(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
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Brussels, The Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking, a public-private partnership between the EU and the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC), has approved the funding of 10 projects totalling €120 million to boost the EU capacity to
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... The news may come as a surprise to the broader community, since in March 2015 the company signed a multi-year collaboration agreement Raizen, a joint venture of Royal Dutch Shell and Cosan, to develop and produce
by Greg Hack and Kasia Kovacs (Kansas City Star) When the Environmental Protection Agency proposed lowering the country’s ethanol-use mandates for this year and next, it set up a public hearing to let people tell it what they thought. On
(Argus Media) Oregon governor Kate Brown (D) and a group of eight legislators have negotiated a proposal to kill the state's new low-carbon fuel standard (LCFS) in return for a 4¢/USG rise in the gasoline tax that would pay for
(Novinite.com) ... In order to comply with EU rules, Bulgaria has set itself the following mandatory national biofuel targets: 10% share of renewables and biofuels in transport and 6% share of the total greenhouse gas savings, taking into account only biofuels
by Roseline Okere (The Guardian (Nigeria)) The International Energy Agency (IEA) has projected that increasing investment in renewable energy technologies in the power sector will increase from $270 billion in 2015 to $400 billion in 2030. ... It stated that lower oil prices
by Jarrett Renshaw (Reuters/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Sinking lease rates, weak crude prices and tough new safety measures for transporting oil by rail have spurred a resurgence in hauling ethanol on the U.S. rail network, as some train companies convert tank cars
(Biofuels Digest) “DuPont believes the proposed 2014 to 2016 Renewable Fuel Standards (RFS) rule is misguided and is a major step backward. Since the RFS was first enacted, the United States has quickly risen to lead the world in biofuels
(Biofuels Digest) Thank you, my name is Brian Jennings, and I’m the Executive Vice President of the American Coalition for Ethanol. I’m pleased to report that more than 100 people representing ACE member companies will testify at today’s hearing, as
(Biofuels Digest) Good morning, my name is Geoff Cooper and I am representing the Renewable Fuels Association. By any measure, the RFS has been a tremendous success. It has stimulated growth in biofuel production, revitalized rural economies, reduced GHG emissions,
(Biofuels Digest) Good afternoon, My name is Steve Murphy and I am the General Manager for two POET Biorefining plants. ... I am here to make one and only one point today. What this proposed rule does will harm those who
(Uganda Media Center, Office of the President) Although Government has a policy in place (The Renewable Energy Policy for Uganda, 2007) which provides for the blending of biofuels with fossil fuels (Petroleum Fuel) in regulated proportions, the Oil Marketing Companies
(Real Estate Rama) Master Limited Partnerships Parity Act would give renewable energy projects access to a tax advantage currently available only to oil, gas, and coal projects U.S. Representatives Mike Thompson (D-CA-05) and Ted Poe (R-TX-02), and Senators Chris Coons (D-DE)
by Jayanta Mallick (The Hindu) The Union Shipping Ministry has decided to utilise 20 per cent of its diesel requirement through bio-diesel at 12 major ports. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways and Shipping after inaugurating country's first bio-diesel dispensing
by Franklin Orr (Biofuels Digest/Bioenergy 2015) Biofuels are a very important part of America’s economic and energy future. On the geopolitical side, from Ukraine to the Middle East we see events that threaten energy stability. We see domestic manufacturing fighting its
by Senator Amy Kolbuchar (Biofuels Digest/Bioenergy 2015) I want to spend a moment looking at the badness in our energy policy, with a look back in history. Our first bad moment was after 9/11, we were united and the President
(Politico Morning Energy/Bay Planning Coalition) The House won’t take any votes on its Interior-EPA appropriations bill until next month, but a conservative group already is urging Republicans to back an amendment to defund the Renewable Fuel Standard. FreedomWorks sent the
by Bill Brandon (Leaders in Energy) ... This two-part White Paper presents the proposition that we need to transition away from the legacy fuels we use today to modern liquid and gas fuels[1] that: 1) reduce or eliminate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
by Bill Brandon (Leaders in Energy) Our country has seen many transitions in travel technologies and fuels. In the first installment I reviewed our transition from 1) barley and oats for our horses and mules to high carbohydrate corn for
(Associated Press/Fox Business) The growth of renewable energy outpaced that of fossil fuels in the electricity sector last year, with a record 135 gigawatts of capacity added from wind, solar, hydropower and other natural sources, a new study shows. That's more than
Martin O'Malley (USA Today) ... New technologies now put an independent clean energy future decidedly within our reach as a nation. ... I would keep domestically produced oil and gas in the U.S. READ MORE
(Diesel Technology Forum/PR Newswire) ... Advanced Biofuel Capabilities Enhance Diesel as a Sustainable Transportation Option -- Diesel engines found in vehicles ranging from passenger vehicles all the way to large tractors are capable of operating on blends of high quality, bio-based
(Agriculture Energy Coalition/BusinessWire) The House Appropriations Committee’s Fiscal Year 2016 Agriculture Appropriations Bill would reduce mandatory spending levels for important Energy Title programs, including the Renewable Energy for America Program, Biomass Crop Assistance Program, and the Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical and Biobased
(Biofuels Association of Australia) The Biofuels Association of Australia (BAA) welcomes the bipartisan agreement on the taxation of biodiesel and ethanol produced in Australia. The agreement will see the excise rate payable on biodiesel phased in in equal increments over the
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) ... Regarding the June 25 public hearing on EPA’s proposed volume obligations under the RFS, Dinneen says the agency has already received about 250 requests to testify and he is encouraging everyone possible to turnout. “I want
(US Environmental Protection Agency/Federal Register) The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a public hearing to be held in Kansas City, Kansas on June 25, 2015 for the proposed rule ‘‘Renewable Fuel Standard Program: Standards for 2014, 2015, and
By Brian Deese and Jason Furman (The Washington Post/senior adviser to President Obama/Council of Economic Advisers) ... A new report this week by the Council of Economic Advisers documents that this drop in consumption is one of the biggest surprises in
by Mark Dorenkamp (Brownfield Ag News) Minnesota Senator Al Franken calls the revised Renewable Fuels Standard an improvement from EPA’s proposal two years ago but still a step backwards for the industry. Franken tells Brownfield he went right to President Obama after
by Christopher Doering (Des Moines Register) Renewable fuels could be an issue in the race for the White House as indecisive voters in Iowa look for a way to whittle down a crowded field of Republican candidates, trade groups and polling
by Susanna Twidale and Barbara Lewis (Reuters) * Renewable energy to account for 15.3 percent in 2014 * France, Malta, Belgium and Spain also need to boost efforts * Transport challenge proving difficult (Adds reaction, detail on transport sector) The European
(ePURE) On the occasion of its annual general assembly, the European renewable ethanol association (ePURE) has today released its annual 2015 State of the Industry Report. The annual report offers a comprehensive look at the European ethanol industry, its market and policy
(Paultan.org) Following BMW Malaysia announcing it found “technical challenges” running its diesel engines on B10 biodiesel (10% palm-based biodiesel/90% petroleum diesel blend, will reportedly be implemented nationwide by October), and that its engines can take up to B7, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia,
by Scott Irwin and Darrel Good (FarmDocDaily) .. In our first farmdoc daily article (June 3, 2015) after the release of the (RVO) proposal, we analyzed whether the renewable (ethanol) mandates proposed by the EPA, while lower than statutory levels, were still
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) On June 15, the USDA’s Office of Procurement and Property Management published two final rules in the Federal Register related to biobased products. One rule amends regulations concerning the voluntary labeling program for biobased products,
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) On June 17, Fuels America hosted a press call during which American farmers and representatives of the biofuel industry discussed how legislative changes to the renewable fuel standard (RFS) would threaten America’s security, consumers, climate
by Anna Simet (Biomass Magazine) U.S. EPA Acting Assistant Administrator Janet McCabe fielded dozens of hard questions and endured heavy scrutiny during a June 18 hearing held to discuss the agency’s management of the federal renewable fuel standard (RFS). Chairing the hearing
by Chris Prentice (Reuters) The lowest oil prices in over six years have fueled a resurgence in U.S. gasoline use in recent months as more Americans take to the road. Demand is expected to climb 1.5 percent this year to nearly
by David Morgan (Planet Ark) U.S. cars and light trucks will become more fuel efficient and safer -- but also more expensive -- by the end of the next decade, as a result of increasingly stringent environmental standards, a new research
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... In Washington, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the release of a new report that shows the U.S. biobased industry in 2013 contributed four million jobs and $369 billion to the US economy. He also announced changes under
by Devin Henry (The Hill) Global warming is happening, human activity is causing it and more needs to be done, especially by the world’s governments and policymakers, to stop it, Pope Francis writes in his landmark encyclical on the environment,
by Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuels USA) The following are key excerpts from Pope Francis' Encyclical, “Laudato Si,” or “Praised Be,” in which he calls for renewable fuel use, energy efficiency, transition from harmful, smoky cooking fuels that foster deforestation, and other
by John Davis (DomesticFuel.com) NASCAR fans are serving as an important source for support of ethanol and letting the Obama Administration know their displeasure over the government’s proposal on how much of the green fuel is to be mixed into
Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) was signed into law in 2011 and this summer the rulemaking for the new act might finally be complete. Because it includes safety of animal food as well as human food,
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The USDA has announced its intent to prepare a programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS) to assess the potential environmental consequences associated with proposed discretionary changes to the Biomass Crop Assistance Program. A public comment
(US Department of Agriculture) 2014 Farm Bill provisions will expand opportunities in the biobased sector by promoting advanced biofuels, renewable chemicals, and biobased product manufacturing efforts Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the release of a new report that shows the
by Christopher Doering (Des Moines Register) Iowa's congressional delegation asked the Environmental Protection Agency on Monday to hold a hearing in the state about the agency's recent proposal lowering how much ethanol must be blended into the gasoline supply through
by Russell Hubbard (World-Herald) Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts said on the last day of his European trade mission that federal rulings on ethanol mandates are obstructing the expansion of a growing Danish company with a substantial Cornhusker State presence. Novozymes, a
by Chris Prentice (Reuters) Oil companies ultimately recover their costs of complying with the U.S. biofuels program, according to an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) analysis that marks the regulator's clearest challenge yet to a key criticism of the policy. The report,
by Chris Prentice (Reuters) Oil traders are rushing to import ethanol from Brazil for the first time this year after U.S. regulators moved to increase use of advanced biofuel, opening a wide spread in the niche biofuel credits market. The premium
(Australian Associated Press/The Guardian) Queensland premier visits Pentagon in trade mission to US and says navy’s goal to shift to renewable energy could aid industry at home -- The US navy could help create a thriving biofuels industry in regional Queensland,
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) On June 11, Fuels America hosted a conference call to discuss a memo from the U.S. EPA that demonstrates the renewable fuel standard (RFS) does not increase—and, in fact, works to decrease—retail gas prices. ... Geoff
by Kent Bushman (Salt Lake Tribune/Utah Farmers Union) ... And the news just keeps getting better, as new technologies are increasing ethanol yields while improving efficiencies and allowing ethanol biorefineries to make better use of natural resources. In fact, over the past
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Australia, the Queensland state government has released the Towards a clean energy economy: achieving a biofuel mandate for Queensland discussion paper, which outlines key issues associated with the proposed mandate and provides details on the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Iowa, America’s Renewable Future (ARF) has publicly released a diverse coalition of partners that includes Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, Iowa Corn Growers, Growth Energy, and POET among many others. ARF released the following statement: “We
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. EPA’s May 29 proposed renewable volume obligations (RVO) is under scrutiny by University of Illinois economists in recent FarmDocDaily posts. Jonathan Coppess examines the argument that EPA appears to be turning the
by Jennifer Yachnin (E&E/Governor's Wind Energy Coalition) Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Saturday pitched an aggressive commitment to promoting renewable energy, vowing to make the United States a “clean energy superpower” if she wins election to the White House
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and the Governors' Biofuels Coalition held a briefing examining the current state and potential future of the transportation fuel supply. While combustion engines are more efficient and cleaner
by Joanne Ivancic* (Advanced Biofuels USA) In the world of renewable jet fuel, hopes that the Environmental Protection Agency's finding that greenhouse gases from aircraft pose a risk to human health might lead to incentives for development and use of aviation
(My Sunshine Coast) KAP member for Mount Isa Rob Katter will be working hard at the bowsers tomorrow morning (June 9, 2015), pumping discount Ethanol fuel for Brisbane motorists to put to the test. Fueling up with Minister Mark Bailey and
by Valerie Volcovici (Planet Ark) Agency announces an Aug. 11 hearing, a 60-day window for the public to weigh in -- The Obama administration on Wednesday released a scientific finding that greenhouse gases from aircraft pose a risk to human health,
by Bill Brandon and Richard Ezike (Biofuels Digest) The debate touting butanol over ethanol as a ‘better’ fuel component has gone on for quite some time in biofuel circles. Those who support butanol point to three key factors: • Butanol has
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. EPA recently published a notice in the Federal Register soliciting public comments on a proposed information collection request (ICR) related to the voluntary renewable identification number (RIN) quality assurance program under the
by Jan Koninckx (Des Moines Register/DuPont) ... With the vast majority of gas pumps only delivering gasoline that is a 10 percent ethanol blend (E10), consumers have been locked out of buying higher blends of renewable fuels. For blends like E15 and
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Iowa, the state legislature passed legislation that allows E15 infrastructure investments to become eligible for Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure grants. Previously, the infrastructure program funds were only available for blender pumps and dispensers offering E85.
by Bill McKibben (350.org/The Washington Post) ... Exxon Mobil wouldn’t invest in renewable energy, ( Exxon Mobil CEO Rex) Tillerson said, because clean technologies don’t make enough money and rely on government mandates that were (remarkable choice of words) “not sustainable.” He
by Anna Yukhananov (Reuters) Governments around the world charge prices for energy that do not account for its harmful environmental, health and other side effects, amounting to a $5.3 trillion "post-tax" subsidy this year, the International Monetary Fund said in a
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Sweden, St1 Biofuels Oy delivered its first Etanolix plant to North European Bio Tech Oy (NEB) in Gothenburg, which recycles feedstocks such as biowaste and process residue from local bakeries and bread from shops
(California Air Resources Board) At its July 2015 hearing, the California Air Resources Board (Board) will consider the re-adoption of the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). Among the staff proposals the Board will be considering is the adoption of
(Diesel Technology Forum) Public funding provided over many years to incentivize the purchase of alternatives to diesel for heavy-duty trucks has barely made a small dent in introducing these alternatives into the vehicle population. Yet one alternative fuel is making
by Tony Moore (The Age) The Queensland Government wants to boost the proportion of sugarcane-derived ethanol in petrol sales from 1.2 per cent to 2 per cent by July 2016, as a catalyst to a $1.8 billion bio-refining industry. It wants to
(WNAX) National Corn Grower Association members are concerned with the recent volume proposal put out by the Environmental Protection Agency for the Renewable Fuel Standard. NCGA leaders say with their proposal, the EPA has cut 3.75 billion gallons of corn
by Brian West (Oak Ridge National Laboratory/AmazonAWS.com) Presentation for Hudson Institute Conference, "Fueling American Growth" May 7, 2015 READ MORE and MORE (SAE)
by Geoff Cooper (Des Moines Register) Letter to Editor: The Environmental Working Group’s claim that ethanol is worse for the climate than the Keystone pipeline is like saying apple juice is worse for the human body than arsenic. The Department of Energy’s
by Chuck Grassley (The Iowa Republican) ... Consumers like biofuels. The idea of a homegrown product that reduces emissions harmful to the environment and brings the United States freedom from volatile oil-producing countries is appealing. The EPA should know this. Instead, the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Anna Rath, CEO, NexSteppe; Jim Greenwood, CEO, BIO; and Dario Giordano, CEO, Beta Renewables step onto the stage at the World Bioenergy Leadership Forum in Seville to look at what’s next in feedstock, processing technology,
by Greg Norman (Mongabay.com) ... Cross River State, a coastal jurisdiction in southeastern Nigeria, still bears the marks of the country's agricultural heritage when it was the world's largest palm oil producer. That lasted until the late 1960s, when Malaysia and Indonesia
by Douglas Faulkner (Biofuels Digest) ... It’s easy now to forget that not too long ago the Bill Clinton and George W. Bush Administrations, joined by supportive Congresses, pursued the goal of ending our reliance on ever-growing imports of oil through
by Valerie Volcovici (Planet Ark/Reuters) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency plans as soon as Friday to determine whether carbon dioxide from aircraft endangers public health, a first step to regulating emissions from the aviation sector, sources familiar with the rulemaking
(TruckingInfo.com) Nebraska's Gov. Pete Ricketts has approved legislation that will establish a new program offering rebates for alternative-fuel vehicle conversions, according to documents from the state legislature. The legislation (L.B. 581), called the Nebraska Clean-Burning Motor Fuel Development Act, will allocate
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Portrait of a breakout: Amyris, Cosan JV launches “next generation of revolutionary oils” touting “unmatched value” and “unbeatable economics” ... Novvi’s 100 percent renewable PAO is a clean, direct replacement for conventional Group IV PAO base oils
by Ronnie Shows (The Daily Caller) As the first legislator to introduce a biofuels bill in the Mississippi State House, I am deeply concerned that the Obama administration is making a huge mistake when it comes to determining the United
by Michael Hirtzer (Reuters) Expansion in the U.S. ethanol industry, stuck in neutral for more than a year as the government debated biofuel blending requirements, is now likely to come to a screeching halt. With the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency last
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Consumer-driven changes peck their way up the food chain to distillers grains producers. ... The move to minimize or eliminate nontherapeutic use of antibiotics in meat production is a response to the increasing
by Ben Geman (National Journal) Natural-gas profits have Shell and BP, among others, calling for increased use of carbon-emissions fees ahead of a make-or-break climate summit in Paris. Six oil and gas giants based in Europe have delivered an unusual joint
by Joby Warrick (The Washington Post) ... Soaring demand for this woody fuel has led to the construction of more than two dozen pellet factories in the Southeast in the past decade, along with special port facilities in Virginia and Georgia
(Task 39 Newsletter) General introduction - A fossil free energy supply by 2050 -- In 2012, the Danish parliament decided on a new climate act, which calls for an energy supply totally free of fossil fuels by 2050. This goal
(Shift the Subsidies, Natural Resources Defense Council, Oil Change International, and World Wide Fund for Nature) Over the last eight years, as the scope of the climate crisis has deepened, nations of the world and particularly of the G20 and G7,
by Terence Creamer (Engineering News) ... For Illovo, meanwhile, electricity generation forms part of a larger downstream diversification strategy, designed to lower the group’s reliance on sugar prices. Besides power, the JSE-listed group is also moving to expand its ethanol production
.jpg)
