(City of Raleigh) Deep in the southeastern corner of Wake County are a series of rolling fields that look like they are more suitable for a Van Gogh painting than part of the Raleigh landscape. Nestled among the corn, soybeans,
by Jeff Donn (Associated Press/Los Angeles Daily News) Five years after the Obama administration promised to move swiftly to permanently plug unused oil and gas wells in the Gulf of Mexico, even more shafts are lingering for longer periods with
by William Saletan (Slate) The war against genetically modified organisms is full of fearmongering, errors, and fraud. Labeling them will not make you safer. They Want You to Be Overwhelmed ... Hundreds of organizations, including Consumers Union, Friends of the Earth, Physicians
by Dave Eckhardt (Colorado Corn Growers Association/Pueblo Chieftan) ... Perhaps the EPA has forgotten the RFS is working. It’s helped reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Last year, ethanol lowered CO2-equivalent GHG emissions from transportation by 39.6 million metric tons — akin to
by Leticia Phillips (UNICA/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Brazil and the U.S. have a responsibility to collaboratively build a global biofuels market, writes Leticia Phillips of UNICA, following a visit between Brazilian President and President Obama. In late June, Brazilian President Dilma
by Laura Small (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) On July 14, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals denied a petition from the Energy Future Coalition and other biofuel interests to review an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulation requiring test fuels
by By Tom Schenk (Agriculture 2.0) Over the past ten years, scores of articles have been written about the merits of investing in farmland as well as the challenges of producing enough food to feed a population that is growing at
(Environmental Protection Agency) The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is inviting comment on its analysis of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions attributable to the production and transport of Gossypium spp. seed oil (“cottonseed oil”) feedstock for use in making biofuels such
by Olatomiwa Bifarin* (Advanced Biofuels USA) Around 770,000 BC, it was fire, at some point – wood, dung and coal, to the now-ominous fossil fuels. This is the evolution of energy, and today the evolution must be accelerated to save
(Algae Industry Magazine) Studies conducted by EnAlgae partners in Ireland, France and Belgium point the way to seaweed being a viable and sustainable feedstock for the future in North West Europe (NWE). This is the conclusion of a new paper
by Jose Graziano DA Silva (UN Food and Agriculture Organization/AllAfrica.com) Over the past several years, biofuels have become a bone of contention. For some, a renewable energy source produced from organic matter amounts to a magic wand in the fight
(Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Plants (UFOP)) With an average greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction of 60 percent, the competition for the highest GHG efficiency is starting. This was confirmed in the first quarterly report by the German Federal
(Power-Technology) Bio-bean and Network Rail have extended their partnership to start a new recycling project that will turn coffee waste into fuel and will be used to cut down the costs for railway in the UK. The firms had conducted successful
(OurEnergyPolicy.org) The question is: How can U.S. policymakers best support energy security and GHG emission reduction, considering the need for both biofuels and low-carbon electric vehicles? What fraction of transport energy can be supplied by each source, and what policy options
(Environmental Expert/ePURE) EU Ministers have today officially rubber-stamped new rules to address indirect land use change (ILUC) impacts associated with biofuels. The new rules, which have been discussed by the EU institutions for 3 years, must now be transposed and
by Alister Doyle (Reuters) Governments should treat climate change as seriously as threats to national security or public health, partly by focusing more on the worst scenarios of rising temperatures, an international report said on Monday. Crop failures, extreme heat waves
By Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Auto Channel recently launched the Ethanol Chronicles to aggregate questions and information on ethanol. The Auto Channel is a focused content channel covering all things automotive. A long-time champion for ethanol, copublisher Marc Rauch
by Iván Martén (Wall Street Journal) Global production of biofuels has surged over the past decade or so, with annual production climbing from approximately 10 billion liters in 2000 to nearly 80 billion liters in 2012. Much of this growth
by Paul Driessen (Town Hall) ... The tale of Philip Joseph Rivkin (aka Felipe Poitan Arriaga) reveals an equally disgusting aspect of the mandate, resulting from the absurdly complex Renewable Identification Number (RIN) system devised by EPA bureaucrats. As Ron Arnold explains
by Hanna Loraine (University of Bath) A Jordanian PhD student has come to Bath to investigate how our algae research could help clean wastewater in her country. ... New ways of cutting down water wastage and overuse are in desperate
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In California, Newlight Technologies has signed a 20-year take-or-pay off-take agreement with Vinmar International for 1 billion pounds of AirCarbon PHA. Critical to the deal? Newlight’s catalyst aims to transform the economics of PHA-based plastics, solving
(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is recognizing landmark green chemistry technologies developed by industrial pioneers and leading scientists that turn climate risk and other environmental problems into business opportunities, spurring innovation and economic development. “From academia
(DEINOVE) DEINOVE (Alternext Paris: ALDEI), a biotech company developing innovative processes for the production of biofuels and bio-based chemicals using Deinococcus bacteria as host strains, announces that it has reached the third and penultimate milestone of its DEINOL project supported
(Novvi/BusinessWire) Novvi, a leading producer of high performance renewable oils, today announced Novvi engine oils are now American Petroleum Institute (API) certified and delivered superior performance over more than a half million miles of raceway driving. Together, these accomplishments mark
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) First plant will produce 14 million gallons per year by 2018; first production train online in 2017. More plants to come? Up to 150 mgy potential in Europe, ArcelorMittal says; culmination of work since 2011. In
(Alcon Corporation) Alkcon Corporation (the "Company"), a developer of natural gas processing equipment, has entered into an exclusivity agreement and a Letter of Intent with Flogas Group ("Flogas") of Leicestershire, England. The agreement grants Flogas the exclusive right to market and sell the
by Milsa Vijayadharan* (Advanced Biofuels USA) Hybrid Electric-Biodiesel Buses used in California, Washington and Michigan Model Lower GHG Emissions Options for Cities Everywhere Public transportation plays an important role in green and sustainable practices. Public transportation use means fewer cars on the road and a cleaner environment.
(Press Trust of India) The government has notified norms for use of bio-CNG for vehicles running on it, in a bid to promote green fuel. "The Road Transport and Highways Ministry has notified norms for the use of bio-CNG for testing
by Sean Lin (Taipai Times) The EPA said more than 100,000 tonnes of biodiesel per year are made from recycled cooking oil, which have an estimated total value of about NT$3 billion The Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) yesterday showcased the manufacturing
by Bill Brandon (Biofuels Digest) Can Cooperation Survive Within a Non-cooperative Economic System? I say yes it can, but we should not assume it is only a voluntary cooperation. Forty-five years ago we made a major transition in our fuel
(WNAX) Nebraska Ethanol Board leaders are working with various city officials in the region to find ways to make EPA’s proposed Ozone regulations more workable. Nebraska Ethanol Board Administrator Todd Sneller says there’s a great opportunity for ag and biofuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... 31 Algae players, what do they make now, and how are they making out? ... Here’s our company by company guide to 31 of the players on the scene — project developers and technology suppliers. ... AlgaEnergy AlgaEnergy is
(US Department of Energy) The Energy Department today announced six projects that will receive up to $18 million in funding to reduce the modeled price of algae-based biofuels to less than $5 per gasoline gallon equivalent (gge) by 2019. This
by Rhiannon Meyers (Houston Chronicle) Some natural gas operations in the Barnett Shale leaked more methane than previously thought, underscoring the need for better and more frequent monitoring and repair of equipment, new studies by the Environmental Defense Fund have
by Tom Redmond and Yuko Takeo (Bloomberg Business) The future of Japan’s biofuel industry may be pond scum. Or more specifically, green algae that’s swirling around in tanks on a tropical Okinawan island. That’s what Mitsuru Izumo and his company
by Johannes Escudero, Tim Cremins and Jose Mejia (The Sacramento Bee) Despite California’s leadership in green energy promotion, our state is a woefully lopsided net importer of clean biofuels. State lawmakers have a golden opportunity to correct this unfortunate paradox by
by Payal Marathe (Argonne National Laboratory) We ask a lot of the land: feed the world with crops, power the world with bioenergy, retain nutrients so they don’t pollute our water and air. To help landscapes answer these high demands,
(Jamaica Observer) The country is looking to produce its own biofuel and increase the current mix of ethanol in petrol to about 20 per cent. This is according to Principal Director, Policy, Planning, Development and Evaluation Division, in the Ministry
By Deirdre Lockwood (Chemical and Engineering News) Environment: New study finds that greenhouse gas emissions associated with fuel from Alberta oil sands are about 20% greater than those for U.S. crude oil The oil sands of Canada’s Alberta province are one
(New Hampshire Business Review) Memorial Hospital in North Conway has been named the Mount Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Sustainable Business of the Year, in recognition of its switch to a new form of renewable biofuel. Memorial uses an advanced cellulosic
by Amy Townsend-Small, Josette E. Marrero, David R. Lyon, Isobel J. Simpson, Simone Meinardi, and Donald R. Blake (Environmental Science and Technology) A growing dependence on natural gas for energy may exacerbate emissions of the greenhouse gas methane (CH4). Identifying fingerprints
(SEKAB) ED95 is an ethanol based fuel for adapted diesel engines. It consists of 95 percent pure ethanol with the addition of ignition improver, lubricant and corrosion protection. In a diesel engine adapted for ED95 ethanol’s potential can be up
(Global Commission on the Economy and Climate) The new report Seizing the global opportunity: partnerships for better growth and a better climate, released today by the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate, provides 10 practical recommendations that will boost economic
by Anna Simet (Biomass Magazine) After a House vote of 44-9, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has signed a bill that exempts biomass-derived carbon dioxide emissions from regulation under certain air pollution laws. The bill defines biomass as nonfossilized and biodegradable organic
(Michigan State University) Converting large tracts of the Midwest’s marginal farming land to perennial biofuel crops carries with it some key unknowns, including how it could affect the balance of water between rainfall, evaporation and movement of soil water to
by Michael McDonald (Bloomberg) Stanford, Oxford and Georgetown universities have won praise for promising to purge their endowments of direct investments in coal, embracing the fight against climate change. One detail gets lost in the celebration: the colleges have few, if
by Jeffrey Ball (The Atlantic) ... Saudi Arabia produces much of its electricity by burning oil, a practice that most countries abandoned long ago, reasoning that they could use coal and natural gas instead and save oil for transportation, an application
(Renewable Fuels Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Renewable Fuels Association member company East Kansas Agri-Energy recently hosted key officials from the U.S. EPA at its facility in Garnett, Kansas, 70 miles southwest of Kansas City. EPA personnel toured the 45 million gallon per
(Northeast Woody/Warm-season Biomass Consortium - NEWBio) As the largest supplier of shrub willow planting stock in the United States, Double A Willow is a critical link between research and the commercial development of renewable energy. ... Double A Willow in Fredonia, New
(BioPower Operations Corp./Biomass Magazine) BioPower Operations Corp. has announced that its wholly owned subsidiary Green3Power Operations Inc. (G3P) has won an award to build a $175 million renewable energy facility that will convert waste into ultra-low sulfur synthetic green No.
(Bio-based Industries Consortium/Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking, a public-private partnership between the EU and the Bio-based Industries Consortium, has approved the funding of 10 projects totaling €120 million ($132.66 million) to boost the EU capacity to stimulate
by Walter J. Palmer (Ashgate) While international negotiations to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have been less than satisfactory, there is a presumption that a significant level of multi-lateral commitment will be realized at some point. International air and marine travel
by Susan Strongman (New Zealand Herald) In what is claimed to be a world first, from today Aucklanders can top up their cars with Brewtroleum. Kiwis can now use a beer byproduct to fill their cars, with a new biofuel being unveiled
by Amy Bickel (Kansas Agland/The Garden City Telegram) The wheat field here is shaved down to a schoolboy’s haircut, but Courtney Wilson’s harvest is just beginning. “I sometimes feel like a door-to-door salesman,” the man admitted as he stood in a field
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Brussels, International Renewable Energy Agency released three reports today for Fiji, the Marshall Islands and Vanuatu, concluding that a combination of solar, wind, geothermal, marine, biomass and biofuel could meet domestic energy needs while
by Richard Martin (MIT Technology Review) New microbes and new techniques show promise for advanced biofuels, but the industry is still years away from real progress. Attempting to chart a path forward for the beleaguered biofuels industry, a group of researchers
by Jose Graziano da Silva (United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization/Project Syndicate) ... But this is a false dichotomy. The choice cannot be between food and fuel. We can make good use of both. Given the right conditions, biofuels can be an effective means
(Green Car Congress) A study by researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Michigan State University colleague has concluded that even with a relatively high rate of electrification of the US light-duty fleet (40% of vehicle miles traveled and
by Marcia McNutt (Science Magazine) ... 2°C above the preindustrial level. This is a target viewed as the boundary between climate warming to which we can perhaps adapt and more extreme warming that will be very disruptive to society and the ecosystems
by Nichola Groom (Reuters) Fifteen years ago, California led the way to cleaner transit buses with strict tailpipe emissions standards that effectively ushered out diesel as the primary fuel for buses in the state and replaced it with natural gas. Now,
By Charlie Bartlett (Seatrade Maritime News) MAN Diesel & Turbo has run successful tests of a new liquid-gas-injection engine, the ME-LGI, set for installation on a newbuild Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) methanol carrier series. Taking place at MAN’s Tamano facility near Okayama,
by Stephen Edelstein (Green Car Reports) ... Green Car Reports contributor and electric-motorcycle roadtripper Ben Rich encountered an unusual vehicle on U.S. Route 12 Sunday, while bypassing New Orleans on a cross-country ride. He wrote us to ask about the identity of the
by Julie Harker (Brownfield Ag News) Missouri Governor Jay Nixon tells Brownfield everyone needs to step back and look at 2003 when gas prices were going up and foreign countries were dictating to the U.S. how much people were paying
(SciDev.net) At least 500 million hectares are available for growing biofuel crops; This is after considering rising food demand and growing urbanisation; Only up to 200 million hectares would be needed to slash fossil fuel use Converting grazing land into fields to grow
by Scott Gordon (University of Wisconsin-Madison) A team of investigators at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Michigan State University have created a process for making the work environment less toxic—literally—for the organisms that do the heavy lifting in the increasingly
by Becky Kramer (The Spokesman-Review) ... A $40 million research project, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is studying poplars’ potential to produce cellulose-based biofuels. The grove north of Hayden is one of four test plots in the five-year project, which
by Robert Wright (ePURE/EurActiv) As the debate kicks off on transport within Europe’s 2030 climate and energy framework, policymakers and industry must not lose sight of the challenges, says Robert Wright (secretary general of the European Renewable Ethanol Association (ePURE)). Today,
by Megan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, nearly half of the US Senate has written to the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Energy and the EPA administrator strongly urging the agencies to streamline support of biomass for energy across all
by Jack Busby (ChemistryWorld/Scientific American) Plants on arid land, rather than food crops like corn, could be turned into gasoline, new research shows New analysis from UK researchers suggests a previously overlooked group of plants could be key to providing sustainable bioenergy
(CNBC/Reuters) Livestock feed will surpass biofuels as the main source of growth in global grain consumption in the next 10 years as emerging countries consume more animal protein while lower oil prices and policy changes end a decade of high
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In California, AltAir Fuels will begin regularly scheduled deliveries of sustainable biojet fuel to United Airlines LAX operations this year, the airline announced today. AltAir’s Paramount, California-based refinery converts sustainable feedstocks, like non-edible natural oils and
(Thompson Reuters) An Oklahoma woman who was injured when an earthquake rocked her home in 2011 can sue oil companies for damages, the state's highest court ruled on Tuesday, opening the door to other potential lawsuits against the state's energy
by Ron Kotrba (Biomass Magazine) The Golden State has borderline personality disorder regarding promotion and discouragement of dairy biogas projects. -- California is by far the No. 1 dairy state in the U.S. with roughly 1.8 million head, concentrated mostly
(Ensyn) Ensyn Fuels Inc. (“Ensyn Fuels”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ensyn Corporation (“Ensyn”), has signed a contract with Youngstown Thermal LLC (“Youngstown Thermal”) for the supply of RFO™, Ensyn’s advanced cellulosic biofuel. Ensyn Fuels is to provide Youngstown Thermal up
by Dr. Valerie Sarisky-Reed (US Department of Energy) For the past seven years, All-American football player and Iowa farmer Bruce Nelson has been using corn stover—the non-edible corn stalks, husks, and leaves of a corn plant—to generate extra income at his
by Mike Bryan (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Many so-called "experts" fail to account for the contributions of ethanol or, in many cases, simply ignore those contributions in order to make their point, writes Mike Bryan. I guess ignoring can be as
(MalayMailOnline) — Sometime this summer, a United Airlines flight will take off from Los Angeles International Airport bound for San Francisco using fuel generated from farm waste and oils derived from animal fats. For passengers, little will be different —
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) The Urban Air Initiative (UAI) has released a study that finds ethanol free gasoline blends actually increase the wear and tear on engines including hoses, seals and fuel tanks. In other words, the data supports ethanol
(Bullfrog Power) TD Bank Group and Beck Taxi lead the way as early adopters of Bullfrog Power’s green fuel Today (June 26, 2015), Bullfrog Power®, Canada’s leading green energy provider, is launching green fuel, a new solution to help advance the
(Global Rail News) Swedish operator Inlandsbanan AB has said it hopes to convert its entire fleet of passenger and freight vehicles to bio-diesel by 2020. Inlandsbanan AB has received funding from the EU to assess the feasibility of converting its diesel
(United Airlines/PR Newswire) Airline has opportunity to purchase at least 90 million gallons of sustainable aviation biofuel a year -- Single largest investment by a U.S. airline in alternative fuels United Airlines today announced an historic $30 million equity investment in U.S.-based
(EnAlgae) EnAlgae researchers have published an economic model to help to explore the economics of cultivating macroalgae at sea. The model and report can be found here as outputs WP2A7.06 and WP2A7.11. Both documents together are a study into the
by Anna Simet (Biomass Magazine) After a House vote of 44-9, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has signed a bill that exempts biomass-derived carbon dioxide emissions from regulation under certain air pollution laws. The bill defines biomass as nonfossilized and biodegradable organic
by Geoff Cooper (Renewable Fuels Association/The Hill) Sofie E. Miller may have left the Charles Koch Institute in 2012, but she clearly continues to do the bidding of her former employer and the rest of the oil industry (“RFS hurts
by Kelli Fulkerson (Ethanol Producer Magazine/National Sorghum Producers) Producers work to expand markets for sorghum distillers and oil. While exports are undeniably the hottest market for grain sorghum right now with China set to buy over 70 percent of the 2014-’15
by Janna Farley (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Deforestation and pollution have distressed the country’s environment and beauty. The chronic effects of disease, economic instability and social unrest, coupled with the infrastructure devastation from the 2010 earthquake, have positioned Haiti among the
(Amyris) Confirms Outstanding Performance and Environmental Benefits of Amyris’s Renewable Diesel Under Real-World Driving Conditions Amyris, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMRS), the industrial bioscience company, today announced the successful completion of a diesel demonstration program with Volkswagen of America, Inc. that was designed to
by Maija Sihvonen* (Advanced Biofuels USA) The 23rd European Biomass Conference and Exhibition (EUBCE) held in Vienna 1-4 June was a massive event with nearly 1300 participants from 76 countries and some 800 presentations. The event consisted of multiple parallel
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Brussels, a new interactive website “www.BiofuelsforEurope.eu” launched today in the European Parliament to summarize the latest science on key biofuels issues using fact-based, understandable information. BP, Novozymes, Scania and Shell have sponsored the initiative in the
by Maria Gallucci (International Businesss Times) ... A new study funded by the U.S. Department of Energy found crude extracted from Canada’s oil sands region leads to greenhouse gas emissions that are 20 percent higher on average than emissions from conventionally
(Algae Industry Magazine) Two research papers recently published by EnAlgae scientists point to real potential advantages in using algae as a feed ingredient and as a wastewater treatment, but only with further improvements in algal technology. ... The first paper is an
by Jesse Daystar, Carter Reeb, Ronalds Gonzalez, Richard Venditti, Stephen S. Kelley (Science Direct) Highlights •Cradle-to-grave environmental impacts of biofuels from five major feedstocks in the Southern U.S. •Thermochemical conversion pathway studied for ethanol production •Global warming impacts, eutrophication, acidification, and other impacts studied •95% reduction
by Roseline Okere (The Guardian (Nigeria)) The International Energy Agency (IEA) has projected that increasing investment in renewable energy technologies in the power sector will increase from $270 billion in 2015 to $400 billion in 2030. ... It stated that lower oil prices
by Jessica Tempfer (StGeorgeUtah.com) Biodiesel fuel could soon be supporting Southern Utah’s economy and would also help sustain cleaner air and a healthier environment. Such is the goal of Anderwood Ventures, a company working toward economic growth in Southern Utah through alternative fuel
by Steve Wilhelm (Puget Sound Business Journal) John Creighton wants Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to be the first in North America to offer biofuels fuels to all airlines. He and other members of the Seattle Port Commission are working to create financial
by Bill Brandon (Leaders in Energy) ... This two-part White Paper presents the proposition that we need to transition away from the legacy fuels we use today to modern liquid and gas fuels[1] that: 1) reduce or eliminate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
by Bill Brandon (Leaders in Energy) Our country has seen many transitions in travel technologies and fuels. In the first installment I reviewed our transition from 1) barley and oats for our horses and mules to high carbohydrate corn for
(Associated Press/Fox Business) The growth of renewable energy outpaced that of fossil fuels in the electricity sector last year, with a record 135 gigawatts of capacity added from wind, solar, hydropower and other natural sources, a new study shows. That's more than
by Tim Sandal (Digital Journal) One subject sure to divide opinion is biofuel. Are they a a sustainable energy supply or a product harmful to the environment? Swiss Federal Laboratories have developed a new way to answer this question. ... To help
by Jude Clemente (Forbes) ... To be a viable alternative for petroleum, a biofuel should provide a net energy gain, offer clear environmental and economic benefits, and not reduce food supplies and/or increase their costs. ... A vital concept when considering alternatives to
by Anilesh S Mahajan (Business Today) Shell Global's Harry Brekelmans is very optimistic about the India story. Brekelmans sits on the board of the Executive Committee of Royal Dutch Shell PLC and is the director in-charge of projects & technology. He,
(AZO CleanTech) Using switchgrass to produce biofuel is one way to decrease the United States’ dependence on oil, but growing it and making it profitable can be complicated. Switchgrass is an excellent candidate for biofuel production. It is an adaptable plant
by Militsa Mancheva (SeeNews Renewables) Under the latest stage of its ecoDemonstrator 757 programme, US aerospace group Boeing Co (NYSE:BA) successfully completed on June 17 the first flight with a fuel blend containing US-made green diesel. The 757 flew from Seattle to
by Susanna Twidale and Barbara Lewis (Reuters) * Renewable energy to account for 15.3 percent in 2014 * France, Malta, Belgium and Spain also need to boost efforts * Transport challenge proving difficult (Adds reaction, detail on transport sector) The European
(ePURE) On the occasion of its annual general assembly, the European renewable ethanol association (ePURE) has today released its annual 2015 State of the Industry Report. The annual report offers a comprehensive look at the European ethanol industry, its market and policy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Six projects land major multi-year awards for Project TERRA, Tramsportation Energy Resources from Renewable Agriculture In Washington, ARPA-E announced awards totaling $30 million for projects seeking to accelerate the development of sustainable energy crops for the
by Devin Henry (The Hill) Global warming is happening, human activity is causing it and more needs to be done, especially by the world’s governments and policymakers, to stop it, Pope Francis writes in his landmark encyclical on the environment,
by Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuels USA) The following are key excerpts from Pope Francis' Encyclical, “Laudato Si,” or “Praised Be,” in which he calls for renewable fuel use, energy efficiency, transition from harmful, smoky cooking fuels that foster deforestation, and other
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The USDA has announced its intent to prepare a programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS) to assess the potential environmental consequences associated with proposed discretionary changes to the Biomass Crop Assistance Program. A public comment
(US Department of Agriculture/Ohio State University) The long term goal of this project is to commercialize an integrated anaerobic digestion system (iADs) that promises cost competitive bioenergy and biofuels production from lignocellulosic biomass. The specific objectives of this proposal are
(US Department of Agriculture) 2014 Farm Bill provisions will expand opportunities in the biobased sector by promoting advanced biofuels, renewable chemicals, and biobased product manufacturing efforts Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the release of a new report that shows the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) HOSPRO is dedicated to battle the 95+% import of petroleum for energy and electricity generation by promoting the development of tree based oil seed crops. We are focusing on oil palm a proven producer in
(Department of Energy/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory/ECNMag.com) While biofuels have proven to be an effective, renewable, low-carbon alternative to gasoline and diesel, jet fuels pose unique challenges. These challenges have now been met with a new technique developed by researchers at
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. EPA’s Science Advisory Board has announced the SAB Biogenic Carbon Emissions Panel will hold three teleconferences over the next several months to review the EPA’s biogenic carbon emissions framework. The agency held
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and the Governors' Biofuels Coalition held a briefing examining the current state and potential future of the transportation fuel supply. While combustion engines are more efficient and cleaner
by Valerie Volcovici (Planet Ark) Agency announces an Aug. 11 hearing, a 60-day window for the public to weigh in -- The Obama administration on Wednesday released a scientific finding that greenhouse gases from aircraft pose a risk to human health,
by Bill Brandon and Richard Ezike (Biofuels Digest) The debate touting butanol over ethanol as a ‘better’ fuel component has gone on for quite some time in biofuel circles. Those who support butanol point to three key factors: • Butanol has
by Kurt A. Rosentrater (Ethanol Producer Magazine/Distillers Grains Technology Counci) ... At the recent Distillers Grains Technology Council’s 19th Distillers Grains Symposium in Kansas City, the latest and greatest issues to impact distillers grains production and use, and thus the fuel
by Anna Yukhananov (Reuters) Governments around the world charge prices for energy that do not account for its harmful environmental, health and other side effects, amounting to a $5.3 trillion "post-tax" subsidy this year, the International Monetary Fund said in a
by Scott Miller (Clemson University) A new public-private partnership led by Clemson University and a worldwide biomass and bioenergy producer will research the use of crops that can both open new markets for South Carolina landowners and support the growing
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Sweden, St1 Biofuels Oy delivered its first Etanolix plant to North European Bio Tech Oy (NEB) in Gothenburg, which recycles feedstocks such as biowaste and process residue from local bakeries and bread from shops
by Barry Blitsteihn (Chronicle Herald) A corn field is harvested near Coy, Ark. in 2012. Three years later, “corn prices are in the basement, yet ethanol production is off the charts, so how can you blame ethanol for food shortages?,”
(California Air Resources Board) At its July 2015 hearing, the California Air Resources Board (Board) will consider the re-adoption of the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). Among the staff proposals the Board will be considering is the adoption of
(Algae Industry Magazine) There are around 4500 dairy farms in Victoria, Australia, according to Business Victoria. Together they produced about 86 per cent of Australia’s dairy product exports, worth almost $2 billion, in 2011-12. The wastewater generated from daily cleaning is
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... DRI is the environmental research branch of the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE). We are involved in evaluating environmental concerns and consequences of biomass/biofuel systems, from cradle to grave. In addition, we apply analytical
(Diesel Technology Forum) Public funding provided over many years to incentivize the purchase of alternatives to diesel for heavy-duty trucks has barely made a small dent in introducing these alternatives into the vehicle population. Yet one alternative fuel is making
by Brian West (Oak Ridge National Laboratory/AmazonAWS.com) Presentation for Hudson Institute Conference, "Fueling American Growth" May 7, 2015 READ MORE and MORE (SAE)
by Geoff Cooper (Des Moines Register) Letter to Editor: The Environmental Working Group’s claim that ethanol is worse for the climate than the Keystone pipeline is like saying apple juice is worse for the human body than arsenic. The Department of Energy’s
by Chuck Grassley (The Iowa Republican) ... Consumers like biofuels. The idea of a homegrown product that reduces emissions harmful to the environment and brings the United States freedom from volatile oil-producing countries is appealing. The EPA should know this. Instead, the
(Roundtable for Sustainable Biomaterials) The Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) concluded their Annual General Assembly three-day program with a strong endorsement from participants for the RSB as the most comprehensive standard on biofuels and biomaterials and a range of new ideas
by Sarah Shemkus (The Guardian) Colorado-based startup Cool Planet says it has created a fuel that mixes seamlessly with gasoline and actually removes carbon from the atmosphere The entrepreneurs and innovators at Colorado-based Cool Planet are betting that a word you’ve probably
(National Oil Heat Research Alliance) Pursuant to Public Law 113-79 (the Agricultural Act of 2014), Congress required NORA to prepare a report on the utilization rate and analysis of the use of biofuels in Oilheating equipment. The report titled, “Developing a
by Greg Norman (Mongabay.com) ... Cross River State, a coastal jurisdiction in southeastern Nigeria, still bears the marks of the country's agricultural heritage when it was the world's largest palm oil producer. That lasted until the late 1960s, when Malaysia and Indonesia
by Valerie Volcovici (Planet Ark/Reuters) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency plans as soon as Friday to determine whether carbon dioxide from aircraft endangers public health, a first step to regulating emissions from the aviation sector, sources familiar with the rulemaking
(The American Society of Agronomy/Biodiesel Magazine) In the U.S., federal mandates to produce more renewable fuels, especially biofuels, have led to a growing debate: Should fuel or food grow on arable land? Recent research shows farmers can successfully, and sustainably,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Portrait of a breakout: Amyris, Cosan JV launches “next generation of revolutionary oils” touting “unmatched value” and “unbeatable economics” ... Novvi’s 100 percent renewable PAO is a clean, direct replacement for conventional Group IV PAO base oils
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In California, Propel Fuels has published E85: A California Success Story, a white paper and associated website illustrating California’s emergence as the national leader in the use of sustainable E85 Flex Fuel. Developed by the
by Andrea Hogan (Australian Food News) Tasmanian researchers at the CSIRO’s National Algae Culture Collection facility in Hobart believe they are getting close to developing a Omega 3 supplement that does not come from fish. Dr Susan Blackburn of the National Algae
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) A recent U.S. Department of Energy webinar included preview of the 2016 U.S. Billion-Ton Study update, which is currently scheduled for release in June 2016. The event, titled “A Changing Market for Biofuels and Bioproducts,”
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Consumer-driven changes peck their way up the food chain to distillers grains producers. ... The move to minimize or eliminate nontherapeutic use of antibiotics in meat production is a response to the increasing
by Ben Geman (National Journal) Natural-gas profits have Shell and BP, among others, calling for increased use of carbon-emissions fees ahead of a make-or-break climate summit in Paris. Six oil and gas giants based in Europe have delivered an unusual joint
by Joby Warrick (The Washington Post) ... Soaring demand for this woody fuel has led to the construction of more than two dozen pellet factories in the Southeast in the past decade, along with special port facilities in Virginia and Georgia
(Task 39 Newsletter) General introduction - A fossil free energy supply by 2050 -- In 2012, the Danish parliament decided on a new climate act, which calls for an energy supply totally free of fossil fuels by 2050. This goal
(Shift the Subsidies, Natural Resources Defense Council, Oil Change International, and World Wide Fund for Nature) Over the last eight years, as the scope of the climate crisis has deepened, nations of the world and particularly of the G20 and G7,
(ECN Magazine/Argonne National Laboratory) The handling of agricultural crop residues appears to have a large impact on soil's ability to retain carbon, making land management practices increasingly important, especially under a scenario where cellulosic materials become more heavily used as
(Project Gaia) Members of Project Gaia attended the UN Sustainable Energy for All Forum (SE4All) in New York City from May 18 through May 21. The forum brought together NGOs, government officials, business persons, and investors in its initiative to address the
(Project Gaia) Babington Technology announced today its donation of almost $100,000 worth of especially adapted field feeding equipment to Project Gaia, Inc. for testing in refugee camp and urban commercial and institutional settings in Ethiopia. For over 25 years, Babington
(Elsevier) Elsevier, a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services, has announced its first Green and Sustainable Chemistry Challenge. As the world's population quickly approaches 9 billion, the strain on the planet's resources is steadily increasing
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) regrets that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in releasing renewable fuel volumes for 2014, 2015 and 2016, artificially caps renewable fuels at under 10 percent of the U.S.
by Kelly Taylor (Chronicle Herald) ... Still, ethanol does have some advantages, including lower net greenhouse gas emissions due to its recycling of carbon-dioxide emitted by today’s plants (or factories), as opposed to oil, which is releasing the CO2 of plants
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