In Center Ring: Biofuels Versus Big Oil

Joanna Schroeder

The National Conference of State Legislators kicked off in Atlanta, Georgia yesterday and today the group has invited Geoff Cooper with the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) along with Patrick Kelly of the American Petroleum Institute (API) to debate the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). According to Cooper, the invitation was extended because state legislators want to learn more about the program …

Audio, biofuels, E15, E85, Ethanol, RFA, RFS

The Pursuit of Greener Methanol

Joanna Schroeder

A Lehigh University Research team is working to create a new method of producing renewable fuel. Supported by a $2 million grant from the National Science Foundation, using only carbon dioxide, sunlight and water, the team is attempting to perfect a low-cost, environmentally friendly process that could enable the production of methanol—which can be used as fuel for cars, heating …

biofuels

ZeaChem Recieves EPA Approval on Cellulosic RINS

Joanna Schroeder

ZeaChem Inc. has announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has given registration approval for the cellulosic biofuel produced at the company’s demonstration biorefinery in Boardman, Oregon. The EPA Fuels Programs Registered Company/Facility ID List has been updated accordingly with ZeaChem’s biorefinery verified as an approved registered facility for the production of Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2) qualifying D3 cellulosic …

advanced biofuels, Cellulosic, RINS

1st Offshore Wind Lease Sale in U.S.

Joanna Schroeder

Today the United States Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) held its first-ever offshore wind lease sale, leasing 164,750 acres off the coasts of Rhode Island and Massachusetts. The area was divided into two leases, the North Lease Area, which consists of about 97,500 acres, and the South Lease Area, covering approximately 67,250 acres. Oceana, an international advocacy group protecting …

Electricity, Energy, offshore wind, Renewable Energy, Wind

Xcel Takes Aim at Rooftop Solar in Colorado

Joanna Schroeder

Renewable energy advocates, businesses and environmental groups have joined together to urge the Colorado Public Utilities Commission to reject a new proposal from Xcel Energy that would discourage rooftop solar growth in its territory. Issued last week as part of Xcel’s 2014 Renewable Energy Standard compliance plan, the proposal takes aim at net metering, one of the state’s most important …

Miscellaneous

Alaska and Hawaii Combine for Biodiesel Deal

John Davis

Companies from numbers 49 and 50 (in the state-numbering race) are combining forces to provide biodiesel for aircraft. Alaska Airlines and Hawai`i BioEnergy LLC announced an agreement to provide biodiesel for the airline starting as soon as 2018. “We are pleased to be partnering with Hawai`i BioEnergy to encourage the production and commercial distribution of sustainable fuels,” said Keith Loveless, …

Biodiesel

EWG Has No Love for Corn Ethanol

Joanna Schroeder

During the recent Subcommittee on Energy and Power’s hearing to review the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) as well as during a recent RFS briefing sponsored by the Advanced Biofuels Association last week in D.C., the Environmental Working Group (EWG) made it very clear that they have no love for corn-based ethanol. Scott Faber, EWG senior vice president for government affairs …

advanced biofuels, biofuels, corn, Ethanol, Growth Energy, RFS

Biodiesel Board CEO Tells Congress RFS is Working

John Davis

As lawmakers debated the value of the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS), the CEO of the National Biodiesel Board made the case on CSPAN that his group’s green fuel is delivering on those RFS promises. “First, under the RFS, the advanced biofuel and biomass-based diesel categories programs are working. And second, with the help of the RFS, biodiesel is reducing consumer …

Audio, Biodiesel, Government, Legislation, NBB

DF Cast: Geothermal Potential Just Below Surface

John Davis

Geothermal energy is seen as one of the cleanest and most efficient in the world, ranking right up there with the likes of wind energy. But growth in the energy source has been slow but steady. In this edition of the Domestic Fuel Cast, we hear from Executive Director of the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) Karl Gawell who believes the …

Audio, Domestic Fuel Cast, Geothermal

RFS Hill Briefing Sparks Hot Biofuels Debate

Joanna Schroeder

The Advanced Biofuels Association held an event, “A Policy Briefing on the Future of the Renewable Fuel Standard,” (#RFSFuture) in Washington, D.C. to debate the merits of the RFS and discuss the future of the RFS. The event comes on the heels of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Power’s plans for a two-day hearing next week …

advanced biofuels, Ethanol, RFS