by Liz Gyekye (Biofuels International) A cross-party group of MPs has said that the UK government would probably abandon the EU’s biomass and policy if it was not committed to it by EU law. The group, part of the Environmental Audit Committee
by Anthony Cuthbertson (Newsweek) ... Fossil fuels, the biggest contributor to greenhouse gases, have been steadily losing ground to clean energy solutions, such as wind and solar, in developed nations. This has been helped by significant cost reductions in technologies—solar dropped
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. EPA delivered the proposed rule for the 2017 renewable fuel standard (RFS) to the White House Office of Management and Budget on April 15. OMB review marks a final step before the
(Iowa Renewable Fuels Association) An analysis of a recent Iowa Department of Revenue report shows the average biodiesel blend purchased in Iowa reached 11.0 percent in 2015, an increase from the 9.4 percent average blend in 2014 and a new all-time
(American Coalition for Ethanol/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Drivers want this fuel, and it doesn’t cost an interested retailer an arm and a leg to get the right fueling equipment to sell higher blends of ethanol. That was the theme of the
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) Today is Tax Day. While many Americans will receive a modest refund, oil producers are raking in the big bucks, $4 billion to $6 billion, through tax incentives dating back more than 100 years. Today, the
by Alison Cassady and Gwynne Taraska (Center for American Progress) ... By putting a price on carbon, governments can correct the market’s failure to account for the climate costs of burning fossil fuels; in so doing, carbon pricing mechanisms
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... In the world of fuels, Neste Oil has backed away from palm oil in order to expand in the US market on more favorable terms, with palm’s lowly status after indirect land use change modeling
by John Vidal (The Guardian) Climate change and poor returns on wheat and dairy drive rural revolution in ‘future-proof’ agriculture -- ... In Essex, David Eagle is growing acres of sea buckthorn, a salt-tolerant plant that grows wild in Siberiacorrect and
by Valerie Volcovici (PlanetArk) Three environmental groups filed a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday to press for faster action in setting limits on greenhouse gas emissions from U.S. aircraft. Earthjustice, the Center for Biological Diversity and Friends of
(FuelCellsWorks) The California Energy Commission recently released a $17.3-million solicitation (GFO-15-605) for hydrogen stations in California. Summary of the Funding: $17.3 million funding opportunity for light-duty hydrogen stations in California O&M funding for stations previously funded with CEC grant New station funding for I5 connector and
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) ... American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) senior vice president Ron Lamberty gave a brief lesson on RVP to attendees at the organization’s annual legislative fly-in this week as they prepared to visit lawmakers and ask them to
by Mike Bryan (Ethanol Producer Magazine) When America talks about long-range planning that typically means until the next election. For example, the renewable fuels standard (RFS) is in place until 2022. ... But wouldn’t it be great if Democrats and Republicans got
by Curt Bennink (ForConstructionPros.com) By now, most are familiar with biodiesel. It is a cost-effective and more environmentally friendly alternative to conventional petroleum-based diesel fuels when used in the correct applications. “Biodiesel improves lubricity when compared to Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel
by Kurt A. Rosentrator (Distillers Grains Technology Council/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Altered, novel products may require new AAFCO definitions, GRAS affirmations. -- ... During the past two years, we have reviewed and commented on two key rulings in the Food Safety Modernization Act,
by Dave Elsenbast (Renewable Energy Group/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Biodiesel proves to be a major, and growing, market for distillers corn oil. -- ... The industry nearly reached record production levels last year and, according to U.S. EPA data, U.S. consumers used a
(U.S. Grains Council) The growing interest for ethanol in the Asia-Pacific region is driven in part by ever-growing environmental concerns, especially those related to rising greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and deteriorating air quality, the direct results of rapidly-rising fossil fuel consumption
by Michael Schneider (Oil Price Information Service) While some observers express concern over the future of Canada's biofuels industry, participants there describe a situation that they say is headed in the right direction. ... Andrea Kent, president of the Canadian Renewable
by Ellen KNickmeyer (Associated Press/ABC News) The U.S. Navy on Tuesday became the first branch of the U.S. military — the world's single-largest user of fossil fuels — to say it will start requiring big vendors to report their output
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the Advanced Biofuel Association has teamed with an unexpected group of lobbying partners in favor of keeping the biodiesel tax credit as a blenders credit. Partners include the National Association of Truck Stop Operators,
by Tim Landis (State Journal-Register) .... At issue is a proposal to eliminate a 20 percent per-gallon sales tax break on sales of E10 fuels and create a 10 percent break for E15, which currently gets no tax incentives. Agricultural
by Bob Dinneen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... Nearly 30 years ago, the U.S. EPA provided a 1-pound-per-square-inch (psi) waiver of the Reid vapor pressure (RVP) volatility requirements for certain ethanol blends. It did so in recognition of the fact that lower
by Erin Wicox (Capital Journal) Recently, South Dakota Senator Mike Rounds was a keynote speaker at an event in Washington, D.C. hosted by the American Council for Capital Formation (ACCF). The ACCF sounds harmless, but if you do a little
by Tom Thoma (Globe Gazette) Alan Guebert’s recent column (“The ethanol trap”) asks, “Where would the nation, its farmers, livestock growers, and rural America be today had ethanol not been given … a role in U.S. farm and energy policy
by John Grady (USNI News) When asked what happens to the Navy’s energy initiatives when President Barack Obama leaves office in January, the service’s top civilian official overseeing those efforts said, “Nothing”—because the business and warfighting cases “just makes sense.” Retired
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... This week, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced an amendment that would provide tax credit support for carbon capture and utilization technologies that enable the conversion of CO2 into valuable products such as advanced biofuels,
by Tom Buis (Growth Energy/Ethanol Producer Magazine) The renewable fuel standard (RFS) is the most successful energy policy our nation has seen in the last 40 years. It has created almost 400,000 jobs and contributed nearly $44 billion to the nation’s
by Jonathan Male (US Department of Energy) ... From expanding the potential of diverse microbial systems to enhancing the biocatalytic capabilities of enzymes, the application of biotechnology is accelerating the development of the advanced biofuel industry. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy
(Reuters Business Insider) Argentina will steeply increase the required blend of ethanol used in gasoline from next year, as part of a policy of diversifying away from the use of fossil fuels, an executive from a bioethanol industry body told
(Nordic Paper) RenFuel and Nordic Paper have signed an agreement to build a production test facility in Bäckhammar in the region of Värmland, in order to test manufacture an advanced biofuel based on lignin. The project has been granted 71
by Elliott Negin (Union of Concerned Scientists/Huffington Post) According to recent press reports, Peabody Energy — the nation’s largest investor-owned coal company — is now on the verge of bankruptcy. Among the many consequences: The company’s court-ordered disclosures are likely
by Robert Wright (Ethanol Producer Magazine/ePURE) Renewable energy use in transport in all 28 EU members has been much less than projected in their National Renewable Energy Action Plans, with the gap widening. Actual ethanol consumption has remained relatively flat,
(Seeking Alpha) Ethanol producers are battling with narrowing margins and excess supply. The industry faces uncertain regulatory support and relatively mild near-term gasoline demand growth amid increasing supply. This suggests a challenging near-term outlook for the industry. ... Despite falling gasoline consumption, ethanol production
(Wall Street Journal) Koch Industries’ Director of Environmental, Health and Safety Sheryl Corrigan talks about Koch’s involvement in the ethanol business and its’ campaign against some of the subsidies that it benefits from. She speaks at the 2016 ECO:nomics conference.
(GreenAir Online) The International Coalition on Sustainable Aviation (ICSA), an umbrella group of six NGOs, has launched a campaign called FlightPath 1.5 to ensure emissions from international aviation are capped and then reduced in line with the climate ambitions of
(Urban Air Initiative) Urban Air Initiative joined the Energy Future Coalition and the Governors’ Biofuels Coalition (GBC) in calling on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to recognize an overwhelming body of new evidence showing fuel ethanol can reduce carbon
by Eric Roston (Bloomberg) Oil giants and trade groups spend an estimated $115 million per year blocking climate policies -- ExxonMobil, Royal Dutch/Shell, and three oil-industry groups together spend $115 million a year on advocacy designed to “obstruct” climate change policy,
by Josh Schlossberg (Truthout) Climate change is a pillar of the presidential campaigns of both Sen. Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton, who have both made proposals to offer tax subsidies and other financial incentives to generate more energy alternatives to
(Growth Energy) This week, Jim Miller, Vice President and Chief Economist of Growth Energy will travel with Steve Bleyl, Executive Vice President of Green Plains Inc., and Doug Berven, Vice President of Corporate Affairs of POET to Chinese Taipei to
(Omah.com/Bloomberg) At the Plymouth Energy plant in the heart of the U.S. Corn Belt — where homegrown fuel from grain was supposed to ease American dependence on foreign oil — every drop of ethanol goes to motorists in Brazil. Like many
by Noah Kaufman, Michael Obeiter and Eleanor Krause (World Resources Institute) Putting a Price on Carbon: Ensuring Equity finds that the revenues form a carbon price can be used to address regional disparities and ensure that unfair burdens are not imposed
by Dave VanderGriend (Ethanol Producer Magazine/ICM/Urban Air Initiative) We have a tremendous opportunity to make the case in the Midterm Review in what EPA says will be a "data driven and transparent process." We can show how carbon reductions are indeed
by Austin Harrington (Ames Tribune) Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds came to Iowa State University Wednesday to sign a bill into law that will create a $10 million tax credit for companies in the renewable chemical manufacturing
(The American Lung Association in Minnesota/Biodiesel Magazine) Minnesota’s commitment to biodiesel use has paid off with an important impact on air quality, according to an analysis of the cleaner-burning fuel by the American Lung Association in Minnesota. “I think the amount
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This week, we held a well-attended webinar on “Boom times in Renewable Diesel” Here below is the first slide deck presented on the day, from The Digest. The recorded version of the webinar can be accessed
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... In short, renewable fuels has reached a crisis of growth in the United States — years of expansion have halted, and everyone is entitled to ask why. ... Let’s look at the hard data. Demand signals As
by Naomi Klein (The Nation) Clinton is uniquely unsuited to the epic task of confronting the fossil-fuel companies that profit from climate change. ... The Clinton camp really doesn’t like talking about fossil-fuel money. ... The very suggestion that taking this money could impact Clinton’s
by Adam Klasfeld (Courthouse News Service) Officially linking a controversial natural gas-drilling method to earthquakes for the first time, the U.S. Geological Survey released a groundbreaking report documenting links between fracking and skyrocketing seismic activity. Released on Monday, the agency's "2016
by Jessie Stolark (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) A cornerstone of U.S. environmental policy has been the reduction of harmful tailpipe emissions from cars and trucks. Thanks to EPA regulations of mobile sources, air pollutants have been reduced by millions
by Bernie Hoffman (K-Coe Isom/Ethanol Producer Magazine) The more proactive roles producers take in reducing carbon intensity, the more they will benefit as energy use reduction moves from an incentive to a requirement. -- ... Carbon intensity and carbon accounting have moved
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) The American Petroleum Institute has unveiled yet another anti-biofuel poll. The latest released during a media call today was conducted by Harris Poll. According to the poll, 77 percent of registered voters are concerned that breaching
(Diesel Technology Forum) Legislation signed by Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan on Tuesday will seek to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2030 relative to emissions generated in 2006. “As Governor Hogan signs legislation to cut greenhouse gas emissions from Maryland,
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) The U.S. imported a record volume of biomass-based diesel in 2015. ... This increase in imports is particularly interesting because 2015 was a year with no forward-looking $1-per-gallon blender’s tax credit, and, for 11 months
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) At the presidential palace March 23, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff signed into law the mandatory percentage increase of biodiesel blended with diesel fuel from the current 7 percent to 8 percent by 2017, with further
(Tuoi Tre News) An ambitious plan by the Vietnamese government to encourage the use of biofuel, or ethanol-mixed petrol, is not working as well as expected, sealing the fate of three multimillion-dollar ethanol plants. The ethanol making facilities were built in
(CBC News) Edmonton company promises cheaper, cleaner biodiesel on a commercial level -- An Edmonton based company plans to commercially produce a new biofuel capable of completely replacing diesel by the end of the year, at a lower cost than
by Valerie Sarisky-Reed (Department of Energy) ... Unfortunately, the American Society of Civil Engineers Infrastructure Report Card gives the wastewater infrastructure in America a D-grade, and says “capital investment needs for the nation’s wastewater and stormwater systems are estimated to total $298
by Todd Neeley (DTN/The Progressive Farmer) California's controversial low-carbon fuel standard may not be able to survive long term unless more biodiesel and corn-based ethanol are allowed into the state's market quickly, according to a new study. The analysis, conducted by
by Niu Shuping and David Stanway (Reuters/AgWeek) China's plan to let the market set corn prices is bad news for international grain exporters, but should boost the country's struggling corn processors that use the grain in products ranging from food
by Brent Erickson (Biotechnology Innovation Organization/Biofuels Digest) ... Congress changed mandatory funding for two key bioenergy programs – despite their tangible successes – through its Fiscal Year 2016 (FY16) Omnibus spending bill. USDA’s Section 9003 Loan Guarantee Program and the Biomass
(Biotechnology Innovation Organization/Business Wire) Today, six biofuel trade associations sent a letter to House and Senate leaders asking Congress for a multiyear extension of advanced biofuel tax credits. The Advanced Biofuels Business Council, Algae Biomass Organization, Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO),
by Mark Dorenkamp (Brownfield Ag News) ... A proposal introduced last week by Representative Pat Garofalo would provide rebates of up to $2,500 dollars for those who buy or lease a new electric or plug-in hybrid car. Minnesota Biofuels Association executive director
by Mario Parker (Bloomberg) Sao Paolo ethanol now 39% more expensive than fuel from Iowa; American glut also spurs exports to China, Philippines, India -- At the Plymouth Energy LLC plant in the heart of the U.S. corn belt -- where home-grown
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) The U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office has released the 2016 update of its Multi-Year Program Plan, which serves as an operational guide to help the BETO manage and coordinate its activities. The plan
by Charles Newbery (Platts) The Argentine government Friday said it has raised the ethanol blending mandate in gasoline to 12% from 10% with immediate effect, according to a decree published in the Official Bulletin, the government's newspaper of record. In February, President
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Malawi, the government still hasn’t approved or put forward a proposal of its own for ethanol pricing that would allow higher blends to be sold at the pump. The domestic ethanol industry proposed a
(Bergeson & Campbell/BRAG) On March 29, 2016, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published the Partial Exemption of Certain Chemical Substances from Reporting Additional Chemical Data final rule in the Federal Register. This final rule amends the list of chemical substances
(Yahoo! Finance/Air Canada) Air Canada today announced it will participate in Canada's Biojet Supply Chain Initiative (CBSCI), a three-year collaborative project with 14 stakeholder organizations to introduce 400,000 litres of sustainable aviation biofuel (biojet) into a shared fuel system at
(Queensland Government) A $16 million advanced biofuels pilot plant will be built at Southern Oil Refining’s Yarwun plant at Gladstone, a ‘giant’ step towards securing a large-scale biofuels industry in Queensland. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the Northern Oil Advanced Biofuels Pilot
by Robert Bradley Jr. (Master Resource) ... 1) Do you support ending all energy subsidies, including cleaning up the tax code to treat all types of energy the same? A: Yes, I support a true all-of-the-above approach to energy, ending all
by Hillary Borrud (Portland Tribune) An oil industry group announced Thursday it will abandon a bid to get voters to weaken or repeal Oregon’s low-carbon fuel standard. The Oregon Fuels Association had filed three initiatives targeting the law for the November
(Stratas Advisors) The 2016 elections have raised clouds of questions for many involved in the US biofuels markets. The conflicting and inflated rhetoric surrounding biofuels and climate policy gives the impression that drastic change is on the horizon with multiple
(350.org) “Break Free” protests this May will see actions at fossil fuel sites around the world -- Hundreds of people marched around the Superdome in New Orleans on Wednesday and then headed inside to disrupt a federal oil and gas
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) 64 countries have targets or mandates - but how much where, and when, and what? The bulk of mandates continue to come from the EU-27, where the Renewable Energy Directive specified a 10 percent renewable content
by Katie E. Moore-Drougas, Daniel T. Schwartz, Laurel James and Jim Durglo (Brookings Institution) ... One solution that has the potential to substantially curb greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is a change in the Energy Independence and Security Act’s (EISA) definition of “renewable
(Longview News Journal) Kinder Morgan is halting work on the $1 billion Palmetto Pipeline after Georgia lawmakers approved a one-year moratorium on permits for petroleum pipelines in the state. The Texas-based energy company said in a statement it "suspended further work"
(Renewable Fuels Association) Today (March 31, 2016) , the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) released a national poll finding that awareness and knowledge of how to use higher ethanol fuel blends remains relatively unchanged among consumers over the last few years,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This week, we held a well-attended webinar on “Drop-In Fuels” Here below is the second slide deck presented on the day, from Will Thurmond, President of Emerging Markets Online — highlights from the upcoming Drop In Fuels
(Newswire.com) KLM Royal Dutch Airlines today launched a series of around 80 biofuel flights from Oslo to Amsterdam operated with an EMBRAER 190. The flights are marking yet another step in the right direction towards phasing in jet biofuel in
(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) A new report by Reuters indicates that the oil industry could lose $10 billion annually if E15 replaces E10 and becomes the new regular in gas stations across the country. The report, which can be found here, said
(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) Today’s Star Tribune reported of a proposal in the Minnesota legislature that calls for a financial incentive to boost electric or plug-in hybrid sales in the state to reduce emissions. According to the report, consumers would receive rebates
by Brady Dennis (The Washington Post) More than a dozen state attorneys general gathered in New York earlier this week, ostensibly to announce their support for President Obama’s efforts to combat global warming and to underscore their intention to collaborate on investigations
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Yesterday, we held a well-attended webinar on “Drop-In Fuels” Here below is the first slide deck presented on the day. We’ll have the remainder of slides tomorrow. The recorded version can be accessed here. READ MORE
by Jussi Rosendahl (Reuters Canada) It has created a modest 200 jobs in a Finnish forestry industry that has lost around 20,000 in the past decade, but UPM-Kymmene's new biofuels plant offers long-awaited growth and hope. The 180 million euro ($200
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Queensland, the state premier Anna Palaszczuk, the Minister for State Development Anthony Lynham, and the Minister for Energy, Biofuels and Water Supply Mark Bailey jointly announced that a AUD $16 million advanced biofuels pilot plant will
by Bill McKibben (The Nation) Our leaders thought fracking would save our climate. They were wrong. Very wrong. ... Meet methane, otherwise known as CH4. In February, Harvard researchers published an explosive paper in Geophysical Research Letters. Using satellite data
by Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) (Daily Globe) ... The United States can’t sit on the sidelines and depend on foreign oil to keep our economy running. America is a powerful nation. We can’t let oil imports set the agenda. We
by Zac Auter (Gallup) Seventy-three percent of Americans say they prefer emphasizing alternative energy, rather than gas and oil production, as the solution to the nation's energy problems. This marks the highest percentage of Americans prioritizing alternative energy since Gallup
by Leonardo Goy (Reuters; Google translation) President Dilma Rousseff signed on Wednesday the law which provides for the gradual increase in biodiesel blend in diesel, from the current 7 percent to 8 percent in March 2017, increasing one percentage point
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) We knew that Stora Enso has become awesomely serious about the advanced bioeconomy when news emerged in 2014 that the company had acquired Virdia for $33 million with additional potential payouts totaling approximately $29 million following
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Australia, the NSW Parliament approved legislative changes to the operation of the NSW Biofuels Act. imposing the requirement that 6% of all motor spirits sold. The Bill also includes provision for a statutory review of
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Australia, the Federal Government announced that it is establishing a $1 billion Clean Energy Innovation Fund to support emerging technologies make the leap from demonstration to commercial deployment. The Clean Energy Innovation Fund will
by Elizabeth Roche (Live Mint) The government will set up a transport department, which will tie up with green funds and aid in converting buses into bio-diesel-, bio-ethanol-, electric- and CNG (compressed natural gas)-run vehicles, Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari said,
by Tom Buis (Growth Energy) Last week, the Heartland Institute published a blog post claiming the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) has a detrimental impact on American farmers and rural corn producing areas. Growth Energy responded to the post, pointing to the
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Canada, the proposed national budget provides C$50 million over four years to Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) to support the development of clean technologies; C$82.5 million over two years to NRC to bring clean
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This week, we conducted a webinar on the state of cellulosic fuels as part of our 2016 March Madness series. You can experience the recorded version of the webinar here. Meanwhile, here is the primary slide
(Greenbelt Resources/PR Newswire) As a result of recent changes to Commerce Department regulations by the Obama administration regarding trade with Cuba, the advanced modular technology available from Greenbelt Resources Corporation (OTC: GRCO), an innovator of sustainable energy production systems, is
(Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.) Many Americans today, including many legislators at the federal and state levels, were not yet born when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was created by President Nixon in 1970, or they were too young to
(Office of Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA)) Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and 17 other senators today urged the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set high blending targets under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for 2017,
by Chris Prentice (Reuters) ... Reuters' analysis of vehicle sales and government data shows that almost a fifth of the vehicles on U.S. roads can safely handle E-15 fuel, a gasoline with 15 percent ethanol content, or 50 percent more than
by Mario Parker (Bloomberg Business) ... Back in 2007, when crude oil was headed toward a record $147.27 a barrel, ethanol was being touted as a cheap alternative from abundant domestic resources. The U.S. is the world’s biggest corn grower and
(Southeast Farm Press) Corn growers push to increase ethanol demand, explore new uses, increase livestock exports and improve transportation infrastructure. -- National Corn Growers Association finalized a new strategic plan March 5 to focus on four major strategic priorities that reflect
by Marc J. Rauch (The Auto Channel) I just finished reading your article "Renewable Fuel Standard Continues To Devastate," published in February on the High Plains Leader & Times website. ... In fact, your article looks suspiciously like an article that
by Timothy P. Carney (Washington Examiner) Rick Bertrand, a state senator from Sioux City, Iowa, has announced a primary challenge against GOP Rep. Steve King. What did King do to earn the challenge? In the Iowa caucuses, King supported Ted
(RPA News) Our top story this month is a blunt reminder of how deeply U.S. policy uncertainty cut down and yanked back the progress of commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol over the past few years. The U.S. EPA’s epic indecision and sometimes indifference
by Margaret M. Zeigler (The Hill/Global Harvest Initiative) ... Held each year since 1973, National AG Day helps consumers, the administration and Congress understand how farmers grow safe and affordable food, and underscores the essential role of agriculture in maintaining both a
(Bioenergy Insight) Finnish energy solutions provider Wärtsilä has been awarded an order to supply the largest biogas liquefaction plant in the Nordic Countries to produce fuel for public transport vehicles. The supply contract was signed in December 2015, and is with
by Alicia Wood (The Daily Telegraph) NSW upper house government whip Peter Phelps resigned yesterday — forgoing $20,000 a year in salary — as part of a NSW parliament revolt over controversial new laws forcing petrol stations to sell ethanol. Dr
by Cécile Barbière (EurActiv) French MPs have approved an additional tax on palm oil. But sustainably-produced oil and imports for biofuels will be exempt from the tax. -- France has increased the tax on palm oil imports, amid heated protests from
(Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials) In the small country of Ecuador, all environmental risks of the production and consumption of fossil fuels can be observed by damages through oil exploration in the amazon rainforest and tank ship accidents close by Galapagos
by Ann Purvis (Heartland Institute) ... (A) new study from researchers at Strata Policy (SP) and the Institute of Political Economy (IPE) at Utah State University suggests RFS also harms the very farmers the ethanol mandate was designed to help. ... According to
by John O’Dell (Forbes/Trucks.com) With diesel fuel prices hovering at lows not seen in a decade, the smart money might bet against businesses developing products to replace the diesel engines and technology that keep the nation’s trucks on the road. But entrepreneurs
(Daily Hunt) Concerned over slow progress of ethanol blending in petrol and diesel, a parliamentary committee has expressed that the government should implement the Ethanol Blending Programme in order to cut down on crude oil import in the future and
by Suzanne Goldenberg (The Guardian) Arpa-E project deploys drones and robots to breed fast-growing, drought-resistant and greener biofuel from sorghum which could replace corn ethanol -- A US government agency is trying to build a better biofuel, using a higher energy-producing
by John Miller (The Energy Collective) U.S. total carbon emissions increased to a historic high in 2007. During the 2007-09 Great Recession U.S. total carbon emissions declined rapidly due to a combination effective Government energy and carbon policies, and economic factors.
by Warren Cornwall (Science Magazine) Scientists are tying climate change to individual cases of extreme weather with increasing confidence and speed. Although people have long said it's impossible to blame climate change for any single weather event, that's no longer the
by Peter Vail and Dallas Burtraw (Resources for the Future) As the political likelihood of passing comprehensive national climate policy has remained low, many states have taken up the mantle. This devolution of climate policy has been further reinforced by the US
by John Upton (Climate Central) A growing number of Americans are moving into homes nestled between the idyllic beaches of the Florida Keys — part of a national trend that’s seeing coastal populations swell even as the seas swell dangerously
by Sebastien Malo (PlanetArk/Reuters) A small Native American community in coastal Louisiana is to be resettled after losing nearly all its land partly due to rising seas, a first in the United States. The band of Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw, a Native American tribe living
by Jeff St. John (GreenTechMedia) Will the fuel-cell maker lose its eligibility for California’s SGIP program? The debate rages on as regulators mull a decision. -- Bloom Energy, the deep-pocketed startup that’s garnered more than $400 million of the $1.4 billion
by Joanne Ivancic* (Advanced Biofuels USA) For a meeting about renewable energy held on St. Patrick's Day, EPA Acting Assistant Administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation, Janet McCabe, began her address with appropriate words from an old Irish
by Mike Jerke (Dickinson Press/Guardian Energy LLC) American-made ethanol is a clean-burning, environmentally friendly biofuel that represents an exciting step forward from dirty, foreign-sourced oil, yet an op-ed (“Renewable Fuel Standard continues to devastate”, March 10) being circulated in papers
by Holly Jessen and Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Although there are challenges facing the second generation ethanol industry, progress is being made -- U.S. EPA data shows 2.18 million cellulosic ethanol D3 RINs (renewable identification numbers) were generated in 2015.
by Camille von Kaenel (ClimateWire/Scientific American) Reducing emissions is not a priority for the military -- ... Concerns over energy security are spurring branches of the military to get more electricity from renewable sources, inching the Pentagon toward governmentwide climate goals. But environmental
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) The House Oversight Subcommittees on Interior and Healthcare, Benefits and Administrative Rules held a joint hearing Wednesday to ostensibly examine the Renewable Fuel Standard but was basically an attack on the law. EPA Office of Transportation and Air
(Iowa Renewable Fuels Association) New study finds renewable fuels continue to power Iowa's economy, but they could do a lot more. -- Joined by Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds at the Iowa State Capitol on March 9, the
by Herman Wang (Platts) The US Environmental Protection Agency is considering a request by several independent refiners to shift the responsibility for complying with the federal biofuels mandate to blenders, a top agency official said Wednesday. But any such move would not
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission enter into this Memorandum of Understanding to address the sharing of information, including proprietary business information “PBI,” in the possession of EPA with
by Jim Lemon and Michael Lemon (BioCycle/Biogas Researchers, Inc.) Michael Lemon describes steps to move EPA forward on the RFS renewable electricity pathway on Tuesday, April 5 at BioCycle WEST COAST16. ... Steps to expand deployment of clean energy technologies like renewable
(GreenAir ONline) Industry and the media have hyped up new technological solutions that promise emissions reductions and so lead to an era of sustainable air travel but have yet to turn out to be feasible, finds a study by researchers
by Marc J. Rauch (The Auto Channel) ... Our exchange began with his comments that government should not decide which fuel is the winner; that fossil fuels dominance over alternative fuels was due to consumer choice; and that society owes a
by Laurel Rosenhall (CALmatters/San Francisco Chronicle) A Harvard economist known globally for his work on climate change policy sat in the Sacramento office of the oil industry’s lobbying firm recently, making the case that California is fighting global warming the wrong way. California’s
by Robert Kozak* (Advanced Biofuels USA) We welcome US Representatives Adam Kinzinger, Barbara Comstock, Joe Heck, Chris Gibson, Ryan Costello, Kevin Yoder, Richard Hanna, Dave Reichert, Elise Stefanik, Carlos Curbelo, Tom Reed and Bob Dold to the fight against climate
(Rep. Adrian Smith’s office/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Neb., presented at a briefing March 1 to educate congressional staff on the impacts of a U.S. EPA regulation that currently prevents the sale of E15 during the summer months. Though E15
by Robert White (Renewable Fuels Association/The Daily Caller) The recent article, “America is off Foreign Oil, No Thanks to Ethanol” has it all wrong. First of all, America is not completely “off” foreign oil, as the article claims. According to
by Ross McKitrick (Financial Post) The existing policy framework has destroyed the possibility for carbon taxes to achieve efficiency -- In his March 2 article, “The cheapest way to cut carbon,” economist Trevor Tombe presents the basic logic of emission
by Brigham A. McCown (Forbes) ... Based upon a review of her (Hillary Clinton's) campaign website, The following are expressions of her current position on energy. Plans to create a $60 billion Clean Energy Challenge, partnering with States, cities, and rural communities to
by Roger Wicker (Daily Journal) America’s energy landscape has changed dramatically since the creation of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) a decade ago. What began as a federal program to incorporate more biofuels – such as corn ethanol – into
by Anton Hermansyah (The Jakarta Post) The illegal activity of passing off used cooking oil (UCO) as non-brand cooking oil (NBCO), which is allegedly becoming widespread on a massive scale in the country, may be disrupting the government’s biofuel program, observers
by Doug Durante (The Hill/ Clean Fuels Development Coalition) With regard to the recent opinion expressed by Rob Green of the National Council of Chain Restaurants, all I can say is gosh, what a better source for an objective assessment
by Peder Holk Nielsen (Novozymes/EurActiv) If Europe is serious about its climate commitments, and if Europe wants to reduce its dependence on imported oil, then we need to increase the amount of low-carbon biofuels in the energy mix, writes Peder
(WNAX) At a recent meeting between President Barack Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, an agreement was announced to address climate change and transition away from fossil fuels. Nebraska Ethanol Board Administrator Todd Sneller says that deal should lead to
by Apornrath Phoonphongphiphat (Bangkok Post) Rising ethanol demand this year, coupled with expected sugar-cane production cuts due to the severe drought, are likely to force ethanol producers to switch to cassava as their feedstock instead of molasses, industry officials say. Weaker oil
by Anastazio Mpumulo (AllAfrica) Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) has handed over ethanol stoves to 36 households in Nkhotakota to mark the beginning of an assessment where ethanol is tested at household level as a domestic fuel. Speaking during
(Ecofys) Land Use Change effects differ significantly for various types of biofuels consumed in the EU. Today, the European Commission has published a report by Ecofys, IIASA and E4tech that quantifies the ILUC emissions from EU biofuel consumption. ILUC, or
by Jan Koninckx (DuPont/Biofuels Digest) ... (O)ur call is clear: we must act with the utmost urgency as we work toward solutions to help slow man-made climate change. Transportation contributes a quarter of all man-made CO2 emissions, and it needs
by Robin Vercruse (Fuel Freedom) ... Initially focused on reducing our nation’s petroleum use in the wake of the oil crisis of the 1970s, coupled with tailpipe emissions standards, the CAFE Standards have since become the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA)
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) On March 3, two subcommittees associated with the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology held an oversight hearing on the U.S. Department of Energy’s loan guarantee program. ... Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., defended the DOE’s
(Biofuels International) Edmonton, Canada-based SBI BioEnergy plans to commercially produce a new biofuel capable of completely replacing diesel by the end of the year, at a lower cost than existing renewable fuels. SBI is in the final stages of building a
by Almuth Ernsting (Independent Science News) ... The disastrous experience with Fischer-Tropsch biofuels is just one part of a much larger failure of cellulosic and algal biofuels, on which billions of dollars of public subsidies have been spent. ... Those are just the largest
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