by Cami Koons (Iowa Capital Dispatch) Affected landowners and pipeline opposers protest at Capitol --Iowa Supreme Court justices and an uncommonly large audience heard oral arguments Tuesday on the constitutionality of an Iowa law that allows a carbon pipeline company to
land use policy
Back TO HOMETunisia Unveils Ambitious Strategy To Become A Global Leader In Green Hydrogen Production
by Pooja Chandak (Solar Quarter) Tunisia has unveiled an ambitious national strategy aimed at transforming the country into a global leader in green hydrogen production. The North African nation, blessed with abundant solar and wind resources, is poised to leverage these
October 04, 2024 Read Full Article
Ag Policy Blog: Reforming Climate Models: Leveling the Playing Field for American Agriculture
by Chris Clayton (DTN Progressive Farmer) Seth Meyer, USDA's chief economist, explained Monday at an agricultural outlook conference in Kansas City, Missouri, that he didn't want to get too deep into the weeds, but he told the audience of agribusiness leaders
September 23, 2024 Read Full Article
Republican Lawmakers Call Summit Pipeline Approval an ‘Attack on the Constitution’: Lawsuits Challenge Permit Approval in State and Federal Courts
by Cami Koons (Iowa Capital Dispatch) Republican lawmakers opposing the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline said the Iowa Utilities Commission’s approval of the project was an attack on “God-given” Fifth Amendment rights. The remarks came from a group of nearly 40 lawmakers who
September 12, 2024 Read Full Article
RFA Urges California to Adopt E15, Drop Unneeded LCFS Feedstock Tracking Requirements --- Hearing Scheduled for November 8, 2024
(Renewable Fuels Association) The Renewable Fuels Association late yesterday called on California to allow the lower-cost, lower-carbon E15 fuel blend, containing 15 percent ethanol, as part of its efforts to enhance the state’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard. “E15 is a critical near-term
August 28, 2024 Read Full Article
Summit Jumpstarts Additional Pipeline Efforts with Purchase of Navigator Easements
by Jack O'Connor (Charles City Press/Iowa Capital Dispatch) Summit Carbon Solutions has purchased land easement agreements from a former rival company to help speed up its carbon pipeline construction project, Summit officials confirm. Summit’s former rival, Navigator CO2, attempted its own carbon
August 27, 2024 Read Full Article
Landowners Score Court Victory in Bid to Stop Carbon Pipeline Project
by Jonathan Ellis (Dakota Scout) Supreme Court ruling reverses circuit court rulings, calls into question Summit Carbon Solutions as a common carrier eligible for eminent domain -- A group of South Dakota landowners fighting to prevent a carbon pipeline from crossing their
August 23, 2024 Read Full Article
California’s Proposed LCFS Cap on Soy, Canola Biofuels ‘Far Worse than Anticipated’ Public Comment DEADLINE August 27, 2024
by Ron Kotrba (Biobased Diesel Daily) California Air Resources Board published proposed amendments Aug. 12 to the state’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard, which, if implemented, would set stricter carbon-intensity (CI) targets, impose significant limitations on vegetable-oil feedstocks and add new sustainability
August 20, 2024 Read Full Article
Trucks Out, Trains In: Fayetteville Switches Ethanol Transport to Rail
by Evey Weisblat (City View) The change will significantly reduce the number of trucks coming into Fayetteville annually -- Thousands of trucks carrying the majority of Fayetteville’s ethanol supply into the city each year will no longer be coming here. Instead, freight
August 06, 2024 Read Full Article
Agricultural Land Lost to Development in the Midwest
Mujahidul Islam, Ani Katchova, and Carl Zulauf (farmdoc daily) Conversion of agricultural land to developed land during the 21st Century in eight Midwestern states is examined. This loss of agricultural land to development is a long-standing topic of discussion at the national and state
August 06, 2024 Read Full Article
Carbon Accounting for Sustainable Biofuels
(BioFuture Platform) The development of sustainable biofuels is at a pivotal juncture. They are recognised for their important role in decarbonising the transport sector – particularly for their potential to help reduce aviation and shipping emissions, and for their complementarity with
August 01, 2024 Read Full Article
I Welcome a Carbon Pipeline through My Farm. It'll Open Markets and Preserve Farming.
by Kelly Nieuwenhuis (Des Moines Register) The success of the entire economy of the Midwest is a public need. And without robust, innovative solutions like the Summit pipeline to open new markets, family farms in Iowa may cease to exist. Being a farmer
July 25, 2024 Read Full Article
New Study: Balancing the Benefits of Biofuels
by Keith Reid (Fuels Market News) Biofuels will be critical to reducing the carbon intensity of liquid fuels, which is necessary to achieve emissions reduction goals from legacy and new vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines. Some wonder if we should
July 25, 2024 Read Full Article
Carbon Accounting for Sustainable Biofuels
(International Energy Agency) The development of sustainable biofuels is at a pivotal juncture. They are recognised for their important role in decarbonising the transport sector – particularly for their potential to help reduce aviation and shipping emissions, and for their complementarity
July 24, 2024 Read Full Article
Study Estimates Land Use Change Emissions for Six Aviation Fuel Pathways
by Ansa Heyl (International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis/Phys.Org) A new IIASA-led study offers the first detailed estimates of land use change emissions for six sustainable aviation fuel production pathways. The authors focused on both food and non-food raw materials used
July 23, 2024 Read Full Article
Referendum on Carbon Pipeline Law Validated for November Election
by Makenzie Huber (South Dakota Searchlight) A seventh ballot question has been validated by the Secretary of State’s Office for the Nov. 5 general election. The referendum asks voters to consider a recently adopted state law concerning carbon dioxide pipeline restrictions
July 12, 2024 Read Full Article
Leading Scientists Urge Court to Reject Faulty Land Use Change Arguments
(Renewable Fuels Association) The nation’s leading experts in agricultural economics and biofuels lifecycle analysis urged the D.C. Circuit Court last week to reject erroneous claims made by the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) in its lawsuit challenging EPA’s 2023-2025 Renewable Fuel Standard volumes. In its
July 08, 2024 Read Full Article
Burgum Set to Decide on Massive Pipeline Project that’s Pitting His Rural Constituents against GOP Megadonors
by Allison Gordon and Casey Tolan (CNN) As Donald Trump is considering him for his vice-presidential pick, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum could play a deciding role in allowing a massive carbon dioxide pipeline project – backed by GOP megadonors who
July 03, 2024 Read Full Article
Changing Their Minds on “Land Use Change”?
by Geoff Cooper (Renewable Fuels Association) In early 2022, University of Wisconsin researcher Tyler Lark published a study claiming that U.S. farmers had converted several million acres of pristine grassland and other “seminatural areas” to cropland in response to the Renewable Fuel Standard
June 27, 2024 Read Full Article
Summit Carbon Solutions Granted Approval by IUB for CO2 Pipeline
(Summit Carbon Solutions) Approval paves the way for new opportunities and support for Iowa’s farmers and ethanol producers. -- Today, the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) announced the approval of Summit Carbon Solutions base pipeline project (HLP-2021-0001). This approval represents a significant milestone not
June 26, 2024 Read Full Article
Tens of Millions of Acres of Cropland Lie Abandoned, Study Shows
by Erin Blakemore (Washington Post) The biggest changes took place around the Ogallala Aquifer, whose groundwater irrigates parts of numerous states, including Colorado, Texas and Wyoming. -- About 30 million acres of U.S. cropland have been abandoned since the 1980s, a new
June 11, 2024 Read Full Article
Egypt Makes Massive Land Push for Green Hydrogen Production (41,700 sq km Allocated)
by Pooja Chandak (Solar Quarter) NREA Chairman Mohamed El-Khayat announced that the Egyptian government has designated approximately 41,700 square kilometers for the New and Renewable Energy Authority (NREA) to expand renewable energy projects focused on green hydrogen production. El-Khayat stated during a
June 07, 2024 Read Full Article
Incumbent Republican Legislators Suffer Losses as Pipelines and Property Rights Surge to the Fore
by John Hult, Joshua Haiar and Seth Tupper (South Dakota Searchlight) At least 14 Republican legislators lost their races against fellow Republicans on Tuesday in the 2024 primary election, with a controversial carbon dioxide pipeline among the top wedge issues to
June 07, 2024 Read Full Article
Better Production Practices Key to Minimising Impact of Vegetable Oils – IUCN Report
(International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) A new report from the IUCN Oil Crops Taskforce, released today (May 7, 2024), assesses the future environmental, economic and social impact of the production, trade and the consumption of vegetable oils. The Task Force
May 08, 2024 Read Full Article
Illinois Bills Seek to Regulate Carbon Dioxide Pipelines and Sequestration
by Kari Lydersen (Energy News Network) The state’s sandstone geology makes it a draw for ethanol producers and others hoping for tax credits for carbon sequestration. -- Carbon dioxide pipeline and sequestration projects would face significant new scrutiny and regulations under proposed
April 17, 2024 Read Full Article
Dickinson County Leaders Unanimously Approve Pipeline Ordinance
by Jared Strong (Iowa Capital Dispatch) Supervisors of Dickinson County voted unanimously Tuesday to implement new restrictions on the placement of carbon dioxide pipelines to create larger buffers between them and people and animals. “We’ve tried to balance both sides,” said Bill
April 17, 2024 Read Full Article
The Airline Industry’s Biggest Climate Challenge: A Lack of Clean Fuel
by Ben Elgin (BNN Bloomberg) ... The $200 million plant from LanzaJet Inc. will be the first to turn ethanol into a fuel compatible with jet engines. The facility is one of many efforts around the globe attempting to crack one of
April 15, 2024 Read Full Article
Pipeline Company, Environmental Group Strike Unique ‘Community Benefits’ Agreement
by Paul Hammel (Nebraska Examiner) Under deal with Bold Alliance, first responders will get training, landowners could choose annual royalties payments and local foundations will get donations -- The developer of a carbon-dioxide pipeline and an environmental group have struck a “one-of-a-kind”
April 10, 2024 Read Full Article
Bold Goals Action Group Releases 40 Bold Actions to Accelerate the Bioeconomy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the Bold Goals Action Group released the final text of the 40 Bold Actions to Accelerate at ABLC 2024. The release capped a year-long, multi-national effort by bioeconomy stakeholders to define specific actions that
March 16, 2024 Read Full Article
Over 140,000 Farms Lost in 5 Years
by Daniel Munch (American Farm Bureau Federation) Between 2017 and 2022, the number of farms in the U.S. declined by 141,733 or 7%, according to USDA’s 2022 Census of Agriculture, released on Feb. 13. Acres operated by farm operations during the same
March 08, 2024 Read Full Article
Legislature Passes Attempted Balance between Landowners and Carbon Pipeline Project
by Joshua Haiar (South Dakota Searchlight) Supporters say bills protect farmers; opponents say they protect company -- Years of debate about a proposed carbon dioxide pipeline came to a head Wednesday at the state Capitol as lawmakers passed three bills intended to
March 07, 2024 Read Full Article
Viewpoint: Planned Dangerous Ethanol Plant Violates City Law
by Robert Weintraub (News Leader) An ethanol production plant has been proposed for Fernandina Beach by Rayonier Advanced Materials (RYAM). The company has said it is not required to provide details of the plant or its operation to the city commission.
March 01, 2024 Read Full Article
Petronas Urges EU to Rethink Palm Oil Phaseout, Flags Biofuel Affordability
by Kelly Norways and Simone Burgin (S&P Global) Early palm oil phaseout leaves limited feedstock alternatives: Petronas; Malaysian palm oil exports to Europe down 42% in 2023; Consumer willingness to pay for green fuel a key hurdle: Preem -- Malaysian state-owned oil company
February 29, 2024 Read Full Article
Northeast Nebraska County Delivers Blow to Plans for Carbon Pipeline
by Paul Hammel (Nebraska Examiner) Stanton County denial would require Summit Carbon Solutions to reapply for conditional use permit -- A rural Nebraska county delivered a blow Tuesday to plans by an Iowa corporation to build a pipeline carrying carbon dioxide across
February 22, 2024 Read Full Article
Engine Technology Forum to Testify in Support of Maryland’s Critical Infrastructure Streamlining Act of 2024
(Engine Technology Forum) — Maryland’s House and Senate will consider The Critical Infrastructure Streamlining Act of 2024 tomorrow. The legislation, sponsored by Gov. Wes Moore, would remove a regulatory barrier impacting how back up power systems are classified and considered as part
February 21, 2024 Read Full Article
Project Presentation – Life Cycle Assessment of the Production of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) and Renewable Diesel (RD) from Oil Palm and its Crop Residues in Colombia
(International Sustainability and Carbon Certification) In a collaborative effort funded by the World Bank, ISCC, with the support of its sister companies MEO and GRAS, has been diligently conducting a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) and Renewable
February 20, 2024 Read Full Article
Exclusive: White House Set to Back Tougher Climate Model for Ethanol, Sources Say
by Jarrett Renshaw, Stephanie Kelly and Leah Douglas (Reuters) President Joe Biden's administration is poised to announce an adjustment to its scientific modeling for ethanol that will show the corn-based fuel to be less effective at reducing greenhouse gas emissions than
February 19, 2024 Read Full Article
Ag Census Confirms Cropland Decline, Adoption of Environmental Practices
by Scott Richman (Renewable Fuels Association) The first tranche of data from the 2022 Census of Agriculture was released by USDA on Tuesday, and it showed that the amount of cropland in the U.S. fell by 14 million acres (4%) since 2017, continuing a
February 17, 2024 Read Full Article
Sustainable Carbon Removals Limits Identified, Huge Climate Mitigation Challenge Revealed
(University of Melbourne/EurekAlert!) Governments and businesses are relying on dangerous amounts of future removal of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere, instead of more rapidly reducing emissions and phasing out fossil fuels. This problem is partly due to an incomplete picture1 of
February 13, 2024 Read Full Article
Another Attempt to Block Carbon Pipelines from Using Eminent Domain Fails
by Joshua Haiar (South Dakota Searchlight) Another legislative attempt to stop a proposed carbon sequestration pipeline from using eminent domain failed Monday. “It is up to us to defend South Dakotans’ property rights,” said Rep. Jon Hansen, R-Dell Rapids, the prime sponsor of
February 13, 2024 Read Full Article
US Counties Are Blocking the Future of Renewable Energy: These Maps, Graphics Show How
by Elizabeth Weise, Stephen J. Beard, Suhail Bhat, Ramon Padilla, Carlie Procell, Karina Zaiets (USA TODAY) Across America, local bans, moratoriums and construction impediments are blocking wind and solar energy with increasing levels of red tape. ... The U.S. has set a goal
February 11, 2024 Read Full Article
South Dakota Could Soon Regulate Hydrogen Pipelines, Same as Carbon
by Dominik Dausch (Sioux Falls Argus Leader) Just as the South Dakota's Governor's Office of 2009 foresaw the need for carbon dioxide pipelines to come under the purview of state regulators, so too did this year's legislative body decide the same for
February 09, 2024 Read Full Article
Minnesota Agency Releases Draft EIS for 28-Mile Section of Summit’s CO2 Pipeline Project Public Comment DEADLINE February 23, 2024 Hearings: February 6, 7 (in-person) and 8 (virtual)
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Minnesota Department of Commerce on Jan. 26 released the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for a 28.1-mile section of Summit Carbon Solution’s proposed carbon dioxide pipeline. A public comment period on the EIS is
February 06, 2024 Read Full Article
Summit Adds 12 Ethanol Plants to Pipeline Proposal in Iowa
by Jared Strong (Iowa Capital Dispatch) Summit Carbon Solutions has reached an agreement to nearly double the number of ethanol facilities that will connect to its proposed carbon dioxide pipeline system in Iowa, the company announced Monday. The agreement with POET —
January 30, 2024 Read Full Article
North Dakota Commissioners Say Counties Won't Be Able to Restrict Summit Carbon Pipeline
by Donnelle Eller (Des Moines Register) The Ames-based company that wants to build a $5.5 billion carbon capture pipeline across Iowa and neighboring states got a boost as North Dakota regulators signaled cities and counties there will be unable to impose
January 29, 2024 Read Full Article
BP Pushes to Extend Definition of ‘Advanced’ Biofuels as Green Aviation Targets Loom
by Jonathan Packroff (EURACTIV) Oil giant BP Europe is pushing for a revision of the EU’s rules for biofuels, fossil fuel alternatives made from crops, animal fats, and waste, to allow more crops into the EU’s definition of ‘advanced’ biofuels
January 25, 2024 Read Full Article
As Sustainable Aviation Fuel Plant Opens, Get US Ethanol into the Game
by Monte Shaw (Iowa Renewable Fuels Association/Des Moines Register) Carbon capture and sequestration cuts U.S. ethanol’s carbon score by more than half. Carbon capture and sequestration alone gets us in the game. ... Ready to go, but sitting on the bench, is
January 24, 2024 Read Full Article
Republicans Dodge Iowa’s Hot-Button Energy Issue: CO2 Pipelines
Jeffrey Tomich (Politico Pro Climatewire)The GOP nominating process is moving on from the Hawkeye State. Voters still aren’t sure where candidates stand on carbon pipelines. -- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley brought their
January 16, 2024 Read Full Article
California, The Ethanol State?
by Geoff Cooper (Renewable Fuels Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... Consider this: In 2022, more than 103 million gallons of E85 was purchased in California for use in flex-fuel vehicles. Importantly, the E85 sales figure for 2022 represents a 66 percent
January 11, 2024 Read Full Article
CO2 Pipeline Projects Struggle to Gain Traction
by Christopher E. Smith (Oil & Gas Journal) A much larger pipeline network than that already used for enhanced oil recovery would be needed for carbon capture, storage, and sequestration (CCS) to meet national greenhouse gas reduction goals. Estimates published
December 20, 2023 Read Full Article
RFA Welcomes Recognition of GREET Model in SAF Tax Credit Guidance
(Renewable Fuels Association) The U.S. Treasury Department today released guidance regarding the implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act’s sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) tax credit. The guidance clarifies that a soon-to-be-updated version of the Department of Energy’s GREET model will be among the methodologies used
December 15, 2023 Read Full Article
Duvall Calls Property Rights “Recurring Concern” for Farm Bureau
(Brownfield Ag News) Zippy Duvall (president of the American Farm Bureau Federation) tells Brownfield eminent domain concerns have been driven by the green energy movement. For a state like Missouri, that means energy transmission lines and for other states, its carbon pipelines,
December 05, 2023 Read Full Article
Bold Actions to Accelerate the Bioeconomy: Report from Ottawa Meet-up of the Bold Goals Action Group
by Jim Lane (REenergize the Gulf Coast) In Ottawa, on the sidelines of the Jeff Passmore’s SCALING UP meeting, a coalition of the willing known as the Bold Goals Action Group refined and amended a series of 37 Bold Actions that must be
December 05, 2023 Read Full Article
Canada Confirms US Feedstocks Comply with CFR’s Land Use, Biodiversity Criteria
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Environment and Climate Change Canada has acknowledged that U.S. feedstocks are in compliances with the land use and biodiversity (LUB) criteria included under the country’s Clean Fuel Regulation, according to a report filed with the
November 29, 2023 Read Full Article
Can Solar and Farming Coexist?
by Clinton Griffiths (AgWeb) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) believes solar could provide up to 40% of the country’s electricity by the year 2035. However, it’s estimated roughly 5.7 million acres of land will be needed. “While that amount is
November 25, 2023 Read Full Article
Growth Energy Urges Washington State to Clarify “Biofuels” Definition, Fully Embrace Bioethanol’s Emissions Benefits
(Growth Energy) Growth Energy, the nation’s largest biofuels trade association, today (November 1, 2023) urged regulators in Washington state to clarify their definition of “biofuels” under the state’s Cap-and-Invest program in a way that allows them to “maximize the use of
November 08, 2023 Read Full Article
Growth Energy Urges CARB to Follow the Science, Maintain Bioethanol’s Exemption from Cap-and-Trade Program
(Growth Energy) Growth Energy, the nation’s largest biofuels trade association, submitted comments today (October 26, 2023) to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) as part of its effort to revise the state’s cap and trade regulations. Specifically, the comments called on
November 08, 2023 Read Full Article
The Potential of Agrivoltaics for the U.S. Solar Industry, Farmers, and Communities
by Michele Boyd (U.S. Department of Energy) Large-scale solar energy installations are a relatively new form of development in many rural areas. Solar energy development can create clean energy, jobs, and other economic benefits in these communities. At the same time, the
November 06, 2023 Read Full Article
Bold Actions to Accelerate the Bioeconomy: Findings from the Bold Goals Action Group
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In San Francisco on the sidelines of the ABLC NEXT 2023 meeting, a coalition of the willing called the Bold Goals Action Group outlined a series of 31 Bold Actions that must be taken by industry
October 31, 2023 Read Full Article
Brazil Bucks Trend for EVs by Turning to Biofuels
(NHK) Electric vehicles are leading the charge to decarbonize the global auto industry, but Brazil is making a strong case for bioethanol. And some of the biggest names in the business are jumping on board. "I refueled with ethanol," says a driver
October 24, 2023 Read Full Article
New Report Provides Comprehensive Plan to Meet U.S. Net-Zero Goals and Ensure Fair and Equitable Energy Transition
(National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine) A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine provides a broad set of recommendations that form a comprehensive plan to put the U.S. on a pathway to realize its net-zero carbon emissions
October 24, 2023 Read Full Article
Heartland Greenway Project Update: Carbon Pipeline Project Canceled
(Navigator CO2) The development of Navigator CO2’s pipeline project has been challenging. Given the unpredictable nature of the regulatory and government processes involved, particularly in South Dakota and Iowa, the Company has decided to cancel its pipeline project. Matt Vining, CEO of
October 20, 2023 Read Full Article
Judge Halts Major Bay Area Refinery Project for State Environmental Review
by Natalie Hanson (Courthouse News Service) Phillips 66 cannot begin operations at a new California biofuel refinery until Contra Costa County fixes flaws in an environmental analysis of the project. -- Phillips 66 must halt a plan to start operating a new
October 13, 2023 Read Full Article
Navigator Carbon Capture Pipeline Company Moves to Pause Bid for Iowa Permit
by Jared Strong (Iowa Capital Dispatch/Des Moines Register) Navigator CO2 Ventures wants to suspend the permit process for its planned carbon capture pipeline in Iowa until it wins approval for the project from utility regulators in Illinois. The pipeline would carry emissions
October 02, 2023 Read Full Article
Analysis: US Carbon Capture Pipeline Setbacks Reflect Challenges in Climate Fight
by Leah Douglas (Reuters) A series of permit rejections for two high-profile carbon pipeline projects in the U.S. Midwest could bode poorly for carbon capture and storage (CCS) as a widespread solution to climate change, reflecting deep-seated public concern about its
September 28, 2023 Read Full Article
Ethanol Blog -- RFA Chief: EPA Science Board Using Bad Data to Question Corn Ethanol Emissions
by Chris Clayton (DTN Progressive Farmer) As the EPA's Science Advisory Board meets Thursday and Friday, the ethanol industry is continuing to push back on the board's claim that there are "minimal or no climate benefits" in using corn ethanol in
September 22, 2023 Read Full Article
CO2 Pipelines: The New Populist Republican Target
by Mike Soraghan (E&E News Energywire) Far-right leaders are often fans of pipelines crossing the country, but when it comes to ones carrying carbon dioxide — forget it. Big pipeline and carbon sequestration projects in the Midwest, which would involve thousands of
September 22, 2023 Read Full Article
GOP Lawmakers Testify against Eminent Domain Use for Carbon Pipeline
by O. Kay Henderson (Radio Iowa) An Iowa lawmaker is suggesting the Iowa Utilities Board lacks the authority to grant Summit Carbon Solutions permission to seize property along its proposed pipeline route from unwilling landowners. Republican Representative Steven Holt of Denison says
September 21, 2023 Read Full Article
Rastetter Testimony Sought for Evidence of Summit’s ‘Anticompetitive’ Agreements
by Jared Strong (Iowa Capital Dispatch) Bruce Rastetter, the influential co-founder of Summit Carbon Solutions, should be subpoenaed to testify to state regulators in support of his company’s carbon dioxide pipeline proposal, according to the daughter of a landowner who is
September 12, 2023 Read Full Article
The Largest U.S. Aquifer Is Running Dry
by Regina Rae Weiss, Brooklyn (New York Times) Re “America Is Using Up Its Groundwater Like There’s No Tomorrow” (“Uncharted Waters” series, Sept. 2): Back in the 1960s, geologists studying the Ogallala Aquifer — the United States’ largest aquifer, which lies under
September 08, 2023 Read Full Article
Singapore Supports Use of Palm Oil in Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production
by Janice Lim (Business Times) Palm oil should be included as feedstock for the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), said Acting Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat. He made the comments at a regional meeting of transport ministers from the Association of
September 07, 2023 Read Full Article
Decision Looms by Sept. 6 on Navigator Pipeline Permit, Overruling South Dakota Counties
by John Hult (South Dakota Searchlight/Argus Leader) The Public Utilities Commission will decide at a later date whether it will overrule county zoning officials on behalf of a carbon pipeline company. Friday marked the second day of a two-day hearing in
August 29, 2023 Read Full Article
SAF Modeling Debate Isn’t Really about “GREET vs. ICAO.” It’s about Current Data vs. Old Data.
by Geoff Cooper (Renewable Fuels Association) Last year’s Inflation Reduction Act created tax credits meant to stimulate the production and use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), a critical tool in the aviation sector’s decarbonization strategy. To qualify for the tax credits, SAF
August 22, 2023 Read Full Article
Gas Promotion Highlights Ethanol, Biodiesel as Profitable Option for Farmers
by Daniel Bethers (Herald-Whig) Discounted fuel to promote biofuel helped kick off the harvest in Hancock County. West Central FS and the the Hancock County Farm Bureau held the 20th annual Biodiesel/Ethanol Promotion at the Carthage station. Officials hosted state Senator Neil
August 21, 2023 Read Full Article
Augusta Biofuel Plant on Hold as Commissioners Want More Discussion with Neighbors
(WJBF) – A biofuels plant in South Augusta sounds like it could be a community asset: turning trash into natural gas. “It probably is. It probably can be a good project, but there again let us find out more about it,” said Commissioner
August 16, 2023 Read Full Article
Enviros Assail Forest Service Report, Saying It Could Promote Logging
by Minho Kim (Politico Pro Climatewire) The Forest Service faces criticism for projecting that forests could become carbon emitters by 2070 instead of continuing as carbon sinks. -- Activists are condemning a recent Forest Service report to Congress, saying one of its
August 15, 2023 Read Full Article
Protecting the Future of Low-Carbon Aviation
by Emily Skor (Growth Energy/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Launched in 2021, the Biden administration’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge aims to produce enough low-carbon jet fuel to slash aviation emissions in half by 2050. Thanks to new incentives created by the Inflation Reduction Act,
August 08, 2023 Read Full Article
North Dakota Regulators Deny Siting Permit for Summit Carbon Dioxide Pipeline; Company Will Reapply
by Jack Dura (Associated Press) North Dakota regulators denied a siting permit Friday for a proposed carbon dioxide pipeline that would cross five states. The decision complicates an already complex process for Summit Carbon Solutions, which is seeking similar authorization in the
August 07, 2023 Read Full Article
Swiss Firm to Allocate 1$ Bln for Green Hydrogen Production in Egypt
(Asharq Al Awsat) Smartenergy intends to expand in Egypt by producing green hydrogen in a project of initial value worth one billion dollars, said well-informed sources. The company is specialized in renewable energy. Smartenergy didn’t make an official statement regarding the project, but
August 04, 2023 Read Full Article
Groups Win Legal Challenges to Massive Bay Area Biofuel Refinery Projects
(Center for Biological Diversity) Flawed Reviews Downplayed Harms to Communities, Environment -- Communities for a Better Environment and the Center for Biological Diversity won legal victories today over Contra Costa County’s approval of two proposed biofuel refinery conversions in the Bay Area.
July 24, 2023 Read Full Article
EASA Launches SAF Research Project at Copenhagen Airport (CPH)
by Rytis Beresnevicius (Aerotime Hub) The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) announced that it has launched a research project to improve Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) supply and infrastructure at Copenhagen Airport (CPH). According to EASA, there are two key barriers to
July 18, 2023 Read Full Article
Green Group Files Lawsuit Challenging EPA Biofuels Rule
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico Pro) The Center for Biological Diversity is again challenging EPA's rule setting biofuel blending requirements in a federal appeals court, arguing the agency failed to comply with the Endangered Species Act. The lawsuit filed Thursday in the the D.C.
July 14, 2023 Read Full Article
Bioenergy as Harmful as Fossil Fuels if CO2 Emissions Not Priced
(Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)/Mirage News) A new study in Nature Climate Change shows that under current land-use regulations, CO2 emission factors for biofuels might even exceed those for fossil diesel combustion due to large-scale land clearing related to
June 27, 2023 Read Full Article
Are Biofuels Bad for the Environment?
by Charles H. Gessner, Neil Caskey, Suzy Friedman and Allen Schaeffer (New York Times) To the Editor: Re “A Climate Solution That’s Bad for the Climate,” by Michael Grunwald (Opinion guest essay, June 12): ... Michael Grunwald, not today’s farmers, seems mired in the “horse-and-buggy
June 26, 2023 Read Full Article
Iowa Regulators to Begin Summit Carbon Capture Pipeline Hearing Aug. 22 in Fort Dodge
by Donnelle Eller (Des Moines Register) State regulators plan to hold a hearing beginning Aug. 22 in Fort Dodge on Summit Carbon Solutions' $4.5 billion proposal to build a roughly 680-mile carbon capture pipeline across Iowa, according to an order released
June 19, 2023 Read Full Article
Understanding Indirect Land-Use Change (ILUC) and Why Reality Is a Special Case --- June 28, 2023 --- ONLINE
(IEA Bioenergy) Indirect Land-Use Change (ILUC) refers to the phenomenon where changes in land use for one purpose, such as the cultivation of crops for biofuels, can indirectly impact land use and environmental conditions elsewhere. Specifically, ILUC explores the potential
June 16, 2023 Read Full Article
Commission Sees Crop Biofuels’ Clean Transport Value, but Outside EU
by Sarantis Michalopoulos (EURACTIV.com) ... At a G7 meeting in Hiroshima late last month, the world’s richest countries adopted a document, also signed by the EU, in which the value of biofuels – among other options – in decarbonising road transport
June 13, 2023 Read Full Article
Corn-Powered Planes? Why Delta — and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz — Lobbied for New Biofuel Tax Credit
by Walker Orenstein (MinnPost) The governor and other supporters argue that incentives for a burgeoning industry can slash emissions, create jobs and provide a future for Minnesota’s large biofuels industry as electric vehicles become a larger share of ground transportation. ... “Ninety-eight
June 07, 2023 Read Full Article
Ethanol: From Road to Air Transport
by Phillipe Marchand (Transport Energy Strategies) ... Qualification for sustainability: Two issues are at the heart of the criticism of biofuels by environmental NGOs. The first is insufficient CO2 emission abatement and the second, production on agricultural land that is suspected
June 01, 2023 Read Full Article
Letter: Inaccurate Statements about Corn and Ethanol
by Richard Syverson (Minnesota Corn Growers Association/Echo Press) Information included in Karen Tolkkinen’s May 10 piece, “Alexandria Senior College lecturer lists possible solutions for imperiled wetlands” was inaccurate regarding corn and the production of ethanol. Wetland status in Minnesota is a
May 30, 2023 Read Full Article
Should Aviation Be Given Preferential Access to Scarce Land and Clean Energy Resources for SAF, Questions Paper
by Christopher Surgenor (CleanAir Online) An academic analysis of 12 roadmaps for decarbonising the global aviation industry finds they place a heavy reliance on biogenic fuels in the medium-term and synthetic e-kerosene in the longer term but largely omit a
May 26, 2023 Read Full Article
Unlocking the Bioethanol Economy
(United Nations Industrial Development Organization) A Pathway to Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development in Developing Countries -- ... Developing a bioethanol industry and value chain, by leveraging a vibrant agriculture sector and agro-industries in developing, least developed, and small island
May 23, 2023 Read Full Article
Iowa Regulators Propose Using Mediators to Settle Summit Carbon Capture Pipeline Disputes
by Donnelle Eller (Des Moines Register) Iowa regulators propose hiring mediators to settle easement disputes between an Ames company and landowners in the path of its nearly 800-mile carbon-capture pipeline who could be targeted for eminent domain. The Iowa Utilities Board floated
May 22, 2023 Read Full Article
German Biofuel Industry in Jeopardy, and So Is Feed Production
(All about Feed) Germany mulls phasing out crop-based bioethanol production in the coming decade chasing a declared goal to fortify European and world’s food security. However, as market players reveal, the effect of the widely discussed reform is likely to be
May 17, 2023 Read Full Article
Port: Don't Be Fooled by Anti-Carbon Pipeline Hype
by Rob Port (InFORum) A professional political campaign, paid for by unknown interests, has hyped consternation about the Midwest Carbon Express pipeline, giving a false impression of public sentiment. -- The Midwest Express carbon pipeline has made a lot of headlines recently
May 16, 2023 Read Full Article
From Palm Oil Waste to Cellulosic Ethanol: Indonesia’s Opportunity (Commentary)
by Tenny Kristiana (Mongabay) • Many Indonesian farmers say they haven’t seen benefits from the country’s biofuel program. Cellulosic ethanol could help fix the problem, a new op-ed says. Tenny Kristiana of the International Council on Clean Transportation argues Indonesia
May 12, 2023 Read Full Article
Oregon Considers Permanent Restrictions on Growing Canola in the Willamette Valley
by Tracy Loew (Salem Statesman Journal) The Oregon Legislature is considering making a 500-acre limit on canola crops in the Willamette Valley permanent. That could end a three-decade-long fight among the state’s seed growers. In addition to the limit, Senate Bill 789 would require
May 12, 2023 Read Full Article
Report Forecasts Clean-Energy Boost from Turning Cornfields into Solar Power Fields
by Erik Gunn (Wisconsin Examiner) About 1 million acres of Wisconsin farmland produces corn for ethanol fuel, but an environmental group says the land could produce 100 times as much energy if planted with solar farms instead. In addition, it would take
May 04, 2023 Read Full Article
In the Palm of Your Hand
(Biofuels International) ... Waste and residues from agricultural activities have the best potential to deliver zeroemissions energy as traditional sources of farm emissions from the biodegradation of farm wastes are converted into renewable sources of energy. The European Union, in its
April 27, 2023 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2023 Multi-Slide Guide to Currently Used and Future Potential of Biomass Resources in the US
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Billion Ton 23 update is coming. BETO needs a comprehensive biomass resource assessment that is end-use agnostic — for example, MSW and microalgae numbers in BT16 do not represent current BETO Analysis. There is
April 27, 2023 Read Full Article
Eat Less Meat, We Need Space for Biofuels, German Producer Says
by Jonathan Packroff (EURACTIV) In an ongoing dispute over biofuels made from crops such as rapeseed and wheat, Germany’s biggest biofuel producer argues that reducing meat consumption would be a much better way to free up agricultural space for food production,
April 24, 2023 Read Full Article
S’pore Looking into Wider Adoption of Biofuels, Bioresources to Hit Net-Zero Emissions Target
by Cheryl Tan (Straits Times) To reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, the Republic is studying the potential for wider adoption of biofuels and sustainable bioresources in carbon-intensive sectors such as electricity generation, transport and heavy industry. The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI)
April 24, 2023 Read Full Article
Solutions from the Land’s Global Work Program
(Solutions from the Land) ... Farmers, ranchers and foresters in the 21st century are being called upon to address hunger, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, sequester carbon, navigate and mitigate climate change, build soil health, clean up water sources, and produce clean
April 21, 2023 Read Full Article
US Carbon Capture Incentives Leave EU ‘Lagging Behind’, Biofuel Makers Warn
by Sean Goulding Carroll (EURACTIV.com) Efforts to boost carbon capture and storage (CCS) in Europe are insufficient according to biofuel makers, who say the United States offer better incentives. CCS sees carbon taken out of the atmosphere and injected underground, usually in
April 21, 2023 Read Full Article
‘It’s Unfair to the Community’: Barrio Logan Votes to Oppose Controversial Biofuel Plant’s Pipeline Plans
by Emily Alvarenga (San Diego Union-Tribune) New Leaf Biofuel says the pipeline would cut down on truck traffic. But the planning group decided it wouldn’t be enough to benefit the community. ... New Leaf Biofuel wants to build an underground pipeline to
April 21, 2023 Read Full Article
Midwest CO2 Pipelines Push ahead as Bills Fizzle
by Jeffrey Tomich, Carlos Anchondo, Mike Soraghan (E&E News Energywire) Companies planning carbon capture projects in the Midwest are defeating legislative proposals to add regulations or block them, increasing the likelihood that a sprawling network of planned pipelines to transport the
April 13, 2023 Read Full Article
Biden-Harris Administration Proposes Strongest-Ever Pollution Standards for Cars and Trucks to Accelerate Transition to a Clean-Transportation Future Hearing May 2-3, 2023; Public Comment DEADLINE TBD
(Environmental Protection Agency) Building on rapid advancements and investments in clean vehicle manufacturing, including investments in domestic manufacturing in the Inflation Reduction Act, EPA’s proposed standards would deliver on President Biden’s agenda to tackle the climate crisis Today, the U.S. Environmental
April 12, 2023 Read Full Article
Jatropha: The Biofuel that Bombed Seeks a Path to Redemption
by Sean Mowbray (Mongabay) • Earlier this century, jatropha was hailed as a “miracle” biofuel. An unassuming shrubby tree native to Central America, it was wildly promoted as a high-yielding, drought-tolerant biofuel feedstock that could grow on degraded lands across
April 07, 2023 Read Full Article
Battle Brews over Climate Law Credits for Aviation Biofuels
by Brian Dabbs (E&E News Energywire) The Inflation Reduction Act is setting up a fight over the climate footprint of biofuels for aviation, with significant implications for the nation’s emissions trajectory, the U.S. transportation sector and rural communities. In coming weeks, the
April 05, 2023 Read Full Article
Is Green Methanol an Alternative to CO2 Pipelines?
by Erin Jordan (The Gazette) Several Iowa farmers are optimistic CapCO2 could ‘solve the pipeline issue’ -- Some renewable fuels advocates say carbon dioxide pipelines are the only way to save Iowa’s ethanol industry, but Jeff Reints doesn’t buy it. Especially not
March 28, 2023 Read Full Article
Ag Policy Blog: Despite Ethanol Industry Concerns, Iowa House Votes to Restrict Carbon Pipelines
by Chris Clayton (DTN Progressive Farmer) In one of the most heated political battles in the state, the Iowa House of Representatives on March 22 voted against the interests of the state's biofuels industry in a 71-20 vote to tighten rules
March 27, 2023 Read Full Article
Sustainable Land Use Is Not “Land Consumption” – UFOP
(Bioenergy International) The discussion about banning internal combustion engines (ICEs) is in full swing at national- and European levels. Critics of the use of sustainable biofuels from cultivated biomass for transportation often use the term "land consumption" as an argument against
March 21, 2023 Read Full Article
Bill Would End Eminent Domain for Carbon Capture Pipelines
by Terry L. Jones (Louisiana Illuminator/Floodlight) A Louisiana legislator wants to help keep landowners from losing their property to pipelines needed for the dozens of carbon capture projects proposed around the state. Rep. Robby Carter, D-Amite, has prefiled a bill for
March 15, 2023 Read Full Article
ePURE Criticises New Claims Made by T&E
(Biofuels International) ePURE has hit back at claims made by Transport & Environment that Europe was wasting land the size of Ireland on biofuels. Maik Marahrens, biofuels manager at T&E, said: “Biofuels are a failed experiment. To continue to burn food
March 09, 2023 Read Full Article
US Carbon Pipeline Faces Setback as Residents Refuse to Cede Land Rights
by Leah Douglas (Reuters) Navigator CO2 Ventures’ proposed carbon pipeline project in the U.S. Midwest is struggling to secure a site to store millions of tons of greenhouse gas it hopes to collect from the region’s ethanol plants, as residents refuse
March 09, 2023 Read Full Article
CO2 Pipeline Build-out Generates Bipartisan House Interest
by Jeremy Dillon (E&E News/Politico Pro) Lawmakers on a House panel found some consensus Wednesday on the operation and safety of carbon dioxide pipelines, as Congress seeks to reauthorize the agency responsible for the nation's pipeline network. The bipartisan interest at a
March 09, 2023 Read Full Article
Land Conversion Due to the Renewable Fuel Standard May Harm Endangered Species, Study Says
by Katie Peikes (Iowa Public Radio) ... But the federal policy may affect endangered species and their necessary habitat when farmers convert land into cropland to grow more corn, which is processed into ethanol, according to a new analysis in the journal Biological
March 06, 2023 Read Full Article
House Bill Would Establish New Rules for Carbon Pipelines, Landowners Rally
by O. Kay Henderson (Radio Iowa) It’s a farmer versus farmer debate over proposed rules for developers planning to build three carbon pipelines through Iowa. Under a bill that’s cleared a House subcommittee, landowners along 90% of a pipeline’s route would have
February 22, 2023 Read Full Article
Navigator’s Proposed Carbon Pipeline Struggles to Gain Support in Illinois
by Aydali Campa (Inside Climate News) McDonough County residents are asking officials to stand their ground as Navigator offers payments totaling up to $18.9 million to the county in exchange for its support. -- A farming county in Western Illinois doesn’t
February 20, 2023 Read Full Article
UFOP Study: Models to Assess Indirect Land Use Change Not Sufficiently Robust
(Union zur Förderung von Oel- und Proteinpflanzen e. V. (UFOP)) Controversial debates about the impact of European biofuel policy on cultivation of agricultural commodities in other regions, i.e. indirect land use change (iLUC), have been underway since the target of 10%
February 13, 2023 Read Full Article
Ethanol Executive: Carbon Capture Might Be ‘Life or Death’ for Producers
by Jared Strong (Iowa Capital Dispatch) An increasing demand for low-carbon fuels will imperil ethanol producers unless there is widespread adoption of equipment to capture emissions from ethanol plants, the executive director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association said Tuesday. “I honestly
February 08, 2023 Read Full Article
MPOC Urges EU to Include Palm Oil Wastes and Residues in Bioenergy Use
(UkrAgroConsult) The Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) has urged the European Union (EU) to include palm oil wastes and residues in bioenergy use. The organisation made its comments following the EU’s new public input session into sustainable biofuels and biogases, which
January 27, 2023 Read Full Article
Report Forecasts Clean-Energy Boost from Turning Cornfields into Solar Power Fields
by Erik Gunn (Wisconsin Examiner) About 1 million acres of Wisconsin farmland produces corn for ethanol fuel, but an environmental group says the land could produce 100 times as much energy if planted with solar farms instead. In addition, it would take
January 25, 2023 Read Full Article
Sen. Jeff Magrum Files 8 Bills Related to Summit Carbon Solutions Pipeline
by Jeff Beach (InForUm) Summit Carbon Solutions says its $4.5 billion pipeline project will help ethanol plants and corn growers but has been met with resistance from landowners. -- The controversial Summit Carbon Solutions carbon capture pipeline has spawned at least
January 20, 2023 Read Full Article
An Over-Belief in Electrification Is Harming the Climate
by Gustav Melin (Bioenergy International/Swedish Bioenergy Association) ... The energy transition cannot be expedited by support and subsidies -- However, it is difficult to be re-elected on increased carbon dioxide taxes and more expensive energy prices. That’s no excuse, as there are
January 16, 2023 Read Full Article
Bioenergy through the Eyes of a BETO Intern
by Julia Matney (U.S. Department of Energy) ... While I did not understand much about biofuels initially, learning about them through the lens of NGO opinions was fascinating. During this time, I created a database collecting and organizing those views, and
January 13, 2023 Read Full Article
Food, Feed and Fuel for Europe: The Future of Renewable Ethanol
by David Carpintero (ePURE/Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... As policymakers hammer out the final details of the so-called Fit for 55 package of climate and energy legislation, there is at least general agreement that reducing emissions from transport requires an important
January 03, 2023 Read Full Article
Are There Better Places to Put Large Solar Farms?
(North America Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance) Farmers and conservationists are worried about large-scale solar farms – especially some projects in Virginia – that rely on deforestation and displacement of farmland that, managed properly, will capture carbon in the air. Some
December 09, 2022 Read Full Article
Out-of-Country Farmland Investors: Here’s What The Numbers Show
by Jenna Hoffman (AgWeb) A reality check on foreign-owned farmland -- This summer, a sale of 300 acres of North Dakota farmland raised eyebrows and alarm. The $2.6 million price tag was noteworthy, but the bigger kicker was the buyer —
December 06, 2022 Read Full Article
Transport: You’ve Got to Change Your Habits, They Say
by Philippe Marchand (European Technology and Innovation Platform (ETIP)/Transport Energy Strategies) On the road to 2050, transport is not the easiest sector to decarbonize, or, more precisely, de-fossilize, but it must be done without further ado. ... Still, what if the “if”
December 02, 2022 Read Full Article
Moratorium on Unregulated Biomass Facilities Approved in Madison County, US
(Bioenergy Insight) Commissioners in Madison County, North Carolina, US, voted unanimously on 16 November to establish a moratorium on biomass facilities in the area, reported WLOS. Clear Sky Madison president Jim Tibbetts said county leaders decided after speaking with community residents that
December 01, 2022 Read Full Article
Ethanol Industry Eyes Transformation to Kill ‘Food vs Fuel’ Argument
by Sarantis Michalopoulos (EURACTIV.com) Although Hungary’s agriculture minister has recently hailed the ethanol industry’s fresh investments in animal feed and foodstuffs in addition to biofuel production, the European Commission appears to remain unconvinced, still invoking the “food versus fuel” argument. Speaking at
November 23, 2022 Read Full Article
US Can Reach 100% Clean Power by 2035, DOE Finds, but Tough Reliability and Land Use Questions Lie Ahead
by Herman K. Trabish (Utility Dive) New aggressive planning is needed to identify the long-duration storage technologies and find the land to grow enough resources to reach Biden net zero emissions goals, a DOE national lab reports. -- Four major
November 18, 2022 Read Full Article
Solar Panels Reduce CO2 Emissions More per Acre than Trees — and Much More than Corn Ethanol
by Matthew Eisenson (Columbia Climate School) ... On September 21, the New York Times published an essay by Gabriel Popkin titled “Are There Better Places to Put Large Solar Farms Than These Forests?” Popkin describes a recently approved 4,500-acre solar project in Virginia that will
October 31, 2022 Read Full Article
Special Report: Advisory - Story Has Been Withdrawn - How U.S. Ethanol Plants Are Allowed to Pollute More than Oil Refineries
Reuters is withdrawing a Sept. 8 article that compared carbon emissions from U.S. ethanol plants and oil refineries because of its flawed interpretation of data on ethanol-plant pollution and fuel-production capacity. That led to inaccurate estimates of carbon emissions for
September 26, 2022 Read Full Article
Diverse, Sustainable Biofuels Crucial for Indonesia’s Energy Transition
by Stella Kusumawardhani - Tenggara Strategics (The Jakarta Post) Indonesia is at the forefront of biofuel advancement worldwide, especially with regard to biodiesel, both in terms of blending rate and production scale, but its contribution to decarbonization is questionable since
September 09, 2022 Read Full Article
THIS REPORT HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN BY REUTERS Special Report: How U.S. Ethanol Plants Are Allowed to Pollute More than Oil Refineries
Sept 23 (Reuters) - Reuters is withdrawing a Sept. 8 article that compared carbon emissions from U.S. ethanol plants and oil refineries because of its flawed interpretation of data on ethanol-plant pollution and fuel-production capacity. That led to inaccurate estimates
September 08, 2022 Read Full Article
Surface Pressure: U.S. Losing Farmland at Alarming Rate
by Sara Schafer (Farm Journal Ag Web) From 2001 to 2016, the U.S. lost or compromised 2,000 acres of farmland and ranchland every day. That adds up to 11 million acres of farmland that has been paved over, fragmented or developed,
August 03, 2022 Read Full Article
Lawsuit Challenges EPA’s Damaging Renewable Fuels Standard
(Center for Biological Diversity) The Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals today challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s fuel volume requirements for corn ethanol and other biofuels for 2020, 2021 and 2022. Earlier this
July 21, 2022 Read Full Article
European Groups Comment on Key RED Vote in Parliament
(ePURE/Ethanol Producer Magazine) The European Parliament has taken a positive step on EU renewable energy policy as ITRE Committee members voted decisively in favor of increasing the ambition for GHG emissions reduction in transport while leaving Member States free to use
July 19, 2022 Read Full Article
Biofuel Production One of Most Important Areas of Work of Agrarian Policy Ministry – Dpty Minister
(Interfax Ukraine) Increasing production of fuel from agricultural raw materials had become one of the priority areas of work of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food since the spring of this year, after Russia's full-scale invasion into Ukraine, Taras Vysotsky,
July 15, 2022 Read Full Article
American Farmland Trust Says Smart Growth Needed to Reduce Loss of Ag Land
by Steve Davies (Agri-Pulse) A new report from American Farmland Trust projects if the current trend of farmland conversion continues, the United States will lose an area nearly the size of South Carolina in the not-too-distant future. AFT's new “Farms Under Threat
July 08, 2022 Read Full Article
White House Should Move Beyond E15, Boost Biofuel’s Economic, Environmental, National Security and Public Health Benefits
(Solutions from the Land) ... Reports out of Washington indicate that EPA submitted to the White House late last month its proposal on biofuel mandates, calling for a retroactive reduction for years 2020 and 2021, then boosting it back up for
May 20, 2022 Read Full Article
Conservationists Sue to Stop SoCal Biofuel Refinery Expansion
by Hillel Aron (Courthouse News Service) Biofuels are considered by some to be an important tool in the fight against climate change. But it has a growing number of detractors, including those within the environmental justice movement. -- Three environmental nonprofits
May 17, 2022 Read Full Article
Electric Vehicle: India’s Target to Have 20% Ethanol Blended in Petrol by 2025 Could Affect Its Food Security
by Tanvi Deshpande (IndiaSpend.com/Scroll.in) Achieving the target won’t drastically reduce emissions nor will India achieve energy security because of it. -- For India to meet its target of 20% ethanol blended in petrol by the year 2025 (commonly known as the
May 10, 2022 Read Full Article
Food or Fuel
by Peeping Tom (Kaieteur News – In 2009, there was a pushback against plans, by then President Bharrat Jagdeo, to use agricultural lands for the cultivation of crops for biofuels. At the time, the world was reeling from the triple
April 18, 2022 Read Full Article
Biofuels as an Indispensable Component of Security of Supply
by Dieter Bockey (UFOP/Biofuels Digest) ... The production of sustainable biofuels from oilseeds and cereals, with their production of essential co-products for food and animal feed, is an integral element of the entire food chain, because biofuel production, measured in
April 06, 2022 Read Full Article
Seaweed Farming Has Vast Potential (But Good Luck Getting a Permit)
by Alex Brown (PEW Stateline) ... The state’s permitting process involves nine different agencies, and the paperwork is so burdensome and time-consuming that few people bother. “There's a lot of people who are interested in seaweed farming, take a look at that
March 31, 2022 Read Full Article
Palm Oil for Biodiesel in the Amazon: Sustainable Fuel or Deforestation Risk?
Monica Prestes (Dialogo Chino) A planned biorefinery will require the cultivation of 120,000 hectares of oil palm, increasing the area planted in Brazil by 60%. An all too familiar debate is underway -- Oil palm, known as dendezeiro in Brazil, can produce up
March 29, 2022 Read Full Article
Alien Energy: Unlocking the Potential of Invasive Plants in South Africa
by Arianna Baldo and Tjaša Bole-Rentel (RSBBioenergy and WWF South Africa) Invasive alien plants (IAPs) are a scourge across Southern Africa – with species like black wattle and port jackson found across the region. It is estimated that more than 10%