Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) has released draft of the “Tax Reform Act of 2014,” which he says will spur stronger economic growth, greater job creation and put more money in the pockets of taxpaying Americans. Camp’s goal is to fix America’s broken tax code by lowering tax rates and making tax policy simpler and fairer for …
Innovation Challenge Leads to Cool Innovation
The 2014 Northrop Grumman Corporation High School Innovation Challenge (HSIC) has led to some, well, cool innovations in renewable energy and engineering. On February 21, 2014, six student teams from Los Angeles, California high schools took an engineering problem, limited budget and little time and created renewable energy-powered model vehicles. The event was part of National Engineers Week. The challenge …
Making Sugarcane into the Next Biodiesel Feedstock
Sugarcane could be a better feedstock for biodiesel than soybeans, but it only grows in warm weather areas. But researchers at the University of Illinois believe they have a way to grow what could be a rich, oil-producing variety of sugarcane in colder climates. “Biodiesel is attractive because, for example, with soybean, once you’ve pressed the oil out it’s fairly …
Rapeseed King of Europe’s Biodiesel Feedstock
Soybeans might rule the roost as far as biodiesel feedstocks in the U.S. goes, but in Europe, rapeseed is king. A new study from the UFOP (Union zur Förderung von Oel- und Proteinpflanzen e.V. – Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Plants) shows that rapeseed makes up nearly 90 percent of the material used to produce biodiesel in …
Novozymes Joins Advanced Ethanol Council
Novozymes has become the newest member of the Advanced Ethanol Council (AEC). The global company is best known in the biofuels space for its work on first and second generation enzymes used to improve biofuel production, including cellulosic ethanol. “Novozymes and the Advanced Ethanol Council share a strong focus on facilitating the commercialization and growth of advanced biofuels,” said Adam …
Cali Drought Intensifies, Climate Action Calls Heat Up
As California battles the worst drought the state has seen in centuries, calls for climate action are heating up. During the U.S. Climate Leadership Conference taking place this week in San Diego, California, more than a dozen businesses including Apple, SolarCity, San Diego International Airport, Sapphire Energy and Sungevity signed the Climate Declaration. The declaration urges federal and state policymakers …
Honolulu Port Moves to Portable Hydrogen Fuel Cells
The Port of Honolulu is moving to portable hydrogen fuel cells by 2015. The move to the emerging technology comes on the heels of a 2013 study and analysis that confirmed the viability of hydrogen fuel cells to provide auxiliary power to docked or anchored ships. Hydrogen researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have joined with several partners in the project, …
RFS is Revitalizing Rural Iowa
The United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released its Preliminary 2012 Farm Census data and according to the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA), it’s easy to see that increased in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) have revitalized rural Iowa. The USDA data shows that since the increase in the RFS in 2007, Iowa has experienced nearly a 51 percent …
BioEnergy Bytes
The AEGPL Congress will be taking place in Genoa, Italy May 14-15, 2014. Hosted by the European LPG Association, the AEGPL Congress is expecting more than 1,200 LPG industry professionals to convene for the event, themed, “Today’s Successes, Tomorrow’s Opportunities”. The event will cover all sectors of the LPG industry with speakers from Europe and around the world. The Asia-Pacific …
Utah Recognizes Biodiesel as Clean, Renewable Fuel
It only figures that a state known for some awfully pretty blue skies would recognize biodiesel as a good way to keep that air pollution free. This article from the Deseret News says the Utah state legislature’s Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Committee has endorsed HJR5, a measure recognizing biodiesel as a clean, renewable resource that should be encouraged in …