by Robert Kozak (Advanced Biofuels USA) Passage of the “Debt Extension” legislation by the US Congress will cause reductions in the fiscal year 2012 budget that is scheduled to take effect on October 1 of this year. Guidance from the
by Darren Goode & Darren Samuelsohn (Politico) Popular energy and environmental programs should prepare for a decade of spending cuts under the debt deal reached late Sunday between the White House and congressional leaders. Less clear, however, is the effect that
by Brent Erickson (Biofuels Digest) Reports of the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit’s (VEETC) early demise have been a bit overblown. Though several groups and reporters believed the die was cast and the potential revenue savings would be redirected to
(Renewable Fuels Association) America’s trade deficit is growing and one reason for that is our crippling dependence on imported oil. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, our appetite for foreign oil accounted for 60% of the nation’s $50 billion trade
by Jennifer Jacobs (Des Moines Register) An air-conditioned “igloo” paid for by the Iowa Energy Forum will rise up from the straw poll campus in Ames next month, an attraction meant to woo Iowans’ affection with free treats, kids’
W. Steven Burke (Biofuels Center of North Carolina) ...America will continue to seek more augmentation of petroleum-based fuels and thus needs new models to gain large amounts of liquid fuel from sources other than corn in places other than the Midwest. North Carolina
(GreenAirOnline) Although the aviation sector has a good track record in reducing its environmental impact through efficiency gains, it is highly unlikely to reduce or even stabilise its emissions through this means alone, but biofuels present a real potential for
(The White House) President Obama today announced the next phase in the Administration’s program to increase fuel efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas pollution for all new cars and trucks sold in the United States. These new standards will cover cars
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, US Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, and US Assistant Secretary of the Navy Jackalyne Pfannenstiel provided a rousing opening to the DOE’s annual BIOMASS congress in Washington. Opening
by Kerry Reals (FlightGlobal) Boeing and Embraer are to jointly fund a sustainability analysis into producing renewable jet fuel sourced from Brazilian sugarcane. The study, which is also being funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), will evaluate the environmental effects of
by Robert E. Kozak (Advanced Biofuels USA) Many programs authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill will expire in 2012 unless they are included in a new Farm Bill. Among those programs that would expire are all the bioenergy initiatives
by Lori Potter (Kearney Hub) The ethanol industry is willing to immediately give up $1.3 billion in tax breaks for federal debt reduction. However, that probably can’t happen unless authorizing legislation is attached to a successful debt ceiling-budget reduction bill, said
by Erin Ailworth (The Boston Globe) ...“One of the big challenges with the federal budget is whether ARPA-E is going to be funded,’’ said Peter Rothstein, president of New England Clean Energy Council, a trade group in Boston. ...Alternative fuels Despite several
by Bob Dinneen (Renewable Fuels Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Back in October, I wrote on the RFA blog, “The E-Xchange,” about the steps that would be necessary to make E15 the standard fuel available in the United States, in much the
(Advanced Biofuels USA) Advanced Biofuels USA July 25, 2011, detailed an action plan for creating sustainable markets for advanced ethanol in the automotive/light duty truck sector. The paper, “The Pathway to a Sustainable “Total Biomass” Advanced Ethanol Industry ,”itemizes six steps cellulosic and
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) On July 19, 2011, the Environmental Law and Policy Center (ELPC) and Environmental and Energy Study Institute(EESI) held a briefing on the energy title of the Farm Bill, with a special focus on the Rural Energy for
(News24) The US Air Force is ready to switch to biofuels to help power its warplanes but the price of alternative fuels remains too high, military officials said. Anxious to reduce its reliance on oil, the Air Force has approved the
by Master Sgt. Amaani Lyle (U.S. Air Force) Senior leaders from the Department of Defense, federal agencies, Air Force and Army discussed the strategic importance and way ahead for energy solutions during the Army-Air Force Energy Forum here (Arlington, VA)
(Advanced Biofuels Association) The Advanced Biofuels Association (ABFA) today sent the following letter to U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Chairman Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Ranking Member, opposing any efforts to repeal Section 526 of
(US Department of Energy) Reports Find Continued Growth in Manufacturing and Deployment of Clean Energy the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released three 2010 market reports which detail the market conditions and trends for wind energy, advanced vehicles, and fuel cell
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) Wind energy and biofuels are part of the campaign for Congress launched this week by former Iowa first lady Christie Vilsack. ...Vilsack officially announced her bid to represent Iowa’s newly formed 4th district yesterday (July 19,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...The bulk of mandates comes from the EU-27, where the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) specifies a 10 percent renewables content by 2020 across the entire membership – though 7 percent of that will come from
by Bryan Sims (Biorefining Magazine) In response to Brazil’s growing need to include low-sulfur fuel in its diesel pool, Amyris Brasil S.A., a subsidiary of Amryis Inc., will supply an expected 160 city buses in the Brazilian city of Sao
(San Francisco Chronicle/Bloomberg) Ethanol manufacturers are set to thrive even if they have to give up $6 billion a year in U.S. tax subsidies because a government mandate for increased use of the fuel may add $6.9 billion a year
by General Charles F. Wald and David W. Conover (Bipartisan Policy Center/The Hill/Congress Blog) News reports indicate that some Senators may seek to repeal a provision of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) during Thursday’s consideration of
(European Commission) Brussels, 19 July 2011 - Biofuels can represent an environmentally-friendly replacement of fossil fuels. However, we need to make sure that tropical forests and carbon rich peatlands are not turned into oil palm or sugarcane plantations. We also
by Suzanne Ulbrich (ENCToday) A delivery aboard Camp Lejeune Monday morning marked the culmination of a test project to provide renewable fuels for North Carolina’s military. Officials aboard Camp Lejeune received 800 gallons of state grown and processed biodiesel fuel as part
by Jonathan Silver (Department of Energy/Biofuels Digest) ...the U.S. Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office (LPO) has been extremely busy, committing or closing 19 additional financings of clean energy projects – including one of the country’s first commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol
by Jessica Shankleman Green groups slam Commission's "back room" processes for approving sustainable biofuel certification schemes Green groups will today learn if the European Commission is ready to lift the lid on the methods it used to decide whether biofuels can be certified as
by Senator Mark Udall (Politico) The Pentagon released its first-ever operational energy strategy last month — a plan that could dramatically cut costs and save service members’ lives. The plan is not about fielding a new weapons system, but rather
by David Ranii (News Observer) The Research Triangle Regional Partnership is one of seven regional groups across the state selected by the Biofuels Center of North Carolina to identify sites suitable for a biofuels production facility. The goal is to come up
by Charles Abbott and Karl Plume (Reuters) Ethanol appears almost certain to win the food-versus-fuel contest in the United States. But not just yet. The Agriculture Department forecast that a tad more corn will be used to make ethanol than to feed livestock
Energy security and independence are two goals at the heart of the U.S. Military’s investment in clean energy technologies. From it’s own research labs to partnerships with start-ups and major contractors, the U.S. Department of Defense is seeking innovative energy
by Charlie Dunmore (Reuters) The EU will protect existing investment in its $13 billion biodiesel sector even as it acts on new evidence that suggests making the fuel from food crops can do more harm than good in fighting climate
by Shehab A. Makahleh (Zawya) The UAE government wants to attract $100 billion (Dh367 billion) worth of investment in alternative and sustainable energy projects by 2020. Feras Dahlan, CEO of Dar Al Tawasol and First Deputy Chairman of the Organising Committee
by Aaron Hull (Advanced Biofuels USA) The Pew Project on National Security, Energy, and Climate hosted an event titled Leading By Example: How Energy Innovation is Strengthening America’s Military on July 7, 2011. Those in attendance included former Senator John
by Aaron Hull (Advanced Biofuels USA) On July 7, 2011 the House Science Subcommittee for Energy and Environment held a hearing to discuss the EPA’s decision to issue a waiver for E15 usage in light-duty motor vehicles. The hearing
by John Tomasic (Colorado Independent) Makes case again for Udall Energy Security Act Coming on the heels of Colorado Senator Mark Udall’s reintroduction of the Energy Security Act, which would boost efforts to power the military with alternative energy, U.S. Navy Secretary
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) ...Brazil’s sugarcane industry is also accused of not producing the crop, nor the fuel, in a sustainable manner. As a result, the EU Renewable Energy Directive was created to address concerns including labor and environmental issues.
(25 x '25) The House of Representatives seems to have gotten things backwards. Lawmakers there say they were shoring up national security and supporting U.S. military fuel flexibility when they voted to end a provision in federal law that requires
Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The rise of themochemical biofuels, the power of markets, and the anarchic essence of energy development ...The “failure” of cellulosic ethanol is a failure of the policy framework, I said. It was suicidal to pass legislation that
(American Motorcycle Association) The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is asking a key U.S. House panel to include motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) in any future study of ethanol-blended gasoline. In a letter sent July 11 to the House Energy and Environment
(Wisconsin Ag Connection) Wisconsin Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner is stepping up his efforts to do away with proposed mandates that would require gasoline for newer vehicles to use 15-percent ethanol. This week, the Brookfield Republican wrote to U.S. Department of Energy
(Platts) A plan by US senators to end ethanol subsidies on July 31 could prove bullish for the European market, trading sources said Wednesday. "It should be pretty supportive, the EU needs the [US ethanol] supply," one source said. ...Europe's ethanol market
by Chris Chmura (My Fox Tampa Bay) Move over regular, mid-grade, and premium -- there’s another choice at select gas stations: Ethanol-free unleaded. It’s as much as 50 cents per gallon more expensive than a conventional fill-up, but some consumers insist
(US Department of Defense; Navy) The Government has a requirement for 100,000 USG of Hydrotreated Renewable JP-5 (HRJ5) and 350,000 USG of Hydrotreated Renewable F-76 (HRD76) to support the Navy's "Sail the Great Green Fleet" initiative. This requirement is for
Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) (Biodiesel Magazine) Q. Why do you support the production of biodiesel? A. Too much of America’s energy comes from fossil fuels imported from countries that don’t like us. We can reduce dependence on foreign oil, and be
by Neil Roland (Automotive News) Gasoline with up to 15 percent ethanol probably won't be sold at the pump for at least another year because of health, safety, cost and environmental concerns, a government watchdog said. ...The report makes clear that
by Larry Bivins (SCTimes) Sen. Amy Klobuchar urged oil companies Tuesday to follow the lead of the ethanol industry and give up government subsidies to help defray the nation’s burgeoning deficit. In a speech on the Senate floor, Klobuchar
(Troutman Sanders) The EPA on July 1, 2011 issued a final rule deferring for three years application of the Clean Air Act’s Prevention of Significant Deterioration (“PSD”) and Title V permitting requirements to carbon dioxide (“CO2”) emissions from biogenic stationary
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Aussie government debuts carbon tax scheme and $10Bn cleantech fund; who’s happy, who’s howling? In Australia, the federal government launched plans for a $23 per tonne tax on carbon, which will affect the country’s 500 largest
by Pete Kasperowicz (The Hill) The House on Monday night rejected an amendment proposed by the Republican Study Committee that would have cut $3.25 billion from the Energy and Water Appropriations Act, effectively gutting the Department of Energy's alternative energy funding
(Oshawa.com) ...Oshawa says “NO” to an ethanol plant at our harbour for the following reasons: The proposed ethanol plant would be located on a historic and prominent height of land overlooking Lake Ontario. The proposed ethanol plant would be located beside the
by Brooke Coleman (Advanced Ethanol Council/The Washington Post) Letter to Editor: ...The compromise that Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), John Thune (R-S.D.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) have announced is not perfect. But it rightly involves using innovations in U.S. ethanol policy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...In a swirling stew of change regarding US federal incentives, tariffs, tax credits and loan guarantees, the most consistent mechanism driving the expansion of renewable transport fuel has been the US Renewable Fuel Standard. Though
by Katherine Bourzac (Technology Review) The agency will fund projects aimed at speeding up synthetic biology, and creating new kinds of materials. Yesterday (June 15, 2011) morning, at the Fifth International Meeting on Synthetic Biology at Stanford University, a representative from
(California Ethanol Vehicle Coalition) Continuing her long support for oil industry interests at the cost of clean, domestic, renewable fuels, California Senator Dianne Feinstein announced today she has taken yet another step to raise taxes, increase reliance on imported oil,
(Renewable Fuel Association) The Renewable Fuels Association todaysent a letter to President Obama detailing the dynamic state of America’s ethanol industry. The letter was prompted by remarks President Obama made during his Twitter town hall event earlier this week, in
Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), Congressman Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD), Congressman Jack Kingston (R-GA) and the Office of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) today announced the formation of the Defense Energy Security Caucus (DESC). The Caucus aims to educate members of Congress and
by Annie Snider (New York Times/Greenwire) When Leon Panetta was sworn in this morning as the 23rd secretary of Defense, he inherited a force that is more fuel-dependent than ever -- a fact that those inside the Pentagon increasingly say
(US House Committee on Science, Space and Technology) Today the Energy & Environment Subcommittee held a hearing to examine the science behind the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to grant a waiver permitting the use of mid-level ethanol blends of up
(Office of Senator Amy Klobuchar) Agreement would put savings toward deficit reduction, infrastructure U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), John Thune (R-SD), and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) today announced that a bipartisan agreement has been reached that allows for a transition to a
(CBS3Springfield.com/The White House) ...Q Our next response from southwest Ohio, Mostlymoderate: "Cut subsidies to industries which are no longer in crisis or are unsuccessful, cotton, oil, corn subsidies from ethanol." THE PRESIDENT: Well, there's been a interesting debate taking place
(GreenAirOnline) The momentum driving the introduction of aviation biofuels received a significant boost with a number of initiatives and events taking place at last week’s Paris Air Show. While the transatlantic biofuel flights conducted by Boeing and Honeywell attracted wide
(Bloomberg) Automakers including Chrysler Group LLC, Ford Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. criticized an Environmental Protection Agency proposal to allow gasoline containing up to 15 percent ethanol in all cars and trucks in the U.S., saying its use may
(Nature: International Weekly Journal of Science) Biofuels have big boots to fill. After more than 150 years of using petroleum and its products we have become dependent on it. First generation biofuels are showing us both the potential and the
by Walt Wendland (Des Moines Register/Iowa Renewable Fuels Association) ...When presidential candidates have discussed reforming the ethanol incentive, several news articles called this either "bold" or "risky" in Iowa. These stories operated under the assumption that support for the
(NACSOnline) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued compatibility guidelines on Tuesday for owners and operators who are storing gasoline containing more than 10 percent ethanol or diesel containing more than 20 percent biodiesel in their UST systems. ...The compliancy guidelines issued yesterday
(25 x '25) A critical component of the 25x’25 mission is to educate and share with policy makers and consumers alike the value of renewable solutions to our nation’s energy needs. In the spirit of that undertaking, the 25x’25 Alliance
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As the Defense Department looks at its options to directly jump-start drop-in biofuels production at scale, we look at the Defense Production Act – the rationale, the process, the funding, and energy’s role In Washington, a
by Yuliya Chernova (Wall Street Journal) The Department of Defense, an emerging market force in biofuels, is working on a new program to finance non-petroleum fuel production, in collaboration with the departments of energy and agriculture, according to people familiar
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) Today (June 29, 2011) U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tom Carper (D-DE), Tom Udall (D-NM) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) introduced the Oil Independence for a Stronger America Act today in an effort to eliminate dependence on foreign
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen abandoned the podium and chose to speak off the cuff during his keynote presentation delivered to attendees of the International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo on
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, President Obama launched the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership – ho-hum, you say, and I think I hear you yawning. ...“Invent here, make elsewhere” is a failed industrial policy, according to a PCAST report, “Ensuring Leadership
by Jonathan Fahey (Forbes) ...Congress, when it passed legislation in 2007 that subsidized advanced biofuels to the tune of $1.01 per gallon (on top of the 51-cent standard ethanol credit) and mandated that the country use a growing amount of
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) EESI published an issue brief on policies that subsidize the production of fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas). In recent years, major international institutions such as the G20, International Energy Agency, and the Organization of
(GreenAirOnline) The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has announced an initiative help finance public and private institutions in Latin America and the Caribbean to develop a sustainable jet biofuel industry from locally grown organic feedstock. The initiative will fund consultancy services,
(World Bank) National targets would contribute to rapid biofuel expansion in the next 10 years; Reaching those goals would have a limited impact on the global economy; Some countries would be affected significantly, with higher cost of food imports Expanding biofuel production to
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Maybe it’s because they didn’t get the word out adequately. Perhaps it’s because they didn’t talk to their neighbors soon enough in the process. Whatever the reason, some just aren’t convinced, as Calgren Renewable
(E-Energy Market/European Voice) Biofuel from palm oil, soybean and rapeseed produces more greenhouse-gas emissions than fossil fuel, once the environmental side-effects of its production are taken into account, an impact assessment prepared by the European Commission has found. READ MORE
by Jacob Barker (The Columbia Daily Tribune) Policies fueled the boom in industry. Federal subsidies for ethanol push up ethanol production and the price of corn, according to a report released today (June 27, 2011) from the University of Missouri’s Food
by Mark Tran (The Guardian) After narrow win in leadership contest, José Graziano da Silva pledges to reform the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation, strive for consensus and tackle food price volatility ...He also stressed the need for a stable financial
by William Petroski (Des Moines Register) ...Santorum, who is seeking the Republican presidential nomination, said he advocates phasing-out the existing tax incentive for ethanol production, commonly known as the blenders’ credit, by reducing the credit 9 cents annually over each
(AP/Bloomberg/The Washington Post) If a $5 billion-a-year federal subsidy that helped build the ethanol industry comes to an end, it will likely mean two things, experts who have followed its development say. First, it doesn’t guarantee an end to the high
by Tom Bechman (Indiana Prairie Farmer) Corn growers in Indiana promote more pumps. One of the highlights of the ethanol summit in Indianapolis a few days ago was an announcement that the Indiana Corn Marketing Council has launched a new program
(StarTribune) Why is one fuel being targeted but another -- oil -- isn't? ...The best way to pay down the nation's $14.3 trillion debt? "Reducing wasteful spending a billion dollars at a time,'' Coburn said. Coburn has a point about the ethanol
by Sybille de La Hamaide and Charlie Dunmore (Reuters) G20 farm ministers agreed to tackle high food prices on Thursday in a deal that steered clear of divisive details on issues such as regulation, paving the way to more global cooperation
by Martin Roberts, Chuck Abbott, Sarah McFarlane, Charlie Dunmore, Jonathan Saul, Nigel Hunt (Reuters) G20 members settled a deal on Thursday to curb volatility in food prices, falling short of France's ambitious plans to impose tough new regulations on speculators, but agreeing to boost
by Gene Lucht (Iowa Farmer Today) ...On the biodiesel front, there are three basic components, says Randy Olson, executive director of the Iowa Biodiesel Board: =Extension and change of the retailer tax credit. The current credit is for 3 cents per
by Caroline Henshaw (The Wall Street Journal) Agriculture ministers for the world’s richest nations are meeting in Paris this week to debate the best ways to tackle unprecedented volatility in food prices. But while farming officials for the Group of
by Darren Goode (Politico) ...The biodiesel industry is embarking on a multimillion-dollar nationwide outreach campaign — its first ever — intended as a coming out party after spending its initial years lurking in the shadows of an ethanol industry that
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...EPA proposes to mandate the blending of 15.2 billion gallons of renewable fuel into the US fuel supply, and increased the proposed mandate for advanced biofuels by 48 percent, to 2 billion gallons. ...The proposed 2012
by Nagesh Kumar (Rediff Business) ...Price volatility for food grain should be addressed through the counter-cyclical use of buffer stocks. For smaller economies that do not have the capacity to sustain large national food stocks, price shocks can be managed
by Daryl Huff (KITV 4) Military, Local Company Testing Plants To Replace Petroleum ... Pacific Bioldiesel, which has succeeding in recycling used cooking oil into vehicle fuel on Oahu, Maui and the Big Island, is managing the Hawaii Military Biofuels Crop Demonstration
by Charles Abbott (Reuters) Biofuels are a "tremendous job creator" for rural areas, said U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Monday, ahead of a global meeting where the farm-grown fuels may be criticized as a factor in high food prices. ...Biofuels, especially ethanol
by Keith Johnson (The Wall Street Journal) ...The goals of the new strategy are to cut energy demand by forces in the field and to accelerate the development of alternative-energy supplies, such as renewable sources and biofuels. The military hopes
(Associated Press) Oil companies' tax breaks, if left in place, would cost the U.S. Treasury $44 billion over the next decade. President Obama wants to eliminate the cost, and a Senate proposal would eliminate them only for the five biggest
by Evan Bush (iwatchnews) In election year, Interior Department may take on a popular target: Big Oil The Obama administration may be readying for a fight with the energy industry as it prepares to raise royalty charges for oil and gas
by Ben Geman (The Hill/E2Wire) A top Navy official said Friday (June 3,2011) that the department isn’t interested in developing coal-based transportation fuels as an alternative to oil, noting there are more promising options. Tom Hicks, the Navy’s deputy assistant secretary
(US Department of Agriculture) Projects Further Obama Administration's Effort to Produce Clean Home-Grown Energy, Create Sustainable Rural Jobs Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today the establishment of four additional Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) project areas to promote the cultivation of
by Steven Mufsonand Lori Montgomery (The Washington Post) The Senate on Thursday approved an amendment that would end tax credits for ethanol that refiners blend into motor fuel in a vote closely watched as a sign of whether Congress can
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) ...(T)he industry has once again begun exporting fuel to the U.S. over the past few months. According to brokers quoted in a recent Soyatech article, the ethanol industry has exported 1.9 million barrels to the U.S. as a
(National Biodiesel Board) America’s Advanced Biofuel Supporting Thousands of New Jobs While Generating Billions in Household Income, Tax Revenues The U.S. biodiesel industry will grow to support more than 74,000 jobs throughout the economy by 2015 while creating some $4 billion in
by Steve Baragona (Voice of America) ...(Agriculture) Secretary (Tom)Vilsack told a luncheon gathering in Washington not to believe everything one hears about ethanol's role in today's high and volatile food prices. "The truth of the matter is that corn-based
by Mark Halper (SmartPlanet) Jet biofuels should get a boost this Friday, when Honeywell has scheduled a trans-Atlantic flight heading to Paris from Morristown, N.J., powered by Honeywell-branded Green Jet Fuel. The corporate jet, a Gulfstream 6450, will carry executives from
by Ben Lefebvre (Dow Jones News Wires) California's push to reduce fuel emissions in the next decade could lead to Brazilian ethanol makers making new inroads into the U.S. The Golden State is attempting to reduce the carbon intensity of its transportation
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, on a cloture vote in the Senate to proceed to an amendment that would end the current ethanol tax incentive immediately, Senator Coburn’s amendment lost 40-59, falling 20 votes short of the sixty votes needed to
by Lori Montgomery (The Washington Post) A majority of Senate Republicans appeared to break Tuesday with two decades of GOP orthodoxy against higher taxes, voting to advance a plan to abruptly cancel billions of dollars in annual tax credits for
by Ron Hammerton (GoAuto) Canberra to talk on emissions test rules that threaten to leave E85 out in the cold GM HOLDEN will ask the Australian government to adopt the American cold-start emissions testing regime for E85 ethanol-powered vehicles instead of
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) Earlier today, Sens. John Thune (R-SD) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) created waves when they announced their new biofuels bill the Ethanol Reform and Deficit Reduction Act. This act is designed to address federal budget issues while phasing
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) Senators John Thune (R-SD) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) along with a bipartisan group of nine other Senate colleagues have introduced the Ethanol Reform and Deficit Reduction Act. The bill is designed to modify the current Volumetric
by Liu Yuanyuan (Renewable Energy World) The municipal government of Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan province, has been creating a roadmap for the development of the local biodiesel sector, setting guidelines, goals and policies in a move to regulate the
(BIO-Tech Now) The World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology explored ways that biotechnology can help meet both military and commercial aviation fuel needs. BIO’s World Congress in Toronto hosted a general plenary session, “Civilian and Military Aviation Fuels: Can Biotech Make a
by Matt Hartwig (Renewable Fuel Association) ...Iran and Venezuela are exerting more influence in a drive to keep global oil prices above $100 per barrel. Previously, this level was thought to be too high and would result in demand destruction
(US Environmental Protection Agency) The White House today announced the establishment of the first White House Rural Council. While rural communities face challenges, they also present economic potential. To address these challenges, build on the Administration’s rural economic strategy, and
by Joelle Brink (Biofuels Digest Asia) In India, the fact that good government is the best solution to food vs fuel competition was demonstrated this week when country’s famously tight policy on biofuels production was matched by a new food
By Mazera Ndurya and Daniel Nyassy (Daily Nation) The environmental watchdog has not licensed a controversial multi-million shilling jatropha project because the investor has not complied with some of the conditions set by the government. Although the government has not out
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...E15 blending, goes the argument, can provide the immediate market growth that will absorb current capacity, and create room in the marketplace to meet RFS renewable fuel mandates, and create a market for cellulosic ethanol. To
by David Shepardson and Christina Rogers (The Detroit News) General Motors Co. CEO Dan Akerson wants the federal gas tax boosted as much as $1 a gallon to nudge consumers toward more fuel-efficient cars, ... And while he is eager
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Private financial support for technology acceleration continues to be important, and certain technologies are becoming clear favorites for investors, according to a recent Bloomberg New Energy Finance analysis of financial investments made in biofuels
by Ron Miller (Biofuels Digest/Prisma Advisors) “Hunger, despair for millions” reads the headline in a national newspaper looking to link high food prices with the growth of renewable fuels. Anti-ethanol factions oftentimes cite food costs in the ongoing food versus fuel
by Anne Blythe (The Charlotte Observer) Yellow kitchen grease has become as good as gold as gasoline prices soar and biodiesel fuel becomes more appealing. Just as one industry's waste becomes a hot commodity for another, a slippery underworld of fry
by Mark Jenkins (The Washington Post) Bill Haney devotes only one-third of his time to filmmaking. But at this precise moment, he’s 100 percent focused on “The Last Mountain,” his documentary about the coal-mining technique known as “mountaintop removal.’’ The movie covers
by Chamwe Kaira (Bloomberg) Namibia has banned large scale jatropha-based biofuel projects in its north east until a study on its impact is undertaken, according to the country’s communications ministry. ...The Namibian government’s study will “determine the suitability of jatropha plant
by Brent Erickson (BIO/Biofuels Digest) To carry out military and humanitarian missions around the world, U.S. forces require reliable fuel supplies and secure supply lines. The military is as much at the mercy of high oil and gasoline prices as
by Nathan Hurst and David Shepardson (Detroit News) Ford Motor Co.'s top executive pushed for unity on national fuel efficiency standards for automakers Tuesday, telling Capitol Hill legislators that multiple U.S. standards put undue burden on automakers and consumers. ...In the meeting
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Two recently released studies examining California’s future energy needs address biofuels’ role in contributing to the state’s fuel mix. Both reports are aimed at evaluating methods to reduce the state’s overall emissions, but reach
(Advanced Biofuels USA) Shale Natural Gas Does Not Belong in Pro-Environmental Legislation A new legislative analysis by Advanced Biofuels USA concludes that the Open Fuel Standard (OFS) is bad for advanced biofuels and will add to environmental damage if passed and
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Instead of simply not collecting a portion of the fuel tax, the consumer is charged the whole amount, which is collected by the gas station and paid to the government. The government analyzes all this.
by Robert Kozak (Advanced Biofuels USA) A proposal called the Open Fuel Standard (OFS) has recently been included in a number of bills (HR 1687 is one example) submitted for consideration by the US Congress. These OFS provisions go beyond
(The Hill/E2Wire) Twenty Senate Democrats are ramping up political pressure on the White House to ensure that any deficit-reduction deal with Republicans strips billions of dollars in tax breaks for major oil companies. The group — led by Sen. Robert Menendez
by Sarah Pilgrim and Mark Harvey (Sociological Research Online) In this paper, we argue that a consortium of NGOs has played a significant role in shaping the market for, and restricting the use of, biofuels as an alternative to conventional
by Robert F. Dorr (Air Force Times) ...Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz has been the driving force behind the service’s conservation movement, both because it saves the environment and it saves money. And for that he deserves a salute. Schwartz couldn’t
by Damian Carrington and Stefano Valentino (The Guardian) British firms have acquired more land in Africa for controversial biofuel plantations than companies from any other country, a Guardian investigation has revealed. Half of the 3.2m hectares (ha) of biofuel land identified –
(Argus Media) Hungary is planning to increase the share of biofuels in the total energy use of its transportation sector from 4pc in 2009 to 10pc in 2020 and 15pc in 2030, according to the first draft of the country's
by Brooke Coleman (Advanced Ethanol Council/Biofuels Digest) ...Often lost in the counter-productive and backward-facing public obsession with corn ethanol are the clear attributes of the ethanol molecule itself. A recent study, “Ethanol – the Primary Renewable Liquid Fuel,” makes the case
by Jeff Natalie-Lees (Aberdeen News) Export options help facility weather weaker domestic demand Ethanol produced in Mina is helping Brazil avoid a fuel crisis after a weak sugar cane crop cut that country's ethanol production. When the sugar cane crop — the
by Philip Brasher (Des Moines Register) The European Union has set new environmental and labor standards for the crops used to make biofuels there, angering U.S. farmers who worry that such restrictions could spread to other products and countries. The standards
by Jerry Hagstrom (AgWeek) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told a gathering of international agricultural development activists recently that U.S. biofuels should not blamed for most of the increases in food prices in recent years. “With respect to food prices, corn-based
(Algae Industry Magazine) ...The Fuel Feedstock Freedom Act (S. 1085), gives individual states the option not to participate in the corn ethanol portion of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). It also expands the cellulosic biofuel carve-out to include algae and
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad is expected to sign a bill today, May 26, which will provide a boost to the state’s renewable fuels producers and distributors. The bill, S.F. 531, was passed by the state
(Client Earth) The European Commission has been sued, accused of violating European transparency laws. Environmental law organisation ClientEarth, Friends of the Earth Europe (FOEE), FERN and Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) filed the lawsuit following the Commission’s refusal to provide access
(The Guardian/Eco-Business) Malaysia and Indonesia, which together account for about 90% of the world’s palm oil production, have launched a joint PR offensive to defend the industry’s environmental record. ...(M)inisters from the two countries agreed to finalise plans for a European Palm Oil Council
(National Defense) The Obama administration essentially has given up on sweeping energy reform. But the U.S. military nonetheless is plowing ahead with an ambitious agenda aimed at reducing fossil fuel consumption, switching to renewable energy sources and planning for a
(National Biodiesel Board/Biodiesel Magazine) Vermont continues the momentum for clean air policies in the North East by passing a requirement for renewable, cleaner-burning biodiesel to be used in home heating oil throughout the state. ...The broad-based energy legislation establishes low sulfur
by Kevin G. Hall (McClatchy Newspapers) When oil prices hit a record $147 a barrel in July 2008, the Bush administration leaned on Saudi Arabia to pump more crude in hopes that a flood of new crude would drive the
by Geoff Cooper (Renewable Fuels Association) ...Luddites and Malthusians have suggested that crop-based biofuels simply can’t provide significant volumes of energy for transportation without starving the world’s poor. ...Of course, these ridiculous charges have been disproven time and time again, and the world’s
(25 x '25) The 25x'25 Alliance recognizes that all sectors must make sacrifices to achieve true reductions in spending and the national deficit. However, draconian cuts to a number ofUSDA renewable energy programs included in a larger farm and food spending billadopted
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...(T)he US Navy released an RFI that indicated that it will fuel the first 450,000 gallon fuel order for the Great Green Fleet via the small hamlet of Manchester, Washington, less than 10 miles from
by Mike McAdams (Biorefining Magazine/Advanced Biofuels Association) I recently had the privilege of testifying before the Energy and Power Subcommittee of the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce and share with its members the incredible progress the advanced biofuels
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