(Environmental Protection Agency) On August 20, 2012, EPA issued a request for comment on letters seeking a waiver of the volume requirements of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The Governors of Arkansas and North Carolina requested that EPA waive a
by Janet McGurty (Reuters) Renewable fuel credit prices fell across the board on Tuesday as fears of an ethanol waiver roiled the Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) market. Benchmark E12 RINS, referring to RINs created in 2012, traded at 3.60 cents a
by Adam Stone (Defense News) The U.S. Army is testing new power packs that could run on virtually any fuel, including gasoline, ethanol and diesel. Developed by INI Power of Morrisville, N.C., the alternative energy power packs could even run on
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) Chrysler sees great value in ethanol. James Frusti, Chrysler Group manager of Fuels, Energy and Regulatory Affairs, presented the company’s ethanol strategy as part of the auto industry’s greater efforts of collaboration during the 25th Annual Ethanol Conference. ...At Chrysler, Fursti explained
(Reuters) * EPA to gather public comment for 30 days * EPA must make decision on ethanol waivers by November * Petitioners must show mandate causing severe economic harm The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Monday said it has begun weighing requests to
(PhysOrg) Algae are high on the genetic engineering agenda as a potential source for biofuel, and they should be subjected to independent studies of any environmental risks that could be linked to cultivating algae for this purpose, two prominent researchers
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) With the US drought, food vs fuel has returned as an issue. What alternatives are scientists, entrepreneurs developing to take us beyond the old debate? ...1. Feedstock diversification. In biofuels, it is more talked about –
(The Local: German's News in English) Biofuel containing corn should be banned from German petrol pumps, a minister has demanded, as droughts and a dramatic rise in food prices mean more of the world population is going hungry. "Rising food prices mean that biofuel
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ...Talk of a possible renewable fuel standard (RFS) waiver request became a reality in mid-August, when the U.S. EPA was officially petitioned. The clock starts on a 90-day deadline and a public comment period
by Robert Pore (The Grand Island Independent) Higher ethanol blend could be used by nearly two-thirds of vehicles on road On Friday, the U.S. Appeals Court for the District of Columbia Circuit sided with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its
(MarketWatch/PR NewsWire) Brazil quickly took one of the leading roles at the energy sector with the worldly rising interest on sugarcane biofuel and with the discovery of the massive pre-salt layer at the Brazilian coast. By creating BOB - Brasilinvest Oil,
by Robert E. Kozak (Advanced Biofuels USA) A bill to establish a US Treasury funding mechanism that would finance “clean energy” projects has been introduced as part of a renewable electrical energy bill (HR 6275) in the US House of
by Bruce Babcock (Center for Agricultural and Rural Development) ...The sharply lowered production estimates suggest the preliminary assessment of the impact of the drought on crop prices and biofuel production that I conducted last month needs to be updated. 1 In the
(The Washington Post/Associated Press) The federal government is on the verge of approving a grain mainly used as livestock feed to make a cleaner version of ethanol, a decision officials say could give farmers a new moneymaking opportunity, boost the
by Ryan Tracy (Hydrocarbon Processing) ...The US Environmental Protection Agency late Tuesday made its first specific promises to address fraud in the alternative fuels market, a signal that months of negotiations with industry representatives are making progress. In a letter to
by Todd Sneller (Journal Star) The petroleum mandate forced on U.S. motorists prevents consumers from choosing less costly fuel options at the pump. Artificial impediments imposed on the fuel market restrict the use of less expensive, cleaner burning options like
(Drovers Cattle Network) The 2012 drought is not only taking its toll on U.S. Midwest crop and livestock producers. Ethanol plants also are succumbing as high corn prices dry up their operating margins. Suspension of operations, along with reduced production
(Renewable Fuels Association) Responding to an official waiver request of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) by North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) released the following statement: “The Environmental Protection Agency should reject Governor Perdue’s waiver request out
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the governors of North Carolina, Arkansas, Maryland and Delaware made a formal request for a waiver of the Renewable Fuel Standard, in response to the 2012 US drought, which has caused a sharp
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...As is sometimes overlooked, the advanced biofuels pool in the US Renewable Fuel Standard is not only a qualifying pool for cellulosic biofuels – which have struggled to come to market in the projected volumes.
(Platts) A waiver of the US ethanol mandate would not destroy corn demand because current gasoline blending economics still favor the use of the corn-based biofuel, Deutsche Bank' analysts Michael Lewis and Christina McGlone said in a research note Monday. Ethanol
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...The Romney platform is remarkable, vis-a-vis biofuels, for ignoring the word altogether – so we are left to guess as to an incoming Administration’s attitude towards nearly 10 percent of the US energy supply. Generally, as
by Douglas L. Faulkner (“The Cleantech Conservative”/Biofuels Digest) ...Meanwhile, the oil and gas industry is gaining political strength as its production (and fortunes) rise and conservatives win more elections. Our diminishing reliance on foreign oil and the withering federal role in
by Andrew Restuccia (Politico) The Wisconsin Republican has been an outspoken critic of President Barack Obama’s clean energy agenda, offering a fiscal plan earlier this year that neatly mirrors the GOP’s policy priorities. The plan would expand oil and gas drilling,
by Zack Coleman (The Hill/E2Wire) ... The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) has been warning its political allies on Capitol Hill that attacks against corn ethanol will hinder next-generation fuels, too. BIO has reached out to lawmakers such as Sen. James Inhofe
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) ... (E)thanol production provides multiple benefits to Midwestern livestock producers: 1. The ethanol industry has driven the production of a larger corn crop. Simply put, there is more corn to go around. 2. The ethanol industry will bear the
by Nariman Gizitdinov (Bloomberg) Ethanol credits held by U.S. refiners may help reduce demand for the blending fuel and ease pressure on rising prices of corn, from which ethanol is made, the International Energy Agency said. The credits, known as Renewable Identification
by (Bloomberg) ...Refiners can meet biofuel targets by drawing from ample stockpiles and utilizing excess credits, known as Renewable Identification Numbers, that can be submitted in lieu of physically blending a gallon of ethanol to meet the government’s mandate under
(25 x '25) While passage last week by the House of Representatives of a bill that would provide much needed relief to drought-stricken livestock producers is laudable, the means by which the bill would pay for the disaster help is
by Weiner and George Clingan (Miami Herald) As the world watches the 2012 London Olympics, the United States ought to brace for a looming embarrassment at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Unless we act fast, everyone will see Brazilians
by Robert Vierhout (ePURE/Ethanol Producer Magazine) ...Other favorite critics such as Oxfam also see the present situation as a new opportunity to slam the EU biofuel policy. The head of the EU office crucifies the policy in a July 16 article
by Tom Buis (Growth Energy/Ethanol Producer Magazine) ...Though it sometimes can be easy to lose sight, the increasing challenges we face are directly correlated to our achievements. In particular, with higher blends of ethanol in gasoline gaining greater acceptance, we
by Gerard Wynn (Reuters) ...It has now become ubiquitous to quote the ethanol industry's corn consumption at 40 percent of the national crop. But the estimate is inaccurate, by assuming away ethanol co-products and in particular so-called "distillers grains" which substitute
(Reuters) ...But gasoline prices should be spared despite the loss of ethanol output, the EIA said on Wednesday. "The impact of the forecasted decline in domestic ethanol production should be primarily reflected in reduced ethanol exports," the EIA said. The United
(Clean Energy Victory Bonds) On August 2, Representative Bob Filner and 10 cosponsors introduced the Clean Energy Victory Bonds Act of 2012, H.R. 6275 in the House of Representatives. The bill, officially entitled “To promote the domestic development and deployment
Complications connected with export of the national grain lead to the idea to change the structure of agricultural production. Some experts think that grain could be substituted by rape, as this crop is always in demand on the world market.
By Elisabeth Rosenthal and Andrew W. Lehren (The New York Times) ...But where the United Nations envisioned environmental reform, some manufacturers of gases used in air-conditioning and refrigeration saw a lucrative business opportunity. They quickly figured out that they could earn one carbon
(US Department of Energy) On August 1, the US Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration held a workshop with video conferencing. Specifically, the Office of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels Analysis conducted a workshop to explore the opportunities and challenges of
by Whitney McFerron (Bloomberg BusinesssWeek) Potential changes in a U.S. government mandate for ethanol are unlikely to “materially impact” demand for the gasoline additive made from corn, Morgan Stanley said. Livestock producers and some U.S. lawmakers have asked President Barack Obama’s administration
(The Iowa Biodiesel Board/Biodiesel Magazine) The Midwestern Governors Association has formally asked every major diesel engine and vehicle manufacturer to support the use of biodiesel blends of at least 20 percent (B20) in all diesel-powered equipment. ...“As governors, we see increasing
by Ashley Player (Biodiesel Magazine/Frazier, Barnes & Associates) ...One potential gray area is the treatment of off-spec biodiesel—many facilities simply sell the material without RINs to be reprocessed by other biodiesel plants. A question that might be asked is: does
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest/BIO) ...While there are a number of obstacles impeding further growth in alternative energy, few are as critical as the joint EPA/NHTSA proposed rules establishing light-duty vehicle GHG and fuel economy standards. The proposed rule eliminates
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Fewer people know that natural gas is a platform for producing ethanol – either through fermentation or catalytic conversion (typically via methanol) – and drop-in fuels using the methanol-to-gasoline method pioneered years ago by ExxonMobil
by Pavel Molchanov (Raymond James & Associates) In addition to declining U.S. oil demand and surging liquids production from onshore shale plays, there is a third component to our thesis that the nation is moving towards oil independence by 2020. We project
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Meanwhile, the Senate Finance Committee marked up the Family and Business Tax Cut Certainty Act of 2012, which included key energy efficiency and biofuels tax credit provisions. Included in the bill: the Cellulosic Biofuels
by Matthew L. Wald (New York Times) ...While a variety of new fuel technologies are advancing, policy makers can be assured that the internal combustion engine will remain dominant for decades, the National Petroleum Council told the Department of Energy on Wednesday
(Brownfield Ag News) Some strong criticism today from Iowa Senator Charles Grassley directed towards that coalition of livestock, meat and poultry groups asking for changes to the Renewable Fuels Standard’s ethanol mandate. “I think that what the group is really asking
by Brent Erickson (BIO/Biofuels Digest) Despite oil industry claims of “$10 million in fines for non-existent fuels” – they paid exactly $19,010.16 for cellulosic ethanol waivers in 2010, costing US consumers 14 millionths of one penny per gallon. So why
by Kamalpreet Badasha (SupplyManagement.com) State-owned South African Airways (SAA) aims to decrease its carbon footprint by using biofuel for 50 per cent of its fuel supply by 2020. The announcement was made by public enterprises minister Malusi Gigaba at the launch of the
by Susan Cornwell (Reuters/Chicago Tribune News) A Senate subcommittee approved legislation on Tuesday that continues funding for the Pentagon's use of biofuels, a senator said, in a move pushing back against critics trying to limit outlays on programs such as the
(Platts) The $1.01/gal federal tax credit for cellulosic fuel production, as well as the $1/gal biodiesel tax credit, would each be extended under a proposal released Wednesday by the Senate Finance Committee. The cellulosic credit would also be expanded to include
by Gernot Pehnelt and Christoph Vietze (Friedrich Schiller University and the Max Planck Institute of Economics) During the last years, the renewable energy strategy of the European Union (EU) and the proposed policies and regulations, namely the Renewable Energy Directive (RED), have been heavily
by Mary Rosenthal (Algal Biomass Organization) As we all basked in the glory of the annual Independence Day festivities, we were reminded once again about the importance of "Buying American." Nowhere was this more evident than in Congress, where several
by Steve Levine (Foreign Policy) ...Three years ago, we saw a very different Rex Tillerson. In January 2009, the ExxonMobil CEO was so worried about the Obama juggernaut that he engineered a wholesale change in the company's public policy.
by Bob Dinneen (Renewable Fuels Association) Mr. Larry Pope’s July 27th op-ed “The Ethanol Mandate is Worse Than The Drought” calls out for a rebuttal. It is a bit astonishing to read an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal that argues against
(US Department of Agriculture) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced payments for 125 advanced Biofuel producers across the country to support the production and expansion of advanced biofuels from a wide variety of non-food sources, including waste products. "Advanced biofuels are
by Suzanne Goldenberg (The Guardian) The Obama administration was urged on Monday to stop diverting grain to gas amid warnings of an "imminent food crisis" caused by America's drought. US government forecasts of a 4% rise in food prices for US consumers because of the drought
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Arch-critic of the cost of military biofuels — Oklahoma Senator James Inhofe — comes under scrutiny over earmarks for natural gas-based military fuels that cost 29 times more than conventional fuels. In Washington, the battle over
Jannette Pippin (JDNews) Eastern North Carolina farmers have an opportunity to get involved in growing renewable energy crops for fuel and power through a program that will help pay planting and other start-up costs. USDA Farm Service Agency is expanding the
(GreenAirOnline) As part of policy objectives to reduce carbon emissions by state-owned companies (SOCs) and stimulate a green economy, the South African government is planning a strategy to help develop a home-grown aviation biofuels industry to support South African Airways
by Olga Belogolova (National Journal) Republicans in both the House and Senate this year have proposed cutting funds for alternative-energy programs in the defense authorization bill. But these efforts won’t gain much traction, National Journal’s Energy & Environment Insiders say. More than
(Leopoldina) The Leopoldina’s statement “Bioenergy – Chances and Limits” provides a comprehensive analysis of the use of bioenergy. It was compiled by a working group of more than 20 expert scientists established in 2010 and outlines under which conditions the
by David Alexander (Reuters) * Ex-Senator Warner leads veterans in pushing alternative fuels * Senator Inhofe seeks accounting for Green Fleet demonstration * Fossil fuel dependence means more conflict, veterans warn Military veterans and former lawmakers urged Congress on Tuesday to continue
by Andy Eubank (Hoosier Ag Today) First – he says the flexibility built into the RFS allowing obligated parties to carry over blending credits from previous years significantly lowers the economic impacts of a short crop. According to Babcock – the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The recent focus on drought, and the scarcity scare, shows that diversification and yield enhancement remain the bioeconomy’s chief weapons in the war on availability and affordability. The USDA and DOE respond with a $41M
by John Maday (Cattlenetwork.com) The renewable fuel standard, which mandates expanding use of ethanol for fuel, always has been a point of contention between grain producers and grain users such as livestock producers. This year’s shrinking corn crop has brought
(World Watch Institute/Environmental News Network) ...In response to global criticisms that biofuels drive deforestation and threaten food security, Central American governments and interest groups specify that biofuel expansion will occur on “tierras ociosas”�—or vacant, unproductive land. This may include land
(National Chicken Council) In response to a new economic study on the impact of corn ethanol production on food prices and commodity price volatility, a coalition of livestock and poultry groups is urging Congress to reform the federal Renewable Fuels
by Stephen J. Gatto (Biofuels Digest/Myriant) Post Kitty Hawk: 2012 and Beyond: Overwhelming Evidence in Support of Replacing the Whole Barrel of Oil and the Need for Biobased Chemicals Policy Now We in the biobased chemicals industry have had our Kitty
by Colleen Scherer (AG Professional) Soybean farmers in the United States have joined forces with other soybean farmers in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay in supporting genetically modified soybeans in the European Union. Farmers from these countries represent 90 percent of
(25 x '25) As the “green strike group” makes its way through the waters of the Pacific Rim this week, the performance of the advanced biofuels helping power many of those ships is a cause for celebration of American innovation
(ACORE) Leaders from across the country in the transportation and renewable energy sectors convened at an American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE) forum on Tuesday in Washington to chart a course for expanding the use of renewable energy in the
by Anne Steckel (National Biodiesel Board/Biodiesel Magazine) ...Starting this year, the RFS calls for a minimum of 1 billion gallons of biomass-based diesel (mostly biodiesel) to be used each year in the U.S. fuel supply until 2022. The law gives
This report is designed to provide a pathway to accelerate the industry’s development. The report details factors influencing the development of the global advanced biofuels and biobased chemicals industry, identifies opportunity areas for Minnesota, and sets forth strategic recommendations. The policy
Joelle Brink (Biofuels Digest) ...The Navy doesn’t go to war, or even a war simulation, with unproven technology. That sends a message loud and clear to those who hope the Age of Biofuels has not yet arrived. If you’re a fossil
by Growth Energy/Renewable Fuels Association (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ...(T)he U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit rejected a petition by the Chicken Council challenging the U.S. EPA rulemaking on the renewable fuel standard (RFS2). The Renewable Fuels Association
(Energy FactCheck) FACT: 1. The U.S. Navy’s biofuel initiative began in 2006 when President George W. Bush’s Defense Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, initiated a task force to explore options for reducing the military’s dependence on fossil fuels (Source: National Council for
by Marcus Stern (Reuters) * Republicans call green fleet program too expensive * Pentagon says biofuels costs will drop Two companies involved on the ground level of an expensive Pentagon effort to embrace biofuels have used familiar strategies in building
by Christopher Doering (ArgusLeader.com) Political muscle can help S.D. protect stake in renewable energy Big oil and natural gas companies vastly outspend the renewable fuels industry on Capitol Hill, but the general gridlock in Washington gives advocates of wind, ethanol and
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...“It didn’t take long to figure out,” he (Dan Nolan, a retired US Army Colonel and CEO of Sabot 6) recalled, “how many casualties we were taking in Iraq and Afghanistan via logistical convoys, and
(Bankok Post) Thailand is being urged to step up joint development and know-how exchanges with Malaysia and Indonesia on ethanol and biodiesel to stave off reliance on oil imports, according to energy veterans. "We should get more serious in joint development
by Alicia Moore (HydrogenFuelNews.com) ...The U.S. Coast Guard has also taken a keen interest in biofuels, using them to power the ship Henry Blake on its maiden voyage. Henry Blake combines diesel with biofuel The ship makes use of a 50/50
by Paul Anthony a. Isla (BusinessMirror.com) THE Philippines has sufficient coconut supply to support up to a 5-percent coco methyl ester (CME) biodiesel blend, Carlos Carpio, Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) deputy administrator, told reporters on Wednesday. The PCA official said in
by Brendan Nicholson (The Australian) THE Royal Australian Navy has taken a major step towards "greening" its warships and aircraft with a new agreement that will give it access to technology being developed in the US to enable the massive
(MultiService.com) Advanced biofuels are gaining popularity throughout the United States thanks to their financial and environmental benefits. Domestic biofuels can especially benefit the Department of Defense, which uses a substantial amount of fuel each year. The Advanced Biofuels Association recently
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...In this context we’d like to examine assertions made in a feature story on the Green Strike Group published this week in Wired’s online Danger Room, entitled “How the Navy’s Incompetence Sank the ‘Green Fleet”. Myth
by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jonathan A. Colon (USS Nimitz Public Affairs/America's Navy) The Secretary of the Navy, the honorable Ray Mabus, and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert, visited the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) for
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) During a bipartisan briefing on Capitol Hill, researchers from six institutions advocated that adopting a national Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) would be a positive step for America. Renewable fuels, they said, will be cleaner, cheaper
by Roberta Rampton and Susan Cornwell (Reuters) U.S. senators who support the Pentagon's push to expand its use of biofuels said they have a plan to answer critics who argue the fuel is far too expensive to help develop at a
by Norman Seip (Christian Science Monitor) The US armed services is working hard to wean itself off of fossil fuels and foreign oil. Yet some in Congress, for short-term savings, want to ban them from purchasing biofuels. Cutting investments in
by Erin Voegele (Biodiesel Magazine) ...Specifically, the bill provides a sales tax refund for materials used in the distribution of blends of B10 through neat B100, ethanol blends of E10-E100, and other renewable fuels produced with biomass feedstock and used
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Bio Industry Alliance published a note “to once again clear up a few myths about ethanol and ethanol production in America.” ...In Washington, the Renewable Fuel Association’s Geoff Cooper noted that “The
by Mary Rosenthal (Algal Biomass Organization/Biofuels Digest) ...When you get past the heated rhetoric of a presidential campaign and the demands of a 24-7 news cycle, support for algae is stronger than you might think. Very quietly, we are seeing
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As the Pacific-based forces of Can-Do battle the Washington-based forces of Shouldn’t-Try, we look at the 6 Big Myths of Military Biofuels In Hawaii, the US Navy demonstrated its Green Strike Group as part of the 2012 Rim
(Senator Chris Coons) Master Limited Partnerships Parity Act gives renewable energy projects access to a tax incentive available now only to oil, gas, and coal projects U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) introduced legislation Thursday to level the energy
by Jan Koninckx(DuPont), Adam Monroe (Novozymes), Javier Salgado (Abengoa) and Jeff Lautt (POET) (Politico) The last two presidential administrations differed on many issues, but gave us a bipartisan roadmap for achieving greater energy security and lowering our dependence on fossil
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As Argentina’s monetary policies run into big trouble, inflation mounts and the peso sinks, can the biofuels boom keep going? ...To keep the biodiesel industry growing and reduce diesel import costs, the Argentine government has also
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, a new study by the RAND Corporation says that the US military’s petroleum demand of 340,000 barrels per day, compared to global demand of 87 million barrels per day, isn’t large enough of
(Platts) The EU needs to overcome regulatory uncertainty and provide more clarity on its biofuels policies before new investments are poured into greenfield projects across the 27-nation bloc, BP's Biofuels CEO Phil New said at an event in London Tuesday. ...In
by Jeremy Herb (The Hill/Defcon Hill) A liberal-leaning national security group has a six-figure ad campaign attacking four Republicans, including potential vice presidential pick Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.), over their opposition to the
By Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire) and Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) (Politico) It’s disappointing that Congress may try to second-guess the Pentagon’s attempts to tackle one big problem: our dependence on foreign oil. Without changes to the new National Defense Authorization
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) Six biofuel industry organizations have jointly petitioned the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to intervene in a lawsuit filed by the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) and the Western States
by Zack Coleman (The Hill/E2Wire) The biofuels industry is at loggerheads with House Republicans, who are eyeing its funding for elimination in the farm bill. Biomass and biofuels groups warn that the loss of $800 million in guaranteed federal support would
by Zack Coleman (The Hill/E2Wire) Congress “needs to get beyond short-sightism” that is stunting investment in and handcuffing Defense Department use of biofuels, a senior White House energy official said Wednesday at a conference in Washington, D.C. Heather Zichal, the White
(Convenience Store News) If Congress is serious about convenience stores and gas stations selling alternative fuels, it must work now to pass H.R. 4345, otherwise known as the Domestic Fuels Protection Act of 2012, said Joseph Petrowski, CEO of The Cumberland Gulf
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A House Subcommittee on Energy and Power hearing held July 10 to discuss the challenges and opportunities of alternative fuels provided the latest platform for the ongoing and increasingly heated battle between biofuels and
by John Davis (DomesticFuel.com) A plan by the United States and Canada to develop jointly clean energy technologies, including biofuels, garners praise from each country’s leading advocates for the green fuels. The Canadian Renewable Fuels Association (CRFA) and the U.S.
by Ron Miller (Renewable Fuels Association) In these difficult economic times, a recurring question is who should get help and who should stand on their own. With people it's the middle class vs. the 1%. In the corporate world, the
by Mike Breen (The Hill/E2Wire/Truman National Security Project) As a young Lieutenant on my first combat tour, in Iraq, I served on an isolated fighting camp south of Baghdad in an area known as the “Triangle of Death.” My unit
by Dan Piller (Des Moines Register) Fossil fuels' attacks on mandates, subsidies put renewables at risk A surge in domestic oil and natural gas production and a decline in national political support for grain-fed biofuels threatens to cripple Iowa’s more than
(The Hill/E2Wire)Five rural energy programs will end while others will be slimmed down if a draft version of the 2012 farm bill released Thursday becomes law. The cuts, made by leaders of the House Agriculture Committee, will total about $500 million, according to
by John Vidal (The Guardian) Indigenous smallholder farmers are being violently evicted as companies move in to satisfy Europe's hunger for biofuels ...Over the next four days, 10 more villages were cleared. By the end of March 2011, around 800 families
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) On June 21, 2012, the Sustainable Energy Coalition - in cooperation with the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Caucuses and in partnership with the Sustainable Energy & Environment Coalition, House Algae Energy Caucus,
by Erin Voegele (Biodiesel Magazine) The New Hampshire legislature recently passed legislation (HB 1487) that aims to prohibit the state from participating in any low carbon fuel standard (LCFS) programs that require quotas, caps or mandates on transportation fuels, fuels
by Tammy Klein (Hart Energy/Fuel Fix) ...A Hart Energy study examined mandated ethanol production vs. capability and arrived at this inconvenient truth: The government, through the federal Renewable Fuel Standard, has ordered production of cellulosic biofuels to ramp up to
Nathan Klein and Samantha Malagre (The Daily Telegraph) If there has been a reluctance to fill up with E10 petrol it certainly wasn't on show yesterday - when it was free. Motorists were stuck in kilometre-long queues of bumper-to-bumper traffic on
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A coalition of agriculture and bioenergy groups, led by the 25x’25 organization, filed late comments with the U.S. EPA and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on June 28 to draw attention to an aspect of the
(Federal Aviation Administration) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is committed to developing a fiscally responsible action plan to meet the agency's goal of making an unleaded fuel available for most of the general aviation fleet to replace 100 octane low-lead
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... The entropy problem in feedstocks In bioenergy, it’s the chief reason, for example, that otherwise perfectly acceptable fruit waste from citrus harvest is a difficult feedstock for energy production. The process for cellulosic conversion was
by David Cronin (New Europe Online) ...The production of biofuels is a central factor behind the grabbing of land in Africa. Yet rather than using food crops, many of the players in this murky game have recently chosen jatropha, a
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Myriant closes first bio-based chemicals loan under USDA’s Business and Industry Loan Guarantee Program. Industry’s first private bond placement under innovative structure developed to finance advanced industrial scale-up; Q1 2013 commercial start-up in sight In Massachusetts,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Brazil, “end fossil fuel subsidies” has emerged as a theme at the Rio+20 Summit is underway, where a flash mob of protesters, organized by Earth Day, 350.org and youth groups attending the summit protested
by Christopher Doering (Gannett Washington Bureau/Daily Comet) Big oil and natural-gas companies may vastly outspend and outman the renewable fuels industry on Capitol Hill but the general gridlock in Washington gives advocates of wind, ethanol and other new-age sources the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...The Obama Administration has laid out an integrated strategy for commercializing advanced biofuels, with a focus in this phase on military advanced biofuels at cost-competitive prices with conventional fuels. The vehicle is a joint program between
(CSP Daily News) Would eliminate EPA mandates for use of biofuels that do not yet exist Representative Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) has introduced the Phantom Fuel Reform Act (H.R. 6047) to reform an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulation that he said adds
by Galrahn (Information Dissemination) With the Great Green Fleet putting to sea for the upcoming RIMPAC 2012 exercise, and more specifically now that the USNS Henry J. Kaiser (T AO 187) has 900,000 of super expensive biofuel in her tanks ready
(GreenAirOnline) As a KLM Boeing 777-200 was readied for yesterday’s longest-ever commercial biofuel flight from Amsterdam to Rio de Janeiro, KLM and aviation biofuel supplier SkyNRG announced a new programme that will involve global corporations in participating in the development
(GreenAirOnline) A longstanding fight between a coalition of four US environmental groups and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) looks set to continue after the EPA ruled out any short-term decision on whether greenhouse gas emissions from aircraft engines endanger
(US Department of Agriculture) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA has selected for funding 450 projects nationwide, including 31 in North Carolina, that are focused on helping agricultural producers and rural small businesses reduce energy consumption and costs;
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The nearly $10 million awarded by the USDA’s Farm Service Agency to three energy crop project areas on June 13 will be the only funding distributed through the Biomass Crop Assistance Program this year
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Power and Thermal Magazine) The European Biofuels Technology Platform published a report in June that addresses the potential to couple carbon capture and storage (CCS) with biofuel and biomass heat and power technologies. The report, titled
by Andrew Holland (Consumer Energy Report) The RAND corporation recently released a report “Promoting International Energy Security” for the U.S. Air Force that, for the most part, contained the conventional wisdom about oil prices and energy security: in a global
(United Nations Conference on Trade and Development) On the eve of the official opening of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development -- Rio+20, a panel discussion was organized by UNCTAD on exploring new sustainable and socially inclusive biofuels experiences in
(AutomotiveDiscovery) While the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has officially approved E15 biofuel for retailers to start selling, the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute disagrees and calls E15 “dangerous” and sites that it could “destroy or damage generators, chain saws, utility vehicles,
(Western Farm Press/Carnegie Institute) The scientific community needs to make a 10-year, $100 billion investment in food and energy security, says Carnegie’s Wolf Frommer and Tom Brutnell of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. The scientific community needs to make a
(Bloomberg) There may be little reason to hope the Rio+20 meeting in Brazil this week will lead to major global action against climate change. World leaders have skipped it. The draft agreement the delegates from 190 countries have written is rightly criticized as weak. Yet it turns
(FarmProgress.com) Ag interest groups filed comments with the National Highway Traffic Safety Council and others Thursday calling for increased incentives for biofuel use. A coalition of agricultural interest groups says proposed new corporate average fuel economy standards could cap and constrain
(AgWired) Farmers of the world are producing enough food to meet the demands of wiping out all hunger in the world. But hunger still exists. Why? Dr. Chris Mallett, Corporate VP of Research and Development for Cargill explains it’s a
by Barrie Barber (Stars and Stripes/Dayton Daily News) A top British envoy says the U.S. and the U.K. could collaborate more on the development and use of biofuels in the military to boost both nations’ security and energy interests and
(Belfast Telegraph) European Union support for biofuel production could force the price of food crop staples up by as much as 36% by the end of the decade, a report has warned. Development charity ActionAid warned that the allocation of ever-growing
by Margaret Ryan (AOLEnergy) Biofuels could be a "game changer" for both military and commercial aviation, says Assistant Secretary of the Air Force Terry Yonkers, because they're proving to have advantages over petroleum-based jet fuels that go beyond the environment. ...Burning biofuels is considered
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Section 9011 of the Farm Bill – the Biomass Crop Assistance Program – USDA deploys $9.6M in new investments in bioenergy crops as questions revolve around the program’s future and effectiveness. Is BCAP important? Will
(MarketWatch) From small-town mayors to President Obama, there is one thing on the minds of all elected officials: putting more Americans back to work. And while recent unemployment numbers have been less than encouraging, the U.S. ethanol industry is bringing
by Mike Bryan (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ...The economy of Australia is one of the best in the world, but the focus has not been on renewable energy. Interestingly, with all of the mineral resources that Australia has, it is very
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Speaker John Boehner and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, leading environmental, science and advanced biofuels advocates urged Congress today
by Megan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Kenya, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) published its Global Renewables Status Report 2012, which showed that renewables accounted for almost half of the estimated 208 gigawatts (GW) of electric capacity added globally in
(Amyris) Amyris to develop improved DNA assembly and integration across biological platforms Amyris, Inc. announced today (June 12, 2012) it has been awarded a contract from the U.S. Department of Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to develop tools that can
by Rob Moritz (Arkansas News Bureau) While recently promoting the extension of a federal tax break for the wind industry, Gov. Mike Beebe called opponents “un-American.” Later, he described his comment as “hyberbole,” but added, “I stand by the fact
byRobert Rapier (Christian Science Monitor) In this column energy expert Rapier provides three examples — originating with both Democrats and Republicans and impacting both renewable energy and fossil fuels — of how constantly shifting legislation makes it very difficult to
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Attacks from the usual opponents are generally in the form of statements that sound vaguely scientific, or fact-based. Often with a scientist in tow. Beware. Not every person in the business of meat or breakfast
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