(ChiniMandi) Chandigarh: Punjab is taking steps to become a national frontrunner in biofuel production, as the state government has announced the Punjab State Policy for Biofuels. This policy aims to fulfill 20 percent of the state’s total fuel demand through biofuels by
health effects
Back TO HOMEUdupi: Nandikoor Villagers to Stage Protest against M11 Industry Biodiesel, Palm Oil Plant
(Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (TP)) Nandikoor villagers, in association with various organisations, will stage a protest against the M11 Industry biodiesel and palm oil plant in front of the plant on Tuesday, July 30. Dinesh Kotian, president of the protest committee,
July 30, 2024 Read Full Article
Ultrafine Particles in Jet Fuel Emissions Responsible for Serious Health Problems, Finds Study
by Christopher Surgenor (GreenAir) ... The amount of UFPs emitted from flights depends strongly on the composition of the jet fuel and the study estimates that the use of 100% hydrotreated jet fuel with very low sulphur and aromatics can reduce
July 09, 2024 Read Full Article
Biofuels Hold Promise as Alternative to Fossil Fuels
by Pitambara and Bishwa Bhaskar Choudhary (The Tribune) The govt should consider making a budgetary allocation to implement measures to promote wasteland for the cultivation of energy crops and impart technical know-how to farmers. Increasing the allocation and extending the term
October 16, 2023 Read Full Article
New Book Exposes EPA, Oil Industry’s Role in Ensuring the Dominance of High-Emission Fuels: Gasolinegate Debuts
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, emails obtained through the Freedom of Information Act show that EPA and oil interests collaborated to manipulate computer models used to certify fuel emissions and set standards, say authors Burl Haigwood and Doug Durante
June 13, 2023 Read Full Article
New Issue Brief Challenges the EV Vision: Biofuels and a Technology Neutral Strategy the Better Approach
(Clean Fuels Development Coalition) The widespread introduction of electric vehicles as a means of reducing carbon emissions presents a far greater challenge than the public is being led to believe, according to new research by the Clean Fuels Development Coalition (CFDC). This
June 12, 2023 Read Full Article
Burning Trash for the Planet? Climate Cash Sets off Branding Frenzy.
by Evan Halper (Washington Post) Incinerators, plastics companies and big agriculture among polluters racing to position as green as billions in federal subsidies flow -- ... (The waste-to energy) Industry officials claim the technology is more sustainable than landfills, which create a
May 29, 2023 Read Full Article
Modern Bioenergy Provides Opportunities for Developing Countries
(IEA Bioenergy) At the online event ’Opportunities of bioenergy and biofuels in developing economies‘, organized on 22 and 23 May by the IEA Bioenergy Technology Collaboration Programme (IEA Bioenergy) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), more than 500
May 24, 2023 Read Full Article
Biden Will Let California Lead on Electric Trucks, Despite Industry Protest
by Anna Phillips (Washington Post) The EPA plans to grant California a waiver that will allow the state to phase out diesel-powered trucks, helping communities burdened by truck pollution -- The Biden administration will approve new California rules to cut
March 20, 2023 Read Full Article
EPA Proposes to Strengthen Air Quality Standards to Protect the Public from Harmful Effects of Soot Public Comment DEADLINE unclear
(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) New Standards Demonstrate President Biden’s Leadership to Reduce Air Pollution that Threatens Communities -- Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a proposal to strengthen a key national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) for fine
January 06, 2023 Read Full Article
RFA: California Takes Big Step toward E15 Approval with Release of Emissions Study
(Renewable Fuels Association) The state of California took an important step toward approving the use of cleaner, lower-cost E15 today (July 15, 2022) by releasing the results of a multi-year study of the fuel’s emissions impacts. The results of the study,
July 18, 2022 Read Full Article
Will Los Angeles Join a Ban on New Gas Stations?
byLinda Poon (Bloomberg) The small but growing Safe Cities movement is looking to LA to help stop the construction of new gas stations across North America. -- ... Cities in the North Bay area of California, New York and British
July 13, 2022 Read Full Article
Jefferson City Fleet to Fuel up with Missouri-Made Biodiesel
(Missouri Soybean Merchandizing Council/Biobased Diesel Daily) Missouri Soybeans is powering the state capital of Jefferson City with biodiesel. With more than 140,000 combined gallons used on-road in city fleets, Jefferson City Public Works plans to utilize Missouri-made, soybean-powered biodiesel to shift
July 05, 2022 Read Full Article
Bureau Veritas Completes New Study on Ammonia as Fuel
(Bureau Veritas) Bureau Veritas (BV), a world leader in testing, inspection and certification, carried out a study aiming at de-risking the use of ammonia as a marine fuel, with a specific focus on leak mitigation and treatment, in collaboration with the
June 27, 2022 Read Full Article
AltEn Environmental Pollution: Tracking Contamination around a Closed Ethanol Plant
(University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Public Health) Scientists are investigating the contamination of water, soil, and air caused by a closed ethanol plant that is being sued by the State of Nebraska. Toxic piles of ethanol byproduct -- called wet
April 05, 2022 Read Full Article
Proposed Rule and Related Materials for Control of Air Pollution from New Motor Vehicles: Heavy-Duty Engine and Vehicle Standards
(Environmental Protection Agency) On March 3, 2022, EPA Administrator Regan signed a proposed rule that would set new, more stringent standards to reduce pollution from heavy-duty vehicles and engines starting in model year (MY) 2027. The proposed standards would significantly reduce
March 07, 2022 Read Full Article
New HEI Report Examines Major Sources of PM and Impacts on Global Health
(Health Effects Institute) A new report published by HEI brings together for the first time comprehensive global estimates of the most common sources of fine particulate matter (PM) air pollution and its impacts on global health. Key findings in the report, Global Burden
December 16, 2021 Read Full Article
California’s Dirty Little Secret: Oil Wells in the Backyard
by Alexandria Herr (Capital & Main) Even Texas and Wyoming do a better job protecting communities from oil and gas drilling. -- As a child, Ashley Hernandez remembers pretending that the oil pumpjacks that loomed over her neighborhood were dinosaurs. Other children
October 14, 2021 Read Full Article
Biofuels Offer a Cost-Effective Way to Lower Shipping Emissions
by Christina Nunez (Argonne National Laboratory) Swapping heavy fuel oil with fuel made from wood waste, waste fats, oils and greases could drastically cut planet-warming emissions from the shipping industry by 40 to 93%. -- Marine shipping traffic has grown steadily
October 04, 2021 Read Full Article
Mitigating Carbon May Have Unintended Consequences
(EurekAlert!/Pennsylvania State University) Controlling carbon release into the atmosphere will reduce carbon dioxide and slow global warming, but could there be unintended consequences for human health? Now, thanks to a three-year grant of about $400,000 from the National Science Foundation, researchers
October 01, 2021 Read Full Article
New Study Identifies Leading Source of Health Damages from Vehicle Pollution in 12 States and Washington, D.C.
(University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Institute for the Environment) Tailpipe emissions caused an estimated 7,100 premature deaths in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic in 2016 -- A new study finds that ozone and fine particulate matter from vehicle emissions in
June 09, 2021 Read Full Article
Biofuel Opportunities for Marine Sector: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to ORNL
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Mike Kass shared this illuminating slide guide at ABLC 2020 as part of the marine and heavy duty biofuel opportunities panel. Dive into marine cargo vessel fuels, the advantages of using
February 11, 2021 Read Full Article
Farm, Biofuels, and Environmental Groups Oppose SAFE Rule
(National Farmers Union) An alliance of farm, biofuels, and environmental organizations last night filed an amicus brief in objection to the Safer Affordable Fuel Efficiency Vehicle (SAFE) Rule on the grounds that it both fails to account for toxic pollution from aromatic-laden fuel
January 27, 2021 Read Full Article
Gas Pumps to Get Climate, Health Warning Labels in Cambridge, MA
by Sebastian Blanco (Car and Driver) Cambridge, Massachusetts, this week became the first city in the U.S. to put health and environment warning labels on its gas pumps. - In related news, a nine-year-old girl in South London, England, became
December 21, 2020 Read Full Article
Biofuels for Cleaner Skies and Healthier People
by Goncalo Pereira (Times of India) ... We have long known that the burning of fossil fuels in vehicles is one of the major causes of atmospheric pollution. What have we done about it, though? And, more importantly, what can
August 21, 2020 Read Full Article
Missouri Soybean Farmers Offer Matching Funds for Biodiesel Infrastructure Development
(Missouri Soybean Association) Applicants may receive up to 25 percent of the required cash match for federal funding. -- Missouri soybean farmers are investing in the future for soy in Missouri through biodiesel with a new infrastructure grant program. A
July 02, 2020 Read Full Article
Review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter on Behalf of the Urban Air Initiative (UAI)
(Urban Air Initiative) On behalf of the Urban Air Initiative (UAI), we appreciate the opportunity to comment on the above Proposed Rulemaking (Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2015-0072). UAI is a not for profit technical organization with a particular focus on automotive emissions
July 01, 2020 Read Full Article
Higher COVID-19 Fatality Rates among Urban Minorities Come Down to Air Pollution
by David Vander Griend (Urban Air Initiative/Biofuels Digest) ... Whether in New Delhi, Kansas City, New York, or Beijing, less driving has resulted in cleaner air. Vistas that previously were only foggy images have burst through as crystal clear pictures of
May 25, 2020 Read Full Article
Growth Energy Urges EPA COVID-19 Panel to Examine Air Toxics
(Growth Energy) In a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Science Advisory Board (SAB), Growth Energy urged members of a new COVID-19 Review Panel to examine the impact of toxic gasoline additives on respiratory health, as well as the potential benefits offered by bio-based
May 19, 2020 Read Full Article
We Need Health Warning Labels on Points of Sale of Fossil Fuels
Mike Gill, Kristie L. Ebi, Kirk R. Smith, Lorraine Whitmarsh and Andy Haines (The BMJ Opinion) Mike Gill and colleagues explain how the implementation of of fossil fuel labelling could have a significant impact on the awareness of climate change. This article is part of The BMJ’s Health
May 01, 2020 Read Full Article
Reduction in Gasoline-Related Cancer Causes by Blending Ethanol into Gasoline in Five Global Cities
(Vital) “Health Impact of Blending Ethanol into Gasoline in Five Global Cities” University of Illinois at Chicago, Energy Resources Center -- Dr. Steffen Mueller, PhD, and others at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Energy Resources Center looked at the effect
October 17, 2019 Read Full Article
Diesel Technology Forum Responds to House Select Committee Hearing on the Climate Crisis, “Solving the Climate Crisis: Cleaning Up Heavy Duty Vehicles, Protecting Communities”
(Diesel Technology Forum) The new generation of diesel technology is helping ports, cities, communities and entire nations meet climate and clean air challenges of today and tomorrow, according to a statement submitted today by the Diesel Technology Forum, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to raising
July 16, 2019 Read Full Article
Harmful Gasoline Emissions Threat to Public Health
by Doug Durante (Morning Consult/Clean Fuels Development Coalition) ... But what if there is research illustrating that some of these toxins — specifically ultrafine toxic particulates that often come from additives in gasoline — are not only a known danger
July 16, 2019 Read Full Article
A Clinician’s Role in Climate Change Awareness
(Simmons University) ... In order to deliver the highest quality care and education, providers need accurate scientific information about the influence of climate change on diseases, respiratory function, nutrition, and morbidity. Providers are ethically bound to advance health holistically, and with
July 10, 2019 Read Full Article
Gasolinegate: Three Decades of Flawed Emission Reports Has Endangered Public
(Safe Gasoline Campaign) The 263 million gasoline vehicles on American roadways are emitting significantly more harmful emissions than being reported, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) is ignoring the dangers of toxic compounds in gasoline, according to a new
July 02, 2019 Read Full Article
Study Finds Ethanol Blends Reduce GDI Tailpipe PM
(Green Car Congress) A new study finds that ethanol blends reduce particulate matter (PM) coming out of the tailpipe, which in turn reduces overall toxic emissions. The study was conducted by the University of California Riverside and the University of Wisconsin, Madison and
June 07, 2019 Read Full Article
Of Impossibles and Whoppers: Notes from the Planet Synthetica
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) There’s been a stream of good news and bad news on the “made in a lab” front in recent weeks. First, the amazing news that Impossible Foods raised a $300 million in its Series E round was led
June 04, 2019 Read Full Article
Houston We Have a Problem…
by Doug Durante (Biofuels Digest/Clean Fuels Development Coalition) and Dave VanderGriend (Urban Air Initiative) Floods, horrible chemical fires, and now a barge accident in the port resulting in a chemical spill that further reveals the dirty little secret of gasoline — that
May 27, 2019 Read Full Article
Signing Ceremony of MoU between UNCTAD and Stockholm Environment Institute: SEI and UNCTAD to Cooperate on Trade and Environment
(UNCTAD) Stockholm Environment Institute and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The agreement is an overarching mechanism to foster cooperation on trade and environment, backed up by the research and convening
May 17, 2019 Read Full Article
What’s in Our Gasoline Is Killing Us: New Report Documents Connection Between Toxic Fuel Additives, Vehicle Emissions and Human Health Threats
(Clean Fuels Development Coalition) The fuel we use in our vehicles may actually be killing us. That’s the conclusion in a new report released today which calls emissions from consumer gasoline one of the biggest health threats facing the American public.
May 07, 2019 Read Full Article
Thomas Midgley, Jr. May Have Been the Most Environmentally Disastrous Person of All Time
by Tom Phillips (Popular Science) ... In the 1910s and 1920s, he was working on the problem of car engines "knocking"—a persistent problem where engines would stutter and jerk, especially when put under strain. Midgley and his boss Charles Kettering suspected
May 06, 2019 Read Full Article
Air Pollution Caused by Corn Production Increases Mortality Rate in US
(University of Minnesota/EurekAlert!) New paper presents how researchers have estimated for the first time the health damages caused by corn production -- A new study establishes that environmental damage caused by corn production results in 4,300 premature deaths annually in the United
April 02, 2019 Read Full Article
Petrochemical Fire in Houston Reveals Much Larger Issue.
(Urban Air Initiative) On Sunday, March 17, tanks of toluene and xylene caught fire at Intercontinental Terminal in the Houston, TX area, releasing plumes of black smoke into the air. As a result, incomplete combustion of toluene and xylene combined to form benzene, a
March 26, 2019 Read Full Article
Growing a Sustainable Bioeconomy: More Urgent than Ever
by Jessie Stolark (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) ... Today, the need for sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels couldn’t be clearer. Fossil fuels are not only causing the climate crisis, fossil fuel use is causing devastating health impacts. Over the past several years,
March 01, 2019 Read Full Article
Congressionally-Proposed Octane Standard Would Decrease Biofuels Use, Increase Greenhouse Gases
by Jessie Stolark (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) The 21st Century Transportation Fuels Act, sponsored by outgoing House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee Chair Shimkus (R-IL), would phase out portions of the Renewable Fuel Standard, replacing it with an octane standard by
December 23, 2018 Read Full Article
Octane Enhancement Cannot Come from the Oil Barrel
by Dave VanderGriend (Ethanol Producer Magazine/ICM/Urban Air Initiative) ... Today, at 10 percent of the motor fuel pool, ethanol is displacing the most lethal components in gasoline—toxic, carcinogenic aromatics. When lead was phased out of gasoline, refiners replaced it with an
November 21, 2018 Read Full Article
#Gasolinegate: EPA's Role in Fair Gasoline Emissions Testing Draws Fire
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, researchers for a report published by the Urban Air Initiative contend that “technical data that shows the nation has been exposed to decades of flawed test fuels and flawed driving tests, which in turn
November 13, 2018 Read Full Article
Op-Ed: Ethanol Needs to Win the Octane Race- Our Health Depends on It
(Urban Air Initiative/Governors' Biofuels Coalition) ... Octane is a necessary component of our fuel, and more of it is needed as car engines become more advanced and efficient. So competition is on the rise for where this octane will come from in
October 29, 2018 Read Full Article
Troubling Link Found between Pollution Exposure in Pregnancy, High Blood Pressure in Children
by Ariana Eunjung Cha (Washington Post) ... In a paper published Monday in the American Heart Association's journal Hypertension, researchers reported that children of mothers who were exposed in their third trimester to higher levels of fine particulate pollution — the tiny
May 15, 2018 Read Full Article
Repeating History with Octane Biofuel Standards Is a Huge Mistake
by Mike Carr (New Energy America/The Hill) Recently, Chet Thompson of American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) testified before Congress and proposed a “fuel neutral” octane standard as a “potential replacement” for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Octane is a fuel characteristic that allows engines
May 09, 2018 Read Full Article
The Hidden Costs of Cobalt Mining
by Todd C. Frankel and Lena Mucha (photos) (The Washington Post) In Congo’s sun-scorched and dusty south, thousands of miners scour underground tunnels hunting for cobalt. Many of them work by hand. That’s why they are known as creuseurs — French
March 07, 2018 Read Full Article
When It Comes to Air Pollution, the Tiniest Particles Might Be the Worst
by Patrick J. Kiger (HowStuffWorks) ... But in recent years, scientists have found increasing evidence of health risks from a part of air pollution that we don't see, and that isn't yet regulated under federal air quality standards. In addition to visible
February 05, 2018 Read Full Article
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
In an Ethanol Producer Magazine article, Urban Air Initiative's David Hallberg explains how, with proper adherence to Clean Air Act regulations, ethanol can substitute for carcinogens in our fuel. "(I)t is increasingly clear that gasoline exhaust is the primary carrier
January 24, 2018 Read Full Article
Respecting the Law
by David Hallberg (Ethanol Producer Magazine) (T)he U.S. Department of Energy's adherence to laws, and a proposal from the Urban Air Initiative to escape the aromatics dilemma. -- ... Hopefully Pruitt has established a precedent that will apply to one of
January 24, 2018 Read Full Article
Biomass Industry Responds to ‘Morbid Mathematics’ of FERN Study
by Daryl Worthington(Bioenergy Insight) Two major associations for the biomass industry have responded to a study claiming the burning of biomass prematurely kills tens of thousands of people each year. The study was commissioned by FERN, an NGO created in 1995 “to keep track
January 22, 2018 Read Full Article
U.S. Exporting Filthy Fuel to India--VIDEO
(Associated Press) WATCH VIDEO Here
January 03, 2018 Read Full Article
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
In a special to the Biofuels Digest, South Dakota Farmers Union president, Doug Sombke, pointed out that "Section 202(l) provision (of the Clean Air Act) requires EPA to regulate and reduce toxics in gasoline to the “greatest degree achievable”. In a review
January 03, 2018 Read Full Article
A New Years Resolution for EPA: Do Your Job!
by Doug Sombke (South Dakota Farmers Union/Biofuels Digest) ... I am referring to the mandatory requirements in the Clean Air Act that EPA enforce section 202 (l), the “clean octane” provision designed to reduce the use of toxic aromatic compounds in gasoline.
January 03, 2018 Read Full Article
Presentations Posted for Can Fuel Efficiency Standards Be Met Cost-Effectively? The Potential for High-Octane, Low-Carbon Fuels
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) held a briefing examining how high-octane, low-carbon fuel can enable CAFE compliance. Research suggests that high-octane, low-carbon fuel is the lowest-cost compliance option for both consumers and the automotive industry. Taking steps
November 14, 2017 Read Full Article
New Report: California Oil Among World's Dirtiest -- Rampant Oil Production Undermines State's Climate Leadership
(Center for Biological Diversity) Three-quarters of California’s oil is as climate-damaging as Canadian tar sands crude, according to a Center for Biological Diversity report released today at the United Nations climate change conference in Bonn, Germany. Oil Stain: How Dirty Crude Undercuts California’s Climate
November 10, 2017 Read Full Article
RFA: Mid-Missouri Energy Goes Green with Flex-Fuel Mower
(Renewable Fuels Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) RFA member company Mid-Missouri Energy is home to a new piece of equipment. This one doesn’t improve ethanol yield or lower the plant’s energy consumption, but it does provide an example for fellow ethanol producers,
August 30, 2017 Read Full Article
New Process Offers Hope for Grounded KSRTC Biodiesel Buses
(Deccan Herald) MGRIED shows the way to source raw material from hotels -- All Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses running on biodiesel are now grounded. Reason: Fuel procurement problems. But what if a fuel plant comes up right here
June 09, 2017 Read Full Article
EXCLUSIVE-Vomitoxin Makes Nasty Appearance for U.S. Farm Sector
by P.J. Huffstutter and Michael Hirtzer (Reuters/Times of India) Wet harvest, slow grain sales encourage growth of toxins; Scope of problem in U.S. grain supply not yet known -- A fungus that causes "vomitoxin" has been found in some U.S. corn
April 25, 2017 Read Full Article
Kansas Corn Growers Look to Mexico as Top Trade Partner
(High Plains/Midwest Ag Journal) Increasing concerns about trade relations with Mexico spurred Kansas Corn along with the Kansas Department of Agriculture and the Kansas Department of Commerce to plan a trade mission Mexico to learn about their agricultural industry and
April 24, 2017 Read Full Article
BAA Rejects Productivity Commission Claims
(Biofuels Association of Australia) The Biofuels Association of Australia strongly rejects claims by the Federal Productivity Commission that the industry fails to support the agriculture sector or the community. The NSW and Queensland Governments have not forced motorists to buy E10 or
March 30, 2017 Read Full Article
MIT Study Estimates That VW's Dieselgate Scandal Will Send 1,200 Europeans To An Early Grave
by David Tracy (Jalopnik) In 2015, Researchers from MIT, Harvard and Hasselt University (in Belgium) estimated that VW’s 482,000 cheating diesels would lead to an estimated 59 premature deaths in the U.S. Now some of those same researchers have taken a
March 08, 2017 Read Full Article
Health Effects Institute Takes Hard Look at Ethanol vs Aromatics
by David Hallberg (Ethanol Producer Magazine/Urban Air Initiative) Candid discussions at the Health Effects Institute offer hope ethanol's positive emissions profile will be taken seriously, writes a UAI advisor and Siouxland Ethanol board member in the Clearing the Air column
February 14, 2017 Read Full Article
New Study Finds Clean Cookstoves May Improve Women’s Heart Health
(Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves) Shifting from a cookstove that burns traditional woodfuel to a stove that uses a cleaner-burning fuel such as ethanol may mitigate cardiovascular health risks in pregnant women, according to a new study led by a
November 25, 2016 Read Full Article
Time to Rein in the EPA
by Dale Christensen (Glacial Lakes Corn Processors/The Hill) ... EPA has either through ignorance at best or malice at worst failed to make our continued transition to cleaner, renewable fuels an easier path. Recall the nearly decade old problem with setting
November 06, 2016 Read Full Article
Study: $1.30 in Unpaid Health & Societal Costs for Every Gallon of Gasoline Sold in US
by James Ayre (CleanTechnica) While consumer prices for gasoline in the US are currently rather low, these prices don’t account for the health and societal costs associated with gasoline use. A new study from the American Lung Association in California
November 06, 2016 Read Full Article
The Cobalt Pipeline: Tracing the Path from Deadly Hand-Dug Mines in Congo to Consumers’ Phones and Laptops
by Todd C. Frankel (The Washington Post) ... This remote landscape in southern Africa lies at the heart of the world’s mad scramble for cheap cobalt, a mineral essential to the rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that power smartphones, laptops and electric
September 30, 2016 Read Full Article
Biofuels Present Solution to Harmful Airborne Chemicals
by David Vandergriend (Sacramento Bee) ... But the day-to-day threat facing many communities doesn’t come from carbon. It comes from airborne chemicals with less attention-grabbing names like volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter and ozone. As with carbon,
September 11, 2016 Read Full Article
[Exclusive] Where Do Environmental Groups Stand on Bioenergy?
by Josh Schlossberg (The Biomass Monitor) ... The Biomass Monitor contacted representatives for the following organizations (listed alphabetically) to determine their stances on biomass power and heating, liquid biofuels for transportation, and trash incineration: 350*, Center for Biological Diversity, Environmental Working Group,
August 15, 2016 Read Full Article
Africa: Soy Diesel Less Toxic Than Other Fuels
by Marina Lemle (AllAfrica) Unlike conventional diesel, fuel made from soybeans does not directly damage lung cells, a lab study has shown. "Some of the soybean biodiesel presently being used in Brazil does not exhibit direct adverse effects on human lung
July 01, 2016 Read Full Article
Maine Retiree Fueling Governor’s Questions about Ethanol
by Scott Thistle (Portland Press Herald) Ralph Stevens, a retired mechanic who says ethanol emissions may have caused the state's opioid crisis, and a legislator persuade Paul LePage to order a study of the additive. A retired mechanic from South Berwick
July 01, 2016 Read Full Article
When the Wind Blows: Tracking Toxic Chemicals in Gas Fields and Impacted Communities
(Coming Clean) When the Wind Blows: Tracking Toxic Chemicals in Gas Fields and Impacted Communities is a report documenting Coming Clean’s collaborative, community-based research project to monitor toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in gas fields in rural Pavillion, Wyoming and
June 16, 2016 Read Full Article
Point/Counterpoint: Is It Time for Greens To Reassess Their Opposition to Ethanol?
by Senator Timothy Wirth and C. Boyden Gray (Yale Environment 360) The criticism of ethanol by environmentalists is misguided and just plain wrong. In fact, thanks to improvements in farming techniques, increasing the amount of corn ethanol in U.S. gasoline
May 28, 2016 Read Full Article
Why Ethanol in Gasoline Remains a Good Idea
by John M. Urbanchuk (The Intelligencer) I am writing in response to Andrew Mikula's May 13 letter ("With oil now plentiful, why the need for ethanol in gasoline?"). Several points come to mind. Ethanol has several characteristics that make it an ideal
May 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Coconut Biodiesel Could Reduce Air Pollution Impacts
(The Fifth Estate) Coconut oil might be about to step off the beaches and out of the kitchen and into the tanks of Australian trucks and cars, with research released today showing that as a component of biodiesel, it may
April 12, 2016 Read Full Article
Fact Sheet: A Brief History of Octane in Gasoline: From Lead to Ethanol
by Jessie Stolark (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) A cornerstone of U.S. environmental policy has been the reduction of harmful tailpipe emissions from cars and trucks. Thanks to EPA regulations of mobile sources, air pollutants have been reduced by millions
April 07, 2016 Read Full Article
Science: 2015 Well Blowout Doubled Los Angeles’ Methane Leak Rate
by Meagan Phelan (AAAS.org) The first quantitative estimates of the Aliso Canyon well blowout reveal that it released more than 100,000 tons of the powerful greenhouse gas methane. A new study provides one of the first quantitative estimates of the methane leak
February 26, 2016 Read Full Article
Ethanol Backers Say Higher Blends Would Reduce Air Toxics
by Renee Schoof (Bloomberg BNA) A group of farm-state governors and some advocates for clean energy are pressing the Environmental Protection Agency to get tougher on toxic air pollution from motor vehicles in a way that could lead to a bigger
February 02, 2016 Read Full Article
United States Files Complaint Against Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche for Alleged Clean Air Act Violations
(U.S. Department of Justice) The Department of Justice, on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), today filed a civil complaint in federal court in Detroit, Michigan, against Volkswagen AG, Audi AG, Volkswagen Group of America Inc., Volkswagen Group of
January 04, 2016 Read Full Article
Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform: From Rhetoric to Reality
by Shelagh Whitley and Laurie van der Burg (New Climate Economy) The research underpinning this New Climate Economy Working Paper was a major input into the 2015 New Climate Economy report and articulates the practical steps that policymakers can take to
December 22, 2015 Read Full Article
Protecting Public Health Through Cleaner Fuels and Lower Emissions
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) held a briefing examining the health impacts of current octane sources and the need for cleaner, cost-effective octane providers. Octane is necessary for vehicle performance and increasing octane
December 18, 2015 Read Full Article
Arnold Schwarzenegger Doesn’t Give a Damn if You Don’t Believe in Climate Change
by ZOË Schlanger (Newsweek) ... (Arnold) Schwarzenegger, a longtime champion of clean energy, hinged his argument on the health detriments of pollution created from burning fossil fuels. “First—do you believe it is acceptable that 7 million people die every year from pollution? That's
December 08, 2015 Read Full Article
Electric Cars and the Coal that Runs Them
by Michael Birnbaum (The Washington Post) Cheap electricity, a changing climate This is part of a series exploring how the world’s hunger for cheap electricity is complicating efforts to combat climate change. --- ... But behind the green growth is
November 24, 2015 Read Full Article
Don’t Weaken the RFS
by Rep. Donald Payne Jr. (R-N.J.) (The Hill) ... The RFS is Congress’s answer to lowering greenhouse gas emissions and expanding the nation’s renewable fuels sector while reducing reliance on imported oil. The RFS is the most successful law on the books
November 10, 2015 Read Full Article
Ethanol Reduces Emissions: Clean Fuels Development Coalition
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Hungary, Clean Fuels Development Coalition Executive Director Douglas Durante said as a way for ethanol to find value beyond limitations of government imposed limits, both in the EU and the U.S., the focus should be on providing
November 09, 2015 Read Full Article
A Message For EPA: Get Real on Emissions and Clean Fuels!
by Doug Durante (Clean Fuels Development Coalition/Biofuels Digest) In the aftermath of revelations of how Volkswagen had their thumb on the scale as they cheated not just the EPA, but all of us who breathe the air, it raises serious
October 23, 2015 Read Full Article
Dozens of Deaths Likely from VW Pollution Dodge
by Seth Borenstein (Associated Press/Detroit News) Volkswagen’s pollution-control chicanery has not just been victimless tinkering, killing between five and 20 people in the United States annually in recent years, according to an Associated Press statistical and computer analysis. The software that the
October 05, 2015 Read Full Article
How Many Deaths Did Volkswagen’s Deception Cause in the U.S.?
by Margo Sanger-Katz and John Schwartz (New York Times) Volkswagen’s diesel deception unleashed tons of extra pollutants in the United States, pollutants that can harm human health. So while many commentators have been quick to say that the cheating engines are not a
September 29, 2015 Read Full Article
We Should Not Be Surprised about Volkswagen’s “Diesel-Gate”
by Bill Brandon (Biofuels Digest) Fooling with computers to give false readings has happened before. It is important to recognize similarities to earlier cases and EPA’s role in them. The 1998 consent decree In October 1998, the DOJ and EPA entered into a
September 29, 2015 Read Full Article
Statement from Advanced Biofuels USA in Response to International Climate Science Coalition Press Release
(Advanced Biofuels USA) In the spirit of Pope Francis, and in response to press release from the International Climate Science Coalition's (ICSC) we invite the ICSC to join Advanced Biofuels USA and the biofuels community to find and institute ever
September 24, 2015 Read Full Article
VW Says 11 Million Cars Affected Globally as Scandal Widens
by Chris Reiter (Bloomberg/MSN.com) Volkswagen AG said irregularities on diesel- emission readings extend to 11 million vehicles around the world, forcing the German carmaker to set aside 6.5 billion euros ($7.3 billion) in an initial tally of the potential costs. Volkswagen
September 22, 2015 Read Full Article
Gasoline Aromatics: the New Lead?
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) After scientists found that toxic lead particles in engine exhaust were accumulating in bodies and affecting brain health, amendments to the Clean Air Act 25 years ago prohibited the use of lead in gasoline. Children were
September 21, 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
Toxic Gas Emissions Topic of Science Cafe
( Nebraska Ethanol Board/Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... “The fuels combusted on our nation’s roadways are a predominant source of the most dangerous particle-borne toxic emissions,” said (David) Hallberg, an Omaha resident. “Adding toxic carcinogens to gasoline is the way oil companies
September 01, 2015 Read Full Article
UAI: Removing Ethanol from Gasoline Increases Toxic Emissions
(Urban Air Initiative/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Many gas stations are promoting E0, or gasoline with zero percent ethanol. It not only costs more than regular gasoline that contains 10 percent ethanol, new data shows it also burns dirtier in your engine
August 03, 2015 Read Full Article
Scientist: The Ethanol Mandate Harms Air Quality, ‘Leads To Increased Mortality’
by Michael Bastasch (Daily Caller) A University of Minnesota scientist told lawmakers Thursday that mandating ethanol be blended into fuel supplies is leading to more deaths from poor air quality in the Midwest and along the East Coast. “The Renewable Fuel
July 27, 2015 Read Full Article
Urban Air Initiative: Ethanol Reduces Engine Wear
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) The Urban Air Initiative (UAI) has released a study that finds ethanol free gasoline blends actually increase the wear and tear on engines including hoses, seals and fuel tanks. In other words, the data supports ethanol
June 30, 2015 Read Full Article
The Need For A New Fuel Paradigm: Transitioning From Legacy Fuels to Modern Efficient Fuels
by Bill Brandon (Leaders in Energy) ... This two-part White Paper presents the proposition that we need to transition away from the legacy fuels we use today to modern liquid and gas fuels[1] that: 1) reduce or eliminate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
June 25, 2015 Read Full Article
Up with Octane and Down with Aromatics: Continuing Health Risks with Petroleum Fuels and the Need for Engine Efficiency
by Bill Brandon (Leaders in Energy) Our country has seen many transitions in travel technologies and fuels. In the first installment I reviewed our transition from 1) barley and oats for our horses and mules to high carbohydrate corn for
June 25, 2015 Read Full Article
Ethanol and Butanol: Symbiotic Partners for a Modern Fuel
by Bill Brandon and Richard Ezike (Biofuels Digest) The debate touting butanol over ethanol as a ‘better’ fuel component has gone on for quite some time in biofuel circles. Those who support butanol point to three key factors: • Butanol has
June 11, 2015 Read Full Article
National Academies Press Publishes "The Nexus of Biofuels, Climate Change, and Human Health"
by Robert Pool, Rapporteur; Roundtable on Environmental Health Sciences, Research, and Medicine; Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice; Institute of Medicine (National Academies Press) Liquid fuels are a major part of modern life. They supply energy for ground, water, and
February 09, 2015 Read Full Article
Time For a Reality Check On Computer Models
by Bob Dinneen (Renewable Fuels Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Predictive computer models have their place, writes Bob Dinneen of the RFA, but where concrete real-world data and observations exist, they should take precedence. Sound policymaking and regulation must be grounded in
January 20, 2015 Read Full Article
University of Minnesota Report Contains Inaccurate and Misleading Information on Ethanol
(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) The recent report released by the University of Minnesota, “Life Cycle Air Quality Impacts Of Conventional And Alternative Light-Duty Transportation In the United States,” contains several inaccuracies and misleading information. In particular, its conclusion that corn-based ethanol contains more
December 19, 2014 Read Full Article
Elsevier Science Publishes "Bioenergy: Biomass to Biofuels" by Anju Dahiya (Editor)
(Elsevier) Bioenergy: Biomass to Biofuels examines all current and emerging feedstocks and the advanced processes and technologies enabling the development of their end products, ranging from solid (wood energy, grass energy, and other biomass) to liquid (biodiesel from oil seed
December 04, 2014 Read Full Article
WHO Sets Benchmarks to Reduce Health Damage from Indoor Air Pollution
(World Health Organization) WHO recommendations, released today, highlight the dangers of burning fuels like unprocessed coal and kerosene in the home, and set targets for reducing emissions of health-damaging pollutants from domestic cookstoves, space heaters and fuel-based lamps. The new "WHO
November 14, 2014 Read Full Article
Toxic Chemicals in Gasoline Are Killing Americans
by Larry Pearce (The Hill) In 1990, Congress passed the Clean Air Act Amendments and directed the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reduce the dangerous chemical additives in gasoline. Today, 24 years later, this law has yet to be enforced
November 05, 2014 Read Full Article
More Toxicity in Canola-Based Biodiesel
by Rob Payne (Science Network Western Australia) EXHAUST from pure canola oil biodiesel is more lethal for human epithelial cells than that from traditional diesel, new research contends. Epithelial cells, which are found in the lining of the airways and lungs,
November 05, 2014 Read Full Article
Research Teams Collaborate on Unique Biodiesel Study
(Keene State University) ... And, combusting biodiesel fuel produces less particulate pollution than does petroleum diesel. That's true even with B-20, the standard ratio of 20% biodiesel, 80% petroleum diesel. Efficient, renewable, healthier for the environment, made right here in the
October 14, 2014 Read Full Article
People Near 'Fracking' Wells Report Health Woes
by Wendy Koch (USA Today) People living near natural-gas wells were more than twice as likely to report upper-respiratory and skin problems than those farther away, says a major study Wednesday on the potential health effects of fracking. Nearly two of
October 14, 2014 Read Full Article
New Strategy for Clean, High-Octane Ethanol Needed
by Dave Vander Griend (Ethanol Producer Magazine/ICM) The industry must push for change in the way fuels are blended and tested, writes Dave Vander Griend. Growth of the ethanol industry, producers of a clean high-octane fuel, is being blocked by U.S.
August 12, 2014 Read Full Article
Ultrafine Particles from Vehicles: A Missing Piece in Emissions Regulations
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) On Monday June 2, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took the single largest step to control stationary sources of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other harmful emissions in the nation’s history. It announced a proposed regulation
June 09, 2014 Read Full Article
Switch from Gasoline to Ethanol Linked to Higher Ozone Levels
by Neela Banerjee (Los Angeles Times) Scientists have made a surprising discovery about ethanol: The more it was used by drivers in Sao Paulo, Brazil, the more ozone they measured in the local environment. The finding, reported this week in Nature Geoscience, is
May 05, 2014 Read Full Article
Merle Anderson: Government ‘Myths’ Limit Ethanol’s Full Use
by Merle Anderson (Grand Forks Herald) Orrie Swayze from Watertown, S.D., and I have traveled many miles together as friends and American Coalition for Ethanol founding board members. We have gained a historical perspective on all that is called ethanol. ... First,
March 14, 2014 Read Full Article
Advanced Biofuels USA Sees Conditional Victory for Ethanol in Tier 3 Final Ruling
by Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuels USA) “It’s not the greatest thing since sliced bread; but at least there’s dough in the machine,” said Advanced Biofuels USA’s vehicle emissions expert, Robert Kozak upon reviewing the Environmental Protection Agency’s Tier 3 vehicle
March 03, 2014 Read Full Article
EPA Sets Cleaner Fuel and Car Standards, Slashing Air Pollution and Providing Health Benefits to Thousands
(US Environmental Protection Agency) Based on extensive input from the public and a broad range of stakeholders, including public health groups, auto manufacturers, refiners, and states, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today finalized emission standards for cars and gasoline
March 03, 2014 Read Full Article
Ethanol Is Asset to State, Nation
by Bill Jones (Fresno Bee/Pacific Ethanol) The Bee published a commentary on Feb. 14 by Tom Tanton titled "Making Ethanol is Wasting California's Water." The premise of the opinion piece was that the nation's Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) that sets
February 20, 2014 Read Full Article
Soapbox: Ethanol Reduces Emissions, Reduces Costs
by Jim Hendrix (The Coloradoan) ... First and foremost, ethanol does not receive federal subsidies. The oil and gas industry receives nearly $17 billion per year in subsidies, which flow from direct and indirect tax preferences embedded in the federal tax
February 19, 2014 Read Full Article
Big Oil, Bad Air: Fracking the Eagle Ford Shale of South Texas
(The Center for Public Integrity, InsideClimate News and The Weather Channel) ...With more than 50 wells drilled within 2½ miles of their home, the days when the Buehrings could sit on the deck that Shelby built and lull away an
February 18, 2014 Read Full Article
The Digest's Bioeconomy Achievement Awards for 2013-14
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Beta Renewables, Abengoa, Enerkem, Proterro among the winners for Project of the Year — as residues and waste are keys to the big wins. For Fuel of the Year, Renewable Chemical of the Year, Product
January 03, 2014 Read Full Article
News Flash: Gas Contains Known Carcinogens
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A representative of Big Oil recently made an offensive and ridiculous comment about the RFS. Early last week, in an article in Reuters, Jack Gerard, chief executive of the American Petroleum Institute, used an
October 01, 2013 Read Full Article
Scientific Symposium on the Toxicology of Alternate Fuels
(EurekAlert) "Biofuel" has become a global buzzword, with cars and trucks powered by fuel made from corn, corncobs and stalks, switchgrass and even waste oil from cooking french fries, envisioned as a way to stretch out supplies of crude oil
September 13, 2013 Read Full Article
How Big Poultry Sided with Big Oil
By Reid Detchon (The Baltimore Sun) Our ability to break our dependence on foreign oil is threatened by the effort to repeal the Renewable Fuel Standard Oil is essential to our economic and national security because our transportation system runs on
September 12, 2013 Read Full Article
EPA Report on Pollutants, Ethanol Is Flawed, White Paper Says
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Ethanol Across America has released a new white paper that indicates mid-level ethanol blends offer much greater emission and health benefits than indicated by U.S. EPA models. The three-page document authored by Steve Vander
September 09, 2013 Read Full Article
What’s Really Happening with the So-called ‘Blend Wall’? A Fuels America Briefing
by Sarah Dik (Biotechnology Industry Organization) The public dialog surrounding the Renewable Fuel Standard is robust- and filled with misinformation. On July 11, Rep. Lee Terry and Rep. Bruce Braley held the third of a series of briefings, which focused
July 25, 2013 Read Full Article
E15 Success Stories from South Dakota, NASCAR
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) I heard some interesting and fun E15-related stories recently, about what the fuel has done for a South Dakota station owner as well as some on-track testing of what happens when water and E15
July 16, 2013 Read Full Article
Gas Price Spikes Have Consumers Wondering, When Will We Be Energy Independent?
by Brent Erickson (Biotechnology Industry Organization/Biofuels Digest) The United States is beginning a domestic energy boom and could become a net energy exporter within the next two decades. But U.S. consumers don’t expect to see a benefit – they still
July 16, 2013 Read Full Article
Unclean at Any Speed: Electric Cars Don’t Solve the Automobile’s Environmental Problems
by Ozzie Zehner (IEEE Spectrum) ...Some states offer additional tax incentives. California brings the total credit up to $10 000, and Colorado to $13 500—more than the base price of a brand new Ford Fiesta. West Virginia offers the sweetest
July 02, 2013 Read Full Article
What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Ethanol Fuel?
(WiseGEEK) In an effort to find a viable alternative to foreign oil, many politicians and environmental groups have been heavily promoting the advantages of ethanol fuel. Ethanol is a primarily plant-based fuel which can be produced from such sources as sugar
June 06, 2013 Read Full Article
Ethanol a Target of Big Oil
by Paul Kenney (KAAPA Ethanol/Kearney Hub) Opinion: ...Ethanol blends are becoming a staple at pumps across the nation, and ethanol accounts for more than 10 percent of the country’s motor fuel supply. It’s a higher-octane alternative to gasoline and costs less. In
May 28, 2013 Read Full Article
Ethanol Improving While Oil Gets Worse
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) The House and Energy Commerce Committee has released its third white paper on the Renewable Fuel Standard, “Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Environmental Impacts.” Executive Vice President of the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), Brian Jennings, responded with written
May 28, 2013 Read Full Article
Corn-Based Ethanol: A Win for Public Health and the Economy
by William C. Holmberg (Physicians for Social Responsibility) Asthma, $16 billion. Premature births, $26 billion. All cancers, $227 billion. Autism, $126 billion. Heart disease, $272 billion. Obesity, incl. Type 2 diabetes, $190 billion. These are government estimates of the annual
May 24, 2013 Read Full Article
Douglas Durante: Florida's Ethanol Program Needs to Stay the Course
(Tallahassee.com) Having spent some time on the ground in Tallahassee and talking with several legislators over the past few years, it is clear the ethanol program the state has developed is not understood and certainly not appreciated for what is
May 08, 2013 Read Full Article
Governors Tell Congress to Support RFS
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) The Governor’s Biofuels Coalition met in Sioux Falls Wednesday and sent a letter to members of Congress in support of the Renewable Fuels Standard. The letter from the 30 governors represented by the Coalition, led by Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, urges
March 14, 2013 Read Full Article
The First Lady of E15
by Tim Portz (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Kristy Moore recalls her beginnings in the ethanol industry, her fondness for American agriculture and the long road to bringing E15 to market. The story of the approval of E15 for use in model year 2001
January 30, 2013 Read Full Article
Biodiesel Emissions Shown to Contain Respiratory Disease-Linked Compounds
(Medical Xpress) Compounds that affect respiratory health have been found in biodiesel exhausts. This might lead to restrictions on the use of this form of biofuel as an alternative to fossil fuel, according to researchers from the Queensland University of
October 23, 2012 Read Full Article
EPA Proposed Rule “National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter”: Urban Air Initiative Comments
(Urban Air Initiative) From a letter to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, August 30, 2012: Urban Air Initiative (UAI) appreciates this opportunity to comment on the Agency’s proposal to address one of our most dangerous and costly health threats,
August 30, 2012 Read Full Article
Editorial: Use Biodiesel and Improve the Air Quality on Your Farm
by Jim Willers (Biodiesel Magazine/United Soybean Board) I know how much time I spend around diesel-powered vehicles, equipment and machinery, and I’d bet that most farmers around the U.S. spend similar amounts. That’s why I’m so alarmed at the recent