According to a recent report, while there are pockets of sustainability leadership in the U.S. business community, much more needs to be done. The Ceres and Sustainalytics study found that most companies are merely taking small, incremental steps to address sustainability issues that could impact not only their bottom line, but also the economy and planet. “Given the acceleration of …
BioEnergy Bytes
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking public comments on the draft action plan for its RE-Powering America’s Land Initiative. The plan guides EPA’s efforts over the next two years to encourage renewable energy development on current and formerly contaminated lands, landfills and mine sites when such development is aligned with the community’s vision for the site. The agency …
Oregon Institute of Technology Goes All Renewable
According to Oregon Institute of Technology, they are the first campus in the world to produce all of its energy needs using renewable energy. The campus is now 100 percent powered by a combination of solar and geothermal sources. The achievement was noted in a ceremony that included U.S. Senators Wyden and Merkley, Oregon Senator Whitsett, and First Lady Hayes. …
Liverpool Researchers Study Agave for Biofuels
A PhD student at the University of Liverpool is studying a plant that may be a viable feedstock to produce advanced biofuels. Agave sisalana is a proposed biofuel plant that can be grown in semi-arid conditions unsuited to food crops. The plant is already grown for fibre in countries like Brazil, Tanzania, Kenya and Madagascar. Sisal fibre has traditionally been …
CHS to Aquire Illinois River Energy
Sinav Limited, based in London, England has signed an agreement with CHS to sell 100 percent of their stock that includes Illinois River Energy. The ethanol plant is based in Rochelle, Illinois and produces 133 million gallons of ethanol per year. Providing all conditions are met, the transaction is expected to close in June. “Illinois River Energy is a top-tier …
H2FIRST To Improve Hydrogen Fueling Infrastructure
Last year the U.S. Energy Department launched H2USA, a program aimed at addressing the challenge of hydrogen infrastructure. Established by the Energy Department’s Fuel Cell Technologies Office in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, the Hydrogen Fueling Infrastructure Research and Station Technology (H2FIRST) project will draw on existing and emerging core capabilities at the national labs and aim …
BioEnergy Bytes
POET-DSM Advanced Biofuels recently received Biofuels Digest’s 2013-14 “Industrial Symbiosis” award at the Advanced Biofuels Leadership Conference, conducted in Washington, DC. The award represents the achievement in developing co-located facilities that transform the cost and complexity of advanced biofuels by sharing inputs, outputs, infrastructure, or other technology. Tesla has opened its 100th Supercharger station. Today there are now 86 Supercharger …
Brazilian Industrial Biotechnology Association Formed
A group of industrial biotechnology companies have joined forces to form the Brazilian Industrial Biotechnology Association (in Portuguese ABBI – Associação Brasileira de Biotecnologia Industrial). This new association (ABBI) brings together companies and institutions developing and using microorganisms and its derivatives to deliver renewable products for industries and consumers worldwide. ABBI’s primary objective is to foster a dialogue within Brazilian …
Saudi Oil Money Backing Ethanol Smear Campaign
Americans United for Change and VoteVets.org held a press call today to reveal IRS documents showing that Saudi Oil money is helping to finance the multi-million dollar anti-renewable fuel smear campaign ads that the American Petroleum Institute (API) is waging against ethanol and the Renewable Fuel Standard. Also today, the API held a press call to once again call for …
EV Bus Breaks Miles Traveled Record
A battery electric bus has traveled more than 700 miles in 24 hours – setting a record for the most miles traveled in one day by an EV bus. The EV bus was built by Proterra and recorded an average fuel economy of nearly 27 miles per gallon. The company says this is almost six times that of a diesel …