by Mike Bryan (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Instead of setting a blend wall for ethanol, why not set a fossil fuel pollution cap, writes Mike Bryan of BBI International. -- ... I have a crazy idea. Instead of setting a blend wall
environmental policy
Back TO HOMEZero Emission Vehicles: Not Really
by Don Siefkes, Debbie Baron and Eileen Broderick (E100 Ethanol Group, Mendo Alcohol Fuel Group) ... California Governor Jerry Brown and other Governors, the California Air Resources Board (CARB), and much of the major media are continuing their unnerving habit
September 21, 2015 Read Full Article
White House Needs Political Courage to Support RFS Targets, Climate Goals
(25 x '25) DOE late last week issued its second Quadrennial Technology Review (QTR), which department officials say examines the current status of clean energy technologies and identifies hundreds of clean energy research opportunities. ... So while the Obama administration would use
September 17, 2015 Read Full Article
David Attenborough Backs Huge Apollo-Style Clean Energy Research Plan
by Damian Carrington (The Guardian) Naturalist says 10-year public research and development programme, that would emulate race to put men on the moon, could halt climate change -- ... In a letter to the Guardian, the group argue that the approach,
September 16, 2015 Read Full Article
Winning Coalitions for Climate Policy
by Jonas Meckling, Nina Kelsey, Eric Biber, John Zysman (Science Magazine) The gap is wide between the implications of climate science and the achievements of climate policy. Natural sciences tell us with increasing certainty that climate change is real, dangerous, and solvable;
September 14, 2015 Read Full Article
Urban Air Iniative: Real Economic Harm Is to Keep Using Gasoline
(Urban Air Initiative/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Officials from the Urban Air Initiative called the recent effort by the American Petroleum Institute to discredit ethanol a smokescreen to hide the fact that the toxic components in gasoline are endangering the lives of millions
September 14, 2015 Read Full Article
How Political Pressure Is Building to Combat Urban Air Pollution – and Creating an Opportunity for Cellulosic Ethanol
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Digest speaks with Sebastian Soederberg, Novozymes’ VP for Biomass Conversion, on how the emotional issue of city smog is creating an opening for cellulosic ethanol, even with currently low oil prices. ... Let me start with air
September 09, 2015 Read Full Article
California Takes the Lead on Climate Policy
by Steven Cohen (Huffington Post/Columbia University's Earth Institute) ... As Alejandro Lazo reported in the Wall Street Journal last week: Democrats in California, which already has the toughest climate-change rules in the U.S., are pushing to strengthen them drastically, an effort that
September 09, 2015 Read Full Article
U.S. Biofuels Boom Threatens Brazilian Organic Farmers
(Foodtank.com) ... Miraci Pereira Silva is an organic farmer from the Roseli Nunes settlement in western Brazil. For years, together with other members of her community, she has grown crops like lettuce, beans, and papaya, which are sold locally and provide
September 08, 2015 Read Full Article
Does EPA’s Left Hand Know What Its Right Hand Is Doing on Octane and CO2?
by Brent Erickson (Biotechnology Innovation Organization/Biofuels Digest) The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has begun to examine boosting gasoline octane ratings to achieve greater greenhouse gas emission control standards for passenger vehicles after 2025. Higher octane ratings would enable increased fuel
September 08, 2015 Read Full Article
Sustainable Development Agenda: 2030
by William Colglazier (Science Magazine) On 25 to 27 September, United Nations member states will formally adopt the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as key elements of the post-2015 development agenda (1), successors to the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that focused
September 08, 2015 Read Full Article
Turning Garbage Into Profit
by Olga Grigoryants (Pacific Standard) Last year, Simi Valley Landfill entered what is becoming a fast-growing business of transforming fetid odors from decaying trash into fuel, a feat made possible by the miracles of modern chemistry and government subsidies. ... Last year, the
September 03, 2015 Read Full Article
Aviation and Greenhouse Gas Reductions: A Role for Renewable Jet Fuels
by Tom Ewing (Renewable Energy World) In a July 1 Federal Register notice, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) presented plans to control greenhouse gases (GHG) from aircraft. In August, in Washington, D.C., EPA held a hearing on its proposal.
September 02, 2015 Read Full Article
No, Obama Isn’t a Climate Hypocrite
by Stephen Stromberg (The Washington Post) President Obama declared climate change to be the defining threat of the century in Alaska this week, before he literally hiked a melting glacier. But, once again proving that virtually nothing will be enough for
September 02, 2015 Read Full Article
As California Sizzles: The Digest’s 2015 8-Slide Guide to California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Propel operates 43 Flex Fuel and 31 Biodiesel retail locations statewide, representing over 50,000 clean fuel transactions per month and 10,000,000 gallons of fuel sold to individual consumers annually. Between 2012 and 2014, Propel Fuels conducted
September 01, 2015 Read Full Article
Food Waste And Beef Fat Will Be Making Airplanes Soar
by Abbie Fentress Swanson (National Public Radio) ... A growing number of biofuel producers are teaming up with farms, meatpackers and waste management companies to tap gassy waste to meet new demand for renewable jet fuel and diesel for vehicles. Lots of
August 28, 2015 Read Full Article
Do Liberals Hate Biofuels?
by Douglas L. Faulkner (Biofuels Digest) Most liberals don’t hate biofuels. But most don’t love them either, mainly because of their underlying environmental concerns about first-generation biofuels, corn starch ethanol and soy biodiesel. The left’s deep ambivalence toward biofuels is thus
August 28, 2015 Read Full Article
Reading the Green Like a Pro—Heavy Duty Truck GHG Phase 2 Mandates Can Help You Ace It!
by Fran Flynn (Biofuels Digest/ Fleet Advantage) On the putting green, the golfer who putts last has the advantage of watching his predecessor ‘show him the line. ... On June 19, 2015 the Secretary of the Department of Transportation, Anthony R.
August 27, 2015 Read Full Article
EPA’s Estimate of the “Social Cost of Methane” Used to Justify New Source Performance Standards for the Oil and Natural Gas Industry
by Wayne J. D'Angelo (Fracking Insider) On Tuesday, August 18, 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) issued proposed New Source Performance Standards (“NSPS”) under the Clean Air Act covering methane and volatile organic compound (“VOC”) emissions for certain equipment, processes,
August 26, 2015 Read Full Article
Researchers: All Finnish Energy Could Be Renewable in 35 Years
(yle) Researchers say that in 35 years, Finland could theoretically get all of its energy needs using only renewable energy sources. Researchers at the Lappeenranta University of Technology say they've found ways to make such a transition feasible, both economically
August 25, 2015 Read Full Article
COP21 Offers Opportunity to Relaunch Biofuels Debate
by Robert Wright (Ethanol Producer Magazine/ePURE ) While the EU has put strict sustainability rules on biofuels, little to no discussion has taken place about developing similar rules for fossil fuels, writes Robert Wright. -- It’s time to relaunch the debate
August 25, 2015 Read Full Article
Kyoto Protocol's Carbon Credit Scheme ‘Increased Emissions by 600m Tonnes’
by Arthur Neslen (The Guardian) Major UNFCCC carbon trading scheme hit by serious corruption allegations involving organised crime in Russia and Ukraine -- A key carbon offsetting scheme was so open to abuse that three quarters of its allowances lacked environmental
August 25, 2015 Read Full Article
EPA Schedules Workshop on Considerations for Risk Assessment of Biotechnology Algae
(Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is scheduled to publish a notice in the August 25, 2015, Federal Register announcing a public meeting on September 30, 2015, to receive public input and comments on EPA's data
August 24, 2015 Read Full Article
EPA Issues 2 Proposals to Reduce Landfill Gas Emissions
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) On Aug. 14, the U.S. EPA issued two proposals to further reduce emissions of methane-rich gas from municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills. Under the proposals, new, modified and existing landfills would begin collecting and controlling
August 21, 2015 Read Full Article
Methane’s Sputnik Moment? The 7 Hottest Meth Techs to Watch, as US Methane Regulation Steps up
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Are these 7 companies the big winners from the EPA’s proposed rules for oil & gas well methane emissions? -- In Washington, the Environmental Protection Agency proposed a set of new regulations for the oil &
August 20, 2015 Read Full Article
Fuel from Garbage
by Venkatesha Babu (Business Today) ... A catalyst being developed by Shell Technology Centre Bangalore (STCB), one of the three tech hubs of Shell besides the ones in Houston and Amsterdam, holds out the promise of converting agricultural and municipal waste
August 17, 2015 Read Full Article
The GOP's All-of-the-Above Energy Policy Is Nothing Like Obama's
by Rebecca Leber (New Republic) ... Walker and Bush intend to end subsidies for clean energy, largely continue the same century-old tax breaks that remain for fossil fuels, and encourage expanded federal permits for coal and oil extraction. Consider Walker's full quote
August 10, 2015 Read Full Article
Celebrating a Decade of Success: The RFS Turns 10!
(Renewable Fuels Association) This Saturday marks 10 years since the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct) containing the original Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) was signed into law by President George W. Bush. The first RFS set America on a path
August 10, 2015 Read Full Article
Tensions over U.S. Electric Vehicle Mandates Spill into the Open
by Joseph White (PlanetArk) A long-simmering dispute between automakers and U.S. regulators over policies to promote electric vehicles spilled into the open on Tuesday, in the high stakes struggle over the future of automotive technology. The heads of two major lobby groups
August 05, 2015 Read Full Article
Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary, aka Clean Power Plan
(Environmental Protection Agency) The EPA Administrator, Gina McCarthy, signed the following notice on 8/3/2015, and EPA is submitting it for publication in the Federal Register (FR). While we have taken steps to ensure the accuracy of this Internet version of
August 05, 2015 Read Full Article
EPA Releases Clean Power Plan, Uncertainty for Biomass Remains
by Anna Simet (Biomass Magazine) The U.S. EPA has released the final Clean Power Plan rules, which contain some key changes from the original rule, as well as vague language related to using certain kinds of biomass fuel as a
August 04, 2015 Read Full Article
Ethanol: Towards a Viable Alternative for Domestic Cooking in Ethiopia
(Stockholm Environment Institute) This discussion brief is based on findings from a workshop carried out by SEI in Addis Ababa in conjunction with the presentation of the SCIP study results.... It also draws on insights given by nine experts interviewed in Addis Ababa
August 04, 2015 Read Full Article
Obama Climate Plan Revives Talk of a Carbon Tax
by Ben Geman (National Journal) Sweeping power-plant regulations would enable states to use pollution trading, fees to cut heat-trapping emissions. ... In a change from the draft plan, the final EPA rule now explicitly says states can use "fees" (i.e., taxes)
August 04, 2015 Read Full Article
Voters Want Pro Clean Energy Prez Candidates
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) NextGen Climate has released the results of a survey that finds voters in key presidential swing states support transitioning to at least 50 percent clean energy by 2030. Hart Research conducted the poll in eight battleground
August 04, 2015 Read Full Article
How to Detect Nonsense about Climate Change
by Stephen Stromberg (The Washington Post) The final version of the Clean Power Plan, President Obama’s signature climate change policy, came out on Monday. Here’s how to tell whether the politicians, special interests and commentators you’re going to hear talking
August 04, 2015 Read Full Article
Climate Deniers Uncovered
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) A paper published by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), “The Climate Deception Dossiers,” reveals decades of corporate misinformation campaigns by the fossil fuel industry. The paper focuses on seven deception dossiers, or collections containing nearly
August 03, 2015 Read Full Article
Inslee: I’ll Use My Authority to Impose Cap on Emissions
by Jim Brunner and Hal Bernton (Seattle Times) After being stymied on climate policy in the Legislature, Gov. Jay Inslee announced he’s pressing ahead with executive action to impose a cap on carbon emissions. Frustrated by legislative inaction on climate, Gov. Jay
August 03, 2015 Read Full Article
“Nothing Will Happen without the Will” – Addressing Climate Change through Low-Carbon Fuels
by Jennifer Holmgren (LanzaTech/Biofuels Digest) Condensed from remarks by Dr. Jennifer Holmgren, CEO of LanzaTech, on receiving the Rosalind Franklin Award for Leadership in Industrial Biotechnology, from the Biotechnology Industry Organization. Listen to 8-minute speech. [audio m4a="https://advancedbiofuelsusa.info/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/2015-0722-Jennifer-Holmgren-BIO-Congress.m4a"][/audio] ... Imagine how old you will be
August 03, 2015 Read Full Article
More unused oil, gas wells linger without permanent seals increasing risk
by Jeff Donn (Associated Press/Los Angeles Daily News) Five years after the Obama administration promised to move swiftly to permanently plug unused oil and gas wells in the Gulf of Mexico, even more shafts are lingering for longer periods with
July 20, 2015 Read Full Article
Ethanol Working to Benefit Brazil, America, the World
by Leticia Phillips (UNICA/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Brazil and the U.S. have a responsibility to collaboratively build a global biofuels market, writes Leticia Phillips of UNICA, following a visit between Brazilian President and President Obama. In late June, Brazilian President Dilma
July 20, 2015 Read Full Article
Notice of Opportunity To Comment on an Analysis of the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Attributable to Production and Transport of Cotton (Gossypium spp.) Seed Oil for Use in Biofuel Production
(Environmental Protection Agency) The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is inviting comment on its analysis of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions attributable to the production and transport of Gossypium spp. seed oil (“cottonseed oil”) feedstock for use in making biofuels such
July 16, 2015 Read Full Article
Ethiopia: The Biofuel Myth
by Jose Graziano DA Silva (UN Food and Agriculture Organization/AllAfrica.com) Over the past several years, biofuels have become a bone of contention. For some, a renewable energy source produced from organic matter amounts to a magic wand in the fight
July 16, 2015 Read Full Article
Treat Climate Change as Seriously as National Security: Report
by Alister Doyle (Reuters) Governments should treat climate change as seriously as threats to national security or public health, partly by focusing more on the worst scenarios of rising temperatures, an international report said on Monday. Crop failures, extreme heat waves
July 15, 2015 Read Full Article
It's Time for a Non-Renewable Carbon User Fee for Fuels -- Press Release
“If we’re serious about reducing Climate Change caused by Green House Gases, then we need serious actions,” said Joanne Ivancic, Executive Director of Advanced Biofuels USA on Capitol Hill in Washington DC. “The first steps are including the price of
July 14, 2015 Read Full Article
It's Time for a Non-Renewable Carbon User Fee for Fuels
by Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuels USA) Advanced Biofuels USA introduced a new idea for capturing externalities of non-renewable fuels at the Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EXPO + Forum held in the Caucus Room of the US House of
July 13, 2015 Read Full Article
Fossil Fuel Industry Must 'Implode' to Avoid Climate Disaster, Says Top Scientist
by Damian Carrington (The Guardian) ‘The age of carbon is over’ and a transition to a greener economy is inevitable, says Hans Joachim Schellnhuber, adviser to the German government and Pope Francis ... Professor Hans Joachim Schellnhuber, an adviser to the German government
July 13, 2015 Read Full Article
NE Ethanol Board Working to Make Ozone Rules Workable
(WNAX) Nebraska Ethanol Board leaders are working with various city officials in the region to find ways to make EPA’s proposed Ozone regulations more workable. Nebraska Ethanol Board Administrator Todd Sneller says there’s a great opportunity for ag and biofuels
July 10, 2015 Read Full Article
Oregon Declares Biomass Carbon Neutral
by Anna Simet (Biomass Magazine) After a House vote of 44-9, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has signed a bill that exempts biomass-derived carbon dioxide emissions from regulation under certain air pollution laws. The bill defines biomass as nonfossilized and biodegradable organic
July 07, 2015 Read Full Article
OMB Weighs in on Biomass Language Included in Appropriations Bill
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The White House Office of Management and Budget has published a statement of administration policy that details its opposition to several components of an appropriations bill pending the in the U.S. House of Representatives,
July 06, 2015 Read Full Article
Justin Trudeau's Environment Plan: End Fossil Fuel Subsidies, Invest in Clean Tech
by Trinh Theresa Do (CBC News) Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau has unveiled myriad environmental promises in Vancouver, including hundreds of millions of dollars in clean technology investment and a continued focus on climate change. ... Within 90 days of the conference, a
June 30, 2015 Read Full Article
Martin O'Malley: Zero out Fossil Fuels by 2050
Martin O'Malley (USA Today) ... New technologies now put an independent clean energy future decidedly within our reach as a nation. ... I would keep domestically produced oil and gas in the U.S. READ MORE
June 22, 2015 Read Full Article
Pope Blames Climate Change on Humans in 183-Page Call for Action
by Devin Henry (The Hill) Global warming is happening, human activity is causing it and more needs to be done, especially by the world’s governments and policymakers, to stop it, Pope Francis writes in his landmark encyclical on the environment,
June 19, 2015 Read Full Article
Comment Period Open on Proposed Discretionary Changes to BCAP
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The USDA has announced its intent to prepare a programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS) to assess the potential environmental consequences associated with proposed discretionary changes to the Biomass Crop Assistance Program. A public comment
June 17, 2015 Read Full Article
Know Your Oil: Creating a Global Oil-Climate Index
by Deborah Gordon, Adam Brandt, Joule Bergerson, Jonathan Koomey (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace) Oil is changing. Conventional oil resources are dwindling as tight oil, oil sands, heavy oils, and others emerge. Oil is changing. Conventional oil resources are dwindling and technological
March 30, 2015 Read Full Article
How to Beat the High Cost of Gasoline. Forever!
by Adam Lashinsky and Nelson D. Schwartz (CNN Money/Fortune Magazine) You probably don't know it, but the answer to America's gasoline addiction could be under the hood of your car. More than five million Tauruses, Explorers, Stratuses, Suburbans, and other vehicles