(U.S. Department of Energy) The United States will likely take years to return to 2019 levels of energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions following the impact of COVID-19 on the U.S. economy and global energy sector, according to projections in
Transportation Policy
Back TO HOMEBiden Team in Talks with Utilities, Car Companies about Emissions: Climate Adviser
by Jeff Mason and Valerie Volcovici (Reuters) U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration has started discussions with the utility and automobile sectors about reducing greenhouse gas emissions, White House domestic climate change adviser Gina McCarthy told Reuters. ... The White House has met some
February 04, 2021 Read Full Article
Thune, Klobuchar Reintroduce Bill to Recognize Environmental Benefit of Biofuels, Efficient Farming
(Office of Senator John Thune (R-S.D.)) U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) today reintroduced the Adopt GREET Act, legislation that would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to update its greenhouse gas modeling for ethanol and biodiesel. Specifically, the bill would require
February 04, 2021 Read Full Article
What’s the Future for SAF: Web Conference Recording and Highlights
by Tammy Klein (Transport Energy Strategies) ... Additional efficiency improvements in planes and engines are not likely to be enough and will require lower carbon fuels also known as sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), as alternative energy vectors, such as hydrogen, will
February 04, 2021 Read Full Article
To Make the U.S. Auto Fleet Greener, Increasing Fuel Efficiency Matters More Than Selling Electric Vehicles
by John DeCicco (The Conversation) ... Motorcars stay on the road for a long time, so failing to adequately reduce gasoline vehicle emissions this year burdens the atmosphere with excess carbon dioxide (CO2) for many years ahead. ... The media spotlight on EVs
February 04, 2021 Read Full Article
EPA Races to Draft Interim Auto Standards for CO2
by Maxine Joselow (E&E News) President Biden's EPA is expected to draft interim auto emissions standards based on an agreement last year between California and five car companies, according to sources following the matter. EPA is poised to unveil the interim
February 03, 2021 Read Full Article
At National Meetings of Biodiesel Board and Diesel Specialists, Diesel Tech Forum Sounds Clarion Call for Diesel's Future
(Diesel Technology Forum) ... As we envision a greater national focus on attacking climate change in the coming year, advanced diesel engines and biodiesel and renewable diesel must be included as key strategies. They are available, affordable, proven and deliver
February 03, 2021 Read Full Article
Toyota, Fiat Chrysler Drop Support for Trump Effort to Bar California Emissions Rules
by David Shepardson (Reuters/Yahoo!Finance) Toyota Motor Corp, Fiat Chrysler and other major automakers said on Tuesday they were joining General Motors in abandoning support for former President Donald Trump's effort to bar California from setting its own zero emission vehicle rules. The
February 03, 2021 Read Full Article
Electric Cars Are Coming, and Fast. Is the Nation’s Grid Up to It?
by Brad Plumer (New York Times) GM’s decision this week to phase out gasoline vehicles is the latest in a major shift that will mean drastic new demands on electric utilities. Here are four things that will need to happen. ... Generate
February 01, 2021 Read Full Article
UK Opens Consultation on Implementing CORSIA and Policy Options for Interaction with UK ETS DEADLINE: February 28, 2021
(GreenAir Online) As the UK prepares to adopt ICAO’s CORSIA regulations into domestic law, the Department for Transport (DfT) has opened a consultation on its proposed approach for implementing and administering the monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) of aviation CO2 emissions
January 29, 2021 Read Full Article
Exclusive: U.S. Oil Industry Seeks Unusual Alliance with Farm Belt to Fight Biden Electric Vehicle Agenda
by Jarrett Renshaw and Stephanie Kelly (Reuters/Yahoo! Finance) The U.S. oil industry is seeking to forge an alliance with the nation's corn growers and biofuel producers to lobby against the Biden administration's push for electric vehicles, but is so far meeting
January 28, 2021 Read Full Article
Closing the Transportation Emissions Gap with Clean Fuels
(Rhodium Group) ... While efficiency improvements and vehicle electrification can cut transport emissions by up to two-thirds by 2050, low-GHG liquid fuels are needed to fill the remaining gap and achieve net-zero emissions in the transportation sector by mid-century. Transportation will
January 28, 2021 Read Full Article
Farm, Biofuels, and Environmental Groups Oppose SAFE Rule
(National Farmers Union) An alliance of farm, biofuels, and environmental organizations last night filed an amicus brief in objection to the Safer Affordable Fuel Efficiency Vehicle (SAFE) Rule on the grounds that it both fails to account for toxic pollution from aromatic-laden fuel
January 27, 2021 Read Full Article
The Clean Economy Employment Now ("CLEEN") Project Launches Nation's First Database with Actionable Ideas for Federal Leaders to Combat Climate Change, "Build Back Better," and Advance Climate Justice / Includes Advanced Biofuels USA "Disappearing Gas Tax" Proposal
(The CLEEN Project) The CLEEN Project was created through a collective of more than 200 contributors and 70 Advisory Board members from the private sector, federal and state government, environmental justice organizations, and leading climate-focused think tanks who share a
January 27, 2021 Read Full Article
Biden Administration to Review SAFE Vehicles Rule
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. EPA's Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficiency (SAFE) Vehicles Rule is one of the many federal regulations that are set to be reviewed by the Biden administration, according to an executive order issued Jan. 20. “Our Nation has an abiding
January 26, 2021 Read Full Article
'Clean' Truck Regs, Strong Rate Environment Likely for 2021
by Cristina Commendatore (Fleet Owner) President-elect Joe Biden has emphasized the importance of achieving net-zero emissions no later than 2050, and the industry will be paying close attention to environmental initiatives that could impact trucking after the Jan. 20 inauguration.
January 22, 2021 Read Full Article
3 Wednesdays in January: Can biotechnology Heal the Divide?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...The divide of 2021 is sectional, too. This time, it is the cities vs the countryside, more or less. as we debate the role of diversity in American life, and the shift of the economy from primary industries
January 22, 2021 Read Full Article
Top 10 Bioeconomy Must-Knows in the Biden Transition
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Who are the key bioeconomy players in the new Biden Administration? What recent moves by the outgoing Trump Administration and Congress will set their budget and regulatory framework for 2021. What will the new Administration
January 20, 2021 Read Full Article
Renewed Focus on Climate Legislation Could Help Biofuels
by Sara Wyant (Ag Week) The biofuel industry argues that President-elect Joe Biden can also make progress on his climate goals by expanding biofuel usage mandates, embracing a low carbon fuel policy and increasing vehicle emissions standards. Now that Democrats have
January 19, 2021 Read Full Article
Official Release of the MOVES3 Motor Vehicle Emissions Model for SIPs and Transportation Conformity
(Environmental Protection Agency/Federal Register) The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the availability of the (MOVES3) for official purposes outside of California. MOVES3 is the latest state-of-the art upgrade to EPA's modeling tools for estimating emissions from cars, trucks, buses,
January 19, 2021 Read Full Article
NHTSA DelaysPenalty Hike for Automakers
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that a 150 percent jump in civil penalties for automakers that don't meet fuel economy requirements won't take effect until model year 2022, a move that could
January 13, 2021 Read Full Article
Minnesota Automobile Dealers Association Files Lawsuit over Emission Standards
(KROXAM) On Wednesday, January 6, the Minnesota Automobile Dealers Association (MADA) filed a lawsuit in Federal District Court alleging Minnesota lacks the authority under the Federal Clean Air Act to regulate motor vehicle emissions and is preempted under federal law from
January 08, 2021 Read Full Article
Beyond Electrification: Policy Options for Cutting Carbon Emissions in the Transportation Sector
by Hannah DelSordo* (Advanced Biofuels USA) Transportation represents the largest direct source of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and policymakers are pushing to fully electrify the sector to help meet national climate goals. A webinar on January 6th 2021, hosted by
January 07, 2021 Read Full Article
The Digest’s Top 10 Advanced Bioeconomy Markets and Predictions for 2021
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A mere “The Year in Rewind” as we sail into 2021? Not the good ship Digest! Instead, we dust off our crystal ball and offer our predictions for the year ahead. As the sunset of 2020
January 06, 2021 Read Full Article
Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Solutions for Transportation: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Ballard & Deloitte
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As we look to the future with a new year, Deloitte and Ballard are looking at fueling the future of mobility with hydrogen and fuel cells, which makes sense considering hydrogen is the single most
January 04, 2021 Read Full Article
Analysis: Biofuels Sector Hopeful Over Biden RFS Stance, Wary of GHG Policy
by Patrick Newkumet (Oil Price Information Service) Renewable fuel industry officials are mostly optimistic that the incoming Biden administration will be more supportive of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) than the Trump White House, though some worry that the president-elect's
December 24, 2020 Read Full Article
Pete Buttigieg Wants to Put ‘Millions’ of Electric Cars on US Roads
by Michelle Lewis (Electrek) Pete Buttigieg, casually known as “Mayor Pete” since he was mayor of South Bend, Indiana, for eight years, was nominated last week by President-elect Joe Biden to be secretary of transportation. Buttigieg reiterated what he wants
December 23, 2020 Read Full Article
The Big, Big Package: What’s under the Christmas Tree for the Bioeconomy, in the $1.4T New Spending Bill?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The $1.4 trillion spending package includes appropriation for Fiscal Year 2021, the COVID stimulus package, extensions of popular tax credits that otherwise expired on December 31st, and the Energy Act of 2020, a $35B version
December 23, 2020 Read Full Article
Minnesota Announces Rule-making, Making It the First State in the Midwest to Adopt Clean Car Standards
(Sierra Club) Today (December 18, 2020), the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) announced it will publish its draft Clean Car Standards on Monday, which would require new cars sold in the state to emit less climate-disrupting pollution. The rule also regulates that
December 22, 2020 Read Full Article
Center for Climate Strategies and Guatemala Create a New Private Sector Driven Plan
(Center for Climate Strategies) In partnership with RTI International, the Center for Climate Strategies (CCS) completed the Guatemala national Low Emissions Development Strategies (LEDS) plan, a gold-standard public private participatory template to spur economic and social development while reducing GHG emissions
December 22, 2020 Read Full Article
Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, D.C. Are First to Launch Groundbreaking Program to Cut Transportation Pollution, Invest in Communities
(Transportation and Climate Initiative of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States) TCI-P will invest $300 million every year to modernize transportation, improve public health and combat climate change -- The governors of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, and the mayor of the
December 21, 2020 Read Full Article
Toyota’s Chief Says Electric Vehicles Are Overhyped: Akio Toyoda Says Converting Entirely to EVs Could Cost Hundreds of Billions of Dollars and Make Cars Unaffordable for Average People
by Peter Landers (Wall Street Journal) Toyota Motor Corp.’s leader criticized what he described as excessive hype over electric vehicles, saying advocates failed to consider the carbon emitted by generating electricity and the costs of an EV transition. Toyota President Akio Toyoda
December 18, 2020 Read Full Article
EVs Will Leave A Hole In Taxes: 1st Gear: UK Has To Figure Out How To Tax EV Owners As Much As The Rest Of Us
by Raphael Orlove (Jalopnik's The Morning Shift) The Treasury in the UK is worried that while it’s relatively straightforward to put taxes on gasoline and diesel, it is difficult to tax EVs. The UK tax structure is a net, and EVs
December 18, 2020 Read Full Article
Sneak Peek of Major Climate Legislation in the Maryland General Assembly in 2021 Webinar Review
by Hannah DelSordo* (Advanced Biofuels USA) The upcoming climate legislation of the Maryland General Assembly in 2021 will be focusing on general climate solutions, carbon pricing, and environmental justice. Senator Paul Pinsky discussed his sponsoring of the upcoming Climate Solutions Now
December 18, 2020 Read Full Article
Growth in Carbon Neutral RNG Spotlights Debate on Electric- vs. Renewable-Powered Trucks
by Linda Baker (FreightWaves) Renewable natural gas volumes and carbon benefits are on the rise -- ... FreightWaves spoke to Gladstein (Cliff Gladstein, president of Gladstein, Neandross & Associates (GNA)) about how the California LCFS program works, the latest carbon
December 17, 2020 Read Full Article
Biden Wants the U.S. to Stop Contributing to Climate Change by 2050. Here’s What that Would Actually Take.
by Chris Mooney (Washington Post) ... And all of it is powered by an array of solar and sometimes distant wind installations, which route electricity across the country thanks to a gargantuan network of power lines that triples the scale
December 17, 2020 Read Full Article
Pete Buttigieg Tapped as Biden's Transportation Secretary Pick
(Our Daily Planet) Yesterday President-elect Joe Biden announced former South Bend mayor and 2020 presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg as his nominee for Transportation Secretary. Buttigieg would be one of the youngest cabinet secretaries and the first openly gay person to lead a federal
December 16, 2020 Read Full Article
Opinion: The Secret to Clean Air Is No Secret. It’s Ethanol.
by John Linder (National Corn Growers Association/Farm Journal AgWeb) ... One song that stuck with me from that decade was “Everything Old Is New Again.” I find a lot of truth in the song’s message when I think about climate
December 16, 2020 Read Full Article
No Clean Mobility for All Europeans with the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy
(European Biogass Association) The strategy is a major setback for the vital decarbonisation of transport at an acceptable cost: Lack of support to renewable fuels will jeopardise transport decarbonisation and hamper climate-neutrality by 2050. An accurate zero-emissions approach to mobility
December 15, 2020 Read Full Article
New Legislation Sets Policy Menu for Sustainable Aviation Fuels
by Jeff Overton (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) As the aviation industry recovers from the severe contraction caused by the pandemic, sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) will be essential to help the sector achieve a path to net-zero carbon emissions by
December 12, 2020 Read Full Article
California’s Climate Policy Goes National: Trump Fought Californian Environmental Officials. The Biden Team Wants to Learn from tThem.
by Miranda Green (The New Republic) ... California’s pathbreaking climate measures range from a ban on future car combustion engine sales to setting a historic 100 percent clean energy goal by 2045. And in order to implement Joe Biden’s still more ambitious campaign promise
December 11, 2020 Read Full Article
Renewable Ethanol Body Calls on EU to Include Fuel in Green Deal Transport Strategy
by Karim Elafany (S&P Global Platts) EU publishes Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy; Battery EVs to represent 11% of EU vehicle fleet in 2030: ePURE -- ... ePURE said the guidelines don't go far enough in including renewable ethanol. ... Emmanuel Desplechin, secretary-general of
December 11, 2020 Read Full Article
Wisconsin Governor's Task Force on Climate Change Report
(State of Wisconsin) ... Our charge is to combat the crisis at hand, to do so in a way that weds science and data with the experiences of citizens in the state, to learn how different communities and industries have
December 10, 2020 Read Full Article
Energy Transitions in Emerging Economies: What Success Looks Like and How to Replicate It
by Lachlan Carey and Nikos Tsafos (Center for Strategic and International Studies) Can emerging economies grow while reducing their greenhouse gas emissions, either on an absolute basis or against some business-as-usual baseline? The Energy Security and Climate Change Program at the
December 10, 2020 Read Full Article
Biofuels – The Marine Fuel of the Future Is Here
by Teemu Jutila (Auramarine/Biofuels Digest) The marine fuel market is developing and expanding at an unprecedented rate, set against the backdrop of IMO decarbonisation targets; 50% reduction in emissions from 2008 levels by 2050, and a minimum reduction in carbon intensity
December 08, 2020 Read Full Article
Biofuels Contribute Most to Climate Impact Reduction Now: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to IEA Bioenergy’s Latest Report on Renewable Transport Fuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) You may have seen that IEA Bioenergy released its new report on the role of renewable transport fuels in decarbonizing road transport. The analysis considered developments up to 2050, based on national policies, projections of the
December 07, 2020 Read Full Article
Joint Letter on the Inclusion of Sustainable Renewable Fuels in the EU Mobility Legislation
(Advanced Biofuels Coalition) ... The signatories of this joint letter represent a crucial part of the automotive, fuel, energy industry and civil society in Europe, i.e. a combined force behind the transformation of EU mobility towards climate neutrality in a
December 04, 2020 Read Full Article
Ethanol Is Not a Bridge— We Are a Main Road
by Dave VanderGriend (Ethanol Producer Magazine/Urban Air Initiative) ...In addition to power plants, singling out gasoline powered vehicles seems to be an easy target. The most recent example is California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s executive order requiring all new passenger vehicles
December 03, 2020 Read Full Article
REA Backs UK Government’s 2030 Road Transport Plan
(Biofuels International) The Government’s decision to phase-out the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030 and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles by 2035 has been welcomed by the Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA). The REA
December 03, 2020 Read Full Article
Five Reasons Why Internal Combustion Engines Are Here to Stay
by Robert Bryce (RealClearEnergy) Oil prices are down and bans on automobiles powered by internal combustion engines (ICE) are up – way up. But don’t be fooled; there is plenty of life left in the ICE. ... The first and most important
December 03, 2020 Read Full Article
Is the Future Diesel-Free? 7 Hard Questions about Diesel, Biofuels and ICEs
by Samuel Morgan (Neste) The whole transport industry agrees on the need to decarbonize traffic fast. However, there’s confusion on what that means for diesel, renewable diesel and the internal combustion engine. Are their days numbered? Questions answered: How long will diesel
December 02, 2020 Read Full Article
New Publication – The Role of Renewable Transport Fuels in Decarbonizing Road Transport
(IEA Bioenergy) In the light of climate change, there is an urgent need to decarbonize our societies. The road transport sector is specifically challenging, as transport demand is growing, and so are the sector´s GHG emissions. Electric mobility powered by renewable
November 30, 2020 Read Full Article
A National Zero Carbon Transportation Plan for the US
by Dan Sperling, Lew Fulton, and Vicki Arroyo (University of California Davis) ... Summary of Policy Recommendations Rapidly increase the sales of zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) by implementing the following: National ZEV sales requirements for cars National ZEV sales and fleet
November 27, 2020 Read Full Article
The TIPping Point: Technology, Investment, Policy, and the advanced bioeconomy, Dioxide Materials, Genomatica, ADM, InnovaFeed, Aemetis, Nova Pangaea, and the UK Are Showing the Way
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) It’s possible to summarize the advanced bioeconomy in three words, technology, investment, policy. These are the sine qua non, the foundational forces. Technology without investment and policy is a bunch of pretty things on a shelf,
November 25, 2020 Read Full Article
UK Ban on ICE Vehicles Highlights How 'Policymakers Need to Pay Attention to What's Working Today'
by Ron Kotrba (Biobased Diesel Daily) ... U.K.'s government announced it is going one step further by banning the sale of new spark- and compression-ignition vehicles by 2030. A two-phased approach was announced Nov. 18. Phase 1 will see the phase-out date
November 24, 2020 Read Full Article
Industry Asks EU to Include Biogas in New Sustainable Mobility Strategy
(NGV Journal/NGVA Europe) Gas Distributors for Sustainability (GD4S), the European Biogas Association (EBA) and NGVA Europe co-signed a joint letter to the Executive Vice President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans, Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson, and Transport Commissioner Adina-Ioana Vălean, to
November 24, 2020 Read Full Article
Capito to Confront Climate in EPW Role
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso's decision to relinquish the Environment and Public Works Committee gavel in favor of the Energy and Natural Resources chair has shifted new attention to Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.). She is
November 24, 2020 Read Full Article
Emissions Scandal Fears as Tests Suggest Plug-in Hybrids Emit ‘More Pollution than Advertised’
by Madeleine Cuff (iNews) The tests found that even when the cars had a fully charged battery and were driving in optimal conditions, emissions were still 28-89% higher -- Plug-in hybrid cars might not be as green as manufacturers let on. Tests
November 24, 2020 Read Full Article
UK 10-Point Plan Addresses SAF, Move to Zero-Emissions Vehicles
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.K. government on Nov. 18 issued its 10-point plan for a green industrial revolution, which addresses sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and an accelerated phase-out of the sale of new gasoline- and diesel-fueled vehicles. Point six
November 19, 2020 Read Full Article
UK Refiners Push Back over 2030 Ban on New Fossil Fuel Cars
by Robert Perkins (S&P Global Platts) Refiners call for more biofuels support; Move seen displacing 60,000 b/d of oil demand; Hybrids get reprieve until 2035, EV sales booming -- The UK's refining sector has voiced its opposition to the UK plans to bring
November 19, 2020 Read Full Article
“Super Emitters” to Blame for Half of Aviation Industry’s Carbon Emissions
(Our Daily Planet) The aviation industry is a major contributor to climate change — it was responsible for 2% of global carbon emissions, and in 2018, the total pollutants from commercial aviation drove about 5% of warming globally. But the majority of this
November 18, 2020 Read Full Article
Ag Retailers: Zero-Emission Truck Plan Could ‘Devastate’ Agriculture
by John Gallagher (Freight Waves) Ag retailers: Zero-emission truck plan could ‘devastate’ agriculture -- An environmental policy promoted by Democratic lawmakers to effectively ban internal combustion engines (ICEs) for heavy-duty trucks by 2040 would be a major economic blow to agribusiness
November 17, 2020 Read Full Article
It's Electric
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) IT'S ELECTRIC: A coalition of utilities, electric vehicle makers and mineral producers have formed a new association to push for 100 percent electric vehicle sales by 2030, Pro's Anthony Adragna reports this morning. The group, dubbed the Zero
November 17, 2020 Read Full Article
California Official Sees State Auto Emissions Deal as 'Template' for Biden
by Nichola Groom, David Shepardson (Reuters) California Air Resources Board Chair Mary Nichols, who sources say could be the next federal environment chief, said on Thursday her state’s agreement with manor automakers for fuel efficiency requirements could serve as a “good
November 13, 2020 Read Full Article
Biodiesel and Renewable Diesel Reducing Emissions Today
by Matt Herman (Biodiesel Sustainability Now/National Biodiesel Board) ... Today, biomass-based diesel is the primary solution for those who want to displace diesel fuel, reduce emissions, and contribute to cleaner air without turning over their entire fleet. Growing from 20
November 13, 2020 Read Full Article
Praj Unveils Technology to Produce Biogas from Biomass
(Praj/The Hindu Business Line) Praj Industries’ demonstration plant that deploys innovative technology for the production of Compressed Biogas (CBG) was inaugurated today by Union Min. Shri Prakash Javadekar. Located in the Praj Matrix R&D campus, the plant deploys Praj’s technology
November 06, 2020 Read Full Article
EV Makers’ Course Hinges on U.S. Election and Fuel-Economy Rules
by Esha Dey (Bloomberg Green) Biden seen implementing policies that would speed adoption; Shares of Tesla, Nikola and their suppliers could get a boost -- ... Most transportation experts envision a future with road travel dominated by electric-powered autos. The
November 03, 2020 Read Full Article
Senator Chuck Grassley Says That Buying an Electric Car Should Not Be a Mandate
(RFD TV) A prominent Republican Senator says that he is in favor of gas-free cars, but Senator Chuck Grassley says that buying one should not be a mandate. ... Last week, a group of Democrats introduced a bill that would
November 02, 2020 Read Full Article
Promise and Peril: California’s EV-Only Policy
by Leticia Phillips (Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association, UNICA /Ethanol Producer Magazine) Any EV solution should consider a combined approach of the available alternatives and technologies. It is important to remember that vehicles powered by ethanol are already among the best
October 30, 2020 Read Full Article
Top 5: Solar Costs Are Dropping. How Does It Impact Fuels?
by Tammy Klein (Future Fuel Strategies) ... Items I selected this month include: • Solar Costs Declining Quickly: More quickly than even the IEA has projected. That will have consequences in transport that includes cheaper EV charging, green hydrogen and electrofuels.
October 29, 2020 Read Full Article
Rich Nations Have Sold 14 Million “Dirty and Dangerous” Vehicles to Developing Nations
by Amy Lupica (Our Daily Planet) A new report from the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) found that rich nations, including the United States, Japan, and the Netherlands, are exporting “dirty and dangerous” cars to developing countries en masse. Between 2015 and 2018, an estimated 14
October 29, 2020 Read Full Article
Ford, GM Scientists Knew in 1960s that Emissions Caused Climate Change: Report
by Rachel Frazin (The Hill) Ford and General Motors have known about the effects of vehicular emissions on climate change since as early as the 1960s, E&E News reported Monday. Scientists at the companies made findings on the human and fossil fuel impacts of
October 28, 2020 Read Full Article
UN-Linked Plan Charts US Course to Net-Zero Carbon Emissions by 2050
by Rebecca Beitsch (The Hill) The Zero Carbon Action Plan (ZCAP), crafted by roughly 100 individuals spanning academia and think tanks, would help the U.S. reach the goals of the Paris Climate Accord and hit net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The research
October 27, 2020 Read Full Article
EPA to Award up to $5.5 Million for Clean Diesel Projects in Mid-Atlantic Region
(Environmental Protection Agency) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today has awarded up to $5.5 million in clean diesel funding to the Mid-Atlantic Region organizations to support their clean diesel programs and projects to reduce emissions. The organizations include the Mid-Atlantic Regional
October 22, 2020 Read Full Article
Senator Merkley, Congressman Levin Introduce Legislation to End U.S. Sale of Gasoline-Powered Vehicles by 2035
(Office of Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR)) The Zero-Emission Vehicles Act of 2020 will position U.S. to lead global auto industry -- Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Representative Mike Levin (D-CA-49) today introduced in the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House
October 21, 2020 Read Full Article
New California Port Emissions Data Shows Advanced Diesel Technology Boosts Clean Air for Frontline Communities
(Diesel Technology Forum) ... “The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimate that the Commercial Vehicle Fuel Economy and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Standards Phase 1 rules saved 270 million tons CO2 and 530 million barrels of oil
October 13, 2020 Read Full Article
Elected Officials Urge Automakers to Support Cleaner Cars
by Chris Teale (Smart Cities Dive) More than 200 elected officials at the city and state level issued a joint declaration Thursday calling on automakers to stop supporting the Trump administration's rollback of national and state clean car standards. The "Clean Cars Declaration" urges
October 09, 2020 Read Full Article
Biden Considering Climate Lead for White House
by Eric Wolff (Politico's Morning Energy) The Democratic nominees in considering appointing a senior adviser to oversee energy and climate policy across the government if he wins next month's election. Ben Lefebvre and Anthony Adragna report that there's no firm list of who
October 08, 2020 Read Full Article
New TRECH Project Research Update on Health Benefits of TCI Policy Scenarios
(Harvard Center for Climate, Health and the Global Environment) Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the United States and in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions at about 28% and 30%, respectively (EPA 2020, TCI 2010).
October 07, 2020 Read Full Article
Scotland’s Opportunity to Grow a New Clean, Sustainable Economy
by Mark Bustard (Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC)/Biofuels Digest) The idea of a net zero carbon emissions and zero waste economy isn’t as far-fetched as some may think. The key promise of a bio-based economy is that we can grow the
September 29, 2020 Read Full Article
Difficult Times for Germany’s Transport Ministry – Biofuels Could Alleviate Worries
by Elmar Baumann (Association of the German Biofuel Industry/EurActiv) ... The German Climate Protection Act specifies in detail how emissions in the sectors transport, buildings, agriculture and waste management must decrease by 2030. In transport alone, the federal government is
September 28, 2020 Read Full Article
BP Helps Establish Coalition to Support Transportation Carbon Pricing Program
(BP) bp and five additional businesses from a range of industries announced they are launching an integrated advocacy campaign to encourage a group of East Coast states to enact the Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI), a regional carbon pricing policy designed
September 25, 2020 Read Full Article
California to Ban Sales of Gas Cars by 2035
(Our Daily Planet) Yesterday, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the state will phase out sales of all gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035. As Governor Newsom said in a separate event with Democratic governors yesterday, people have climate “goal fatigue” and are ready
September 24, 2020 Read Full Article
Biofuture Launches Clean Energy Ministerial Initiative to Accelerate Bioenergy in Energy Transition
(BioFuture Platform) In a high-level launch event, government representatives, the International Energy Agency and top industry leaders called for international collaboration and engagement with private sector to achieve global climate and energy transition goals -- The Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) high-level
September 21, 2020 Read Full Article
CO2 Solutions and Implications for Biofuels: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to E100 Ethanol Group
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) CO2 levels are a problem. But why is this important? What does it have to do with bankruptcy and food security? What is a proposed solution and how would it impact the biofuels industry? Could we
September 18, 2020 Read Full Article
WEBINAR Transportation and Climate Initiative: Program Design, Modeling, and the Implications of COVID-19 --- September 16, 2020 --- ONLINE (free)
Through this webinar, northeastern and midatlantic states will provide updates on the development of a regional low-carbon transportation policy, including presentations on new modeling results and discussion of how a regional TCI program could effectively manage a wide range of
September 04, 2020 Read Full Article
Are All Renewable Aviation Fuels Equally Sustainable?
by Michael Fiedler-Panajotopoulos (Renewable Energy Group Europe/European Waste-to-Advanced Biofuels Association /EurActiv) A recent European Commission inception impact assessment on “ReFuelEU Aviation” presents ideas about a future EU law to promote renewable aviation fuels, labelled as “Sustainable” Aviation Fuels (SAF). These
September 01, 2020 Read Full Article
The Case for Climate Action: Building a Clean Economy for the American People
(Senate Democrats' Special Committee on the Climate Crisis) ... In the near term, we must continue to significantly grow solar and wind energy, energy storage, and electric vehicles while conducting more research into new technologies, advanced biofuels, and smaller and
August 31, 2020 Read Full Article
Senate Climate Crisis Committee Report Supports Biofuels in New Report
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) ... The new report – which comes after dozens of hearings, meetings, and input from experts, labor unions, mayors, environmental justice leaders, and native communities, among others – details how bold climate action from Congress can
August 27, 2020 Read Full Article
Need For Modernising Public Transport, Increasing Use of Biofuels: Nitin Gadkari
(News18) Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday said there is a need to modernise the public transport fleet and promote use of green fuel like bio-CNG, ethanol, methanol as well as electricity. -- Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari on
August 26, 2020 Read Full Article
DEALing in: The NewDEAL, a National Network of Progressive State and Local Elected Officials, Unveiled Its Own Climate Policy Agenda
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) DEALing in: The NewDEAL, a national network of progressive state and local elected officials, unveiled its own climate policy agenda this morning. The report focuses on how state and local officials can reduce emissions and
August 17, 2020 Read Full Article
Inside GranBio, NextChem’s New Partnership to “Blow Out” Cellulosic Ethanol Global Roll-Out
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) News arrives from Sao Paulo and Rome that GranBio and NextChem have inked a strategic alliance and will co-license GranBio’s patented technology for the production of second-generation ethanol. NextChem is a subsidiary of Italian engineering giant
August 03, 2020 Read Full Article
Don’t Rule out Clean Diesel: DTF
(Today's Trucking) New-generation diesel-powered trucks are vital in achieving near-term climate and clean air goals, the Diesel Technology Forum (DTF) said, in response to a 15-state mission to achieve 100% zero-emissions commercial truck sales by 2050. “While the recently announced MOU
July 31, 2020 Read Full Article
Webinar: 95 RON Octane Perspective -- Starting the Conversation about a 95 RON Octane Standard
(Urban Air Initiative) This is a conversation related to ethanol and octane. The Urban Air Initiative presents its perspective on a 95 RON Octane Standard and the value it can bring to the corn ethanol industry. Urban Air President Dave
July 29, 2020 Read Full Article
Letter to the Advanced Bioeconomy: Advance off the Beach
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) There was always going to be a point when the advanced bioeconomy reached the end of the “R&D years” and transitioned into “the years of deployment”, and if you read the Biden plan here or the latest pushback from
July 28, 2020 Read Full Article
EPA Proposes CO2 Standards for Aircraft PUBLIC COMMENT DEADLINE: October 19, 2020
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) EPA proposed setting fuel efficiency standards for aircraft engines to bring the U.S. in line with rules set by the International Civil Aviation Organization to reduce carbon dioxide, although green groups have long decried the ICAO
July 23, 2020 Read Full Article
WEBINAR: Forum Insights: Looking at Key Sectors of the Northeast & Mid-Atlantic's Economy - Ag, Construction, Goods Movement and More --- August 4, 2020
This session is designed for anyone interested in learning more about trucks, construction and farm equipment use in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions including Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia,
July 21, 2020 Read Full Article
Polling Shows Importance of Engaging Ag Leaders In Discussions on Climate Change
(Solutions from the Land) Using the findings from focus groups and national polling data, researchers have found that while climate change attitudes are polarized across this nation's urban/rural divide, there are more broadly popular policies that incentivize the contribution that agriculture
July 16, 2020 Read Full Article
Letter From Europe: The 7 Priorities to De-Carbonize Now through Sustainable Biofuels, Rather than Waiting for Future Technologies
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The European bioenergy sector has issued a series of 7 recommendations relating to “setting the course for a future-proof biofuel sector”. Then timing relates to the German Federal Government’s six month presidency of the Council of
July 16, 2020 Read Full Article
New Publication – Novel Regional and Landscape-Based Approaches to Govern Sustainability of Bioenergy and Biomaterials Supply Chains
(IEA Bioenergy) Novel regional and landscape governance approaches aim at addressing complex sustainability challenges by enhancing commitment and collaboration between multiple stakeholders and sectors to achieve common goals for a more sustainable production at larger geographical scales and across sectors, regardless
July 14, 2020 Read Full Article
Sustainable Aviation Fuel’s Affordability: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Airlines for America’s Viewpoint
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) At ABLC last week, Airlines for America’s Nancy Young shared this illuminating presentation that outlines what airlines need to deploy sustainable aviation fuel as well as progress, gaps, opportunities and action to scale up supply and
July 14, 2020 Read Full Article
DOJ Asks Court to Block Automakers from Suit
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) The Trump administration on Thursday asked a court to block Ford, Honda, Volkswagen and BMW from becoming directly involved with litigation over the SAFE Vehicles rule (Reg. 2060-AU09). The automakers, which struck a voluntary
July 10, 2020 Read Full Article
Biden Has a New Climate Road Map. Here's What's Missing
by Adam Aton (E&E News) Climate investment goals, green job targets and key decarbonization deadlines were missing from an environmental platform published yesterday by a joint team of Joe Biden backers and Sen. Bernie Sanders supporters. The gaps point to potential sources
July 09, 2020 Read Full Article
Study: EVs 3 Times More Polluting than Gas Cars in Some States
by David Iaconangelo (E&E News) The grid may still be too coal-heavy in some parts of the United States for electric vehicles to be a better option for local air quality than gas cars, according to an analysis published yesterday
July 08, 2020 Read Full Article
‘Final Blow’ to Aviation Climate Plan as EU Agrees to Weaken Rules
by Chloé Farand (Climate Home News) EU member states will back an industry proposal to reduce airlines’ climate obligations in response to the coronavirus pandemic, at the UN aviation forum -- The climate plan for aviation is losing its last shred
July 02, 2020 Read Full Article
Diesel-Powered Trucks Vital to California and the U.S. Economy, Achieving Climate and Clean Air Goals
(Diesel Technology Forum) ... California’s truck and bus fleet rule has disrupted the marketplace, effectively delaying regular fleet turnover rates, keeping older, higher emitting trucks on the road for longer, and in turn delaying emissions reductions and cleaner air. “California’s consideration
July 01, 2020 Read Full Article
Post-COVID Recovery: An Agenda for Resilience, Development and Equality
(The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)) Increased uptake of renewables, energy efficiency and related energy-transition measures represent far-sighted investment amid the crisis set off by the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of short-term stimulus and recovery plans, the energy transition provides a
July 01, 2020 Read Full Article
The Congressional Action Plan for a Clean Energy Economy and a Healthy, Resilient, and Just America Majority Staff Report: Is It Worth Supporting?
by Robert Kozak* (Advanced Biofuels USA/Atlantic Biomass, LLC) Today the US House of Representatives Democratic Select Committee on Climate Change released their ideas for a “Clean Energy Economy.” Interestingly, this document is not proposed legislation. Instead, it is simply a
June 30, 2020 Read Full Article
Farming, Biofuels, Health Groups Challenge EPA on SAFE Rule
(Morning Ag Clips/South Dakota Farmers Union) Broad coalition challenges the Safer Affordable Fuel Efficiency Vehicle Rule; In response to EPA’s failure to credibly consider and advance mid-level ethanol fuel blends as an alternative to conventional fuels, the groups filed a
June 30, 2020 Read Full Article
Select Committee Democrats Releases 'Solving The Climate Crisis', A Congressional Roadmap For Ambitious Climate Action
(House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis) Plan Would Put Americans Back To Work, Save Lives, And Help the United States Reach Net Zero By 2050 -- On Tuesday, led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Chair Kathy Castor (D-FL), members of the House Select Committee
June 30, 2020 Read Full Article
CARB Adopts Rule Requiring State Transition from Diesel Trucks
by Michael Bates (NGT News) The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has adopted a first-in-the-world rule – the Advanced Clean Truck regulation – that requires truck manufacturers to transition from diesel trucks and vans to electric zero-emission trucks beginning in 2024. By 2045,
June 30, 2020 Read Full Article
Our View: Politics: What Rural Areas Need from Legislators
(Mankato Free Press) ... Here’s what rural Minnesota does need: It needs clean water and subsidized wastewater systems. It needs good government that gets state and federal subsidies to provide a life that provides a solid base of services but few luxuries. It needs
June 29, 2020 Read Full Article
UK Government Sets out Plans for Including Aviation in Its Own Emissions Trading Scheme from next year
(GreenAir Online) The UK government has released details on how it intends to incorporate aviation into a UK Emissions Trading System (UK ETS) and link with those of the EU and Switzerland, as well as the global CORSIA offsetting scheme. Following
June 24, 2020 Read Full Article
Democrats Unveil $1.5 Trillion Infrastructure Plan
by Rebecca Beitsch (The Hill) House Democrats unveiled a $1.5 trillion infrastructure plan Thursday that calls for a huge increase in funding to repair roads and bridges while expanding broadband access in rural areas. Democrats described the bill as the biggest legislative
June 19, 2020 Read Full Article
Profitable Growth Through Renewable Solutions: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Neste
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Everyone wants to dominate the world, right? But Neste wants to do it in a nice way by becoming the global leader in renewable and circular solutions. There are 3 ways they are working on this
June 16, 2020 Read Full Article
Committee Leaders Unveil the INVEST in America Act, a Transformational Surface Transportation Bill to Bring Nation’s Infrastructure into a New Era
(U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure) Chair DeFazio: “The INVEST in America Act is our opportunity to replace the outdated systems of the past with smarter, safer, more resilient infrastructure that fits the economy of the future,
June 16, 2020 Read Full Article
The DNC's Climate Push
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) The new 12-person DNC panel stacked with progressive climate activists is calling on Biden to back a plan to spend up to $16 trillion to speed the country away from fossil fuels, Zack reports for Pros. The plan from
June 04, 2020 Read Full Article
Inside the House's Infrastructure Bill
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) The House Transportation Committee's five-year surface transportation bill — expected to be unveiled later this week — will include a hefty focus on climate mitigation, as House leadership had previously promised. The major themes
June 03, 2020 Read Full Article
Implementation Agendas: 2018-2019 Update Compare and Contrast Transport Biofuels Policies
by Mahmood Ebadian, James D. McMillan, Jack (John) N. Saddler and Susan van Dyk (University of British Columbia, Canada/National Renewable Energy Laboratory, USA/IEA Bioenergy) Global production and use of transport biofuels Global biofuels production has continued to increase over the last decade,
May 29, 2020 Read Full Article
Extend Biofuel Subsidies to Get Moving on Transport Emissions
(UK Haulier) The Gas Vehicle Network, GVN, has called on the Department for Transport to extend a key component of the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) which are due to expire at the end of 2020. Current plans will see subsidies
May 13, 2020 Read Full Article
Bill Authorizes $600 Million to Support Biofuel Infrastructure
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Rep. Abby Finkenauer, D-Iowa, on April 28 announced the introduction of the Clean Fuels Deployment Act of 2020. The bill aims to provide funding for installing and converting fuel pump infrastructure to deliver higher blends
April 29, 2020 Read Full Article
Great Plains Institute’s Latest Report: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to A Clean Fuels Policy for the Midwest
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) The Midwestern Clean Fuels Initiative, facilitated by the Great Plains Institute, is a broad coalition of fuels producers and marketers, nonprofit and research organizations, scientists and engineers, and agriculture and industry stakeholders. The coalition
April 10, 2020 Read Full Article
How It All Ties Together – LCFS, Biobased Fuel, Zero Emission Vehicles, ICEV Bans: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to The Big 3 Policies for Fuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Few countries blend ethanol beyond 10% right now but are targets moving? What about biodiesel targets, mostly set below 7% volume in some countries? How about the 18 countries that plan to ban of phase out
April 07, 2020 Read Full Article
WEBINAR Future of Transportation: Realities, Challenges and Opportunities --- March 26, 2020
Listen in as John Eichberger, executive director of the Fuels Institute, discusses the future of transportation-energy and what it means for your business. This webinar answers: (1) How changes in fuel demand will affect your business, (2) How to position
April 03, 2020 Read Full Article
EPA Loses Case Seeking Modeling behind Obama Mileage Rollback
by Rebecca Beitsch (The Hill) The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was wrong to withhold information about how it devised its new fuel efficiency standards, a panel of judges ruled just a day after the Trump administration rolled back Obama-era mileage standards. The
April 02, 2020 Read Full Article
17th International Conference on Renewable Mobility in Berlin on 20/21 January 2020
(FNR/AdvanceFuel) More than 600 participants from 25 countries attended the conference and took part in the presentations and discussions regarding possible options for a more sustainable future mobility serving under the goals of the Paris Agreement and the obligations of the
April 01, 2020 Read Full Article
Trump Administration Cuts Fuel Economy, CO2 Standards with Final Regulations
by Sean Szymkowski (Road Show) The changes, wrapped into the SAFE Vehicles Rule, will result in less stringent CAFE improvements through 2026. -- The SAFE Vehicle Rule, announced by the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, lowers
April 01, 2020 Read Full Article
Action Needed – 37 “Industry-Critical” Federal Programs Have Been Proposed for Severe Cuts or Elimination in the President’s Fiscal Year 2021 Federal Budget
by C.J. Evans (Alternative Fuels & Chemicals Coalition/American Diversified Energy/Biofuels Digest) The Alternative Fuels & Chemicals Coalition (AFCC) has been working on Capitol Hill for the past two months to advocate for FY2021 federal programs and funding that are of importance to the
March 31, 2020 Read Full Article
Trump Administration to Finalize Weaker Mileage Standards, Dealing a Blow to Obama-Era Climate Policy
by Juliet Eilperin and Brady Dennis (Washington Post) The new rule will improve the U.S. car and light truck fleet’s efficiency by 1.5 percent a year, versus nearly 5 percent under current law. The new rule will improve the U.S. car
March 31, 2020 Read Full Article
Efforts to Link US Airline Rescue Package to Carbon Targets Resisted as Industry Faces Unprecedented Times
(GreenAir Online) Attempts have failed to link the future carbon emissions performance of US airlines to the rescue package aimed at helping the beleaguered sector through the coronavirus crisis. Congress voted last Friday to provide the US aviation industry around
March 30, 2020 Read Full Article
Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions Now: Cost-Effective Solutions Include Diesel Engines and Advanced Biofuels
(Diesel Technology Forum) States that have enacted greenhouse gas emissions reduction programs for the transportation sector, including low-carbon fuel requirements, are realizing significant reductions in carbon dioxide emissions thanks to the use of advanced biofuels including biodiesel and renewable diesel fuel
March 30, 2020 Read Full Article
What's Lining up for Phase Four?
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) ... Both the House and Senate have begun work on surface transportation bills ahead of a September deadline to act, but lawmakers haven't been able to settle on how to pay for the legislation, Pro's
March 30, 2020 Read Full Article
Carper Asks EPA IG to Open Investigation into Process Irregularities and Potential Illegalities Associated with the SAFE Vehicles and Secret Science Rules
(Office of U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-DE)) U.S. Senator Tom Carper, top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, has asked the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Inspector General (IG) to open an investigation into potentially unlawful efforts and
March 17, 2020 Read Full Article
Gov. Jay Inslee’s Low-Carbon Fuel Standard Faces Tough Road ahead in Washington State
by Hal Bernton (Seattle Times) Gov. Jay Inslee’s campaign to clamp down on greenhouse gas emissions from the state’s transportation fuels, a high-profile goal throughout his two terms in office, faces a difficult road as the Washington state Legislature heads into
March 04, 2020 Read Full Article
Would You Pay Higher Gas Prices to Slow the Climate Crisis? Governors in Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States Are Pondering that Question.
by Justin Gillis (New York Times) A plan is under development in about a dozen Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States to tackle the country’s biggest source of greenhouse emissions, cut road congestion, clean up the air, improve public transit and ramp
February 28, 2020 Read Full Article
We Need Better Transportation Options, Not More Roads and More Lanes
by Parris N. Glendening (Washington Post/Smart Growth America’s Leadership Institute) When President Trump attempted to eliminate California’s more stringent fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas standards for cars and trucks, local elected officials cried foul — and not just in California.
February 27, 2020 Read Full Article
Renewable Fuels Are Crucial: International Conference on Renewable Mobility Discusses the "Green Deal" and Defossilisation of the Transport Sector
(Fuels of the Future) Discussions and presentations at the 17th International Conference on Renewable Mobility focus on the impact of the German government's climate protection package and the new European Commission's "Green Deal". The European Commission intends to ramp up its
February 19, 2020 Read Full Article
Presentations Available Online for Conference on The Contribution of Advanced Renewable Transport Fuels to the Decarbonisation of Transport in 2030 an beyond
(Advanced Motor Fuels Technology Collaboration Programme) In the light of climate change, there is an urgent need to decarbonize our societies. The transport sector is specifically challenging, as transport demand is still growing, and so are the sector´s GHG emissions.
February 18, 2020 Read Full Article
Are Electric Vehicles Really Better for the Climate? Depends on How You Cook the Books
by Robert Kozak* (Advanced Biofuels USA) I think the recent report by the Union of Concerned Scientists, “Are Electric Vehicles Really Better for the Climate? Yes. Here’s Why,” is very misleading for the following reasons: 1) it misuses the concept of
February 14, 2020 Read Full Article
DOJ Drops Probe of Carmakers that Aligned with California on Pollution
by Zack Coleman and Alex Guillén (Politico) DOJ was investigating whether Ford, Volkswagen, Honda and BMW illegally coordinated last year. -- The Justice Department has ended its antitrust investigation of automakers who formed a voluntary deal with California to reduce
February 11, 2020 Read Full Article
Trump Budget Slashes Environmental, Clean Energy Funding
(Our Daily Planet) Yesterday, President Trump released his FY2021 budget, and the proposed cuts to federal agencies and research programs were severe.As Science Mag summarized, Trump’s budget proposes the following cuts: National Institutes of Health: a cut of 7%, or $2.942 billion,
February 11, 2020 Read Full Article
Carbon Emissions Will Fall Just 4 percent by 2050, According to Government Projections
by Rebecca Beitsch (The Hill) ... Though a number of states have set goals to have their electric sector be carbon neutral by 2050 or sooner, the report suggests those efforts could be derailed by growing transportation emissions, which are
January 30, 2020 Read Full Article
Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI) Requests Public Comment on Cap and Invest Program
The states participating in the Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI) have released a Draft Memorandum of Understanding to establish a regional cap and invest program to transition to a more sustainable, resilient, low carbon transportation sector. Also released were initial
January 29, 2020 Read Full Article
Democrats' Infrastructure Proposal Gets Green Tint
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) DON'T CALL IT INFRASTRUCTURE WEEK... But House Democratic leaders are expected to roll out their own infrastructure framework today with a particular focus on climate change. The framework comprises a mix of transportation and water
January 29, 2020 Read Full Article
Plan to Gut Obama’s Auto Mileage Rules Is Getting Dialed Back
by Ryan Beene and Jennifer A Dlouhy (Bloomberg) Revised proposal will require modest annual efficiency gains; Draft rule is under review by White House budget office -- ... A draft of the final rule, now undergoing a final White House
January 22, 2020 Read Full Article
Bloomberg Unveils Climate Plan for Cleaner Cars
(Reuters/Yahoo!) U.S. presidential hopeful Michael Bloomberg on Friday unveiled a plan to slash greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks, calling for all new vehicles in the U.S. to be electric by the year 2035. ... His plan involves making electric
January 20, 2020 Read Full Article
New York Seeking Input on Transportation and Climate – February Meetings
The states participating in the Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI) have released a Draft Memorandum of Understanding to establish a regional cap and invest program to transition to a more sustainable, resilient, low carbon transportation sector. Also released were initial
January 20, 2020 Read Full Article
Auto Rollback Goes to OMB Review
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) EPA and NHTSA on Tuesday sent their new auto emissions and fuel efficiency rules to the Office of Management and Budget for review, EPA confirmed to ME. This is the second half of the
January 15, 2020 Read Full Article
Advisory Panel Slams Trump's Regulatory Rollbacks
by Sean Reilly, Kelsey Brugger, Maxine Joselow and Ariel Wittenberg (E&E News) ... The SAB (Science Advisory Board) also lobbed extensive criticism at the Trump administration's rollback of Obama-era clean car standards. "There are significant weaknesses in the scientific analysis of the
January 09, 2020 Read Full Article
Dems Tee up Climate Plans
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) The legislative framework that senior Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee want to move this year to combat climate change calls for reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in the building, industrial, transportation