Advanced BioFuels USA – Truly Sustainable Renewable Future

4 Reasons Why the World Needs Biofuels

(Neste Corporation) 1) Combating climate change ... 2) Responding to higher energy consumption ... 3) Securing energy supply ... 4) Making the most of scarce resources READ MORE

July 22, 2016 Read Full Article

Collegiate Biobased Network

(Soybiobased.org) Collegiate Biobased Network, a no-cost professional development organization. See what schools and universities are doing with biobased. The CBN’s mission is to inform college and university students about opportunities with biobased products and to connect students with biobased industry leaders

July 22, 2016 Read Full Article

Inside EPA Reports On Loss Of Green Chemistry Provision From TSCA Reform

by Lynn L. Bergeson (Bergeson & Campbell/BRAG) On July 1, 2016, Inside EPA published "Committee Jurisdiction Issues Blocked Green Chemistry From TSCA Reform," an article discussing the passage of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) law and the lack of language from

July 22, 2016 Read Full Article

GOP Platform, Which Calls Coal ‘Clean’, Would Reverse Decades of U.S. Energy and Climate Policy

by Steven Mufson (The Washington Post) The Republican Party platform adopted Monday night would bring a total about-face on U.S. energy and climate policy, declaring that the priority placed on combating climate change under President Obama “the triumph of extremism

July 21, 2016 Read Full Article

People Want GMO Food Labeled — Which Is Pretty Much All They Know about GMOs

by Chelsea Harvey (The Washington Post) After years of fierce debate involving scientists, food manufacturers, farmers and environmental groups, Congress has passed a bill that would make it mandatory to inform consumers about the GMOs — or genetically modified organisms

July 21, 2016 Read Full Article

2016 National Algal Biofuels Technology Review

(U.S. Department of Energy) Algae-based biofuels and bioproducts offer great promise in contributing to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office’s vision of a thriving and sustainable bioeconomy fueled by innovative technologies. The state of technology for producing

July 21, 2016 Read Full Article

Three Algae Companies Awarded $1 Million Each by the Energy Department

by Paul Mullen (Algae Biomass Organization) The Energy Department announced that they will be awarding 23 small businesses with $1 million each over the next two years to help the small businesses advance their concepts. Three algae companies were among

July 21, 2016 Read Full Article

Carbon Cature and Utilization Act Would Support Algae Technologies

(Algae Biomass Organization) Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and five of his Senate colleagues introduced today the Carbon Capture and Utilization Act of 2016, a bill that will provide provide tax credit support for algae and other carbon capture and

July 21, 2016 Read Full Article

Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Intelligence Pack

(Renewable Waste Intelligence) Complete the form and you will receive four 30 minute presentations PLUS audio: UTILITY CASE STUDY: BUILD, OWN AND OPERATE AD by Jim Lucas, Market Development Manager, SoCal Gas CLOSING THE LOOP: REALIZING THE VALUE OF DIGESTATE

July 21, 2016 Read Full Article

Key Considerations for E85 and Other Ethanol Blend Infrastructure

(U.S. Department of Energy) What are the key considerations when installing ethanol equipment at a fueling station? For those new to ethanol fueling, installing the necessary infrastructure may be unchartered territory. From fuel specifications to dispensing regulations, the recently updated Handbook

July 21, 2016 Read Full Article

Certifying Biofuels: Weaknesses in Recognition and Supervision of the System

(European Court of Auditors) Weaknesses in the system of certifying sustainable biofuels could undermine the basis of the EU’s 2020 targets for renewable energy in transport, according to a new report from the European Court of Auditors. Under the Renewable Energy

July 21, 2016 Read Full Article

Arkansas Midland Railroad Introduces First Ethanol Unit Train Solution for North Little Rock’s Gasoline-Blending Industry

(BusinessWire/Genesee & Wyoming Inc.) Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (G&W) (NYSE:GWR) today (July 20, 2016) announced that beginning this fall, its Arkansas Midland Railroad Company, Inc. (AKMD) subsidiary will offer the first ethanol unit train solution for the North Little

July 21, 2016 Read Full Article

Grassley Says Vilsack's Better for Ag Agenda as Secretary, not VP

by Amy Mayer (Iowa Public Radio) U.S. Agriculture Secretary and former Iowa governor Tom Vilsack may be on Hillary Clinton's short-list for a vice presidential running mate. Several national media outlets have reported that while Vilsack has not confirmed he's

July 21, 2016 Read Full Article

DOE Issues Report on Reducing Commercial Aviation GHG Emissions

by Katie Fletcher (Biomass Magazine) The U.S. DOE’s National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine recently released a report dedicated to reducing carbon dioxide emissions from commercial aviation, with the focus on large single- and twin-aisle planes that transport more

July 21, 2016 Read Full Article

Scientists Harness CO2 to Consolidate Biofuel Production Process

by Sarah Yang (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) Carbon dioxide has emerged as a new secret ingredient in the recipe for making ethanol, and that addition represents a major step forward in streamlining the biofuel production process. The innovation comes from researchers at

July 21, 2016 Read Full Article

Driving Europe’s Transition to a Low-Carbon Economy

(European Commission) The Commission today presented a package of measures to accelerate the shift to low-carbon emissions in all sectors of the economy in Europe. The global low-carbon transition is already underway and gaining momentum, following the adoption of the

July 21, 2016 Read Full Article

Energy Department Grants $2.5M for Biorefinery Waste Use, Renewable Bioproduct Study

by Kathleen Phillips (AgriLife Today) The U.S. Department of Energy has granted $2.5 million for a Texas A&M AgriLife Research study to find ways to use biorefinery waste to make new, marketable products. “In the biorefinery field, we have a saying: You

July 21, 2016 Read Full Article

Malaysian Government to Discuss B10 Implementation with Automakers

(Biofuels International) ... The Southeast Asian country’s government wanted to introduce 10% palm oil biodiesel already in June, but the decision was delayed due to “inadequate data”, reports The Sun Daily newspaper. The Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA), together with various car makers

July 21, 2016 Read Full Article

US Senate Introduces Bill to Extend Biodiesel Tax Credit, Moves towards Producers’ Credit

(Biofuels International) The US Senate has introduced a bill to extend the $1/gallon biodiesel tax credit through 2019 and to transform it from a blenders’ credit to a domestic production credit. The bill mirrors a House of Representatives legislation introduced in

July 21, 2016 Read Full Article

Forty Senators Call for Higher Biodiesel Targets in RFS

(National Biodiesel Board) Lawmakers Ask EPA to Boost Volumes in Pending Proposal -- Forty U.S. senators from across the country Thursday called on the EPA to strengthen biodiesel volumes in the pending Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) proposal. The senators emphasized that

July 21, 2016 Read Full Article

Leaf Resources (ASX: LER) Joint Venture to Develop Five Projects with World-Class Project Ceveloper Claeris, LLC

(Leaf Resources) Leaf Resources Ltd (ASX: LER, “Leaf” or “Leaf Resources”) is pleased to announce the signing of binding legal agreements with US-based project developer Claeris, LLC (“Claeris”), to establish a joint venture (JV) entity, Leaf Development, LLC (“Leaf Development”), for the purpose

July 21, 2016 Read Full Article

Fiberight Project Wins State Permits, but Controversy Still Abounds

by Madeline St. Amour (CentralMaine.com) The Department of Environmental Protection issued the permits after finding no 'credible, conflicting technical information' that merited a public hearing. The Department of Environmental Protection has issued the final permits for a first-of-its-kind waste management

July 21, 2016 Read Full Article

Biomass Feed Handling: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Idaho National Lab’s Case for innovation

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) INL’s program aims to overcome key technical barriers facing the U.S. bioenergy industry by systematically researching, characterizing, modeling, demonstrating, and harnessing the physical and chemical characteristics of the nation’s diverse agricultural residues. By finding ways

July 21, 2016 Read Full Article

Bind It or Blend It: Accelerating the Renewable Jet Fuel Market

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) We would like you to consider the proposition that alcohol-to-jet fuels, known as ATJ to the 3-letter acronym enthusiasts, deserve two RINs. and two credits under the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard. For cellulosic jet fuels,

July 21, 2016 Read Full Article

Scientists in US State of Florida Develop Military Grade Aviation Biofuel

(Renewable Energy Magazine) A team of scientists at West Palm Beach, Florida-based Alliance BioEnergy Plus Inc.’s subsidiary Ek Laboratories have developed a pathway to produce JP-8, an advanced military grade aviation biofuel. ... The team is reportedly continuing to refine its cellulose

July 21, 2016 Read Full Article

UK Policy Uncertainty Stalls £350m Teesside Biofuel Plant

by Chris Tighe (Financial Times) ... But almost as soon as it was finished, the UK cooled on biofuels, fretting about high carbon emissions, high cost and higher food prices as crops were diverted into fuel use. Instead, the shift to increasing

July 20, 2016 Read Full Article

Indiana Gets More Ethanol Blend Pumps

(Agri-News) Sixteen ethanol blender pumps soon will be available at gas stations in Allen and LaPorte counties thanks in part to funding from Indiana Corn Marketing Council. ICMC and the Indiana Office of Energy Development announced more than $331,000 will be

July 20, 2016 Read Full Article

Poll: When It Comes to Ethanol, U.S. Drivers Don't Really Care

by Chris Prentice (Reuters) U.S. farming and oil lobbies have spent over a decade battling over a government program that requires that renewable fuels are blended with gasoline, but a recent survey showed motorists largely don't know or care what

July 20, 2016 Read Full Article

SDTC Puts Entrepreneurs' Needs First: Changes Application Process

(Sustainable Development Technology Canada/Marketwired) Today, Leah Lawrence, president and CEO of Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC), announced changes to the foundation's funding model and application process. Effective immediately, SDTC will be discontinuing regularly scheduled calls for applications in favour of

July 20, 2016 Read Full Article

New Documents Reveal Denial Playbook Originated with Big Oil, Not Big Tobacco

(Center for International Environmental Law) Industry documents show common playbook is decades older than previously recognized -- New research by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) not only confirms that the tobacco and fossil fuel industries used a shared

July 20, 2016 Read Full Article

NNPC to Set Up Energy Renewable Plant In Benue – Official

by NAN (Leadership) The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) says plans are underway to set up an energy renewable plant that will use agro products to generate energy. Its Group General Manager in charge of Renewable Energy Division, Mr Rabiu Suleiman,

July 20, 2016 Read Full Article

Canada and Quebec to Provide C$76.5 Million to AE Côte-Nord Bioenergy Canada

by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Canada, the Governments of Canada and Quebec will provide C$76.5 million in funding to AE Côte-Nord Bioenergy Canada Inc. for the production of renewable fuel oil from forest residues at its Port-Cartier facility. Canada’s Minister

July 20, 2016 Read Full Article

The Huge Unexploited Potential of Generating Biofuels from a Food Processing Residue, Palm Kernel Oil (PKO), with Ghana in Perspective

By Theophilus Kumah* (Advanced Biofuels USA) Energy is a great determinant in ensuring the growth of the economy of every country. Ghana, as a country, has faced some instability in the supply of energy for domestic and industrial use owing

July 20, 2016 Read Full Article

BIO Submits Comments on Proposed 2017 Renewable Fuel Standards

(Biotechnology Innovation Organization) The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), on behalf of its member companies, ... submitted comments on the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed Renewable Fuel Standards for 2017, and the biomass-based diesel volume for 2018. The comments demonstrate that EPA’s

July 20, 2016 Read Full Article

Latvia’s Biodiesel Production Remains around 60% of Installed Capacity

by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Latvia, the USDA Foreign Agriculture Service said in a recent report that biodiesel production grew 7% in 2015 over the previous year to 85,000 metric tons while no ethanol was produced during either year

July 20, 2016 Read Full Article

The Front End: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to BETO’s Feedstock R&D Programs

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) What’s the Department of Energy working on with respect to feedstocks? The Bioenergy Technologies Office’s Alison Goss-Eng answered the question in this update, given at ABLC Feedstocks. In this deck, she looks at milestones ahead, programs, goals

July 20, 2016 Read Full Article

American Refining Group Invests in Novvi to Accelerate Renewable Base Oils, Lubricants

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Two options, generally. One is a mandate-led transition, like light bulbs, power and road fuels. The other is a brand-led transition, as happens with plastics, jet fuels and clothing. Amyris’ No Compromise branding encourage

July 20, 2016 Read Full Article

DOE Requests Information on Cellulosic Sugar and Lignin Production Capabilities--DE-FOA-0001615

(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) seeks input from industry, academia, national laboratories, and other biofuels and bioproducts stakeholders to identify existing capabilities to produce lignocellulosic sugars

July 20, 2016 Read Full Article

RFA: HWRT to Offer Pre-Blended E15 at Wholesale Terminals

(Renewable Fuels Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Renewable Fuels Association is pleased to announce that HWRT Oil Co. will become the first company in the United States to offer pre-blended E15 at the terminal level. The development is a game changer

July 20, 2016 Read Full Article

Modeling Predicts which Counties Could Store More Carbon in Soil by Growing Bioenergy Crops

by Katie Elyce Jones (Phys.Org) To help stakeholders in government and business make smart decisions about the best types of land and local climates for planting bioenergy crops, researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Argonne National Laboratory are

July 19, 2016 Read Full Article

Plant Scientists Study Interactions between GMOs and the Environment

(University of Connecticut) ... The research team is led by professor emerita Carol Auer and supported by a grant from the Biotechnology Risk Assessment Grant Program, an initiative of the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Auer and her research

July 19, 2016 Read Full Article

Higher Ethanol Use Can Lead to 14% GHG Reduction in European Transport by 2030 - New Study

(ePURE) A new study by renowned global consultancy Ricardo Energy & Environment has found that the higher use of ethanol in Europe would contribute to a 14.1% GHG emission reduction in European transport, even after possible land use change (ILUC)

July 19, 2016 Read Full Article

Mitsubishi Chemical : and Mitsui Zosen Machinery & Service to Form Tie-up to Produce and Sell Zeolite Membranes

(4 Traders/Mitsubishi Chemical) Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. Mitsui Zosen Machinery & Service, Inc. Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC; Head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Hiroaki Ishizuka) and Mitsui Zosen Machinery & Service, Inc. (MZM; Head office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo;

July 19, 2016 Read Full Article

Algae Production, Efficient and Consistent: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Global Algae Innovations

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Global Algae Innovations designs innovative technology to make algae production more efficient and consistent. This week, the DOE made a major award to a group led by GAI, including the University of California-San Diego, TSD Management Associates,

July 19, 2016 Read Full Article

Energy Department Announces $15 Million to Advance Algae-based Biofuels and Bioproducts

(U.S. Department of Energy) The Energy Department today announced up to $15 million for three projects aimed at reducing the production costs of algae-based biofuels and bioproducts through improvements in algal biomass yields. These projects will develop highly productive algal

July 19, 2016 Read Full Article

The Future of Biofuel Isn’t Corn—It’s Algae

by Ian Graber-Stiehl (Pacific Standard) Why water is the future of biofuel. -- ... Algae biofuel frontrunner Algenol, for example, converts plentiful saltwater into biofuel with yields nearly 17 times higher than those of corn, while producing 1.4 gallons of fresh water

July 19, 2016 Read Full Article

Biogas To Fleet Fuel In South San Francisco

by Nora Goldstein (BioCycle) ... SSFSC (South San Francisco Scavenger Company) has converted 27 of the 40 trucks in its fleet to run on compressed natural gas (CNG). It uses Cummins Westport CNG engines. The 27 trucks are fueled every

July 19, 2016 Read Full Article

Entrepreneur Makes Hemp-Based Fuel in Costa Rica

by Elizabeth Lang (Tico Times) Transforming hemp into the surfboard beneath your feet or the plane that takes you skyward: That’s the mission of the Canadian company Hempearth, which has made Costa Rica a key player in its operations. Hemp

July 19, 2016 Read Full Article

Empowering Farmers through Route of Ethanol

by Ajay Jha (Indian Cooperative) Believing that ethanol is a game changer, a group of ministers sat this weekend to deliberate on the production of second generation of ethanol. The meeting was attended by Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin

July 19, 2016 Read Full Article

Kate Brown to Lawmakers: A Repeal of Oregon's Low-Carbon Fuels Law Is off Limits in Transportation Talks

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

July 19, 2016 Read Full Article

UK Government Eliminates Department of Energy and Climate Change

by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) Newly appointed U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May has abolished the U.K. Department of Energy and Climate Change. The functions of the department will be transferred to other government departments, including the newly formed Department of

July 19, 2016 Read Full Article

A Paradigm Shift in Microalgal Biotechnology Could Be On The Cards Thanks To A University of Cologne Breakthrough

by Gaynor Selby (FoodIngredientsFirst) A team of scientists and researchers at the University of Cologne believe they have made a breakthrough which could lead to cultivating algae on a commercial scale in a much cheaper way than is currently possible. Head

July 19, 2016 Read Full Article

Battery and Biofuel Research Energized by New State-of-the Art Facility Down Under

by Niall Byrne (Renewable Energy World) Ongoing research at the AINST, which is headquartered at the new AU $150 million Sydney Nanoscience Hub, could give us energy storage embedded in the walls and roofs of buildings and much more. Professor Thomas

July 19, 2016 Read Full Article

Canada to Introduce National Carbon Price in 2016, Minister Says

by Josh Wingrove (Bloomberg) Government will publish plan to reduce emissions by the fall; Environment Minister McKenna argues for uniformity in approach -- Canada will have a national price on carbon emissions by the end of this year, Environment Minister Catherine

July 19, 2016 Read Full Article

LePage’s Executive Order on Ethanol Is Fueled by Myths, and It’s a Win for Foreign Oil

By Rick Santorum (Americans for Energy Security and Innovation/Bangor Daily News) ... Energy security goes hand in hand with national security, and every barrel of oil we import from the Middle East and Venezuela puts more money in the pockets of

July 19, 2016 Read Full Article

Use of E15 Overwhelmingly Favored in Wisconsin

(Wisconsin Corn Growers Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) A recent statewide opinion poll shows that Wisconsin citizens favor the use of ethanol blends in fuel up to 15 percent (E15), by a 2 to 1 margin. The survey found that 62 percent

July 19, 2016 Read Full Article

PODCAST: How Does the Renewable Fuel Standard Affect Me?

(National Association of Convenience Stores) The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), has been around for more than a decade. Today, ethanol comprises about 10% of the total fuel sold in the United States, but there are some changes coming that will

July 19, 2016 Read Full Article

Biofuel Governors Tout E30

by Chris Clayton (DTN Progressive Farmer) Coalition Sees Opportunity in Higher Fuel Economy Standards -- Leaders and founders of the Governors' Biofuels Coalition see a push for higher fuel-economy standards as the next opportunity to spur more biofuels production around

July 19, 2016 Read Full Article

CTS Process Continues To Expand Product Pathways With Advancement To Military Grade Jet Fuel JP-8, An Advanced Cellulosic Aviation Biofuel

(The Street/Globe Newswire) Alliance BioEnergy Plus, Inc. (OTCQB:ALLM) (the "Company") , is pleased to announce that as the scientific and engineering team at subsidiary Ek Laboratories continues to optimize the CTS process for dry distiller's grain (DDG) and various other

July 19, 2016 Read Full Article

Earth-Friendly American Ethanol: An Important Success Story

(NewsUSA/WDRB.com) There is little question ethanol is helping America reduce its dependence on foreign oil -- lowering gasoline prices, improving the environment with lower emissions and growing the economy with jobs that can't be outsourced. In 2015 alone, the ethanol industry

July 19, 2016 Read Full Article

The Energy and Job Creation Program that Works for People and the Environment

by Brent Erickson (Biotechnology Innovation Organization/Morning Consult) ... Not every lawmaker is sold on the idea of renewables, but it’s hard not to appreciate the billions of dollars of economic activity across the U.S. that has been driven by the RFS.

July 19, 2016 Read Full Article

Three U.S. States Plan Lawsuits over Volkswagen Diesel Pollution

by David Shepardson (Reuters) Three U.S. states plan to unveil new lawsuits against Volkswagen AG (VOWG_p.DE) on Tuesday tied to the automaker's sale of diesel vehicles with emissions-cheating software, even after they announced settlements with the German automaker in June. Maryland

July 19, 2016 Read Full Article

Biodiesel Firm Eyes Expansion

by Tennessa Wild (The Western Producer) Processor developing second generation biofuel with opportunity for wider use -- Growing demand worldwide for renewable diesel fuel has Saskatchewan’s only biodiesel producer looking to expand. Milligan Biofuels Inc. produces biodiesel as well as half

July 19, 2016 Read Full Article

Making It Work for the Grower: The Digest’s Multi-Slide Guide to DuPont’s Cellulosic Feedstock

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) DuPont has developed a three-part strategy to deliver these new technologies to the growing biofuels market to help biofuels become more competitive with petroleum. The strategy includes: (1) improving existing ethanol production through differentiated agriculture seed

July 19, 2016 Read Full Article

Abengoa’s Hugoton Cellulosic Ethanol Project Goes on the Block

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Missouri, Ocean Park Advisors has been retained by Abengoa Bioenergy to find a strategic partner or to complete a sale of Abengoa cellulosic ethanol plant, electricity cogeneration plant and related assets in Hugoton, Kansas. Additionally,

July 19, 2016 Read Full Article

GOP Platform Proposes Turning EPA into a Commission

by Eric Wolff, et al. (Politico Morning Energy) ... The Republican Platform 2016 offers a fresh plan for an old GOP target: it calls for converting the EPA into a bipartisan commission. As Pro's Alex Guillén writes, the platform says that

July 19, 2016 Read Full Article

Why and When You Need a Project Consultant

by Wayne Lee (Lee Enterprises Consulting/Biofuels Digest) ... Within our group, now numbering over 75 experts, I find that each member has his or her own approach which developed from their personal experience and training. As an example, the professors,

July 19, 2016 Read Full Article

Vehicle Rules Will Fall Short on Emissions, Fuel Savings, Agencies Say

by Alex Guillén (Politico Pro) U.S. vehicle efficiency rules won't deliver the carbon reductions or fuel savings President Barack Obama promised in his first term because cheap gasoline has set off a buying spree of gas-guzzling trucks and sport-utility vehicles,

July 18, 2016 Read Full Article

WEBINARS: September 20: RMP In-depth Overview

The Renewable Fuels Foundation, the education and research arm of the Renewable Fuels Association, has teamed up with the experts at Pinnacle Engineering Inc. to host a six-part webinar series on complying with regulations that aim to prevent or minimize

July 18, 2016 Read Full Article

UDSA GAIN Reports Address Polish, Lithuanian Ethanol Production

by Ann Bailey (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Total production of bioethanol in Poland is estimated at 200,000 metric tons, according to a report filed with the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service’s Global Agricultural Information Network. The domestic production capacity of both bioethanol

July 18, 2016 Read Full Article

Nearly 42,500 Comments Filed on 2017 RFS Proposal

by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The comment period on the U.S. EPA’s proposed rule to set 2017 renewable volume obligations (RVOs) under the renewable fuel standard (RFS), along with 2018 RVOs for biomass-based diesel, has officially closed. According to information

July 18, 2016 Read Full Article

US EPA, US DOT, California’s Air Resources Board Issue Draft Technical Assessment Report of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Fuel Economy Standards for Model Year 2022-2025 Cars and Light Trucks

(U.S. Department of Transportation) The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the California Air Resource Board (CARB) today took the first step in the mid-term evaluation of the National Program for greenhouse gas emissions

July 18, 2016 Read Full Article

Retailer to Expand Availability of Ethanol Blends at 20 Stations

(Renewable Fuels Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Renewable Fuels Association is proud to announce that the Power Energy Corp. has been awarded a $1.44 million grant from Illinois to offer higher ethanol blends at 20 retail stations in the state. The grant,

July 18, 2016 Read Full Article

Ministry to Meet Carmakers to Discuss Implementation of B10 Biodiesel

(The Sun Daily) The Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities will meet car manufacturers tomorrow to discuss the implementation of B10 biodiesel, said its minister Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong. ... It was reported that various manufacturers – BMW Malaysia, Isuzu, Toyota

July 18, 2016 Read Full Article

EU to Introduce CO2 Emission Limits for Trucks

by Julia Fioretti (Reuters) The European Commission will propose limits for the first time on CO2 emissions from trucks and will also set new fuel efficiency standards for cars and vans from 2020, according to a draft document seen by

July 18, 2016 Read Full Article

Magellan Midstream to Build $335M Marine Terminal in Houston Ship Channel

by Sibyl Layag (SNL) Magellan Midstream Partners LP said it plans to build a marine terminal for refined petroleum products along the Houston Ship Channel in Pasadena, Texas. ... The project, supported by long-term contracts, would handle products such as various

July 18, 2016 Read Full Article

Sulfur Compounded in Ethanol Regulations

by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) As the Tier 3 deadline approaches, it's important to understand the difference between EPA and ASTM treatments of the element. -- The U.S. EPA’s Tier 3 rules are not new—they were finalized two

July 18, 2016 Read Full Article

Trump VP Pick Draws Rave Reviews from Agriculture

by Spencer Chase (Agri Pulse) ... On the Renewable Fuel Standard, a policy that Trump supports, Pence voted in favor of the original 2005 legislation that created the program, but voted against the 2007 bill that created the current version of the RFS. ... In April of

July 18, 2016 Read Full Article

Biofuels Executive Briefing Available from ADI Analytics

(ADI Analytics) There is an increasing level of interest in conventional and advanced biofuels around the globe. Many countries are increasing biofuel mandates for several reasons ranging from stimulating agriculture, energy security, and most notably to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The

July 18, 2016 Read Full Article

Understanding Octane Value in North America

by Tyler Wilson and Uday Turaga (ADI Analytics) The value of an octane barrel has risen significantly in recent years going from $2.30 in 2010 to $3.58 in 2015. This has surprised industry analysts since the refining industry has been blending

July 18, 2016 Read Full Article

Porous Substrate Bioreactors: A Paradigm Shift in Microalgal Biotechnology?

by Björn Podola, Tong Li, Michael Melkonian (Cell/Trends in Microbiology) Many of the demands in the production of microalgae at a technical scale cannot presently be met by state-of-the-art cultivation technologies based on suspensions. Immobilized cultivation using porous substrate bioreactors (PSBRs)

July 18, 2016 Read Full Article

“Tough Couple of Years, but Survivors Scaling”: DOE’s Bioenergy 2016 Looks Optimistically at Biofuels Future

by Ed Dodge (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, a commercialization panel said that “the biofuels industry has been through a tough couple of years, but the survivors are scaling up and bringing product to market. The panel featured some leading players

July 18, 2016 Read Full Article

OPEC Is Winning the Market Share War

by Summer Said (The Wall Street Journal) Middle Eastern oil production rose to a record-high of 31.5 million barrels a day in June -- The Middle East is back as the world’s dominant oil-producing region, a report said Wednesday, churning

July 18, 2016 Read Full Article

Repeat After Me: High Octane, Low Carbon

by David VanderGriend (Urban Air Initiative/ICM/Governors' Biofuel Coalition) The signs are everywhere highlighting our product and how it can find its true value as an octane enhancer while lowering carbon emissions. Using our research at the Urban Air Initiative and in conjunction with

July 18, 2016 Read Full Article

5 Signs Your Current Good Manufacturing Processes Are Ready for the Food Safety Modernization Act

by Phil Cleary (Christianson & Associates/Biofuels Digest) The Food Safety Modernization Act covers the operation of a facility that manufactures, processes, packs, or holds animal food for sale in the United States. Renewable fuels facilities producing feed co-products are no exception. In

July 18, 2016 Read Full Article

Moving beyond Automotive towards Earth & Resources: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Toyota Tsusho

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This week, we report that Toyota Tsusho has been identified as a major strategic investor in Anellotech, which is developing a pyrolysis-based technology for making bio-based BTX molecules as an alternative to petroleum-based supplies. Here’s the

July 18, 2016 Read Full Article

Toyota: Let’s Go Places with Anellotech, Bio-Places That Is

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In New York, Toyota Tsusho was identified this week as a multinational strategic equity investor in Anellotech and corporate partner in the renewable aromatic chemicals supply chain. Toyota Tsusho is a member of the Toyota

July 18, 2016 Read Full Article

Globalization of Ethanol Impacts US Industry

by Ryan Strickland (Alliance Marketing, Eco-Energy/Ethanol Producer Magazine) The proliferation of international ethanol trade during the past decade has been impressive to watch. The current global market for ethanol stands at 30 billion gallons, with 1.2 billion gallons trading hands overseas. It’s a

July 17, 2016 Read Full Article

Is India the Next Big Thing in the Asian Ethanol Market?

by Wei Zheng (Platts) Recently, chatter has grown increasingly loud about Indian buying interest for seaborne, imported ethanol. Apart from more business done there, there has also been a flurry of new players hoping to jump onto the bandwagon. This is reminiscent

July 17, 2016 Read Full Article

Proposed ASTM Standard Covers Determination of Metals in Biofuels

(ASTM/Ethanol Producer Magazine) A proposed ASTM standard will provide a means to test and evaluate alternate fuel sources, such as biofuels, for metals. The proposed standard (WK54683 Test Method for Determination of Metals in Biofuels by Microwave Plasma Atomic Emission

July 17, 2016 Read Full Article

Gaz Metro Converts Biomass into Renewable Natural Gas

(Gaz Metro/Biomass Magazine) Gaz Métro is proud to announce that, over the past several months, it has been conducting a demonstration project aimed at converting forestry biomass into second-generation renewable natural gas. The trials, carried out in collaboration with the

July 17, 2016 Read Full Article

Researchers Investigate Impact of Biomass Harvest on Wildlife

by D'Lyn Ford (North Carolina State University/Biomass Magazine) On loblolly pine plantations in the Southeast, timber harvesting often involves an extra step: gleaning woody debris left behind after clearcutting. Branches, treetops and smaller trees are sources of biomass that can

July 17, 2016 Read Full Article

Researchers: Generically Improving Sorghum Could Benefit Biofuels

(Genetics Society of America/Biomass Magazine) The bioenergy crop sorghum holds great promise as a raw material for making environmentally friendly fuels and chemicals that offer alternatives to petroleum-based products. Sorghum can potentially yield more energy per area of land than

July 17, 2016 Read Full Article

UK Plant Hosts Scientists, Farmers Interested in Miscanthus

(BWSC North Lincs/Biomass Magazine) This month the Brigg Renewable Energy Plant hosted a visit from scientists and farmers to explore the use of miscanthus as a fuel for renewable energy and support groundbreaking research into miscanthus growing. The visit marked the

July 17, 2016 Read Full Article

40-Plus Groups Call on Congress to End Tax Breaks for Big Oil

by Ron Kotrba (Biomass Magazine) More than 40 national organizations have called on Congress to end more than a century of tax breaks for the oil industry. In a letter to U.S. legislators, a diverse coalition of environmental, veterans, labor,

July 17, 2016 Read Full Article

This Scottish Company Is Turning Whiskey Waste into Fuel

by Jonathon Ramsey (The Drive) Enterprising Scots hope to save the world -- with the help of good scotch -- As though scotch weren't already the world's greatest beverage, one Scottish company plans on using it to help save the world.

July 17, 2016 Read Full Article

Hyundai And U.S. Department Of Energy Extend Fuel Cell Vehicle Loan Partnership In Concert With New D.C.-Based Hydrogen Fueling Station

(Fuel Cells Works) Latest, Phase II of current program prepares for rollout of fuel cell vehicles nationwide in near future -- Hyundai and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) are extending their fuel cell vehicle confirmation program, originally from 2013

July 17, 2016 Read Full Article

Dr. Mayfield on Biofuels

(Algae Industry Magazine) Kate Sequeira produced this video interview with UCSD biology professor Stephen Mayfield for the San Diego Union Tribune. Dr. Mayfield has spent the past 25 years experimenting with algae, and now focuses on extracting crude oil from

July 17, 2016 Read Full Article

South African Airways Operates Flight with Nicotine-Free Tobacco-Based Biofuel

(Biofuels International) Boeing, South African Airways (SAA) and low-cost carrier Mango have operated Africa’s first sustainable-fuelled flights powered with tobacco-based biofuels. The SAA and Mango flights from Johannesburg to Cape Town, operated by a Boeing 737-800, used sustainable biojet fuel produced

July 17, 2016 Read Full Article

US Department of Energy Gives up to $15m for Algae-Based Biofuels’ Projects

(Biofuels International) ... The three projects selected, located in California and Florida, will include multi-disciplinary partners to coordinate improvements from algal strain advancements through pre-processing technologies (harvesting, dewatering, and downstream processing) to biofuel intermediate in order to reduce the production costs

July 17, 2016 Read Full Article

Energy Department Awards $18 Million to Develop Valuable Bioproducts and Biofuels from Algae

(U.S. 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

July 17, 2016 Read Full Article

Manta Biofuel Awarded $1 Million from DOE

(Algae Industry Magazine) Manta Biofuel, of Bethesda, Maryland has won a $1 million award from the U.S. Department of Energy to further develop its algal technology. A member of Bethesda Green’s business incubator, Manta Biofuel LLC is a biotechnology firm that has developed

July 17, 2016 Read Full Article

Deliverance: The Digest’s Multi-Slide Guide to the 2016 DOE Billion Ton Report

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This week, the US Department of Energy released its 2016 Billion-Ton Report: Advancing Domestic Resources for a Thriving Bioeconomy, and said that 1.2 billion tons of biomass would be available at $40 or less per ton