by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) According to Robert White, the Market Development Director for the Renewable Fuels Association, ethanol is the biggest rural success story for American farmers in the past decade. White discussed with Jamie Johansen how ethanol has been a
by Bob Dinneen (Renewable Fuels Association) Prices for conventional renewable fuel RINs (Renewable Identification Number)[1]have increased significantly in recent weeks. Oil companies and various media outlets have suggested the increase in RIN prices is due to the arrival of the
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Rob Vierhout, secretary general of ePURE, the European Renewable Ethanol Association, spoke to Ethanol Producer Magazine about the recent European Union decision to impose an $83.03 per metric ton tariff on imported U.S. ethanol. ...Yes, we are
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) A Virginia Tech researcher, along with several others, have offered a way to ensure that plants grown for biofuels do not become an invasive weed. According to Jacob Barney, an assistance professor of plant pathology, physiology
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Bloomberg New Energy Finance has published a white paper outlining eight issues is has identified as being central to the biofuels industry in 2013. The report, titled “US biofuels in 2013: stories to watch,”
(Platts) Prices of renewable fuel credits, needed by refiners to comply with the nation's Renewable Fuel Standard, have skyrocketed over the past few months, an indication to some that the dreaded "blend wall" is close. The price for the traded Renewable
by Kelly Harrington-Andrejasich (SNL) Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson has a message for scientists: get involved in politics and policymaking. Delivering a keynote address at the MIT Energy Conference in Boston on March 2, Richardson encouraged students and others
(Stoel Rives/Biodiesel Magazine) Stoel Rives LLP, a national energy and biofuels law firm, has published a white paper that provides a comprehensive overview of proposed regulatory changes to the renewable fuel standard (RFS) program, specifically the renewable identification number (RIN)
(SFN Today) At the North Carolina Board of Agriculture’s meeting on Tuesday, whether or not to classify Arundo donax as a noxious weed in the state was at the top of the agenda. Vernon Cox, Division Director of the Plant
(Biofuels Center of North Carolina) The Perennial Grass Grower Assistance program was established in 2011 by N.C. State University with funding by the Biofuels Center of North Carolina to support the expansion of biomass acreage for biofuels production in the
by Nate Brown (Federal Aviation Administration) Nate Brown, Alternative Fuels Project Manager of the Federal Aviation Administration, presented an update on FAA's efforts at the Biomass 2012 conference. FAA's approach is advancing the use of alternative jet fuels. FAA collaborates via
by Terence Creamer (Polity.org.za) The South African government has confirmed that a carbon tax will be phased in from January 1, 2015, as part of South Africa’s efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change and encourage energy efficiency
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Recommendations from the Milken Institute — and a group of industry heavyweights — to accelerate the bioeconomy revolution. In California this week, the Milken Institute released a good read on the future of the bioeconomy, based
by Dennis Domrzalski (Albuquerque Business First) One of America’s largest producers of biodiesel said it might walk away from its unfinished biodiesel plant in Clovis if the state Legislature rolls back a mandate that all diesel fuel sold in the state
(The Star/Reuters) A blending tax credit for alternative fuels has helped re-open the way for shipments of palm biodiesel to the United States, giving top producers Indonesia and Malaysia an outlet for palm oil stocks at near-record levels. ...That overhang has
by Robin Whitlock (Renewable Energy Magazine) ...The Renewable Energy Association (REA) has welcomed Energy Secretary Ed Davey’s stance on biofuels at the European Energy Council. Mr Davey said that the idea of a one-size-fits-all approach to the issue of indirect land use change
by Art Hovey (Lincoln Star Journal) ...On a much brighter note, the managers of ethanol plants in Trenton and Ravenna are pushing hard to make a crop also known as milo the main ingredient in their renewable fuels recipes. ...Drought hardiness
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Take some process heat and steam and CO2 from an ethanol plant — add a greenhouse, then stir and bake — what do you get? A whole bunch of healthy food, and fuel, and
by Brad Plumer (The Washington Post) When it comes to energy, Ernest Moniz seems to be an “all of the above” guy. President Obama’s new nominee for the Energy Department has heaped praise on everything from solar panels and efficiency to nuclear
by Steven Mufson (The Washington Post) ...At MIT, he has directed the school’s Energy Initiative, where he oversaw reports on almost every aspect of energy. And he has been a member of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. Moniz, who
(Associated Press/The Washington Post) President Barack Obama is announcing his picks for three Cabinet-level jobs — nominees to run the Energy Department, Environmental Protection Agency and budget office. Obama says energy secretary nominee Ernest Moniz is a “brilliant scientist” who knows
by Brad Krohn (Biofuels Digest/United States EnviroFuels, LLC) Big Oil’s best kept secret from the American consumer is Brazil’s fuel ethanol mandate, which started during the 1970s as a result of the OPEC oil embargoes. In Brazil, where ethanol
by Brent Erickson (Biotechnology Industry Organization/Biofuels Digest) Are supporters of the oil industry grasping at straws to keep the U.S. military addicted to oil? ...Our reliance on foreign oil has already impacted military readiness, as spiraling oil prices forced the
by Ed Ulch (The Gazette) ... World Grain stated in its February issue that “Grain-based food companies had record stock performance in 2012.” Big oil companies are touting high food prices to stir the public and create resistance to renewable fuels
by Jeff Kessler (The Energy Collective) ...Unlike the current consumer technology industry, where new products can offer novel or superior services, transportation fuel options compete primarily on price and availability with limited room for product differentiation. Without substantial government support
(California Economic Summit) ... But as the Cali-Baja Mega-Region Initiative, as it's now called, celebrates its fifth year in existence next month, it has become clear these three distinct regions can not only overcome their differences—they've found new ways to thrive
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Algae, drop-in fuels get a kick-start from $3.2 billion ARENA funds In Australia, two key projects focused on algae biofuels and drop-in fuels from wood biomass and residues took major steps forwards with an Australian Government
(25 x '25) Renewable energy stakeholders were reminded again in recent weeks that misguided criticism and outright misinformation launched against the nation’s pursuit of a clean energy future must be turned back. ...An example of the latter is the recent publication
by Julia Whitty (The Atlantic/Mother Jones) ...To get to the Nimitz, 100 miles off Honolulu, our turboprop is flying a 50-50 blend of biofuel and standard JP-5 shipboard aviation fuel. The biofuel is made from algae plus waste cooking oil. This
(American Chemical Society) Amid efforts to expand production of biofuels, scientists are reporting new estimates that downgrade the amount of additional land available for growing fuel crops by almost 80 percent. Their report appears in the ACS journal Environmental
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As cellulosic biofuels technologies start to deploy — critics and friends ask, 36 billion gallons by 2022, can it still be done? Yep, there’s a pathway. In Washington, the US Energy Information Administration released a map
(Convenience Store News) Liquid fuels will continue to be the top fueling option for drivers for the next two-plus decades. However, the composition of these fuels will undergo significant change. According to the "Future of Fuels 2013" report released today by NACS,
(1011Now.com) ...Nebraska ethanol and ag leaders believe E15 is key in getting idle ethanol plants back to producing. Robert White, the director of market development for the Renewable Fuels Association, tells fuel retailers that gasoline demand dropped 6 percent last year as more
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A Feb. 26 hearing featured testimony of three E15 critics, including a representative of the Coordinating Research Council, which has authored research reports concluding E15 could damage engine valves and fuel system components. Absent
(Green Car Congress) US Commercial-scale production of cellulosic biofuels reached about 20,000 gallons in late 2012, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). EIA estimates this output could grow to more than 5 million gallons this year, as operations ramp up
(UN Food and Agriculture Organization) The way certification schemes for biofuels are structured makes it difficult for smallholder producers and many developing countries to participate in export markets, according to a new report from FAO. The report, Biofuels and the Sustainability Challenge,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... In the world of biofuels there is no sector as active as military and aviation biofuels in terms of willing customers. At the Low Carbon Fuel Conference, held over two days in conjunction with
by Leslie Brooks Suzukamo (TwinCities.com) Minnesota legislators will get a chance Wednesday, Feb. 27, to look at a bill that would allow a different kind of corn-based biofuel besides ethanol to be mixed with gasoline. The bill also would set an
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Fuels America is redoubling its efforts to point the finger at the real beneficiaries should the RFS be weakened and E15 smeared and it's not consumers or the environment. Fuels America had a little fun
by Louise Downing (Bloomberg BusinessWeek) ...“The biofuels sector faces difficult choices”, said Alejandro Zamorano Cadavid, U.S. analyst for biofuels at New Energy Finance. “Corn ethanol use has expanded rapidly in the U.S. as an oxygenate in gasoline. But this year,
(EurActiv.com) Biofuels made from food crops indirectly generate net emissions of greenhouse gases in the future, confirm the preliminary results of two studies on the history of the change in land use. If the peer does not affect the conclusions of
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As journalists, at the Digest our job is to ask the 7 Questions. Who, What, Where, When, How Much, How and Why. In aviation biofuels the task is made easier because we can say with
(Chromatin/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Chromatin Inc., a leading provider of innovative crop breeding technology, sorghum seed products and feedstocks, and Aemetis Inc., an advanced fuels and renewable chemicals company, have announced that they have entered into a multi-year agreement to source
(Environmental Protection Agency) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to identify additional fuel pathways that the Agency has determined meet the lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction requirements for biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel, and cellulosic biofuel
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space and Technology’s Subcommittee on Environment is scheduled to hold a hearing on mid-level ethanol blends on Feb. 26. The hearing will feature three witnesses: Robert
by Shawn McCarthy (Globe and Mail) The Conservative government is formally shutting down its controversial biofuels subsidy program, saying companies producing biodiesel have failed to meet ambitious production targets. In a letter sent Thursday, Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver rejected calls
(E-EnergyMarket.com) Energy ministers, meeting in Brussels on 22 February, have given a lukewarm reception to new rules proposed by the European Commission to limit the share of first-generation biofuels used in transport. The Irish Presidency of the EU asked ministers to
(Internal Revenue Service) The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (Pub. L. 112-240) retroactively extends certain fuel tax credits that expired on Dec. 31, 2011. The retroactively extended fuel tax credits are the biodiesel mixture credit, biodiesel credit, alternative fuel
by Col. Bill Holmberg (ret.) (American Council On Renewable Energy) “Up with octane, down with aromatics, and embrace the needs of people and nature,” says ACORE’s legendary biomass guru. But less freak-out, more reach-out is needed, he cautions. ...However, certain forces
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Could a switch to biofuels make super-dense JP-10 military aviation fuels affordable? Could F18A Super Hornets add payload or extend range? Currently reserved for tactical missiles because of cost, biofuels could provide a path to affordable
by Rod Adams (Atomic Insights) I’ve been spending the past hour or so reading an excellent paper written by a US Naval aviator titled Twenty-First Century Snake Oil: Why the United States Should Reject Biofuels as Part of a Rational National
by Hatman Bintang (Indonesia Today) State-owned petroleum company, PT Pertamina, signs Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Toyota Motor Corporation for research and development of biofuel, CNG, and Euro 4-standard fuel for land transportation. The agreement will run for two years. READ MORE
by Ben Goad (The Hill Reg Watch) A coalition of industry groups asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday to reconsider a lower court’s finding in favor of the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2011 decision to allow sales of the high-ethanol
by Jim Lane (BioBased Digest) ... It is a program that encourages companies to voluntarily register the amount of biobased content in their products — and, for those that pass a minimum content threshold, the BioPreferred program and its team
by Ewa Krukowska (Bloomberg) The European Union should phase out support for land-based biofuels that displace food production and indirectly boost emissions, eight lobbies said in a letter to the bloc’s energy ministers. The groups, including Transport and Environment, Greenpeace and Oxfam,
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) On Feb. 14, U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and David Vitter, R-La., introduced legislation that would overturn U.S. EPA approval of E15 for model year 2001 and newer light duty vehicles. The ethanol industry jumped
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Pending legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives aims to limit the ability of the U.S. EPA to increase the cellulosic biofuel requirements its sets each year under the renewable fuel standard (RFS). The
(Advanced Ethanol Council/Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Wall Street Journal editorial board has once again demonstrated that it either does not understand why Congress decided to require oil companies to use cellulosic biofuels five years ago or it is not willing to tell the truth
by Jim Snyder (Bloomberg/Renewable Energy World) President Barack Obama's proposal to fund clean-energy research with fees paid by oil and gas producers is renewing a debate over whether the promise of innovation tomorrow is worth expanding drilling today. Obama's "Energy Security Trust"
by John Davis and Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) Ethanol is good for taking harmful particles out of automobile emissions, but a group committed to cleaner air is worried that gasoline makers might just end up putting more particulates in the blendstock. “The
by Scott Irwin and Darrel Good (FarmDocDaily/University of Illinois) ...Our focus is on the increasing difficulty of meeting the RFS for both renewable biofuel (domestically produced ethanol) and advanced biofuels in the next 12 to 18 months. ...Our expectation is that
by Bob Dinneen (Renewable Fuels Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) ...U.S. ethanol production proved to be the remedy to our imported oil addiction, driving America’s dependence down from 60 percent in 2005 to 41 percent last year. Incredibly, even that tired canard
(US Department of Energy) The Energy Department today announced a $1 million investment to analyze and evaluate potential cost-competitive pathways for producing and transporting hydrogen fuel. The project selected—led by Strategic Analysis, Inc. in Arlington, Virginia—will identify cost-effective and efficient
(ActionAid) At a seminar on biofuels in Dublin yesterday, David Barissa, a leading expert on food security and land rights from ActionAid Kenya spoke of the litany of broken promises, rights violations and destruction which have faced poor communities in
by Jason Krupp (EIN News) Petrol retailer Z Energy says world oil prices could plunge by almost half in the next five years, as United States oil and gas production booms because of "fracking". Fracking is the hydraulic fracturing of underground
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In the new USDA long-term forecasts, rising global meat consumption stands out as a driver of rising food prices, exports. ...But you might ask yourself — in a world where you can find hyperbole linking hunger
(Natural Resources Defense Council) NRDC's polling immediately after the State of the Union made clear that Americans consider climate change a serious problem and want the President to take action. Sixty-five percent of Americans think that climate change is a serious
(US Department of Energy) The Energy Department on February 1 invited public comment on an upcoming solicitation totaling more than $50 million for new research projects that will develop advanced technologies to improve vehicle performance and increase fuel economy. The
By Joshua Rathod (Advanced Biofuels USA) Thinking about the back and forth on EPA’s cellulosic fuel mandates in the last month, the press on the harmful effects of diverting food crops for fuel processing in certain cases, and the general
(World Wildlife Fund) Today WWF launched a new report – Putting the EU on Track for 100% Renewable Energy [1] – which shows where Europe needs to be by 2030 in order to reach a fully renewable energy system by 2050. It
(Bioenergy Crops) There is an increasing interest worldwide on developing sustainable bioenergy alternatives for low competitive lands where food production profitability is scarce or where soils and climates are not suited for traditional activities or have no market access and
(Federal Aviation Administration) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Spanish Aviation Safety and Security Agency (AESA) signed a Declaration of Cooperation to promote the development and use of sustainable alternative aviation fuels in the United States and Spain. The
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) Former North Dakota Senator Byron Dorgan is truly an advocate for biofuels. While in office, Dorgan authored the first renewable fuel bill, requiring 8 billion gallons of biofuels. When President Bush took office, he asked
by Patrick Rucker (Reuters) President Barack Obama wants Congress to create a $2 billion clean-energy transportation fund using fees paid by oil and gas producers on federal lands, the White House said Wednesday, expanding a plan announced in Obama's State of the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) So goes the new theme from Fuels America, who debuted their We Love Oil!campaign this afternoon. It’s all on (hilarious) video, well worth a share — starring snarky polar bears, oil-slicked birds admiring their sheen, dumbfounded Americans
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) After U.S. EPA’s much-anticipated renewable identification number (RIN) quality assurance program (QAP) proposed rule was released last week, biodiesel producers and industry stakeholders at the 2013 National Biodiesel Conference & Expo in Las Vegas eagerly
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...The SOTUS contained 18 references to energy — more than enough for the Digest to take a close look at what was said, what was not — and the likelihood of all (or any) of the President’s
by Marie-Martine Buckens (Europolitics) Interview with MEP Corinne Lepage (ALDE, France) French MEP Corinne Lepage (ALDE) was named rapporteur, in late 2012, on the controversial issue of biofuels. She prefers to call them agrofuels, in reference to the so-called ‘first-generation’ fuels made
by Tom Doran (AgNews) ...Under the current Renewable Fuels Standards, continued growth in corn-based ethanol use is uncertain do to several factors, including the 10 percent blend wall, slow implementation of higher blend, declining total gasoline demand and ethanol imports
by Mona-Maria Brinker & Roger Coombs (Waste Management World) Rising prices, continued conflict in producing regions and the spectre of peak oil have highlighted uncertainties about the future of fossil transport fuels in Europe. Mona-Maria Brinker and Roger Coombs examine how
by Ben Messenger (Waste Management World) Advanced biofuels produced from waste feedstocks are a key component of EU climate and energy ambitions, and offer a huge opportunity to drive economic growth in Europe, according to the European Biofuels Technology Platform (EBTP). A bright future
by Charles Lane (The Washington Post) The Obama administration’s electric-car fantasy finally may have died on the road between Newark, Del., and Milford, Conn. The New York Times’s John M. Broder reported Friday that the Tesla Model S electric car he was test-driving repeatedly
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) On Feb. 4, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, ranking member of the Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources, released an energy blueprint that calls for a wide variety of changes to U.S. energy policy,
by Jeremy van Loon & Andrew Mayeda (Bloomberg) Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has vilified political opponents who support a tax on carbon-dioxide emissions. The oil-sands industry, Canada’s fastest growing CO2 polluter, says he’s out of step. The contradiction of an industry seeking a
by Jeremy Martin and Jim Collins (Politico) The fuels of the future are here today, and we can thank Congress for enacting the Renewable Fuel Standard. This bedrock policy has brought us to the point where the first commercial facilities producing
by David R. Baker (San Francisco Chronicle) The oil industry is mounting a concerted push to roll back biofuel mandates, both in Washington and Sacramento. At the federal level, oil lobbyists have joined with environmentalists and ranchers — a Coalition of the Unlikely — to
(Renewable Fuels Association) For the second year in a row, national polling presented today at the National Ethanol Conference proved Americans, by an overwhelming majority, support the key federal policy driving renewable fuel innovation in America today — the Renewable
by John Siciliano (Inside EPS's Clean Energy Report) The Department of Energy (DOE) is restructuring its renewable energy program to create an office of transportation, with officials saying the move will help better coordinate and prioritize its research and development programs
by Bryan McBournie (SmartBlog) ... Shell Oil Products’ Downstream Policy and Advocacy Manager John Reese said his company is a big supporter of biofuels, but the RFS needs to be adjusted to avoid problems down the road. He said ethanol blends
(FuelFix) Lawmakers have unveiled the first major proposal to rewrite a mandate forcing refiners to blend biofuels into gasoline, amid a growing outcry against the eight-year-old requirement. Rep. Gregg Harper, R-Miss., and Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, introduced the legislation in the
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) On Feb. 7, the U.S. EPA approved a new blender pump configuration for the sale of E15 and E10. The configuration, submitted by the Renewable Fuels Association, can be used by retail stations that
(Leaders of Sustainable Biofuels) Involvement of policy makers and other industries, R&D programmes, financing, communications programmes for a cost-competitive and sustainable alternative to fossil fuels The Chief Executive Officers of seven Leading European biofuel producers and European airlines launched today in
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In a fiery address at the National Ethanol Conference, RFA chief Bob Dinneen rallies his troops. ...He derided industry opponents as “the angry birds at the National Chicken Council, the mad cows at the American Meat
(European Commission) The European Commission today announced an ambitious package of measures to ensure the build-up of alternative fuel stations across Europe with common standards for their design and use. Policy initiatives so far have mostly addressed the actual fuels
by Brett Whitmarsh (WLBZ) The Maine legislature will decide whether to restrict or even eliminate the use of ethanol in gasoline in the state. A legislator from Turner and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection are both submitting ethanol bills. ...Timberlake says
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Changes in EU policy and the financing of advanced biofuels have led to a revival of project formation in Europe. The latest news from Finland is that St1 is proceeding towards a build on its 10
(PR NewsWire/Yahoo! News) Top 5 States For Advanced Biofuel Companies: Calif., Ill., Colo., Texas and Iowa; New Web Site at www.FuelingGrowth.org Documents Impact of Growing Industry California is home to nearly 30 advanced biofuel companies, but dozens of other states from coast to
by Douglas L. Faulkner (“The Cleantech Conservative”/BiofuelsDigest) ... That is, the cost of renewed tax breaks for the biofuels industry came at a great cost relative to the benefits gained. Being lumped in with Hollywood filmmakers, rum distillers, NASCAR track owners, Goldman
by Pamela Serino (Defense Logistics Agency Energy/Biofuels Digest) ...A mandate in all countries to go to ULSD marine fuel would be my first step to cleaner fuels and lower emissions as many nations still burn very high sulfur fuels (1000-5000
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Three dissident voices offer challenges to cherished orthodoxies. ...Though they offer tough love, they are written by friends of the movement. They don’t wish to cast you down to the devil, but to rescue you therefrom. I
by Paul Winter (Biotechnology Industry Organization) Less than a decade ago, the nation’s energy experts projected imports of oil to continue to grow throughout the first third of the century. Both Congress and the President recognized that this was a
by Nina Chestney (Reuters/Huffington Post) Growing palm oil trees to make biofuels could be accelerating the effects of climate change, new research showed on Wednesday, adding further weight to claims the crop is not environmentally sustainable. In a paper published in the
by Ben Geman (The Hill E2Wire) Former Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.), President Obama’s nominee for Defense secretary, is backing a controversial ban on military purchase of alternative fuels that have higher greenhouse gas emissions than conventional oil-based fuels. Hagel, in a written
by Sandra I. Erwin (National Defense Magazine) The biofuels industry is seeing promising signs from Washington. President Obama in his inauguration speech tied green energy to economic growth. Congress agreed to allow the Pentagon to continue to buy alternative fuels.
by Dan Haugen (Midwest Energy News) By organizing as a type of partnership instead of a corporation, companies that extract, process or transport “depletable” natural resources have been exempt from corporate income taxes. That word — “depletable” — specifically excludes renewable
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) On Jan. 31 the U.S. EPA published a proposed rule that creates a structured process for buyers of renewable identification numbers (RINs) to verify their validity. Under the proposal, the EPA said that
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) Earlier this month, the U.N. Committee on World Food Security (CFS) has released a draft study on biofuels and food security with a public comment period until January 30, 2013. Yesterday, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) submitted comments about the
(25 x '25) ... A federal court decision last week that set aside EPA’s volumetric requirement for cellulosic biofuel under the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) was excessively characterized this week by the oil industry and others – including many in
by Ned Stowe (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) Like it or not, corn and corn ethanol production are large, established industries in the U.S. While they provide significant economic, energy, and environmental benefits for our society, they also come with
by Jim Lane ( Biofuels Digest) ...In Washington, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued its proposed 2013 Renewable Fuel Standards (RFS2). The proposal will be open for a 45-day public comment period and EPA will consider feedback from a range
by Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuels USA) In yesterday’s address on Policy Day at the Washington, DC Auto Show, Energy Secretary Steven Chu spoke passionately about the need for the US to reduce dependence on foreign oil. He listed the ways
by Zack Coleman (The Hill E2Wire) The White House took jabs at oil-and-gas subsidies Wednesday, calling for an end to the incentives as part of a deal to avoid automatic spending cuts from sequestration. “The idea that you need to subsidize
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A recently released European Commission proposal on deploying alternative fuels infrastructure recognizes the importance of biofuels but does not go far enough, said ePURE, the European Renewable Ethanol Association. On Jan. 24 the European Commission
by Tim Portz (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Kristy Moore recalls her beginnings in the ethanol industry, her fondness for American agriculture and the long road to bringing E15 to market. The story of the approval of E15 for use in model year 2001
by Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuels USA) “Affordable Mobility: A Roadmap to Energy Efficiency” framed a public discussion of automotive issues for Capitol Hill staff which ranged from fuel efficiency and the new CAFÉ (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards to increasing
(PR NewsWire/American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers) New research released by the Coordinating Research Council (CRC) today found that E15, gasoline blended with 15 percent ethanol, would damage millions of post-2001 model year vehicles. The CRC study concluded that E15 would
by Bob Dineen (Renewable Fuels Association) Flint, Mich., is known throughout the world as the birthplace of General Motors. When an economist from Flint gets the facts about motor fuels all wrong, it’s time to assign him some remedial homework. In
(National Algae Association) Is the government’s commitment to alternative fuels being stymied by the American Petroleum Institute, or is the Department of Energy stymying the commitment all by itself? The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia recently canceled
(EconMatters/Business Insider) ... But it looks like what may be good for the environment, is actually bad news for the government. You see, for each gallon of gasoline or diesel we gas up in our cars, there’s a portion of tax
by Robert Pore (The Independent) ...According to another speaker at the Agriculture Outlook Conference 2013, David Hightower, president of Hightower Report, ethanol has increased corn demand and added value to corn that wasn't there prior to the Renewable Fuels Standard, when
by Scott Thistle (Maine Sun Journal) A pair of bills introduced Thursday by state Rep. Jeff Timberlake, R-Turner, could have a significant impact on what goes into the gas tank of your car, lawnmower or snowblower. One of Timberlake's bills would cut
By Josh Rathod (Advanced Biofuels USA) The Transforming Transportation ’13 conference, held at the World Bank headquarters in Washington, DC, proved to be an exciting event for sustainable industry everywhere. During one of the primary plenary sessions it was announced
(American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers/PR NewsWire/Yahoo!) In a decision that questions the motivation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit today vacated EPA's 2012 cellulosic biofuel mandate, concluding that its biased forecast was in 'excess of the agency's statutory authority.' "The
by Steve Browne (Marshall Independent) U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar stopped at the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) facilities at Southwest Minnesota State University on Monday for a tour of the laboratories. ...AURI is a non-profit corporation that works with businesses and
by Stephan Nielsen (Bloomberg) Novozymes A/S (NZYMB), the world’s biggest maker of enzymes used in laundry soap, may get 90 percent of its revenue from biofuel makers by 2030 if more governments start promoting renewable energy, the company’s next CEO said. The
by Theda Skocpol (Foreign Policy) If Obama wants to make good on his inaugural promise, he’ll need to remember the lessons he learned as a community organizer. ...The inside game has failed in part because climate reformers have not invested in
(Iowas Renewable Fuels Association) A group of Iowa businesses and organizations today congratulated President Obama on his Inauguration and announced the formation of the Iowa RFS Coalition. In a letter to the President, also copied to both Iowa Senators and
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Renewable Fuels Association is urging the California Air Resources Board to revise indirect land use change (ILUC) penalties assigned to certain biofuels under the state’s low carbon fuel standard (LCFS). In a letter RFA President
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...In Maryland, The Wildlife Society released a Technical Review, “Effects of Bioenergy Production on Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat,” to provide answers to questions on bioenergy development and wildlife so that site managers might better predict
(EnAlgae) Sustainable biofuels are at the heart of present and future EU renewable transport policies. Among them, extra incentivised biofuels – e.g. “double-counting” biofuels (whose contribution to EU targets shall be considered to be twice that made by other biofuels)
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) The Agriculture Energy Coalition (AgEC) today urged Congress to begin work on a new five-year Farm Bill with strong mandatory funding for energy programs. The coalition notes that programs included in the farm bill Energy Title including
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) Delegates for the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) last week voted overwhelmingly to support continuation of the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS), despite the fact that membership in the organization includes a substantial percentage of livestock producers. “The
by Sean Bartlett (Platts) Europe needs a stable legal framework if biofuels research and development is to prosper, Neste Oil's Executive Vice President, Oil Products, Matti Lehmus, said at a conference Monday. A proposal in October by the European Commission to cap
by Juliet Eilperin (The Washington Post) ...But in his remarks Monday after taking the oath of office, Obama chose to make a moral case — rather than an economic or national security one — for taking action. “We will respond to the
by Bob Dinneen (Ethanol Producer Magazine/Renewable Fuels Association) ...While the U.S. ethanol industry historically only exported a small amount of its product every year, that all changed in 2009 when improving industry economics led to the U.S. ethanol industry becoming
by Scott Irwin and Darrel Good (University of Illinois/Farm Doc Daily) In a post on January 10, 2013 we examined the relative profitability of meeting the RFS for advanced biofuels with domestically produced biodiesel and imported Brazilian ethanol. We concluded that even
by Andrew Herndon (Bloomberg) Aemetis Inc., a U.S. ethanol producer, idled production at its plant in Keyes, California, citing “unfavorable market conditions for corn ethanol” and will upgrade the facility to also produce fuel from grain sorghum. The company shut down
(Commodities Now) Today (January 16, 2013) the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance called on the policy development, business and technology sector leaders attending the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi, to commit to increasing biofuels’ share of the future global energy
(25 x '25) U.S. agriculture has always been innovative in meeting the challenges to production posed by changing growing conditions in the various parts of the country. So, farmers, foresters, ranchers and land owners are likely paying some serious notice
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) DOE sets goal of 2,500 gallon per acre algae biomass demonstration by 2018. In Washington, the US Department of Energy announced a “Advancements in Algal Biomass Yield” Funding Opportunity of up to $10 million to help
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Ah, that was a time when leaders had the stones to set difficult targets and stick to them, preferring to bet on American know-how than organize the sounding of the retreat. “We choose to go
by Jeff Hove (RINAlliance/EcoEngineers) RINAlliance was established in 2007 to assist petroleum marketers and renewable fuel blenders with EPA blending compliance requirements. Today, RINAlliance serves 130 blenders with EPA reporting and RIN marketing. They currently manage more than 2 million RINs
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Scott Zaremba, owner of Zarco 66 convenience stores, didn’t just open the first E15 retail pump in the nation. Not long after offering 15 percent ethanol at the first station in Lawrence, Kan., he expanded
(AOL Energy/Fuels America Coalition) The oil industry has taken aim at the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) in a self-interested bid to retain dominance over America's transportation fuel sector. Our dependence on oil is stifling consumer choice and jeopardizing our national
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) During a media conference call today, the American Petroleum Institute (API) called the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) “unworkable” and stated that they would “like to see complete repeal of the RFS.” Bob Dinneen, President and CEO
by Juliet Eilperin (The Washington Post) Soot ranks as the second-largest human contributor to climate change, exerting twice as much of an impact as previously thought, according to an analysis released Tuesday. The four-year, 232-page study of black carbon, published in
by John Davis (DomesticFuel.com) Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack says the future success of biofuels in this country is also tied to successfully getting a new five-year farm bill passed. Speaking to delegates of the American Farm Bureau Federation at
(FuelFix) Despite protests from the oil industry, a federal appeals court on Tuesday refused to allow a challenge to an Environmental Protection Agency decision encouraging more ethanol to be blended into gasoline. The American Petroleum Institute, AAA and food producers, including
(Algae Industry Magazine) The year 2012 will go down in history as a turning point for the algae industry. It was the year that algae biofuel became a heated part of the political arena, from President Obama’s touting of algae’s
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) There is a little secret in the renewable energy sector that many don’t know about –New Markets Tax Credits. These tax credits provide incentives for private investors to help fund projects that create jobs and diversify
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