(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
environmental policy
Back TO HOMEUPDATE 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
June 20, 2019 Read Full Article
Trump Officials Face off on Car Rule: King, Nichols Headline Auto Rule Hearing
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) Top EPA and Transportation Department officials will likely face intense grilling from Democrats today at a joint hearing of two House Energy and Commerce subcommittees on the Trump administration's proposed rollback of auto emissions standards.
June 20, 2019 Read Full Article
Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee: Notice for Solicitation of Members DEADLINE: June 30, 2019
(U.S. Department of Energy) In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the U.S. Department of Energy is soliciting nomination for candidates to fill vacancies on the Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee (Committee). The nominee's name, resume, biography, and any letters
June 20, 2019 Read Full Article
Biofuel Expert: In Europe, Facts Don’t Win over Theories
(EURACTIV) Europe’s demonstrated preference for ideology over science explains why Europe is both the most vocal climate proponent on the world stage and also the most wasteful and ineffective one, Eric Sievers, director of investments at Ethanol Europe, told EURACTIV.com in
June 19, 2019 Read Full Article
NACSAA Delegates to Global Climate Talks Stress Climate Smart Agriculture in Face of Severe Weather Events
(Solutions from the Land) North American Climate Smart Agriculture (NACSAA) leaders are once again on the global stage, talking this week with representatives from nations around the world meeting in Bonn, Germany, promoting the role of farmers, ranchers and woodland owners
June 19, 2019 Read Full Article
B-100 Program Can Save IDR100 Trillion in Foreign Exchange: Minister
by M. Fikri/Eliswan Azly (AntaraNews.com) Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said the 100 percent biodiesel program (B-100), now being developed by the Ministry of Agriculture, will save up to Rp100 trillion in foreign exchange once it is widely used. "We can save
June 19, 2019 Read Full Article
Senator Amy Klobuchar Releases Plan of More Than 100 Actions for Her First 100 Days as President
by @AmyForAmerica (Medium.com) U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar released a plan outlining the more than 100 concrete steps she will take in her first 100 days as President of the United States to take on the biggest challenges we face at home
June 19, 2019 Read Full Article
If Rice Is Nice, Rice Trash Is Cash: Gevo, Praj Working to Convert Rice Straw to Products
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Specifically, in the past month, Gevo also executed an agreement with Praj to develop jet fuel and isooctane from rice straw and other feedstocks. Gruber noted that “we believe this second-generation technology combination has great
June 19, 2019 Read Full Article
1 Big Thing: The Persistence of Fossil Fuel Subsidies
(Axios) ... International Energy Agency data shows that worldwide subsidies that lower consumer costs for fossil fuels grew to over $400 billion last year, their highest levels since 2014. Why it matters: The persistence of the payments, despite some progress in pricing reforms in
June 18, 2019 Read Full Article
Could the RFS Move Toward a Low Carbon Program Like LCFS?
by Jeff Barber (OPIS) The idea of revising the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) to operate more like the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) appears to be getting a fresh look. The rise in prices for California’s LCFS credits may be a motivating factor. More about
June 18, 2019 Read Full Article
SkyNRG and UL Sign Deal during Dutch Royal Visit to Explore Development of Sustainable Aviation Fuel in Ireland
(SkyNRG) SkyNRG and the Bernal Institute at University of Limerick has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore the development of sustainable aviation fuel manufacturing in Ireland. The agreement between SkyNRG and Bernal was signed in the presence of Dutch Minister
June 18, 2019 Read Full Article
Sweden 'Must Double Biofuels Use' to Meet Emissions Goal: Report
(The Local) The use of biofuels for Sweden's cars and trucks will need to more than double and the use of electricity increase ten-fold if the country is to meet its goal of zero transport emissions by 2045, according to a
June 18, 2019 Read Full Article
KiwiRail Firms up Plans for Biodiesel Trials Despite Supply Doubts
by Meriana Johnsen (Newsie) KiwiRail is set to trial biodiesel on some trains and ferries, but it cannot source enough to switch completely anytime soon. A six-to-12-month trial on off-peak Wellington trains is due to begin midway through this year, according to
June 18, 2019 Read Full Article
Gamalux to Profit from Sustainability Policies of EU
(Daily Express/Bernama) Amid the uproar over the European Union’s (EU) discriminatory move against palm oil, one player in the Malaysian palm oil downstream sector seems unperturbed and is in fact expecting better demand for its products this year from European clients.
June 18, 2019 Read Full Article
Feinstein, Bennet Introduce Bill to Lock In a Science-Based Method to Determine the Cost of Carbon Pollution
(Office of Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)) Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and 15 of their collegues reintroduced the Carbon Pollution Transparency Act (S. 1745), legislation to ensure the federal government implements a science-based process to account for the cost of carbon
June 17, 2019 Read Full Article
Neste’s Zero Island Project Cuts Emissions on Lidö by 78%
(Neste) ... To examine what it takes to reduce CO2 emissions as fast as possible, Neste and its partners set to turn the island of Lidö in the Swedish archipelago into a climate neutral Zero Island in just twelve months. As
June 17, 2019 Read Full Article
ANA and LanzaTech Sign Offtake Agreement for Sustainable Aviation Fuel
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) In the land of the rising sun, things are looking a whole lot brighter for All Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan’s largest airline, and for LanzaTech and their sustainable aviation fuel. ANA and LanzaTech signed an
June 17, 2019 Read Full Article
Bill Aims to Extend MLPs to Bioenergy, Biofuel Projects
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) Sens. Chris Coons, D-Del., and Jerry Moran, R-Kan., and Reps. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., and Ron Estes, R-Kan., reintroduced bipartisan legislation June 13 that aims to give investors in clean energy projects access to the use of
June 17, 2019 Read Full Article
Potential to Decarbonize Long Distance Transport: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Drop-in Biofuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) IEA Bioenergy Task 39, with the help of the National Renewable Energy Lab and University of British Columbia, has been working facilitating the commercialization of conventional and advanced liquid biofuels from biomass drop-in biofuels for quite
June 14, 2019 Read Full Article
The Oil Industry and Environmentalists form an Odd Alliance against Trump on Ethanol
by Emily Moon (Pacific Standard) It could be years before farmers see any gains from the rollback of E15 restrictions—or before oil interests and environmental groups see any losses. -- ... For ethanol's biggest opponents, the deregulation could usher in a whole
June 13, 2019 Read Full Article
NACSAA Representatives in Bonn for World Climate Talks on Agriculture
(North America Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance) North America Climate Smart Agriculture (NACSAA) representatives will be at UN talks in Bonn, Germany, next week to push the message that agriculture is a major solution platform for achieving global climate stability and sustainable development
June 13, 2019 Read Full Article
European Ethanol Scores Higher Greenhouse Gas Savings – Again
(ePURE) EU ethanol production and use resulted in more than 71% average savings over fossil fuels in 2018, according to the latest certified producer data; it’s the seventh straight year ethanol’s decarbonisation performance has improved -- European renewable ethanol delivered an average
June 13, 2019 Read Full Article
How Mobil Pushed Its Oil Agenda through 'Charitable Giving'
by Sharon Kelly (The Guardian) The Mobil Foundation funded universities and civic groups in the 90s, documents reveal, but largesse was not disinterested -- ... The Mobil Foundation also sought to use its tax-exempt grants to shape American laws and regulations
June 13, 2019 Read Full Article
The Think Tank Struggling to Write the Green New Deal
by Robinson Meyer (The Atlantic) New Consensus, the group charged with fleshing out the plan, doesn’t aim to publish policy specifics until early next year. -- ... New Consensus aims to be the policy quarterback for the Green New Deal. It wants
June 13, 2019 Read Full Article
World Environment Day: Strong Economies Drive Clean Environments
(Diesel Technology Forum) New generations of advanced technology diesel engines, cleaner diesel fuel, and renewable biofuels pave the way for global prosperity and accelerate clean air progress -- The Diesel Technology Forum issued the following statement on the occasion of United Nations World Environment
June 12, 2019 Read Full Article
EPA Solicits Nominations for SAB, Related Committees DEADLINE: June 24, 2019
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) The U.S. EPA is inviting nominations of scientific experts to be considered for appointment to the agency’s Science Advisory Board and four SAB committees, including the SAB Agricultural Science Committee, which provides advice to the chartered
June 12, 2019 Read Full Article
Bipartisan Legislation Would Help Finance Carbon Capture and Storage Projects
(Office of Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO)) U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Rob Portman (R-OH) today reintroduced a bill to make it easier for power plants and industrial facilities to finance the purchase and installation of carbon capture, utilization, and storage
June 12, 2019 Read Full Article
EPA's Internal Advisory Board Recommends Investigating Science behind Auto Emission Rollback
by Miranda Green (The Hill) The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Science Advisory Board (SAB) is recommending a review of the agency's decision to roll back a prominent Obama-era policy on auto emissions. The independent group made up of researchers and scientists wrote in a
June 12, 2019 Read Full Article
APPG for British Bioethanol Publishes Interim Report on E10 Inquiry
(British Bioethanol) Chair of the APPG for British Bioethanol Nic Dakin MP today launched the publication of the interim report into introduction of E10 in Westminster. ... Interim recommendations: Green solution needed to address increasing petrol usage in UK Calls for DfT
June 12, 2019 Read Full Article
As Biden Tours Iowa, Farmers Want to Know Where He Stands on Ethanol
by Jarrett Renshaw (Reuters) Joe Biden may have an ethanol problem. The former U.S. vice president has pledged support for advanced biofuels as part of his bid for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. But Biden, who leads the crowded Democratic field in opinion
June 11, 2019 Read Full Article
Towards Sustainable Bioeconomy - Lessons Learned from Case Studies
by Marta Gomez San Juan, Anne Bogdanski and Olivier Dubois (Food and Agricultural Organization) ... )T)his report offers lessons from 26 case studies of sustainable bioeconomy interventions from around the world and from a range of different sectors. The overall aim of the report is
June 11, 2019 Read Full Article
Inslee’s “Evergreen Economy” Plan Includes Green Infrastructure and Climate-Smart Ag, but Barely
by Declan Foraise (Ecosystem Marketplace) Washington state Governor Jay Inslee has built his entire campaign on climate change, and today (May 16, 2019) he unveiled his “Evergreen Economy” proposal to redirect more than two dozen existing US programs towards the climate challenge.
June 11, 2019 Read Full Article
Government’s Contradictory Policies Killing Agro-Industrial Sectors in Nigeria
by Femi Ibirogba (The Guardian) ... Mr Rajavelu Rajasekar is a Director (Agro), Allied-Atlantic Distilleries, Agbara, Ogun State, where 250 metric tonnes of raw cassava roots are processed into ethanol. He revealed, in this interview with Head, Agro-Economy Desk, FEMI IBIROGBA,
June 10, 2019 Read Full Article
Daily on Energy: Inslee Sees a Place for Corn in Plan to Scrap EPA’s Ethanol Mandate
by John Siciliano and Josh Siegel (Washington Examiner) Democratic presidential hopeful Jay Inslee says there would be a place for corn ethanol in his plan to replace the nation’s renewable fuel program with one that has a record of making corn farmers wary. Inslee tells
June 10, 2019 Read Full Article
Opinion: Presidential Candidates Need a Vision for Biofuels
by Rob Hogg, Amanda Ragan and Bill Couser (Des Moines Register/Biofuels Vision 2020) As presidential candidates visit Iowa ahead of the caucuses, Biofuels Vision 2020 – a coalition of biofuels supporters – is here to educate the candidates about how renewable, low-carbon
June 10, 2019 Read Full Article
Climate Policy Foes Seize on New White House Rule to Challenge Endangerment Finding
by Marianne Lavelle (Inside Climate Today) The rule opened new ways for the fossil fuel industry to challenge science-based policy. One group is using it to try to shatter the foundation of climate policy. -- ... The Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI), a
June 07, 2019 Read Full Article
The Policy Enabling Environment for Climate Smart Agriculture: A Case Study of California
by Josette Lewis and Jessica Rudnick (Frontiers Media) Climate smart agriculture (CSA) provides a framework for balancing multiple dimensions of agriculture and food systems in an era of climate change: addressing agricultural contributions to global greenhouse gas emissions, vulnerabilities to climate
June 07, 2019 Read Full Article
Indian Navy Steams ahead with Its Go Green’ Plans in Eco-Friendly Push
(The Hindu) ... To promote use of biodiesel, the Navy said that plans were afoot to replace High Speed Diesel (HSD) (annual usage of 6,300 kL) with B5 blend of HSD. This would result in a direct savings of 5% of
June 07, 2019 Read Full Article
Swedavia Continues to Promote the Air Transport Industry’s Transformation to Tackle Climate Change – Bio Jet Fuel to Be Used at Several Airports
(Swedavia Airports) Beginning June 5 and for the next few days, bio jet fuel will be used to refuel aircraft at several of Swedavia’s airports, including Stockholm Arlanda Airport. These airports are some of the only ones in the world
June 07, 2019 Read Full Article
E Pluribus Zillions: As Climate Change Gets a Drubbing at the Polls, What next?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Australia, the center-right Liberal/National party coalition won the Federal election this week, and the center-left Labor Party finds itself without office, without a federal leader, and without much of a clue how the polls predicting
June 07, 2019 Read Full Article
Federation of Petroleum Suppliers ‘Cleans up’ with Future Focus on Biofuels
(Biofuels International) UK and Ireland liquid fuels distribution trade association the Federation of Petroleum Suppliers (FPS) has unveiled its future vision for cutting carbon through the development of biofuels. With a focus on clean growth and decarbonisation, the new vision was announced
June 07, 2019 Read Full Article
EPA Switches Career Officials Running Auto, Climate Offices
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) Chris Grundler, the career official who heads the EPA office that oversees vehicle emissions and the Renewable Fuel Standard, will switch jobs with the head of another division that works on climate change as
June 07, 2019 Read Full Article
Government Launches Greener Fuels Campaign
by Gareth Roberts (Fleet News) A Government campaign aims to help educate drivers about greener fuels, with filling stations clearly identifying biofuel content. New labels are being rolled out across the UK. Petrol, which contains up to 5% renewable ethanol, will be labelled
June 07, 2019 Read Full Article
Land, Air and Sea: Canada Funds Clean-Energy Transport R&D
by Laureen Fagan (Sustainability Times) Canadians are getting serious about clean transportation, and the government has announced the first 10 awards in a four-year program that will see $2.4 million committed to developing emissions-free solutions for aviation, rail and marine
June 07, 2019 Read Full Article
Finland to Join Other Nordic Countries in Reducing Emissions in Aviation
by Robin Whitlock (Renewable Energy Magazine) Finland’s incoming government has today (June 4, 2019) introduced a government programme establishing ambitious climate targets and a goal for carbon neutral Finland in 2035. -- ... “This is a significant goal, enabling Finland to join the
June 07, 2019 Read Full Article
DNC Tells Inslee It Won't Host Climate Debate
by Tal Axelrod (The Hill) Democratic presidential hopeful and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced Wednesday that the Democratic National Committee (DNC) is rebuffing his repeated entreaties for a primary debate focused on climate change. "Today, my team received a call from the Democratic National
June 07, 2019 Read Full Article
Renewable Fuel Standard: Information on Likely Program Effects on Gasoline Prices and Greenhouse Gas Emission
(U.S. Government Accountability Office) We reviewed the effects of the Renewable Fuel Standard, which requires biofuels to be blended into U.S. transportation fuels in increasing volumes. The standard was associated with modest gas price increases in areas outside of the Midwest. Most
June 06, 2019 Read Full Article
Resolution: Airlines Call for Implementation of Global Carbon Offsetting Scheme
(International Air Transport Association) The International Air Transport Association (IATA) 75th Annual General Meeting (AGM) overwhelmingly approved a resolution calling on governments to continue important work for full implementation of the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) agreed
June 04, 2019 Read Full Article
FEFAC Releases Its Publication on the Feed Industry’s Use of Co-Products
(European Feed Manufacturers' Association) On 3 June 2019, FEFAC released its publication called “Co-products, an essential part of animal nutrition”, which aims to create increased awareness among EU stakeholders and policy makers about the feed industry’s extensive use of co-products. The
June 04, 2019 Read Full Article
IEA Bioenergy Annual Report 2018
(IEA Bioenergy) This document contains the report of the IEA Bioenergy Executive Committee for 2018. This year, we have presented a special feature ‘ Measuring, governing and gaining support for sustainable bioenergy supply chains – lessons and messages from a three-year Inter-Task project’, the preparation of which
June 03, 2019 Read Full Article
Biofuels Production and Consumption in Brazil: Status, Advances and Challenges
Glaucia Mendes Souza, Rubens Maciel Filho, Luís Cassinelli, Carlos Henrique de Brito Cruz and Renato D. Godinho (IEA Bioenergy Task 39) ... Brazil has an energy matrix with substantial renewable content, with renewables (including hydropower) accounting for 42.9% of the total domestic energy supply
June 03, 2019 Read Full Article
The Fuzzy Math of Carbon Capture
by RP Siegel (American Energy Society) ... But when (Peter) Eisenberger talks about a sustainable economy, he’s talking about supplementing the work of trees by capturing the greenhouse gas from, say, the smokestack of a coal-fired power plant, or even directly
June 03, 2019 Read Full Article
The Energy 202: Green New Deal Is Alive and Well in Liberal Cities and States
by Dino Grandoni (Washington Post) The Green New Deal may be floundering in Washington. But it is alive and well in left-leaning states and cities across the country. From Maine to California, Democratic politicians have begun adopt the Green New Deal brand -- a
June 03, 2019 Read Full Article
Trump Administration Rebrands Fossil Fuels as "Molecules of U.S. Freedom"
by James Ellsmore (Forbes) The United States Department of Energy (DOE) has apparently started referring to fossil fuels as “molecules of freedom” and specifically natural gas as “freedom gas"; 72% of Americans saying that they consider climate change to be a moderate,
June 02, 2019 Read Full Article
Emissions from International Aviation Must Be Included in a UK Net-Zero by 2050 Target, Says Government Advisors
(GreenAir Online) The UK’s Committee on Climate Change (CCC), which advises the government on climate policy and action, has recommended that to be line with the goals of the Paris Agreement, the UK should set a 2050 net-zero target to cover
June 02, 2019 Read Full Article
British Airways and Velocys Anticipate Starting UK Sustainable Jet Fuel Production in 2024
(GreenAir Online) The British Airways project with renewable fuels company Velocys is “well advanced”, say the two partners, and production of waste-to-jet fuel is slated to start in 2024 from a new facility in north-east England. An 80-acre (32ha) brownfield site
June 02, 2019 Read Full Article
Fulfilling Climate Obligations Will Be Hard but We’re up to the Challenge, Promises Aviation Industry
(GreenAir Online) Addressing aviation’s impact on climate change and meeting the challenge was a key theme at the industry's recent Global Sustainable Aviation Forum (GSAF) in Montreal. While attention remains focused on ICAO’s CORSIA offsetting scheme delivering carbon neutral growth from 2020, the
June 02, 2019 Read Full Article
With New Regulation Complete, What’s Next for EU Biofuels?
by Dave Keating (Euractiv) “ILUC has been solved,” declared Bernd Kuepker, a renewables policy officer at the European Commission’s energy department, at an event held in Brussels this week. He was, of course, not saying that the phenomenon of Indirect Land Use Change has been
May 31, 2019 Read Full Article
Net-Zero Plans Face EV Reality: Real World, Road Rules
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) With few detailed proposals out there, presidential candidates' calls for net zero carbon emissions in the transportation sector will likely lean on increasing the share of electric vehicles on the road, experts say. But,
May 31, 2019 Read Full Article
European Bio-Based Economy Launches Bio-Society 2050 Vision
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Belgium, 16 organizations teamed with the Bio-Based Industries Consortium and its members along with the Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking’s the States Representatives Group and Scientific Committee to develop and publish their vision for a circular European
May 31, 2019 Read Full Article
European Ethanol Scores Higher Greenhouse Gas Savings – Again
(ePURE) EU ethanol production and use resulted in more than 71% average savings over fossil fuels in 2018, according to the latest certified producer data; it’s the seventh straight year ethanol’s decarbonisation performance has improved -- European renewable ethanol delivered an average