by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel) Our country is quickly sliding down a slippery slope. Not too long ago, we were the leaders in renewable energy – wind, solar, biofuels. Today, not only have the major technological advancements come from overseas, our manufacturing
(Washington Post) Editorial ...What better time to revisit the enduring, maddening, illogical contrast between how little Americans actually pay to drive -- and how fiercely they resist even modest gasoline tax increases that would go a long way in addressing
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Among the changes proposed by the (Algal Biomass Organization) were: providing more flexible revenue requirements for qualifying under the program, including allowing consideration of co-product, or chemicals sales as part of revenue floors; increasing the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...(D)oomsayers who have been predicting an inevitable conflict between food and fuel appear to have been completely off the mark. Rather than a shortage of food, the increased pace of biotechnology innovation associated with bioenergy is
(Washington Post) Editorial ...Many lawmakers want the government to require utilities to derive a certain percentage of their electricity from clean sources. And one of the sources that would probably qualify is so-called renewable biomass -- everything from forest debris
by Dr. Eric Toone (Program Director, Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, U.S. Department of Energy) Dr. Toone described the role and mission of ARPA-E, the process related to ARPA-E's first Financial Opportunity Announcement (FOA1), project selection and awards at the Biomass 2010 Conference March
(California Energy Commission) The investment plan for the Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program (program) serves as the guidance document for the allocation of program funding and is prepared annually based on input and advice of the Assembly
(The Grand Island Independent) With renewable fuel supporters upset with the EPA's continued delay of allowing E15 at gasoline pumps and with more and more E85 vehicles on the road, Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Neb., along with Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...It has been pointed out repeatedly by advanced biofuels developers that the public sector must craft long-term, stable national policies to support and incentivize new capacity, with the return on investment coming in the form
by Martin Roberts and Michael Hogan (Reuters) Cheaper, local ingredients make bioethanol more profitable, and sustainable, than far more widely produced biodiesel in Europe, even though it adds to a surplus of conventional gasoline while diesel remains more in demand. ...However,
by Grant Bradley (New Zealand Herald) The Government is boosting support for the growing number of biofuel makers by extending its subsidy scheme to 100 per cent pure biodiesel. Under the present criteria, to qualify for a 42.5c-a-litre subsidy only up to
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Just two weeks after USDA released its “Regional Roadmap to Meeting the Biofuels Goals of the Renewable Fuels Standard,” it now has a short video, touting the importance of ethanol and other biofuels in
by Vinod Khosla (Washington Post) If our goal is carbon reduction, a cap-and-trade or carbon-pricing bill, with its likely compromises, would be worse right now than no regulation. Pricing carbon below $40 per ton will not change how industry does
(Alpha Galileo) An interdisciplinary team headed by Empa researcher Rainer Zah has been studying the sustainability of second generation biofuels and has calculated how much fuel might be saved in Switzerland through the use of these new products. The investigation,
National Research Council report says continued near- and long-term Government /Industry R&D is needed to reduce petroleum dependence and greenhouse gases In its third report on the FreedomCAR and Fuel Partnership (FC&FP), the National Research Council (NRC) of the National Academies
(Ethanol Across America) The Flagship publication of the Clean Fuels Development Coalition and the Ethanol Across America program for nearly 15 years has been the Ethanol Fact Book. This unique document provides hundreds of sourced facts relating to ethanol and
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, three ethanol industry groups have asked that legislators keep biofuels in mind. “It is likely that the Senate will take up an energy bill, heavy
(World Economic Forum) Biorefineries have a major role to play in tackling climate change, according to the World Economic Forum report The Future of Industrial Biorefineries launched today(June 29, 2010). The report, produced in collaboration with Royal DSM N.V., Novozymes, DuPont
(US Department of Energy) Despite algae's potential, many technical and economic challenges must be overcome for algal biofuels to be commercialized. To identify these hurdles and guide research and development activities, DOE convened the National Algal Biofuels Technology Roadmap Workshop, bringing together
by Anna Austin (Biomass Magazine) With their extreme versatility and often complicated nature, it isn’t easy for most people to wrap their brain around advanced biofuels, and the definitions in the renewable fuels standard 2 (RFS2) aren’t much help. ...Generally, there
by Jeffrey Decker (FlightGlobal) ...Biomass can be gasified and converted to fuel through the Fischer-Tropsch process as well, but the USAF has focused on coal-to-liquids to confirm that chemically identical fuels perform alike no matter what the raw material is.
by Stacy Feldman (The Guardian) Nearly 50 members of Congress warn State Deptartment against rubberstamping 2,000-mile tar sands pipeline as Obama insider John Podesta says fuel source "cannot be our energy future". ...In a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton,
by David Sterrett (Chicago Business) Capitalizing on the Gulf oil spill, ethanol makers are launching a bold public relations offensive touting their clean environmental image as they lobby the Obama administration to allow more of the corn-based fuel in American gas
by Michael O'Brien (The Hill) Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) will offer legislation next week that would allow states to opt out of federal law requiring a certain level of ethanol be blended into gasoline. Inhofe says he's crafting a measure he
(BrighterEnergy.com) Arizona Governor Jan Brewer has signed new legislation that makes tax credits available for projects that use algae to turn sunlight and carbon dioxide into biofuels. ...The new legislation specifies that qualified research includes only research conducted in Arizona, including
by Timothy Gardner (Reuters) U.S. environmental regulators have delayed decisions on whether to allow higher concentrations of ethanol in gasoline, a blow to ethanol producers who face a glut of supply but a relief to automakers who fear ethanol will harm
(Meat Trade News Daily) BIOFUEL producers want the Government to protect jobs by prioritising home-produced fuels over exports under its new green fuel usage scheme. The IFA is enraged that the new Biofuels Obligation Scheme (BOS) could lead Irish people to
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the USDA released its highly-anticipated “Regional Roadmap to Meeting the Biofuels Goals of the Renewable Fuels Standard by 2022.”... USDA identified dedicated energy crops, primarily switchgrass, as the practical platform for achieving a 20
by John M. Broder and Marjorie Connelly (New York Times) Overwhelmingly, Americans think the nation needs a fundamental overhaul of its energy policies, and most expect alternative forms to replace oil as a major source within 25 years. Yet a
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...The Infinite Loop in financing cellulosic ethanol is the setting of conditions for loan guarantees by the Department of Energy which cannot be fulfilled; the insistence of project financiers that, without loan guarantees, project financing
by Jim Lane (Biomass Digest) In Washington, the Environment Working Group has released a study that claims the impacts of the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACESA)—which has already passed the House of Representatives—would require the equivalent of cutting
(Advanced Biofuels Association) Advanced Biofuels Association President Michael McAdams briefed the House Agriculture Committee this afternoon, telling its members, "It's time to take politics out of renewable fuels and let sound science and sound energy policy govern biofuels policy moving
by Louis Bergeron (Stanford University) Advances in high-yield agriculture over the latter part of the 20th century have prevented massive amounts of greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere – the equivalent of 590 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide – according
(BERNAMA.com) The European Commission on Thursday (June 10, 2010) adopted guidelines to implement the European Union's Renewable Energy Directive which forms part of its 2008 climate and energy package. "The adopted package gives clear guidance to the Malaysian palm oil producers what
(Union of Concerned Scientists) The Billion Gallon Challenge: Advanced Biofuels from diverse sources such as grasses and agricultural waste hold the promise of sustainably reducing U.S. oil dependence and global warming emissions. Unfortunately the advanced biofuels industry not been able to
(Renewable Fuels Association) The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), Growth Energy, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) today countered the tired claims of the Environmental Working Group (EWG) that American ethanol is not a
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Bottom line – if you make the ethanol blender credit go away, but stand behind the mandate and Shift the spending towards investment tax credits and loan guarantees, it is possible to do the following: 1.
(National Acadamies) Various combinations of commercially available technologies could greatly reduce fuel consumption in passenger cars, sport-utility vehicles, minivans, and other light-duty vehicles without compromising vehicle performance or safety, says a new report by the National Research Council. The technologies would
by Ezra Klein (Washington Post) ...Most of us would call the BP spill a tragedy. Ask an economist what it is, however, and you'll hear a different word: "externality." An externality is a cost that's not paid by the person,
(Frederick News Post Editorial) ...Last week's Go Green Energy Conference at the Frederick Fairgrounds, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, R-6th, is further proof, judging by the crowd of visitors and the greater-than-expected number of exhibitors that showed up. The
(biodieselinafghanistan.com) On December 1, 2009, at West Point, President Obama announced to the nation that the U.S.will send 30,000 additional troops to Afghanistan as soon as possible. These additional troops will bring the U.S. total in Afghanistan to around 100,000. The additional troop commitment is part of
(Tampa Bay Online) Low carbon ethanol and renewable power produced from Florida grown sugar - biomass crops can help displace off-shore drilling for oil in the Gulf of Mexico and contribute to energy independence, according to a press release distributed Friday. Highlands
by Ben Sills (Bloomberg.com) Fatih Birol, the International Energy Agency’s chief economist, called on leaders of the Group of 20 Nations to fulfill their pledge to end fossil-fuel subsidies, a move he said will cut oil demand and greenhouse-gas emissions. Stopping aid
(Climate-L) To prepare for implementation of the 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive, the European Commission has released three documents on biofuels: a communication on voluntary schemes and default values in the EU biofuels and bioliquids sustainability scheme; a communication on the
Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) The expansion of biofuels will play a significant role in the revitalization of rural America, according to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. “Why not create biofuel refineries and renewable energy plants that create jobs and markets for a
(New Hampshire Public Radio Earth Talk) Ethanol—a biofuel derived from corn and other feedstocks—is already playing a major role in helping to reduce emissions from many of the traditional gasoline-powered cars on the road today. According to the U.S. Department of
by Jeff Hage (The Fergus Falls Daily Journal) If there was ever a time in our history that the United States will not drill its way out of its energy problems, it’s now. That was the message Sen. Al Franken brought to
by Beth Gardiner (New York Times) Ubiquitous in products from cookies to cosmetics, and increasingly in European fuel tanks, too, palm oil is driving the destruction of some of Southeast Asia’s last tracts of untouched rainforest and leading to huge
(Renewable Fuels Association) The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) today continued to call into question accounting gimmicks and unproven theories used by environmental activists seeking to undermine the growth of biofuels as a way to displace fossil fuels. The latest iteration is a
by Timothy D Searchinger (Environmental Research Letters) Use of biofuels does not reduce emissions from energy combustion but may offset emissions by increasing plant growth or by reducing plant residue or other non-energy emissions. To do so, biofuel production must generate and
(AusBiotech) AusBiotech has been appointed to manage a new Federal Government project to boost research into second generation biofuels, with a $3 million investment as part of the Super Science Education Investment Fund (EIF). The “Sustainable Energy – Second Generation Biofuels Research
(St. Joseph News-Press, Mo) Editorial: ...A long-term solution, however, can be found in the farm fields of Northwest Missouri and Northeast Kansas. The environmental debacle in the Gulf emphasizes the need for the United States to have viable alternatives to
(Reuters) The greenest fuels would become the cheapest under plans for a pan-European energy tax which would also help governments tackle huge debts without raising taxes on workers, draft documents show. ...If approved by EU leaders, the new rules would be
by Candace Krebs (AgJournal.com) Despite ethanol’s pitch as a domestic replacement for imported oil — and one that may offer fewer environmental risks following the oil well explosion in the Gulf that continues to impact the southern coast — the
by Mary Nichols (California Air Resources Board, Sustainable Industries) When California Gov. Schwarzenegger cut the ribbon at the opening of the world’s first bio-butanol plant earlier this year, he credited California’s climate action law Assembly Bill 32. ... In the case of
by Stephanie Dreyer (Growth Energy, RenewableEnergyWorld.com) The full scope of the environmental catastrophe due to the BP spill in the Gulf of Mexico will not be learned for some time – but one thing is certain: if we are ever
By Carey Gillam (Reuters) The disastrous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico illustrates a pressing need for the United States to pass legislative incentives to drive investment dollars into cellulosic and algae-based biofuel facilities, biofuel industry leaders said on Thursday. "This
by Bill Lambrecht (St. Louis Post-Dispatch) ...St. Louis-based National Corn Growers Association and growers from Missouri, Illinois and 12 other states from Maryland to Colorado are anteing up hoping to leave impressions on lawmakers and the Obama administration at a key time. Decisions on
(Boeing) Boeing and PetroChina, together with representatives of the Chinese energy sector and the global aviation industry, May 27, 2010, announced the signing of an agreement to evaluate establishing a sustainable aviation biofuels industry in China. The strategic assessment is the first such
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The first-ever U.S. regulation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions has fueled an even greater urgency to expand E85 infrastructure. April 1, the U.S. EPA and the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) Earlier this year Big Oil sued the EPA over the biodiesel requirement in the RFS2. Today (May 25, 2010), the Clean Air Task Force, on behalf of environmental groups including Friends of the Earth, filed suit
(Advanced Biofuels Association) The Advanced Biofuels Association launched a new online video series today. The Clean Fuels Forecast spotlights the top public policy issues and maneuvering in Washington affecting the advanced biofuels industry. In its first episode, now posted on the ABFA
by Leon Kaye (Triplepundit) ...Regardless of party affiliation, senators in the northern prairie states have a history of opposing any bill focused on energy independence or energy efficiency. These senators are good, however, in promoting legislation favoring local industries. Senate
(CSIRO) CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) together with Australasia’s major aviation players is leading a study to help plan a sustainable future for aviation fuels and reduce the sector’s greenhouse gas emissions. The Sustainable Aviation Fuels Road Map will
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, 90 US scientists wrote to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and US Senate Majority leader Harry Reid to fix accounting standards for greenhouse gas emissions associated with bioenergy projects. The scientists said they wanted to
(Online International News Network) Pakistan Provincial Minister for Population Welfare Punjab Neelam Jabbar Ch. has said that the government is paying full attention to develop the alternative fuels such as ethanol and bio-diesel to overcome the energy crisis in the
by David Zilberman, Gal Hochman, and Deepak Rajagopal (Agricultural and Resource Economics Update -- University of California) ...While including Indirect Land Use Effects in assessing the impact of biofuel seems appealing, we will argue here against an indirect land use in biofuel
(RenewableEnergyWorld.com) ...Including biomass power plants under the EPA’s tailoring rule is a clear policy shift and may imply a change in position for future policy. The lack of distinction between renewable biomass as an alternative fuel to traditional fossil fuels like
by Angie Chui (Manilla Bulletin) Biofuels should not be viewed as a threat to food security. Instead, it should be considered a boone to the industry if the Brazilian experience is any indication. According to diplomat Andre Amado, many perceive the cultivation
(Wisconsin Ag Connection) A legislative proposal that would encourage the development, production and use of renewable fuels in Wisconsin is now the law of the land. On Tuesday, Governor Jim Doyle signed SB 279, also known as the 'ethanol bill,'
by William Coyle (Amber Waves) Next-generation biofuel companies are using a variety of strategies to overcome high initial capital costs, limited access to low-cost biomass, and other hurdles to remain financially viable during pre-commercial development. ...There are more than 30 U.S.
by Mary Rosenthal (Algal Biomass Organization) It was a great year for algae – and a great year for the Algal Biomass Organization. In the past 12 months, the algae industry has reached a number of critical milestones: significant federal policy
by Richard Black (BBC News) A major change of approach is needed if society is to restrain climate change, according to a report from a self-styled "eclectic" group of academics. ...The academics advocate concentrating first on short-term fixes for greenhouse gases
Dr. Robert Wisner (AgMRC) A fuel ethanol blending wall has been anticipated for the last three years. When reached, it would halt growth of the ethanol industry or initially would cause demand growth to fall short of the rate of
by Michael Vaughan (Globe and Mail) The ever worsening ecological disaster in the Gulf of Mexico and on U.S. shorelines has undermined political support for offshore drilling and is focusing attention on greater reliance on renewable fuels. “This shows that the case
by B.A. (Ben) Thorp and Masood Akhtar (Ahead of the Curve, TAPPI) ...The first question to ask is, why do I need to know any of this? Reasons can range from increasing one's knowledge to helping guide personal investment to evaluating
by Brian Jennings (The Hill) ...Today, conventional oil supplies are being tapped out and maintaining our current level of addiction forces us to hunt for scarce deposits in deepwater wells or in the Canadian tar sands. These unconventional sources of
by Wendy Lee (Star Tribune) With its university research, sources of biomass and track record of innovation, some people think Minnesota has the tools to become a major leader in the green economy. But will it live up to its potential? A
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Argentina, the Argentine Renewable Energies Chamber has released its latest study in its State of the Biofuels Industry series, covering the B5 and E5 mandates that began this year. Ethanol highlights: The domestic market for ethanol
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...The invite-only meeting, which attracted more than 100 attendees, was structured around two panels, one focused primarily on policy and led by USDA Chief Economist Joe Glauber and featuring biofuels consortium head Jose Olivares (Los
by Jerry Hagstrom (Ag Week) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said at a White House clean energy forum May 6 that USDA may have to take bigger chances with its business loan guarantees if it is going to finance energy plants
(The Clean) With Uncertainty Mounting About Climate/Energy Bill, Major New Study for CSI Details Path for Breaking Away From "Business As Usual" in the Electric Power Sector. What happens if Congress fails to pass a climate or energy bill in 2010? Even
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...It was the biochemist Dr. Ganesh Kishore, now the CEO of the Malaysian Life Sciences Capital Fund and formerly Chief Biotechnology Officer of Dupont, who raised the issue at a recent Burrill & Company Limited
by Thom Gabrukiewicz (ArgusLeader.com) ...Tom Vilsack, the president's agriculture secretary, said Thursday that much progress has been made - but more must be done. "We're conducting the first national on-energy production survey to find out among 20,000 farms and ranches precisely
by Bryce Covert (New Deal 2.0) ...Fact #1: Burning oil to generate electricity makes up a tiny percentage of overall generation in the US. ...Fact #2: Electricity generation accounts for almost 40% of US greenhouse gas emissions-the largest source of
by David Schwartz (Algae Industry Magazine) ...When we look at the markets, it will come down to transportation as the deal killer on biofuels, including algae. The longer the distance from the production site to the processing site and to
(AP, Bloomberg Businessweek) U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin says she will propose a tax credit aimed at encouraging investment in development of the next generation of renewable fuels. ...She says her bill would create a tax credit for those who
by Chris Lusvardi (Herald-Review.com) ...(T)he Illinois Senate has approved a measure that will eventually allow higher blends of ethanol to receive the state sales tax exemption. Marketers can sell ethanol blended fuel with a sales tax reduction of 20 percent
by Robert Pore (The Independent) The 2012 Farm Bill was the focus of attention Tuesday in Cheyenne, Wyo., as members of the House Agriculture Committee, including U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Neb., heard from farmers and ranchers on a variety of
(US Department of Energy) DOE also released May 6, 2010, a new video which showcases how cellulosic biofuel technologies can help decrease U.S. dependence on foreign oil, spur growth in the domestic biofuels industry, and provide new revenue opportunities to farmers in many
(Union of Concerned Scientists) The BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is a stark reminder of the true cost of America's oil dependence, the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) said today. The federal government's response to this crisis must
by David Schwartz (AlgaeIndustryMagazine.com) As pioneers go, in the modern business of algae biofuels and co-products, possibly no one has built a longer record of accomplishment than Dr. John Benemann. Involved in algae biofuels and related research since the early seventies,
by Andy Eubank (Hoosier Ag Today) USDA Rural Development has a proposed rule on the table that would exclude the Louis Dreyfus biodiesel plant from USDA Advanced Biofuel Payment Program eligibility because of its foreign ownership. Many in Indiana, including
(American Soybean Association) The American Soybean Association (ASA) provided comments today to the National Research Council (NRC) Committee on Economic and Environmental Impacts of Increasing Biofuels Production. ASA told the Committee that biodiesel made from soybean oil can play a vital
(The Ford Motor Company) Ford is delivering on its 2006 pledge to double the number of flexible-fuel vehicles produced in the U.S. by the end of 2010. Ford produced nearly 185,000 2006 model year flexible-fuel vehicles. The development and use of renewable
(Ecological Society of America) Analyzing biofuel sources and predicting effects on water, soil and the atmosphere: The promise of switchgrass, the challenges for forests and the costs of corn-based ethanol production: Ecological scientists review the many factors surrounding biofuel crop production
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...With respect to energy security, consider this: it is estimated that ten percent of all US military casualties come from the delivery of fuel. Even if it were true that none of the deployments of
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) On March 18, 2010, the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) held a briefing on the state of the cellulosic biofuel industry and its prospects for producing the volumes required by the federal Renewable Fuel Standard
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) ...The purpose of this project was to determine what incentives best support the commercialization of environmentally sustainable, low carbon, renewable biofuel technologies, to identify ways federal and state incentives can work together, and to determine
by Jake Caldwell (Center for American Progress) ...There is no question that the United States must reduce its dependence on oil. One-fifth of the oil consumed in the United States is imported from nations that are “dangerous or unstable” for
(Farm Futures) A recently completed analysis from Purdue University concluded that the California Air Resources Board overestimated the indirect land use change impact of grain-based ethanol by a factor of two in developing its Low Carbon Fuels Standard one year
by Mike Voss (Washington (NC) Daily News) With rising fuel costs taking a toll on the city’s budget, Washington implemented a green-fleets policy to help combat those escalating costs. Under the policy, city-owned and operated cars and trucks use alternative fuels
U.S. Reps. Allyson Schwartz (D-PA), Mark Schauer (D-MI) and Brian Bilbray (R-CA) introduced bipartisan legislation yesterday that will encourage the next generation of biofuels or fuels made from living things such as plants and algae. The GREEN JOB (Grow Renewable Energy
(American Farmland Trust) —“The findings from the 2007 National Resources Inventory (NRI) serve as a stark reminder that our nation’s agricultural land base—and the benefits it supplies—is threatened by poorly planned development,” says Jon Scholl, President of American Farmland Trust
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In the Opening Address at the Advanced Biofuels Leadership Conference in Washington, BP Biofuels CEO Philip New said that advanced biofuels “will require partnerships if it is to succeed,” but described biofuels as “the new
by Mark Steil (Minnesota Public Radio) The idea of a biofuel made from something other than food was one of the stars of both the Bush and Obama administration's energy programs, but the future of cellulosic ethanol is in doubt. Cellulosic
by Chavonda Jacobs-Young, Ph.D. (Director, Office of the USDA Chief Scientist) The USDA has a diverse protfolio of programs supporting the production of advanced biofuels. In this presentation to the Advanced Biofuels Leadership Conference in Washington, DC in April 2010,
(PetroWorld.com) It has been reported that the European Biodiesel Board and the European Bioethanol Fuel Association based in Brussels have both withdrawn their membership from the Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels based in Switzerland. According to Biodigest, the European Biodiesel Board has
(News Channel 34) New York sources of biofuel made from wood, grass and other forms of biomass could reduce New York’s gasoline consumption by as much as 16 percent of projected use in 2020 and play a significant role in
(European Environment Agency) While technological advances produce cleaner vehicles, more and more passengers and goods are travelling further distances, thereby offsetting efficiency gains. Based on analysis of long-term trends, a new European Environment Agency (EEA) report calls for a clear
by Nina Fowler (National Business Review) Queenstown tourism operators are scrambling to establish a viable local biofuel industry before government assistance expires. The Queenstown Lakes Biodiesel Consortium’s pilot scheme has been the beneficiary of a two-year government manufacturing subsidy of 42.5c a
(The Province) ...Food and yard waste from residential and commercial sources will be converted at the plant into a low-cost natural gas that will be used as an alternative fuel to power the city's waste-collection fleet. The plant will be located
(POET) Technology ready, CEO says, but loan guarantee, policy stability and market access still needed to achieve vision. POET plans to have a hand in producing 3.5 billion gallons of cellulosic ethanol per year by 2022, POET CEO Jeff Broin said
Nick Snow (Oil and Gas Journal) US senators from agricultural states introduced legislation on Apr. 20 that would extend the federal ethanol tax credit through 2015. Failure to do so would cost 112,000 jobs nationwide and reduce domestic fuel ethanol
by Reilly Brennan (AOL Autos) EPA Mulls New Fuel Economy Guidelines The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will soon draft a new regulation for the way it calculates fuel efficiency for electric cars, potentially deflating the stratospheric fuel economy numbers trumpeted by
(Pew Charitable Trusts) Pentagon, Service Agencies Working to Enhance Security, Save Money and Reduce Emissions The Department of Defense has initiated ambitious clean energy programs in service of economic, security and environmental goals according to "Reenergizing America's Defense," a report released today
(USDA) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack April 16, 2010, invited public comment on several proposed rules designed to increase the production of advanced biofuels and the development of biorefineries. The programs are authorized under the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (The
by Robert Rapier (Forbes) ...In order to better understand the intricacies of the issues involved, I have been engaged in dialogue with a number of industry groups and economists. Here I will try to shed some light on the tariff
by Brent Erickson (Executive Vice President, Biotechnology Industry Organization) From a letter to Senators John Kerry, Lindsey Graham and Joe Lieberman: ...BIO urges, therefore, that any comprehensive climate change legislation include appropriate incentives for, and recognition of, biotechnology solutions that
by Darren Samuelsohn (New York Times) Key senators are weighing a request from Big Oil to levy a carbon fee on the industry rather than wrap it into a sweeping cap-and-trade system that covers most of the U.S. economy. If accepted,
by Martin LaMonica (cnet News) The U.S. auto industry needs to "go green" in more than one way, says Bill Ford. Ford is committed to making its vehicles more fuel efficient by investing in a number of technologies, including electrification,
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel) “When do we stop investing in OPEC and start investing in America?” That’s the question that oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens asked at a House Ways and Means committee hearing Wednesday (April 14, 2010) on “Energy Tax
by R. James Woolsey (Wall Street Journal editorial) By using more electricity, natural gas and biofuels in our transportation fleet, we can quickly reduce our dependence on OPEC. ...About 95% of transportation fuel in the U.S. is derived from petroleum. And over three-quarters
by Terry Macalister (The Guardian) ...The US military has warned that surplus oil production capacity could disappear within two years and there could be serious shortages by 2015 with a significant economic and political impact. The energy crisis outlined in a
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...The ethanol cold war developed into a hot one this week when television and print advertising campaigns debuted both from Brazil’s UNICA and the US-based Growth Energy. ...The Growth Energy campaign is featuring six television spots
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In New York, a battle royal has been joined on the comments page of the Natural Resources Defense League (sic) following posts on the economic and greenhouse gas benefits (or lack thereof, according to NRDC’s Nathanael
by Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuels USA) It doesn't make sense to exchange reliance on one kind of imported transportation essential for another. This is as true for foreign oil; fossil fuels; batteries and rare earth metals for electric cars; as
by Hembree Brandon (Delta Farm Press) As Mid-South states continue to lose much of the traditional manufacturing-based industries that migrated to the areas beginning in the 1950s, new bio-based opportunities are emerging, says Pete Nelson. “We’re among the best in the
by Gary Chittim (King5News) The nation's largest boat owners' group wants the federal Environmental Protection Agency to slow down on plans to increase the ethanol content in the nation's gasoline supply. U.S. gasoline currently contains about 10 percent ethanol and most
(GreenAirOnline) The US Air Force has carried out the first-ever feasibility flight powered solely by a blended hydrotreated renewable jet fuel. The twin-engined A-10C Thunderbolt used a 50/50 blend of conventional military JP-8 jet fuel and a biofuel derived from
by Eric Weshoff (GreenTechGrid) Integrating electric vehicles into the smart grid is an enormous and potentially explosive challenge. Erfan Ibrahim of EPRI has said that if electric vehicles reached a high level of market penetration and were to charge at night
by Patrick Westhoff (Washington Times letter to editor) The editorial "Stop 'Big Corn' " (Opinion, Monday) did not accurately describe the analysis of ethanol policy conducted by our institute. The editorial says we at the University of Missouri's Food and Agricultural
Growth Energy, the coalition of US ethanol supporters, announced today that it has filed papers to intervene on behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in a lawsuit filed against EPA by the petroleum industry challenging a key part
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Washington, the US Department of Energy released its Open Government Plan highlighting DOE initiatives to maintain and increase transparency, increase participation between the Department, its program offices, sites and the American public, and increase collaborative
Seeking to enhance Pennsylvania's energy security, promote alternative forms of energy and create a cleaner environment, Governor Edward G. Rendell announced an $8 million investment in 20 projects that will advance the alternative fuels industry in the state. “The Alternative Fuel
by Gal Luft (The Baltimore Sun) ...While both drilling and efficiency promise little relief, with growing instability in the Middle East and millions of Chinese and Indians moving from bicycles to cars, it is almost a given that we will
(Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News) Funding the existing cellulosic biofuel reverse auction program is a targeted, affordable way to assist pioneer cellulosic biofuel producers in the United States. The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) released a March 23, 2010, letter to House and Senate
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) There is hardly an organization in the world that has done more of the heavy lifting and hard work for ethanol than Growth Energy, but it takes a fair bit of effort to find the
Responding to one of the first major directives of the Obama Administration, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today jointly established historic new federal rules that set the first-ever national greenhouse gas emissions
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Switzerland, the Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels has developed a revised lifecycle GHG calculations methodology for biofuels, starting from the Sustainability Quick Check Tool (SQCB) for biofuels — using an online, user friendly GHG calculation
(AllAfrica.com) Sun Biofuels, a British firm that has invested in jatropha plantations in Tanzania, envisages offering full time employment to 1,500 Tanzanians in its jatropha biofuel project at Kisarawe. Of the 1,500 people, 400 are already in the full time employment
by Simone Pfuderer, Grant Davies, Ian Mitchell (Food and Farming Analysis, Defra) This paper is part of a larger body of work that aims to shed more light on what led to the high agricultural commodity prices in 2008. The
"Global trade and environmental impact of the EU biofuels mandate" is the title of a study finalised by the International Food Policy Research Institute this 25 March 2010. The report is one of four studies commissioned by the European Commission
Agencies Move to Increase Energy Security and Fuel Efficiency. President Obama announced March 31, 2010, that the Federal Government will lead by example in replacing older cars in the federal fleet with fuel efficient hybrids and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, reducing our
A new study by the Center for Integrated Manufacturing Studies at Rochester Institute of Technology indicates that the use of E20 fuel, which blends 20 percent ethanol with gasoline, reduces the tail pipe emissions of hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide, compared
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) ...Both the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the the National Petrochemical & Refiners Association (NPRA) filed the lawsuit Monday with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia challenging the EPA rule, officially published
by Samuel King, Jr. (Air Force Material Command) Air Force officials, embracing the national priorities of cleaner fuel and energy independence, took a step toward a greener, energy independent future when an A-10C Thunderbolt II here took to the air
March 29, 2010, Congressman Leonard Boswell (D-IA) and Congressman Lee Terry (R-NE) held a news conference to highlight a bipartisan effort to boost our country’s homegrown energy industry by improving infrastructure for moving ethanol from the Midwest to the rest
by Mackinnon Lawrence (Biofuels Digest) ...Genomics research can be applied to energy crops to select for sequencing based on relevance to the DOE missions. Projects focus on one of three key aspects: the development of biofuel feedstocks; the identification of
The Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA) March 21, 2010, released its 2010 production forecast for ethanol and the future continues to look positive for growth in the industry. Total fuel ethanol production for 2009 was 73.9 billion litres according to data assembled by
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