The advanced biofuels categories were increased with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed 2017 renewable volume obligations (RVOs) that were released yesterday. The RVOs are part of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). While not on track as mandated by law in 2007, advanced fuels are gaining ground with an increase in volumes from 2016. Some in the industry see …
Clariant-Scania Ethanol Trucks Project Successful
Last year, Clariant and Scania partnered to test ethanol fueled heavy-duty trucks. Clariant acquired three Scania P270 model 4×2 trucks, or Ecotrucks, that run on ethanol, and are the first of its kind to be sold by Scania in Latin America. The Ecotrucks transport ISO tanks with a 25,000-liter (6,604 gallon) capacity for chemical products from Clariant’s facility located in …
Slight Biodiesel Growth in Proposed 2018 #RFS Rules
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its proposed renewable volume obligations (RVOs) for the 2018 rules under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) today and only called for a slight growth in biodiesel volumes. As a result, the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) is calling on the Obama Administration to strengthen the proposal that only calls for a 100 million gallon …
.@EPA 2017 #RFS Rules Sparks Inferno
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released its draft of the proposed Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) renewable volume obligations (RVOs) for 2017 and have sparked an inferno of unrest among the biofuels industry. EPA has proposed an RVO of 18.8 billion gallons (BG) of which 4 BG is advanced biofuels and 312 million gallons is cellulosic biofuels. The RVO …
Pacific Ag Opens Fargo Office
Pacific Ag is expanding with a new office opening in Fargo, North Dakota. The company has the longest and most expansive crop residue supply chain in the U.S. and has opened the new office to serve the growing demand in for wheat straw residue among the dairy, beef, mushroom and erosion control industries. Pacific Ag also harvests and delivers biomass …
Scientists Confirm #Biodiesel Provides CO2 Reduction
A report from the Coordinating Research Council, (CRC) adds to the growing body of research that demonstrates biodiesel’s role as a low carbon fuel. Two of the report’s key conclusions find that carbon emissions from biofuels are declining relative to petroleum, and confidence in these results continue to grow as more research is released. According to the National Biodiesel Board …
Advanced #Biofuel Production in One-Pot
A strain of bacteria, Escherichia coli (E. coli), engineered by researchers at Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory enables a “one-pot” method for producing advanced biofuels from a slurry of pre-treated plant material. The bacteria is able to tolerate the liquid salt used to break down plant biomass into sugar-based polymers. However, the salt solvent, called ionic liquids, interferes with later stages …
UCR Awarded $1.3 for Waste-to-Energy Research
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded two University of California Riverside (UCR) researchers with $1.3 million for waste-to-energy research focused on creating biofuels and biochemicals from waste plant materials. Charles Wyman, Distinguished Professor in Chemical and Environmental Engineering and holder of the Ford Motor Company Chair in Environmental Engineering at the Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT), …
EPA Honors Biodiesel Leaders
Two long-time biodiesel leaders have been honored by the U.S. Environmental Agency (EPA) for their commitment to the environment – Harvard University Fleet Management Division and Medford Township Public Schools in Medford, NJ. Joe Biluck, Medford’s director of operations and technology, and David E. Harris Jr., Harvard’s director transit and fleet management, are the champions behind their fleets’ switch to …
EPA Gives OMB RFS Modification Proposal
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has delivered a proposal to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) that would amend the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The “Renewable Enhancement and Growth Support Rule,” would resolve outstanding issues and provide clarification on certain RFS requirements. The rule would also allow for feedstocks partially converted at a facility other than a …