(Farm Europe) Despite 30 years of efforts and no less than 5 “protein plans”, the European Union still suffers from a considerable chronic deficit in plant proteins: more than 30 million tonnes of soybean crops were imported during 2016-17. This figure comes under
Transportation Fuels Policy
Back TO HOMERFA: EPA and NHTSA Should Consider Role of High Octane Fuels in Upcoming CAFE/GHG Rulemaking
by Emily Druckman (Renewable Fuels Association) The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) today encouraged the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to strongly consider the role of high-octane fuels and higher compression ratio engines as the
April 02, 2018 Read Full Article
EPA Publishes CAFE Standards Mid-Term Evaluation Final Determination
(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) On April 2, 2018, the Administrator signed the Mid-term Evaluation Final Determination which finds that the model year 2022-2025 greenhouse gas standards are not appropriate in light of the record before EPA and, therefore, should be revised.
April 02, 2018 Read Full Article
2018 ACE Fly-in
(AgNewsWire) American Coalition for Ethanol celebrates 10 years of taking the message of grassroots ethanol producers, retailers, farmers and consumers to Capitol Hill. This year’s theme is Ignite a Movement. This virtual ag newsroom includes links to photos and audio content available free
April 02, 2018 Read Full Article
Biofuel the Forgotten Renewable Energy, Report Says
by Cole Latimer (Sydney Morning Herald) Australia's biofuel industry has the potential to add more than 8000 jobs and $1 billion a year in revenue to the economy despite being neglected for more than a decade. Queensland University of Technology economists have outlined
April 02, 2018 Read Full Article
Commentary: Biofuels Are Driving US Growth
by Jim Talent (Tribune News Service/Madison.com/Americans for Energy Security and Innovation) ... Biofuels are a target because they supply a full 10 percent of America’s motor fuel, and every extra gallon increases competition at the fuel pump, holding down prices
April 02, 2018 Read Full Article
How EPA Is Destroying Demand for Ethanol and Corn
by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) Recent actions by EPA have effectively reduced the Renewable Fuel Standard conventional renewable volume obligation (RVO) for 2016 by more than 1 billion gallons, and the agency appears poised to take similar actions to effectively reduce the
April 02, 2018 Read Full Article
BIO Comments on Proposed Settlement Agreement Between EPA and Philadelphia Energy Solutions on RFS Obligations
(Biotechnology Innovation Organization) BIO is greatly concerned by the Department of Justice's and Environmental Protection Agency's proposed Settlement Agreement to resolve a dispute about the PES Holdings' obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard. ... This Settlement Agreement undermines the goals of the
April 02, 2018 Read Full Article
Auto Exec: Raise the Octane Rating of U.S. Gasoline for Bump in Fuel Efficiency
by Jessie Stolark (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) At a recent American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers meeting, General Motors executive Dan Nicholson voiced the automaker’s support in raising the minimum octane rating of the U.S. gasoline pool from 87 to 91,
March 30, 2018 Read Full Article
Biofuels to Bioproducts: A Growth Industry for Australia
(Bioenergy Australia) The massive economic, social and environmental benefits that can be delivered to Australians through the creation of a strong bioenergy industry could be lost without clear government strategies. Increased use of 10 per cent ethanol-blended petrol (E10) in Australia could
March 30, 2018 Read Full Article
Exclusive: Trump Weighs Dropping Personal Efforts on Biofuel Reform - Sources
by Jarrett Renshaw (Reuters) President Donald Trump is seriously considering abandoning efforts to remake the nation’s biofuel laws after wading deep into an issue that divides some of his core constituencies, according to three sources familiar with the administration’s thinking. Advisers
March 30, 2018 Read Full Article
US Grains Body Wants to Supply Ethanol for Fuel Blending
by Tv Jayan (The Hindu Business Line) Ethanol supplied by sugar producers is enough for around 4% blending, whereas India plans to blend 10% ethanol -- A trade association representing US ethanol producers said recently it wants to explore the possibility of
March 30, 2018 Read Full Article
Bellwether Stocks of the Advanced Bioeconomy Report Good Vibes: Shoulda Put a Ring on ‘Em?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Two bellwether public stocks of the advanced bioeconomy — Amyris and Renewable Energy Group — reported strong quarterly and annual results this past week, and Aemetis’ stock has been on a real tear in recent days
March 30, 2018 Read Full Article
Europe’s Ethanol CEOs Besieged by RED II and Illusory Truths
by James Cogan (Ethanol Europe Renewables Ltd/Biofuels Digest) The CEOs of Europe’s big ethanol firms (Tereos, Cristal Union, Alco Group, Crop Energies) are under seige. They are battling imported and sometimes fake used cooking oil, not-yet-viable advanced fuels, palm oil diesel, imports from
March 30, 2018 Read Full Article
Regulatory Fixes Will Open the Market to Ethanol Quickly -- How EPA Could Easily Remedy Issues with RINs.
by Adam Gustafson (Boyden Gray and Associates/Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... Such short-term fixes to high RIN prices ignore their underlying cause—EPA’s artificial constraints on the volume of ethanol that can be blended into the nation’s fuel supply. Basic rules of supply
March 30, 2018 Read Full Article
Shell — Yes, That Shell — Just Outlined a Radical Scenario for What It Would Take to Halt Climate Change
by Chris Mooney and Steven Mufson (The Washington Post) Royal Dutch Shell on Monday outlined a scenario in which, by 2070, we would be using far less of the company’s own product — oil — as cars become electric, a massive carbon
March 30, 2018 Read Full Article
JRC Released New Certified Reference Materials for Automotive Diesel Fuel Testing
(EU Science Hub) The JRC released two new Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) for automotive diesel fuel containing 7 % biodiesel, so-called 'diesel (B7)'. These CRMs will support fuel producers and fuel testing laboratories in assuring the quality of their measurements, thus improving
March 23, 2018 Read Full Article
Parliamentary Committee Raises Concern over Ethanol Blending Programme
(IANS /Moneylife) Raising an alarm over slow ethanol procurement for blending with the petrol, a parliamentary committee has flagged loopholes in the government's Ethanol Blending Programme (EBP). The EBP, under Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, aims at blending ethanol with petrol,
March 23, 2018 Read Full Article
NBB Again Disappointed by Failure to Renew Biodiesel Tax Credit
(National Biodiesel Board) Congress Reaches Another Deal to Fund the Government That Fails to Reinstate the Biodiesel Tax Credit -- Today, the U.S. Congress is expected to pass an omnibus spending bill to fund the government that did not include a reinstatement
March 22, 2018 Read Full Article
RFA Leader: EPA Eroding RFS -- Assistant to President Says Search Continues for a Win-Win Proposal
by Chris Clayton (DTN The Progressive Farmer) A special assistant to President Donald Trump on agriculture said Wednesday, "the search for a win-win continues" in the debate over how to relieve oil refiners of their obligations under the Renewable Fuels Standard. Ray
March 22, 2018 Read Full Article
10-Day Comment Period on PES Settlement Agreement Closes March 26
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) The public comment period opened March 16 after publication in the Federal Register on the proposed consent decree and environmental settlement agreement lodged by the U.S. Department of Justice with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of
March 21, 2018 Read Full Article
Indonesia to Expand Domestic Biodiesel Use
(Jakarta Post) The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry plans to expand the use of biodiesel to 3.5 million kiloliters annually by encouraging the mining sector and state-owned railway operator KAI to use the fuel. “I just reported the plan to use biodiesel
March 21, 2018 Read Full Article
RED II – Europe’s €25 Billion Blunder
by Dick Roche (EURACTIV) ... Investments worth billions have already been written off as a result of EU U-turns on biofuels. The half-billion Euro Vivergo plant, at one point the largest industrial project in England, is a monument to confused biofuel
March 21, 2018 Read Full Article
What Would a Bill Look Like?
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) Sen. John Cornyn and Rep. John Shimkus have some ideas. The two have been working on a bill for well over a year to overhaul the Renewable Fuel Standard, a likely vehicle for the fixes Perdue
March 21, 2018 Read Full Article
Trump Administration Preparing List of Possible Biofuels Tweaks - Sources
by Jarrett Renshaw (Reuters) The heads of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Agriculture Department are scheduled to meet on Tuesday to winnow down proposals to lower the cost of the nation’s biofuels policy to oil refiners, according to two sources
March 20, 2018 Read Full Article
Questions Raised over EU’s Proposed Advanced Biofuels List
by Sarantis Michalopoulos (EurActiv) Not all second-generation biofuels listed by the European Commission are sustainable, critics warn, urging policymakers to use the indirect land use change (ILUC) factor to “clean up” the list. The Commission’s proposed revision of the Renewable Energy Directive
March 20, 2018 Read Full Article
China's Independent Oil Refiners Gear up for Ethanol Push in Cars
by Meng Meng, Josephine Mason (Reuters) China’s top independent oil refiner is buying ethanol and two others are seeking government approval to blend the biofuel into their gasoline ahead of the country’s 2020 deadline to add it to the nation’s fuel supply,
March 20, 2018 Read Full Article
Big Oil Faces Big Test in Climate-Change Court Showdown with SF, Oakland
by Kurtis Alexander (San Francisco Chronicle) A San Francisco judge who must decide whether to hold the world’s largest oil companies responsible for global warming is ordering up what many are calling the most comprehensive, and unusual, debate on climate change
March 20, 2018 Read Full Article
EU Biofuel Policy Requires Reliable Framework Conditions -- UFOP and FOP Appeal to Council, Parliament and Commission
(Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Plants (UFOP)) The trialogue procedure for redrafting the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) began in late February 2018. Against this backdrop, the German Union zur Förderung von Oel- und Proteinpflanzen (UFOP -
March 19, 2018 Read Full Article
New Edition of “Good Reasons for Biofuels” Brochure Published
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) In Germany, the Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Plants (UFOP) updated and reissued its consumer information “Good Reasons for Biofuels”. The brochure provides the most important aspects on 24 pages justifying the
March 19, 2018 Read Full Article
Brazil Regulates Its National Biofuel Policy Law
(Renewables Now) Brazil's Ministry of Mines and Energy announced on Wednesday that President Michel Temer has signed a decree to regulate the National Biofuel Policy (RenovaBio). According to the new guidelines, the National Energy Policy Council (CNPE) will be in charge of defining
March 19, 2018 Read Full Article
Brews, Bangers and Biofuels – Ireland’s Bioeconomy Looking up
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) ... But it’s also about whisky, as reported in the Digest in July 2017, and how Celtic Renewables puts whisky in the car and not just in the jar. It’s about Cork County’s announcement that they are
March 19, 2018 Read Full Article
RFS Roundup: Potential Impacts of the GREENER Fuels Act on Cellulosic Fuels Development
by Jessie Stolark (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) Riding the recent wave of Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) reform talks, Representative Welch (D-VT) and Senator Udall (D-NM) introduced the Growing Renewable Energy through Existing and New Environmentally Responsible Fuels Act (GREENER Fuels Act)
March 18, 2018 Read Full Article
Corn-State Senators Seek Trump Meeting as U.S. Biofuel Changes Loom
by Jarrett Renshaw (Reuters) A group of senators from U.S. corn states have asked President Donald Trump for a meeting about the nation’s biofuels law, amid expectations the administration will soon act to lower the regulation’s costs to the oil refining
March 18, 2018 Read Full Article
The U.S. Is about to Be the World’s Top Crude Oil Producer. Guess Who Didn’t See It Coming.
by Charles Lane (Washington Post) ... Domestic crude production was not inherently “limited,” as O’Connell told Congress in 2011, it just needed a better mouse trap. Fracking was it. Entrepreneurs broke the oil-import addiction, even though the main thing they intended to
March 18, 2018 Read Full Article
Environmental Groups Back Ted Cruz, Republicans on Overhaul of Renewable Fuel Standard
by Ben Wolfgang (Washington Times) Green organizations back ending corn ethanol mandate -- ... The intense opposition to the RFS from environmental and conservation groups comes as the White House and congressional leaders work to craft the most serious reforms the program
March 16, 2018 Read Full Article
Finnish Government Supports Increased Biogas Production
(Gasum/NGV Journal) The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment has granted Gasum €7.83 million in ‘Bioeconomy and clean solutions’ key project support for increased biogas production. Developing the biogas market and the transport use of natural gas and increasing biogas production
March 16, 2018 Read Full Article
'Keep It In The Ground' Activists Optimistic Despite Oil Boom
by Jeff Brady (National Public Radio) The United States oil business is booming and the country could soon be the largest crude oil producer in the world. Despite this record-breaking production, climate change activists campaigning to move away from fossil fuels
March 16, 2018 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2018 Visual Guide to the Economics, Politics of Renewable Fuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Have you ever wondered why corn farmers march for the RFS, but Wall Streeters don't? Or why merchent oil refiners want the US Renewable Fuel Standard repealed but major oilcos generally support RFS reform? Why are biodiesel
March 16, 2018 Read Full Article
Opinion: Putin Has Finally Gone Too Far
by David Ignatius (The Washington Post) ... So how can the United States and its closest allies alter (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s behavior, if they’re truly serious about holding Russia to account? The answer, say several former senior CIA officials,
March 16, 2018 Read Full Article
Fiat Panda Natural Power Runs on Biomethane for a Whole Year
(Fiat/NGV Journal) Today marks the first anniversary of the trial on the Panda powered only by biomethane produced at CAP Group’s wastewater treatment plant in Bresso-Niguarda (Milan). On 14 March 2017 Elisa Boscherini (Head of FCA Institutional Relations for the EMEA
March 15, 2018 Read Full Article
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
John Abraham, in an article in The Guardian, notes, "Biofuels can help solve climate change, especially with a carbon tax -- We’re not yet optimizing biofuel production for both economic and environmental factors." And, "If society is willing to pay a
March 15, 2018 Read Full Article
Biofuels Can Help Solve Climate Change, Especially with a Carbon Tax
by John Abraham (The Guardian) Biofuels can help solve climate change, especially with a carbon tax -- We’re not yet optimizing biofuel production for both economic and environmental factors ... These are great starts but we will still need some liquid fuels and for those,
March 15, 2018 Read Full Article
Op-Ed: Biofuel from Sugarcane – Why Is SA Not Rushing Ahead?
by Chris Ward (Daily Maverick) Support for diversification of the sugar industry provides a superb and immediate opportunity for the government of South Africa under its new president to create thousands of new jobs by leveraging sugarcane as a key strategic
March 15, 2018 Read Full Article
So-Called ‘Dem’ Ethanol Bill Has It All Wrong
by Doug Sombke (The Hill/South Dakota Farmers Union) As a card carrying Democrat, I resent the broad brush generalization of the Hill’s March 8 headline, "Dem Bill Would Overhaul Ethanol Mandate.” To imply to readers that the measure by Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and
March 15, 2018 Read Full Article
Bolivia Invests $1.6 Billion to Boost Output of Sugar-Based Ethanol
(Latin American Herald Tribune) A $1.6 billion investment by 2025 will allow ethanol made from sugarcane represent 25 percent of fuels used in Bolivia, President Evo Morales said on Thursday. The president was speaking at an event in the eastern city of
March 15, 2018 Read Full Article
OMCs Ready to Pay Higher Offtake for Biofuel: Pradhan
(The Siasat Daily) The government is prepared to pay a higher offtake price to producers of biofuel than it does for fossil fuels in a bid to boost the use of clean energy, Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Wednesday. Addressing the
March 15, 2018 Read Full Article
CON: Keep the Renewable Fuel Standard but Reboot It by Using Bio-Masses instead of Corn
by Michael E. Kraft (Tribune News Service/Bradenton Herald) ... Ideally, Congress would reboot the renewable fuel mandate in a new way for today's economy, and design it as one component of a comprehensive response to climate change. For starters, Congress could slowly transition
March 15, 2018 Read Full Article
Biodiesel and 2nd Gen Biofuels Need Stable Tax Policy
by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AdWired.com) The House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Tax Policy heard from representatives of the biodiesel and advanced biofuels industries Wednesday on the need for “Post Tax Reform of Recently Expired Tax Provisions” that are helping move the nation toward
March 15, 2018 Read Full Article
Harmonizing a Three-Headed Regulatory Monster (EPA, NHTSA, CARB)
by Graham Noyes and Doug Durante (Low Carbon Fuels Coalition/Clean Fuels Development Coalition/Biofuels Digest) ... While not as entertaining to watch as a Godzilla film with a three-headed flying monster, the current regulatory struggle over national auto standards between the US
March 14, 2018 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to the 2018 Bioeconomy Business Outlook
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Florida, The Digest reports that 72 percent of bioenergy executives are more optimistic about their organization’s prospects for growth and 68 percent about industry growth, than 12 months ago. The findings were among the highlights
March 14, 2018 Read Full Article
Bioeconomy Execs Bullish on 2018, 74% of Companies Expect Revenue Growth, 62 Percent Expect Jobs Increase; 48% Seeking Finance
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Florida, The Digest reports that 72 percent of bioenergy executives are more optimistic about their organization’s prospects for growth and 68 percent about industry growth, than 12 months ago. The findings were among the highlights
March 14, 2018 Read Full Article
EPA Chief Signals Showdown With California on Fuel Emission Standards
by Jennifer A. Dlouhy, Ryan Beene and John Lippert (Bloomberg Politics) Pruitt warns California isn’t in driver’s seat on car rules; EPA faces April 1 deadline to decide on current requirements -- The Trump administration’s chief environmental regulator signaled a coming showdown with
March 14, 2018 Read Full Article
Refiners Try to Hold Trump's Attention
(Politico's Morning Energy) With a settlement between refiner Philadelphia Energy Solutions and EPA in hand and voting in the Pennsylvania special election over, some biofuels observers think the issue may fall off Trump's radar. A biofuels source told ME Tuesday they
March 14, 2018 Read Full Article
ACE Talks Opportunities, Challenges for Ethanol Demand in 2018
by Tim Albrecht (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The American Coalition for Ethanol hosted a webinar Feb. 20 titled “Opportunities and Challenges to Increasing Ethanol Demand in 2018.” The webinar focused on ACE initiatives designed to ensure ethanol continues to grow in the
March 13, 2018 Read Full Article
New Zealand Could Dent Emissions by Switching to Biofuels
(Biofuels International) A study from a government-owned research group is urging increased biofuel use to develop a renewable low-carbon transport sector. The report follows two years of research by Crown Research Institute Scion and looks at how New Zealand could grow and refine feedstocks
March 13, 2018 Read Full Article
Rick Santorum: Stop the Attacks on Farmers, Homegrown Energy
by Rick Santorum (Washington Examiner) This January, I authored a column defending President Trump and rural champions in Congress who had come under attack by refineries for their support of American-made biofuels. A Republican Pennsylvania state legislator, Rep. Bob Godshall, doubled down, attempting to
March 13, 2018 Read Full Article
Pruitt Looks to Stamp out RIN "Hoarding," Raises Possibility of Limits on Wall Street
by James Osborne (Houston Chronicle) EPA chief Scott Pruitt raised the idea Monday of limiting Wall Street's ability to trade the government-issued credits for ethanol and other biofuels in an effort to aid oil refineries. ... In a meeting with reporters at the Environmental
March 13, 2018 Read Full Article
GM Exec Wants To Make Premium Gas The New Regular Gas
by Jason Torchinsky (Japlopnik) ... See, he (GM Vice President of Global Propulsion systems Dan Nicholson) announced that he’d like to see all gas as high an octane as premium gas in a talk he gave to the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers. Why does
March 13, 2018 Read Full Article
White House Postpones Talks on US Biofuel Mandate: Refinery Source
by Meghan Gordon bankr(Platts) The White House has postponed a fourth round of talks between refinery and biofuel interests about reforming the US biofuel mandate, according to a refinery source close to the negotiations. The meeting set for Thursday may have been
March 13, 2018 Read Full Article
Report on 8th ISCC Global Sustainability Conference; Presentations Published
(International Sustainability and Carbon Certification) Tuesday 20 February 2018, Brussels, Belgium high profile speakers discussed on the latest updates on a broad range of topics: The future of bioenergy discussed by the European Commission and Member States RED II negotiations Implementation of
March 12, 2018 Read Full Article
California May Tweak Climate Program That’s Pushing up Gas Prices
by David R. Baker (Seattle Times) ... Last week, the California Air Resources Board issued proposed changes that would delay some of the program’s targets, giving fuel providers more time to reach them. Instead of needing to cut the carbon intensity of
March 12, 2018 Read Full Article
RIN Price Cap a Demand Cap: Oil Industry Study Makes Ethanol Industry's Case on Motive, Impact
by Chris Clayton (DTN The Progressive Farmer) A study commissioned by the country's largest oil refiner explains how a waiver credit would freeze ethanol demand. Ethanol industry groups are pointing to several statements in the oil industry's own report to make the
March 12, 2018 Read Full Article
Big This Week: Oil Execs to Huddle with Trump
by Amy Harder (Axios) Lots to discuss: Top oil-and-gas industry executives will meet Thursday with President Trump at the White House, according to sources familiar with the plan. Why it matters: The meeting arrives amid a rough patch in the industry's relationship with
March 12, 2018 Read Full Article
Murkowski Says Gasoline Not "Energy Future," Congress "Very Excited" by Electric Cars
by James Osborne (Houston Chronicle) Sen. Lisa Murkowski said Friday she believed an electric vehicle revolution was coming and Congress is eager to make policy changes and fund research to help the automotive industry transition. "We're looking to our energy future, and
March 12, 2018 Read Full Article
Update: White House Calls off Biofuels Meeting
(Agri-Pulse) Oil, biofuels interests were originally set to meet Monday morning. READ MORE BIOFUELS WHITE HOUSE MEETING SCRAPPED: (Politico's Morning Energy) MONDAY WHITE HOUSE MEETING ON RFS CALLED OFF (Brownfield Ag News; includes AUDIO) Ethanol Interests Shout Opposition to RIN Price Cap (Energy.AgWired.com;
March 12, 2018 Read Full Article
Ethanol Plant Operators Say No to RIN Price Cap -- Comments from Renewable Fuels Association Member Companies
(Renewable Fuels Association) Another White House meeting has been scheduled for Monday, March 12, to continue discussions between oil refinery and biofuels interests over the price of Renewable Identification Numbers, or RINs, which were created under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS)
March 09, 2018 Read Full Article
A Straighter, Shorter Pathway
by Sue Retka Schill (Biomass Magazine) Seven years after the U.S. EPA published the final rule for administering the Renewable Fuel Standard, the path to getting corn kernel fiber-to-cellulosic ethanol approvals appears to be getting much shorter. Edeniq CEO Brian Thome reports
March 09, 2018 Read Full Article
Short-Term Bioenergy Solutions for Meeting the Two Degree Celsius Scenario (2DS)
by Michael Eggleston* (Advanced BiofuelsUSA) Highlighting how policy makers, investors and scientists can jointly work together to transform the global energy system, the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) 2017 Technology Roadmap for Delivering Sustainable Bioenergy investigates a considerable strategy to increase
March 09, 2018 Read Full Article
Praj in Advanced Stage of Discussion to Set up Two 2nd Gen Ethanol Plants in EU
by Jayashree Bhosale (Economic Times) Pune-based PrajBSE -3.22 % Industries is in advanced stage of discussion to set up second generation ethanol plants in two counties of the European Union. Pramod Chaudhari, Executive Chairman of Praj commented at the occasion, “We are
March 09, 2018 Read Full Article
UPDATE 1-White House Sets Biofuel Meeting; Trump Will Not Attend -Sources
by Jarrett Renshaw (Reuters) The White House has made preliminary plans for a meeting on Monday between rivals in the corn and oil industries to discuss potential changes to the nation’s biofuels policy, two sources familiar with the planning told Reuters. Unlike
March 09, 2018 Read Full Article
Bill Aims to Dismantle RFS, Limit Biofuel Blending
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) On March 8, Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., and Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., introduced companion bills that aim to dismantle the Renewable Fuel Standard and sunset blending obligations for conventional, advanced, cellulosic, and biomass-based diesel fuels. The
March 09, 2018 Read Full Article
200 Companies, Trade Groups Urge Congress forward on Farm Bill Energy Title Programs
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, more than 200 companies and trade associations today wrote House and Senate Agriculture Committee leaders, urging them “to reauthorize and maintain stable mandatory funding for energy title programs in the next farm bill reauthorization.” The letter,
March 09, 2018 Read Full Article
Analysis: Cap on Conventional Ethanol RINs Will Reduce Biodiesel Market By 100-300 Million Gallons Per Year
(National Biodiesel Board) A new analysis by the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) and the World Agricultural Economic and Environmental Services (WAEES) found that capping the price of conventional biofuels’ Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) will significantly harm the production of biodiesel and
March 09, 2018 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to the Status of Advanced Biofuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) There are over 2,000 biomass to fuel facilities representing 1,461 companies in 90 countries. According to subject matter expert and long-time Digesterati Lorenz Bauer, “first-generation biofuels will continue to dominate the market but will lose market
March 08, 2018 Read Full Article
New Study: RIN Price Cap for E15 RVP Waiver “Deal” Would Cut Ethanol Consumption and Trounce Corn Prices
by Emily Druckman (Renewable Fuels Association) Any action to artificially cap Renewable Identification Number (RIN) prices in exchange for an RVP waiver allowing year-round sale of E15 would be a bad deal for rural America and the nation’s consumers, according to
March 08, 2018 Read Full Article
Letter: Don’t Be Misinformed about Renewable Fuel Standard by ‘Big Oil’
by Anngie Steinbarger (The Republic) I was dismayed to read the Feb. 16 letter from Mark Brown and Travis DeFries, managers at Valero, who want U.S. Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., to help oil companies gut the market for Indiana farmers by dismantling
March 07, 2018 Read Full Article
IATA Sets Goal for Flights Using Sustainable Fuels
(International Air Transport Association/Biomass Magazine) The International Air Transport Association set out an aim for 1 billion passengers to fly on flights powered by a mix of jet fuel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by 2025. This aspiration was identified on
March 07, 2018 Read Full Article
California Biofuel Event Showcases Dynamics of Evolving Industry
(The California Advanced Biofuels Alliance /Biodiesel Magazine) At the California Advanced Biofuels Conference March 1 in Sacramento, Jennifer Case, chair of California Advanced Biofuels Alliance, gave her annual address to a packed house that has evolved to include major industry players, both
March 07, 2018 Read Full Article
Brazil Implements B10 Mandate a Year ahead of Schedule
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) Brazil’s nationwide biodiesel mandate has increased from 8 to 10 percent on March 1, according to the Ministry of Mines and Energy. The National Energy Policy Council approved the increase in December, one year ahead of
March 07, 2018 Read Full Article
Is Our Gasoline Making Us Sick? Ethanol Is a Healthier Option
by Steve Roe (Des Moines Register/Little Sioux Corn Processors) ... A significant amount of these emissions are coming from our vehicles. For example, toxic aromatic compounds, which include known carcinogens like benzene, are added to gasoline to boost octane. The aromatics
March 07, 2018 Read Full Article
UPDATE 1-U.S. Refinery Workers Head to Washington to Urge Biofuels Reform
by Jarrett Renshaw (Reuters) A delegation of workers from U.S. oil refining companies that oppose the nation’s biofuels policy will converge on Washington on Wednesday to lobby lawmakers to find a way to lessen the regulation’s costs without hurting corn farmers
March 07, 2018 Read Full Article
Biofuel to Supplement Oil Supplies
by Tryness Tembo (Zambia Daily Mail Limited) For any economy to grow, stable supply of fuel at affordable prices should be guaranteed hence for all sectors need readily -available fuel to operate effectively. For example, Zambia, which is dependent on imported crude oil
March 07, 2018 Read Full Article
Whither Goest Thou, Biogas? The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Biogas Markets and Technologies
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) America generates very large quantities of biogas; in total, almost 10% of America’s gasoline consumption in terms of energy equivalent volumes. The largest sources of methane are landfills, followed by wastewater and then manure. It’s an
March 07, 2018 Read Full Article
EPA Unresponsive to Letter on Agency Position on RIN Prices
(Office of Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA)/Ethanol Producer Magazine) U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, today (March 1, 2018) issued the following statement on EPA’s official position, restated as recently as November 2017 that, “high RIN prices do not cause significant harm to
March 06, 2018 Read Full Article
Brazil: Landfill Gas-Based Fuels Eligible for RenovaBio Program
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) On Feb. 21, Brazil’s Ministry of Mines and Energy published a notice announcing that landfill gas-based fuels will be eligible to comply with the requirements of RenovaBio, the country’s new national biofuels policy that was established in December. RenovaBio
March 06, 2018 Read Full Article
Ag Policy Blog: Government Confusion Over Ethanol Might Demand Growing Locally
by Chris Clayton (DTN The Progressive Farmer) ... So you have USDA saying ethanol demand has basically peaked. The Department of Energy is saying ethanol is really the only fuel that can provide the energy and market demands needed in the
March 06, 2018 Read Full Article
New Study: Nearly 50,000 Iowa Jobs Tied to Biofuels
by Rod Swoboda (Wallaces Farmer) With a White House meeting being held last week to discuss the fate of the Renewable Fuel Standard, a new study finds nearly 50,000 Iowa jobs are tied to biofuels production. Efforts by Sen. Ted Cruz of
March 06, 2018 Read Full Article
Impressions of the State of the Industry from ABLC 2018
by Joanne Ivancic* (Advanced Biofuels USA) “A smidgen more hopeful that it has been for a few years,” said one advanced biofuels industry long-timer. “I don’t understand why it feels so pessimistic,” asked an attendee from the EU, noting that
March 06, 2018 Read Full Article
Ontario Moves Toward Hydrogen-Powered Trains
by Betsy Lillian (NGT News) The Province of Ontario is taking the next steps in testing hydrogen-powered train technology, according to an announcement from the Ontario Ministry of Transportation. Kathryn McGarry, minister of transportation, was recently in Toronto to release the province’s Hydrogen Rail
March 06, 2018 Read Full Article
Govt Pushing ahead with Locomotive Biodiesel Plans
by Viriya P. Singgih (The Jakarta Post) The government will decide whether to resume the 20 percent biodiesel blend ( B20 ) policy for the locomotive sector by the end of June, when it expects to complete a fuel performance test in
March 06, 2018 Read Full Article
Heard from the Floor at ABLC — Thursday March 1, 2018
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) ... On March 1, ABLC 2018 kicked off at the Mayflower Hotel in the heart of D.C. with five Avengers – a superhero bunch who all had a common thread – we are stronger together
March 05, 2018 Read Full Article
"That's Chuck Grassley. Should I Take the Call?" Klobuchar Keynote Ignites ABLC
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, an unplanned on-stage telephone conversation between Senators Amy Klobuchar and Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa was the highlight of ABLC 2018 as high drama at the White House over biofuels policy turned for
March 05, 2018 Read Full Article
NNPC, Kogi to Produce 84 Million Litres of Bio-fuel
(Nigerian Natinal Petroleum Company) Sign MoU on Fuel-Ethanol Project to Create 2 Million Jobs -- The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Kogi State Government have executed a Memorandum of Understanding for the development of fuel-ethanol processing plant that would
March 05, 2018 Read Full Article
Heard On The Floor at ABLC Day 2 – Listen to the Wind of Change
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) ... Starting with the Federal Perspective and Programs Forum first thing in the morning, we heard from Harry Baumes from USDA who announced 5 more projects projecting to achieve financial closing in 2018 and an application cycle
March 05, 2018 Read Full Article
European Commission Grants Nearly €5 Billion to Develop Biofuels in Italy
(European Commission/NGV Journal) The European Commission has approved under EU State aid rules an Italian support scheme for the production and distribution of advanced biofuels, including advanced biomethane, for the use in the transport sector. The measure will contribute to reaching
March 05, 2018 Read Full Article
Hearing Watch
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico’s Morning Energy) Rep. John Shimkus' E&C energy subcommittee will hold a "future of transportation fuels" hearing next week. "Because of the evolving nature of the Renewable Fuel Standard, the Corporate Average Fuel Economy program, the growth of electric
March 02, 2018 Read Full Article
Heard on the Floor at ABLC 2018
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) There was high drama in Washington, DC as the Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference got underway and President Trump readies to meet at the White House with a number of biofuels leaders about the RFS and bioeconomy policy
March 01, 2018 Read Full Article
Opinions: Why Fossil Fuels Survive
by Robert J. Samuelson (The Washington Post) ... It’s true that the Trump administration has withdrawn from the Paris climate agreement, making any transition harder. But the problems transcend President Trump’s disengagement, as a new study from the oil giant BP makes clear. Reading it,
March 01, 2018 Read Full Article
ABLC 2018 Preview: Deployment Dawns, Products Proliferate, and Techs Land Major Venture Deals as the Bioeconomy Advances into a Big 2018
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, ABLC 2018 opens amidst a flutter of government rollbacks of deployment support but the hope of regulatory relief, breakthroughs in financial structuring, a decisive shift in early-stage projects to nutrition & health, and an
February 28, 2018 Read Full Article
Cellulosic Ethanol Falling Far Short Of The Hype
by Robert Rapier (Forbes) ... This year begins the ninth year of cellulosic ethanol mandates in the U.S. Today I want to give a brief review of cellulosic ethanol, review the original targets, and examine the current status of the industry. ... The 2007
February 27, 2018 Read Full Article
White House Pushes for More Talks after 'No Deal' on Biofuels
by Jarrett Renshaw (Reuters) U.S. President Donald Trump has asked for more talks between representatives of the oil and corn industries after a meeting on Tuesday failed to yield an agreement on how to help refiners cope with the country’s
February 27, 2018 Read Full Article
Position Paper: The European Commission’s Action Plan on Alternative Fuels Infrastructure
(European Automobile Manufacturers Association) The European Commission presented its Clean Mobility Package on 8 November 2017. Besides a number of legislative and non-legislative initiatives, the Commission also launched an Action Plan on Alternative Fuels Infrastructure as well as investment solutions for
February 27, 2018 Read Full Article
Bio-CCS and Bio-CCUS in Climate Change Mitigation--Market and Regulatory Issues Related to Bio-CCUS
(International Energy Agency Bioenergy Task 41) The fourth IEA Bioenergy Task 41 workshop on Bio-CC(U)S was organized in Brussels 16 January 2018. The topic of the workshop was Market and regulatory issues related to Bio-CCUS. The workshop was a full day event divided
February 27, 2018 Read Full Article
Farm Groups Urge Trump to Maintain the Integrity of the RFS
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Representatives of the U.S. farming community are speaking out ahead of a Feb. 27 White House meeting on the Renewable Fuel Standard, urging President Donald Trump to avoid seeking change that would weaken the nation’s
February 27, 2018 Read Full Article
Exclusive: Trump Calls Meeting on Biofuels Policy after Refiner Bankruptcy
by Jarrett Renshaw (Reuters) U.S. President Donald Trump has called a meeting early next week with key senators and Cabinet officials to discuss potential changes to biofuels policy, which is coming under increasing pressure after a Pennsylvania refiner blamed the regulation
February 26, 2018 Read Full Article
Farmers Defend Biofuels as Part of EU’s Upcoming ‘Protein Strategy’
by Sarantis Michalopoulos (EURACTIV.com) There is a need to maintain the EU’s main source of protein feed that are the co-product of biofuels, the European farmers association Copa-Cogeca told EURACTIV.com as the Commission announced its intention to draw up an EU-wide “protein
February 24, 2018 Read Full Article
Ethanol Unit Will Come up at Harihar, Says MP
(The Hindu) Cost of the unit, which will use agricultural waste, will be Rs. 966 crore; it is expected to provide jobs for around 80 persons Since the Centre has given top priority for second generation (2G) ethanol production, Mangalore Refineries and
February 23, 2018 Read Full Article
California LCFS Credits Market Active after New Compliance Rules Proposed
by Josh Pedrick (Platts) The market for California Low Carbon Fuel Standard credits was unusually active Wednesday after the state's Air Resources Board proposed a path that could lower compliance goals in the near-term but raise goals in 2030. ... The board's proposed rulemaking
February 23, 2018 Read Full Article
INTERVIEW-JBS Biodiesel Adds New Raw Materials and Projects Increase in Production
by Roberto Samora (Reuters (Google translation)) JBS Biodiesel, a biofuel unit of global meat giant JBS, will invest R $ 5.5 million to add chicken and pork fats to biodiesel production as a way to expand the matrix of its raw
February 23, 2018 Read Full Article
Icahn’s Biofuel Fight Lives On
by Jennifer A. Dlouhy (Bloomberg) Ethanol industry and oil refiners both feel threatened; Biofuel mandate divides two states that voted for Trump -- Top Trump administration officials are planning two summits to discuss possible changes to the U.S. biofuel mandate, according to
February 23, 2018 Read Full Article
US Ethanol Groups Slam Potential Extension of EU Antidumping Duties
(ICIS) -US ethanol trade groups on Wednesday slammed the European Commission’s review to extend antidumping duties on US fuel ethanol. The 9.5% duties are set to expire at the end of this month, but on Tuesday the European Renewable Ethanol Association (e-Pure) announced it will
February 22, 2018 Read Full Article
Former Trump Energy Adviser Sees No Easy Fix on Renewable Fuel Standard Reform
by Meghan Gordon and Brian Scheid (Platts) Reforming the US biofuel mandate will be tricky and will likely have to be done by Congress, not by the Trump administration, according to a recent top energy adviser to the White House. "I don't
February 22, 2018 Read Full Article
Growth Energy Calls on US Government to Support Biofuels Sector
(Biofuels International) Growth Energy calls on US government to support biofuels sector -- Biofuels are crucial to improving the US energy outlook, according to an expert from ethanol trade association Growth Energy. Chris Bliley, Growth Energy’s vice-president of regulatory affairs, says that the
February 22, 2018 Read Full Article
Carmakers’ 'Harmonization’ Push Could Soften Fuel Efficiency Gains (1)
by Abby Smith (Bloomberg Environment) Automakers seek consistency in EPA, NHTSA programs as agencies weigh standards’ future; Environmentalists say push is meant to soften vehicle limits -- Automakers may already get what they want this spring as the Trump administration eyes lower
February 22, 2018 Read Full Article
Ethanol Industry Speaks out against PES Anti-RFS Rally
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) On Feb. 21, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, spoke at a rally against the Renewable Fuel Standard hosted by Philadelphia Energy Solutions Inc., a refiner that recently blamed the RFS and renewable identification number (RIN) prices
February 21, 2018 Read Full Article
Hawaii Legislature Considers 10 Percent Biofuel Mandate
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) A biofuel blending mandate for motor vehicle fuels is being considered in the Hawaii legislature this session. In January, Hawaii Sen. Lorraine Inouye introduced Senate Bill 2019 (SB2019) that requires transportation fuel sold in the state to
February 21, 2018 Read Full Article
Biofuels and Electric Vehicles Key to EU Decarbonisation, Report Claims
(Biofuels International) A new report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) says the EU could double the renewable share in its energy mix, cost effectively, from 17% in 2015 to 34% in 2030. In order to reach long term decarbonisation goals, the report
February 21, 2018 Read Full Article
High Performance Fuels: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to DOE’s Co-Optima Project and HP fuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The US Department of Energy has a key project called Co-Optima, which aims to determine key fuel properties that enable improved engine efficiency, provide key science to enable high efficiency combustion modes, and capitalize on unique
February 21, 2018 Read Full Article
Letter: Renewable Fuel Standard Supports Domestic Biofuels
by Christiana Mayer (East Oregonian) We are continually bombarded with news about new oil drilling and fracking, but that’s not the only solution for domestic fuel production or the only path toward loosening OPEC and Russia’s grip on energy supplies —
February 20, 2018 Read Full Article
Blender Pump Legislation to Go before SD Senate Committee
by Tim Albrecht (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A new legislative bill to fund more ethanol blender pumps across South Dakota is set to go before the state Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee Thursday, Feb. 20. The bill is being proposed by
February 20, 2018 Read Full Article
More Biodiesel Kiosks to Be Rolled out
(China Daily) The Shanghai municipal government is planning to increase the number of biodiesel fueling stations in the city from the current 21 to 200 by the end of this year, said Xu Kunlin, vice-mayor of Shanghai, during a news conference
February 20, 2018 Read Full Article
Hot Spots Around the World: Who’s Adding What, Where in Biofuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) South America -- In Brazil, ICM has completed startup and commissioning of the FS Bioenergia dry-mill corn ethanol plant. ... The driver for corn ethanol in Brazil? In part, the country’s new RenovaBio policy, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas
February 20, 2018 Read Full Article
Don't Overlook Ethanol In Clean Car Future
by John Herath (Ag Pro) As the United States looks to craft a clean fuel future for transportation, biofuels should not be lost behind electric vehicles according to Geoff Cooper of the Renewable Fuels Association. "To say that an electric vehicle has no
February 19, 2018 Read Full Article
A Sit Down with Conrad Rautenbach from Green Fuel
(The Herald) Fuel prices shot up recently before Government intervened by reducing import duty on fuel to stem the price madness that rose as a result. Questions have been raised as to the contribution of the multi-million dollar investment by Green
February 19, 2018 Read Full Article
Expected Drop in Farm Income Highlights Need for Biofuels, RFS
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The USDA’s February 2018 Farm Income Forecast predicts net farm income will decline by or 6.7 percent this year. According to Growth Energy, the expected drop underscores the need for a strong Renewable Fuel Standard. The
February 19, 2018 Read Full Article
Sustainable Biofuels Important Clean Mobility Solution – New Study Highlights
(Bioenergy International) Sustainable biofuels are among the best solutions available for decarbonising transport and mitigating climate change, according to a new study. Published as the EU begins trilogue negotiations its renewable energy policy for the 2020-2030 period, the report from the
February 19, 2018 Read Full Article
S. African Biofuel Plan May Boost Sorghum Sixfold, Grain Says
by Carli Lourens (Bloomberg) South Africa’s proposed mandatory blending of biofuels with gasoline and diesel may signal the start of a biofuels industry and boost sorghum output sixfold, an economist at the farmers’ body Grain SA said. The government’s September release of draft
February 19, 2018 Read Full Article
Ambitious Policies Position Canadian Biofuels for Growth
by Jim Grey (Ethanol Producer Magazine/Renewable Fuels Canada) The story of the Canadian biofuels sector is remarkable. From its infancy, the industry has continued to drive Canada’s circular economy, supporting the agricultural sector while continually creating environmentally sustainable economic growth in
February 19, 2018 Read Full Article
U.S. Senator's Biofuel Overhaul Faces Resistance
by Jarrett Renshaw (Reuters) Texas Senator John Cornyn’s plan to overhaul U.S. biofuels policy faces resistance from the oil and ethanol sectors, reducing chances of a reboot to the controversial regulations, sources familiar with the matter said. The plan, which the sources said
February 17, 2018 Read Full Article
Analysis: RIN Prices of ‘Just a Few Cents’ are Coming—Without Changes to RFS
by Emily Druckman (Renewable Fuels Association) A new analysis from the University of Illinois shows that the conditions that caused high conventional biofuel (D6) RIN prices are changing rapidly and that “…it is not out of the realm of possibility for D6 RINs
February 16, 2018 Read Full Article
Growth Energy Calls on US Government to Support Biofuels Sector
(Biofuels International) Biofuels are crucial to improving the US energy outlook, according to an expert from ethanol trade association Growth Energy. Chris Bliley, Growth Energy’s vice-president of regulatory affairs, says that the forecasts in the recently released US Energy Information Administration’s (EIA)
February 16, 2018 Read Full Article
EPA RIN Market Data Poor: CFTC Can't Draw Conclusion on RIN Market Based on EPA Data Provided
by Chris Clayton (DTN The Progressive Farmer) The chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission told senators Thursday the Environmental Protection Agency hasn't been able to provide the CFTC with enough quality data on the biofuels trading market for CFTC regulators
February 16, 2018 Read Full Article
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
In his article suggesting scrapping Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards in favor of a Clean Air Act life cycle analysis-based methodology for CO2 transportation emission reduction, Bob Kozak advised, "(I)f anyone asks what will be the economic incentive for a
February 16, 2018 Read Full Article
Let’s Regulate CO2 Emissions, and Forget the 55.4 MPG 2025 Corporate Annual Fuel Economy Standard: The Inexpensive Way to Quickly Reduce Green House Gases
by Robert Kozak* (Advanced Biofuels USA) The 2025 Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standard of 54.5 miles/gallon has become a significant issue since the election of Donald Trump as president of the United States. Besides the Administration’s near religious fervor against
February 15, 2018 Read Full Article
De-Coding the West’s Addiction to Fossil Fuels: Fostering a Sustainable Transportation Fuel Market in the US & EU
by Michael Eggleston* (Advanced Biofuels USA) “If we do not break the lock-in effect of our dominant fuel sources, we may in fact facilitate mother nature in breaking the lock-out of her dominant species,” wrote Stephen L. Bi in The
February 15, 2018 Read Full Article
API Urges EPA Not to Exempt Small Refiners from US Biofuel Mandate
by Meghan Gordon (Platts) The American Petroleum Institute has come out against a campaign by small refineries to avoid their obligations under the US biofuel mandate, according to a letter released Tuesday. More than two dozen refineries with throughput of less than
February 15, 2018 Read Full Article
New DOE Study: Ethanol Among Best Options for Future Engine Efficiency Improvements and Emissions Reduction
(Renewable Fuels Association) The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) today hailed the release of two studies by the Department of Energy that find ethanol-based high octane fuels can deliver substantial fuel economy improvements and emissions reductions when paired with optimized internal combustion
February 15, 2018 Read Full Article
What If Car Buyers Aren't Ready for Electric Cars, Even in California?
by John Voelcker (Green Car Reports) It's accepted wisdom among electric-car fans and advocates that within a few years, mass-market car buyers will start snapping up battery-electric cars. First, battery prices have to come down to the point that electric vehicles aren't
February 12, 2018 Read Full Article
Environmentalists Sue The EPA Over Pollution From Biofuels
by Tim Pearce (Daily Caller) Two environmental groups sued the Trump administration Friday over the threat that the 2018 renewable fuel volume standards pose to endangered species. The Sierra Club and the Gulf Restoration Network are targeting the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
February 11, 2018 Read Full Article
Biofuels Feedstock Study Supports Billion-Ton Estimate
(South Dakota State University/Biomass Magazine) Can farmers produce at least 1 billion tons of biomass per year that can be used as biofuels feedstock? That’s the question that researchers are trying to answer, according to North Central Regional Sun Grant Center Director
February 11, 2018 Read Full Article
Global Ethanol Market: Advancement in Production Technologies and Demand for Cleaner and Cost-Effective Fuel in Automobile Sector to Bolster Uptake, notes TMR
(Transparency Market Research/Globe Newswire) Global Ethanol Market could rise at a CAGR of 7.9% during the forecast timeframe 2017–2022 to touch a hefty valuation of US$105.0 Billion by the final forecast year 2022. -- The global ethanol market is characterized by the
February 11, 2018 Read Full Article
Greening Gas: Conference of the European Biogas Association Presents Emerging Technologies for European Energy Transition in a Circular Economy
By Dan Quadros* (Advanced Biofuels USA) Antwerp, Belgium, is known for diamonds and fine chocolates. But what shined there a couple of weeks ago was the Conference of the European Biogas Association (EBA). [caption id="attachment_93154" align="alignleft" width="194"] Danilo Gusmao at the
February 08, 2018 Read Full Article
American Energy Dominance Won’t Come from Turning Back the Clock
by Mike Carr (The Hill/New Energy America) President Trump has pledged a theme of “energy dominance.” It’s not the first time Washington has had this thought. During the years I worked at the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee we grappled with
February 08, 2018 Read Full Article
CBEC Exempt 5% Ethanol Blended Petrol from Additional Duty of Excise
(Tax Guru) Seeks to exempt 5% ethanol blended petrol from the additional duty of excise (road and infrastructure cess) levied under clause 110 of the Finance Bill 2018 READ MORE Indian 2018 budget looks to drop excise duty on E5 (Biofuels
February 08, 2018 Read Full Article
Brazil's Expected Rise in Ethanol Demand to Be Met by Corn-Based Fuel
by Marcelo Teixeira (Reuters) An expected increase in ethanol demand in Brazil, boosted by the country’s economic recovery and a new programme to raise biofuel use, will initially be met by fuel produced from corn, an industry official told Reuters on
February 08, 2018 Read Full Article
Withdrawal of the Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) for and the Cancellation of the Farm-to-Fleet Feedstock Program Biofuel Production Incentive (BPI)
(U.S. Department of Agriculture Commodity Credit Corporation and Farm Service Agency) The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) has withdrawn support for the Farm-to-Fleet BPI Program, and is cancelling funding for the BPI payments to companies that
February 07, 2018 Read Full Article
Advanced, to Go: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to 2G Biofuels Implementation Timetable
The biggest news out of Novozymes this month is its new yeast platform for starch-based ethanol, while also introducing the first product, Innova Drive. A completely new yeast strain, the product can reduce fermentation time by up to two hours compared
February 07, 2018 Read Full Article
Grassley: RFS Has Minimal Impact on Success of Refineries
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, has released a memo produced by his energy policy staff that finds that Renewable Fuel Standard blending requirements and the cost of renewable identification numbers (RINs) have little to do with
February 06, 2018 Read Full Article
On Value, and Values: Fairness, the Disadvantaged, and California’s Renewables Policy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... The particulars are the subject of a white paper from a team at Propel Fuels — Rob Elam, Will Faulkner, Chris LaPlante, Parker Chase — and available here. Un-Penalizing the Poor The topics include regressive taxes that penalize