There is an incredible amount of news this week coming from Paris during COP21. Much of the focus this week is getting commitments from 143 countries to significantly reduce their carbon emissions, and many key attendees are practicing what they are preaching – traveling carbon free to and from the events. This week a network of carbon-free trains arrived in …
#Ag Industry Split on Final #RFS Rules
The #Ag industry is split on the final #RFS (Renewable Fuel Standard) rules that were released yesterday by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). While the RVOs (renewable volume obligations) were an improvement over the proposed rules released in May of this year, the #Ag industry is calling on the EPA to further strengthen the legislation and increase the amount of corn …
BioEnergy Bytes
Renovate America, the leading provider of residential Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing in the U.S., has announced the nation’s first-ever “green bonds” securitizing PACE bonds. This is Renovate America’s fifth securitization of PACE bonds in the U.S., issuing $201,532,000 in Class A Notes rated AA (sf) by Kroll and AA (sf) by DBRS, and represents 8,939 home improvements made …
Growth Energy Reacts Positively to #RFS Final Rules
Growth Energy reacted positively today after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the final Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) under the 2014, 2015 and 2015 Renewable Fuel Standard (#RFS). While the volumes were higher than in the proposed rules, on behalf of its members, Tom Buis, co-chairman, said that their members are pleased to see the #EPA moving the renewable fuels …
Biodiesel Industry Welcomes #RFS RVO Numbers
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the final renewable volume obligations (RVOs) for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for years 2014, 2015 and 2016 as well as the volumes for the biomass-based diesel category for 2014-2017 that includes biodiesel volumes. The volumes were raised since the proposal in May 2015 and the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) welcomed the improved #RFS …
Study: Affordable Technology Can Reduce U.S. GHGs
A new study from the Deep Decarbonization Pathways Project (DDPP) details how the U.S. can reduce greenhouse gases (GHGs) in line with the goal of limiting any additional temperature increases due to climate change by 2 degrees Celsius. The two-volume report finds that reductions are technologically feasible and economically affordable. Volume One, “Pathways to Deep Decarbonization in the United States,” …
Study Raises Doubts About Dev of New Fossil Fuels
A new study is raising doubts about future development of new fossil fuel resources. Published in Global Environmental Change and authored by Richard Heede and Naomi Oreskes, the report looks closely at the potential of global warming emissions that could be unleashed from carbon reserves held by the globe’s largest fossil fuel producers. Some key findings of the study include: …
20 Countries Pledge “Mission Innovation” at #COP21
Leading up to the World Climate Summit and #COP21 that kicked off in Paris today, three major announcements were make regarding the acceleration of technological developments in clean energy and clean technologies. The first announcement came from Bill Gates about the Breakthrough Energy Coalition, that will will working directly with Mission Innovation, a “pledge” by 20 countries to commit to …
Gates Launches Breakthrough Energy Coalition @ #COP21
In Paris this past weekend, leading up to COP21 and the World Climate Summit, Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook fame, launched a new clean energy initiative, The Breakthrough Energy Coalition. Gates announced the news on his blog, “Gates Notes,” where he wrote that a global group of investors are taking innovative clean-energy ideas out of the lab and …
BioEnergy Bytes
The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) will present recent reports on carbon mitigation in the U.S. transportation sector achieved under the Renewable Fuel Standard during the World Climate Summit. The panel, “Building a Sustainable Bioeconomy,” will provide informal input into the COP21 agenda; showcase the potential of biobased products and low carbon biofuels to help mitigate climate change; and identify policy …