The survey, from the New York Times and CBS, could provide a tailwind to the United
by George Dvorsky (Gizmodo) UK-based activist group Brandalism has peppered the streets of Paris with 600 fake outdoor ads meant to expose the hypocrisy of COP21 Climate Conference corporate sponsors. The fake, unauthorized outdoor ads were strategically placed around Paris this past weekend,
by Tiffany Stecker (E&E/Governors' Biofuels Coalition) The ink on U.S. EPA’s final rule for the renewable fuel standard is barely dry, but long-standing foes in Congress are already aiming to block the biofuels program. Yesterday, Rep. Bill Flores (R-Texas), who spearheaded
by Tim Devaney (The Hill) The Obama administration set new standards Monday for ethanol levels in fuel, enraging competing industries that had battled for months to influence the contentious regulations. The final renewable fuel standard (RFS) unveiled by the Environmental Protection Agency
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced final volume requirements under the Renewable Fuel Standard program today for the years 2014, 2015 and 2016, and final volume requirements for biomass-based diesel for 2014 to
by Michael McAdams (Advanced Biofuels Association/Biomass Magazine) To say that 2015 was an overall disappointment for the biofuels industry would be an understatement. With the price of oil hovering from the high $30s to the mid-$50s all year long, the
(Advanced Biofuels Association) In response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) release of final renewable volume obligations for 2014 through 2016 under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), the Advanced Biofuels Association (ABFA) has issued the following statement attributable to Michael
(Growth Energy) Final rule breaks through so-called blend wall -- Growth Energy and its members are pleased to see that the President and the Environmental Protection Agency have recognized the need to move the renewable fuel industry past the so-called blend
(Renewable Fuels Association) Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its final Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) renewable volume obligations (RVOs) for 2014, 2015 and 2016 that refiners have to meet in blending biofuels with gasoline. The agency increased the blending
(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced final volume requirements under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program today for the years 2014, 2015 and 2016, and final volume requirements for biomass-based diesel for 2014 to 2017.
(National Biodiesel Board) The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) applauded the Obama administration Monday for reducing America’s dependence on high-carbon fossil fuels by raising biodiesel volumes under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). “This decision means we will displace billions of gallons of
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Iowa, Sen. Marco Rubio speaking about the Renewable Fuel Standard in Council Bluffs Iowa, said “Whether you like it or not, it isn’t fair to yank away something in the middle of it, after
(Enerkem) Enerkem Inc. (www.enerkem.com), a waste-to-biofuels and chemicals producer, is pleased to have been selected by the World Intellectual Property Organization and the Institut national de la propriété industrielle (France's national institute for the protection of intellectual property or INPI)
by Marcel van Berkel (GF Biochemicals/Biofuels Digest) There is a clear and growing need for new chemical building blocks. ... For instance, fuels and additives derived from local-sourced cellulosic waste can offset concerns about first generation biofuels. With a biobased fuel that
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest/U.S. Department of Energy) In Washington, as part of a series of linked announcements for the launch of the Paris Climate Summit this week, the Obama Administration launched the Clean Energy Investment Center to advance private, mission-oriented investment
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In France, President Obama and French President Hollande, along with a wide range of other top global leaders, are announcing today the launch of “Mission Innovation,” a 20-country initiative to dramatically accelerate public and private
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In France, 28 business leaders and organizations launched the Breakthrough Energy Coalition, with Coalition chairman Bill Gates stating that “The existing system of basic research, clean energy investment, regulatory frameworks, and subsidies fails to sufficiently
(Carbon War Room/Rocky Mountain Institute) Eighteen years after shipping was recognized under the Kyoto Protocol as an industry in need of emissions reductions, the Paris climate talks run the risk of letting the issue slip under the radar once again.
by Emily Chow (Reuters) * Expected to boost biodiesel output capacity by a fifth next year * It will be enough to support B15 and B20 next year-industry exec * Automotive Industries Association says confident to process B20 Biodiesel producers in Indonesia are
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Tough questions asked at industry conferences, and elsewhere on the industry circuit. Q. We’ve heard a lot about carbon capture, but what about carbon capture and conversion (to a more soluble, transportable and storable form), for
by Devin Henry (The Hill) ... Pro-ethanol forces say concern over the “blend wall” is overblown and that cars manufactured today are certified to run on higher-blend fuels. In their ads — in Washington and around the country — they say
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) Over the past several months, biomass stakeholders have expressed frustration at the administration’s failure to label the use of biomass feedstocks as carbon neutral. The pellet industry and biomass advocates argue, that so long as
by Chris Prentice (Reuters) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is widely expected to increase requirements for biofuels use through 2016 due to higher total fuel demand, when it publishes a final Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) rule in the coming
by Chuck Abbott (Agriculture.com) Americans are back on the road for the first time since 2008, lured, in part, by low gasoline prices expected to persist through the new year. Travel is forecast to exceed 3.1 trillion miles this year –
by Michael Taylor (Reuters) Indonesia's biodiesel consumption is seen soaring to 7.9 million kilolitres next year from 1.1-1.2 kilolitres in 2015, an industry body said, adding that increased demand was crucial for the country's to meet its commitments on cutting
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Switzerland, 11 leading low carbon fuel companies present a comprehensive guide that identifies a variety of available and accessible low carbon fuel solutions. ... Today, only 3% of transportation fuels are low carbon. According to the International
by Seth W Snyder (Editor, Contributor), James H Clark (Editor), George Kraus (Series Editor), Gene Peterson (Contributor), Beth Calabotta (Contributor), Stephen Hughes (Contributor), Robert E. Kozak (Contributor) & 14 more (Royal Society of Chemistry) Biobased products offer substantial economic and
by Seth Borenstein (Associated Press) When it comes to climate science, two of the three Democratic presidential candidates are A students, while most of the Republican contenders are flunking, according to a panel of scientists who reviewed candidates' comments. At the
by Whit Richardson (Portland Press Herald) Critics say the change would cost drivers, farmers, fuel sellers and small-engine equipment owners. ... But that report is clearly politically motivated to sway the EPA’s decision and its conclusions are unreliable, said Jonathan
(Biofuels International) Bangladeshi Minister of Agriculture Matia Chowdhury has criticised large multinational corporations for promoting biofuels. The minister spoke at a keynote on the 40th anniversary of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in Washington, D.C., US. Chowdhury pointed out that
by David Banks ( American Council for Capital Formation/Times Argus) Not a single gallon of fuel ethanol is produced in Vermont, and almost none of the corn harvested in the state is used for commercial purposes, according to USDA data. ... The
(Advanced Biofuels Association) Today the Advanced Biofuels Association sent a letter to Senate Finance Committee leadership that expressed concern about changes to the biodiesel and renewable diesel blenders tax credit. The full letter is available below and the following statement is attributable
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington state, King County Superior Court Judge Hollis R. Hill issued a groundbreaking ruling that the “scientific evidence is clear that the current rates of (emissions) reduction mandated by Washington law. . . cannot
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Starting January 2016, Oregon’s Clean Fuels Standard goes into effect, meaning you can be paid for the clean fuels you produce or build infrastructure for. For example, do you import or produce biogas in Oregon
by Matt Carr (Algae Biomass Organization/Biofuels Digest) ... Low oil prices, company mergers or evolving business strategies may be easily spun by the skeptics as reasons to fret, but in the case of our industry they are almost all illustrations of
(Washington Post/Reuters) The government of Canada’s Alberta province, home to the country’s controversial oil sands, said Sunday that it will implement an economy-wide tax on carbon emissions in 2017, addressing long-standing criticism that it is not doing enough to combat
(Renewable Fuels Association) Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) President and CEO Bob Dinneen dismissed a push poll released today by the American Petroleum Institute (API), which claimed that a majority of voters are concerned about using ethanol in their engines and
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) In the lead-up to the administration’s release of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), it’s been a veritable who’s who of renewable fuels and petrochemical refiners visiting the White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
by Dr. Bruce E. Dale (Michigan State University/25 x '25) U. S. renewable fuel policy has two primary objectives: 1) to reduce petroleum imports and thereby increase energy security and 2) to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) generation in the transportation
by Chris Prentice (Reuters) U.S. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and three other lawmakers are pressing President Barack Obama not to back-peddle on the country's biofuels program just days ahead of global climate change talks in Paris. The Democratic Representatives -
by Susan Boland and Stefan Unnasch (Life Cycle Associates) The RFS2 has resulted in aggregate GHG emissions reductions from the use of biofuels, which exceed the original projections from the final Rule. The RFS2 has resulted in significant GHG reductions, with
by Joe Hrdlicka (Biofuels Digest/Iowa Biotechnology Association) Iowa’s investment in biofuels, driven by the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), has brought the state new business and job opportunities. Iowa is home to three of the first-in-the-nation cellulosic biofuel refineries that
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Belgium, the European Commission released its 1st State of the Energy Union, presented by Vice-President Šefčovič. Thomas Nagy, Executive Vice-President of Novozymes, does not agree the policy went far enough in addressing how the
by former Sen. Byron Dorgan (The Hill) ... Like a smart poker player, we have to capitalize on the good cards we have. One of those is biodiesel, a renewable fuel made from recycled cooking grease, plant oils, and animal fats that
by Mackenzie Ryan (Des Moines Register) ... After Republican rival Ted Cruz took aim at sugar subsidies during last week's GOP debate, Iowa agriculture and biofuel leaders began questioning how Rubio’s support for that industry compares with his stance on renewable fuels made from corn
by Tony Antonelli (Next Gen Transportation News) ... Notably, three of the bills – H.B.4736, H.B.4738 and H.B.4614 (now P.A.174, P.A.176 and P.A.178, respectively) – directly impact the clean fuels industry. P.A.174: Sponsored by State Rep. Michael McCready, this legislation increases registration
by Marita Noon (Breitbart) Early in his campaign, now top-tier Republican presidential candidate, Ben Carson, supported ethanol—a position for which I called him out. It has long been thought, that to win in Iowa, a candidate must support ethanol. However, in a
(Sustainable Business) Corporations obviously has a big role to play in tackling climate change - so big, in fact, that the collective actions of just 140 companies could get the world 65% of the way toward constraining temperature rise to 2°C. In getting there,
by WIlliam Tucker (Fuel Freedom Foundation) ... Cellulosic ethanol, capable of recycling crop wastes into fuel, may be here. On the day before Halloween, the DuPont Chemical Company opened what it claimed to be the world’s largest cellulosic ethanol plant in
(Ohio's Country Journal) National Corn Growers Association President Chip Bowling has urged President Obama to reverse the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed cuts in the Renewable Fuel Standard’s volume obligation and adhere to the statute of the law itself. ... “Contrary to
by Melissa Pariettin(MSN.com) ... Many factors determine the price of food in the U.S. If the introduction of the RFS (Renewable Fuel Standard) had as significant an impact on food prices as certain outlets have suggested, then the increase would be
(Business Standard) India needs to emanate innovative ideas to manufacture bio-diesel by efficiently utilising waste resources, besides judiciously using water and other crucial resources, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said here on Tuesday. "We need to find an alternative model for growth
(National Biodiesel Board) Critical Incentive Has Remained Expired All Year -- Nearly 100 biodiesel leaders from across the country will press lawmakers on Capitol Hill Tuesday to reinstate the biodiesel tax incentive as a domestic production credit in line with
by Caroline Knight (Platts The Barrel) The European ethanol community gathered in Budapest over the first week of November to look at the current challenges and opportunities facing the ethanol, and wider biofuels, markets. As the dust settles and the excitement
(Bloomberg/McClatchy-Tribune/Star Tribune) Low prices at the gas pump have put a persistent squeeze on Midwest ethanol producers, but most are staying profitable. Of eight Minnesota-affiliated ethanol producers tracked by the Star Tribune, all but one made money in the third quarter,
by Geoff Cooper (Renewable Fuels Association) One of the oil industry’s favorite talking points in its campaign to repeal the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) is the argument that “gasoline demand is falling,” and thus refiners have fewer gallons of gasoline
by Matt Reese (Ohio's Country Journal) ... The heated debate over the RFS really ramped up in recent weeks with dueling ad campaigns in Ohio and Washington, D.C. highlighting very different sets of facts pertaining to ethanol’s impact on the
by Anna Hirtenstein (Bloomberg/The Washington Post) A brew made from sawdust and water hyacinth flowers may help reduce the millions of lives lost across the developing world from the fumes of ramshackle cooking equipment. Those are the ingredients being used by Green
(SustainableBusiness.com) Yesterday, NY State took a stand against fossil fuels by rejecting a LNG plant, and now Portland, Oregon issued a landmark resolution that prevents new fossil infrastructure. The city council's unanimous resolution - the toughest fossil fuel export policy in the US - directs staff to propose modified codes that
(Union of Concerned Scientists) Do battery electric vehicles really reduce global warming emissions compared to gasoline cars? The answer is a clear yes, according to a new study from the Union of Concerned Scientists. Over their entire lifetimes—from manufacturing to driving
(Center for Regulatory Solutions) San Francisco billionaire Tom Steyer and other national political figures have sold out California’s economy by supporting the federal government’s corn ethanol mandate. The mandate has already imposed $13.1 billion in higher fuel costs on Golden
by Tom Buis (Growth Energy/Ethanol Producer Magazine) With rapidly growing energy demands, our nation and others must invest in homegrown biofuels that are cleaner, cheaper and offer a more reliable supply than fossil fuels, writes Tom Buis. When EPA Administrator Gina
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... As the reader notes, much of the original underlying biomass is not utilized when we make a hydrocarbon fuel, or any fuel. Take the case of corn, for example, and conversion into ethanol. We start
by John Sedbrook (The Hill) The American Enterprise Institute’s Mark Perry wrote in these pages, in no uncertain terms, that the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and fuel ethanol is a “failure.” While one may wonder what motivations lie behind such a
by Patty Mann (Sidney Daily News) To the Editor: Each day we are flooded with advertisements and messages. It’s easy to not know who to trust or what information to believe. But sometimes we need to approach situations with more common
by Margo Oge & Robert Bryce (The Wall Street Journal/Governors' Biofuel Coalition) ... Robert Bryce, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, says the ethanol mandate is bad for consumers and the environment. Margo T. Oge, a former
(CBC News) With Paris summit looming, there will be 'regulatory risk' ahead of extreme weather risk --- Climate change risk has arrived as an investment issue, according to the world's largest institutional investment manager. BlackRock Inc., with $4.5 trillion US under
by Robert D. Atkinson (Information Technology & Innovation Foundation/Christian Science Monitor) Many of the recent attacks on government-backed research conveniently ignore the huge impact that such science has provided worldwide. --- Distrust of government has long focused on economic and
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... The US Environmental Protection Agency has discovered the following way of interpreting Energy Independence and Security Act. To wit, if the transportation fuels supply chain — controlled by guess whom — does not build renewable
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The International Energy Agency released its latest World Energy Outlook 2015, saying there are clear signs that an energy transition is under way. The report finds that the plunge in oil prices has
by Demetrio Bueno Carvalho (Astana Times) ... Referring to Brazilian experience, in the past 12 years the blending of ethanol with gasoline (anhydrousethanol) or its use as a pure fuel for automobiles (hydrated) prevented emissions of more than 300 million tonnes of
(UNICA/Green Car Congress) Breaking with its past support of EPA’s RFS implementation decisions, the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA) is formally opposing EPA’s proposal—due to be released in about two weeks—to reduce RFS volume targets for 2014, 2015, 2016 (earlier
by Karen Kasler (Ohio Public Radio) Ohio’s corn and ethanol industry is fighting back at ads it says are misleading and funded by big oil. ... The ad comes from the American Council for Capital Formation. It’s a conservative organization that
(Breitbart) Billionaire presidential candidate Donald Trump met with leaders of POET, an ethanol company here in Iowa, and some of the co-chairs of the American Renewable Fuels group to talk about the importance of ethanol. The event was closed to the
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chris Coon (D-DE) and Al Franken have introduced a new bill, S. 2271 the Renewable Chemicals Act of 2015. If passed, the legislation would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to
(Fuels America/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Fuels America is announcing a significant television campaign today calling out Rep. Peter Welch (VT-AL) for signing on to a Congressional letter that was authored by oil industry lobbyists. The first phase of the campaign includes 250
by Ben Riley-Smith (The Telegraph) Amber Rudd, the Energy Secretary, warns 'absence of a credible plan' will trigger repeated fines and a judicial review in leaked letter -- Britain will miss a major legally-binding renewable energy target, Amber Rudd, the
by Kenneth Armstrong (SOOTODAY.com) The so-called alternative energy capital of North America is going to get a little less green once the city completes a phasing out its use of biodiesel in Sault Transit buses. Nobody was more surprised to hear
by Nick Hromiak (Examiner.com) With winter oncoming, it customarily means an end to the boating season. As such it’s important to prepare the boats’ outboard and inboard motors for winter. Most important is managing the potential for engine damage because of
(Rural Energy News) The conclusions of five years of field research, released today, show that the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions produced by the UK’s arable sector are significantly lower than previously thought. The report is positive news for the UK’s
(Renewable Fuels Association) The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) sent a letter this week to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, urging him to promote the success of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) at the upcoming Paris climate talks, known as
by Kevin Johnson (Grist/Fusion) Veterans know firsthand the dangerous challenges that come from fossil-fuel dependence, and many are choosing to help the country transition to a clean-energy economy when they return home. As a veteran, I personally know the high price we
by Paul Alexander (Huffington Post) ... "That's the biggest risk we face -- not acting," Obama said. "Today, we're continuing to lead by example. Because ultimately, if we're going to prevent large parts of this earth from becoming not only inhospitable but
by Elizabeth Bast (PriceOfOil.org) G20 country governments are providing $452 billion a year in subsidies for the production of fossil fuels. Their continued support for fossil fuel production marries bad economics with potentially disastrous consequences for the climate. In effect, governments
by Rick Fedrizzi (US Green Building Council/GreenBiz) ... I’m constantly confronted by — and confronting — people who just don’t get who I am and what I do. You could say I stick out like a green thumb, thanks to my
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