by Dr. Robert Wisner, Biofuels Economist, Ag Marketing Resource Center, Iowa State University The Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007 (1) requires a gradual increase in the volume of various kinds of biofuels to be blended with U.S. motor
In Washington, National Biodiesel Board public affairs heard Manning Feraci said that the EISA Act required the EPA to conduct a lifecycle analysis of biofuels as part of the Renewable Fuel Standard’s implementation, but said that “This does not require
Large uncertainties in calculating international land use change effects and associated greenhouse gas emissions remain in the Environmental Protection Agency's life cycle assessment of biofuels for the Renewable Fuel Standard. The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) today asked EPA to maintain
The government is not serious in supporting the development of biofuel as an alternative energy source in the country, a biofuel researcher said. "There is no point in developing biofuels such as bioethanol and biodiesel if the effort is not
by Bas Vlugt. 'The Sustainer is a containerised installation which can be used in rural areas to convert oil-bearing crops and seeds into edible oil and biodiesel. The seeds are stored in an integrated bunker which feeds the oil press.
by Dan Looker. Talking to reporters, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) said he doubts that the final rule from the Environmental Protection Agency on a new renewable fuel standard will have the same use of indirect land use that
Speaker Nancy Pelosi met the House Agriculture Committee chairman Collin Peterson to discuss the climate change bill that he opposes but which is a priority for House Democrats this year. ... Peterson announced opposition to the climate bill a month ago
Every spring, the US Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's Biomass Program hosts a FREE 2-day conference and expo exploring biomass as an energy source. The Biomass Program works with industry, academia and national laboratory partners
The Public-Private Alliance Foundation (PPAF) held its Third Annual "Partners Against Poverty" event at the UN with 45 high-level participants and observers representing five countries (Brazil, Dominican Republic, USA, Honduras and Haiti) to discuss business innovations in the development and production of
By Kieran Gartlan (DTN): The transformation began last year when a controversial study was published in Science Magazine by environmentalist Tim Searchinger. It introduced the innocuous four-letter acronym ILUC, or Indirect Land Use Change. According to ILUC theory, corn used for
In Africa, Business Week and VUE Weekly are reporting on the rise of neocolonialism as massive land grans are undertaken by Saudi Arabia, China the United Arab Emirates, as well as European interests. The goal is food and energy security
The seeds of a lowly weed could cut jet fuel's cradle-to-grave carbon emissions by 84 percent. David Shonnard, Robbins Chair Professor of Chemical Engineering, conducted an analysis of jet fuel made from camelina oil to measure its carbon dioxide emissions
Farming Biodiesel, Inc., a sustainable, social Jatropha farming organization, in association with New Eye Productions and Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), announces they will be featured in the upcoming television series titled Worldview Program. Breaking ground since 2007, Desert Center, California
By Kathleen Kite-Powell ----- Outside of the North America, the range of progress toward the use of ethanol-fueled vehicles is quite broad, from countries that only use conventional petroleum-based gasoline-powered vehicles to countries attempting to convert to 100 percent ethanol
Biomass resources meet about 99.5% of the Liberian population's energy needs so they are vital to basic welfare and economic activity. Already, traditional biomass products like firewood and charcoal are the primary energy source used for domestic cooking and heating.
Advanced Biofuels USA urges EPA, along with Congress and an engaged and informed public to carefully craft greenhouse gas emissions regulations and legislation with an eye to the following principles: Greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, regardless of source, should be assessed
Comments by Robert Kozak, Advanced Biofuels USA board member: With EPA's release of proposed rules for the 2010 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2), the focus of today's (May 6, 2009) hearing will undoubtedly be the role of indirect land use in
The EPA published proposed revised statutory requirements which establish new specific volume standards for cellulosic biofuel, biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel that must be used in transportation fuel each year. The revised statutory requirements also include new
Part 1: Global Palm Oil Demand Fueling Deforestation The benefits of the oil palm are difficult for Indonesia to ignore. Once planted, the tropical tree can produce fruit for more than 30 years, providing much-needed employment for poor rural communities. And
With virtually all of the biofuels currently produced in the United States sourced from either soybeans or corn, there is significant interest in developing a diverse array of biomass feedstocks that will not compete for food resources. Dedicated energy crops
"Following California's recent decision to use flawed models to estimate ethanol's environmental impact, I am concerned that the EPA could soon apply similar standards that will handicap renewable fuel relative to regular gasoline," said Thune. "Congress has asked EPA to
... Boston Consulting Group found that the total cost of ownership of existing hybrids and advanced internal combustion engine cars is more attractive than that of electric cars as long as oil prices are below $280 a barrel. Oil is
(Green Transport and Energy) … But the problems of degradation and soil erosion by intensive monocultures must also be taken into account. To solve these issues, in the last few decades researchers have studied the advantage of wild tall prairie grasses,
TORONTO – April 1, 2009 – A new report commissioned by the IEA Bioenergy (IEA) underscores the importance of ethanol in global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles. f1The extensive research paper commissioned by the IEA Bioenergy Task
(Clean Energy Asia) The purpose of this report is to provide an objective and comprehensive regional analysis summarizing the benefits and risks of biofuels development in Asia, and examining the istribution and use of biofuels through the lens of global
by Peter Halling (Novozymes, Inc.) He talked about an industry perspective, from the point of view of Novozymes, a company that actively pursues sustainability in its business practices. Novozymes is the world leader in industrial enzymes and microorganisms with 700 products used
by Jeffrey Steiner (Agricultural Research Services, USDA). In this talk he points out the importance of rural landscapes and ecosystem services. · The success of the supply chain depends on productive, profitable, and good resource stewardship perspectives · Considering sustainability
by Mark Jacobs (Meridian Institute). He represented the Council on Sustainable Biomass Production (CSBP). CSBP is developing the standards to indicate sustainability issues through principles, criteria, and indicators. These address the climate change, biological diversity and productivity, water quality and
by moderator Dr. Virginia H. Dale (Environmental Sciences Division at Oak Ridge National Lab.) who emphasized the components that make up sustainability. · The challenge is to find “bioenergy options that facilitate smooth interactions of the components of bioenergy sustainability.” ·
Barbara Bramble (National Wildlife Federation), in her talk, emphasized the importance of sustainable biofuels and developing strategies to reduce GHG emissions through the energy security, stabilization of commodity prices, and promotion of rural development. But the problem is that biofuels can’t do
by Peter Halling (Novozymes, Inc.) He talked about an industry perspective, from the point of view of Novozymes, a company that actively pursues sustainability in its business practices. Novozymes is the world leader in industrial enzymes and microorganisms with 700
by Jeffrey Steiner (Agricultural Research Services, USDA). In this talk he points out the importance of rural landscapes and ecosystem services. · The success of the supply chain depends on productive, profitable, and good resource stewardship perspectives · Considering sustainability
by Mark Jacobs (Meridian Institute). He represented the Council on Sustainable Biomass Production (CSBP). CSBP is developing the standards to indicate sustainability issues through principles, criteria, and indicators. These address the climate change, biological diversity and productivity, water quality and
Peter Halliing, Novozymes, discussed the value of using enzymes and microbes in production of advanced biofuels to increase efficiency and yield--to produce more with less. From the "Devining Sustainability: Science, Standards and Scorecards" session of the US Department of Energy's
Virginia Dale and Keith Kline, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, discuss the elements of sustainability from a environmental, economic and social perspectives. Download PDF
Barbara J. Bramble, National Wildlife Federation, described this international multi-stakeholder initiative to develop principles and criteria for sustainable biofuels production that will be simple, accessible and implemented worldwide; generic to all crops; adaptable to new information; efficient and cheap to measure; and
Jeffrey Steiner, USDA, Agricultural Research Service, describes the current circumstances of developing criteria and indicators for sustainable biofuels production as comparable to building a plane and flying at the same time. He is optimistic that today's challenge can be met just
Leila Harfuch, Brazilian Institute for International Trade Negotiations, presents studies of land use patterns and changes in Brazil with attention to pasture, rain forest, sugar cane and other crop cultivation. From the "Devining Sustainability: Science, Standards, and Scorecards" session of
M. Christina Negri, Argonne National Laboratory, presentation for the "Defining Sustainability: Science, Standards and Scorecards" session of the US Department of Energy's Biomass 2009 conference. The goal of the project is to develop and analyze system-based resource recovery strategies to
Barbara Stinson, Meridian Institute, explains the creation of and purpose of a Council on Sustainable Biomass Production. From the Defining Sustainability: Science, Standards adn Scorecards session of the US Department of Energy's Biomass 2009 conference. Download PDF
Zia Haq, US Department of Energy's Office of the Biomass Program, describes DOE's programs with regard to sustainable biofuels development and implementation. From the plenary session of DOE's Biomass 2009 conference. Download PDF
Richard Hamilton, Ceres, discusses indirect land use change theories and development of improved energy crops and cultivation around the world. Download PDF
Carbon accounting will play an important role in comparison of greenhouse gas emissions related to various transportation fuels. The federal Renewable Fuel Standard requires lifecycle GHG emissions analyses of biofuels as compared to those for gasoline and diesel. Click here for
Research shows that, as a fuel for heat and power applications, corn stover reduces the life-cycle fossil-fuel emissions of carbon dioxide by factors of approximately 15 and 25 compared to natural gas and coal, respectively. This means significant amounts of
by Kristina J. Anderson-Teixeira, Sarah C. Davis, Michael D. Masters and Evan H. Delucia (Global Change Biology Bioenergy) One potentially significant impact of growing biofuel crops will be the sequestration or release of carbon (C) in soil. Soil organic carbon (SOC)
An in-depth study by Sandia National Laboratories and General Motors Corp. has found that plant and forestry waste and dedicated energy crops could sustainably replace nearly a third of gasoline use by the year 2030. The goal of the 90-Billion
At the University of Nottingham, two of six research projects being run by the national £27m BBSRC Sustainable Bioenergy Centre hope to lead the way in the development of sustainable bioenergy fuels — Ethanol and Butanol using non-food crops, such
You have heard the hype, the hope, the promise that electric cars are our hope for a clean, low-carbon, sustainable transportation future. CLICK HERE to see a brief comparison of sustainability of near-term plug-in hybrid technology, Prius hybrid technology and current
”Listening, watching and reading the international media's reporting on the Detroit car show, you could be forgiven for thinking that we will soon all be zipping around noiselessly in environmentally neutral electric cars.” Neil Winton of the Detroit News discusses
A Michigan State University study finds that the life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions may be significantly less than other studies have indicated. The researchers found that the carbon “pay back” time – the theoretical amount of time it takes for the
University of New Brunswick forestry professor Paul Arp has devised a tool that shows how removing the forestry sector's leftovers - the biomass - will affect how much wood the Crown forests produce sustainably by looking at the soil, water
Two German scientists investigated the feasibility of replacing fossil fuels with biomass as the primary energy supply. Their paper, published in the journal Naturwissenschaften, posited a scenario in which degraded lands were planted with fast growing trees, which were then
A new working paper from Duke University finds that in the absence of a price signal for CO2, regular hybrids can lower lifecycle carbon dioxide emissions as effectively as plug-in hybrids, and at a considerably lower cost. READ MORE. [View
by Dallas Hanks and Ralph Whitesides (Utah State University) ... Nearly all highway, airport, railway and military areas in the United States have fallow agronomic areas that require regular maintenance to keep them from becoming unsightly and unsafe. In addition
by Fred Pearce (New Scientist) Biofuels have received another environmental black mark. A survey commissioned by the UK government found that over 4 litres in every 5 supplied at British pumps fail to meet basic industry standards for sustainable production. Manufacturers
by Ron Pate (Sandia National Laboratories) This presentation explores the demands of water on renewable energy development, including biofuels. READ MORE
Virginia Dale and colleagues (Oak Ridge National Laboratory) from Stewardship sesssion at Biomass 2008 conference. Bioenergy feedstock choices. Download PDF.
by Jennifer Holmgren (UOP) This March 2008 presentation reviews biomass-based manufacturing technologies and aviation fuel requirements. READ MORE
…It is difficult to argue with scientific measurements and peer review when they are discussing the first generation technologies, with little relevance of the overall shift towards renewables and greentech that is making all industry more energy efficient, improving water
by Tim Krohn (Free Press/Minnesota State University) When Bruce Jones and his colleagues began a study on how higher blends of ethanol would affect gas mileage, he expected to prove conventional wisdom true: The more ethanol added to gasoline, the
(Task Force on Renewable Alternative Fuels Final Report) The Task Force on Renewable Alternative Fuels (Chapter 540 of 2007), chaired by Secretary of Agriculture Roger Richardson and staffed by the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA), consisted of two legislative members, the
(The Auto Channel) Though worlds apart, George Washington Carver and Henry Ford shared a vision of a future in which agricultural products would be put to new uses to create products and industries. One idea both men worked on more than
by Jonathan Gressel (Plant Science) Petroleum dependency is a challenge that can potentially be partly offset by agricultural production of biofuels, while decreasing net, nonrenewable carbon dioxide output. Plants have not beendomesticated formodern biofuel production, and the quickest,most efficient, and
by Guido Reinhardt, Nils Rettenmaier, Sven Gärtner, ifeu-Institut für Energie- und Umweltforschung Heidelberg GmbH (Chapter 2 and 4) Andreas Pastowski, Wuppertal Institut für Klima, Umwelt, Energie GmbH (Chapter 3) (WWF Germany) The study concludes that the use of tropical fallow land for planting oil
(Consortium on RuralTechnology) Biogas plants have been accepted by now in the country~as a device for improving the quality of the life of the people. They help in recycling of the cattie wastes and produce both fuel and manure from
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