The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is concerned about testing of the nation’s gasoline pumps currently underway by Underwriters Laboratory (UL) that is using what the group calls “aggressive ethanol” intended to accelerate any potential issues that may arise with the use of higher ethanol blends. According to RFA, this “aggressive ethanol” misrepresents the fuel ethanol found in the market today. …
U.S. Energy Company to Buy Jatropha-based Biodiesel
An American energy company with biodiesel and ethanol operations will be buyng some of its green fuel from down under. The New York Times reports that Valero Energy has signed a five-year deal with Australian biofuel refiner Mission NewEnergy to obtain biodiesel made from jatropha. Valero will also be able to buy a 25 percent stake in Mission: Mission will …
Copenhagen Seen as Good for Biodiesel, Ethanol
The Copenhagen Climate Change Summit, which started this week in Denmark, could be good for biodiesel and ethanol. Biodiesel Magazine reports that while not everyone agrees exactly on what the political negotiations will bring, an expected deal … if not a full treaty … outlining a carbon pricing or cap-and-trade system that puts a price on carbon will be a …
World Biofuels Reduced Global GHGs 123.5M Tons
A new study shows that world biofuels production in 2009 has reduced GHG emissions by 123.5 million tons. The figure represents an average reduction of 57 percent compared to the emissions that would have occurred from the production and use of equal quantities of petroleum fuels. The report was prepared by (S&T)² Consultants Inc. Bliss Baker, spokesperson for the Global …
World Biofuels Markets Announces Speakers
It’s never too early to start planning your 2010 conference schedule and here is one to consider: World Biofuels Markets. This is Europe’s largest biofuels conference and so far, 20 of the 50 companies who were named to Biofuels Digest’s “Top 50 Hottest Companies in Bioenergy” will be participating. Last year several hundred people were on hand and this year …
Coalition Seeks Ethanol Blender Pump Tax Fix
A broad coalition of companies and organizations have signed on to a letter asking Congressional tax writers to fix a program intended to promote the installation of fuel pumps that dispense mid- and high-level ethanol blends. Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis sent the letter to the chairmen and ranking members of the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and …
Ethanol Industry Leader Honored by ASTM
ASTM International has honored a long time ethanol industry expert with its Award of Excellence. Robert Reynolds of Downstream Alternatives received the award for his “outstanding and dedicated contributions to fuel standards development and as a consensus builder within ASTM between ethanol and petroleum interests.” Reynolds, pictured here at the 2007 National Ethanol Conference, was a founding member of the …
EPA Determines CO2, Other GHGs Endanger Society
Some of the biggest news to come out of Copenhagen yesterday was the ruling from the Environmental Protection Agency that greenhouse gas emissions are now considered “an endangerment” to society. This ruling now gives the EPA the authority, under the Clean Air Act, to regulate greenhouse gases. This decision could lead to stricter vehicle, manufacturing and power plant emissions – …