by Kelly Harrington-Andrejasich (SNL) Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson has a message for scientists: get involved in politics and policymaking. Delivering a keynote address at the MIT Energy Conference in Boston on March 2, Richardson encouraged students and others
Policy
Back TO HOMEStoel Rives Publishes White Paper on RIN Program Change Proposal
(Stoel Rives/Biodiesel Magazine) Stoel Rives LLP, a national energy and biofuels law firm, has published a white paper that provides a comprehensive overview of proposed regulatory changes to the renewable fuel standard (RFS) program, specifically the renewable identification number (RIN)
March 06, 2013 Read Full Article
Carbon Tax from 2015, as New Biofuels Incentive Is Unveiled
by Terence Creamer (Polity.org.za) The South African government has confirmed that a carbon tax will be phased in from January 1, 2015, as part of South Africa’s efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change and encourage energy efficiency
March 06, 2013 Read Full Article
Unleashing the Power of the Bio-Economy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Recommendations from the Milken Institute — and a group of industry heavyweights — to accelerate the bioeconomy revolution. In California this week, the Milken Institute released a good read on the future of the bioeconomy, based
March 06, 2013 Read Full Article
Biodiesel Exec Pushes to Keep State Biofuel Mandate in Place
by Dennis Domrzalski (Albuquerque Business First) One of America’s largest producers of biodiesel said it might walk away from its unfinished biodiesel plant in Clovis if the state Legislature rolls back a mandate that all diesel fuel sold in the state
March 06, 2013 Read Full Article
SE Asian Palm Oil Producers Target U.S. Biofuel Market
(The Star/Reuters) A blending tax credit for alternative fuels has helped re-open the way for shipments of palm biodiesel to the United States, giving top producers Indonesia and Malaysia an outlet for palm oil stocks at near-record levels. ...That overhang has
March 06, 2013 Read Full Article
REA Welcomes Ed Davey’s Support for Biofuels in Europe
by Robin Whitlock (Renewable Energy Magazine) ...The Renewable Energy Association (REA) has welcomed Energy Secretary Ed Davey’s stance on biofuels at the European Energy Council. Mr Davey said that the idea of a one-size-fits-all approach to the issue of indirect land use change
March 05, 2013 Read Full Article
Obama Filling out Cabinet, Will Nominate New Budget Chief, EPA Director and Energy Secretary
(Associated Press/The Washington Post) President Barack Obama is announcing his picks for three Cabinet-level jobs — nominees to run the Energy Department, Environmental Protection Agency and budget office. Obama says energy secretary nominee Ernest Moniz is a “brilliant scientist” who knows
March 04, 2013 Read Full Article
Big Oil’s Big Smear?
by Brad Krohn (Biofuels Digest/United States EnviroFuels, LLC) Big Oil’s best kept secret from the American consumer is Brazil’s fuel ethanol mandate, which started during the 1970s as a result of the OPEC oil embargoes. In Brazil, where ethanol
March 04, 2013 Read Full Article
Defending Clean Energy Goals and Policies
(25 x '25) Renewable energy stakeholders were reminded again in recent weeks that misguided criticism and outright misinformation launched against the nation’s pursuit of a clean energy future must be turned back. ...An example of the latter is the recent publication
March 01, 2013 Read Full Article
Estimates Reduce Amount of Additional Land Available for Biofuel Production
(American Chemical Society) Amid efforts to expand production of biofuels, scientists are reporting new estimates that downgrade the amount of additional land available for growing fuel crops by almost 80 percent. Their report appears in the ACS journal Environmental
February 28, 2013 Read Full Article
Witnesses Bash E15 During One-Sided House Committee Hearing
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A Feb. 26 hearing featured testimony of three E15 critics, including a representative of the Coordinating Research Council, which has authored research reports concluding E15 could damage engine valves and fuel system components. Absent
February 27, 2013 Read Full Article
Flying the Aussie BioSkies
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... In the world of biofuels there is no sector as active as military and aviation biofuels in terms of willing customers. At the Low Carbon Fuel Conference, held over two days in conjunction with
February 27, 2013 Read Full Article
The Battle to Counter Big Oil's Campaign
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Fuels America is redoubling its efforts to point the finger at the real beneficiaries should the RFS be weakened and E15 smeared and it's not consumers or the environment. Fuels America had a little fun
February 26, 2013 Read Full Article
Historical Studies Confirm the Existence of Indirect Emissions from Biofuels
(EurActiv.com) Biofuels made from food crops indirectly generate net emissions of greenhouse gases in the future, confirm the preliminary results of two studies on the history of the change in land use. If the peer does not affect the conclusions of
February 26, 2013 Read Full Article
Australia at the Crossroads – Import or Export Aviation Biofuels?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As journalists, at the Digest our job is to ask the 7 Questions. Who, What, Where, When, How Much, How and Why. In aviation biofuels the task is made easier because we can say with
February 26, 2013 Read Full Article
Ottawa Ending Biofuels Subsidy over Unfulfilled Industry Promises
by Shawn McCarthy (Globe and Mail) The Conservative government is formally shutting down its controversial biofuels subsidy program, saying companies producing biodiesel have failed to meet ambitious production targets. In a letter sent Thursday, Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver rejected calls
February 25, 2013 Read Full Article
Ministers Say 'Yes, But' to New Rules on Biofuels
(E-EnergyMarket.com) Energy ministers, meeting in Brussels on 22 February, have given a lukewarm reception to new rules proposed by the European Commission to limit the share of first-generation biofuels used in transport. The Irish Presidency of the EU asked ministers to
February 25, 2013 Read Full Article
Team Up for Energy Victory
by Col. Bill Holmberg (ret.) (American Council On Renewable Energy) “Up with octane, down with aromatics, and embrace the needs of people and nature,” says ACORE’s legendary biomass guru. But less freak-out, more reach-out is needed, he cautions. ...However, certain forces
February 25, 2013 Read Full Article
EU Should Phase Out Support for Land-Based Biofuels, Lobbies Say
by Ewa Krukowska (Bloomberg) The European Union should phase out support for land-based biofuels that displace food production and indirectly boost emissions, eight lobbies said in a letter to the bloc’s energy ministers. The groups, including Transport and Environment, Greenpeace and Oxfam,
February 21, 2013 Read Full Article
AEC Responds to The Wall Street Journal Coverage
(Advanced Ethanol Council/Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Wall Street Journal editorial board has once again demonstrated that it either does not understand why Congress decided to require oil companies to use cellulosic biofuels five years ago or it is not willing to tell the truth
February 15, 2013 Read Full Article
Weighing Obama's SOTUS Proposal: More Oil Drilling to Fund Clean Energy?
by Jim Snyder (Bloomberg/Renewable Energy World) President Barack Obama's proposal to fund clean-energy research with fees paid by oil and gas producers is renewing a debate over whether the promise of innovation tomorrow is worth expanding drilling today. Obama's "Energy Security Trust"
February 15, 2013 Read Full Article
Stop Them, If You've Heard This One Before
by Bob Dinneen (Renewable Fuels Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) ...U.S. ethanol production proved to be the remedy to our imported oil addiction, driving America’s dependence down from 60 percent in 2005 to 41 percent last year. Incredibly, even that tired canard
February 15, 2013 Read Full Article
Fracking Success Hits Biofuels Investment
by Jason Krupp (EIN News) Petrol retailer Z Energy says world oil prices could plunge by almost half in the next five years, as United States oil and gas production booms because of "fracking". Fracking is the hydraulic fracturing of underground
February 15, 2013 Read Full Article
NRDC Post-State of the Union Poll: 60 Percent of Americans Support Presidential Action to Fight Ravages of Climate Change
(Natural Resources Defense Council) NRDC's polling immediately after the State of the Union made clear that Americans consider climate change a serious problem and want the President to take action. Sixty-five percent of Americans think that climate change is a serious
February 15, 2013 Read Full Article
DOE Seeks Comment on Efforts to Improve Vehicle Performance, Fuel Economy
(US Department of Energy) The Energy Department on February 1 invited public comment on an upcoming solicitation totaling more than $50 million for new research projects that will develop advanced technologies to improve vehicle performance and increase fuel economy. The
February 15, 2013 Read Full Article
Big Steps in Biofuels: ACORE’s Renewable Energy Policy Forum ‘13
By Joshua Rathod (Advanced Biofuels USA) Thinking about the back and forth on EPA’s cellulosic fuel mandates in the last month, the press on the harmful effects of diverting food crops for fuel processing in certain cases, and the general
February 15, 2013 Read Full Article
New Policy Can Put the EU on Track to Reach 100% Renewable Energy
(World Wildlife Fund) Today WWF launched a new report – Putting the EU on Track for 100% Renewable Energy [1] – which shows where Europe needs to be by 2030 in order to reach a fully renewable energy system by 2050. It
February 15, 2013 Read Full Article
Senator Dorgan: We Must Be Relentless
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) Former North Dakota Senator Byron Dorgan is truly an advocate for biofuels. While in office, Dorgan authored the first renewable fuel bill, requiring 8 billion gallons of biofuels. When President Bush took office, he asked
February 14, 2013 Read Full Article
White House Wants $2 billion to Give Cleaner Transport a Boost
by Patrick Rucker (Reuters) President Barack Obama wants Congress to create a $2 billion clean-energy transportation fund using fees paid by oil and gas producers on federal lands, the White House said Wednesday, expanding a plan announced in Obama's State of the
February 14, 2013 Read Full Article
The POTUS and His SOTUS: RT@moreofthesame TL;DR
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...The SOTUS contained 18 references to energy — more than enough for the Digest to take a close look at what was said, what was not — and the likelihood of all (or any) of the President’s
February 13, 2013 Read Full Article
Soybeans Could Be Next Chapter of Biofuels Boom
by Tom Doran (AgNews) ...Under the current Renewable Fuels Standards, continued growth in corn-based ethanol use is uncertain do to several factors, including the 10 percent blend wall, slow implementation of higher blend, declining total gasoline demand and ethanol imports
February 12, 2013 Read Full Article
Biofuels from Waste Key to European Energy Ambitions
by Ben Messenger (Waste Management World) Advanced biofuels produced from waste feedstocks are a key component of EU climate and energy ambitions, and offer a huge opportunity to drive economic growth in Europe, according to the European Biofuels Technology Platform (EBTP). A bright future
February 12, 2013 Read Full Article
Murkowski Energy Plan Would Gut the RFS
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) On Feb. 4, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, ranking member of the Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources, released an energy blueprint that calls for a wide variety of changes to U.S. energy policy,
February 11, 2013 Read Full Article
Why Canada Oil-Sands Industry Wants CO2 Tax Harper Hates: Energy
by Jeremy van Loon & Andrew Mayeda (Bloomberg) Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has vilified political opponents who support a tax on carbon-dioxide emissions. The oil-sands industry, Canada’s fastest growing CO2 polluter, says he’s out of step. The contradiction of an industry seeking a
February 11, 2013 Read Full Article
The Renewable Fuel Standard Works
by Jeremy Martin and Jim Collins (Politico) The fuels of the future are here today, and we can thank Congress for enacting the Renewable Fuel Standard. This bedrock policy has brought us to the point where the first commercial facilities producing
February 11, 2013 Read Full Article
New Poll Shows Strong Support for Renewable Fuels Agenda
(Renewable Fuels Association) For the second year in a row, national polling presented today at the National Ethanol Conference proved Americans, by an overwhelming majority, support the key federal policy driving renewable fuel innovation in America today — the Renewable
February 08, 2013 Read Full Article
Well-to-Wheels Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Ethanol from Corn, Sugarcane and Cellulosic Biomass for US Use
by Michael Wang, Jeongwoo Han, Jennifer B Dunn, Hao Cai and Amgad Elgowainy (US Department of Energy/IOP Science) corn-based ethanol production occurring mostly in the US and sugarcane-based ethanol production occurring mostly in Brazil. Advances in technology and the resulting
February 08, 2013 Read Full Article
Industry Leaders to Support “Second Generation” Biofuels in All EU Transport Sectors
(Leaders of Sustainable Biofuels) Involvement of policy makers and other industries, R&D programmes, financing, communications programmes for a cost-competitive and sustainable alternative to fossil fuels The Chief Executive Officers of seven Leading European biofuel producers and European airlines launched today in
February 07, 2013 Read Full Article
EU Launches Clean Fuel Strategy
(European Commission) The European Commission today announced an ambitious package of measures to ensure the build-up of alternative fuel stations across Europe with common standards for their design and use. Policy initiatives so far have mostly addressed the actual fuels
February 06, 2013 Read Full Article
Analysis: Advanced Biofuel Companies Now In More Than Half Of U.S. States; Clean Fuel Standards Fueling Growth In Top States
(PR NewsWire/Yahoo! News) Top 5 States For Advanced Biofuel Companies: Calif., Ill., Colo., Texas and Iowa; New Web Site at www.FuelingGrowth.org Documents Impact of Growing Industry California is home to nearly 30 advanced biofuel companies, but dozens of other states from coast to
February 06, 2013 Read Full Article
2013 a Pivotal Year for the Renewable Fuel Standard
by Paul Winter (Biotechnology Industry Organization) Less than a decade ago, the nation’s energy experts projected imports of oil to continue to grow throughout the first third of the century. Both Congress and the President recognized that this was a
February 02, 2013 Read Full Article
Pentagon Nominee Hagel Endorses Ban on High-Carbon Defense Fuels
by Ben Geman (The Hill E2Wire) Former Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.), President Obama’s nominee for Defense secretary, is backing a controversial ban on military purchase of alternative fuels that have higher greenhouse gas emissions than conventional oil-based fuels. Hagel, in a written
February 02, 2013 Read Full Article
EPA Proposes Rules for Voluntary RIN Integrity Program
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) On Jan. 31 the U.S. EPA published a proposed rule that creates a structured process for buyers of renewable identification numbers (RINs) to verify their validity. Under the proposal, the EPA said that
February 02, 2013 Read Full Article
RFA Condems UN Biofuels & Food Security Study
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) Earlier this month, the U.N. Committee on World Food Security (CFS) has released a draft study on biofuels and food security with a public comment period until January 30, 2013. Yesterday, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) submitted comments about the
February 02, 2013 Read Full Article
Doing Corn Better and Doing Better than Corn for Biofuels: Recent Developments in the Field
by Ned Stowe (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) Like it or not, corn and corn ethanol production are large, established industries in the U.S. While they provide significant economic, energy, and environmental benefits for our society, they also come with
February 01, 2013 Read Full Article
The 2013 Renewable Fuel Standard: Biofuels Digest’s 10-Minute Guide
by Jim Lane ( Biofuels Digest) ...In Washington, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued its proposed 2013 Renewable Fuel Standards (RFS2). The proposal will be open for a 45-day public comment period and EPA will consider feedback from a range
February 01, 2013 Read Full Article
Energy Secretary Steven Chu Ignores Biofuels at DC Auto Show and in Resignation Remarks
by Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuels USA) In yesterday’s address on Policy Day at the Washington, DC Auto Show, Energy Secretary Steven Chu spoke passionately about the need for the US to reduce dependence on foreign oil. He listed the ways
February 01, 2013 Read Full Article
White House Targets Oil-and-Gas Tax Breaks as Part of Plan to Replace Sequester
by Zack Coleman (The Hill E2Wire) The White House took jabs at oil-and-gas subsidies Wednesday, calling for an end to the incentives as part of a deal to avoid automatic spending cuts from sequestration. “The idea that you need to subsidize
January 30, 2013 Read Full Article
EU Releases Proposal on Deploying Alternative Fuel Infrastructure
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A recently released European Commission proposal on deploying alternative fuels infrastructure recognizes the importance of biofuels but does not go far enough, said ePURE, the European Renewable Ethanol Association. On Jan. 24 the European Commission
January 30, 2013 Read Full Article
Washington Auto Show Policy Day Brings Biofuels Conversation to Capitol Hill
by Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuels USA) “Affordable Mobility: A Roadmap to Energy Efficiency” framed a public discussion of automotive issues for Capitol Hill staff which ranged from fuel efficiency and the new CAFÉ (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards to increasing
January 30, 2013 Read Full Article
Fuel Efficiency Is Bad News For State Governments
(EconMatters/Business Insider) ... But it looks like what may be good for the environment, is actually bad news for the government. You see, for each gallon of gasoline or diesel we gas up in our cars, there’s a portion of tax
January 25, 2013 Read Full Article
Sneller: Increased Domestic Oil Production Could Limit Growth of Renewable Fuels
by Robert Pore (The Independent) ...According to another speaker at the Agriculture Outlook Conference 2013, David Hightower, president of Hightower Report, ethanol has increased corn demand and added value to corn that wasn't there prior to the Renewable Fuels Standard, when
January 25, 2013 Read Full Article
Novozymes New CEO Says Biofuels May Supply 90% of Revenue
by Stephan Nielsen (Bloomberg) Novozymes A/S (NZYMB), the world’s biggest maker of enzymes used in laundry soap, may get 90 percent of its revenue from biofuel makers by 2030 if more governments start promoting renewable energy, the company’s next CEO said. The
January 25, 2013 Read Full Article
You Can't Change the Climate from Inside Washington
by Theda Skocpol (Foreign Policy) If Obama wants to make good on his inaugural promise, he’ll need to remember the lessons he learned as a community organizer. ...The inside game has failed in part because climate reformers have not invested in
January 25, 2013 Read Full Article
RFA Urges CARB to Revise Carbon Intensity Values under the LCFS
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Renewable Fuels Association is urging the California Air Resources Board to revise indirect land use change (ILUC) penalties assigned to certain biofuels under the state’s low carbon fuel standard (LCFS). In a letter RFA President
January 24, 2013 Read Full Article
Take-off meeting: Register of Biofuels Origination (RBO Consortium)
(EnAlgae) Sustainable biofuels are at the heart of present and future EU renewable transport policies. Among them, extra incentivised biofuels – e.g. “double-counting” biofuels (whose contribution to EU targets shall be considered to be twice that made by other biofuels)
January 23, 2013 Read Full Article
Europe Needs Stable Legal Framework for Biofuels to Prosper: Neste
by Sean Bartlett (Platts) Europe needs a stable legal framework if biofuels research and development is to prosper, Neste Oil's Executive Vice President, Oil Products, Matti Lehmus, said at a conference Monday. A proposal in October by the European Commission to cap
January 23, 2013 Read Full Article
In Inaugural Address, Obama Makes a Moral Case for Action on Climate Change
by Juliet Eilperin (The Washington Post) ...But in his remarks Monday after taking the oath of office, Obama chose to make a moral case — rather than an economic or national security one — for taking action. “We will respond to the
January 23, 2013 Read Full Article
Biofuel Causing World Hunger
by Rudy Ruitenberb (BusinessDay/iAfrica.com) Biofuel output from agricultural commodities has contributed to surging world food prices in the past decade, says Nestle chairman Peter Brabeck-Letmathe. ...Mr Brabeck-Letmathe described making biofuels from food crops as "nonsense". The agriculture ministers gathered in Berlin said in
January 23, 2013 Read Full Article
American Petroleum Institute: Clean Fuels Standard “Unworkable”; RFA Chief Says “Nuts”.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) During a media conference call today, the American Petroleum Institute (API) called the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) “unworkable” and stated that they would “like to see complete repeal of the RFS.” Bob Dinneen, President and CEO
January 16, 2013 Read Full Article
Canada May Try Biofuels in Navy Ships
(CBC News/The Canadian Press) The federal government is soliciting proposals for how it might use biofuels to replace traditional diesel in Royal Canadian Navy vessels — assuming the price is right. "Naval vessels and platforms have traditionally operated by the use of
January 15, 2013 Read Full Article
The Market and Mother Nature
by Thomas Friedman (New York Times) Whenever I hear the word “cliff,” I am reminded of something that President Obama’s science adviser, John Holdren, used to say about how we need to respond to climate change because no one can
January 14, 2013 Read Full Article
Environmentalists Urge Obama to Block Keystone XL and Act on Climate Change
by Suzanne Goldenberg (The Guardian) After a strategy of 'climate silence' during president's first term, activist groups signal intent to be more vocal in next four years More than 70 environmental groups called on Barack Obama to take the lead on climate change on Monday,
January 14, 2013 Read Full Article
D.C.’s Clean-Energy Conundrum
by Paul Dickerson and Thomas Burton (Reuters/Mintz Levin) ...Clean technologies are likely to be the next great industry and economic success story. Whether that happens in the United States or not is up to us. ...Yet there is a clear role for
January 12, 2013 Read Full Article
The Political Implications of America's Oil & Gas Boom - James Kwak Interview
by James Stafford (OilPrice.com) ... To help us look at these issues and more we managed to speak with the well known economist James Kwak. James is an associate professor at the University of Connecticut School of Law. ...In the interview James
January 12, 2013 Read Full Article
A Busy Year for Alt Fuels, Thanks to Congress
by Anya Litvak (Pittsburgh Business Times) Rick Price is gearing up for a busy year, thanks, in part, to Congressional compromise. As executive director of Pittsburgh Region Clean Cities, a group that works to promote alternative transportation fuels, Price’s job was made a notch
January 11, 2013 Read Full Article
Sustainable Development of Algal Biofuels in the United States
by Bradley Frieze (Advanced Biofuels USA) Dr. Jennie Hunter-Cevera and Dr. Mark Jones of the National Academy of Science Division on Earth and Life Studies gave a public webinar on November 27th, 2012 about the sustainable development of algal biofuels
January 04, 2013 Read Full Article
BioGrace - Extending Its GHG Calculation Tool
(Netzwerk Biotreibstoffe) In the project BioGrace (I) running from 2010 to 2012 a greenhouse gas (GHG) calculation tool was developed for liquid biofuels. The project BioGrace-II now aims to harmonise GHG calculations for electricity, heating and cooling from biomass. The
January 03, 2013 Read Full Article
Study Shows Policy, Not Economy, Drives Future Carbon Reductions
(Center for Climate Strategies) Existing Local, State, and Federal Policies — Not Cheap Natural Gas or Economic Downturn — Identified As Largest Driver Behind Declining Carbon Emissions Projections 20 New Federal, State, and Local Actions Also Identified to Advance Jobs, Energy,
January 03, 2013 Read Full Article
The Beltway Biochemist: Valerie Reed
by Tim Portz (Biomass Magazine) Valerie Reed, acting manager for the U.S. DOE Biomass Program, is leading a federal government initiative of nearly $200 million to expedite the commercialization of next-generation, biomass-based fuels and chemicals. With investments being made in
January 03, 2013 Read Full Article
G20 Fails as Fossil Fuel Subsidies Exceed Half a Trillion Dollars
(Global Renewable Fuels Alliance/Biodiesel Magazine) ...Global Renewable Fuels Alliance criticized G20 leaders for failing to hold up their commitment to phase out the costly fossil fuel subsidies that hurt developing economies and slow the development of alternative fuels. According to
January 02, 2013 Read Full Article
Setting the Example
by Robert Vierhout (ePURE/Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... Hopefully, European regulators will take note of what has happened. If they are intellectually honest, they should acknowledge that if the U.S. biofuel policy has no real negative impact on the food/feed
January 02, 2013 Read Full Article
Villagers, Police Clash over Disputed Land
by Obey Manayiti (News Day) Dozens of angry villagers last week fought running battles with Zimbabwe Republic Police officers over disputed land between villagers and Green Fuel in Chisumbanje. The clashes started last Monday, but turned nasty over the weekend after
January 01, 2013 Read Full Article
Govt Urged to Empower Small Farmers in Biofuel Production
by Gerald Kitabu (IPP Media) The government of Tanzania has been urged to localise biofuel commercial production by empowering small farmers in terms of training, loans and marketing. The call was made by Tanzanian researchers and scientists during a recent visit
December 27, 2012 Read Full Article
Iran Plans to Produce Biodiesel
(FARS News Agency) Head of Iran's Fuel Conservation Company (IFCO) Abbas Kazzemi announced that his company has set up a specialized workgroup in cooperation with Ministry of Agricultural Jihad to produce biodiesel. ..."With regard to increasing the number of diesel vehicles
December 27, 2012 Read Full Article
Gov't to Offer NIS 400m in Loans for Alternative Fuels
by Yuval Azoulai (Globes) The Office of the Chief Scientist is planning a NIS 1.5 billion program to create a new alternative fuels industry. The Office of the Chief Scientist has a new program of loans for industrial and financial companies to
December 27, 2012 Read Full Article
E.P.A. Chief to Step Down, With Climate Still Low Priority
by John M. Broder (New York Times) Lisa P. Jackson is stepping down as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency after a four-year tenure that began with high hopes of sweeping action to address climate change and other environmental ills
December 27, 2012 Read Full Article
SEMA Joins Forces to Repeal E15 Ethanol Mandates
(Specialty Equipment Market Association) SEMA has joined with a number of other trade associations to sponsor “Smarter Fuel Future,” a website intended to raise awareness about the economic and environmental threats posed by the United States’ current biofuels policy. The
December 26, 2012 Read Full Article
The 50 Big Biofuels Questions for 2013: Your Say
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This past week, we asked you for your thoughts about the big policy issues facing biofuels in 2013. But we were (pleasantly) overwhelmed with your response, which ranged far beyond the policy topics of the ABLC
December 26, 2012 Read Full Article
USDA Funds Mississippi State University Biofuel Study
(ClarionLedger.com) A team of Mississippi State University agricultural economists recently received U.S. Department of Agriculture funding to study policies impacting biofuel supply chains. Keith Coble is the principal investigator for a project to develop a model to assess how state or
December 26, 2012 Read Full Article
Asia Special Biofuels Report
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) There’s only one complete region for biofuels where abundant feedstock, lack of oil & gas production, rising energy demand and supportive government policy come together — and that is Asia. We’re never quite sure which factor
December 26, 2012 Read Full Article
South Africa - Sugar Companies Waiting for Biofuel Policy Move
(Agra-Net.com) South Africa's sugar companies and the planners of two sorghum-based ethanol plants are anxiously awaiting the government's next move to allow a biofuels industry through the publication of the regulated price of ethanol, said Ethanol Producers Association secretary Alf
December 21, 2012 Read Full Article
Cuba Expands Biofuel Production
(NewsTrackIndia) Cuba has opened its second biodiesel plant and plans to build three more to produce green fuel from inedible plants, the state-run TV reported. The new plant is now having trial run in the town of Cabaiguan in the central
December 21, 2012 Read Full Article
Obama Energy Chief Backs Effort to Encourage Renewable Investments
by Zack Coleman (The Hill E2Wire) The Obama administration lent its support Wednesday to a congressional effort that would open a financing structure for renewable energy. Energy Secretary Steven Chu called on Congress to approve legislation that would let investors utilize
December 21, 2012 Read Full Article
The Year That Was and Will Be
by Bob Dinneen (Renewable Fuels Association) ...E15 is now for sale in Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska. ...As if that weren’t enough, the fierce battle to protect the renewable fuel standard (RFS) is already underway. Fortunately, the facts proved once and for
December 20, 2012 Read Full Article
Iowa View: Big Oil Thrives on an Unfair 'Century of Subsidies'
by Monte Shaw (Des Moines Register) ...The issue of fueling choice is in the news again because the American Petroleum Institute recently called for the complete repeal of the renewable fuel standard, one of the most successful U.S. energy policies
December 20, 2012 Read Full Article
Central America Studying Ethanol Use to Reduce Oil Consumption
(Fox News Latino) Energy officials from Central America met on Tuesday in this capital to study the use of ethanol as an alternative to fuels derived from crude oil. The coordinator of the Energy Unit within the Central American Integration System,
December 20, 2012 Read Full Article
Competing with China
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... Hart Energy’s Tammy Klein wrote a piece, published in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, “Election is finally over; now let’s lock in an energy policy.” ...To blend all the ethanol required by the RFS by 2022
December 20, 2012 Read Full Article
EC Dismisses Claims It Aims to Cap First-Generation Biofuels Use
(Platts) The European Commission does not plan to "cap the production and consumption" of first-generation biofuels as it moves to overhaul its biofuels policies, but it will "cap the incentives" for their production, Hans van Steen of the EC's Directorate-General
December 20, 2012 Read Full Article
Refining Chiefs Expect More Regulations under Obama
by Simone Sebastian (FuelFix) ...A number of federal rules that seek to cut emissions and expand biofuel use were passed or discussed during Obama’s first term. Chief executive officers of Phillips 66 and Marathon Petroleum say that portends another four years of
December 19, 2012 Read Full Article
Oregon Energy Plan Calls for Shift in Biomass Investment Approach
by Luke Geiver (Biomass Magazine) Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber believes energy is the issue of our time, and to address the issue, he has released a 10-year Energy Action Plan. The 48-page plan, put together with the help of hundreds
December 19, 2012 Read Full Article
House Republicans Plan to Put Fuel Standard on Trial in Next Congress
by Zack Coleman (The Hill E2Wire) House Republicans plan to put the renewable fuel standard on trial next Congress, a House Energy and Commerce Committee aide told The Hill. Committee staff is gearing up for hearings on the subject, citing recent
December 17, 2012 Read Full Article
Oregon to Implement Phase One of Clean Fuels Program
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) On Dec. 7, the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission elected to begin implementation of the state’s Clean Fuels Program. A spokeswoman for the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality confirmed the commission voted four to one to
December 17, 2012 Read Full Article
Company Eyes Hemp as Feedstock for Biofuel, Power Generation
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) An alternative energy company looking to build multiple energy beet-to-biofuel plants in Kentucky recently became the first corporation to join the Kentucky Hemp Growers Cooperative Association. Although federal rules currently prohibit the growth of
December 17, 2012 Read Full Article
Growth of Ethanol Fuel Stalls in Brazil
by Claudio Angelo (Nature.com) ...Domestic consumption of liquid ethanol this year has been 26% lower than for the same period in 2008. Forty-one of the country’s roughly 400 sugar-cane ethanol plants have closed over that time. The price of pure ethanol
December 17, 2012 Read Full Article
Cleantech Conservative: 10 New Realities, Priorities for Biofuels in 2013
by Douglas Faulkner (Biofuels Digest) ...Throughout his campaign President Obama proclaimed himself an oil and gas supporter even while talking about federal “investments” in green energy. And, while much ink has already been spilled in this publication about this or
December 17, 2012 Read Full Article
USDA Grants Support Sustainable Bioenergy Production
(US Department of Agriculture) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced $10 million in research grants to spur production of bioenergy and biobased products that will lead to the development of sustainable regional systems and help create jobs. Vilsack highlighted the
December 17, 2012 Read Full Article
EU Farmers and Biofuel Industry Mobilise against the EC Biofuel U-Turn
(AgiTrade) In a letter to the European Commission in early October 2012, Copa-Cogeca, the EU farmers’ and agricultural cooperatives’ organisation, affirmed its opposition to EC proposals to limit to 5% ‘the use of crop-based biofuels’ in meeting transportation energy needs and
December 17, 2012 Read Full Article
Half the Oil: A Plan to Cut Projected U.S. Oil Use in Half in 20 Years
(Union of Concerned Scientists) We have the practical solutions at hand to protect consumers, the climate, and our environment from the growing costs of our oil use. How? It all comes down to one simple fact: Using less is the real oil
December 14, 2012 Read Full Article
UI Prof: Ethanol Boom Over; Biodiesel Ramping Up
by Don Dodson (The News Gazette) A University of Illinois professor says the ethanol boom is over, but farmers may soon enjoy the benefits of a boom in biodiesel. Scott Irwin, a professor of agricultural and consumer economics, said the U.S.
December 12, 2012 Read Full Article
Brighter Horizon for Biofuels
by Brent Erickson (Biotechnology Industry Organization/Biofuels Digest) The biofuel industry breathed a big sigh of relief last month when the EPA declined several governors’ petitions to waive the Renewable Fuel Standard. Then, after a herculean group effort, the industry and
December 11, 2012 Read Full Article
Unleash Clean Power
(Union of Concerned Scientists) Communities can benefit financially and environmentally from bioenergy produced from common sources such as vegetative waste materials, fast-growing grasses, and agricultural residues. And clean fuel and electricity produced from these sustainable, non-food sources are a key
December 11, 2012 Read Full Article
Fossil-Fuel Subsidies of Rich Nations Five Times Climate Aid
by Alex Morales (Bloomberg) Rich countries spend five times more on fossil-fuel subsidies than on aid to help developing nations cut their emissions and protect against the effects of climate change, the Oil Change International campaign group said. In 2011, 22 industrialized
December 11, 2012 Read Full Article
Climate Talks Focus on Fossil Fuel Subsidies
by Karl Ritter (Associated Press/Salt Lake Tribune) Hassan al-Kubaisi considers it a gift from above that drivers in oil- and gas-rich Qatar only have to pay $1 per gallon at the pump. ...Qatar — the host of U.N. climate talks that
December 10, 2012 Read Full Article
25x'25 REsource: Standard Definition of Biomass Needed
(25 x '25) ... In any strategy aimed at meeting America's soaring energy demand, biomass must be considered a principal among the several renewable, sustainable solutions that make up the fastest growing domestic energy sector since 2006. ...While there also has been
December 09, 2012 Read Full Article
IISD-Led Seminar Offers Global Perspective on Biofuel Subsidies: Issues Policy Brief
(International Institute for Sustainable Development) “Rational policies should be based on understanding the real impacts of government support to biofuels on the environment and the society,” said Sirpa Pietikäinen, MEP and chair of GLOBE EU. “The spiralling food versus fuel
December 06, 2012 Read Full Article
Energy Information Administration Releases Annual Energy Outlook 2013 Reference Case; $8 Gasoline, $268 Oil Ahead, Despite Increased US Energy Production, Says EIA
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ...Overall, the reference case predicts that total primary energy consumption will grow by 7 percent, from 98 quadrillion Btu in 2011 to 104 quadrillion Btu in 2035. This is 2.5 quadrillion Btu less than
December 06, 2012 Read Full Article
Ethanol Use in Gasoline Production Would Be the Same with or without RFS Waiver
by Daryll Ray and Harwood D. Schaffer (Southwest Farm Press/University of Tennessee) ...On November 16, 2012, the EPA denied the request of Governor Perdue and others. The short story is that while the EPA recognizes the impact of the drought
December 06, 2012 Read Full Article
How to Keep Biofuels Sustainable
by RP Siegel (TriplePundit) While the bio-based economy should be more sustainable than the alternative – any good idea can be implemented poorly. I asked Jesper Hedal Kløverpris, Sustainability Manager for Novozymes, how we can ensure that biofuels are being produced in
December 05, 2012 Read Full Article
NAFA Urges Action To Restore Federal Tax Credits For Biodiesel And Alternative Fuels
(NAFA Fleet Management Association/Free-Press-Release-Center) Uncertainty surrounding a pair of alternative fuel incentives is impacting vehicle purchase decisions and fuel planning by many fleets. While the country is focused on the so-called "fiscal cliff", lost in the negotiations is an important extension
December 05, 2012 Read Full Article
Advanced Biofuels: Key to Military Energy Security
(Pew Charitable Trusts) The Department of Defense is the world’s largest consumer of liquid fuels (more than 375,000 barrels of oil per day). Last year alone, the military’s energy bill was $17 billion and over the last two years, the Pentagon has
December 05, 2012 Read Full Article
Bioethanol and Biodiesel 'Crucial' to Meeting Energy Needs
(FarmingUK.com) Biodiesel and bioethanol markets are crucial to meeting future energy needs according to the NFU. The news follows a series of meetings between biofuel professionals, producers and the Secretary of State for Transport Norman Baker in a bid to get
December 05, 2012 Read Full Article
Expert in Biofuels: EU Biofuel Policy Is Addressing the Wrong Issue
(Hveiti) European policymakers should focus on how to organize the synergies between food and fuel rather than wasting time on theoretical models of land use changes that do nothing to improve matters in the real world, says biofuel expert André
December 05, 2012 Read Full Article
GOP Lawmakers Float Resolution to Keep Carbon Tax Grounded
by Ben Geman (The Hill E2Wire) ... Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) and Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.) said Thursday that they’re seeking support for a resolution declaring that a carbon tax would be economically harmful. “There’s a lot of talk in Washington
December 03, 2012 Read Full Article
Group to Sue EPA to Force U.S. Carbon Rules for Transport
by Valerie Volcovici (Chicago Tribune/Reuters) A policy reform group plans to issue a notice on Wednesday informing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that it will file a lawsuit to force the agency to use federal rules to cap and charge
December 03, 2012 Read Full Article
“Biofuels Have the Momentum”: US Senate Votes 54-41 to Clear Navy’s Path to Affordable, Advanced Biofuels Capacity
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the US Senate voted 54-41 in favor of an amendment offered by Senator Kay Hagan of North Carolina to repeal section 2823 of the annual Defense appropriations bill. Sec. 2823 of the FY13 NDAA
November 30, 2012 Read Full Article
Generation 1.5 Ethanol: The Bridge to Cellulosic Biofuels
by Philip W. Madson (Ethanol Across America) ...Considering the development path of Gen 1 to better understand the current state of Gen 2 ethanol, several factors require further breakthrough developments and/or inventions for cellulosic ethanol to become commercially viable at the massive scale contemplated
November 29, 2012 Read Full Article
EU Commission Backs Controversial Sustainable Palm Oil Scheme
by Barbara Lewis (Reuters) The European Commission has approved a scheme that would certify as sustainable transport fuel made from palm oil, condemned by environmental groups as one of the most damaging sources of biodiesel. The Commission made public on Tuesday
November 29, 2012 Read Full Article
Affordable Naval Biofuel: First Comes the Feedstock
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Is the US government right in aiming to commercialize aviation biofuels production – or should it be aimed at ensuring affordable feedstock? Pain at the pump. $5 gasoline in California. $8 gasoline in the EU. We
November 29, 2012 Read Full Article
Biofuels Mandates Around the World: 2012
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Brazil, India, the US, China and the EU point the way towards a 60 billion gallon biofuels market by 2022 – but can the capacity be built, and can the mandates survive pressure from opponents? In
November 28, 2012 Read Full Article
Carbon vs Rural Economic Development
by Jim Lane (BioBased Digest) ...World Growth warns that the REDD+ program to reduce emissions from deforestation is fatally flawed. At the UN climate conference in Qatar, World Growth released “Immoral Aid: The effect of REDD+ on developing country economies”. It
November 28, 2012 Read Full Article
Commission Ignores Own Research and Labels Biofuels from Palm Oil 'Sustainable'
(Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth Europe) The European Commission last Friday approved a certification scheme which would brand biofuels produced from palm oil as ‘sustainable’ [1], despite evidence that their production contributes to deforestation, peatland degradation, disputes over land
November 28, 2012 Read Full Article
US Senate Votes 62-37 to Back Military Aviation Biofuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the US Senate voted 62-37 in favor of an amendment offered by Senator Mark Udall of Colorado to repeal section 313 of the annual Defense appropriations bill. Section 313 language, which was offered by
November 28, 2012 Read Full Article
Lack of Bio Fuel Demand Puts Cassava Farmers in Quandary
(Saigon GP Daily) ...The Department of Agro-Forestry Processing and Salt Industry, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, was approved by the government in 2010 for the production and consumption of E5 bio fuel. As a result bio fuel
November 27, 2012 Read Full Article
The Institute for Energy Research Gets It All Wrong on Regional Energy
by Kate Gordon (Center for American Progress) ...The second problem is even more obvious: The fossil fuel industry takes billions in direct tax incentives and subsidies every year. According to analysis by TR Rose Associates, for the past three decades, the
November 27, 2012 Read Full Article
Govt Urged to Reduce Land Size Granted to Biofuel Businesses
(IPPMedia/The Guardian Reporter) The government has been urged to reduce the maximum land size of each bio-fuel developer from the proposed 20,000 ha to 10,000 ha and give investors conditions which would enable them deliver. Speaking during a two-day workshop which
November 27, 2012 Read Full Article
Biofuels Fight Flares Before Possible Defense Debate
by Geof Koss (Roll Call) More than one-third of the Senate is calling for removal of provisions in the defense authorization bill that would limit military efforts to develop alternative fuels. In a Nov. 16 letter to Senate leaders, 38 senators
November 26, 2012 Read Full Article
Petrobras Completes Performance Tests Using Fuel with 20% Biodiesel
(GazetaWeb.com) The goal of the research project is to evaluate the performance of engines using the B20. Petrobras concluded today (09), in Rio de Janeiro, performance testing of vehicles using B20 biodiesel, a fuel that has mixture of 20% biodiesel in
November 18, 2012 Read Full Article
$500 Million and No One to Dance with? Canada and Advanced Biofuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Canada’s $500 million NextGen Biofuels Fund, five years after formation, gets close to making its first investments just as Canada’s leaders consider pulling the plug It was the most amazing sovereign commitment to biofuels of its
November 18, 2012 Read Full Article
Z Energy Says It May Switch to Ethanol-Blended Petrol
(Radio New Zealand) Z Energy says it may switch to ethanol-blended petrol, but this could cost the Government up to $180 million in lost revenue if other major players follow suit. The New Zealand-owned fuel retailer says ethanol-blended petrol receives a
November 17, 2012 Read Full Article
Biodiesel Industry on Brink as Waste Oil Use Plummets
by Elinor Zuke (The Grocer) The amount of used cooking oil being re-purposed as fuel has plummeted since a tax incentive was axed - and industry insiders are warning that the situation could spell the end of the British biodiesel
November 17, 2012 Read Full Article
Obama Delays Action On Climate Change Until After 'Wide Ranging' Talks
(Inside EPA's Clean Energy Report) President Obama is planning to launch wide-ranging talks with experts on what can be done in the short-term to address climate change, as well as a public “education process” to consider realistic long-term actions that
November 16, 2012 Read Full Article
EPA Keeps Renewable Fuels Levels in Place After Considering State Requests
(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced that the agency has not found evidence to support a finding of severe “economic harm” that would warrant granting a waiver of the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS). The
November 16, 2012 Read Full Article
25x'25 Commends EPA Decision to Uphold RFS
(25 x '25) In response to the EPA decision today upholding volume requirements of the federal Renewable Fuel Standard, 25x'25 Co-chairmen Read Smith and Bart Ruth issued the following joint statement: "EPA's decision today finding no evidence that the federal Renewable Fuel Standard
November 16, 2012 Read Full Article
Renewable Fuels: Notices--Denial of Requests for a Waiver of the Renewable Fuel Standard
(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) In August 2012, Governors from several States requested a waiver of the national volume requirements for the renewable fuel standard program (RFS) pursuant to Section 211(o)(7) of the Clean Air Act. EPA's extensive analysis makes clear
November 16, 2012 Read Full Article
European Commission Backs Down on EU ETS and Agrees to 'Stop the Clock' on International Aviation Emissions
(GreenAirOnline) EU Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard announced this morning the EU will suspend enforcement of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) to airlines flying to and from Europe in order to allow ICAO to continue its progress towards a
November 12, 2012 Read Full Article
COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD — ‘Ethanol’ Shouldn’t Be a Dirty Word
by Cliff Meeuwsen (Holland Sentinel) Ethanol has become a dirty word for some, and I’m not sure why. How did the cleanest burning, highest quality, cheapest form of liquid renewable fuel ever get to be such a punching bag for politicians,
November 12, 2012 Read Full Article
Senators Bring Biofuels to Post-Sandy N.J., Address Climate Change
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Climate change may gain more attention during the next legislative session. During a press conference to discuss post-election results broadcast by C-SPAN on Nov. 7, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., stressed how important
November 12, 2012 Read Full Article
Green Jet Fuels Could Take off in Chicago and the Midwest
by Alan Yu (Medill Reports) Boeing, United Airlines and several other Chicago entities hope to make the Midwest a hub for the production of green jet fuels. Although most of the technology required to produce biofuels for aircraft on a large
November 12, 2012 Read Full Article
US Ethanol Lobby Expects Hearings on Renewable Fuel Mandate Next Year
(Platts) The US ethanol industry's loudest voice in Washington expects to have to defend the Renewable Fuel Standard during congressional hearings next year. Bob Dinneen, president of the Renewable Fuels Association, told reporters Friday he considers it likely that ethanol opponents
November 12, 2012 Read Full Article
EU Must Ensure Biofuel Producers in Indonesia Respect Land Rights
(The Guardian) Tighter EU rules on biofuel production are failing to protect the land rights of Indonesia's indigenous communities ...To understand the scale of the problem, Sawit Watch (sawit means palm oil in Indonesian) is supporting smallholders and indigenous people in more than 660
November 12, 2012 Read Full Article
With ‘Fiscal Cliff’ Looming, Carbon Tax Getting Closer Look
by Steven Mufson (The Washington Post) Here’s a riddle: If Congress doesn’t want to raise income tax rates but wants to raise revenue, what can it do? One answer: Pass a carbon tax. A relatively moderate-sized carbon tax could raise $1.25 trillion over the next
November 10, 2012 Read Full Article
25x'25 REsource: The Path Forward for America's Energy Future
(25 x '25) ... However, most post-election analyses say that voters want meaningful solutions, not political rhetoric, to address our economic and energy challenges. The best tool that must be given a high priority is a comprehensive national policy that will rapidly
November 09, 2012 Read Full Article
US Researchers Say that Indirect Land Use Numbers Should Fall 75% on New Analysis
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Michigan, a research team led by Michigan State’s Bruce Dale, writing in the November 2012 issue of Biomass & Bioenergy, that they believe that a lifecycle analysis approach to ILUC requires replacing the nutritional functions
November 09, 2012 Read Full Article
Carbon Offsetting Rather than Emissions Trading Becoming Favoured Route as ICAO Looks towards a Global Scheme
(GreenAirOnline) As ICAO expert groups continue their work on a global market-based approach to limiting the growth of international aviation emissions, it is beginning to emerge that carbon offsetting, rather than emissions trading, is the favoured option for States and
November 08, 2012 Read Full Article
Ethanol Going Ugly Turns Bush Plan Into Obama Test
by Mario Parker (Bloomberg BusinessWeek) U.S. ethanol production is headed for the first decline in 16 years, jeopardizing the nation’s drive to boost alternative fuels, as higher costs and lower demand close plants. Shrinking distilling margins have resulted in a 14
November 08, 2012 Read Full Article
The Biofuels Era - A Changing of the Guard?
by Darrel Good and Scott Irwin (FarmDocDaily/University of Illinois) ...We begin our analysis by tracing out the implications for biofuels consumption over the next three years based on one potential scenario involving all of the listed factors. This scenario represents
November 08, 2012 Read Full Article
After the Election: Biofuels and the Next Four Years
by Brent Erickson (BIO/Biofuels Digest) For the advanced biofuels industry, the 2012 election turned on Senate races. ...The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee has jurisdiction over the RFS. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) will remain Chairwoman, but recent media reports have raised
November 08, 2012 Read Full Article
Obama Wins 2nd Term – What Does It Mean for Biofuels?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Positives. Continuity. Obama was by far the most bullish supporter of all things biofuels in the race ... Negatives. Hardly a sweeping mandate in the popular vote, and rural voters broke 59-32 for Romney, according to