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(Grain Net) The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), Environmental Entrepreneurs(E2), the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) thank the Farm Bill conferees for including a new pilot Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) in the 2018 Farm Bill Conference Report to promote and document the benefits of farming practices which improve soil health.
Oregon
December 13, 2018
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Iowa, white smoke has emerged from the REGI conclave: Tesoro EVP and former Sapphire Energy CEO C.J. Warner has been named chief exec of Renewable Energy Group, at a pivotal moment for biodiesel in Washington and around the world and amidst a boom for renewable diesel
December 7, 2018
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by Alex Gailey (Atlanta Business Chronicle) Monroe Energy, Delta’s subsidiary refinery, will start converting plastic waste into jet fuel under an agreement with Agilyx, an environmental technology and development company backed by Sir Richard Branson. The idea is that the material will help create more renewable jet fuel for the Atlanta-based airline, while
November 21, 2018
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In California, we are now seeing project flow projecting a sustainable $7.63 price for renewable diesel in the California market, where the Low Carbon Fuel Standard stacks on top of the RIN values from the federal Renewable Fuel Standard. That’s market value, not subsidy. Though some
November 21, 2018
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by Brad Plumer (New York Times) … A new study published on Wednesday, however, found that better management of forests, grasslands and soils in the United States could offset as much as 21 percent of the country’s annual greenhouse gas emissions. At the high end of the projections, that would be
November 19, 2018
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by Graham Noyes (OurEnergyPolicy.org/Noyes Law Corporation) In October, the International Energy Agency (IEA) reaffirmed the leading role that bioenergy continues to play in decarbonization. IEA Executive Director, Dr. Fatih Barol, pointedly stated, “Modern bioenergy is the overlooked giant of the renewable energy field… We expect modern bioenergy will continue to lead the field,
November 18, 2018
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Accepting abstracts now for presentations on April 2-3, 2019. BioCycle WEST COAST19 includes four tracks of sessions. Abstracts should be no longer than 250 words. Deadline for abstract submittal is December 10, 2018. Abstract selection will be completed by December 21, 2018; notifications will be emailed on or before that date. Speakers will
November 15, 2018
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by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) California-based biodiesel producer Crimson Renewable Energy LP has acquired SeQuential, a vertically integrated biodiesel producer based in Oregon. With the acquisition, Crimson will gain increased feedstock supply options for its biodiesel production facility in Bakersfield, California, and expand its ability to supply ultra-low carbon biodiesel to
November 6, 2018
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In California, World Energy announced a $350 million investment over the next two years to complete the conversion of its Paramount, California facility into one of the cleanest fuel refineries in the world. The project will enable World Energy Paramount to process 306 million gallons annually.
October 31, 2018
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by Betsy Lillian (NGT News) At its annual awards reception in New York City last week, Energy Vision, a national nonprofit that researches and promotes low-carbon energy and transportation strategies, presented awards for entities helping speed the adoption of renewable natural gas (RNG). The 2018 Energy Vision awardees are as follows: The City
October 25, 2018
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by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Two ethanol producers are adopting quite different innovative technologies to add value to their corn oil—one making biodiesel with supercritical methods, the other making renewable diesel. East Kansas Agri-Energy’s renewable diesel plant has been operational for about a year, after taking months to work
October 24, 2018
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The theme of BioCycle WEST COAST19 is Catalyzing Organics Recycling. Topics to be covered: Infrastructure Development; Compost and Biogas Markets; Food Recovery; Contamination Management; Composting Science; Behavior Change; Organics Recycling. We are excited to be in Oregon in 2019 where compost manufacturing, anaerobic digestion and food recovery are ranked high
October 15, 2018
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The theme of BioCycle WEST COAST19 is Catalyzing Organics Recycling. Topics to be covered: Infrastructure Development; Compost and Biogas Markets; Food Recovery; Contamination Management; Composting Science; Behavior Change; Organics Recycling. We are excited to be in Oregon in 2019 where compost manufacturing, anaerobic digestion and food recovery are ranked high
October 15, 2018
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1820 Roosevelt Blvd. Eugene, OR (City of Eugene Parks and Open Space offices) Come learn from biochar consultant Kelpie Wilson about how biochar works in soils; how to make biochar and use it in agriculture, forestry, restoration and remediation applications; and biochar kiln design and com- bustion principles. Learn from USDA-Agricultural
October 15, 2018
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) IEA Bioenergy Task 42’s goal is to contribute to the development and deployment of integrated biorefineries as part of highly efficient sustainable value chains (co-)producing food/feed ingredients, chemicals, materials, fuels, power and/or heat out of sustainably sourced biomass (wood, crops, residues, etc.) as base for a global
October 2, 2018
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) IEA Bioenergy Task 33 is a working group of international experts with the aim to promote the commercialization of efficient, economical and environmentally preferable thermal biomass gasification processes. Kevin Whitty gave this illuminating overview of the progress and promise of thermal gasification of biomass in the
September 26, 2018
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by Lauren Colandreo (Bloomberg) … Last fall, Oregon enacted the Bovine Manure Tax Credit, which offers bovine manure producers and collectors a tax credit for each wet ton of manure collected to be used as a biofuel or to produce a biofuel. In recent weeks, the state enacted a new set of temporary
September 19, 2018
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by Brian Scheid (SP Global/Platts) A federal appeals court on Friday upheld Oregon’s low-carbon fuel standards, dismissing a challenge brought by US refiners and truckers. The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, American Trucking Associations and the Consumer Energy Alliance challenged Oregon’s standards, known as the Clean Fuels Program, arguing it violates
September 18, 2018
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by Tim Albrecht (Ethanol Producer Magazine) … The LCFS is administered by the California Air Resources Board and uses a market-based cap-and-trade approach to ultimately lower GHG emissions, says Jessica Buckley, senior environmental scientist for RTP Environmental Associates Inc. “California essentially created this program to create a market for low-carbon fuels and
September 14, 2018
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by Bryan Sherbacow (World Energy) … To understand a low carbon fuel standard, it’s best to look at California as an example. California is one of two states (neighboring state, Oregon, is the other) to enact a low carbon fuel standard. Typically, these state policies set a limit to the amount of
September 13, 2018
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by Kurt Liedtke (Herald and News) On Wednesday, members of Red Rock Biofuels, political dignitaries, corporate representatives and a large community contingent gathered on the outskirts of Lakeview for a groundbreaking ceremony for the $320 million renewable fuels facility. Taking woody biomass waste products such as pine needles, agriculture waste,
July 30, 2018
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(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO)-funded Algae Technology Educational Consortium (ATEC) is proud to announce its first graduates from the algal certificate program at Santa Fe Community College in Santa Fe, New Mexico. These first ATEC graduates received their Associate Applied Science Degree in Controlled Environment
June 27, 2018
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by Tim Albrecht (Biomass Magazine) Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., introduced three bills this week to boost rural economic opportunities by expanding USDA funding eligibility for clean energy projects. This funding would help improve electric grid security, create more energy choices for businesses, and advance the development and deployment of low-carbon, clean
June 8, 2018
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In these top 20 projects, we usually say that we are using waste, but really we are converting something from a state of waste to a state of value — and that’s not just good for the project owners in question, it’s good for every stakeholder
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Velocys enables modular gas-to-liquids and biomass-to-liquids plants to convert unconventional, remote and problem gas and waste biomass into valuable, drop-in liquid fuels. And most recently has repositioned from being a technology component supplier into initiating and drive the development of biorefineries from concept to full operations. By
May 25, 2018
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Exploring Biodiesel (XBX) is a series of regional, one-day seminars designed to educate those in the industry on the benefits and opportunities surrounding biodiesel. The National Biodiesel Board, in partnership with several industry sponsors, has announced a series of regional, one-day seminars designed to educate fuel wholesalers, distributors, retailers, marketers,
May 21, 2018
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by Helena Taveres Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) In the United Kingdom, renewable fuels company, Velocys, received a “notice to proceed” action to commence manufacturing of the Fischer-Tropsch reactors and catalyst for the Red Rock Biofuels biorefinery that will be located in Lakeview, Oregon. RRB has commenced construction of the biorefinery, which will incorporate Velocys’ technology,
May 8, 2018
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by Raphael Orlove (Jalopnik) Our emissions standards are probably the biggest booster to automotive performance in the past half century, making our cars not only more eco-friendly but more powerful, too. Trump has been trying to cut it all down, but now California and 16 other states suing to stop him. … …
May 1, 2018
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by Benjamin Storrow (E&E News) … Transportation emissions threaten to undercut blue states’ climate goals, raising questions about their ability to lead U.S. climate efforts at a time when the federal government is rolling back environmental regulations. Emissions from cars, trucks and other mobile sources are on the rise nationally.
April 18, 2018
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(The Telegraph/Associated Press) A company has received final approval to start building a renewable-biofuels plant in south-central Oregon. The Herald and News reports the facility in Lakeview is expected to convert forestry waste into renewable fuels for the aviation industry. The firm has contracts with FedEx, Southwest Airlines and the U.S.
April 17, 2018
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by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) A coalition led by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and the California Air Resources board has announced plans to sue the U.S. EPA over its failure to enforce existing landfill methane regulations. The coalition announced its plans on March 23 when it submitted a 60-day notice of
April 11, 2018
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by Travis J. Tritten (Washington Examiner) … (Former Navy Secretary Ray) Mabus’ vision is, however, quietly moving forward under the Trump administration. The Pentagon has authorized $140 million to help build two biofuel refineries in recent months, a move that has agitated some top Republican lawmakers who have long opposed
March 13, 2018
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by Kevon Paynter (Yes! Magazine) Portland, Ore., climate activists celebrate a win against Big Oil as city- and state-level initiatives gain momentum across the country. — … A key piece of Shell’s arctic drilling fleet, the vessel had arrived in Portland for repairs but its departure was delayed by protesters chanting “coal,
by Christiana Mayer (East Oregonian) We are continually bombarded with news about new oil drilling and fracking, but that’s not the only solution for domestic fuel production or the only path toward loosening OPEC and Russia’s grip on energy supplies — homegrown biofuels also play an integral role. Domestic energy security
February 20, 2018
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by Katrina Cornish and Corinne Young (re:chem/Bioemergent Materials, The Ohio State University/Biofuels Digest/Lee Enterprises) Bioenergy/biofuel/platform chemical biomasses, whether grown (crops) or collected (forestry waste and municipal wastes of various kinds), still struggle with commercial competitiveness against the low cost, enormous scale, and market barriers presented by mature fossil fuels juggernauts. The answer is
February 7, 2018
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by Natasha Geiling (ThinkProgress) Currently only one state in the country has an economy-wide cap on carbon. These states want to change that — Lawmakers from nine states announced on Wednesday that they would be forming a coalition to help pass carbon pricing at the local level, citing the importance of state-level policies
February 1, 2018
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) To date, North America is the most active of all regions in terms of deploying advanced technology — whether it is cellulosic ethanol, isobutanol for fuels and chemicals, or renewable chemical plants, you see the first and the most, here. There are three drivers for that:
January 19, 2018
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by Joanne Ivancic* (Advanced Biofuels USA) The Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI) has taken stock of its busy 2017 and has set priorities for 2018. Highlights on the sustainable alternative jet fuel (SAJF) front include development of many resources available to the public on the CAAFI website. Progress on
January 12, 2018
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In the world of drop-in military biofuels, two major updates appeared this week. In Oregon, Red Rock Biofuels got good news on Monday when the governor approved $245 million in bonds that will allow the company’s planned aviation biofuel plant thanks to overwhelming support by state
January 12, 2018
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by Kurt Leidtke (Herald and News) Jeff Manternach, CEO of Red Rock Biofuels, says the company was created in response to widespread and devastating wildfires in the Western U.S. caused by forest debris and the rising demand for drop-in, cost competitive renewable jet and diesel fuels. Oregon Gov. Kate Brown authorized
January 10, 2018
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(Axios) Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, a Democrat, will unveil a carbon tax proposal in his address to the state Tuesday, local media reported Thursday. Why it matters outside of that Washington: The debate, while unique to the Evergreen State, is also emblematic of the struggles any effort to push a federal carbon would face.
January 5, 2018
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The 22nd Annual Green Chemistry & Engineering Conference (GC&E), hosted by the ACS Green Chemistry Institute®, will be held in Portland, Oregon on June 18-20, 2018. GC&E provides an opportunity for a diverse network of over 500 academic, industrial and government stakeholders to network and learn about the newest ideas
December 14, 2017
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Should Vancouver Be Betting on Biodiesel? Peter Brown Believes the City Is primed to Produce Biofuel
by Dameon Pesanti (Columbian) With the earnestness of a missionary, Peter Brown will proselytize about the eco-friendliness of biodiesel and methane digesters — or extol their virtues with the already converted. In his mind, Vancouver could be to the green-energy movement what the San Francisco Bay Area was to the digital
November 30, 2017
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(Capital Press) According to the OSU study, Canola poses no greater threat to specialty seed producers than other Brassica species regularly grown in the valley. — Results of a recent study by Oregon State University strongly suggests canola production could coexist with specialty seed crops in the Willamette Valley. We hope farmers
November 27, 2017
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by Todd Neeley (DTN The Progressive Farmer) Cellulosic technology companies have invested time and millions of dollars to explore ways to convert biomass into cellulosic ethanol for the better part of 20 years. Most technologies have fallen victim to high capital and development costs, changing political winds and economic recession. Many
November 22, 2017
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by Michelle Ma (Phys.Org/University of Washington) In the quest to produce affordable biofuels, poplar trees are one of the Pacific Northwest’s best bets—the trees are abundant, fast-growing, adaptable to many terrains and their wood can be transformed into substances used in biofuel and high-value chemicals that we rely on in our
November 22, 2017
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by Siddharth Vodnala (Washington State University News) Researchers from Washington State University, along with those from Oregon State University and the University of Montana, have recently devised refined methods to estimate the amount of forest residue — the leftovers from trees after logging — that is available for wood-based biorefineries to
October 26, 2017
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by Niamh Boyle (Prima Markets/Biodiesel Magazine) Prima Markets provides a comprehensive summary of the growing international demand for low carbon fuels, including U.S. policy drivers and waste feedstock consumption, along with a detailed overview of the international trade of low carbon feedstock. — Policy changes in the U.S. and Europe are
October 18, 2017
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GC&E provides an opportunity for a diverse network of over 500 academic, industrial and government stakeholders to network and learn about the newest ideas in sustainable approaches to chemistry, chemicals and processes and products. This year’s conference is highlighting the theme, “Product innovation using greener chemistries.” The overarching theme of the
October 12, 2017
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by Kathie Obradovich (Des Moines Register) … Trump, while campaigning in Iowa, pledged to protect the RFS, which sets the minimum volume of renewable energy that must be part of the transportation fuels sold in the United States. The National Biodiesel Board posted a video last week compiling clips of Trump’s campaign promises on
October 10, 2017
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(My Columbia Basin) The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services is fining Robert D. “Bob” Doughty and his companies for bilking investors of $250,000. Officials say the Ontario man with a Stanfield connection is fined $35,000 for selling fraudulent securities to at least 12 people. Officials for the department warn
October 4, 2017
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by Peter Wilcox (Passage Maker) Having the opportunity to imagine and oversee the building of my own ideal Inside Passage vessel has been exquisitely educational—initiating a chain of engaging design, building, voyaging, and teaching adventures. … Taking a break from sailing up north, we decided to buy an interim boat
September 11, 2017
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by Mick Harris (Oregon Live) I loved Richard Waring’s Aug. 17 message to eclipse visitors. As somebody who continues to try and take the fight to climate change through a variety of organizations, I agree with him that, in order to preserve the Oregon that we love and that the visitors will too, we
August 22, 2017
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by Robert White (Yakima Herald) To the editor — The Renewable Fuel Standard, which requires refiners to blend an increasing amount of ethanol and other biofuels into petroleum, was enacted in part to help bring greater consumer choice to the marketplace and break up Big Oil’s monopoly. However, there is
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) One of the more striking outcomes from the DOE Bioeconomy 2017 conference in Washington DC was confirmation of the demise of Joule Unlimited. “We had a lot of prospects last year,” former CEO Brian Baynes told The Digest, “but those new investor prospects walked away,
by Sean Bassinger (The Chronicle) Nine storage tanks out at Port Westward could be used to house massive amounts of crude oil. But Global Partners officials say they want the tanks for another reason: development for their ethanol facility. Oregon’s Public Utility Commission (PUC) commission voted 3-0 in Salem on
June 30, 2017
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The American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute (ACS GCI) is pleased to announce that it will hold its 22nd annual scientific meeting June 18-20, 2018 in Portland, Oregon. The Green Chemistry & Engineering (GC&E) Conference Advisory Committee is now inviting the submission of proposals for symposia for presentation during this meeting. The
June 29, 2017
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The American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute (ACS GCI) is pleased to announce that it will hold its 22nd annual scientific meeting June 18-20, 2018 in Portland, Oregon. GC&E provides an opportunity for a diverse network of over 500 academic, industrial and government stakeholders to network and learn about the
June 29, 2017
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by Jim Harris (Natural Resource Report) Please stand with me and ask our Oregon representatives in Washington, D.C. to protect the partnership between fuel and agricultural by preserving the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) as is, without changes. With so many policies up for debate in Washington DC, it’s easy to
June 28, 2017
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In late 2015, we reported Red Rock Biofuels will produce approximately three million gallons of low-carbon, renewable jet fuel per year (at that time, from 2017 through 2024) for FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp, in an agreement announced by the companies today. FedEx joined Southwest Airlines
June 15, 2017
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by Jim Talent (Capital Ag Press/Americans for Energy Security and Innovation) Unfortunately, even as fracking reached new heights, America’s total domestic crude oil production declined in 2016. According to new data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, that lost domestic energy production was quickly replaced by rising imports from the
June 7, 2017
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Velocys enables modular gas-to-liquids and biomass-to-liquids plants to convert unconventional, remote and problem gas and waste biomass into valuable, drop-in liquid fuels. After 15 years and some $300 million in investment, Velocys technology is headed for scale.The ENVIA project is now producing fuels in Oklahoma,
May 30, 2017
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By Anthony Adragna (Politico’s Morning Energy) Rep. John Shimkus, chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on the Environment, said he expected to begin a series of meetings on how to potentially revamp the Renewable Fuel Standard in the coming weeks. “We’ll probably start meeting with a small group of
May 19, 2017
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BIOCYCLE REFOR17 is where you’ll network with the who’s who of the renewable energy, composting, and organics recycling industry. This is the Conference where participants get the latest on technologies and practices in anaerobic digestion, renewable fuels, composting, food waste, green infrastructure, biogas markets. READ MORE
May 12, 2017
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) What is different about a Low Carbon Fuel Standard — as compared to a Renewable Fuel Standard? There are 4 primary differences. 1. An RFS creates a standard, and any fuel that meets that standard can compete in that market. … 2. An LCFS sets
May 11, 2017
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by Marissa Luck (The Daily News) A Houston-based group of investors is once again looking to develop a biofuel refinery in Cowlitz County, more than a year after their plans for oil, propane and biofuel projects were rejected by the Port of Longview. This time though, the refinery will focus
May 10, 2017
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, Senate Finance Committee Ranking Democrat Ron Wyden (Ore.) and colleagues introduced a clean energy tax reform package that includes a proposal for a technology neutral tax credit designed to encourage the development and production of advanced and cellulosic biofuels. Advanced Biofuels Business Council
May 8, 2017
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by Curtis Martin (Capital Press) As a rancher, we want to leave the land, air and water a little better for our children. — Whether it’s for cattle or crops, farmers and ranchers have been on the forefront of conservation. Many frontline harvesters of the land and sea are also leading
April 25, 2017
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by Amelia Templeton (OPB FM) For years, the sewage flushed away by Portland households has decomposed into methane gas captured by the city’s wastewater plant and turned into energy and electricity. Now, the city’s wastewater agency, the Bureau of Environmental Services, has a new plan for the gas that’s produced by your
April 21, 2017
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(KTVZ.com) Bill sponsored by Sens. Tim Knopp, Ted Ferrioli — Oregon Senate Republicans say adding woody biomass as a recognized source of green energy technologies will help reduce carbon emissions and create jobs in rural Oregon. The proposal, Senate Bill 634, passed the Senate Thursday with unanimous bipartisan support. “We
April 19, 2017
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by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) …Led by Don O’Connor, a Vancouver-based international expert on greenhouse-gas emissions, the panel discussed biodiesel opportunities from coast to coast. From the west coast was Simon Mui, Director of California’s Fuels, Energy and Transportation Program for the Natural Resources Defense Council, who praised the enactment of
April 7, 2017
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by Ron Kotrba (Biomass Magazine) U.S. imports of biomass-based diesel hit extreme heights in 2016, fulfilling a third of the consumption market, driving the domestic biodiesel industry to more actively seek counteracting measures to protect its own investments. — The U.S. imported nearly three times more biodiesel and renewable
April 5, 2017
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(California Air Resources Board) CARB votes to move forward with greenhouse gas reductions and zero emission programs through 2025; action sets the table for accelerating programs post-2025 — Today (March 24, 2017) California re-affirmed its commitment to clean air, protecting public health and continuing the fight against climate change when
March 27, 2017
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(Phys.Org) Molds produce a wide range of both valuable and toxic molecules, which have important implications for energy production, agriculture and human health. A recent study revealed that an organelle within fungal cells called the endoplasmic reticulum acts as a cellular factory for synthesizing diverse natural products called sesquiterpenes in
March 22, 2017
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by Celia DuBose (California Biodiesel Alliance/Biodiesel Magazine) Jennifer Case, chair of the California Biodiesel Alliance, ended her opening address at the sixth annual California Biodiesel Conference March 1 in Sacramento with one simple message: The world of biodiesel is trending up. While not shying away from challenges to the state’s industry,
March 14, 2017
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) … (S)omething less than $200 million has been so far positively and affordably earmarked by lenders to revolutionize the entire supply chain of US air transportation fuels. Which is to say, you can just about get better terms for money from loansharkers to bet on the
February 21, 2017
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(Pacific Ethanol/Globenews) Edeniq’s yield-enhancing Pathway Technology will now be installed at two Pacific Ethanol plants — Pacific Ethanol, Inc. (NASDAQ:PEIX), a leading producer and marketer of low-carbon renewable fuels in the United States, and Edeniq, Inc., a biorefining and cellulosic technology company, announced they have entered into a technology licensing
February 16, 2017
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Velocys enables modular gas-to-liquids and biomass-to-liquids plants to convert unconventional, remote and problem gas and waste biomass into valuable, drop-in liquid fuels. After 15 years and some $300 million in investment, Velocys technology is headed for scale.The ENVIA project is now producing fuels in Oklahoma,
February 8, 2017
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The REG Okeechobee facility is now “open for business” as a contract manufacturing site, and that’s a fascinating development worth exploring, even if you don’t have a microbe you would like to manufacture without the expense and hassle of building your own fermentation capacity. From
February 7, 2017
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by Bob Dinneen (Renewable Fuels Association) Half of U.S. states blended more than 10 percent ethanol, RFA’s president and CEO points out in his View from the Hill column — Reps. Bill Flores, R-Texas, and Peter Welch, D-Vt., introduced legislation during the last Congress that would cap ethanol blends in
January 25, 2017
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) … Led by Don O’Connor, a Vancouver-based international expert on greenhouse-gas emissions, the assembled panel detailed efforts that spanned from municipal victories to boost biodiesel use to the Paris Climate Agreement that aims to significantly reduce global carbon emissions. Simon Mui, Director of California’s Fuels, Energy
January 23, 2017
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A mere “The Year in Rewind” as we sail into 2017? Not the good ship Digest! Instead, we dust off our crystal ball and offer our predictions for the year ahead. As the sunset of 2016 gives way to the dawn of 2017, here at the Digest
(Oregon State University) The use of residual forest biomass for rural development faces significant economic hurdles that make it unlikely to be a source of jobs in the near future, according to an analysis by economists at Oregon State University. In a model of the forest industry, researchers in the
December 29, 2016
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) … the most innovative public-private policies are likely for some time to proceed out of regions, provinces and states. In some ways, in the United States the forces arrayed against the Renewable Fuel Standard will end up with something far worse — a patchwork of state-by-state
December 27, 2016
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(Environmental Protection Agency) This year’s projects focus on cookstoves, manufacturing, toxic chemicals, water, and building materials — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $1.3 million to 13 small businesses nationwide to develop and commercialize technologies to help solve current environmental issues. “The 13 businesses we are funding today
December 6, 2016
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by Brent Erickson (Biotechnology Innovation Organization/Biofuels Digest) … Trump and Congressional Republicans are expected to focus on comprehensive tax reform, infrastructure development, and repealing Obamacare. Some of those initiatives may touch the biobased economy but only at the margins. Renewable chemical and biofuel producer CEOs, who make business decisions with a
November 28, 2016
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(Advanced Hardwood Biofuels Northwest) This talk introduces a web-based decision support tool for biorefinery siting and explores the economic viability of potential biorefinery locations in Chehalis, WA, Dallas, OR, and Hayden,ID. WATCH VIDEO
November 17, 2016
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by George Lurie (The Business Journal) In a first-of-its-kind ruling, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved Pacific Ethanol’s registration of its Stockton ethanol plant to generate valuable credits by producing cellulosic ethanol with the same equipment the company uses to produce corn-based ethanol. The EPA approval now allows
October 12, 2016
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(Oak Ridge National Laboratory/NewsWise) GreenWood Resources has licensed an Oak Ridge National Laboratory technology based on the discovery of a gene in poplar (Populus trichocarpa) that makes it easier to convert poplar trees into biofuels. GreenWood, a global timberland investment and asset management company based in Oregon, plans to commercialize
September 29, 2016
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by Chelsea Harvey (The Washington Post) New research has added yet another layer to a major scientific debate about our global emissions of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that is second only to carbon dioxide when it comes to driving climate change. A study, published Monday in Proceedings of the National
September 19, 2016
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Amidst the discussion this week of the future of first-gen and advanced biofuels, and the launch of Hot 40 and Hot 50 voting — we were intrigued by this slide deck on advances in poplar production and bioconversion for the bioeconomy, from the Advanced Hardwoods Biofuels Northwest
September 13, 2016
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by Marissa Luck (The Daily News) Global Partners’ terminal at Port Westward has reopened, only this time ethanol is replacing crude oil as the commodity of choice at the Clatskanie-area facility. The terminal, known as Columbia Pacific Bio-Refinery, began receiving shipments of the flammable gasoline additive earlier this summer. In
September 11, 2016
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Amidst all the discussion this week of deal-making in cellulosic and sugar-based fuels — the likes of Tesoro-Virent and Lufthansa-Gevo — we were intrigued by this slide deck on a pathway to low-cost cellulosic sugars and hydrogen, from Electrosep. This illuminating deck was presented at ABLC
September 9, 2016
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by Susan Olson (Genscape/Biofuels Digest) Biomass-based diesel mandates for blending in transportation fuel have increased in many nations worldwide over the last year. In several of these countries, domestic biodiesel production is underutilized and many of these same countries are net exporters. These increases don’t necessarily create the opportunity for
September 1, 2016
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by Ann Bailey (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A biorefinery proposed to be built in Grand Forks, North Dakota, would transform low-value agricultural byproducts, including sugar beet tailings, wheat straw and potato waste, into biofuel. The North Dakota Ag Products Utilization Commission recently awarded the Red River BioRefinery LLC project $84,000 for
August 25, 2016
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(U.S. Department of Justice) U.S. Attorney Josh J. Minkler for the Southern District of Indiana announced today the guilty verdict after an eight-day jury trial of Jeffrey Wilson of Evansville, Indiana, who was charged with securities fraud related to a massive multi-state fraud scheme. Wilson’s crimes centered on the e-biofuels
by Hillary Borrud (The Oregonian) Supporters of Oregon’s controversial low-carbon fuels mandate, newly approved last year, hailed it as a chance to grow a local biofuels industry and reduce drivers’ reliance on imported fuel. But six months into the program, a review by The Oregonian/OregonLive has found, much of the
August 15, 2016
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Leaf Resources Limited (ASX:LER) is focused on making sustainable products from plant biomass, offering an advanced technology package for breaking down plant derived biomass to useful, sustainable, renewable and biodegradable products. Leaf Resources’ Glycell technology is getting a lot of attention as a source of low-cost
July 26, 2016
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by Hillary Borrud (The Oregonian/OregonLive) As a committee of Oregon lawmakers tours the state this summer in an effort to build support for a possible 2017 transportation-funding package, there’s one topic Gov. Kate Brown asked them to avoid: a repeal of the state’s low-carbon fuel law. Brown made her expectation
July 19, 2016
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by Toh Wei Zheng (Platts) The US West Coast is set to become a new export outlet for ethanol cargoes to Asia as competition heats up among traders and producers to capture more market share in the region, sources said on the sidelines of an industry conference late last week. An
by Gollany HT, Titus BD, Scott DA, Asbjornsen H, Resh SC, Chimner RA, Kaczmarek DJ, Leite LF, Ferreira AC, Rod KA, Hilbert J, Galdos MV, Cisz ME (Biogeochemical Research) Rapid expansion in biomass production for biofuels and bioenergy in the Americas is increasing demand on the ecosystem resources required to
June 28, 2016
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by Courtney Vaughn (South County Spotlight) Global Partners LP, the fuel company that operates Columbia Pacific Bio-Refinery at Port Westward, may soon begin transloading ethanol. The company announced in January it was halting its crude oil transloading operations and laying off 28 employees, in preparation for transitioning to an ethanol
June 21, 2016
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by Chelsea Harvey (The Washington Post) … The controversy centers on a specific provision in theHouse appropriations bill for fiscal year 2017 regarding the burning of biomass (typically wood and other plant material) for energy. The bill proposes that the Environmental Protection Agency treat biomass energy as carbon neutral —that is, the agency would
June 16, 2016
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by David VanderGriend (Ethanol Producer Magazine/ICM Inc./Urban Air Initiative) … We’ve learned that we can reduce harmful emissions by replacing toxic compounds in gasoline with clean burning ethanol, which improves air quality and protects public health. We can do so while providing a high-octane fuel for superior engine performance, which
June 13, 2016
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by Gerald Kutney (Lee Consulting/Biofuels Digest) … From the time of the caveman until the early Industrial Revolution, biofuels – namely wood and the advanced biofuel of the day, charcoal – reigned supreme. Both fossil fuels and biofuels originate from biomass. The major difference between them is that fossil fuels are sequestered
(US Department of Agriculture) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $8.8 million to boost the production of advanced biofuels and sustain jobs at renewable energy facilities in 39 states. USDA continues to lead the way in promotion of advanced biofuel production,
(Joule/BusinessWire) EPA Qualifies Joule Ethanol Under Clean Air Act — Joule, the pioneer of drop-in liquid fuels from recycled CO2, today announced major accomplishments in the first quarter of 2016 that are accelerating the commercialization of environmentally sustainable ultra-low carbon fuel. These advancements include EPA approval of Joule’s Sunflow®-E ethanol process
April 8, 2016
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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 from simply being green kudos a few years ago to
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 ballot, but the group’s Executive Director Paul Romain said it
April 4, 2016
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(KEZI) About 40 city vehicles, including buses, will switch over to renewable diesel this summer –that’s about one third of the city’s vehicle pool. Renewable diesel burns cleaner and offers more power and better mileage while reducing the fleet’s carbon footprint. It will cost about 12 cents more per gallon.
April 4, 2016
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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 Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) efforts to regulate carbon dioxide from
March 21, 2016
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(US Department of Agriculture) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the availability of up to $260 million for partner proposals to improve the nation’s water quality, combat drought, enhance soil health, support wildlife habitat and protect agricultural viability. The funding is being made available through USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service’s
March 14, 2016
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by George Plaven (East Oregonian) The U.S. Department of Agriculture is stepping up with an $11 million loan to build a new biorefinery in Boardman. — With financing in place, a Minnesota-based energy company plans to build its first commercial refinery that will transform farm waste into natural gas
March 2, 2016
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The ACS Green Chemistry Institute® hosts the only business plan competition (BPC) exclusively devoted to innovations in sustainable green chemistry and engineering. Applicants have the chance to receive expert feedback, training and mentorship, and the opportunity to market their business idea to their target audience. POINTS TO KEEP IN MIND
March 2, 2016
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Over the last several years, researchers have helped open up many promising avenues for biochar market development in North America. Likewise, many entrepreneurs and small business owners have made investments to develop commercial markets. With so much research being published on biochar (over 5000 publications in 2015 alone!), there is
March 1, 2016
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Australia, Leaf Resources and ZeaChem signed a joint venture agreement to establish a Glycell based project in the USA. The new agreenent advances the relationship between the two companies from an October 2014 Collaboration Agreement. That previous agreement covered ZeaChem’s evaluation of the Leaf
March 1, 2016
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(Fleets & Fuels) Sales of the Renewable Natural Gas More than Doubled in 2015 — Clean Energy Fuels said today that its sales of Redeem brand biomethane, aka renewable natural gas, more than doubled last year to 50 million gallons, from 20 million gallons in 2014. Sales of Redeem have also
February 10, 2016
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the Union of Concerned Scientists has released a major report, “Half the Oil”, outlining steps required to achieve a 50% reduction in petroleum use in the US Pacific Coast States by 2030. The take-off point was a call by California Governor Jerry Brown
February 9, 2016
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(Union of Concerned Scientists) Analysis Finds Extending and Expanding Current Clean Transportation Policies Would Significantly Reduce Oil Use — California, Oregon and Washington could cut their petroleum use by half in the next 15 years through policies that encourage greater transportation options and the more robust use of existing and emerging
This National Working Forum will bring together a wide array of stakeholders to discuss opportunities for poplar and willow in environmental applications and as a feedstock for developing renewable fuel industries. Participants will contribute to the development of key action items and recommendations to establish renewable energy markets from these
February 1, 2016
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(Diesel Technology Forum) They are all committed to using renewable diesel fuel. Interest in renewable diesel fuel is growing quickly among public and private fleets looking to reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality without sacrificing power, performance, and driving range from trucks and equipment. Renewable diesel is a bio-based
January 28, 2016
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by Marissa Luck (The Daily News Online) Environmental groups are raising more concerns about the background of people proposing a $1.25 billion oil refinery and a propane terminal at the Port of Longview. Columbia Riverkeeper recently released state and federal documents detailing the ill-fated history of an Odessa, Wash., company, TransMessis
January 28, 2016
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(National Biodiesel Board) Climate benefits, reducing emissions common vein throughout industry awards — Biodiesel has many benefits, but its ability to reduce emissions was a main theme of this year’s National Biodiesel Board industry awards. Landmark climate efforts, heavy duty vehicle market dominance, and lifetime careers dedicated to the advancement
January 27, 2016
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(National Biodiesel Board/Biodiesel Magazine) In part because of the success demonstrated in California with its low carbon fuel standard (LCFS), both Oregon and British Columbia have also adopted low carbon transportation policies, and they are setting precedent for the rest of the world. READ MORE
January 27, 2016
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(Trestle Energy/PR Newswire) Trestle Energy LLC – a California company working with ethanol and power producers across the Midwest – announced that California’s Air Resources Board officially approved its groundbreaking ethanol production process under the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). Building on Trestle’s 2014 approval by British Columbia, California’s approval
January 26, 2016
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Department of the Navy is now buying advanced, drop-in, cost-competitive, next gen renewable fuels. The biofuels sought can be blended in a range of 10 to 50 percent with conventional petroleum products and must meet all military fuel specification properties which make handling requirements and
January 20, 2016
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by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) For eight years, Joule has been working under the radar to develop and commercialize its CO2-to-fuel technology. — When it comes to ethanol production volumes per acre of land, Joule’s Helioculture technology leaves all other processes in the dust. “We can do several factors
January 18, 2016
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(Wright-Patterson Air Force Base) USAF Announces a draft environmental assessment — Red Rock Biofuels LLC, Integrated Biofuel Production Enterprise, Lake County OR This assessment is contained in three files: Part One Part Two Part Three AGENCY: United States Air Force, Air Force Research Laboratory ACTION: Notice of Availability of a Draft
January 12, 2016
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The 2016 GC&E Conference will focus on the theme Advancing Sustainable Solutions by Design. See the 2016 themes and session topics below and submit abstracts by February 15, 2016. For 20 years, the mission of the American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute® (ACS GCI) has been to catalyze and enable the
January 4, 2016
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by Claire Vath (DTN/The Progressive Farmer) … “We had something like 200 trespass cows from a nearby land lease,” Willow says. So, they constructed a fence. And while it kept animals out, the damage had already been wrought. “Those cows destroyed plenty of our wetlands,” she says. Nearly 75 acres of
December 22, 2015
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by Tom Ewing (Renewable Energy World) As oil prices plummet, are drop-in aviation biofuel refineries ever going to be built? — In September 2014, the Department of Energy (DOE), along with the Departments of the Navy and Agriculture, announced a significant financial partnership to advance the construction of three biorefineries,
December 22, 2015
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by Bengt Halvorson (Clean Car Reports) … (M)ayors of four large West Coast cities—Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, and Portland—met in Portland for a two-day summit and united to reduce carbon emissions on a regional level. The signed declaration, by the mayors of those cities and of Eugene, Oregon, includes
December 17, 2015
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(National Biodiesel Board/Biodiesel Magazine) On Dec. 9 the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality Commission voted unanimously to finalize the state’s clean fuels program (CFP). Oregon becomes the third jurisdiction on the West Coast—following California and British Columbia—to implement a comprehensive low carbon fuels policy for transportation. The policy is modeled
December 16, 2015
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Both poplar and willow can be grown for many environmental applications. These trees are also excellent feedstocks to replace petroleum. This forum will bring together stakeholders from across the nation to discuss how to move the biomass from environmental plantings toward commercial use for bioenergy and biochemicals. Who should attend: Researchers
December 11, 2015
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by Taylor W. Anderson (The Bulletin) Environmental panel votes today on break for oil companies through 2018, new ethanol models — Top environmental regulators are slated to finish rules today that include big changes for Oregon’s Clean Fuels program, three weeks before the nation’s second fuel-blending and carbon credit market program
December 9, 2015
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by Anna Simet (Biomass Magazine) U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz has announced that the U.S. DOE’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy has awarded $125 million to 41 energy technology projects, four of which involve bioenergy or biomass. … Projects relevant to the bioenergy industry include: “Converting Biogas to Liquid Fuels by
December 4, 2015
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by Danny King (AutoBlog) Washington, Colorado, Virginia And Oregon Also On Growing List — These fees were put into place in order to offset the revenue shortfall from more fuel efficient vehicles, electrified powertrains, and the resulting lower gas taxes. Georgia charges the highest fee out of any state
December 3, 2015
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Today, more than 4,300 are employed at PNNL; the FY14 business volume was $1.02 billion. The Richland campus includes unique laboratories and specialized equipment as well as the William R. Wiley Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, a DOE Office of Science national scientific user facility. In addition to the Richland
November 27, 2015
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington state, King County Superior Court Judge Hollis R. Hill issued a groundbreaking ruling that the “scientific evidence is clear that the current rates of (emissions) reduction mandated by Washington law. . . cannot ensure the survival of an environment in which [youth] can
November 23, 2015
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Starting January 2016, Oregon’s Clean Fuels Standard goes into effect, meaning you can be paid for the clean fuels you produce or build infrastructure for. For example, do you import or produce biogas in Oregon for transportation fuel? Import or produce renewable diesel or renewable
November 23, 2015
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(SustainableBusiness.com) Yesterday, NY State took a stand against fossil fuels by rejecting a LNG plant, and now Portland, Oregon issued a landmark resolution that prevents new fossil infrastructure. The city council’s unanimous resolution – the toughest fossil fuel export policy in the US – directs staff to propose modified codes that prevent coal, gas or oil from being transported or stored
November 17, 2015
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(Pacific Ag) For industries like mushroom composting to erosion technology as well as dairy and cattle feed, Pacific Ag is creating a supply chain for agricultural residue — — Pacific Ag, the nation’s largest crop residue harvest company, has recently completed its largest harvest of wheat straw on record. Working
November 16, 2015
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(Joule/Red Rock Biofuels/BusinessWire) Joule, the pioneer of liquid fuels from recycled CO2, and Red Rock Biofuels, a leading developer of renewable jet and diesel fuel bio-refineries, today announced their intent to merge. Red Rock adds a proven technology pathway to Joule’s own Helioculture technology and strengthens Joule’s platform for global
November 12, 2015
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by Taylor W. Anderson (The Bulletin) Climate scientist: policies that encourage biofuels must account for indirect emissions — Before starting to implement Oregon’s low-carbon fuel standard , the state must first deal with some math that is both complicated and controversial. To make sure the program actually cuts as many
October 26, 2015
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by Ann Bailey (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Renewable Fuel Association has written the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality a letter expressing displeasure with the state’s proposed amendments for its Oregon Clean Fuels Program. The association has been an enthusiastic supporter of carbon fuel programs using fair, consistent and scientifically robust
October 22, 2015
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