Best of 2010 on Domestic Fuel

Cindy Zimmerman

2010 was a year of ups and downs for the domestic renewable energy industry, which kept your Domestic Fuel reporters busy. One of the ups was traffic here on Domestic Fuel. We had a total of more than 315,000 unique visitors in 2010, up 17 percent from 2009. Your reporters did 1537 posts this year, including 160 with audio interviews, …

Company Announcement

Will Biogenic Emission Regulation Curb Biomass Growth?

Joanna Schroeder

According to the National Alliance of Forest Owners (NAFO), the inclusion of biomass emissions (biogenic carbon emissions) in the EPA’s Clean Air Act greenhouse gas permitting program hinders growth of renewable energy. However, the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) is countering their argument saying that there is public data on investments in biomass showing that it is in fact growing. The …

biofuels, biomass, Environment

$5 Gas Prices On the Horizon

Joanna Schroeder

According to former president of Shell Oil, John Hofmeister, Americans will be paying $5 per gallon for gas by 2012 due to growing demand for oil, tighter supplies and inadequate responses by the U.S. government. His remarks were made during his appearance on Platts Energy Week television. Not necessarily news Americans want to hear as gas prices have been on …

biofuels, Oil, Opinion

Restarting Idled Biodiesel Plants Could Pose Problems

John Davis

The renewal of the federal $1-a-gallon biodiesel tax incentive is giving some idled biodiesel plants new life, but a biodiesel consultant is warning that there are some risks to consider. Wayne Lee, principal owner of Lee Enterprises biodiesel consulting group in Little Rock, Arkansas, says one area producers need to consider is Renewable Identification Numbers (RINS): “While the EPA allows …

Biodiesel

Engine Makers Challenge EPA Over E15 Ruling

Cindy Zimmerman

A newly formed group of engine manufacturers is challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to grant a partial waiver approving the sale of gasoline containing 15 percent ethanol (E-15) for 2007 model year and newer passenger cars and light trucks. The Engine Products Group, made up of several automobile, marine and small engine manufacturing organizations, filed a petition today …

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Growth Energy, RFA

Ethanol Industry Recieves Incentives for the Holidays

Joanna Schroeder

The only action remaining before the ethanol industry has the best holiday present of the season is President Obama’s signature. In what could literally be defined as the 25th hour, Congress passed the tax bill on Thursday that included a one-year tax extension for several key ethanol tax incentives. In the most heated subsidy debate in history, ethanol was the …

ACE, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Growth Energy, RFA

The Hail Storm Against the Tax Package Intensifies

Joanna Schroeder

While many in the domestic U.S. energy industry were giving sighs of relief yesterday after the Senate passed the one-year extension of the tax package, others were not so calm. Two organizations in particular that are not happy with the renewal of the biofuel portion of the tax package were the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA) and Friends of the …

biofuels, Ethanol, Solar, UNICA, Wind

Geological Society of America Unveils Solar System

Joanna Schroeder

The Geological Society of America (GSA) is now powered by solar. This month the building began offsetting about 35 percent of its energy use with its new 65 kilowatt (kW) rooftop solar energy system. The solar system will provide the company’s headquarters with 88 megawatt hours per year of energy. This project is one of three renewable energy projects planned …

Electricity, Solar

Senate Passes Tax Package

Cindy Zimmerman

The Senate has overwhelmingly passed what is likely to be an early Christmas present for everyone, including renewable energy interests, with tax credits for ethanol and biodiesel extended for another year. The vote was 81 to 19 to pass the bill, which was primarily to extend both unemployment benefits and the Bush era tax cuts. The House is expected to …

Biodiesel, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Growth Energy, NBB, RFA

Opinion Piece Defends Palm Oil Biodiesel

John Davis

A decision by Hawaiian Electric Co. (HECO) to build a biodiesel plant that will convert palm oil into biodiesel to be used by the utility to produce electricity has garnered the ire of some environmentalists, who decry the use of palm oil for the green fuel. But this opinion piece in the Honolulu Star Advertiser defends the plant. Tom Tanton, …

Biodiesel, Opinion