Looking to save some coin on your energy bills? Then stop wasting food. According to a new report published this month in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, “Wasted Food, Wasted Energy: The Embedded Energy in Food Waste in the United States,” consumers could immediately save the energy equivalent of around 350 million barrels of oil a year though the …
US Fuel Convoys Under Attack, Amplifies Call for Renewable Energy
The beginning of October has brought at least 10 Pakistani attacks on oil tankers carrying fuel for NATO vehicles in Afghanistan. The NY Times reported today that fuel convoys are “sitting ducks” and as a result, have come under increasing attack. In response, U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords came out in support of bipartisan leaders of the House Armed Services Committee …
Clean Energy Policy Under Fire by Big Oil & Friends
The Center for American Progress Action Fund (CAPAF) has released a new analysis that concludes that Big Oil and other special interests have spent millions of dollars in lobbying and campaign contributions to defeat clean energy legislation. The study, “Dirty Money” found that the top 35 spending companies and trade associations, including oil, mining and electric utility, invested more than …
2010 Fuel Scorecard Released
The Truman National Security Project has released its 2010 Fuel Scorecard and ethanol scores near the top of the list as viable fuel options for the future. Based on several factors that affect America’s security including instability of supplier country, opposition to American values, climate disruption, possibility of threat to supply chain, and cost spike volatility, ethanol scores as the …
Ethanol Groups Dispute Petroleum Industry Claims
The American Petroleum Institute (API) is using findings of a new report to try and dissuade the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from making a decision on the use of increased levels of ethanol in gasoline anytime in the near future. The Sierra Research report commissioned by the national trade association that represents the oil industry found that “multiple regulatory and …
Analysis Credits Ethanol With Lower Gas Prices
Gas prices have hit an eight-month low and an analysis in the Washington Post today gives part of the credit to ethanol. The main reason they say gas prices have declined is weak demand due to the economy and continued high unemployment. That comes from an American Petroleum Institute (API) news release last week, which reported gasoline demand for July, …
Bobbing In Petroleum
As the ethanol industry continues to fight for its subsidies before they expire at the end of the year, and the biodiesel industry has been fighting to survive without the $1 tax credit, the U.S. Senate did not even hesitate to preserve the oil industry’s subsidies. In addition, the Senate has yet to pass any comprehensive energy policy that would …
Oil Imports In July Highest in 18 Months
Foreign oil imports are up for the first time in 18 months according to the latest figures from the Energy Information Administration (EIA). The U.S. imported 65 percent of its oil, or 388 million barrels in July 2010, sending nearly $29.6 billion or $663,231 per minute to foreign countries. This is the highest number of barrels of oil imported in …
Biodiesel Product Can Clean Up Oil on Beaches
Biodiesel producers could be utilized to help clean up oil the coastline after the disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. According to the National Biodiesel Board, methyl esters – a chemical yielded in biodiesel production – can be formulated into a biobased solvent that is federally listed as a shoreline washing agent for oil spill clean-up. An effort is underway …
More Transparency Needed Among Environmental Groups
I’m calling the environmental movement out for supporting nothing and opposing everything. Not too long ago, I was proud to call myself an environmentalist. Today, I’m bordering on embarrassed to admit that I support sustainability programs. The cause of my distress is what is happening under the carpet among environmental groups. On the surface, they look squeaky clean, but when …