For several months, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) has been tracking wholesale E85 prices in Iowa and this week found the largest price differential since they began the E85 Price Listing Service: $1.39 per gallon less than gasoline wholesale. On Monday, June 16, the average price of regular 87-octane gasoline without ethanol was $3.18 per gallon at the Des …
BioEnergy Bytes
Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) have introduced the Energize Africa Act, legislation promoting electrification in sub-Saharan Africa. The House passed companion legislation, H.R. 2548, on May 6, 2014. The Energize Africa Act prioritizes and coordinates U.S. government resources to achieve three goals in sub-Saharan Africa by 2020: promote first-time access to electricity for at least 50 million …
Fight Over Clean Power Plan Gets Dirty
I’ve written a bit about the Clean Power Plan – the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed plan to reduce carbon emissions from utility plants by 30 percent by 2030. The plan has caused hope and consternation and both environmental groups and the utility industry is weighing in. The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has cited a new disinformation campaign has …
American Drivers Can Save 61 Cents Choosing E85
Fuels America wants Americans to know that as turmoil in Iraq pushes gas prices up, ethanol can save them money. In an analysis of data covering the past year from E85prices.com shows that drivers with “Flex Fuel” vehicles in the U.S. can pay an average of $0.61 less per gallon by filling up with E85, which contains up to 85 …
UC Riverside Named an Energy Frontier Research Center
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Ernest Moniz has announced $100 million in new funding for 32 new Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRCs). The EFRCs are designed to accerlerate the scientific breakthroughs needed to build a new 21st century energy economy in the U.S. One of the new research centers will live at University of California- Riverside (UC Riverside). …
GRFA: UN Sustainable Goals Must Include Biofuels
This week the 12th session of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals began at the United Nations in New York City. In response to the meeting, the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA) is encouraging participants to include specific targets for biofuels developments as part of UN’s sustainability goals. In addition, GRFA stressed to delegates that the use of …
BioEnergy Bytes
The Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) is holding its fourth annual National Geothermal Summit Tuesday, August 5 and Wednesday, August 6 in Reno, Nevada. The leading forum for western state policy discussions, the National Geothermal Summit will bring together policy leaders, utilities and industry professionals to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing the industry. The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) and a …
DuPont Lights Up Solar Plant in Cernay, France
A new 4.5 megawatt (MW) solar power plant is now online in Cernay, France. This DuPont project is the largest solar power installation to date and now one of 13 solar installations worldwide on DuPont land. When combined, the solar projects generate over 11 million kilowatt hours of electricity per year. The Cernay installation is expected to produce 5 million …
Higher Ethanol Blends Campaign Expands
The 4th annual Alternative Fuel Road Show is kicking off in Georgia to educate consumers about the benefits of higher blends of ethanol. The FlexFuel Awareness Campaign is sponsored in part by Growth Energy, the Kansas and Nebraska Corn and Ethanol Boards along with several others. The roadshow is the largest clean fuel vehicle educational tour and is designed to …
New Geothermal Paper Examines Costs, Benefits
A new paper released by the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) examines the public economic costs and benefits of geothermal energy. “The Economic Costs and Benefits of Geothermal Power,” is another viewpoint of the value and affordability of geothermal energy based on an analysis from several government and private sector reports published in 2014. Geothermal power “compares favorably with other technologies …