Comments from Advanced Biofuels USA to the Maryland Commission on Climate Change Mitigation Working Group

September 17, 2019

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by Joanne Ivancic* (Advanced Biofuels USA) As the Maryland Commission on Climate Change and its Mitigation Work Group continue to look at mitigating the effects of climate change, they should look forward using a recent International Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) study and others which find that biofuels are necessary to keep climate change under control.[1] And, they should look backward at the results from California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard which show that in the short term biofuels (Biobased diesel and ethanol that meet California’s carbon intensity standards) have been vastly more successful at reducing carbon emissions than electrified transportation.

Diesel Technology Forum[2]

From these two respected sources it is clear that, biofuels and renewable fuels –fuels or power that meet set carbon intensity standards—must be included in Maryland’s climate change mitigation plans. Maryland is not leading the parade, but it sure must start marching in the parade, full force; not just half----way.

We can start with two items: fleets and infrastructure.

Fleets

Advanced Biofuels USA has published a practical guide for fleet managers to defossilize for the short term.[3] They don’t have to wait for electrically powered vehicles, trucks and equipment to be affordable, available, powered by renewable electricity with components that are all “fair trade” including batteries made with rare earth metals.

Infrastructure (Pumps)

And, with priority given to low income and high pollution areas so that the vehicles being used now can operate as “greenly” as possible, grants or other incentives to put pumps in those areas should be made to provide cleaner less expensive high renewable fuels.

You will find more background and specifics on these suggestions on the Advanced Biofuels USA website, www.AdvancedBiofuelsUSA.org.

Some local examples to follow:

Follow the example of the award-winning DC Department of Public Works and its biodiesel and E85 programs, which reduced petroleum use by 118,000 gallons, and its light-duty fleet, which consumed more than 283,000 gallons of E85 last year;[4] and
encourage companies like Royal Farms and W Express to expand their renewable fuel offerings.[5]

There is only one place west of the Monocacy River in Maryland that has E85. That’s ridiculous. Sheetz offers E15 and E85 all over Pennsylvania.[6] Why are Maryland drivers not getting the same choices? Why are we forced to use high levels of petroleum fuel?

Aviation and Long-Haul Shipping

I want to make one more point about aviation and long-haul shipping on land and sea.

Maryland has a major international airport and many smaller ones. It has Baltimore’s port for sea-going vessels, Chesapeake Bay barge traffic, major highways that carry MANY long-haul trucks as well as an important railroad system for freight and passenger and commuter traffic.

All of these need cleaner renewable fuels. And they won’t be electrified for a long time. Maryland has to plan how they are going to meet these needs as soon as possible. And that means taking a more serious look at sustainable renewable liquid fuels.

Think beyond corn ethanol.

Think of making fuels from municipal solid waste,[7] as a way to recycle plastic,[8] perhaps with technology from a Baltimore-based company such as ThermoChem Recovery International[9] or as part of waste water treatment [10]—work already being done on this at UMD[11]. There are many options that have multiple social benefits.

Contact Advanced Biofuels USA for Details

You can also find information about these options and about measuring carbon intensity and on the benefits beyond just carbon emissions, from renewable transportation fuels on our website, www.AdvancedBiofuelsUSA.org . Or give me a call and I’d be happy to provide more details. 301-644-1395

[1] Meghan Sapp, “IPCC Report Says Biofuel Necessary to Keep Climate Change under Control,” Biofuels Digest posted with related links: https://advancedbiofuelsusa.info/ipcc-report-says-biofuel-necessary-to-keep-climate-change-under-control/

[2] Diesel Technology Forum, “GUESS WHAT TECHNOLOGY IS ELIMINATING THE MOST CO2?” graphic based on information from California Energy Commission. https://advancedbiofuelsusa.info/carb-touts-success-of-californias-clean-fuels-rule/

[3] Joanne Ivancic, “How to De-Fossilize Your Fleet: Suggestions for Fleet Managers Working on Sustainability Programs,” Advanced Biofuels USA https://advancedbiofuelsusa.info/how-to-de-fossilize-your-fleet/ and PDF: How to defossilize your fleet: Suggestions for Fleet Managers v4.1a

[4] Betsy Lillian, “Clean Transportation Leaders Honored in DC/Maryland/Virginia Region,” NGT News. https://advancedbiofuelsusa.info/clean-transportation-leaders-honored-in-dc-maryland-virginia-region/

[5] Royal Farms/Protec Fuel, “Royal Farms Celebrates Sustainability Initiative with Opening of Latest Renewable Fuel Station” https://advancedbiofuelsusa.info/royal-farms-celebrates-sustainability-initiative-with-opening-of-latest-renewable-fuel-station/

[6] https://e85prices.com/; https://e85prices.com/pennsylvania.html; https://e85prices.com/maryland.html

[7] https://advancedbiofuelsusa.info/tag/msw-municipal-solid-waste/

[8] https://advancedbiofuelsusa.info/tag/recycled-plastics/

[9] https://www.tri-inc.net/

[10] https://advancedbiofuelsusa.info/tag/waste-water/

[11] Samantha Watters, “Double Helping: Maryland Researcher Featured in New Big Ten Network Video Creates Clean Energy While Cleaning Bay,” Maryland Today. https://advancedbiofuelsusa.info/double-helping-maryland-researcher-featured-in-new-big-ten-network-video-creates-clean-energy-while-cleaning-bay/

*Joanne Ivancic serves as the executive director of Advanced Biofuels USA.

PDF: 19 0917 Mitigation Working Group comments and suggestions

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Comments from Advanced Biofuels USA to the Maryland Commission on Climate Change Mitigation Working Group

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