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, …
AWEA Says “Don’t Forget About Wind Tax Credit”
As much of the talk on this blog has focused on the renewal of the biodiesel and ethanol tax credits (see Cindy’s post), the leading advocacy group for wind energy in this country is reminding Congress of the danger of not including its green energy in the package to renew tax credits. This press release from the American Wind Energy …
Senators Write Letter Supporting Ethanol Incentives
While a group of senators yesterday urged an end to ethanol incentives, another group sent a letter supporting an extension of the current tax credit and associated tariff. The letter, sent to Senate leadership and signed by Senators Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Kent Conrad (D-ND) with 13 others, asked that the ethanol incentives be “a high priority on the Senate’s …
RFA Calls on EPA to Update RFS2 ILUC Models
Earlier this month, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) made a positive step for ethanol by updating its indirect land use models in the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). This in effect, will reduce the ILUC penalties in half. Unfortunately, the new rule doesn’t take effect until mid-2011 although LCFS kicks in on January 1, 2011. In light of this …
Global Leaders Want Action During World Climate Summit
International business leaders are calling for immediate action during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP-16) and the World Climate Summit (WCS) that are both set to begin on November 29, 2010 in Cancun Mexico. A group of global investors with collective assets worth more than $15 billion are asking global leaders to “take action now in the fight against …
California to Update Land Use for Ethanol
The California Air Resources Board yesterday agreed to update the land use change and other indirect effects of biofuels production under their Low Carbon Fuels Standard (LCFS). The board is asking for updates to the land use values for corn ethanol, sugarcane ethanol, and soy biodiesel, and other feedstocks by spring of 2011 to implement the LCFS, which currently penalizes …
Lee Enterprises Gets Former Biodiesel Board Member
An Arkansas-based biodiesel consulting group has added a former member of the National Biodiesel Board to its team of biofuels consultants. Lee Enterprises has announced the addition of Jess Hewitt to its team of biofuels consultants. In addition to his work on the NBB, Hewitt has more than three decades of experience in the energy sector, including his current role …
Largest Solar Project in Tennessee Begins
Jackson, Tennessee is about to become the home of the state’s largest solar farm. The new solar project is located at the American Drive Business Center and when completed in December of 2010, will consist of 4,914 Sharp solar modules manufactured at their Memphis facility and become the second 1 megawatt (MW) solar project within the seven-state Tennessee Valley Authority …
Ethanol Industry Watches Closely As Lame Duck Session Kicks Off in DC
The lame duck session has kicked off in Washington and the ethanol industry continues to point out to legislators who are reviewing the ethanol and biodiesel tax credits, that the failure to renew these credits will cause thousands of biofuels workers to lose their jobs. The ethanol industry is scheduled to visit the White House on Thursday along with several …
Maryland Offshore Wind Project Gets Boost from Feds
A proposed massive wind farm off the coast of Maryland got a big boost this week when the federal government issued both a Request for Interest (RFI) and a map of an offshore wind leasing area in federal waters just off Maryland’s Atlantic coast. The Dispatch of Ocean City (MD) reports that Maryland is just the second state in the …