In honor of Earth Day 2021, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced $487 million in critical infrastructure prioritizing climate-smart solutions and environmental stewardship. USDA is making the investments under the Water and Environmental Program, the Rural Energy for America Program, the Electric Loan Program and the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program. USDA is investing $18.4 million in 20 …
Ethanol Report 3-4-21
This edition of the Ethanol Report explores ethanol’s role as a “net-zero hero” with highlights from the 26th annual National Ethanol Conference (NEC). The report includes remarks from David MacIntosh, Environmental Health & Engineering Inc.; Stefan Unnasch with Life Cycle Associates; and Michael Berube, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation, who all spoke at the 2021 NEC. In addition, we …
CLEAN Future Act Includes RFS Provisions
Leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee Tuesday introduced the Climate Leadership and Environmental Action for our Nation’s (CLEAN) Future Act, intended to achieve net zero greenhouse gas pollution by 2050. The Renewable Fuels Association welcomed the inclusion of certain provisions in the legislature that would help bring more transparency and integrity to EPA’s implementation of the Renewable Fuel …
Summit Agricultural Group Announces Major Carbon Project
Summit Agricultural Group has announced the creation of Summit Carbon Solutions, expected to be the world’s largest carbon capture and storage project. The goal of Summit Carbon Solutions is to accelerate the transition toward sustainable, renewable energy by dramatically lowering the carbon footprint of biorefineries and other carbon dioxide emission sources throughout the Midwestern region of the United States. When …
Senators Reintroduce Adopt GREET Act
Sens. John Thune (R-SD) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) this week reintroduced the Adopt GREET Act which would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to update its greenhouse gas modeling for ethanol and biodiesel. Specifically, the bill would require EPA to adopt the Argonne National Lab’s Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Transportation (GREET) Model for both fuels. EPA …
Focus on Biodiesel’s Environmental Benefits
The environmental benefits of both biodiesel and renewable diesel are in focus this week at the virtual National Biodiesel Conference and Expo. Matt Herman is the National Biodiesel Board‘s new Director of Environmental Science. Formally with the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) and the Renewable Energy Group (REG), Herman has plenty of experience using life cycle assessment to measure the environmental …
Ethanol Industry Comments on IRS Carbon Credit Proposal
Comments on proposed Internal Revenue Service regulations regarding the credit for carbon oxide sequestration under section 45Q of the Internal Revenue Code closed this week and ethanol supporters have provided input. The ethanol industry generally supports the Carbon Capture Coalition, which was convened by the Great Plains Institute (GPI) and formed to help realize carbon capture’s full potential as a …
Demo Site Picked for Ethanol Industry Pollinator Program
The ethanol industry is celebrating Earth Day with the announcement that Trenton Agri Products (TAP) in Nebraska will become the first demonstration site for a new ethanol industry initiative to expand pollinator habitat in key production regions. TAP will establish a 5-acre pollinator plot this spring near the entrance to their facility to increase awareness and encourage local farmers to …
Analysis Shows U.S. Agriculture Reducing Emissions
American agriculture is more environmentally sustainably than ever. A new analysis of updated data from both USDA and EPA shows U.S. farmers and ranchers continue to reduce per-unit greenhouse gas emissions. All told, the U.S. agricultural sector accounts for less than 10% of total U.S. emissions. That’s less than the emissions from the transportation, electricity generation and industrial sectors. Globally, …
ACE Shares Low Carbon Ethanol Benefits With Senators
As the Senate Agriculture Committee held a hearing on “Climate Change and the Agriculture Sector” this week, American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings highlighted the scientific and economic opportunities U.S. farmers and biofuel producers hold to support climate change mitigation and get the rural economy back on track in a letter to committee leadership. “As the committee begins …