Biofuel Groups Welcome Court’s RFS Decision

Joanna Schroeder

Biofuel groups are happy today with the decision handed down by the District of Columbia Circuit Court rejecting a petition filed by Monroe Energy, LLC that challenged the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2013 Renewable Fuel Standards (RFS). Several biofuel organizations intervened in the case including the Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy and the Biotechnology Industry Organization. After EPA reduced the …

BIO, biofuels, EPA, Ethanol, Growth Energy, RFA, RFS

Iowans Increase Use of Higher Blends of Renewables

Joanna Schroeder

New data from the Iowa Department of Revenue shows major growth in the use of higher-level blends of ethanol and biodiesel in 2013. The report showed 2013 sales of pure biodiesel (B100) increased 24 percent over 2012, setting a new record of 28.9 million gallons. Biodiesel also saw a 21 percent increase in blended gallons sold, with immense growth in …

Biodiesel, biofuels, blends, Ethanol, Iowa RFA

SolarEdge Solar Array Completed at Challenger Site

Joanna Schroeder

Bouygues Construction has completed the installation of 2.5 MWs of PV modules at the Challenger site near Versailles, France. Several key technological components of the solar project, including inverters and power optimizers, was from SolarEdge, selected, said Bouygues Construction, for their 20 percent increase in energy yield. “Bouygues Construction was looking, on the one hand, for technology that would make …

International, Renewable Energy, Solar

Ten New E15 Stations Open in Wisconsin

Joanna Schroeder

Ten new E15 stations have opened in Wisconsin. Vehicles manufactured after 2001 and flex-fuel vehicles (FFV) can fill up at the United Cooperative Cenex convenience stores located throughout Wisconsin: Beaver Dam, Baraboo, Hustisford, Iron Ridge, Pickett, Poynette, Reedsburg, Watertown, and Wyocena. The stations offer blender pumps that include additional mid-level ethanol blends: E30 and E85 for use in FFVs. David …

E15, E85, Ethanol, RFA

U.S. Policy Outlook Featured at World Congress

Joanna Schroeder

A special pre-conference workshop has been added to the World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology that is taking place May 12-15, 2014 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. “U.S. Policy Outlook: From the RFS to Tax Reform to Farm Bill Implementation – What Lies Ahead for Advanced Biofuels and Renewable Chemicals?” is designed to assess the threats and opportunities on …

advanced biofuels, bioenergy, Biotech, RFS

Six ‘Grand Challenges’ Face the United States

Joanna Schroeder

There are six “grand challenges” facing the United States over the next decade according to a report from the national Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU). The challenges include sustainability, water, climate change, agriculture, energy and education. The APLU project was co-chaired by W. Daniel Edge, head of the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Oregon State University. Edge …

Climate Change, Education, Energy, Research, water

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

Renewable energy provider Wheelabrator Technologies will provide live online video coverage of its annual youth environmental summit taking place May 5-8, 2014 in Sunrise, Florida. In all, 150 students from 15 schools in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Florida will gather to present their projects to a panel of Wheelabrator employees, educators and environmental experts. A first for the Symposium series, …

Bioenergy Bytes

California Celebrates Geothermal Awareness Day

Joanna Schroeder

Today is Geothermal Awareness Day in California and the geothermal industry is participating with several activities throughout the state including Sacramento, the state’s capitol. On this day, the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) is making a call for people to submit entries for the GEA Honors awards program, which recognizes the contributions made by companies and individuals in the past year …

Geothermal, Renewable Energy

Farmers Co-op Breaks Ground on Renewable Fuels Station

Joanna Schroeder

Farmers Cooperative Company has broken ground on the future site of its new Mount Ayr, Iowa renewable fuels retail location. The station will offer consumers higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel including ethanol blends E10, E15 as a registered fuel, E30 and E85, as well as biodiesel blends B10, B20 and B99 for jobbers and special use customers. “The price …

Biodiesel, biofuels, blends, E15, E85, Ethanol, Iowa RFA

Strata Solar Completes Nine Solar Projects in NC

Joanna Schroeder

Strata Solar, has installed nine utility-scale solar projects across North Carolina (NC) using more than $100 million of tax-equity financing provided by a subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company. When combined, the projects produce enough electricity to power 5,000 homes and were in part made possible by a 35 percent North Carolina Renewable Energy Tax Credit. The power will be …

Renewable Energy, Solar