by Mark Preston (CNN) en Democratic candidates for president have qualified for next month's Climate Crisis Town Hall, which will air exclusively on CNN platforms. CNN is devoting the evening of Sept. 4 to the climate crisis. Eight of the Democratic
environmental policy
Back TO HOMEGovernors Ask EPA to Clarify Biogenic CO2 Not Regulated under CCA
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) Governors representing Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Nebraska and North Dakota recently sent a letter to U.S. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler urging the agency to clarify biogenic CO2 is not a pollutant subject to regulation under the Clean
August 21, 2019 Read Full Article
NFU Writes to Government for Biofuel Policy
(National Farmers Union) The NFU has written to Government ministers calling for E10 – a type of petrol which contains 10% renewable bioethanol – to be introduced by 2020 to help the UK reach its net zero targets. Currently commonplace on UK
August 21, 2019 Read Full Article
It’s Time to Rebuild: Farmland as Critical Infrastructure
by Michael A. Fatigati (Vantaggio Renewables/Biofuels Digest) ... We believe that one of our nation’s important natural resources, while protected in some ways, is being neglected to our peril and should be re-classified as infrastructure. This segment of infrastructure supplies
August 21, 2019 Read Full Article
Dems Fear another Rural Wipeout Will Reelect Trump
By Elena Schneider and Catherine Boudreau (Politico) Pitches by some 2020 candidates aren’t yet translating into a broad conversation about the needs of rural voters. -- As Democratic presidential candidates descended on the Iowa State Fair, a plane buzzed overhead, an
August 20, 2019 Read Full Article
Videos and Presentations Posted from 2019 Congressional Clean Energy Expo and Policy Forum
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) The 22nd Annual Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EXPO and Policy Forumbrought together 30-40 businesses, trade associations, and government agencies to showcase renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. In every state across the country, these technologies
August 19, 2019 Read Full Article
NACSAA Webinar Underscores Need for Wider Scale of Global Ag Talks
(North American Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance) A NACSAA webinar held last month on what transpired at the June climate talks in Bonn (SB50) underscored the limited approaches to climate smart agriculture under discussion by global representatives. The global conversation about the
August 19, 2019 Read Full Article
Facts Not Furor: What the 2020 Candidates Should Be Focused On
by Daniel Gage (ACT News/NGV America) ... One candidate said we have less than 10 years to act. Many candidates agree that we don’t have time to wait. So why then are we waiting for large scale light-duty electric vehicle adoption
August 19, 2019 Read Full Article
In Iowa, Candidates Are Talking About Farming's Climate Change Connections Like No Previous Election
by Georgina Gustin (Inside Climate News) About half the candidates have policy proposals or statements addressing climate change impacts on agriculture or farming's potential as a climate solution. ... They also brought an unprecedented focus on agriculture's connections with climate change—an issue that's
August 16, 2019 Read Full Article
Mineral Oil Groups Ramp up HVO Production in the EU
(Union zur Förderung von Oel- und Proteinpflanzen (UFOP)/Biodiesel Magazine) Production of hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) in the European Union has picked up pace since 2012. Mineral oil groups, such as Neste, Eni and Total, were the main entities promoting the
August 16, 2019 Read Full Article
Scars Are Beautiful: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Gevo’s Market Perspectives
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Scars are a sign you’ve been there and survived. You overcame. You learned something, maybe the hard way. And Patrick Gruber, CEO of Gevo, a company that produces low-carbon, renewable, high-performance fuel products, shows us just how
August 16, 2019 Read Full Article
How to De-Fossilize Your Fleet: Suggestions for Fleet Managers Working on Sustainability Programs
by Joanne Ivancic* (Advanced Biofuels USA) Cities, companies, universities, organizations pledge to be 100% renewable (or 50%) by a certain date. But how often does that pledge include renewable transportation energy? Occasionally. But it could be better. At conferences, sustainability
August 15, 2019 Read Full Article
Study: Fracking Responsible for Rising Methane Levels in Atmosphere
by Sergio Chapa (Houston Chronicle) Rising levels of the potent greenhouse gas methane in the atmosphere have been linked to emissions produced by the shale oil and natural gas industry, a new study from Cornell University reveals. -- In a study
August 15, 2019 Read Full Article
QUOTE OF THE WEEK -- Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and former Senator Timothy Wirth (D-CO)
"Public policy to date has put almost the entire burden of the (transportation) sector’s transformation on the nation’s vehicles. Shouldn’t the fuels they burn get equal attention?" That's the question asked by Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and former Senator Timothy
August 15, 2019 Read Full Article
Environmental Advocates Should Take Another Look at Biofuels
by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and former Sen. Timothy Wirth (D-CO) (The Hill) ... But public policy to date has put almost the entire burden of the sector’s transformation on the nation’s vehicles. Shouldn’t the fuels they burn get equal attention? Look
August 15, 2019 Read Full Article
SoCalGas and Electrochaea Announce Commissioning of New Biomethanation Reactor System Pilot Project
(Southern California Gas Co./PR Newswire) Innovative project with U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory converts renewable electricity into renewable methane for storage in existing natural gas pipelines -- Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) and Electrochaea today announced the commissioning of the nation's
August 15, 2019 Read Full Article
Circular Economy Package, European Commission, July 2018
by Liz Gyekye (BioMarket Insights) The European Union (EU)’s landmark ‘Circular Economy Package’ came into force last year. By July 2020, the bloc’s 28 member states will have to incorporate the Package into national law. Some say that this legislation is the most
August 15, 2019 Read Full Article
Florida Ag Producers, Foresters Share Ideas to Deal with Climate Change
(Solutions from the Land) Florida Rep. Kathy Castor told a group of farmers, ranchers and timber producers in her state Monday that responding to a changing climate must be a collaborative effort, drawing together producers, government agencies and academics to
August 14, 2019 Read Full Article
Jobsites and Machines of the Future: Diesel, Hybrid, Renewable, Connected, Autonomous and Electric
by Allen Schaeffer (Construction Executive/Diesel Technology Forum) ... Achieving the U.S. EPA Tier 4 emissions requirements means near-zero particulate matter (PM 2.5) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. This performance is accomplished through a combination of strategies, ranging from selective catalytic
August 14, 2019 Read Full Article
Pete Buttigieg: To Tackle Challenges Like Climate Change, Unlock the Potential of Rural America
by Pete Buttigieg (Des Moines Register) ... To empower farmers to confront climate disruption, we will dramatically increase agricultural R&D. As president, I will double these investments over four years, dedicating nearly $50 billion over a decade. With scientists indicating
August 14, 2019 Read Full Article
Chinese Demand Heats up Brazil’s Ethanol Industry
by Sarita Reed and Vinicius Fontana (China Dialogue) Adding ethanol to Chinese petrol will decrease emissions but could worsen Brazil’s deforestation -- There are 332 million cars on the road in China, more than anywhere in the world. Most run
August 14, 2019 Read Full Article
Indonesia Threatens Tariff Hike on EU Dairy in Trade Spat
(Agence France Presses/ RTL Today) Indonesia's trade minister Friday threatened to impose higher tariffs on EU dairy imports in response to the bloc's proposed move to hit biodiesel made from palm oil with anti-subsidy duties. The warning could escalate a trade dispute
August 13, 2019 Read Full Article
The Real Fuel Issue
by Geoff Cooper (Renewable Fuels Association/Washington Post) I was surprised to see in Catherine Rampell’s July 26 op-ed, “The Grand Old Socialist Party,” a line about “big fat federal government subsidies for corn ethanol.” The last tax credit for ethanol, the
August 12, 2019 Read Full Article
Expression of Interest to Be Floated for Procurement of Biodiesel from Used Cooking Oil across 100 Cities
(Government of India Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas) World Biofuel Day is observed every year on 10th of August to create awareness about the importance of non-fossil fuels as an alternative to conventional fossil fuels and highlight the various efforts
August 12, 2019 Read Full Article
Planned Anti-Subsidy Duties on Palm Oil Methyl Ester Ineffective
(Union zur Förderung von Oel- und Proteinpflanzen (UFOP)) The preliminary anti-subsidy duties announced by the EU Commission will not reduce imports of palm oil-based biodiesel. This is the conclusion the Union zur Förderung von Oel- und Proteinpflanzen (UFOP) has drawn from
August 12, 2019 Read Full Article
Can They? Should They?: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to DOE’s Biofuels in Marine Engines
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The fuels market and demand for jet fuels is big, but what about the marine sector? After all, over 90% of all goods are shipped via marine vessels fueled with high sulfur (3.5 wt.%) heavy residual
August 12, 2019 Read Full Article
Just Drop It in!: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Gevo’s Drop-in Hydrocarbons
by Jim Lane (Biofuhttp://radar.weather.gov/radar_lite.php?product=NCR&rid=LWX&loop=yesels Digest) Gevo produces and sells low-carbon, renewable, high-performance fuel products. From ethanol to isobutanol, jet fuel, isooctane, oxygenate blendstocks, and more, Gevo is on a mission to replace fossil based products and decarbonize products for large markets. Tim
August 08, 2019 Read Full Article
Managing LCFS Credits and Risk in Uncertain Times
by Michael Newman (Parhelion Underwriting Inc./Biofuels Digest) Trading in the climate finance market – the systems designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions – sometimes create areas of uncertainty. The risk of invalidation of credits worry market participants – but insurance risk
August 08, 2019 Read Full Article
Gevo’s Renewable Isobutanol Pilot Lowers Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Seattle
(Biofuels International) Low carbon fuel company Gevo has successfully completed the first phase of a trial pilot of fleet vehicles using its low carbon, renewable drop-in isobutanol blended gasoline. The trial, which took place in the City of Seattle in in the
August 08, 2019 Read Full Article
Trump Administration Moves to Finalize Weakening of Car Efficiency Standards: The White Houes’s Rule Would Cost the Economy $400 Billion by Midcentury, According to a New Analysis from Energy Innovation.
(GreenTechMedia) An analysis published Wednesday by clean energy advocacy group Energy Innovation found that if the administration does eliminate California’s waiver, costs from the rule change would total $400 billion in 2018 dollars by 2050. By 2035, Energy Innovation projects that
August 08, 2019 Read Full Article
Zero Emission Heavy Fuel Oil: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to GoodFuels’ Marine Biofuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) GoodFuels is seeing a fast rise of low carbon marine fuels as a very logical one. The demand. The supply. The environmental impact. Even the economics. It’s all making sense now. In November, GoodFuels completed trials
August 07, 2019 Read Full Article
SAF on the Cusp of Rapid Expansion and Replication: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to CAAFI
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Since 2006, the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI) has sought to enhance energy security and environmental sustainability for aviation through the use of alternative jet fuels. CAAFI is a coalition of airlines, aircraft and engine
August 06, 2019 Read Full Article
UK Government Urged to Utilise Anaerobic Digestion Opportunities to Help Climate
(Bioenergy Insight) The UK Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA) is urging the government to maintain momentum on building a more sustainable circular economy. The plea follows new appointments to the cabinet by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, including Environment Secretary Theresa
August 06, 2019 Read Full Article
European Scientists Call for EU Rethink of “Retrograde” Gene-Editing Legislation
by Katherine Durrell (Food Ingredients First) Scientists across Europe are calling for a rethink on the restriction of genome editing technology by the newly-elected European Parliament and European Commission. The open statement is signed by 126 research institutes and comes exactly
August 06, 2019 Read Full Article
Fact Sheet - Jobs in Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and Resilience (2019)
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) This fact sheet focuses on employment in the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors in the United States and around the world. According to the 2019 U.S. Energy Employment Report (USEER), 611,000 people worked in zero-emission
August 06, 2019 Read Full Article
Report: EU Ethanol Consumption to Increase in 2019
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A recent report filed with the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service’s Global Agricultural Information Network discusses the current use of biofuels in the European Union and the potential for increased use in the future. According to the
August 06, 2019 Read Full Article
EPA’s Final SAFE Vehicles Rule under OMB Review
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. EPA submitted its final Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicles Rule for Model Years 2021-2026 Passenger Cars and Light Trucks to the White House Office of Management and Budget on Aug. 2. OMB review
August 06, 2019 Read Full Article
Ethanol Improves Air Quality: Nations around the Globe Need to Follow Brazil, U.S.'s Lead in Ethanol Adoption to Lower GHG Emissions.
by Leticia Phillips (UNICA/Ethanol Producer Magazine) We celebrated World Environment Day on June 5 and, although the date has passed, I believe the theme of this year’s event, air pollution, still deserves our attention. What are we doing locally, nationally or
August 06, 2019 Read Full Article
New IPCC Report to Assess the Interaction between Global Warming and Land Use
(Agence-France Presse/FirstPost) The overlapping crises of climate change, mass species extinction, and an unsustainable global food system are on a collision course towards what might best be called an ecological land grab. Coping with each of these problems will require a
August 06, 2019 Read Full Article
Oregon Governor Signs RNG Bill into Law
by Betsy Lillian (NGT News) Gov. Kate Brown, D-Ore., has signed into law S.B.98, creating a path for renewable natural gas (RNG) to become an increasing part of the state’s energy supply. NW Natural, a natural gas service company serving Oregon and
August 06, 2019 Read Full Article
BP, Rosneft Join German Sustainable Aviation Fuels Initiative
(Biofuels International) The Aviation Initiative for Renewable Energy in Germany (aireg) has welcomed two new members: Rosneft Deutschland and BP Europa. ... Oil major Rosneft’s biofuels commitment: “Rosneft Deutschland currently produces around 300,000 tonnes of jet fuel annually and implements into-plane aviation fuel
August 05, 2019 Read Full Article
Federal Bill Could Create Biogas Tax Credits, Bolster Organics Infrastructure
by Cole Rosengren (Waste Dive) ... The expiration of the ITC benefits in 2016, followed by the expiration of related production tax credits in 2017, are frequently cited as key limitations for financing new biogas infrastructure. While other incentives such
August 05, 2019 Read Full Article
Euglena Sets Sights as an Olympic Hopeful for Algae-Based Aviation Jet Fuel
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) Midorimushi – other than being a cool sounding Ninja name, it’s scientific name is Euglena. No, it’s not the latest superhero in a manga comic. It’s a kind of algae. In a magical sort of hybrid
August 05, 2019 Read Full Article
States Sue Trump Administration for Reduced Penalties on Fuel Efficiency
by Rebecca Beitsch (The Hill) Thirteen states filed suit against the Trump administration Friday, arguing it was breaking the law by cutting penalties for automakers that do not meet Obama-era fuel efficiency standards. The suit, led by California's and New York’s attorneys general, goes
August 05, 2019 Read Full Article
Carbon Pricing Proposals in the 116th Congress
by Jason Ye (Center for Climate and Energy Solutions) There are various market-based approaches to pricing carbon (e.g. carbon tax, cap and trade, and a clean energy standard). All of these can reduce emissions cost-effectively while driving clean energy innovation. This factsheet compares
August 05, 2019 Read Full Article
Fact Sheet: Fossil Fuel Subsidies: A Closer Look at Tax Breaks and Societal Costs
by Clayton Coleman and Emma Dietz (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) A recent analysis published in Nature Energy found that continuing current fossil fuel subsidies would make it profitable to extract half of all domestic oil reserves. This could increase U.S. oil production by
August 02, 2019 Read Full Article
Hydrogen, EV, Biofuel, Clean Diesel All Fuels for Future
(National Road Carriers/Business.Scoop) There will not be one transport fuel for the future hydrogen, electric, biofuel and clean diesel energy will all play a part as the sector transitions to support the Governments goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
August 02, 2019 Read Full Article
Senate Biofuel Advocates Want a Piece of Transportation Bill
by Elvina Nawaguna (Roll Call) The bill would set aside $1 billion to build charging and fueling stations for electric-, hydrogen- and natural gas-powered vehicles -- A provision in the Senate’s surface transportation bill that would help pay for charging and refilling stations for zero-
August 02, 2019 Read Full Article
The Energy 202: Kamala Harris and Jay Inslee's New Climate Plans Target 'Environmental Injustice'
by Dino Grandoni (Washington Post) ... On Monday, two contenders, Sen. Kamala Harris of California and Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington, released climate plans aimed at ensuring communities already facing an exceptionally large amount of pollution don't get saddled with any more. The proposals
August 02, 2019 Read Full Article
OFTEC Ireland Urges Government for Carbon Reduction
by Lydia Stevenson (Oil Fired Up) OFTEC Ireland, the body representing the liquid fuel heating industry in Ireland, is urging the Irish Government to take a more realistic approach to reduce carbon emissions where the home heating sector is concerned. ... A pivitol aspect
August 01, 2019 Read Full Article
UPDATE 1-Brazil's JBS Invests in New Biodiesel Plant Amid Clean Fuel Push
By Roberto Samora (Reuters) A unit of Brazil's JBS SA plans to invest 180 million reais ($47.5 million) to build a biodiesel plant entering service by 2021, as the company looks to cash in on Brazil's accelerating clean fuel drive, according
August 01, 2019 Read Full Article
China Uniquely Placed to ‘Green’ Shipping
by Ned Molloy (China Dialogue Ocean) As the world’s largest exporter and shipbuilder, China could pave the way to a carbon-neutral global trading system -- The Chinese president, Xi Jinping, said last month that his country’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)
August 01, 2019 Read Full Article
Senate Committee Acknowledges Climate Change in Passing $287 Billion Transportation Bill
by Ashley Halsey III and John Wagner (Washington Post) ... The bill got pushback from Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), whose state is a major producer of ethanol, the corn-based product that is added to about 98 percent of gasoline. She objected
August 01, 2019 Read Full Article
Biofuels Mentioned at Workshop for Mid-Atlantic and Northeast States Transportation & Climate Initiative
by Joanne Ivancic* (Advanced Biofuels USA) Along with about 300 state lawmakers, business leaders, transportation experts, and public figures, I met in Baltimore, Maryland, July 30, 2019, at a regional public workshop on developing low-carbon investment strategies and priorities for
July 31, 2019 Read Full Article
Could Renewable Natural Gas Be the Next Big Thing in Green Energy?
by Jonathan Mingle (Yale Environment 360) For decades, small-scale biogas systems have collected methane from landfills, sewage plants, and farms. Now, in Europe and the U.S., the growth of this renewable form of natural gas is taking off as businesses capture
July 31, 2019 Read Full Article
Positive Climate Perspective: Iowans Educate Democrats on Solutions Farmers, Biofuels Offer on Climate Change
by Chris Clayton (DTN Progressive Farmer) As Democratic presidential candidates traipse through Iowa talking about their plans to address climate change, a mixed group of farmers and biofuel advocates are stressing the role agriculture can play as a solution. Matt Russell, executive
July 31, 2019 Read Full Article
Malaysia Calling on the EU to Accept MSPO as a Recognized Certification Scheme under REDII
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Malaysia, as part of bilateral dialogue with the European Union over the past three months, in an attempt to resolve the impasse over palm oil’s indirect land use change impacts and future ban into the European market,
July 31, 2019 Read Full Article
Opportunities and Risks for Continued Biofuel Expansion in Brazil
by Nikita Pavlenko and Carmen Araujo (International Council on Clean Transportation) Brazil’s advanced biofuel industry lags far behind the production capacity of its first-generation biofuel industry. Brazil’s reliance on crop-derived biofuel feedstocks, in conjunction with its vulnerable forests and savannah, presents
July 31, 2019 Read Full Article
Cancer, Climate, Plastics: Why ‘Earthshots’ Are Harder than Moonshots
(Nature) ... Fast-forward five decades, and the moonshot framework — defining a problem, supporting it with money and cross-disciplinary expertise and attempting to solve it in a given timeframe — is being applied to more-complex challenges that we might call
July 30, 2019 Read Full Article
EPA Posts Call-in Information for July 31 Hearing on RFS Proposal
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. EPA has posted call-in information for its July 31 hearing on the proposed rule to set 2020 renewable volume obligations (RVOs) and the 2021 RVO for biomass-based diesel under the Renewable Fuel Standard. The
July 30, 2019 Read Full Article
Ethanol Report on Current Issues
(AgNewsWire/Renewable Fuels Association) The Renewable Fuels Association is having a busy summer keeping up with the latest EPA actions impacting ethanol. In this edition of “The Ethanol Report,” RFA president and CEO Geoff Cooper discusses preparing for the July 31 public hearing on the proposed 2020
July 29, 2019 Read Full Article
UPDATE 1-EU Plans to Impose Import Duties on Indonesia Biodiesel
by Philip Blenkinsop, Sybille de la Hamaide and Bernadette Christina Munthe (Reuters) The European Commission has proposed duties ranging from 8% to 18% on imports of biodiesel from Indonesia to counter what it says are unfair subsidies, the latest twist in
July 29, 2019 Read Full Article
France Bans Palm Oil from Biofuels
(Union zur Förderung von Oel- und Proteinpflanzen (UFOP)) France is tightening up regulations on the use of palm oil as a feedstock in biofuels production. However, this only applies to palm oil eligibility within France. As a result, biofuels produced
July 29, 2019 Read Full Article
Sayings and Images from 12 Years Traveling on the Bioeconomy Road
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Today, the Digest turns 12. Since the Digest was launched in July 2007, we’ve had the privilege of telling the amazing success story of the bioeconomy— new applications, companies, and platform technologies have been pouring out of
July 29, 2019 Read Full Article
Gillibrand and Steyer Roll Out Detailed Climate Plans
(Our Daily Planet) Last week Democratic Presidential candidates Tom Steyer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand both issued impressively detailed and comprehensive climate change plans. Senator Gillibrand rolled out her plan on Medium, calling it a climate change “moonshot” and pledging to phase out
July 29, 2019 Read Full Article
Ethanol vs. Environment: Democratic Hopefuls Campaign on Clashing Agendas
by Jarrett Renshaw and Humeyra Pamuk (Reuters) Democratic presidential hopeful Elizabeth Warren is a champion of the corn-based ethanol industry when she campaigns in rural towns dotting the U.S. Farm Belt. But in Washington, the U.S. senator from Massachusetts is among the co-sponsors
July 29, 2019 Read Full Article
RFA Extends Ethanol Invite as EPA Head Visits Oil Refinery
(Renewable Fuels Association) The Renewable Fuels Association has invited U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler to visit an ethanol plant as a follow-up to his tour of a Pennsylvania oil refinery. Wheeler was scheduled to visit Monroe Energy’s plant in Trainer,
July 29, 2019 Read Full Article
Bill from U.S. Sens. Toomey, Feinstein Would Abolish Ethanol Mandate
by J.D. Prose (The Times) U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey is working to repeal the ethanol mandate with California Democratic U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein. The Restore Environmental Sustainability to Our Renewable Energy (RESTORE) Act would abolish the corn ethanol mandate in the Renewable
July 29, 2019 Read Full Article
Four New Carbon Pricing Bills Drop in Congress
by Danny Richter (Citizen's Climate Lobby) ... First, Florida Republican Rep. Francis Rooney has introduced the bipartisan Stemming Warming and Augmenting Pay (SWAP) Act with cosponsor Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-IL). Together, these two representatives have also introduced the Raise Wages, Cut Carbon Act. Citizens’ Climate
July 26, 2019 Read Full Article
Chinese Firm Launches Ethanol Processing Plant in Central Zambia
(Xinhua) A Chinese firm on Wednesday launched an ethanol processing plant in central Zambia, which the government says will go a long way in helping the country tackle fuel problems and reduce poverty. The 9-million U.S. dollars plant of Zhongkai International Company
July 26, 2019 Read Full Article
Major Automakers Strike Climate Deal with California, Rebuffing Trump on Proposed Mileage Freeze
by Juliet Eilperin and Brady Dennis (Washington Post) The agreement could have vehicles hit 50 miles per gallon on average by 2026 -- Four automakers from three continents have struck a deal with California to produce fleets that are more fuel-efficient in
July 25, 2019 Read Full Article
Scoop: Fed to Host Its First Conference Dedicated to Climate Change
by Courtenay Brown (Axios) On Nov. 8, the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco — seated in a place that has seen its share of catastrophes linked to global warming — will host what is believed to be the central bank's
July 24, 2019 Read Full Article
European Ethanol Industry Needs Market Reforms to Counter Growing Trade Threat
by Jacques Moss (KNECT365) Recent changes in the EU’s trading relationships with the US and the Mercosur trade bloc may render the European ethanol industry uncompetitive. Taking measures to safeguard the EU’s domestic production base will bring benefits for the economy
July 23, 2019 Read Full Article
The Next Moonshot: Clean Energy Revolution
by Mike Carr (The Hill/New Energy America) ... It’s hard to avoid asking, where is today’s big, bold challenge that we can rally around and that our children and grandchildren can look back upon with pride? I’d argue it’s the clean
July 23, 2019 Read Full Article
Lyonsdale Biomass to Be Dismantled; Lewis County IDA to Acquire Title
(Naturally Lewis) The Lyonsdale Biomass energy facility at 3823 Marmon Road in Lyonsdale will be dismantled this summer and the vacant 46-acre property will be transferred to the Lewis County Industrial Development Agency under the terms of an agreement recently executed
July 23, 2019 Read Full Article
10th Clean Energy Ministerial Side Event ‘Sustainable Bioenergy and Biofuels: The Road to Low-Carbon Transitions’
(Biofuture Platform Newsletter) This side event provided an opportunity to discuss how a new possible workstrand on bioenergy would advance the CEM mission, including through synergies with other multilateral efforts. The event was moderated by the IEA, which also gave a presentation on
July 22, 2019 Read Full Article
Refiners: Cutting Ethanol Mandate Won't Hurt Corn Farmers
by Marc Heller (E&E News) Eliminating federal biofuel mandates wouldn't be the disaster for corn farmers that ethanol advocates predict, a study commissioned by petroleum refiners said. READ MORE An Assessment of the Renewable Fuel Standard Using EVA‐NEMS (Energy Ventures Analysis/The Fueling American
July 22, 2019 Read Full Article
Barnawartha Biodiesel Plant Bounces Back to Life, as Industry Calls for More Government Support
by Erin Somerville (ABC News) Australia's largest renewable biodiesel producer has restarted operations in north-east Victoria just three years after it was driven to closure. Key points: Just Biodiesel will produce up to 50 million litres of biodiesel each year at the
July 19, 2019 Read Full Article
APPG for British Bioethanol Publishes FINAL Report on E10 Inquiry
(British Bioethanol) The APPG for British Bioethanol has launched its final report on the introduction of E10 today (July 16, 2019). Stemming from the launch of an Inquiry in March into the lack of progress made by the DfT to publish
July 18, 2019 Read Full Article
E10 in China and Potential Market Devastation in Store for MTBE: Just When You Thought It Was Safe to Go Back in the Fuel Pool
by Steven Slome, Ron Cascone, and Matthew Morton (Nexant Inc./Biofuels Digest) As of mid-2019, the Chinese government has only six months to make good on its 2017 pledge to roll out mandatory ten percent ethanol content in gasoline (E10) on a
July 18, 2019 Read Full Article
Gillibrand Tours Plant
by Mike Putz (Dyersville Commercial) Democratic presidential candidate Kirsten Gillibrand might be trailing in the polls both in Iowa and nationally, but she believes stops like the one she made to Big River Resources in Dyersville will convince Iowans to send
July 17, 2019 Read Full Article
New University and Government Reports Set the Record Straight on Ethanol’s GHG Benefits
(Renewable Fuels Association) Two new academic studies released this week provide further evidence that grain-based ethanol is significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions and call into question the reliability of recent “land use change” analyses based on flawed satellite imagery-based methodologies. These studies
July 17, 2019 Read Full Article
US Ethanol Groups Weigh in on Ontario’s E15 Plan
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Growth Energy, the Renewable Fuels Association and the U.S. Grains Council sent joint comments to Ontario’s Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks July 8 regarding its proposed plan and schedule for implementing E15. The comments
July 17, 2019 Read Full Article
Trump Admin Abandons Fast Timeline for Rollback — Sources
by Maxine Joselow (E&E News) The Trump administration appears to have abandoned its initial strategy for defending the rollback of Obama-era clean car rules from court challenges, according to three people with knowledge of the situation. The administration was previously rushing to finalize
July 17, 2019 Read Full Article
Advanced Biofuels Canada New Study on Clean Fuel Standard Costs
(Advanced Biofuels Canada) Low carbon biofuels have ten-year track record in BC at costs below gasoline, resulting in affordable carbon reductions and much-needed competition in fuels -- Canada’s national low carbon fuels association issues a statement about the prospective costs of the
July 16, 2019 Read Full Article
Greening the Gas Grid in Denmark
(Netzwerk Biotreibstoffe) Denmark is the country in Europe with the highest share of green (decarbonized ) gas in the gas grid and could be the first European country to become independent of fossil natural gas by satisfying all of gas consumption
July 16, 2019 Read Full Article
The Contribution of Advanced Renewable Transport Fuels to the Decarbonisation of Transport in 2030 and Beyond
(Netzwerk Biotreibstoffe) In the light of climate change, there is an urgent need to decarbonize our societies. The transport sector is specifically challenging, as transport demand is still growing, and so are the sector´s GHG emissions. Electric mobility will not be
July 16, 2019 Read Full Article
Doubling Amount of Ethanol in Petrol 'Could Reduce Our Carbon Emissions’
(The Carlow Nationalist) Doubling the amount of ethanol in petrol would significantly reduce our carbon emissions. Every litre of petrol sold in Ireland contains 5% of the biofuel, ethanol. A new climate action report has found that doubling the amount of ethanol in
July 16, 2019 Read Full Article
A Bill Bonanza: The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Will Consider 23 Bills
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will consider 23 bills this morning on issues ranging from carbon capture to nuclear energy. Texas Sen. John Cornyn's bill, S. 1685 (116), for one, would require
July 16, 2019 Read Full Article
Press Release: Implications of Imported Used Cooking Oil as Biodiesel Feedstock
(National Non-Food Crops Centre) Increasing imports of UCO to the EU for use as biodiesel feedstock could have unintended and significant environmental consequences. -- NNFCC release a new report on the 'Implications of Imported Used Cooking Oil as Biodiesel Feedstock'. The report discusses
July 16, 2019 Read Full Article
Malaysia to File WTO Complaint against EU’s Palm Biofuel Policy by Nov
(Bernama/The Sun Daily) Malaysia will submit a complaint to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) by November to challenge the European Union’s restrictions on palm biofuel, according to Primary Industries Minister Teresa Kok Suh Sim. She said documents related to the complaint are
July 15, 2019 Read Full Article
On to Conference: The Annual Defense Policy Bill, H.R. 2500 (116)
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) The annual defense policy bill, H.R. 2500 (116) , passed Friday by the House now heads to conference, where lawmakers will have to work out their differences and overcome objections from the White House —
July 15, 2019 Read Full Article
Indian Producers Investigate Philippines Ethanol Model During Bioenergy Week
(U.S. Grains Council) The seventh annual Bioenergy Week of the Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP) provided an opportunity for the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) to highlight how the government and private industry in the Philippines cooperate to promote ethanol to a delegation
July 15, 2019 Read Full Article
Trump Administration Suspends Obama-Era Fuel Efficiency Penalties
by Jessica Campisi (The Hill) The Trump administration announced late Friday that it will formally suspend an Obama-era regulation that penalized automakers that didn’t meet fuel-efficiency requirements, Reuters reports. After Congress ordered federal agencies to adjust existing penalties in 2015, the National Highway
July 15, 2019 Read Full Article
Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards / Greenhouse Gas Standards
by Caitlin McCoy, Robin Just (Harvard University Environomental and Energy Law Program) The Environmental & Energy Law Program is tracking the environmental regulatory rollbacks of the Trump administration. ... The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the Department of Transportation (DOT)
July 15, 2019 Read Full Article
Senators Markey and Van Hollen Introduce Legislation to Create a National Climate Bank
(Office of Senatory Ed Markey (D-MA)) Will leverage $35 billion in public funds to fund as much as $700 billion in total investment into projects that support clean energy, reduce emissions -- Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.),
July 12, 2019 Read Full Article
Used Frying Fat Causes a Significant CO2 Reduction in the Transport Sector
(Dutch Emissions Authority (Google Translation)) The Netherlands is on track to reach the European target for renewable energy for transport of 10% in 2020. This means that in 2018, the Netherlands will be well above the European average at 8.9%. This is evident
July 12, 2019 Read Full Article
Republicans Form Conservation Caucus to Take on Environment, Climate Change
by Rebecca Beitsch (The Hill) Republicans on Wednesday launched an environment-minded conservation caucus aimed at battling the perception that their party doesn’t care about climate change. Dubbed the Republican Roosevelt Conservation Caucus after National Park Service founder President Teddy Roosevelt, the bicameral
July 12, 2019 Read Full Article
Organic Waste to Energy: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Ag-Grid Energy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Ag-Grid Energy LLC has 5 projects underway currently where the emphasis is organic waste to renewable energy. Ag-Grid Energy has a vision to drive dairy farm sustainability by converting agricultural and organic waste to energy, enhance
July 12, 2019 Read Full Article
Biofuels Can Help Reduce Current Account Deficit
by Syed Akhtar Ali (The Express Tribune) Pakistan’s current account deficit has created many problems for the economy. Major imports are of the oil sector. There is a misplaced notion that nothing can be done for reducing these imports. Biofuels based on
July 11, 2019 Read Full Article
Stating Carbon Fuel Standards: BIO World Congress Eyes Taking Low-Carbon Fuel Standards Beyond California
by Chris Clayton (DTN The Progressive Farmer) The uncertainty of the federal Renewable Fuels Standard and political fights with the petroleum industry are giving more weight to the need for major biofuel states to consider their own low-carbon fuel standards. After years
July 11, 2019 Read Full Article
EU Conference Discusses Ethical Dimensions of Transition into Bio-Economy
(Xinhua) Social sustainability and justice in bio-economy were the leading themes as 350 bio-economy experts gathered in Helsinki on Tuesday. The Bio-economy Scene 2019 conference was organized by the Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the European Commission. Matti Hayry, Professor
July 11, 2019 Read Full Article
New Coalition Working on SAF: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to AFCC
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Alternative Fuels & Chemicals Coalition advocates for public policy to promote the development and production of alternative fuels and chemicals, especially sustainable aviation fuels. It’s a collaborative government affairs effort formed just months ago in January
July 11, 2019 Read Full Article
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer Promises to Scrap Clean-Fuel Standards
by Mia Rabson (The Canadian Press/Globe & Mail) Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer is promising to scrap new standards that will force cleaner-burning fuels, in addition to eliminating the federal price on carbon if his party wins the fall federal election. In
July 10, 2019 Read Full Article
Bernie Sanders and AOC Want Congress to Declare a National Emergency over Climate Change
by Tara Golshan (Vox) Climate activists around the world are pushing governments to treat global warming as an emergency. -- ... On Tuesday, they got three prominent progressive allies in the United States to publicly join their cause: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Reps.
July 10, 2019 Read Full Article
24 Governors Call on Trump to Halt Rollback on Rules for Clean Cars
by Hiroko Tabuchi (New York Times) The opposition to one of President Trump’s most consequential regulatory rollbacks — a plan to weaken pollution standards for automobiles nationwide — widened on Tuesday when 24 governors, including three Republicans, urged the president to abandon his plan. The governors’ plea adds
July 10, 2019 Read Full Article
NACSAA Pushes Science-Based Decision Making, Other Principles, in Bonn
(Solutions from the Land) Science-based decision making and putting farmers at the center of all discussions were among the guiding principles touted by representatives of NACSAA and many of its member organizations in a workshop held by United Nation's facilitators in
July 09, 2019 Read Full Article
The Energy Transition and Oil Companies’ Hard Choices
by Rob West and Bassam Fattouh (The Oxford Institute for Energy Studies) In this Energy Insight, we explore the challenges of the energy transition for international oil companies (IOCs). We argue that energy demand forecasts are inconsistent with meeting Paris Agreement
July 09, 2019 Read Full Article
His Family Farm Was Failing. Now He Runs the World's Largest Biofuel Producer
by Parija Kavilanz (CNN Business) At 22, Jeff Broin was just six months out of college and getting started in the banking industry when his family turned to him for help. His father was scrambling to figure out a way to
July 09, 2019 Read Full Article
Successful Biogas to Renewable Energy Production Is All about the Feedstock
by John Hanselman (Vanguard Renewables/Biofuels Digest) Renewable natural gas production is a good news story, but how to get there successfully is more complicated than most of us in the business anticipated. At Vanguard Renewables, we entered the renewable energy landscape with
July 09, 2019 Read Full Article
ABS Fuels Advisory Offers Guidance on Adoption of Gas, Low Flashpoint Fuels
(Biofuels International) Classification service provider the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has published its ‘Advisory on Gas and Other Low Flashpoint Fuels’, to offer guidance on current technologies, regulatory requirements and operational considerations for adopting gas and low flashpoint fuels. “The majority
July 05, 2019 Read Full Article
Carinata Cover Cropping: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Agrisoma
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Agrisoma Biosciences, Inc. has the world’s largest collection of Carinata and an extensive modern crop improvement program that allows them to select high yielding varieties ideally suited for production across a broad range of geographies. Agrisoma
July 05, 2019 Read Full Article
Wärtsilä Forms Biogas Solutions Unit to Speed up Adoption of Clean Fuels
(Wärtsilä) The technology group Wärtsilä further strengthens its commitment to environmental sustainability with the formation of Wärtsilä Biogas Solutions. Wärtsilä Puregas Solutions, specialists in biogas upgrading technology, is now merged with Wärtsilä’s biogas liquefaction team, a unit with expert
July 05, 2019 Read Full Article
LPG Industry Aims for 100% Transition to BioLPG by 2040
(Liquid Gas UK) Full switch to bioLPG could deliver up to 90% reduction in carbon emissions; Liquid Gas UK calls for re-think on EPC methodology; Trade association announces re-brand from UKLPG to Liquid Gas UK Liquid Gas UK, the newly re-branded trade
July 05, 2019 Read Full Article
California Canada Pollution California, Canada Sidestep Trump, Ink Deal on Emissions
(Associated Press) California picked up an important partner its long-running dispute with the Trump administration over vehicle emissions and fuel economy by announcing a deal with Canada to work on pollution reductions. The agreement comes as the state is in a standoff
July 03, 2019 Read Full Article
The Impending IMO Regulation and its Unknown Impact to Shipping
by Cliff Gladstein (GNA/Act News) One year ago, ACT News published an article calling attention to the possible worldwide ramifications of the January 1, 2020 change in marine fuel specifications. The International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nations affiliated body that sets standards
July 03, 2019 Read Full Article
Trade Deal Opens EU to More Ethanol Imports from South America
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A new trade agreement reached June between Mercosur, a South American trade bloc consisting of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, and the European Union is expected to impact ethanol producers in both regions. The agreement includes
July 03, 2019 Read Full Article
Germany Calls for Coordinated Measures in Deforestation-Free Palm Oil Production
(Xinhua) The German government is expecting global palm oil production to grow and is calling for "globally coordinated measures to implement deforestation-free cultivation", according to a response to a parliamentary inquiry first reported on by the German press agency (dpa) on
July 03, 2019 Read Full Article
Daily on Energy: Biden’s Electric-Car Plan Could Suffer from Obama’s Lackluster Legacy
by John Siciliano & Josh Siegel (Washington Examiner) ... Former vice president Joe Biden has some scratching their heads over a climate plan he introduced last week during the Democratic debates to deploy 500,000 electric-car charging stations if elected president in 2020. The
July 02, 2019 Read Full Article
Mayors Approve Resolution Pressing for Carbon Pricing in Congress
by Josh Siegel (Washington Examiner) Mayors gathering for their annual meeting Monday approved a resolution urging Congress to pass carbon pricing legislation. It’s the first time the United States Conference of Mayors voted on a carbon pricing resolution. At least a few Republican
July 02, 2019 Read Full Article
DNC Committee Weighing Climate-Focused Debate
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) The Democratic National Committee is moving closer to the prospect of a debate devoted solely to climate change, amid every louder calls from Democratic presidential candidates and environmental groups to do so. A DNC
July 02, 2019 Read Full Article
Exxon Working to Push Trade Group on Climate Change
by Amy Harder (Axios) ... At issue here is the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, whose focus is oil and gas refining. Driving the news: Royal Dutch Shell, under pressure from activist investors, announced earlier this year it was leaving AFPM, citing "material
July 01, 2019 Read Full Article
How Real-World Vehicle Emissions Data Helps Cities Become Emission-Free
(Autocar Professional) Poor air quality is a major issue for virtually every city globally. It not only affects people’s health, but also other living beings and the environment, says The Real Urban Emissions (TRUE) initiative. The Real Urban Emissions (TRUE) Initiative is
July 01, 2019 Read Full Article
How Low Can You Go with Carbon?: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Aemetis
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Aemetis is an international renewable fuels and biochemicals company using patented industrial biotechnology for the construction and operation of advanced biorefineries. They own and operate a 60+ million gallon ethanol plant in California, a 50 million gallon
July 01, 2019 Read Full Article
The Need for a Climate Change Forum Is More Apparent than Ever Before
(Our Daily Planet) ... (W)e’re proud to formally announce Our Daily Planet’s partnership with the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University to host a first-of-its-kind forum on climate change with presidential hopefuls this fall! All declared 2020 presidential candidates will have
June 28, 2019 Read Full Article
Europe Faces Another Lost Decade in Decarbonising Transport
by Zoltán Szabó (Ethanol Europe/Climate Home News) An essential conversation is missing around sustainable biofuels as part of the decarbonisation solution -- ... Recent research carried out by Ecofys/Navigant has shown that electrification and European sourced biofuels are the only feasible technologies available
June 28, 2019 Read Full Article
EU States Gather to Discuss Imposition of Climate Taxes and Carbon Pricing on European Aviation Sector
(GreenAir Online) A coalition of EU States came together last week in the Netherlands to discuss how carbon pricing and taxes could be applied to Europe’s air transport sector. At a conference convened by the Dutch government, the country’s finance minister, Menno
June 28, 2019 Read Full Article
The Energy 202: Ex-EPA Engineer Says Wheeler Is Misleading Congress about Car Rule
by Dino Grandoni (Washington Post) Jeff Alson was sitting in his apartment in Ann Arbor, Mich., when he felt like he was going to explode. ... (Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew) Wheeler said Nichols never offered a counterproposal and accused Nichols of not being “a
June 28, 2019 Read Full Article
Top EPA Official Resigns Amid Scrutiny over Possible Ethics Violations
by Juliet Eilperin and Brady Dennis (Washington Post) Bill Wehrum’s ties to his former law firm and power sector clients prompted a congressional probe. -- Bill Wehrum spent only a year and a half as the Environmental Protection Agency’s top air official before
June 27, 2019 Read Full Article
Letter from Route 12 and the Pacific Northwest: From Waste Streams, a Bioeconomy Rising
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington state, there’s a new mill near the city of Dayton that is the first to use waste straw to make pulp for paper products, and biopolymers; and, a new project near Granger turning
June 27, 2019 Read Full Article
IATA Research Shows Air Passenger Demand for Sustainable Aviation Fuels
(Biofuels International) Research commissioned by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has shown that air passengers support the development of new technologies and sustainable aviation fuels to reduce aviation carbon emissions. These two proposals were preferred over the implementation of ‘environmental’ taxes,
June 27, 2019 Read Full Article
'Does Your Plan Save Miami?' Seven Minutes: The First Mention of Climate Change Came Last Night in the First Minute of Night One of the Democratic Primary Debates.
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) SEVEN MINUTES:The first mention of climate change came last night in the first minute of night one of the Democratic primary debates. The first question on the much-touted topic didn't arrive until close to an hour
June 27, 2019 Read Full Article
Concerns Rise as Low Palm Oil Prices May Increase Use for Biofuel
(Union zur Förderung von Oel- und Proteinpflanzen (UFOP)/Biodiesel Magazine) Selling prices for palm oil and diesel fuel have recently converged to the same level, after the former had even been at a lower price for six months. The Union zur Förderung
June 26, 2019 Read Full Article
FutureMetrics Criticizes Treatment of Biomass in EPA’s ACE Rule
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) ... The EPA released the final rule for its ACE program June 19. The program replaces the Obama-era Clean Power Plan and establishes emissions guidelines for states to use when developing plans to limit carbon dioxide at coal-fired
June 26, 2019 Read Full Article
Europe, US Aim to Boost Ethanol Share in Gasoline, but Obstacles Remain
by Solomon Lanitis, Chrysa Glystra and Wesley Swift (S&P Global Platts) Ambitious emissions targets are driving governments across the globe to mandate greater use of biofuels in gasoline, and higher-ethanol blends of gasoline look set to make further inroads in the EU
June 26, 2019 Read Full Article
Senators Urge EPA to Update Science on Ethanol
(Feedstuffs) EPA has rejected calls to update GHG calculations based on technological advancements in ethanol production. -- A bipartisan group of senators led by Sens. Chuck Grassley (R., Iowa) and Dick Durbin (D., Ill.), both members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition &
June 26, 2019 Read Full Article
Up for a Climate Debate--Welcome to Miami: Presidential Contenders Lock Horns tonight in Round One of the Primary Debates
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy)Presidential contenders lock horns tonight in Round One of the primary debates in Miami to prove they're ready to take on President Donald Trump — and show Democratic voters they have a plan to fight
June 26, 2019 Read Full Article
Creed on ‘Challenges’ Oosed by Anaerobic Digestion in Ireland
by Claire Mc Cormack (AgriLand) While the Government has committed to investigating the long-term potential of establishing a wide-scale biogas industry in its newly-published Climate Action Plan, the prospects “remain challenging”, according to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael
June 26, 2019 Read Full Article
Letter from Europe: The Bioeconomy’s Journey to Yes through the Valley of No
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Europe this past week we’ve had European Commission’s own and massive EU Sustainability Week, the ART Fuels Forum, and the Paris Air Show, and if you were trying to get anywhere quickly along the Paris-Brussels
June 25, 2019 Read Full Article
Governor Jay Inslee Rolls Out More Climate Policy
(Our Daily Planet) When it comes to climate policy, Governor Jay Inslee already has a plan to address nearly every element of the climate crisis, but on Monday he rolled out a new one — this time aimed at creating “Freedom from Fossil
June 25, 2019 Read Full Article
America’s Military Is Guzzling Gas and Emitting Massive Amounts of CO2
(Our Daily Planet) A recent report published by a political scientist at Boston University, found that the Department of Defense is the worlds “single largest producer of greenhouse gases”. America’s military alone emits around 153 million metric tons of carbon pollution
June 24, 2019 Read Full Article
The Fossil Fuel Industry Is Quietly Undermining Global Climate Talks
by Luke McGrath (Bloomberg/Houston Chronicle) Fossil fuel industry giants such as ExxonMobil and Royal Dutch Shell are maintaining an outsized presence at global climate discussions, working to undermine scientific consensus and slow policy progress, according to findings released Wednesday by an environmental monitoring organization. The Climate Investigations
June 24, 2019 Read Full Article
Norway Sees Sharp Drop in Palm Oil Biofuel Consumption after Ban on Government Purchasing
by Lauren Crothers (South Africa Today) -Norway saw drop in palm oil consumption following new regulations limiting sales in response to concerns about deforestation for plantations. -The decrease has been lauded by a Norwegian rainforest advocacy group, which called it
June 24, 2019 Read Full Article
Arizona Fire Highlights Challenges for Energy Storage
by Jonathan J. Cooper (Associated Press) Arizona’s largest electric company installed massive batteries near neighborhoods with a large number of solar panels, hoping to capture some of the energy from the afternoon sun to use after dark. Arizona Public Service has been
June 24, 2019 Read Full Article
2016-2018 Measuring, Governing and Gaining Support for Sustainable Bioenergy Supply Chains
(IEA Bioenergy) Several systems to define and monitor performance and progress towards sustainability of bioenergy have been developed for implementation at different scales, including operations, landscapes or jurisdictions. Some are formalised systems (e.g. GBEP 2011; RSB 2016; ISO 2015; ASTM 2016;
June 24, 2019 Read Full Article
Pope to Oil Execs: We Don’t ‘Have the Luxury’ to Wait to Fight Climate Change
by Inés San Martín (Crux) ... The June 13-14 meeting was focused on three points: A just transition; carbon pricing; and transparency in reporting climate risk. “Such a transition involves managing the social and employment impact of the move to a low-carbon society,”
June 23, 2019 Read Full Article
The Energy 202: Want to Address Climate Change? Fix Campaign Finance First, 2020 Democrats Say.
by Dino Grandoni (Washington Post) It is not just about the Earth's rising temperatures. Many Democrats running for president see climate change as symptomatic of another problem: too much money in politics. One White House hopeful, Sen. Michael F. Bennet (D-Colo.), on Thursday unveiled an anticorruption
June 21, 2019 Read Full Article
“P-O-W-E-R We’ve Got the Power, Because We Are with YEA! MN!”
(Climate Generation) Youth in the climate movement made waves across the globe this school year, and Minnesota youth working with Climate Generation played a big part. Our approach is to organize for power, recognizing the importance of putting relationships at the
June 21, 2019 Read Full Article
The Energy 202: This Former EPA Appointee Wants to Make Climate Change a Winning Issue for Trump
by Dino Grandoni (Washington Post) Democratic contenders for president are trying to make climate change a top electoral issue. But one Trump appointee who recently left the Environmental Protection Agency wants to make sure it is a winning issue for her former boss instead. Since
June 20, 2019 Read Full Article
United States Spend Ten Times More on Fossil Fuel Subsidies than Education
by James Ellsmoor (Forbes) The fossil fuel lobby has actively worked in many countries to protect their subsidies and avoid the imposition of carbon taxes. Doing so protects their profits. US spent on these subsidies in 2015 is more than the country’s